Westside Christian Fellowship

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Lessons From Nehemiah Part 4: God is Merciful; Ready to Pardon Gave charge of Jerusalem to a faithful man who feared God (7:2) Ezra reads the Law to those who “could understand” and they all stood (8) They all wept when they heard (8:9) Do not be sorrowful – the joy of the Lord is your strength. Then separation took place from pagan influence (9:1) They were reminded of God’s faithfulness, and that their father’s rejected God (9) God is “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (9:17b).   Ready – easily available or obtained; within reach. Gracious – courteous, kind, and pleasant. Merciful – bringing someone relief from something unpleasant. Slow to anger – not in a hurry / patient. Abundant in kindness – overflowing: more than any person could ever offer.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Lessons From Nehemiah Part 4: God is Merciful; Ready to Pardon Gave charge of Jerusalem to a faithful man who feared God (7:2) Ezra reads the Law to those who “could understand” and they all stood (8) They all wept when they heard (8:9) Do not be sorrowful – the joy of the Lord is your strength. Then separation took place from pagan influence (9:1) They were reminded of God’s faithfulness, and that their father’s rejected God (9) God is “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (9:17b).   Ready – easily available or obtained; within reach. Gracious – courteous, kind, and pleasant. Merciful – bringing someone relief from something unpleasant. Slow to anger – not in a hurry / patient. Abundant in kindness – overflowing: more than any person could ever offer.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Don’t Give Demons too Much Credit THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 9   The Doctrine of Satan and Demons: Wayne Grudem (outline) Handout for your consideration – listening online search the title above.   NOTE: Some of these notes are my additions – Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.   A. The Origin of Demons (p. 411) 1. Between the events of Gen 1:31 and 3:1, a rebellion in the angelic world must have taken place. (Gen. 1:31, 2Pe. 2:4, Jud 1:6) Language of ascending to heaven and setting his throne on high rebellion. (Isa. 14:12-15)   2. Angels are nonmaterial and do not marry casts doubt on idea that “the sons of God” equal angels who married human wives. Likely that “sons of God” refers to people belonging to God and, like God, walking in righteousness. (Gen. 6:2, Mat 22:30, Deu 14:1, Gen 4:26, Cf. Gen. 5, 5:3) Gen. 6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.   CHUCK MISSLER – “The strange events recorded in Genesis 6 were understood by the ancient rabbinical sources, as well as the Septuagint translators, as referring to fallen angels procreating weird hybrid offspring with human women known as the “Nephilim.” So it was also understood by the early church fathers. These bizarre events are also echoed in the legends and myths of every ancient culture upon the earth . . .”. http://www.khouse.org/articles/1997/110/

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Don’t Give Demons too Much Credit THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 9   The Doctrine of Satan and Demons: Wayne Grudem (outline) Handout for your consideration – listening online search the title above.   NOTE: Some of these notes are my additions –     Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.   A. The Origin of Demons (p. 411) 1. Between the events of Gen 1:31 and 3:1, a rebellion in the angelic world must have taken place. (Gen. 1:31, 2Pe. 2:4, Jud 1:6) Language of ascending to heaven and setting his throne on high rebellion. (Isa. 14:12-15)   2. Angels are nonmaterial and do not marry casts doubt on idea that “the sons of God” equal angels who married human wives. Likely that “sons of God” refers to people belonging to God and, like God, walking in righteousness. (Gen. 6:2, Mat 22:30, Deu 14:1, Gen 4:26, Cf. Gen. 5, 5:3) Gen. 6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.   CHUCK MISSLER – “The strange events recorded in Genesis 6 were understood by the ancient rabbinical sources, as well as the Septuagint translators, as referring to fallen angels procreating weird hybrid offspring with human women known as the “Nephilim.” So it was also understood by the early church fathers. These bizarre events are also echoed in the legends and myths of every ancient culture upon the earth . . .”. http://www.khouse.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Lessons From Nehemiah Part 2: 10 Principles of Warfare Ch. 3: Families and leaders rose up to rebuild the gates   GATES – http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/nehem3.htm   1 Principle: Defended Against Enemies 4 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” Taunting and discouragement is always a tactic of the enemy – it drains enthusiasm and kills motivation. Learn to “encourage yourself in the Lord.” Nehemiah’s response . . . Principle 2: Begin with a Spiritual Defense SPIRITUALLY – 4:4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. Principle 3: Keep Building [a mind to work] PHYSICALLY – 6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Principle 4: Don’t Let Your Guard Down THE ENEMY BECAME ANGRY 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. Principle 5: Expect Friendly Fire 10 Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” 11 And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.” 12 So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.” Even believers become discouraged. Principle 6: God Defends, but We Still Must Position Ourselves 13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Faith will be tested; fortitude challenged – fear must not prevail.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes “What You Intended For Evil” THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 8 Ponerology is a study of evil. “If the sleeping church doesn’t awake, there is little hope.” THE NATURE OF EVIL: Why do bad things happen to good people?   If the staple answer is the correct answer seek no other answer. The irony of atheism is that they often use evil to disprove God.   Original sin: The condition we all share from Adam/Eve via the fall (Gen. 3).   The propensity to sin vs. original sin We know that something changed because DEATH and DISEASE followed. Without toxic environments & damaged DNA, the body was designed to live.   EPIGENETICS: the study of changes caused by gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.   Pelagianism [propensity] vs. Paul 1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” Romans 5:12, “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.” Vs. 18 – “…so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” Ephesians 2:3, “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”   Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes “What You Intended For Evil” THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 8   Ponerology is a study of evil. “If the sleeping church doesn’t awake, there is little hope.”     THE NATURE OF EVIL: Why do bad things happen to good people?   If the staple answer is the correct answer seek no other answer. The irony of atheism is that they often use evil to disprove God.   Original sin: The condition we all share from Adam/Eve via the fall (Gen. 3).   The propensity to sin vs. original sin We know that something changed because DEATH and DISEASE followed. Without toxic environments & damaged DNA, the body was designed to live.   EPIGENETICS: the study of changes caused by gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.   Pelagianism [propensity] vs. Paul 1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” Romans 5:12, “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.” Vs. 18 – “…so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” Ephesians 2:3, “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”   Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Romans 3:23,

