Gospel Life Church

1. Now is a good time to take a look at where you are on Bible reading. A link to many Bible reading plans has been posted on the GL Facebook page.How important is reading the Bible to you and your spiritual life?What are some reasonable goals you have for Bible reading in 2016?2. We listed 41 potential things we could work on in 2016 and they are listed below. Do you still recall the ones you have decided to focus on?3. What are the situations that most often lead to your exhibiting the negative behavior that you want to move away from in 2016? Would you share these with the group?4. What would it look like for you to respond in a Jesus way instead?5. What are the things or persons that you usually blame for your negative behavior?6. In blaming circumstances or other persons are you able to specify the misbelief you are telling yourself? What is it?7. Do you believe change in your behavior and personality is possible? Do you have hope for 2016? Please explain.8. Who is a good person to help hold you accountable to staying in the fight against these negative behaviors?9. What are the positive behaviors that you want to introduce into your life in 2016? What are the things that you have been holding back on? Please share.10. Will you be sharing the positive goals with your accountability partner?Being authenticMaintaining a positive attitude no matter the circumstancePaying attention to our tone of your voice. Cultivate your tone of voice which is an open window through which people look into your soul.Paying attention to the expression on our faceNot losing our composure. People cannot make you angry without your consent.Breaking in and running away with a conversation while others are speaking. Always making the conversation all about us, versus asking questions that focus attention on the other person.Using sarcasm, and wise cracksIndifference in listening while others are speakingBetter to be a good listener than a good talkerFlattery as manipulationFinding fault with the world and people in general, complainingChallenging those with whom you disagree for the purpose of being on the opposite sideGiving advice to those who have not requested it. Free advice is worth as much as it cost.Speaking of things that interest those to whom you are speaking as a form of love.Seeking to be superior through words and topics unfamiliar to others. Negotiate with them on their own level.Envy of those you consider successful.Carelessness in personal appearance We need to control our tongue, think first then speak. Don’t injure others with our words.Do not strike back at others.Taking the path of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.Avoid controversial incidents, overlook. Don’t get into arguments about insignificant topics and this includes Facebook.We must make it our practice to always see the good in others. Focus always on the good in othersFix your mind positively at the beginning of each day through reading the Word and prayer.Start each day with gratitude for what you have and what you will receive. "I complained about having no shoes until I saw the man with no feet."Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Look for others who are worse off than you. Pity parties.Meditate on what you can do towards your goalsTranslate negative emotions into something positiveRemember that your strength grows out of your strugglesLook at life as a continual process of learning from pleasant and unpleasant experiences.Realize your have been given complete control over your own mind.Accept all criticism from othersFigure out who you want to be like and emulate them.2 types of people who will never amount to anything, those who will not do what they are told and those who will do nothing else.Part of natures method of disciplining people is through failure defeat and adversity, and it is your positive attitude that transforms these things into things of priceless value. No one desires to meet with these experiences.Accepting full responsibility and never passing the buck.Paying attention to detail.Giving full attention to one thing at a time.Mental attitude positive when in communication with other peopleGiving direct answers.Never puts off what he/she can do today. No procrastination.Nothing can be called failure until we accept it as such.

