INTRODUCTION TO GOD

L. Kathleen Cline

Copyright #: 1-1142605261

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the author.

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God

Hebrews 3:4

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Table of Context

Introduction

Weekly Verses

Chapter One: Who is God

Chapter Two: Sin, How Did It Come to Be?

Chapter Three: Salvation (Excerpt from Finding The Way)

Chapter Four: I Just Made a Fool Out of Myself (Excerpt from Homeless No More)

Chapter Five: Love According to God

Chapter Six: Spiritual Warfare

Endnotes

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INTRODUCTION TO GOD

What can you expect in the next ten weeks with this study?

The purpose of this study is not only introducing God to you but introducing Christianity to

you. Many think being a Christian means, you follow certain traditions or rules and

regulations. Many believe that God is task oriented and it is next to impossible to get all of

God’s do and don’ts down to a fine art. Sadly, many feel that following Christ involves a lot

of guilt and shame.

Being a Christian is about joining a new family. It is simply saying that you want God the

Father to be the one and only God in your life. Being a Christian is knowing that God, out of

love for mankind, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross to pay for your sins so that you

can live forever with God in heaven. God wants a personal relationship with you, not a

bunch of fake actions or bizarre performances. God wants you to love Him with all of your

heart and with all of your soul and with all of your might because, God knows if you love

Him in this manner, then following Him becomes a joy. Just like any relationship in your life,

when you love someone, you want to be a part of every aspect of his or her life. God wants

that all-consuming relationship with His children, but God wants that relationship to be a

free will choice and not a relationship out of compulsion.

Once you become a follower of Christ, it is easy to fall into a thought process of “you are on

your own.” Satan is going to tell you every lie in the book to try and make your Christ walk

miserable and worthless. Life is going to bear down on you, and the luster of your new

family will dull, and you are going to wonder, “what on earth is wrong with me and what did

I get myself into?”

This study is intended to help you apply your faith to your life. Bible verses are nice but

useless if you don’t know how to use them in your daily activities. If you are confused about

the terminology of the faith, then it becomes too easy to walk away from Bible studies out

of embarrassment.

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God wants you to be informed properly about what following Him entails. Satan wants you

confused, frustrated and every other emotion to encourage you to give up. There is one

thing that Satan ignores. When you decide to follow Christ, then that commitment means

that God will not give up on you. Remember being a Christ follower is a relationship, you are

family, and God knows exactly what He was in for when He called to you and said, “Follow

me.”

This study will help you trust God and build that personal bond between Father and child.

Whether you are a Christ follower or not, this study will give you all the information needed

to make your choice about God.

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Week One:

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Psalm 86:15

Week Two:

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL OUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

Week Three:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Week Four:

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is not law. Galatians 5:22-23

Week Five:

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Week Six:

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Week Seven:

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every

good work. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Week Eight:

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 2:17

Week Nine:

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is the world. 1 John 4:4

Week Ten:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Chapter One

WHO IS GOD? (NAMES OF GOD)

It can be overwhelming to look at the names of God, especially for a first lesson. You might even get the temptation to run from this lesson. Don’t be frightened. I don’t want you to memorize God’s names in Hebrew. I want you to learn to experience God, so you can call God by name. God wants us not only to read about Him; but God also wants us to experience Him, personally.

Then the Lord passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth. Exodus 34:6 When God gave the second set of ten commandments to Moses, this is how God started off the conversation with Moses. God tied his character and His attributes tightly to His name. I have found thirteen times, these combinations of words in its entirety were mention in the Old Testament. God wanted the world to understand, Who He is.

God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. Exodus 6:2-3 Often, in the Old Testament, God would reveal Himself to His people in situations. His people would then give a Name to God according to His essence or His nature. The names are originally in Hebrew because God’s people spoke that language. When God met the needs of His people in some form, His people would then name God according to the needs met.

UNDERSTAND THESE POINTS:1. The study of the names should never be memorized just for the sake of learning.

When you studied famous people of history, the study did not cause you to have a personal relationship with that person.

Do you want to grow closer to God or do you want to be highly educated about God?

What is your intent for having Bible study?

2. The study of the names of God is for His children to understand and have faith in God’s abilities.

For My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27

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3. Verbalizing is not claiming God’s name, actually applying what you believe is the act of faith. Hebrews 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also, but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

Your goal for the next ten weeks is to be able to claim the names of God not in words but actually by your daily walk with God.

We live in a society that words are equal to deeds. When words are not founded in actions they become hollow and meaningless.

People will get to know God’s great attributes by visualizing God in your life. Your actions tell people what you believe.

RIDDLE: Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four frogs decide to jump off. How many are left?

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Still, five are left.

Moral: There's a difference between deciding and doing.

Why do we need to tell people what we are doing before we even take action?

What happens to your reputation, when you are not able to follow through with your words?

Unfortunately, many in God’s church are taught just to verbalize facts or verses about God. There has become a disconnection with our words and what we are living. An example could be that we are taught to love our enemies, but in reality, we are verbally abusive to people, face-to- face or on social media. Another example is when the Bible teaches us that the truth will set us free, so we spew our opinions abusively and claim justification because we honestly feel our emotions. These actions speak more about heart issues rather than about our ability to quote the Bible. “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come

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from the heart, and those defile the man.” Matthew 15:18 We will cover heart issues in another lesson. This lesson let’s stay focused on learning who is God?

God is a triune being. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Notice the word name is singular. Jesus did not say names of, Jesus said, “name of.” The trinity gets a little confusing for many, so let’s look at a little diagram and use a familiar substance for an example.

http://www.orthodoxresource.co.uk/orthodoxy/trinity.htm

As you can see in the diagram that God has three parts but the three parts have distinctive traits. Before we cover these traits, let’s look at an everyday example.

Water has three states. These states are solid, liquid and gas. Where the word God is located, either mentally or physically put the word water. Along the triangle, you could put liquid up at the top of the triangle, ice to the far right and vapor in the far-left corner. Now you can say that each state can transition into another state, meaning water can freeze into a solid, ice can melt into a liquid and liquid can vaporize into a gas, but each state has distinctive characteristics. Now, I know the Father does not morph into the Spirit nor does the Spirit morph into the Son. This everyday example is just so your mind can wrap around a very complex Biblical concept. All three Persons of God are God but with very distinct personalities.

The bullets below can help you understand each unique person of God.

GOD THE FATHER:

God is everywhere which is called omnipresent. Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand

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shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:7-12

God has unlimited power which is called omnipotent. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it? Isaiah 43:13

(As it is written, “A father of many nations have I mad you.”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. Romans 4: 17

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me? Jeremiah 32:27

God knows everything which is called omniscient. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all thing. 1 John 3:19-20

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139: 1-3

God actually is love. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 Satan can mimic everything God does but Satan cannot mimic love. God is love and Satan is not God. Satan’s love is narcissistic and perverted. But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. Proverbs 12:10b

A common question about God is “How big is God?” One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Exodus 33:20-23, But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” Look around where you are sitting and see how many things you can cover totally with your hand. Now, put your hand behind you. How long is your arm? God’s arm is so long that when He removes His hand, you can only see His back. Our God is so gigantic that He can cover a full-grown man in the cleft of a rock. Isaiah 40:12 tells us Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand…

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If you view God as being “big,” then do you believe that God can meet your needs? (not wants) How big is your God?