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet No Sermon Notes

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet No Sermon Notes

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes The America You Never Knew Most don’t care because it doesn’t affect them  – YET.   DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852): “There is no nation on earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow. Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.”     What’s this have to do with the Gospel?   Men/Women who are filled with God’s spirit have to say something. Weep before you wip.   Freedom is a GIFT from God!   “I don’t want to get INVOLVED!”   ———————————————————————————————   THE BIG QUESTION: Does God desire that marriages . . . Governments?   The church is to be the conscience AND the government the sword.   EXAMPLE: THE PRESIDENT IS “MINISTER OF JUSTICE”  – Churchill   / Patton                                  Romans 13 The wrath of the US military  –   “The origination and descent of all human power [is] from God first, to terrify evil doers; secondly, to cherish those who do well. Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself.” WILLIAM PENN (1644-1718); FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA     BUT You can’t legislate morality…   “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).   Stop comparing Rome’s government in the N.T. to ours.   JESUS Wouldn’t Run for Office   He is Sovereign / King of kings / Government rests upon His…   He doesn’t need 3 branches of government he is the Branch. He doesn’t need separations of powers He is the Power. He doesn’t need the Supreme Court; He is the Supreme Court.     THE AMERICA YOU NEVER KNEW – Be careful where you get your info.     PROVIDENCE – Pilgrims AND Puritans.   “We shall be a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.” JOHN WINTHROP (1588-1649); ONE OF THE RECOGNIZED LEADERS OF THE PURITANS. “In this age there can be no substitute for Christianity. That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.” HOUSE & SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE; REPORTS TAKEN BETWEEN 1853-1854   If a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly ...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes The America You Never Knew Most don’t care because it doesn’t affect them  – YET.   DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852): “There is no nation on earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow. Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.”     What’s this have to do with the Gospel?   Men/Women who are filled with God’s spirit have to say something. Weep before you wip.   Freedom is a GIFT from God!   “I don’t want to get INVOLVED!”   ———————————————————————————————   THE BIG QUESTION: Does God desire that marriages . . . Governments?   The church is to be the conscience AND the government the sword.   EXAMPLE: THE PRESIDENT IS “MINISTER OF JUSTICE”  – Churchill   / Patton                                  Romans 13 The wrath of the US military  –   “The origination and descent of all human power [is] from God first, to terrify evil doers; secondly, to cherish those who do well. Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself.” WILLIAM PENN (1644-1718); FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA     BUT You can’t legislate morality…   “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).   Stop comparing Rome’s government in the N.T. to ours.   JESUS Wouldn’t Run for Office   He is Sovereign / King of kings / Government rests upon His…   He doesn’t need 3 branches of government he is the Branch. He doesn’t need separations of powers He is the Power. He doesn’t need the Supreme Court; He is the Supreme Court.     THE AMERICA YOU NEVER KNEW – Be careful where you get your info.     PROVIDENCE – Pilgrims AND Puritans.   “We shall be a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.” JOHN WINTHROP (1588-1649); ONE OF THE RECOGNIZED LEADERS OF THE PURITANS. “In this age there can be no substitute for Christianity. That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.” HOUSE & SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE; REPORTS TAKEN BETWEEN 1853-1854   If a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly fo...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes The Sovereign Lord – God’s Got This THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 7   Wayne Grudem on sovereignty, “God’s exercise of power over all of His creation.” (1) Preservation – God keeps all created things existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Christ is “upholding the universe by his word of power.”   If Christ were to cease his continuing activity of sustaining all things in the universe, then all except the triune God would instantly cease to exist.   Our dependence on God is affirmed every time we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11), but we often have to cooperate. He may relent as in the case of Hezekiah and II Chronicles 7:14. People become frustrated when don’t know WHY, WHAT, WHEN, HOW, WHERE? APPLICATION: God’s got this. On screen – Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJV) Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word; [in respect to God]), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?   