1. We defined success this way: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." What is success in life for you for 2016? What is the worthy ideal you are seeking to achieve or live out?2. Without a purpose, we are like a ship out on the open water without a crew or a destination. What is your purpose in 2016? What are you seeking to achieve and where do your hopes lie?3. Read Matthew 7:7-8: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. As we are seeking, knocking, and asking, we will also be experiencing from time to time adversity, failure, and defeat. Notice the NLT translation of Matthew 7:7 says we receive what we ask for. Is it possible that we give up our seeking for that which we should truly desire because of the defeat we may experience in the meantime? Please explain.4. So what should we be seeking, and asking for in 2016? What do we what Jesus to do in our lives and the life of our church in 2016?5. We talked about some negative and some positive behaviors that we need to either stop or begin and they are listed here. Please discuss which ones are most applicable to the members of your group so that we can pray and hold each other accountable in 2016.LIST:Being authenticMaintaining a positive attitude no matter the circumstancePaying attention to our tone of your voice. Cultivate your tone of voice which is an open window through which people look into your soul.Paying attention to the expression on our faceNot losing our composure. People cannot make you angry without your consent.Breaking in and running away with a conversation while others are speaking. Always making the conversation all about us, versus asking questions that focus attention on the other person.Using sarcasm, and wise cracksIndifference in listening while others are speakingBetter to be a good listener than a good talkerFlattery as manipulationFinding fault with the world and people in general, complainingChallenging those with whom you disagree for the purpose of being on the opposite sideGiving advice to those who have not requested it. Free advice is worth as much as it cost.Speaking of things that interest those to whom you are speaking as a form of love.Seeking to be superior through words and topics unfamiliar to others. Negotiate with them on their own level.Envy of those you consider successful.Carelessness in personal appearance We need to control our tongue, think first then speak. Don’t injure others with our words.Do not strike back at others.Taking the path of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.Avoid controversial incidents, overlook. Don’t get into arguments about insignificant topics and this includes Facebook.We must make it our practice to always see the good in others. Focus always on the good in othersFix your mind positively at the beginning of each day through reading the Word and prayer.Start each day with gratitude for what you have and what you will receive. "I complained about having no shoes until I saw the man with no feet."Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Look for others who are worse off than you. Pity parties.Meditate on what you can do towards your goalsTranslate negative emotions into something positiveRemember that your strength grows out of your strugglesLook at life as a continual process of learning from pleasant and unpleasant experiences.Realize your have been given complete control over your own mind.Accept all criticism from othersFigure out who you want to be like and emulate them.2 types of people who will never amount to anything, those who will not do what they are told and those who will do nothing else.Part of natures method of disciplining people is through failure defeat and adversity, and it is your positive attitude that transforms these things into things of priceless value. No one desires to meet with these experiences.Accepting full responsibility and never passing the buck.Paying attention to detail.Giving full attention to one thing at a time.Mental attitude positive when in communication with other peopleGiving direct answers.Never puts off what he/she can do today. No procrastination.Nothing can be called failure until we accept it as such.6. Would anyone care to share what they wrote down on their card to focus on this year?7. Would everyone really be willing to get together for dinner with the family, couple, or person Pastor Timothy would assign to them if you had a month to do so?

1. We defined success this way: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." What is success in life for you for 2016? What is the worthy ideal you are seeking to achieve or live out?2. Without a purpose, we are like a ship out on the open water without a crew or a destination. What is your purpose in 2016? What are you seeking to achieve and where do your hopes lie?3. Read Matthew 7:7-8: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. As we are seeking, knocking, and asking, we will also be experiencing from time to time adversity, failure, and defeat. Notice the NLT translation of Matthew 7:7 says we receive what we ask for. Is it possible that we give up our seeking for that which we should truly desire because of the defeat we may experience in the meantime? Please explain.4. So what should we be seeking, and asking for in 2016? What do we what Jesus to do in our lives and the life of our church in 2016?5. We talked about some negative and some positive behaviors that we need to either stop or begin and they are listed here. Please discuss which ones are most applicable to the members of your group so that we can pray and hold each other accountable in 2016.LIST:Being authenticMaintaining a positive attitude no matter the circumstancePaying attention to our tone of your voice. Cultivate your tone of voice which is an open window through which people look into your soul.Paying attention to the expression on our faceNot losing our composure. People cannot make you angry without your consent.Breaking in and running away with a conversation while others are speaking. Always making the conversation all about us, versus asking questions that focus attention on the other person.Using sarcasm, and wise cracksIndifference in listening while others are speakingBetter to be a good listener than a good talkerFlattery as manipulationFinding fault with the world and people in general, complainingChallenging those with whom you disagree for the purpose of being on the opposite sideGiving advice to those who have not requested it. Free advice is worth as much as it cost.Speaking of things that interest those to whom you are speaking as a form of love.Seeking to be superior through words and topics unfamiliar to others. Negotiate with them on their own level.Envy of those you consider successful.Carelessness in personal appearance We need to control our tongue, think first then speak. Don’t injure others with our words.Do not strike back at others.Taking the path of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.Avoid controversial incidents, overlook. Don’t get into arguments about insignificant topics and this includes Facebook.We must make it our practice to always see the good in others. Focus always on the good in othersFix your mind positively at the beginning of each day through reading the Word and prayer.Start each day with gratitude for what you have and what you will receive. "I complained about having no shoes until I saw the man with no feet."Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Look for others who are worse off than you. Pity parties.Meditate on what you can do towards your goalsTranslate negative emotions into something positiveRemember that your strength grows out of your strugglesLook at life as a continual process of learning from pleasant and unpleasant experiences.Realize your have been given complete control over your own mind.Accept all criticism from othersFigure out who you want to be like and emulate them.2 types of people who will never amount to anything, those who will not do what they are told and those who will do nothing else.Part of natures method of disciplining people is through failure defeat and adversity, and it is your positive attitude that transforms these things into things of priceless value. No one desires to meet with these experiences.Accepting full responsibility and never passing the buck.Paying attention to detail.Giving full attention to one thing at a time.Mental attitude positive when in communication with other peopleGiving direct answers.Never puts off what he/she can do today. No procrastination.Nothing can be called failure until we accept it as such.6. Would anyone care to share what they wrote down on their card to focus on this year?7. Would everyone really be willing to get together for dinner with the family, couple, or person Pastor Timothy would assign to them if you had a month to do so?

What's the relationship between Israel and the Church?Text: Ephesians 2:11-221. How many times is the word peace used between vv. 14-17? ANSWER: 42. What is the verb used in v. 16 that performs the action bringing peace? ANSWER: Reconcile3. What is the definition of reconcile?ANSWER: "to make friendly relations between, to bring into agreement or harmony, to restore.4. How did Jesus make peace between us and God? 5. What was the cause of us being separated from God? 6. Have you experienced reconciliation between you and God? Please explain.7. How does Jesus give you peace in the midst of conflict?8. The text speaks of reconciliation not only with God, but also reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles. How have you experienced division or alienation in your life? Have you experienced division or alienation as a result of becoming a Christian? Please explain.9. In what ways do you struggle letting Jesus and your faith be your primary identity? Do you have people in your life that would not know you are a Christian?10. How can you be an agent of peace and reconciliation in your family and in your church?

What's the relationship between Israel and the Church?Text: Ephesians 2:11-221. How many times is the word peace used between vv. 14-17? ANSWER: 42. What is the verb used in v. 16 that performs the action bringing peace? ANSWER: Reconcile3. What is the definition of reconcile?ANSWER: "to make friendly relations between, to bring into agreement or harmony, to restore.4. How did Jesus make peace between us and God? 5. What was the cause of us being separated from God? 6. Have you experienced reconciliation between you and God? Please explain.7. How does Jesus give you peace in the midst of conflict?8. The text speaks of reconciliation not only with God, but also reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles. How have you experienced division or alienation in your life? Have you experienced division or alienation as a result of becoming a Christian? Please explain.9. In what ways do you struggle letting Jesus and your faith be your primary identity? Do you have people in your life that would not know you are a Christian?10. How can you be an agent of peace and reconciliation in your family and in your church?

1. Have you come to trust in Christ personally, or are you still at the point of intellectual knowledge and emotional approval of the facts of salvation without having personally put your trust in Christ? If you have not put your trust in Christ yet, what do you think it is that is making you hesitate?2. Did you feel a sincere sorrow for sin when you first came to Christ? Can you describe what it felt like? Did it lead you to a genuine commitment to forsake sin? How long was it before you noticed a change in your pattern of life?3. Have you ever truly repented of sin, or do you think you have been taught a watered-down gospel that did not include repentance? Do you think it is possible for someone genuinely to trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins without also sincerely repenting for sins? Do you think that genuine repentance usually involves only a sincere feeling of sorrow for sin in general, or does it involve genuine sorrow for specific sins, and turning from those specific sins?4. Have faith and repentance remained a continuing part of your Christian life, or have those attitudes of heart grown somewhat weak in your life? What has been the result in your Christian life?

1. Have you come to trust in Christ personally, or are you still at the point of intellectual knowledge and emotional approval of the facts of salvation without having personally put your trust in Christ? If you have not put your trust in Christ yet, what do you think it is that is making you hesitate?2. Did you feel a sincere sorrow for sin when you first came to Christ? Can you describe what it felt like? Did it lead you to a genuine commitment to forsake sin? How long was it before you noticed a change in your pattern of life?3. Have you ever truly repented of sin, or do you think you have been taught a watered-down gospel that did not include repentance? Do you think it is possible for someone genuinely to trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins without also sincerely repenting for sins? Do you think that genuine repentance usually involves only a sincere feeling of sorrow for sin in general, or does it involve genuine sorrow for specific sins, and turning from those specific sins?4. Have faith and repentance remained a continuing part of your Christian life, or have those attitudes of heart grown somewhat weak in your life? What has been the result in your Christian life?

What We Learn About God from the Christmas Story 12/20/2015

What We Learn About God from the Christmas Story 12/20/2015

Ephesians 2:2 NLT2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.* He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:2 NASB in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. You need to know that Satan is a defeated enemy. Satan was defeated at the cross. Satan is defeated in that he no longer has the right to accuse us. Satan says God’s people deserve punishmentEphesians 1:2121 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.Jesus is far above any ruler and this includes the Devil or Satan.We don’t need to live in fear.How did Christ become exalted? Philippians 2:6-116 Though he was God,* he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*; he took the humble position of a slave* and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,* 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every tongue will confess and this includes Satan.1 Peter 3:2222 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. So what did the cross have to do with defeating Satan?Colossians 2:13-1513 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed* the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.Disarmed means Jesus took away Satan’s ammunition.Hebrews 2:1414 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had* the power of death.Romans 8:3838 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.What was God’s purpose in all of this?Ephesians 3:1010 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.2. You need to know that Satan’s primary tool is deception.Rev 20:1-3Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit* and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while. 7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. When did this binding take place?John 12:3131 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.“that old serpent” refers to Satan in the Garden of Eden when he deceived Adam and Eve.Genesis 3:13  Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” After Eden, Satan began to do on a world-wide scale what he began in the Garden.2 Thessalonians 2:1-12Now, dear brothers and sisters,* let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness* is revealed—the one who brings destruction.* 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. Man of Lawlessness being held back now, just as Satan is being held back now.Man of Lawlessness is revealed in order to deceive and bring destruction (on the church), just as Satan is loosed to deceive and bring destruction on the church.Man of Lawlessness’ deception ends with the Return of Christ, just as Satan’s deception ends with the return of Christ.What is the extent of the destruction that Satan will bring?Matthew 24:21For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. Matthew 24:29-3129 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.* 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.* 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world*—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Satan deceived Israel so that they were not effective in bringing God’s rule to the ends of the Earth. Satan deceived the nations to murder Jesus on the cross.1 Corinthians 15:2424 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.If Satan were not restrained he would rise up to cause all the nations to kill the church.3. You need to know that Satan still needs to be resisted.Ephesians 4:26-2726 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”* Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 6:11, 12 & 1611 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.*2 Cor 10:3-53 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 *We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.Taking these texts together we understand that in defending truth and exposing lies we are doing spiritual warfare.1 Peter 5:8-98 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.

Ephesians 2:2 NLT2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.* He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:2 NASB in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. You need to know that Satan is a defeated enemy. Satan was defeated at the cross. Satan is defeated in that he no longer has the right to accuse us. Satan says God’s people deserve punishmentEphesians 1:2121 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.Jesus is far above any ruler and this includes the Devil or Satan.We don’t need to live in fear.How did Christ become exalted? Philippians 2:6-116 Though he was God,* he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*; he took the humble position of a slave* and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,* 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every tongue will confess and this includes Satan.1 Peter 3:2222 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. So what did the cross have to do with defeating Satan?Colossians 2:13-1513 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed* the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.Disarmed means Jesus took away Satan’s ammunition.Hebrews 2:1414 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had* the power of death.Romans 8:3838 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.What was God’s purpose in all of this?Ephesians 3:1010 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.2. You need to know that Satan’s primary tool is deception.Rev 20:1-3Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit* and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while. 7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. When did this binding take place?John 12:3131 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.“that old serpent” refers to Satan in the Garden of Eden when he deceived Adam and Eve.Genesis 3:13  Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” After Eden, Satan began to do on a world-wide scale what he began in the Garden.2 Thessalonians 2:1-12Now, dear brothers and sisters,* let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness* is revealed—the one who brings destruction.* 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. Man of Lawlessness being held back now, just as Satan is being held back now.Man of Lawlessness is revealed in order to deceive and bring destruction (on the church), just as Satan is loosed to deceive and bring destruction on the church.Man of Lawlessness’ deception ends with the Return of Christ, just as Satan’s deception ends with the return of Christ.What is the extent of the destruction that Satan will bring?Matthew 24:21For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. Matthew 24:29-3129 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.* 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.* 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world*—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Satan deceived Israel so that they were not effective in bringing God’s rule to the ends of the Earth. Satan deceived the nations to murder Jesus on the cross.1 Corinthians 15:2424 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.If Satan were not restrained he would rise up to cause all the nations to kill the church.3. You need to know that Satan still needs to be resisted.Ephesians 4:26-2726 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”* Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 6:11, 12 & 1611 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.*2 Cor 10:3-53 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 *We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.Taking these texts together we understand that in defending truth and exposing lies we are doing spiritual warfare.1 Peter 5:8-98 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.

God is Doing Far More than We Think 12/06/2015

God is Doing Far More than We Think 12/06/2015

Selfish & Poor or Generous & Rich 11/29/2015

Selfish & Poor or Generous & Rich 11/29/2015