After your prayers, are you verbalizing every possibility that could go wrong in a situation?

Are you a friend of encouragement and reminding those around of God’s attributes or are you a friend of discouragement with stories of events that went wrong?

Is there a conflict between what you believe about God and your actual words?

GOD THE SON:

The Way, Truth and Life: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me John 14:6.

Cornerstone: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church Ephesians 1:22.

Light of the world: Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life John 8:12.

Son of God: The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God Luke 1:35.

Son of Man: and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man John 5:27.

Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God John 1:1.

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High Priest: Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people Hebrews 2:17.

Lamb of God: The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world John 1:29.

Mediator: For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5.

HOLY SPIRIT:

Spirit of God: However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him Romans 8:9.

Spirit of Christ Romans 8:9 Spirit of your Father: For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirt of your Father

who speaks in you Matthew 10:20. The Spirit of Truth: that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,

because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you John 14:17.

The Spirit of the Lord: When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer say him, but went on his way rejoicing Acts 8:39.

Teacher: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you John 14:26, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say Luke 12:12.

Intercedes: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to Hi purpose Romans 8:26.

Leads: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil Matthew 4:1.

Gives life: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life John 6:63.

Filled by: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance Acts 2:4.

The Spirit searches all things: For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God 1 Corinthians 2:10.

The Spirit is the truth: This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the Water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth 1 John 5:6.

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Let’s say, hypothetically, you needed to defend your home. Odds are you would go throughout your house and get every potential weapon you had hidden in your house. If you were “MacGyver” you would even collect unconventional weapons like hairspray and a lighter. Every verse that is given above with the name of God is your defense against the lies of Satan. By knowing God and what He can do, can help you take a verbal stand by saying, “No Satan, God’s word says…. and I believe God!” “God your word says you are with me and will teach me what to do, so I need help in making this decision.” “I don’t know how to pray for this situation, and your word says you will intercede for me, so please God guide my words and my thoughts towards your will.”

Think about these questions. Do you believe that God exists? Do you know that God exists?

My favorite food is sushi. How do you know my favorite food is sushi? Most likely you just said to yourself, “You just told me.” What if I was a liar? What if I just ate sushi in front of you to prove a point? When you know someone, you witness for yourself their choices in life. After thirty years of marriage, I know my husband by watching or observing his actions or reactions. There is a difference in having evidence versus experiencing an action.

Don’t get caught up in the “can you prove God” scenario. When you think, or move along this thought process, all you have done is collected facts about God. God wants that personal relationship with you. If you want a life changing event in your life, then stop memorizing facts about God, using God as a weapon or trying to impress people with your good works. One of my favorite statements to make is “I can’t wait to see how You are going to answer this one, God.” Having a personal relationship with God is about looking forward to what is about to come next. Yes, you have verses memorized. Yes, God is your defense, and yes, your life should be full of good works. These events happen because of an intimate connection between you and God. Our relationship with God should be intentional but never compulsive. “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6. Because of a personal relationship with God, our lives should give birth to godly behavior.

Do you believe the chair you are sitting in can hold your weight? It would be idiotic of you to sit in a chair that you thought would fall apart. By the fact you are utilizing the chair means you believe in the chairs abilities. Many in society have turned from the church or towards other spiritual hoaxes because many who claim to know God, are living without utilizing God. It would be like standing next to the chair and proclaiming the chair abilities without ever taking a seat. At some point, people will begin to question the chair’s ability to with stand weight.

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Maybe in this lesson, the most you can gather is the ability to recognize that there is a God. Some of you know God but you never noticed the disconnect in your words versus your deeds.

Looking at God, the Father, what is something new that you learned from this lesson?

Reading the verses concerning the Holy Spirit, what is a fact that you can now use to help pray in faith?

Is there a testimony you can give concerning knowing God?

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Chapter Two

SIN, HOW DID IT COME TO BE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY LIFE?

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

A scientist looked at God one day and said: “We don’t need you any longer God.” “We have the capability of creating man on our own.” God looked back at the scientist and said, “Really?” “Let me see.” The scientist bent down to scoop up some dust from the earth. God spoke sharply. “Oh, no you don’t.” “Get your own dirt.” (Author unknown)

When God created the heavens and the earth, God spoke into being all of creation (Genesis 1:3.) When God thought about creating man, God made it personal. God formed man from dust and breathed into man the breath of life. From the very beginning, God wanted a personal relationship with man. Unfortunately, in Genesis 3 we see the fall of man. With Adam and Eve, the progression of sin took root, and man’s nature became corrupt. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-Romans 6:23.

Genesis 3 (NASB)

THE FALL OF MAN3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”

4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

We are going to stop for a moment and look at the progression of sin. There are six steps mentioned in James 1. As we study the fall of man, it is important to take note of what took place. It is too easy to say that Eve sinned and leave it at that statement. There are lessons to be learned, so we are not also lured into a trap. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and He himself does not tempt

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anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived brethren. James 1:13-16

1. TEMPTATION

Temptation is never a sin. If you read in Matthew 4, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Sin happens when we act on the temptation. The best example I can give is when I was packing up a crystal clock my husband had given to me for my fortieth birthday. Somehow I put my thumb through the glass. Immediately I had the thought, “You know you can blame the movers, and the navy will pay for the breakage.” I walked over to the phone and called my husband and told him that I had just broken the clock. Telling on myself was done, so I could not get trapped into the temptation because having someone else pay for the damage was very appealing idea for me. No one knew that I had just broken the clock because I was the only one home. Satan cannot make us sin, but oh, he sure can make the idea of sinning seem beautiful in some twisted form.

2. CARRIED AWAY AND ENTICED BY HIS/HER OWN LUST (passionate desire for something)

You can see in verse six that the woman (Eve) saw that the tree was good for food and it was a delight to the eyes. The interesting thing about lust is it is personal for each of us. I can look at my girlfriend’s four-hundred-dollar purse and think she is out of her mind for spending money on that item but four-hundred-dollars on some decorative item for my home is very logical to me. Same goes for any other passion. You could walk around a ladies’ conference all day and never be tempted to rummage through a single purse. Maybe for you, temptation comes in the form of having the inside scoop on someone. Why would you waste a perfectly good day of ladies gathering without finding out why so and so did what? Be careful Satan’s temptations are tailored for each one of our personalities.

3. LUST IS CONCEIVED (form a plan or an idea)

Constructing a plan to sin for many comes within a split second. Just like Eve when she took the fruit and ate it. Let me explain it this way with the diet example. For me, at home, a diet is never really the problem because I will not buy the food and I am too lazy to get in the car to appease a craving. If I am out of my home though, yikes, my hand has a life of its own. If there is a bowl of M&Ms next to me, I promise you, my hand will on its own go into the bowl and present the candy to my mouth. And you know that once you touch something, it is rude to put it back or throw it away. Most of our desires or sins are quickly conceived and are quickly justified. “It’s her own fault because….” “How dare them.” “Let me tell you.” “But I deserve to have this.” In a split second, we can form a plan to satisfy our want.

4. LUST GIVES BIRTH TO SIN

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Once you accept the temptation, the sin begins. Satan cannot make any person sin. It is our free will to follow the temptation that leads to sin.

5. SIN IS ACCOMPLISHED

Let say you have a temptation to think something evil about someone. At that moment two choices are yours. Push the thought away and reject it or grab the thought and take off with it. In a split second, the sin becomes reality when that temptation becomes so appealing to you that you begin to rant in your head about that other person. The temptation was not the sin. The sin became yours when you claimed it as yours.

6. SIN BRINGS FORTH DEATH (spiritual death is the separation of the spirit from God)

A conversation I think I will always have with God is about death and Satan. Death comes in many forms. In the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy makes that statement about not being in Kansas anymore, well, she was talking about a type of death. Everything she ever knew or relied on was gone. Satan brought us death in our relationships, innocence, futures, trust, stability; I could go on and on. Sin separates us from what God had originally created things to be and sin is never performed in a vacuum. Sin has consequences, and the innocent people around the sin get impacted along with the sinner.

How has sin impacted your life?

Now that we have seen the progression of sin let’s continue in Genesis with the fall of man.

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Why did Adam and Eve think that blaming God or blaming the serpent would excuse them from disobeying God? He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. How blessed is the man who fears

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always, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days Proverbs 28:13-14. We all do it in some form. Take a look at most apologies, and I bet you will notice that hidden somewhere in the apologies are a “but you” or “if you didn’t, I would not have.”

Why is saying “I was wrong” so hard?

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,Cursed are you more than all cattle,And more than every beast of the field;On your belly you will go, And dust you will eatAll the days of your life; 15 And I will put enmity (the state or feeling of being actively opposed or

hostile to someone or something)Between you and the woman,And between your seed and her seed;He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”16 To the woman He said,“I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth,In pain you will bring forth children;Yet your desire will be for your husband,And he will rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you;In toil you will eat of itAll the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your faceYou will eat bread,Till you return to the ground,Because from it you were taken;For you are dust,And to dust you shall return.” 20 Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

God was not going to let man stay in this cursed condition forever. The salvation plan was the means to end the curse of sin. ‘O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law’ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Have you ever thought about what life would be like without free will?

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Sin causes all of us some grave consequences and embarrassment. Some of us don’t have skeletons in a closet; we have elephants in the room. Perhaps you are just now learning Who God is and His abilities. Maybe you are a long-time believer but never stopped to think about God’s abilities. God is capable of making significant changes in your life. God wants you just as you are, so don’t fall into the trap to think you have to clean up your act before coming to God. It is time to stop running or resisting the call of God. Maybe it is time to come back home. God is a forgiving God. He is the Great I Am and whatever need you have; God can fill those needs.

What need(s) do you have?

What emotional need(s) do you have?

On this second week, what Name can you give God for something that has happened in your life?

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Chapter Three

SALVATION (excerpts from Finding The Way L. Kathleen Cline copyright 2017)

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So, choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

On Sunday, as you look around your church congregation, is everyone there saved? We would like to assume they were but that assumption could lead to someone’s eternal death. Everyone receives an invitation to follow Christ, but not all accept it. What we fill our spirit with is our choice.

It is very easy in this society to attempt to fill our spirits with things other than God, thinking those things will bring peace to our chaos. Some of us choose “acceptable” escapes like video games, movies, food, sleep or social chat rooms but others choose drugs or alcohol to completely shut out the world, at least for a period of time. Our Spirit will never be satisfied with imitation gods. If for a moment you do find some peace in your method, the next hunt for peace will require even more from you, causing you to begin that chase of an illusion of peace. How many hours do we waste as we numb ourselves trying to avoid life? Even church will not bring you peace if you do not commit to Jesus as your Savior.

Let’s looks at societal ways humans try to meet their spiritual needs other than God. The bullets below are there to help you understand the three parts of a human. Each part serves a purpose, but like many things in this fallen world, one part might attempt to pervert the other’s purpose. Foolishness sets in when we allow our flesh, which is our body and soul to cross over and attempt to meet the needs of our spirit.

Body: five senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch

Soul: imagination, conscience, memory, thought and emotions

Spirit: faith, prayer, worship

SpiritSoulBody

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Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul 1 Peter 2:11. Name some modern day fleshly lust (hankerings, ache for, must haves) that battles against us.

Name some things in society that can damage your reputation, pollute you or make you lose respect for yourself.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again,” The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit John 3:5-8.

About John 3:5-8, a question on “unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God?”

God’s word never conflicts. If there is an appearance of conflict it is, you that do not understand. It is your obligation to research and discover the truth.

What does God word say about salvation? For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

saved through faith not of ourselves not as the result of works

Conclusion: Salvation is not through baptism or any other works.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27

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If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10

Jesus reference here of “living water” was the Holy Spirit. Pull everything all together: “unless one is born of water and the Spirit.”

Baptism represents the death and resurrection of Christ. We are just proclaiming Jesus’s deeds by symbolically acting them out in baptism for others to visually see our proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Explain in your words why humans need salvation according to John 3:5-8.

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth John 4:24. Looking at the three parts of humans, where did you initially think worship was coming from in you? Why do you think God gave us a spirit?

Confusion about salvation happens since our Christian based country loves to claim God but without a true personal relationship. It would be like me claiming a relationship with you, when we just meet. I would not know what you like or don’t like or even why you do what you do. How would you then like it if I spoke for you, ordered at a restaurant for you and even chose your wardrobe? How much fun would it be that people started getting mad at you because I told them false information concerning you? Maybe you actually said or did something but I took it out of context to serve my needs and used your authority or credit to get what I wanted. God calls these people apostates. An apostate is someone who has claimed to have firsthand knowledge of God but never genuinely received Jesus Christ as a personal Savior. They are a pretend believer. It gets really confusing because an apostate can give verbal or active reasons you think they are saved. However, when life bears down of them their evil side can rear its head. Most of us can or will have bad behavior during pressure moments in our lives. Do you see the conundrum? Let’s talk about some of these confusing moments.

It is common for an apostate to go to church, cry in church and be moved to do “work” in the name of God.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in

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Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 21)

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19.)

It is common for an apostate to be emotionally tied to the belief of God or Jesus. It is common for an apostate to be a claimed creative worker for God. However, Titus 3:5 clearly tells us He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

A telltale sign of an apostate is that they are trying to change God’s word or His commandments to fit their lifestyle. Followers of Christ will fall and make serious moral judgment errors but they won’t try to change God’s rules, so others will also participate in their moral sin. And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them Romans 1:32.

WHAT COMES WITH SALVATION?

Ephesians 1:13: We are __________ with the Holy Spirit.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.

1 John 4:4: Greater is ______ that is in you than he who is in the world.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is the world.

Romans 8:26: The Spirit Himself __________ for us.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Galatians 5:22-23: ______ __ ___ _______ is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is not law.

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John 14:26: The ________ the Holy Spirit will _________ you all things.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is ___________.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

John 3:15-16 is how anyone can get admission into heaven. So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 14:6 tell us that Jesus is the door that everyone must pass through to get to God. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. James 2:19 even the demons believe in God so belief in God is not enough. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Ephesians 1:11-14: If the Holy Spirit seals followers, how do you unseal something God has done?

Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Romans 8:15-16: If followers are adopted into God’s family, what family court can remove you?

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

Titus 3:5: If our deeds did not save us then how can our sinful deeds relinquish a gift from God?

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He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

WHY DO WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM OUR SINS?

Because our sins separate us from God Romans 6:23 tells us For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal

life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WHY DO OUR SINS SEPARATE US FROM GOD?

Because God is holy, there is no sin in Him, and He takes no part with sin; therefore, our sins separate us from God. Because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. 1 Peter 1:16

Many would like an instruction manual for all the supposed different steps necessary for salvation. When man fell, and sin became an inherent part of humans, God gave His Son as a free gift, to die in our place so that humans could have another choice in life. God made sure that Satan did not doom his beautiful creation to a life of slavery- to sin or in permanent separation from Him. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Salvation is not about certain steps humans have to take to become saved because that would make salvation by works. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. Below is a verse by verse understanding of salvation, as given to us by God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. John 3:23 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever

believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,

even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, Has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24

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That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set your free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2

Salvation and forgiveness are not about following steps. Salvation comes by faith (Hebrews 11:1) in Christ, period. It is about what Jesus did for us. Yes, Christian should be baptized, turn from our sinful lifestyles or obey God’s laws but it is out of the love of God you are doing these things.

YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Luke 10:27

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:1

If you are tempted to think that keeping God’s commandments is a harsh requirement of the relationship, then please tell me what marital relationship can withstand cheating. Pick a side, God or evil. It is your choice, but God does require a commitment. Humans do not get to play both sides, so to speak. Rejection of God or not choosing God is a choice. Go back and look at John 3:17-18 again. It is because of the fall of man that humans became separated from God. The judgment is already there. If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and choose to follow Jesus, then Jesus has paid the price for you and you will not be held to the judgment.

There is not one religion that denies the existence of Jesus. What is up for debate is Who Jesus is to each religion. Most religions just claim Jesus as a good person or a prophet. The problem is Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and by definition, good people cannot profess to be God. Either Jesus was the Son of God, or He was a lunatic. It is your choice on your beliefs.

Christian believe that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “BEHOLD THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL, WHICH TRANSLATED MEANS, GOD WITH US.” Matthew 2: 20-23

Christians believe that Jesus was thirty years old when He began His public ministry. The ministry lasted at least three years. The first four books of the New Testament document

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Jesus’ life. These books are called the gospels which mean “good news.” The good news was Jesus. Jesus’ ministry ended when He was crucified on the cross, rose again from the grave, for forty days appeared to different people and then ascended into heaven in front of His disciples. Remember Jesus words. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father. John 10:17-18

Before the crucifixion: Jesus was blind folded, struck by soldiers in the face repeatedly, so harshly the Bible says one could hardly recognize him. Pilot took Jesus and scourged Him. Jesus had a crown of thorns shoved on His head, and the soldiers beat Him on the head with a reed. Everything listed above left Jesus so weak that a man named Simon was forced to carry the cross beam for Jesus to Golgotha. Even with all this evil done to Jesus, this was Jesus prayer.” Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Like 23:34

When the final shout comes, it will be too late if you have not accepted Jesus as your personal Savior. One of the greatest lies that Satan has sold to people is “there is always tomorrow, don’t worry, there is time.” The time is right now before God closes the door.

“But whoever denies [refuses to accept] Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Words cannot save you. You must have the intent or commitment to following Jesus. Hebrews 4:12 warns us that God can judge your thoughts and intentions of the heart. Salvation is not a game, a tool to use against God’s people; a means to get you out of trouble, a device to get you into political office or a path to get attention. You can deceive people all day long and live an apostate life. While you are fooling others, you may fool yourself but at no point is God deceived. He does know your intent and will hold you accountable.

The older I get; I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t proclaim that Jesus is coming. This proclamation may be because His coming is a far better ending to my life than the unknown end of my number days. It may be because I see such evil in this world that the proclamation reminds me, and others around me that God will prevail. Whatever my end, I know that one-way or another I will meet my Savior face to face. I pray you also can claim this blessed assurance.

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Chapter Four

I JUST MADE A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF (excerpts from Homeless No More L. Kathleen Cline copyright 2013)

My middle sister, like me, is a Floridian. Her new husband got a job in Colorado, and he reassured my sister that it rarely snows in the Denver area. The winter she moved to Denver, they had a record number of blizzards. To help my sister out, her husband bought her a brand-new SUV. One day as she was walking in a parking lot up to her beautiful new SUV, she noticed a woman sitting in the driver’s seat just looking out the passenger window like she had no cares in the world. Infuriated, my sister stomped up to the SUV and swung opened the driver’s door. Still, the woman just kept looking out the passenger window. As the woman’s head began to turn, my sister glanced down at the dashboard and realized that this was not her SUV. As she made eye contact with the woman, my sister stammered, “I am deeply sorry” and closed the door. On the way to her SUV she prayed, “Thank you, God, for not letting me say something stupid.”

My husband was assigned to the 22-MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) and did a tour with them in Iraq. When our men and woman return from war, their senses are on high alert making them a little on edge. One night, about one in the morning, the phone rang. As my husband picked up the phone, the person just hung up. A minute or two later, the phone rang again. Once again as my husband picked up the phone, the person just hung up. The third time the phone rang, I thought to myself, “You’re so going to get it.” This time my husband sat up in bed, turned on the light, and answered, “You have called my home and hung up two times. Is there something I can do for you? May I help you?” On the other end of the phone was an elderly man trying to call his family. I then heard my husband ask, “What number are you trying to dial?” Followed by “Oh, the last number, you are one number too high. Just go down one number, and you should be able to call your family.”

Here are two stories that went right. I told them to you maybe because I wanted to give a good example, but maybe because the bad stories are too many to narrow down to just two. In life, we daily wake up and make choices. When I get in the car, do I allow my Christian beliefs to rule, or do I let my flesh turn on my road rage? Do I play all day on Facebook, Pinterest, in my garden, or doing crafts, and claim I am too busy; or do I spend time with God and do the work I am called to do? Do I choose to be a mom today, or do I let TV, video games, or other electronic devices babysit my child? Do I open my mouth and say what I think, or do I allow God to rule my mouth? Do I use God’s Word to guide my life, or do I twist and manipulate God’s Word to justify my life? Every single day our behaviors either reflect God’s glory or we just make a fool out of ourselves. Let us look and learn from

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Simon Peter’s foolish moment.

I believe that making a fool out of ourselves is inevitable. For this lesson, I think we need to concentrate on what to do after the deed has been done. This is when we could either dig ourselves further in the situation or we could learn, take responsibility, and ultimately become stronger despite our foolish act. The choice is ours and ours alone. Our Christian witness will hinge on these moments in life. It is easy to behave perfectly when circumstances are just right. When mayhem strikes, emotions run high, or bad choices are made, what does our behavior look like then? When our figurative rooster crows, will we recognize our errors or will we continue down the same path?

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me” (Luke 22:31-34).

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the fire- light and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, 64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” 65 And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming (Luke 22:54-65).

Let’s look at the elephant in the room that Satan demanded permission from God to sift Simon like wheat. I cannot speak for God, but the verses below can give a small insight into why God gives permission. Also, please note that even though Satan was going to unleash on one of God’s, Jesus was interceding on His own child’s behalf. Jesus was praying that Simon would become stronger. Jesus was praying that Simon Peter’s faith would develop,

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so he could persevere in this world and help others grow despite whatever trials were happening.

1. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6

2. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Peter 3:17

3. Consider it all joy, may brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

4. Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:47-49

Let us not forget the story of Joseph. Joseph tells his brothers in Genesis 50:20 you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

How was Satan manipulating Peter? Although Peter was arrogant and prideful to think he could handle what was coming his way, what emotions did Satan trigger in Peter?

If I were Peter, I could tell you how the devil would be manipulating me—through fear, plain and simple. It is amazing how fear has played a huge role in my choices in life. Now I know better, but I am fifty-three. When I was in my twenties, Satan played that fear card. I was afraid of what people thought of me, and I had a tremendous fear of failing or not being good enough. The devil continually lied and told me to be afraid of change or moving forward.

1. Fear: And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? Mark 4:40 Many times if you look at the situation, you can see that Satan is playing you. What verses can you claim to counter Satan and his lies that specifically apply to your fear issues?

2. On top of fear, what card (exploiting) is Satan manipulating you? Could it be pride, embarrassment, depression, shame, laziness, procrastination, illness, bondage,

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money, the past?

If the past has become a huge issue for you and has begun to consume your thoughts, then below are a few verses to help you regain control and bring you peace. If you write these verses down and begin to repeat them over and over again, then God’s word will start to replace all those haunting memories. Also, praising God for the things in your life will refocus your thoughts.

Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Isaiah 43:18

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 13-14

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

We are destroying speculations (opinions) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalms 73:26

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself…. Daniel 1:8

Moreover, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

If you move out of pride and try and solve your issue yourself, you going to mess things up. Proverbs talks a great deal about most matters in life. Did you know that there are 31 chapters to Proverbs? You could read the corresponding chapter of Proverbs to today’s date. After a few months, you would have read through Proverbs several times. Soon, you are going to be picking out life verses for yourself. Give yourself a year of practicing this habit, and you will begin to quote verses for people to help others in their issue. Wisdom comes from the Lord, and this is one method obtaining God’s wisdom.

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Looking back at Luke, we can see that Peter mourned his actions. This is so important, because this meant that Peter was taking responsibility for them. James 4:9-10 says, “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” It is easy to claim you are taking responsibility, but if you do not take stock in what you cost others through your actions, then you have not really taken responsibility. If it is a public issue, then a public apology is necessary. How convenient for offenders to publically abuse someone, then quietly apologize. Taking this mature step will make sure that children of God understand the impact in other’s lives. If you are not willing to public humiliate yourself with an apology, then you should not publically humiliate others. In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

15 Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “ Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My Sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You,” Jesus said to Him, “Tend My Sheep.”

Jesus helped Peter confirm what Peter thought he felt. That is where most foolish behavior comes from in our lives. We think we are firm in our beliefs, but when push comes to shove, we fall. So, the question becomes, do we really believe what we think we know? Do we really believe the Bible? Do we really want to be obedient? Do we really love God? Ouch! Matthew 22:37 says, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Don’t just give the typical “Jesus” response. What in your life actually proves you live the questions above?

What do you feel about God?

Do you have a personal relationship with God?

What would you give up for God?

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Where do you draw the line with God?

When we choose not to love and obey God, then we are acting like Peter and denying Him. Our choices are to love God, which will lead to our obedience to God, or to deny God and live life according to our flesh.

For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

If you love Me, you will keep My commandment. John 14:14

Just as the Father had loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

Abide: accept or act in accordance; continue without fading or being lost.

Remember that Satan wants you to remain frozen in negative thoughts. On the other hand, God wants you to succeed in life. God does want you to learn from your mistakes, but He also wants you to move forward.

What are some goals to set to continue spiritually moving forward?

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Chapter Five

LOVE ACCORDING TO GOD

I believe love is one of the most misused words in our language. Without God, how we can truly love people? Let’s face it. People are unlovable at certain times in their life. The curious thing about love is if you love someone, you will overlook their faults. If someone you don’t know or hate does the same thing to you, an all-out war may break out. Human love is fickle at best.

What if people decided to apply God’s love to society? What would our world look like then? Would we have war? Would we have abused wives or children? Would the friends listed on Facebook actually be friends and not just a feeling of accomplishment because the friend’s number is high? How blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night Psalm 1:2?

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.1 Corinthians 13

1. LOVE IS PATIENT: What can make you lose your patience?

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My father used to tell me over and over again, that a person cannot make you lose your

temper. To be honest, I used to think my father was crazy for teaching me that line of

thought but now, I know, my dad was right. In life, we have a choice to lose our patience

with someone. It is not what a person is doing that makes us snap but instead what makes

us snap is how we are accepting the other person’s behavior. If you have affection for a

person, then your tolerance level is more accepting. If you dislike a person, then everybody

put your seat belt on, things are going to get rough.

God teaches us that true love has patience. Patient means enduring pain, provocation, or

annoyance with calmness. Did your insides just turn a little with a “What!?” The

understanding that God is asking us to do is not excuse bad behavior but instead not pick on

each other like an open wound. The golden rule mentioned in Matthew 7:12 is there, so

children of God can learn to show mercy to each other for those so called bad days. That

even though someone has a bad day every day of their life, as God’s children we are to

show love instead of displaying those spiritually crippling words of anger.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 tells us to not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Hmm, does that mean we are not allowed a dislike category for people?

2. LOVE IS KIND: Use a word that would describe your nature.

About five years ago, I started asking God for people to see me as kind. Last year, when I

walked up to a group of ladies, I introduced myself. Immediately one of the ladies stated, “It

is very nice to meet you. We were talking about you the other day and what a kind lady you

are.” You will never convince me that God did not answer my prayer. Of course, it is

through repeated actions that people label us and not on our words. We discussed this in

the first lesson. Hollow words harm our reputation. What the ladies were referring to, I do

not know, and I did not ask. I was too busy celebrating in my heart for the ladies’ words. The

celebration was because I know the wicked side of me. The only good that pops out of me is

because of God and His word living inside me. When God says, “We reap what we sow,” this

is not just referring to the negative in our lives. When we sow God in all aspects of our lives,

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then God will be sown into our lives. Kindness for me is something that God had to plant in

my life. Now, I am going to ask you, what word would you like people to describe you as, in

the future? How do you plan to achieve it?

3. LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS : What are you afraid of losing or not getting?

Many times, jealousy shows up in our lives because we feel left out or shorted in

some form. Sometimes it is because of past rejections, we fear of losing more in our

lives. The best way to off-set jealousy is being in close step with God. Remember

Satan plays on our fears and will stir up emotions. If you want something that others

have, then first thank God for their blessings and ask God how you can achieve the

same. If you are fearful of a loss of a relationship, then ask God what He thinks first.

Ask God if there is something that you need to do concerning the relationship. What

Christians need to make sure is that we never allow Satan to turn our heads in

jealousy and insult God. Let’s look at your children as an example. There is a

difference between your child asking you how they can earn or work towards

something they want and they are asking your help to achieve it. Then there is the

child that is throwing a fit because you have not provided something they want and

they are demanding you to deliver. I think the comparison of the two type of

children gives us a good look at our approach to God. You ask and do not receive

because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures

James 4:3.

4. LOVE DOES NOT BRAG : When is it okay to compliment yourself?

It is a common practice for my sister, or sister’s in Christ to brag on what God has done in

our lives. What gets twisted about this is if you are listing off material objects and

proclaiming blessed. Matthew 5 is full of what God feels about being blessed, and none of it

is material. To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but

to them it has not been granted Matthew 13:11. Be conscious of the fact that we are

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supposed to be talking about how God is moving to provide a car, jobs, restored

relationships, place to live and food but what we are not meant to do is one upping each

other on what we own, have achieved or our appearance. Personally, I am very proud that

someone called me kind because I understand that only through God can that be achieved.