The court battle; the tough decision; the rebellious child; the broken marriage; failing health – GOD’S GOT THIS, but you have to position yourself.   OLD HYMN IN 1887 – When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Refrain: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way; To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.   The court battle – humble and gracious [reflect the nature of Christ] The tough decision – submit and wait, Vs. yelling and cursing? The rebellious child – loving and gentle, or sarcastic while throwing the Bible. The broken marriage – ALL OF THE ABOVE Failing health – trusting, or surrendering to fear?                                            ⇩ ____________________________________________________   (2) Concurrence- God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.   The psalmist declares that “Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth…”. (Ps. 135:6). EVEN “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the LORD” (Prov. 16:33).   God’s sovereignty is the primary cause; our involvement is the secondary cause.   Perfect will / permissive will: trust in the PERFECT; pray for the PERMISSIVE.   This is why we walk by faith and not sight. APPLICATION: God’s got this. On screen – Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJV) Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?   Rom. 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Half Right – Almost Saved THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 6 WHY ARE WE HERE? Matt. 28:1-8 NKJV – Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. -Are you part of the believing crowd? The mocking, or the coward… DO NOT BE AFRAID. HE SAID, “COME AND SEE.” GO QUICKLY AND TELL OTHERS THAT HE IS RISEN. GO INTO GALILEE – YOU WILL SEE HIM. FEAR AND GREAT JOY FOLLOWED. THE DOCTRINES explain what and why: propitiation, substitutionary atonement, redemption, justification, sanctification. Propitiation [appeasing] – 1 John 2:2…and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. Romans 3…all men are sinners. The penalty is death. We don’t have a gun problem, we have a sin problem. “No, No, No: I wanted to hear about Easter bunnies, lilies, and chocolate.” We love Coors light so we want the cross light; we don’t want to be narrow-minded so we embrace the broad road that leads to destruction. Most believe that “works” satisfy God’s justice – Half right…almost saved Substitutionary Atonement – 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Drawbridge example –  substitution. Most believe that “works” atone for our sins – Ha...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes Half Right – Almost Saved THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 6 WHY ARE WE HERE? Matt. 28:1-8 NKJV – Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. -Are you part of the believing crowd? The mocking, or the coward… DO NOT BE AFRAID. HE SAID, “COME AND SEE.” GO QUICKLY AND TELL OTHERS THAT HE IS RISEN. GO INTO GALILEE – YOU WILL SEE HIM. FEAR AND GREAT JOY FOLLOWED. THE DOCTRINES explain what and why: propitiation, substitutionary atonement, redemption, justification, sanctification. Propitiation [appeasing] – 1 John 2:2…and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. Romans 3…all men are sinners. The penalty is death. We don’t have a gun problem, we have a sin problem. “No, No, No: I wanted to hear about Easter bunnies, lilies, and chocolate.” We love Coors light so we want the cross light; we don’t want to be narrow-minded so we embrace the broad road that leads to destruction. Most believe that “works” satisfy God’s justice – Half right…almost saved Substitutionary Atonement – 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Drawbridge example –  substitution. Most believe that “works” atone for our sins – ...

If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes. Tweet Complete Sermon Notes The Doctrine of Man – Sin & the Curse THEOLOGY ON FIRE PART 5   Recommended Reading: JOHN MACARTHUR on Biblical Doctrine   Gen. 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”   Image can mean a copy or a representation of.   THIS IS WHY the sanctity of human life is so important.   There is a relational aspect, as well as “having dominion.”   Most miss the most important aspect of living: TO EXPERIENCE GOD!   Man is body, soul/spirit…   1. THE BODY is the shell that affects how we live.   GOD RENEWED MY PASSION IN THIS AREA: If we allow addictions to control our attitude and productivity, it will hinder what we do for God. When we’re always dealing with stress, anxiety and sickness, can we do much for God?   WHY wouldn’t the devil what to severely hinder productivity? Does your mood (the way you feel) affect productivity and quality of life? Serotonin. Dopamine. Glutamate. Noradrenaline.   2. THE SOUL is our distinct personality; nephesh in Hebrew, and psyche in Greek.   This is said to be the part that is eternal – SPIRIT and SOUL are often interchangeable. Isaiah 26:9, “With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early…” HEART (kardia): the governing aspect of the body that controls conduct. Mark 12:30, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength….”   3. THE SPIRIT refers to our interaction with God – pneuma; it is sometimes interchangeable with the word “soul.” __________________________   Sin and the Curse: to inflict harm or punishment   Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes,