Binary: Belong to the Lord or belong to the enemy

My friend Paul M. is retiring this month, he shared this truth with me years ago: 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't

Continuing the theme Corrie Ten Boom says, 

The world is very sick. There is tragic amount of darkness and sin in the world. And every child of God is standing on the front line of the battle, and the battle is very severe. There's no time anymore for a compromise. You do belong to the Lord Lock Stock and barrel, or you do not belong to him, and then you belong to the enemy. 

Just imagine when you are on the front line of a battle. And you compromise a little bit with the Enemy and the other side. You yourself are in danger, and you, your nation, is in danger because of you.  - Choose Your Side - Corrie Ten Boom

John 14:23: Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

This may be my most important insight: It's evil to refuse to follow the Lord completely (1 Kings 11:6, Mark 8:36)

• God heals our unfaithfulness when we listen and obey him (Book of Hosea)
• Acknowledge God for three days and you'll experience mercy (Hosea 6, Acts 9:9)
• Three Days, recurring theme in the Bible for changing your heart

Aleluia, You have saved me, so much better Your Way, Aleluia. Aleluia Great Defender, so much better your Way! Jehovah-Nissi, Banner of protection, El Shaddai, our Lord God Almighty, El Olam, the Everlasting God, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who provides for us, Jehovah Rapha (Great Physician Luke 5:31), the Lord Who heals us, Jehovah Mekoddishkem, the Lord Who sanctifies, to Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace, Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, to Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd, Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:1-35, 35). 16-Names-of-God

the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there. - Ezekiel 48:35

• Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
• Revelation 22:3-4: No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. / They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
• Revelation 21:22-23: But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. / And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. Isaiah 60:19-20: No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. / Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.
• Revelation 21:10-11: And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, / shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
• Revelation 21:2: I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
• Zechariah 2:10-11: “Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD. / “On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 14:9: On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
• Isaiah 12:6: Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
• Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. Matthew 1:23: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”). John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Jeremiah 3:17: At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts
• Jeremiah 33:16: In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
• Genesis 22:14: And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
• Jeremiah 33:16: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
• Zechariah 14:21: Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. 
• Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
• Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
• Judges 6:24: Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

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Freedom, liberty in communion with God

Sometimes we need a fresh start, we've been a failure and need to get back in step with the Lord. Sometimes a quick prayer doesn't feel like enough. Hebrews reminds us that God made a special day called "today" - today WHEN you hear his voice don't harden your heart, today is the day of salvation. Warn each other every day, while it is still "today", so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Heb 3:13) 

• Before work talk to God and give your ideas to him: “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. (Gen 24:12-14)
• Then Pay attention:  Before he had finished praying... (he witnessed the answer)... “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” (Gen 24:15-27)
• Acknowledge the Lord to others: “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission. (Gen 24:42)

Sometimes our prayers are interrupted by thoughts, obsessions, or desires that want to carry us away from the LORD. We need to "be still" and turn the lights on inside our heart, have a moment of reflection, let the word of Christ dwell within ourselves and take Holy Communion. In our hearts we can hold up the shield of faith that extinguish the enemy arrows from the outside, but on the inside of faith is peace. 

• Psalms 11:5 says that “the LORD tests the righteous,” and in Job 23:10, Job says of God, “When he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Similarly, God told Jeremiah, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10), and Proverbs 17:3 declares that “the LORD tests hearts.”

 Communion: The Meal of Absolute Victory - Bill Johnson (Sermon Clip) | Bethel Church

• "This is my body" - "broken for you"
• "By His stripes you WERE healed" - today I get to experience the liberty and forgiveness 
• Put someone on your lips and declare healing for them, in Jesus name. 
• As for me and my house we will serve the LORD. 

Communion, the body and blood and the weekend (Psalm 23, John 13-21, Exodus 12)

Psalm 19

Don't hold on theology of problems, hold onto theology of our solution. Take time with the LORD. 

Psalm 19:13: Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep me safe (from arrogant people/things), also, from willful (presumptuous, flagrant, conspicuously offensive, obviously inconsistent with what is right) sins; don't let them rule (control, dominion) over me. Then I shall be perfect (blameless, without spot) and free (acquitted, declared innocent, cleansed) from the evil of sin (transgression, greatest sin). May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

• But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
• Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. / For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
• So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
• No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13
• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Hebrews 12:1
• or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. / Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. / But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

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Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:17)

How can we know what pleases God, what brings him Joy? We can look to Jesus. 

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:1-6

Jesus is our advocate pleading our case before the Father. "Our Father... Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our trespass, today, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." 

Jesus also advocates for us in John 17 and now in heaven he and the Spirit advocate for us (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1; Romans 8:27)

Most people are familiar with the ten commandments. But how familiar are we with the commandments of Jesus?

Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3)

Commandments of Jesus part 1

God's word and Spirit changes the perverse to be meek and obedient

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Spiritual believers but not followers of Jesus Christ

Reading an analysis of Ephesians this week I'm reminded how easily we can be led astray by false teachers. I know I have loved entertainment that is opposite of what I've learned about God and his will for my life. Yet we see the Lord's mercies are made new everyday. I believe the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people, we can choose to acknowledge God's work like Abel or puff ourselves up like Cain ("didn't we do these great things.."). Jesus paid it all the cross, so there is no bearer between people and God. Have you felt the Spirit of God guiding you? Jesus said "when I send the Holy Spirit he will guide you into all truth. He will remind you of everything I taught." - The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), the only sin left to condemn us is to reject gifts and call of God (Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:29).

Every day we have a choice to make, to accept the gifts and call of God or to rely on our own understanding. This is how Isaiah put it:

The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will...If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires... - Isaiah 50:4,10-11 (see Jesus life and teaching: Isaiah 48:12-51:23)

Spiritual believers will come to a decision about Christ, but how can we say we've really understood if we haven't followed the prescribed way (Heb 6:4) of Sanctification connects repentance, restoration, and service to God. Today if you hear his voice don't harden your heart - this is the message of Hebrews and Psalms (Psalm 95:8,Hebrews 3:15), let the Word of God do it's work in you (Heb 4:12). 

Discover a relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, you'll find following Jesus is the best decision a person can ever make. 

People can be honest with God and ask Him to reveal himself

• But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. - Psalm 88:13
• I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. - Psalm 119:147
• This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24 , Phil 4:4-7
• Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. - Psalm 143:8, Romans 12:1-3

The Lord will reveal his Loving Kindness when we ask him to open our eyes to see Him this morning.

• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23, Titus 3

What are you preparing in your heart, what are you setting apart for God in heart? What would you like to see God do in your life today? 

• O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. - Psalm 5:3, Romans 12:1-3, Romans 12:6-18

When we come to the Lord in Spirit and Truth we often see how wrong we are, consider how God didn't just forgive you, but He died in your place - so that you can live in Him. Now consider how Jesus rose from the grave and has given us his Holy Spirit to live, and abide. How does this joy change your outlook on your family, community and situation (it's a wonderful life!).

• For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. - Psalm 30:5, Hebrews 12, Romans 5
• Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. - Psalm 90:14 
• “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, - Job 38:12
• My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. - Psalm 130:6 
• But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. - Psalm 59:16
• For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. - Psalm 91:11

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Life within reach (John 15:7)

Wow, Andrew Murray - what grace that's lasted over 100 years! I'm excited to start this series of books by him. Andrew Murray Collection on Prayer Humility, Absolute Surrender, the Ministry of Intercession, the Power of the Blood of Jesus and Others

In The-Ministry-of-Intercession-Andrew-Murray He confesses on behalf of every minister a general failure to believe God and simply live completely surrendered to him. 

Christ waits to fit us by His Spirit to pray as He would have us. This call, of course, brings me back to what I spoke of in connection with the former volume: that there is life in the Spirit, a life of abiding in Christ, within our reach, in which the power of prayer both the power to pray and the power to obtain the answer can be realized in a measure which we could not have thought possible before. Any failure in the prayer-life, any desire or hope really to take the place Christ has prepared for us, brings us to the very root of the doctrine of grace as manifested in the Christian life. It is only by full surrender to the life of abiding, by the yielding to the fulness of the Spirit's leading and quickening, that the prayer-life can be restored to a truly healthy state. 

In John 14-16 Jesus explains how he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in response to Thomas' question, “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5,6)

THE TRUTH:

• The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. (John 14:10)
• Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11) - Key Christian Doctrine: Jesus is God's son (John 3:16)

THE PROMISE:

• anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works (John 14:12)
• You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13)
• Question: Are you living in this reality of asking anything in Jesus' name and it's done? Have you asked God for something and witnessed him doing it? If not keep reading.

THE WAY:

• “If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15 has a few conditions, "If you love me" is not followed by then I will give you the Holy Spirit. It is followed by "Obey my commandments"
• Question: if your prayer life is weak, repetitive, boring, or non-existent. Consider getting to know what Jesus has commanded but know that Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit
• Love for Jesus is the way

THE TRUTH:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

The Advocate, Helper comes alongside and leads into ALL truth. Think of all the great truths that have been discovered since Christ rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit onto all people. 

Question: Have you experienced God in your heart as you've discovered the truth in your own life? Do you receive divine truth and recognize that it's not you but God showing you? 

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. 

Question: Why must we receive the Holy Spirit? Do you know the difference between other spirits and the Holy Spirit? Will you take the time to find out? Holy Spirit tactics vs the devil tactics 

THE LIFE:

But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:15-17). 

Question: Have you ever known someone who demonstrated the love of God to you? Where they authentically love you on behalf of God and you knew it was true? Or maybe you had an experience where some terrible calamity was upon you and "for some reason" you were spared by some force outside yourself? Or some benevolent thing happened to you or your family that was life-giving or life-saving? This is the Holy Spirit who is with you. The life Jesus talks about is allowing the grace of God into your life. 

Christ changes me, my relationships benefit (Col 3)

Praise God who comforts us, so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Relational Grace: Loving kindness of Christ in me

Live the New Life in Christ

God promises to help me obtain the promises

Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

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I shall call upon Him as long as I live (Psalm 116:1-2)

I'm reading 21 days of breakthrough prayer and today's focus is Psalm 116:1-2

I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear]

My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs).

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call on Him as long as I live. AMP

God calls us to "stand in the gap" and intercede for those he's placed in our lives. The promise of God is that when we do this we will not be put to shame, but see God working. It reminds of the opening scene of "It's a Wonderful Life" where people are praying for in the begining and a family intercedes for Goerge Baily.

Goerge comes to himself and experiences God's intervention for the rest of the movie.

God promises we will not be put to shame when we come to him with our burdens and needs.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Not put to shame in the Bible

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Prayer in the presence of God, requires us to forgive our offenders (Matt 18:15-35)

I'm reading 21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer, the theme:
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19–20

The context of this verse is offense from sin within church relationships (Matt 18:15-17)

"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 18:18

He then talks about forgiving seventy-seven times and the unforgiving servant. "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king...So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matt 18:23,27,28,33,34,35

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Humbly Grateful Or Grumbly Hateful?

THeard this wonderful song today, great intro to Exodus 16, the teaching...
Do you grumble and groan,
Or let it be known
You’re grateful for all God’s done for you?
Good article here:
http://carynchristensen.com/2015/11/02/are-you-humbly-grateful-or-grumbly-hateful/

Folks were hungry and complaining about Moses and Aaron, God spoke to Moses (not them)..

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. (walk in my law or not. ESV)
Exodus 16:4 NLT

Sounds familiar,  Gen 2-3

We too grumble, we ask God to bless us, then complain about the blessings

So we are instructed.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV

Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11 NIV

Am I trusting God every day, (not just the big things)?
- God gives us what we need everyday.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 NIV

God is powerful and personal
He uses basic human needs, to show how to be satisfied in him

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  ...Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life  ?
Matthew 6:25‭, 27

What life is all about? It's not about getting ahead, it's about resting in him. Manna and Sabbath = God is able too meet all our needs.

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord . You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”  Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.
Exodus 16:24‭-‬30 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord .
Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  ”
Matthew 4:3‭-‬4 NIV

My ultimate need is to know God.

Crowds don't understand Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:22-40)
Jesus the Bread from Heaven, offered to all offensive to most (John 6:41-71)
Jesus teaches about Living Water at Festival of Tabernacles (John 7:1-52)

God provides and delivers
- you can't take it with you, use what you have today for today's needs.

Don't make the daily needs the pursuit of your life

Lamentations 3 show a man in pain, suffering and confusion. Yet he says...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
Lamentations 3:22‭-‬24 ESV

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
Hebrews 3:7‭-‬8 ESV

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Don't use foul or abusive language but words that are good and helpful (Eph 4:29 NLT)

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. - Eph 4:29

My friend Warren and I were teaching a Bible class years ago that had a focus on Scripture Memory. One evening we had low attendance and got done with our lesson early so prompted by the Holy Spirit, I ask him if he wouldn't mind giving a testimony about how scripture memory impacted his life. Without skipping a beat he said, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:29-5-2 NIV"

He continued to tell us that this was his life's verse that he meditated on daily for many years because he was convicted by God that his speech was unwholesome and it was having negative impacts on people closest to him.

Now this verse came to me as I was praying for my family this morning. We are struggling with deep wounds coming from all sides; physical, spiritual, financial, mental, hurts from the past, fears for the future and trauma in the present. We cry out to God and listen to the Holy Spirit, "He who has ears, let him hear."

Then, as what often happens in my life, God harmonizes his guidance for me through other means as well. I received an email from my friend, Pastor John from Grace in the City church, he writes:

"The psalmist was always reminding us to remain humble and walk with God, because evil is continually lurking and seeking to destroy us! 