Complimenting yourself means that you are praising the accomplishments that God has

done in your life. The verse I will stand on concerning bragging is GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE

PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. James 4:6

5. LOVE IS NOT ARROGANT : What does the Bible say we can boast? (Galatians 6:4, 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:17) Write them out, please.

6. LOVE DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY : What does my behavior have to do with love according to God? (Matthew 15:19)

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Ladies, our expressions on our faces is what betrays us and is the biggest culprit for us to

behave unbecomingly. At a leadership conference, I proved my point with this little story. I

teach rescued ladies, and one of the biggest issues with them is men. I could not tell you

how many ladies have walked from the program with the hopes that a particular man was

their answer to prayer. After class one day, a lady came up to me with joy in her voice and

told me she was leaving to go live with a man and asked me to pray with her so God would

bless this move. I held out my hands and told her I would pray for her, but please heed my

words. “Consider marrying this man and do what is right in the sight of the Lord.” Her

answer was simple. “I can’t marry him because I am already married.” Right now, the look

on your face is what I am talking about, when I said our expressions betray us. Whether it is

shock, dismay, rejection, hate or flat stunned, our faces betray us and tell the other person,

“You are worthless.” God says in Matthew 15:19 that from our heart comes our behaviors.

Yes, I understand the full impact of what the ladies request was and that it is silliness to

think God will bless a sinful action. Does that mean we are allowed to call her names, even

with our expressions?

One day a friend betrayed me horribly. As I was sitting in a meeting with full knowledge of

her evil side, I watched as other ladies loved and admired her soft behavior. You know that

sweet southern appearance that females display. In my core, I am embarrassed to say; I ask

God to expose her for who she truly was. Immediately I felt God ask me, “Do you want me

to expose you?” My next statement to God was, “Leave her alone God.” As we studied in

the I Just Made a Fool Out of Myself chapter, we all step into it, so to speak. If that

statement is true, then let us all try and keep those evil expressions that women are so

good at shooting at each other, under conviction. If you don’t want an ugly, hateful

expression made to you, then don’t do ugly hateful expressions to others.

7. LOVE DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN : If you don’t look out for yourself, who will? (Psalm 128)

Society pounds the question above into us, so much so, that unfortunately the church itself

is walking around thinking it is wisdom. The first line in Psalm 128 is the key, How blessed is

everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. There is nothing I can say that will add

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to this verse. I can, although give you my life verse to add to the conversation you are

having with yourself right now. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who

fears the Lord, she shall be praised Proverbs 31:30.

8. LOVE DOES NOT PROVOKE: Is “just kidding” an excuse for cruel behavior? Proverbs 26: 18-19

Despite what Hollywood or other entities of art says, cruelty is not comedy. Before you go

down the “They deserve what they get” road, please go back to my evil prayer of trying to

turn God on another. If “deserve” is the standard by which you want God to move, then you

are in for a very rough lesson. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your

standard of measure, it will be measured to you Matthew 7:2. As God’s children, we are not

allowed to turn on our sisters and brothers in any cruel manner, and this includes, teasing,

sarcasm, insults or feeding someone their own words back to them.

9. LOVE DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED : Do you have a running score of wrongs done? When things don’t go your way, do you list off everything you have done for God?

Scientists have proven that a memory attached to an emotion makes the event sear into our

minds. Maybe that is why ladies have memories like an elephant. Women tend to have a

bag in which we shove information of wrongs done for each person in our lives. If a person

is unfortunate enough to trigger anger in us, then out comes the bag of memories and we

start listing every wrong ever done by that person. Seriously, what kind of love is that?

Ever had a boss that appeared never to tell you when things were going right but heaven

forbids, one thing goes amiss, and they were right there to make you feel stupid? How

about a critical spirit in a form a person, that was more than happy to point and sneer at

your life? Why, then, would any of us allow Satan to use us in this same manner? I hate

Satan, criticism, slams, condemnation, guilt, put-downs and insults. If this were the words

that someone used to describe me, I would shutter.

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Now, if you have someone in your life that is performing these acts and is claiming love,

then you need to have a huge conversation with God. I wrote a sentence three times here

and erased it. So, here goes. You should never tolerate physical abuse and you must remove

yourself from that situation and seek help. Verbal abusive behavior should also never be

tolerated, but I will put a caveat on this statement. It is not verbal abuse if you instigate

situations and the other person is just better at abuse than you are. We can’t claim victim

and be an instigator at the same time.

Please be careful concerning this area and don’t let Satan take advantage of you.

Forgiveness, trust, and reconciliation are not the same things. God never said forgive and

forget because that would lead us to repeat or stay in abusive relationships. Finally, we

don’t want to be that critical spirit that is always pointing out faults and reminding people

of their mistakes just to be cruel.

10. LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS : Why do we draw lines of tolerance? Write what God says we are to do. (Galatians 6: 1-5, Luke 17:3-4)

Accountability is much different than judging. If you saw a baby bunny bounce right into the

water, would you just stand there and watch it drown? The same thing should go for our

sisters and brothers in Christ. Most of the time, it is the tone and the words we use that

makes people reject the accountability we are saying. God asks us to strive with each other

which means we are to labor with each other. It is a struggle to stay away from evil. For

example, if your sister admits to you that she is going to call and tell someone off, then

maybe you should caution her. “Please be careful because God says….and I know for a fact

that He means it.” Maybe then you can testify about how God worked in your life, as I have

in my stories. We all have stories about lessons learned.

I do have a funny question for us all. God tells us in the Bible, how He feels about issues and

behaviors. Why then are we shocked when the consequences come back to us? He is God

and cannot deny Himself. If we are faithless, He is faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2

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Timothy 2:13. Accountability has to do with understanding that we are all vulnerable to

Satan’s plots. Judgmental arrogance says that others are stupid for sinning. Once again, God

will be more than happy to hold all of us to our cruel standards. Our choice. As fellow

children in Christ, we need to help each other by watching each other’s back. It is

comforting to know someone loves me enough to labor with me in my spiritual battles.

Thank you, God, for bringing me sisters that spiritually stand with me and dear God, please,

continue to bless me with sister prayer warriors!

11. LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS : (1 Peter 4:8) Why do we always think the worse of

people?

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Maybe it is just me, but some days, I have to catch my thoughts, because in my head I have

played out an entire scenario about a person and they did not even do it. We are destroying

speculations (opinions) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and

we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5. Some

days I have to repeat the phrase “capture every thought” multiple times, to remind myself

to stop the day-dreams or to be more accurate, day-rants. All those conclusions that we

come to about people or those assumptions on how someone is going to react to a situation

are not allowed. God asks His children to think the best of people. Here is a fact I know you

know but let’s say it anyway. A person’s reputation will speak for itself. There is no need for

anyone to tell others about someone because people’s actions speak for them. For

example, I am never late. If I am late, then my loved ones look for me. That is how on time I

am. With that said, since my behavior speaks, I never have to convince anyone that I will be

on time. They just know me. In fact, most of my actions in life are so consistent, when

another person tries to accuse me of something false, my love ones know better. To sum

this all up, as children of God, we do not need to think the worst of anyone. Christians

should just allow a person’s reputation to speak for itself, and show a fervent love towards

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all.

12. LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS : Why is relying on another person so scary? Do we set ourselves up to fail?

As we studied earlier, it is cruel always to be pointing to someone’s past failures. At the

same time, if someone is not capable of completing a task, why would you set them up to

fail? Yes, it is wonderful that we place hope in each other to always strive to do better and

finding redemption, but God’s discretion on how much to expect from each other is

necessary. Obviously, a child that just learned to walk is not capable of running around the

block. We need to apply this same grace to the people in our lives. An addict should never

be left alone with any potential drug of choice. Trust is broken when we begin to expect too

much from another person. Someone could yell at me all day, turn blue and hit the floor

but I am directionally challenged, and will most likely get lost, especially under pressure. If I

am going somewhere new by myself, I give myself usually a thirty-minute buffer for getting

lost. All the hope in the world does not help my directional challenge.

The hope that we are to have with each other comes from the promises of God. The addict

can have the hope of a sober life, but the boundaries of his or her limitation will always be

there. I hope that sooner or later I will arrive safely at my destination, but a buffer of time

for me will always be a wise move. God’s word teaches us that wisdom comes from the

Lord. So, with that lesson, we must ask God on how to encourage others to stretch their

faith without setting them up to fail.

13. LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS : This is where Satan encourages you to check out of life and to numb yourself down! God needs us to participate in life. (2 Timothy 2: 1-6)

Once I came home in a huff and told my husband that we needed to change churches

because I was angry about the politics at church or something along that line. My husband

quietly listened to me rant and then ask one simple question. “Will people be at the new

church?” Life would be so much easier if people weren’t involved. As silly as that sounds,

people are the reason most of us don’t sit on a board, volunteer, go to church, go to the

office party or even go to a movie. When God asks us to get involved, people are the

number one excuse of why we don’t want to do the mission.

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When God ask me to teach rescued ladies, I immediately asked him, “How?” There were

two things God told me to do. I give this same advice to any leader who asks me how I teach

rescued ladies and still love what I do “Mind your own business and do what you’re told.”

See, we think to get involved means that we get into the dirt with people. I can love on my

ladies because I never ask them any details of their lives. I just love them and teach them.

Details of “why” for me fall into God’s territory. My director gets into the ladies’ details but

she is called to do that job, and God has gifted her to process the information. Life gets too

hard for us when we get involved with information we cannot process, and we were never

meant to know.

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate

friends. Proverbs 17:9

A lady one day just told an ugly fact about a mutual friend. Immediately I had a full

understanding of why God asked us not to gossip. I kindly asked my friend never to tell me

anything like that again because all I could do with that information was sin.

Facts about some people’s behavior are often vile or downright nasty. There is not a thing

on this earth you can do with those facts other than thinking evil thoughts. Now, I know

someone is reading this is saying, “You can pray about it.” Let me ask you the question that I

often ask God. “How can I un-hear or un-see this fact?” Information that I never needed to

know or am not equipped to process is now rambling around my head, tempting me to

form an opinion.

By minding my own business and not appeasing my curiosity of how someone ended up in a

homeless shelter, I can just love and teach God’s word as directed from the Holy Spirit.

Right now, I could easily spend an hour telling teaching story after teaching story of how I

said the right words, brought a prayed for object, shared a pertinent story or shared the

perfect sought after verse. Knowing details of all the ugly of people’s lives for most of us is

not necessary. If we just ask God how to get involved, the joy of the Lord will be our

strength.

Enduring from God’s point of view is loving all, mourning with all, fervent prayer with all and

laboring with all. Life will not get to hard when we learn to bear each one’s burdens minus

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the ugly details. Unless God tells you to get details, I advise you to stop asking people how

they got messed up. Now, if you feel help should only be given to those that deserve your

help, then feel free to be nosey but remember, God will show you the same courtesy. I will

give testimony that I absolutely, with great joy and excitement love what I do. Even with

days that Satan has someone yell at me, insult me or rant in some form. Why? Because God

word teaches me that love, endures all things and I love God.

14. LOVE NEVER FAILS : What scares you about failure? Proverbs 24:16

Thomas Edison; February 11, 1847; “I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have

succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will

not work, I will find the way that will work."

For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of

calamity Proverbs 24:16. Did God say we would not fail? No, so accept that fact. Failures

teach great lessons. Some of them humiliating but a lesson all the same. The righteous can

rise back up because of the hope we have in God. Go back to the joke about the scientist.

God made man out of dust. God calls into being that which does not exist Romans 4:17b.

God tells us that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away;

behold new things have come 2 Corinthians 5:17. Stop listening to what man or Satan has to

say and ask God His opinion on you.

Now, apply those same words to others. Stop saying people will never change. Plead with

God for a new heart for those stubborn people in your life. And I will give them one heart,

and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of them and give

them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do

them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God Ezekiel 11:19-20. If God has

made a difference in your life, then He can do that same thing for anyone.

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Once again your hope is in God, not man. If God desires all men to be saved and to come to

the knowledge of the truth 1 Timothy 2:4, then that should be our priority, also. Never allow

your love to fail out of despair or hopelessness. Claim God’s truths!

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Chapter Six

SPIRITUAL WARFARE: What do you do?

But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! Romans 13:11-14The Message

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20New American Standard Bible (NASB)

In this chapter, we are going to pull everything you know about God and God’s word and

develop a system for you to defeat Satan and his schemes. This exercise needs to be

personal for you because sometimes, we are going to be like David or Daniel and have to on

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our own, determine and encourage ourselves in God. Many times, warfare happens in those

moments of isolation, like at bedtime.

1. BELT OF TRUTH

What do you know about God?It is going to be testimony time. I am going to ask that in your testimony to have a verse to back up what you witnessed. I will put my example first to stir up stories of how God has moved in your life. Try to keep it to two to three minutes and avoid too many rabbit trails or details. Ask God to help you make it interesting, factual but precise. Ready? One day, God asks me to send my widow mom, one-thousand dollars. That was a great deal of money to my husband and myself. So, I went and told my husband Rich what God asked us to do. My husband is incredibly laid back, so his response was, “Send it.” When my mom received the check, she called me and asked me what the money was for and why I sent it. I told her God asked me to send her the money. Since my mom had no immediate need for it, we both talked about maybe giving a party for her WMU friends. A party for my mom would be out of her budget. The next morning, my mom called and asked me, “Lori, did Rich or God ask you to send me the check?” I laughed and said, “God.” Apparently, my mom had received a bill from her gardener. The company had forgotten to charge her for the entire summer. The check for a thousand dollars covered the bill. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalm 34:10 God knew of my mother’s need and met it before she even had to worry. Our God is a God that not only provides for our physical needs; He also provides for our spiritual needs. Your testimony:

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What names have you personally given to God and why?

What verse do you rely on or go to in times of trouble?

What made you fall in love with God? I am not talking about the event that brought

you to Christ. I am asking you about that moment when you realized how much you

loved God for Who He is.

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What does God’s word say about you or your salvation?

Refer to Chapter three.

2 BREAST PLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (morally right or justified)

Examine the tactics Satan is using against you. What emotions are you struggling

with that is fighting your spirit? Write a life verse to counter Satan lies.

