Thursday, October 27, 2022

Spiritual Warfare - Part 1 (Satan)

 


How do we use our Spiritual Armor to fight against the devil?


~~Watch the Video~~


Spiritual Warfare I

Using the Armor of God

Worship Song: this is how I fight my battles

https://youtu.be/gh9r2ZwN2vE


Outline:

  1. Introduction
  2. Traits of Wholeness
  3. Focus on the Light
  4. Review Armor of God
  5. Fighting in the Wrong Armor
  6. The Temptation of Christ
  7. The Snake in the Garden
  8. The Story of Job
  9. Summary
  10. Elijah’s Word From God

Scriptures:

  • 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
  • Ephesians 6: 10 - 18
  • Ephesians 4:22-24
  • Luke 2:14
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:8
  • 1 Samuel 17:36-40
  • Matthew 4:1-10
  • Deuteronomy 8:3
  • Psalms 91:10-12
  • Deuteronomy 6:13-16
  • Genesis 3:2-3
  • Genesis 2:16-17
  • 2 Corinthians 10:5
  • Job 1:1-12
  • Ephesians 6:13
  • Job 1:1
  • Job 10:5-8
  • 1 Kings 19:14-15

Introduction

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Story: 1st Attempt

I tried to teach spiritual warfare before

  • But God led me not to, so I sort of taught around it with this series


Fighting With Power Series

Demonology vs Psychology

What does this have to do with Seeking Wholeness?

There is a lot of overlap between the problems they are trying to solve and the behaviors they try to explain

  • Casting out demons  or counseling
  • Multiple personalities
  • Childhood trauma - rape, molestation (permescuity)
    • Coping mechanism
    • A demon
  • Nightmares
  • Generational curses
  • Insomnia

Christian worldview

  • Supernatural
  • Spiritual realm

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth

What is the Heavens?

  • Heavenly Places

Today we look at the devil

We will start with the battles that every Christian has to face

Traits of Wholeness

We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness

How can we be:

  • Spiritually healthy
  • Emotionally healthy
  • Mentally healthy

Dealing with life’s current stresses and also being healed from experiences/wounds of the past

We’re not just supposed to have eternal life

  • We’re supposed to have: joy, peace, patience, and self control here on earth

Learning not just what The Word instructs us to do, but learning how to implement it in our lives

Traits of Wholeness

  • Authenticity
  • Honesty
  • Kindness
  • Not seeking external approval / validation
  • Living by values and principles
  • Setting Boundaries
  • Taking ownership of your responsibilities
  • Living with purpose and passion
  • Optimism
  • Confidence
  • Healthy relationships with others
  • Not losing control of your emotions
  • Free from addictions
  • Addressing Conflict with truth and love
  • Vulnerability
  • Not critical or Judgemental
  • Not jealous
  • Genuinely applaud the success of others
  • Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
  • Know that you’re worthy of receiving love
  • Not afraid to fail
  • Able to manage irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
  • Selfless encounters with others
  • Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
  • You care about how others feel
  • Patient
  • Don’t give into peer/social pressure
  • Can communicate directly
  • Don’t take responsibility for other people's emotions
  • Take responsibility for your own emotions
  • Slow to anger
  • Ability to maturely express your wants, needs and desires
  • Being led by the Spirit

We want to become aware of our issues and empowered to manage/fix them.

Focus on the Light

We will start our discussion on Spiritual Warfare by focusing on the light rather than the darkness

“when darkness is present, you don’t fix the darkness…you fix the light”

—Michael Brown

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjY5RlbgyBK/?igshid=Y2ZmNzg0YzQ=

Darkness Isn’t Real

No matter how much light there is in the room… You can add more light

  • You can’t add more darkness

Review Armor of God

This is the primary way we fight spiritual warfare

Ephesians 6: 10 - 18

10Finally, 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. 12For our struggle is not against [f]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 on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having strapped on your feet 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. 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18[h]With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the [k]saints

Belt of Truth

14Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Biblical Context

The Belt of Truth means that we should live a life of “truthfulness”.  

Application

Example: church scandals centered on a lie

When we are not being truthful we become vulnerable

If we live a life of lies we are always worried that we will be found out and we become vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

Breastplate of Righteousness

14Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Biblical Context

Dikaiosune

Right, fair, righteousness,

the condition of being acceptable to God

How Paul used in this letter

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

  • putting on the new self

Application

Story: fired for buying car

  • Guy she was cheating with her fiance on

This is not talking about Jesus’ righteousness

If you do not live holy… You invite the enemy

Right relationships

  • God
  • Others

The enemies biggest concern is with our relationships with God

If you are not living in right relationships then the core of who you are is vulnerable to attacks from the enemy

Sandals of the Gospel of Peace

 15and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Biblical Context

“Good news” of peace

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

  • “Good news” of peace

Application

My Identity in Christ

Paul is talking about our identity

The gospel of peace refers to the good news of the restoration that is available to humanity because of what Christ did on the cross and the empty tomb

My main identity as a child of God

The enemy will come in and try to make you believe that your identity is in those things.  

If you don’t recognize that your identity is based on something Jesus did for you The enemy will make you believe that you have to do something in order to gain God‘s approval.  

If you are looking for your identity outside of Jesus… You are on slippery ground. You are not stable.  

Shield of Faith

 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.

Biblical Context

Pistis = Faith, beliefs, trust, confidence, faithfulness, Fidelity

Application

The shield (faith) protects us against

  • Distractions
  • Doubt
  • Temptations
  • Unbelief
  • Thoughts
  • Feelings
  • Imaginations
  • Fears
  • Lies

Fiery Darts (Arrows)

You aren’t effective if you doubt

  • God’s love
  • God’s word
  • God’s promises
  • Your salvation

the fiery darts will take us out before we even get to the battle

Helmet of Salvation

17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Biblical Context

1 Thessalonians 5:8

8 But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

We have the hope of eternal life

Application

Example: movie tickets

  • Purchased ahead of time

My future | my destination

This is about your thinking

The helmet of salvation protects us against

  • Discouragement
  • The desire to give up

giving us hope knowing that we will be saved.

Hope for a brighter future.

It is the assurance that God will triumph

You already have your ticket

  • Purchased by Jesus

Sword of the Spirit

What is the Sword of the Spirit?

https://youtu.be/soqxsSOGva4

When the bible is referred to as the word of God, the Greek word used for “word” is “logos”.   Paul uses the word “rhema” here.

A “rhema word of God” is a specific utterance from God.  It can be words spoken or any other form of communication from the Holy Spirit.

We get rhema words from God today.   When you are reading the bible and a particular passage “speaks to your current situation” that is a rhema word from God.  When the Holy Spirit brings something in the Bible alive to you that is a “rhema word from God”.  That is the Sword of the Spirit.

But although the Bible is God’s primary method of communication with us today, it is not the only method.  When the Holy Spirit communicates with you in any way that is a word from God.

If the Holy Spirit prompts you to give a homeless person money, that is the Sword of the Spirit.  If the Holy Spirit convicts you not to respond in anger, that is the Sword of the Spirit.

The Sword of the Spirit is a “word in season”.  It is a specific communication from the Holy Spirit that you can use in your life.  Whether it’s conviction, direction, or revelation, it is a rhema word from God.  

The ability to “hear” and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit is the Sword of the Spirit that we need to defeat the devil.

Story: I didn’t always follow it

  •  I noticed that I would get Words from the Spirit but I would only follow them if I understood why I needed to do it.
  • I was judging it based on my understanding/experience

Fighting in the Wrong Armor

1 Samuel 17:36-40

 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who saved me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.” 38 Then Saul clothed David with his military attire and put a bronze helmet on his head, and outfitted him with armor. 39 And David strapped on his sword over his military attire and struggled at walking, for he had not trained with the armor. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them.” And David took them [c]off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

The Wrong Weapons

We don’t want to fight warfare with the wrong weapons

We might think that we can use

  • Our logic
  • Our money
  • Manipulation
  • Your connections
  • Psychology
  • Ancestor worship
  • New Age

Other People's Armor

You have to be wearing your own armor

You can’t fight in your grandmother’s faith

You have to train before the battle

The Temptation of Christ

The Sword of The Spirit in action

Matthew 4:1-10

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He [a]then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

5Then the devil *took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and he *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written:

‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS ORDERS CONCERNING YOU’;

and

‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP,

SO THAT YOU DO NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 7Jesus said to him, “[b]On the other hand, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

8Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [c]worship me.” 10Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND [d]SERVE HIM ONLY.’” 11Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.

Jesus’ Temptation Was Planned

Why did Jesus go into the wilderness?

  • To be tempted by the devil

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

2And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He [a]then became hungry.

Jesus needed to pass the temptation before starting his public ministry

Why did Jesus fast?

  • To prepare for temptation from the devil

Fasting is spiritual warfare

Satan’s Attack

How did Satan “attack” Jesus?

Sometimes the attack isn’t taking stuff away

  • It’s giving you opportunities

Why would satan offer you “good” things?

  • Distract you
  • Guide you away from your purpose
  • Make you prideful
  • Make you arrogant
  • Make you think you don’t need God

Temptation is one of the primary attacks from the devil

Jesus’ Response

How did Jesus respond to Satan’s “attack”?

With the Bible / the Sword

Jesus always used the same weapon… “It is written“

Resist the devil and he will flee

Stones into Bread

3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

Deuteronomy 8:3

“And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the LORD.

Temptation of bread

Represents:

  • Immediate gratification
  • Lust of the flesh
    • That’s what I feel like doing…
    • Seeking pleasure

“I want it now”

  • Even though I know I may pay for it later

What are some examples of things we do to gratify the flesh?

  • Worldly desires

Who’s heard of the term “fast money”?

“All money aint good money”

Story: Friend borrowed $20

Examples:

  • Fast money
  • Sex
  • Gluttony

Psychological Commentary:

Christ is continually portrayed as the provider of endless sustenance. He miraculously multiplies bread and fish. He turns water into wine.  This is the call to the pursuit of higher meaning to the mode of living that is simultaneously most practical and of highest quality.  it is a call to live as the archetypical savior of lives and you and those around you will hunger no more.  The benefits of the world lend itself to those who live properly.  

– Jordan Peterson

Temptation to Jump off Cliff

5Then the devil *took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and he *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written:

‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS ORDERS CONCERNING YOU’;

and

‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP,

SO THAT YOU DO NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 7Jesus said to him, “[b]On the other hand, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

Psalms 91:10-12

10 No evil will happen to you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels orders concerning you, To protect you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will lift you up, So that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

  • Context: security of one who trusts in the Lord

Deuteronomy 6:13-16

13 “You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 14 “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, 15 for the LORD your God who is in the midst of you is a jealous God; so follow Him, or else the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.

Represents:

  • Abuse the Power of God - faith
  • The pride of life

“Do not put the Lord your God to a test “

Examples:

Prosperity doctrine

Pride of life

  • Prove your intelligence
  • Prove that you are a real man
  • Prove you are the child of God
  • Prove your worth
  • You keep earning and earning and chasing it and chasing it and never stopped to ask why
  • You never admit your needs to anyone so that they can see the real you

Commentary

God is not a safety net for the blind

A Wiki and adulterous generation looks for a sign


Psychological Commentary:

Christ refuses to ask God to intervene. He refuses to give up responsibility for the events in his own life. He refuses to demand that God prove his presence.  He refuses to solve the problem of his vulnerability by asking God to save him.  

He refuses to condone that survival is dependent upon narcissistic displays of superiority or by miraculous acts of God.  

Trust in God can be misused too and so the tempter takes him to the pinnacle of the temple. There is a false trust which attempts to manipulate God for one's own purposes and trade on his care. It was an attempt to blackmail God. "All right, I trust you, save me if I jump."

– Jordan Peterson

Temptation of earthly power

8Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [c]worship me.” 10Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND [d]SERVE HIM ONLY.’”

  • [d] fulfill religious duty to Him

Represents:

  • Power, control
  • The lust of the eyes
    • I want what I see

Psychological Commentary:

Christ is offered the top of the dominance hierarchy.  The possibility of unlimited sensual gratification.  

Men don’t only desire power so that they can no longer suffer or have disease or death.  Power also gives the ability to exact vengeance, ensure submission and crush enemies”

Story: Faith ERG at work

  • Company recognition
  • Powerful connections

Faith Based employee resource groups

Using the Sword

Neither Jesus nor Satan ever questioned the authority of scripture

Deuteronomy

Every time Jesus called it the Bible here recorded the book of Deuteronomy

  • This is the book that is most in question today

How Jesus Fights

Jesus speak scripture when

  • He is tempted
  • He is in agony
  • He is confronted

The Snake in the Garden

Genesis 3:2-3

2The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3but 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.’

Genesis 2:16-17

16The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not [o]eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”

“Did God Really Say…?”

  • Should not eat of the tree?
  • He says… “We cannot eat it and we cannot touch it“
  • Eve added to the word of God
  • To this day we still add things to the commands of God

God created Adam > gave command > Adam told Eve

  • She didn’t know the word of God for herself
  • She only knew it through Adam

My fear is that many of us don’t know the word of God for ourselves

Satan will question the authority of God’s word

God’s Truth vs Worldly Truth

2 Corinthians 10:5

We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

That is raised up against the knowledge of God

The only thing that displaces error is truth

Your defense… Is to know the truth

If we are ignorant in a certain area of biblical truth… We are defenseless in that area

The fortress is that we attack are any

  • Ideologies
  • Ideas
  • Theory
  • Philosophy
  • Viewpoint
  • Concept
  • Lies
  • Religion

Strongholds

“if it feels good… Do it“

“We are a god”

The Bible is man-made

It is the governments way of controlling us

Everybody is entitled to their own beliefs

There is more than one path to get to heaven

It’s OK as long as it makes you happy

The Story of Job

The book of Job is a story about spiritual warfare.

Job 1:1-12

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?  10 “Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 “But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.”

12 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

When the Devil ignores you - Denzel

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgKcRoxjGOR/?igshid=NzNkNDdiOGI=

2 Chapters vs 40

The interesting thing to notice is that there are 2 chapters about what Satan does and 40 chapters about how Job reacts to it.   What do you suppose we’re supposed to learn from it?

The Evil Day

Ephesians 6:13

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

  • Paul doesn’t tell us how to prevent the evil day
  • He just tells us how to prepare for it
  • It is inevitable

What could Job have done to prevent the calamities from happening to him and his family?

What should Job have done better?

  • Should he have had more wealth?
  • Should he have had a 401(k)?
  • Should he have had more kids?
  • Should he have gotten a bodyguard to prevent his family from being killed?
  • Should he have eaten a better diet?

Job Was Righteous

Job 1:1

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

There was no physical or natural preparation that would’ve helped prepare Job for the evil day

He had the

  • Belt of truth
  • breastplate of righteousness

He didn’t have

  • Gospel of peace
  • Helmet of salvation

Job didn’t deserve it

One of the main things that we learned from the book of Job is that bad things don’t happen just because you deserve them. Even if you did nothing wrong your “evil day“ can still happen. The armor of God tells you how to prepare for the inevitable fight against the devil.

We don’t want to make it easier for the enemy though

Jobs Doctrine

His friends thought that he must’ve sinned.

Job believed

  •  “good things happen to good people”
  • “Bad things happen to bad people”

He thought God was punishing him

Job Wasn’t aware that there was an enemy plotting against him

————

The implication is that the hedge of protection was around him because he was righteous and blameless.

Blaming God

We often think that when something going wrong that it is God giving judgment on our sins.  We think that God thinks we deserve it.

Job 10:5-8 

5 ‘Are Your days like the days of a mortal, Or Your years like a man’s year, 6 That You should search for my guilt And carefully seek my sin? 7 ‘According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, Yet there is no one to save me from Your hand. 8 ‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, Yet would You destroy me?

Job mistakenly thought God was punishing him for his sin

Application 

  • Loss of loved one
  • Child dies
  • Incurable disease

What Comforted Job?

What finally comforted Job?

  • A Word from God
  • Sword of the Spirit

Summary

We can fight with

  • Living truthful and righteous lives
  • Trusting in Jesus finished work on the cross
  • Not doubting our salvation
  • Fasting
  • Memorizing scripture
  • Realizing that we have an active enemy
  • Not always God (or your sin) that caused hardship
  • A word from God (Holy Spirit)
  • Correct doctrine
  • A correct view of God

Satan uses

  1. Temptation
  2. Questioning God’s word

Elijah’s Word From God

Story: Elijah

  • Ran because Jezebel wanted to kill him
  • Still small voice
  • What are you doing here?
  • Go back to Damascus

1 Kings 19:14-15

14Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they have sought to take my life.”

15The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram.

Story: “Teach”

  • Served as a kid
  • Pew for 20 years

Focus on the light


Instructor: Michael Leadon





References

Armor of God: Sword of the Spirit

Walking the text

Spiritual warfare 2020 part seven the sword of the spirit

Pastor John K Jenkins Senior

No temptation has overtaken you

Steven Furtick

Spiritual warfare part 10 of 15 – the sword of the spirit

Derek prince

Extra

“It is not that God's help and presence must still be proved in our life; rather God's presence and help have been demonstrated for us in the life of Jesus Christ. It is in fact more important for us to know what God did to Israel, in God's Son Jesus Christ, than to discover what God intends for us today. The fact that Jesus Christ died is more important than the fact that I will die. And the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead is the sole ground of my hope that I, too, will be raised on the day of judgment”

–Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Spirit Gives Life

2 Corinthians 3:5-11

5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Scripture Taken Out of Context

Who has heard someone say

  • “Jesus had one main command…Love your neighbor”?

As long as you love the other person that’s all that matters

Mark 12:29-31

 29Jesus answered, “The foremost [first] is, ‘HEAR, ISRAEL! THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE; 30AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31The second is this: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


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