So what do we learn from todays reading? In Psalm 120, we see very quickly a cry of repentance asking the Lord to deliver him from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. How many of us have been using our tongues as weapons lately? Ask yourself this question: If Jesus was standing right next to you would you say half the things that come out of your mouth? Here’s the reality; Jesus isn’t just standing besides you, He’s living inside you! That’s right, if you area Christ Follower, we have the Lord living in us, not sometimes, but all of the time. My caution to all of us, is to be very careful with our speech and think before we speak! "

he continues,  "When pride kicks in, its a very slippery slope that we are on and usually we succumb to the wiles of the devil, until we can see the error of our ways. This reminds me that its vital to remain humble at all times, always remembering my place in this life and where has God placed me for such a time as this. "

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Conviction is a gift of God (experience it, ask for it)

Recap we were in 1 John,
John 15, send Spirit
0:56 pick up verse John 15:5
Grief clouds our vision, Jesus notices and encourages them, doesn't tell them to "suck it up"
Holy Spirit will come to live in them all the time. They have many questions.

The Spirit will lead them. Same for us, things make sense when we have the Spirit.

Jesus won't be limited to one time and one place,

verse John 15:8 at 5:10
Who is the world: those in opposition to Jesus
1. convicts those who come to Christ sin, righteousness and judgement (believers and salvation)
2. like a courtroom - (unbelievers, condemnation)
 the sin of refusal of who Jesus is and his authority

Our faith is an act of God and his grace.

Acts 2, people were cut to the heart - not from people but the holy spirit (what if Peter preached this sermon a day earlier.

conviction is a gift of God (experience it, ask for it)

righteousness (we compare ourselves to others) - our standard of each other will make us feel better about OUR SIN (great point). Also culture and public opinion - years ago culture's view of right and wrong has shifted and it always will. Jesus is not just a good standard of righteousness - like we could try harder and be like him. His righteousness is completely different than ours. Proved by his resurrection. Father gives us his righteousness.

12:43 - judgement

Satan's power/influence in the world is judgement. Cross proves the fact of judgement of sin (AWESOME statement). It's a gift of God to receive the judgement of God.

14:50, God's conviction is like a procedure that will seem painful

Spirit guides us in The truth
15:30 reading verse 12-15

Jesus taught them much, he did this through the Holy Spirit. These men wrote the new testament.

John 14:20, all things (history), doctrine to understand what it mean (about God, love, compassion)

John 16:13 He guides in all the truth. what's to come (prophecy).

Timing: 20, where is the truth - left - right news source. Where is the truth?

We get the truth in prayer. Listening and talking. Bible study, revelation (never contradicts his word).

To glorify Jesus: 14-15

22:32 P1 Holy Spirit guides believers to know and glorify Jesus

What work of the Spirit of your life? Conviction, repentance, trust, love, understanding, awareness of Jesus love, mercy and forgiveness. The desire to share Jesus with others. Where do you want more?

24:04 Division B) 16-22
Good gesture! ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!


1) See me no more (Physical sight), little while you will SEE (Perceiving)
Death, resurrection
ascension, Pentecost

Joy - in forgiveness
even during trouble, difficulty....

29:04, verse 23

Amazing promise around prayer
 - Jewish culture only high priest could talk to the father. Only possible when Jesus returned the father and sent the Holy Spirit.

Promise for family, children of God through Christ.
 - Joy when family comes

Ask the Spirit to help us to pray, and prayer changes us. Start one way and end up going another that is God's way. Start selfish and end with clarity about God's will for out lives.

Activity to activity: don't miss the privilege of prayer.

37: 00 world is full of trouble. How does Jesus have peace and ability to encourage disciples?

Do you have this? you can. We have the Holy Spirit living is us. take heart. Jesus has overcome the world.

A peaceful life is not a life without problems.

You have a flashlight in the woods, turn it on.

Last principal 39:30, Believers can have Jesus overcoming peace regardless of their circumstances.

We can have peace if you don't have peace. Ask him. Bring him your questions and confusion and ask him for guidance in truth.
40:50

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Blessed are those who weep

Before the blessing of those who mourn. Jesus says blessed are those who are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3-4), Isaiah 66:2 says, "'For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,'declares the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.'" The promised blessing for those who mourn is they will be comforted. Here's some comfort for you who weep and mourn.

Why is there mourning and weeping?
John 16:20 - Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. If you don't understand this read or listen to John 14:1-16:33 (will only take 12 minutes)

Back to Matthew 5:4, to those listening to Jesus they would have been brought back to Isaiah 61:1-11, comforted in freedom/release from darkness (Isaiah 61:1), comforted in the Lord's favor (Isaiah 61:2), comforted in beauty, joy, praise, righteousness (Isaiah 61:3), comforted in rebuilt abundant grace (Isaiah 61:4-7), comforted by God's justice, faithfulness (Isaiah 61:8-9), comforted with garments of salvation, righteousness naturally growing in righteousness and praise (Isaiah 61:10-11), comforted as in marriage Isaiah 62:5, 1-12

God Promises to hear our cry (Psalm 40:1)


Promises for super natural protection
Ezekiel 9:4 - He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”


http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/9-4.htm
http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-4.htm

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