https://youtu.be/CpwxodoYv0s

Deuteronomy 20:3-4 - God Fights

Intro: The enemy—has not changed – As we start this new year—be aware that the enemy is there- to kill, steal and destroy- BUT CHRIST HAS ALREADY COME TO GIVE US LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY!!!

Instructions:

I. Do not be afraid

FEAR NOT—365 times 

WHY—verse 4—because God is with us- HE will never leave us nor forsake us

What can man do to us? 

The fear mentioned in this verse is an absolute fear- of people / of situations/ of things/ of what people say or think/ of the future

Perfect love casts out ALL fear—I John 4:18 God has NOT given us a spirit of fear but of a sound mind!!II Timothy 1:7 

FEAR makes us become ‘small’—shrink back—build walls—fear of getting hurt by others we build walls around ourselves—fear of what others may say—keeps us silent 

Fear of what MAY happen- makes us refuse to go forward in life

Fear of loss – makes us try to cling onto what we have

The Lord says- LOOK the enemy is out there- there is no doubt about that—BUT I have conquered the enemy- IT IS FINISHED- and you have to walk in that VICTORY- you have the power and the authority- to cast out demons- to bring good news to transform lives- to see people delivered from their chains of darkness SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID! 

II. Do not be Fainthearted 

A. the word for Fainthearted means weary- giving up- going soft 

B. Our God has given us ALL we need- all the resources we need- tap into those resources—EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING – Ephesians 1:3

Have you grown weary of loss= tap into His abundance and supply

Have you grown weary of betrayal- tap into His acceptance and approval

Have you grown weary of sickness and disease- tap into His healing power

Have you grown weary of drama- tap into His peace 

Have you grown weary of temptation – tap into His Victory

Have you grown weary of the battle – tap into His Courage and Strength

Have you grown weary of sadness – tap into His Joy 

III. Do not tremble or be terrified

A. the word TREMBLE- actually means to panic to -the actual word means to be in a hurry—when we allow the enemy to intimidate us often we make wrong decisions because we HURRY- we aren’t PATIENT—

B. God says “WAIT ON ME—BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD…” 

Ps. 46:10; Isaiah 41:10 

C. panic and anxiety cause us to grow weary within. Rushing around like chickens without a head causing us to become confused….Philippians 4:6, 7 --BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING 

D. HE GIVES US REST in our minds- those anxious thoughts or panicked ideas are NOT from God they are from the enemy

E. The word here for TERRIFIED- also means tremble but it has a deeper meaning of being oppressed—it says DO NOT be oppressed- terrified- ‘allow’ the enemy to push you down.

What have you allowed the enemy to ‘push you down’ with? Other people’s opinions? Your past? Your mistakes- past or present? 

NO weapon formed against us shall prosper—the enemy loves to use our mind- remember he loves to twist God’s Word and the Truth to keep us in oppression.

https://youtu.be/jKUIcOVZang

Bayonet, or Butter Knife? *Verses in Holman Christian Standard Bible version*

Deut. 20:2-4 (HCSB), When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. 3 He is to say to them: ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. 4 For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’

- I stood on those yellow footprints at Marine Corps Bootcamp 24 years ago, but I can still remember so much of what they taught me. They gave me my “book of knowledge” (green monster?)

- Marines are taught extensively about their history and traditions, legendary warriors and battles. It is our responsibility to carry on this legacy and risk our lives to uphold it.

- There is no “exit strategy.” You will fight to the death. You are a Marine forever.

- In the same way, as a Christian, you have access to your extensive history and traditions. You have a responsibility to carry on that legacy. You have your own “book of knowledge”, the Bible!

- You must be an example to the next generation and be a spiritual warrior for Jesus.

- When you are engaged in the battle, you must do these 3 things:

Point #1: You must change your perspective.

Deut. 20:1, “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

- The Medal of Honor is the highest military award, given to those who show extraordinary heroism, risking their lives going above and beyond the call of duty. Risking life, as in a situation when no one would fault you if you didn’t take on the task.