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3. GOSPEL SHOES: below are some basic questions you need to examine and begin to

develop a plan. You can just put a basic yes or no. You could also put a verse to pray or

claim. You could have a praise song to sing or to listen. Don’t forget the last question is

for you literally to ask God. Many times, we are walking ourselves into issues out of

habit, selfishness or ignorance. Wisdom comes from the Lord, so spend time with God

on this question. Please note, spending time with God is not just a CWJC lesson plan;

this is a spiritual life plan.

Are you spiritually prepared?

Are you prayed up?

Are you praised up?

Are you worshiped up?

Are you walking yourself into situations? (Ask God now! Don’t just read

words.)

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5. SHIELD OF FAITH

Confirm what you know and cement it. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able

to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand,

O King. But even if He does not let it be known to you, O King, that we are not going

to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up Daniel 3: 17-18.

What do you believe?

When your emotions fail, do you have a support system to lift you up? What

role does God play in this support system?

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6. HELMET OF SALVATION

WHAT CAME WITH YOUR SALVATION?In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-

having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise

Ephesians 1: 13. sealed

You are from God, little children, and have overcome the; because greater is He who

is in you than he who is in the world 1 John 4:4. Holy Spirit

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray

as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for

words Romans 8:26. Intercession

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law Galatians 5:

22-23. Fruit of the Spirit

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach

you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you John 14: 26.

Teacher

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2

Corinthians 3: 17. Freedom

Let’s review what you just read. With your salvation came, the Holy Spirit sealing your spirit

and living in you. The Holy Spirit will intercede on your behalf, help you maintain your

behavior with gifts, and will teach you how to develop and use God’s word effectively.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives you a freedom like you never knew before, because you are no

longer a slave or a tool to be used by Satan.

1. SATAN o Is a created Cherub: Ezekiel 27:12-15

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o Never underestimated Satan’s power: Jude 1:9

o He is convincing (1/3 angels fell with him): Revelation 12:4

2. GOD

o Alone knows our thoughts: 1 Kings 8:39

o Spirits are subject to you: Luke 10:18-20

o Gifts us with spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:7-31

o Wisdom comes from the Lord: 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

o God has no equal and no rival: 1 Timothy 2:5

7. SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

God’s word enlightens (greater knowledge or understanding) about every situation

in life. God’s word protects your heart from the lies of Satan that bring fear, anxiety

and all extreme emotions. As you read God’s word, make sure to keep around you

something to write verses down. Life verses are a vital part of spiritual warfare. If

you were to go look at the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4:1-6, you will

repeatedly see Jesus said, “It is written.” If God’s word is Jesus’s weapon of choice,

then it should also be our weapon of choice.

8. PRAYER (everyone can be a prayer warrior) Below is a quick run through about

communicating with God. Review the list and ask yourself, “What does this look like or

how does it play out in my prayer life?”

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1. SEEKING GOD AS A PRIORITY: God is not the last resort!

2. ASKING GOD what do you want me to do?

3. SOCIALIZING WITH GOD: Talking with God about nature, people or

observations around you.

4. CHATTING ABOUT ISSUES WITH GOD THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

5. THANKING GOD FOR THE BEAUTY YOU SEE AROUND YOU OR THE BEAUTY THAT IS IN

YOUR LIFE.

6. SINGING TO GOD. REMINDER, GOD SAID TO MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE. HE NEVER SAID THAT

YOU HAD TO BE ON KEY. Can I get an amen?

7. JUST BEING WITH GOD: No real words or request. Let me say it this way. I know a

true friend in my life, when I can just be with them and not have to fill the air with

words of entertainment.

8. INTERCESSION: pleading on behalf of others that have requested prayer or praying

for those names of people that God has placed on your heart. (Leaders,

Friends/family, strangers that you come across throughout your day or that

emergency- truck that just ran past you.

9. SOS PRAYERS OR THOSE 911 CALLS

MOST LIKELY ONE OF THESE THINGS IS GOING ON WHEN WE PRAY.1. God will give us what we ask when we ask it.

2. God will give us what we ask but at a better time for us.

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3. God will give us something better than what we ask at the best time for us.

4. God’s reply to the request is a simple no.

Number 1, is a simple, straightforward prayer. Name a prayer that you instantly received an

answer?

Number 2, is a prayer that can tempt us to begin to get impatient. We are creatures that

want things when we want it. Satan knows this fact and tempts us towards being impatient

with God. Do you trust God to know the best timing for things in your life? Then calm down

and tell God, you trust Him, and His perfect timing is what you desire.

Number 3 can confuse us. Even though we received something better (substitute), often we don’t recognize it because we had our hearts set on (fill in the blank.)

Name some things that can cause you to reject how God answered your prayer?

Name things that can help you accept God’s will for your life and His answers to our

prayers?

Number 4 can throw us for a loop if we listen to Satan. This answer is a “no” to our request. Knowing what life is like without God, why is walking away from God an option, when we don’t like the way God answers our prayers?

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Everyone wants peace in their life. What does the Bible say about peace? Peace in God’s world is not focusing on the event in play as much as focusing on God while an event is in motion. Evil will always do what evil does. Grasp that fact, and your next challenge is learning how to emotionally and spiritually succeed while evil is in full motion. God’s peace is different in that it changes your reactions to evil events. Take the first statement below that peace comes from unity with God. Obviously, to be whole with God means obedience to His word or in biblical terms “dying to self.” There is no verse that allows, “tit for tat.” Believe it or not, for a Christ follower, peace does not come from you proving yourself right or from you being the biggest bully in the room.

At all times, you must allow God to rule your heart. When you do, the Holy Spirit will take over and the words that come out of your mouth will shock even you or the Holy Spirit will take over, and your reaction will be appropriate. God’s peace is not this bizarre “hippy-go-free-free” lifestyle. God’s peace is about displaying God appropriately for the moment-at-hand.

The day when the children push past that last nerve and destroy objects that you loved and worked hard to own. How about when the in-laws of thirty years, insult you, one more time just because they can, to remind you that you are not family to them. That horrific moment when so-called friends or family publicly on social media, humiliate you and have a good laugh at your expense. That dumbfounding moment when that socially inept person comments on your weight or your appearance in front of a huge crowd. How about when that person you were talking to just walks off to talk to another person, right in the middle of your sentence.

Peace will not come from doing harm to people or praying for God to do harm to them. A peaceful Godly life happens when you allow God to handle the situation by laying it at His feet, plead to Him for direction and trust Him completely. Your emotions will be in turmoil until you do these things. It takes effort and a deliberate act of will to allow God to rule your heart.

BIBLE VERSES ON PEACE (Look up these verses)

Peace that comes from unity with God: Colossian 3:15, Romans 14:17-19

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Peace that comes from the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22

We must pursue peace of mind: 1Peter 3:11, Psalm 34:14

We must cast our anxieties on God: 1 Peter 5:7, John 14:27

With peace, there is joy: Proverbs 12:20

Pursue peace and build up one another: Romans 14:19

Take courage in God: John 16:33

God is not a God of confusion: 1 Corinthians 14:33

Rejoice in the Lord: Philippians 4:4-7

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: Proverbs 18:10

Trust in the Lord: Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:3

Spirit of power, love and discipline: 2Timothy 1:7

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Endnotes:

Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org ”

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Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1194, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndal House Publishers, Inc

http://www.orthodoxresource.co.uk/orthodoxy/trinity.htm public domain

Homeless No More L. Kathleen Cline copyright 2013

Finding The Way L. Kathleen Cline copyright 2017

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