- There have been a total of 3,520 Medal of Honor recipients. 69 are still living currently. 

- 300 Marines have received the MOH, 110 of those have been the rank of Private or PFC.

- There have been 19 veterans who have received it twice, 2 Marines. (Technically 7 Marines total.) (Can anyone name one?)

- Example: Dan Daly, said to be the greatest Leatherneck and most outstanding Marine of all time.

- Smedley Butler (the other 2x awarded MOH) described Daly as the fighting’est Marine he ever knew, and said it was an object lesson to have served with him.

- He stood just 5-foot-6 and weighed 132 pounds, and got his 1st MOH as a Private. 

- During the Boxer Rebellion in China, Daly personally positioned himself alone along the Tarter Wall despite being exposed to sniper fire and other attacks. His small contingent of Marines helped protect the diplomatic personnel from being overrun. 

- Against all odds, ready to pay the highest price, these 3,519 men (and one woman) had the perspective of facing a ferocious enemy, believing they could gain the victory.

- From our biblical history we find a man with that same perspective, Jonathan.

- In 1 Samuel, King Saul has just had his army routed by the Philistines, but his son Jonathan is not ready to give up the fight.

- 1 Samuel 13:5-7, The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

https://youtu.be/gv_rfn_INc8

Are you all in? Deuteronomy 20:2-4

(CSB)When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them, ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’

This is the theme for us this year and more so now – When you are “about” to engage Preparation matters – Let’s look at two stories in the bible. 

Two stories in the Bible 

The story of the 300 men – Judges 6&7

Israelites are given over to their sin and are oppressed by Medians for 7 yearsThey cry out to God and God sends an angel to Gideon and assures him of victoryHe tore the Baal altar and the Asherah pole – And he built an altar and offered a sacrifice to GodThe people want to kill him but Gideon’s dad convinced them that they should let baal handle his businessAll this happening as the Medianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east assemble to fight the Israelites Gideon asks for confirmation that God is going with them by putting out the fleece – which God doesGideon gets up early and assembles his team (32,000 men) – only to have God tell him that they are too many menGod cuts the number down to 300. This is the number that he uses to win. 

The fighting last night...

Judges 6:25- 27 (ampc)– That night the Lord said to Gideon, Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; And build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold with stones laid in proper order. Then take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him, but because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.This Battle didn’t start when Gideon went to fight with 300 men- It started when he RESOLVED that even though afraid that he was going to do the will of God This battle has to start from your bedrooms- Our most private room in your lives It starts with us– We can’t lead an arm or be part of one unless you work on US firstBoldness – If it is of the Lord, if it should be complicated – because you are just following directionsAll in – He tore down the altar and burnt the Asherah pole and build a new altar and sacrificed- and used the pole as firewood!He didn’t just wound – A wounded enemy is dangerous – (Wildlife stories) Yet, in our prayer life, we are quitting after only scratching the enemy Boxing – Gloves go down with every hit. We have to keep up our hands until we win Let us not let Lack of Cardio, Lack of building muscles (Strength) & Laziness – Keep us away from being ready for battle The battle starts before we get to the battle ground – Prepare 

Get rid of excuses 

Judges 6:31-32(Ampc) - But Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for Baal, let him be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself because one has pulled down his altar. Therefore, on that day he called Gideon Jerubbaal, meaning, Let Baal contend against him, because he had pulled down his altar.

-His name is changed to reflect death by baal – A curse 

Judges 7: 1 (Ampc)- Then Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon,

https://youtu.be/ehRfA9kc6dM

Tuesday night- “Engage the Battle” week - consecration

“But First, Consecration”

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. 3 He is to say to them: ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. 4 For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’

Let’s talk about this battle. If it were in the days of Braveheart, we would sharpen our bows, put on our war paint and go to fight. We would know what we were fighting for. But this is a different kind of battle and quite frankly, one that American Christians have not had to fight in a few generations.

We are living in a post-Christian society. We are no longer a Christian nation. What does this mean? Our society, our morals, our laws are no longer governed and dictated by the statutes of the Word of God. They are dictated by our surrounding society and its morals, values and the world’s philosophies. God’s hand is removed off America and we are a nation under judgment- God is giving us over to our own ways and the church has been sick and lifeless to restrain what needed to be restrained.

Keep this in mind as we talk this week about engaging the battle. What does it mean to “engage the battle”? First, to engage means that we are involved, we are participants in the battle that is raging on around us. We cannot sit by idly, we cannot hibernate into self-preservation mode. WE must engage. The Christian way of life is under attack and we will be more and more persecuted for our beliefs.  If you do nothing, say nothing and do not engage; you may be fine before men. But you will not be able to stand before God  AND, If you are looking for easy ministry in a post-Christian culture, you are unrealistic in your outlook.

Jude 3-4 3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. 4 For some men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

Good works are not under attack- the Word of God is under attack. THE Christian way of living is under attack. The way we gather, the things we believe and hold dear, the Word of God and the deity of Jesus. 

And so Jude tells us, “Contend for the faith!” Not “your faith or my faith”, not “my ministry” but THE faith. The words of Scripture and doctrines, tenets, ways and precepts that have been around for 2000 years—and suddenly this generation is the one that knows better and is self-aware. On the basis of the Word of God, there is such a thing as apostasy and when we see a real turning away from God, we are not faithful to the Word of God unless we call it what it is. We must call apostasy, apostasy. If we do not speak out against sin and unrighteousness, we are not ready for revival. WE are cowardly mice and God will not revive mice.

The world and many Christians have made a Frankenstein Jesus, “my personal relationship with Jesus”. Christianity is individual in that each man must be converted and born again, but it is not individualistic. Grace flows sideways. Salvation is of A PEOPLE and our relationship to the Body is of the utmost importance.

The world is telling us how, when, where,

https://youtu.be/88ftsxKY_dA

Danger of Hellfire Matthew 5:21-26We all know people we think should go to Hell. The problem is that we don’t think we shouldHave you ever been angry with someone? I have. Many times. In my heart and in my actionsWife, kids, church people, neighbors, politicians, famous people, random people on the road, in the store etc etc.  I hope that this morning I am not alone- Who else gets angry?It aint right, but its true. I am far from perfect in this area. Even if its not manifest externallyJesus is setting a very high bar for all of us this morning in regards to our angry hearts and actions

Anger with someone is akin to murder - Hellfire

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgmentWhat Jesus is doing here in great Jesus fashion is setting an unbelievably high bar for righteousness- its not just not murdering- its not getting angry- its whats in your heartThis is what Jesus does- all throughout Matthew and the NT- takes the OT principle and sets the bar even higher- its not enough that you don’t murder someone- don’t be angry with anyoneNow I will say this- it is possible to be angry and not sin- and there is biblical angerEphesians 4:26-27 6 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give [a]place to the devil.Jesus got angry- Mark 3:5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their heartsThere is such a thing as righteous indignation and emotional frustration- different types of anger- angry at electrical, traffic, poor leadership, politics-  but In this scrip. Its relational emotional anger that affects you and personal relationships. It affects YOU and others. 1 John 4:20-21 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.This is the standard- this is how we must live. We must not hate- we must love

Most especially those who are in the Faith- those who are in the Faith1 John 3:14-15 4 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.And it starts in the HEART- Jesus says- not in the actions- even inside thoughts are damnableWhat does it mean to you - HellfireYou better check yourself before you wreck yourself. Don’t lie to yourself and pretend you don’t have it in your heart. 1 John 2:9 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.And here’s the scary thing about anger and hatred- you can hide it so very well- well most people can- a lot of people are so loose lipped with it that I know who many people hateI don’t care who has wronged you and what has been done to you- Jesus says- no angerThere are a host of people you can find to be angry at and frustrated with- and Jesus says noFor me- my relationship with my father- lots of reasons- is what it is- gonna go see himNow that’s almost easier because I can file that and think about it- but the flippant social media comment, cut off in traffic, disobedient child, accusing person doesn’t always get the same treatment- ALL emotional anger internal or external is murderous and Jesus says stop itPr 4:19 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

Do you know what makes us stumble?

https://youtu.be/jYlemnLKvYI

Resolve to be Anchored Hebrew 6:13-20

As we go through the text, I want you to keep in mind a few things from this passage:

God made a promise to Abraham and he swore by Himself because no one was greater by whom to swear In the same way, in His desire to show to the heirs (US) of the promise, he has a promise and oath that is unchangeable- And He is God, He does not lieThis a hope for all Christians – a confident assurance, an anchor of our soul that cannot slip or break under ANY pressure  Safe and steadfast hope that enters within the vail -The vail was torn and now because of Jesus we can go directly to GodEva praying in the morning - God showed the contrastJesus had entered as a forerunner – We get to follow 

Today I want us to talk about the word Resolve 

Settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter)Decide firmly on a course of actionFirm determination to do something 

There is a war for your soul and a time has come to make a choice. The choice has to be made yesterday- but the next best day is today 

Everything in life is a choice – Even the things that we have no control over, we have a choice of how to react More so when it comes to our spiritual walk. The vail was torn giving you and I access to the Father, no more excuses of going through someone else or waiting for someone to get their life together so they can intercede for you. We all have a choice and we have to resolve – Make a firm determination to stay anchored within the veilWhen it comes to Christian walk, we don’t make a resolve of where we stand based on our own justification, its only because of where we are planted /anchored and who is the anchor That does not give us an out because - Proverbs 16:1 – The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.Man has to exercise his own reason in making his decisions but that he is dependent on the LordWe resolve to stay anchored and the Lord will give you the way to stay anchoredWhere are you anchored? – Truly if I may ask you to check your line to see where its tied to, what would you say- what if I asked your friends, family, Pastor, co-workers?I am sure if I took the time to hang out with you 24-7, I would know where your anchor rests

How are we anchored? In Christ alone, through Christ, and by Christ John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified ([a]acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to [b]enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.We have an anchor that is Strong and immovable – God is the same yesterday today and foreverWhen I think of Anchor, I think of a chain- I am tied to the end and other end is tied in inside the altar and no matter what happens, am not movable beyond a certain perimeter.  I also have a choice to where my chain is anchored Galatians 6:8 - For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.When we are anchored in Christ,We are steady in our walk - Bible – All other ground is s...

https://youtu.be/FWeV3V5hw8w

READ Matthew 5:17-20 Thank God for Bacon

Lets start by saying Gods word is always true and it is never contradictory- Our inability to explain or understand does not nullify it. God meant what he said when he said itWhy is it important to fully understand this scripture and its doctrinal importanceOne- people want to separate the Old Testament from the new- Put more weight on the NT than the OT- they want to be ‘red letter christians’ and discount the OTWe want to be biblical and give equal weight and influence on the entirety of the canon

Two- people  want to separate Jesus from the OT and say that the “God of the OT is different than the God of the NT” 

We believe that the God of Genesis is the God of Revelation- we walked through 3 years of teaching from the OT showing the NT connection and influence you cannot separate the twoThree- people want to allow and teach  people to break God’s moral laws as outlined in the OT because they do not want to be held accountable to them. They want to sin and keep their salvation and have no limits to how they live and label anyone who does as ‘legalism’These people have a limited understanding of the term “law” and want to use it for their benefit. Everytime the English language says “law” in the Bible it doesn’t fully explain the context of which law it is referring- we just read it as ‘law’ and we place it where we thing. They will say phrases like “you wear mixed clothing” and “you eat pork” as justification why homosexuality is acceptable Christian practice. Justify no fault divorce and abortion. Let me be clear- Justification (right standing before God) brings obedience- Obedience does not bring Justification. James 2:10  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.- We are, guilty sinners who needed a savior and cannot save ourselvesThere are few terms I need you to understand as we walk through this- because these aberrant beliefs are rampant in the church today. Not labeled as such, but still here-memorize themAntinomianism- Antinomianism (Ancient Greek: ἀντί, "against" and νόμος, "law") is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Wikipedia) Its anti-law- these people believe there should be no laws in Christianity-  They will quote youRom 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.They say that’s the law- Just love. If you do that- you’re being a Good Christian

Marcionism- the doctrinal system of a sect of the second and third centuries a.d. accepting some parts of the New Testament but denying Christ's corporality and humanity and condemning the Creator God of the Old Testament. (Webster) This is the idea that The God of the OT was a retributive diety that was misunderstood- and Jesus came to set the record straight- to show us the true loving nature of God. Marcion of Sinope was an actual guy who taught this- and was labeled as a heretic in the early church- but his horrible theology carries on today- They would exclusively use Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”Gnosticism - a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit. (Oxford) There is ‘special’ knowledge that only a few are meant to know- mysteries that only some can fathom- Everything is spiritually- reject everything physical.  Similar in that Marcion and Gnostics both rejected the OT- beli...

https://youtu.be/mTz16cOdHQY

The Shining (Matthew 5:13-16) *Verses in NKJV*

Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1. What does it mean to be Salt? 

- My dad had a heart attack at 39 years old. For most of my childhood I remember having “heart healthy dinners”. We never had salt on the table! Salt/sodium is bad for you, and bad for your heart and kidneys.

- At 36 I decided I needed to get healthy, so I wouldn’t have a heart attack too. I told my brother that, “I was cutting all sodium/salt out of my diet!” Dan told me that you really can’t do that.

- I was worried about “the white death”, and talked to my nephrologist about my concerns. I asked if I should be worried about the salt in ketchup. He said, “How much ketchup are you eating?!”

- You need salt to live. “Not enough” is actually worse than “too much.” It is an essential element.

- Salt is very valuable, and used for many reasons:

- It is a great preservative and keeps meat and foods from spoiling, especially before there was refrigeration. (Prosciutto is nothing but pork, salt, and time! It’s not even cooked.)

- Salt makes EVERYTHING taste better and brings out the flavor of foods. From BBQ to salted caramel... (Ever tried chocolate covered bacon?!)

- Salt is used to kill weeds on roads, kills poison ivy, can smother grease fires, sooth bee stings, clean tarnished copper, and 14,000 other uses…

- In the Old Testament we see it also used for ceremonial offerings. 

- Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt. Their monthly allowance was called “salarium”, (“sal” being Latin for salt). This is the root of the English word, “salary”. (Like the expression, “He’s not worth his salt.”)

- I could turn each one of these examples into some spiritually deep and symbolic message, but what is most important here is the point that Jesus was trying to make when he said these words.

Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

- The exact meaning of this statement is widely disputed, but I honestly don’t understand why. It’s not a riddle or a trick question. Jesus’ overall point is actually pretty basic.

- What good would salt be if it wasn’t salty? No good. What good would Jesus’ disciples be if they ceased to be a blessing and an example for Christ? Not good to the Kingdom of God.

- Just before this Jesus told his disciples that they are blessed when they are being persecuted for His sake. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad!”  Don’t use hardship as an excuse to act like a spoiled brat.

- Example: When Christians use being cheated or wronged as an excuse to behave badly…

- In Luke, Jesus concludes his teaching on discipleship, and bearing one’s cross, and forsaking all to follow Him, with this verse:

- Luke 14:34-35, “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

https://youtu.be/-DRkcLRf3iE

“Even Though I Speak in This Way….” - Calvanism

Hebrews 6:4-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

ANDDDD, here we are again. The third time in the letter to the scattered Hebrew believers, the writer mentions apostasy. Greek “aphistemi” a departing from God and abandoning what one once believed and experienced in Christ. It involves a disowning of Christ, departure from the Body of Christ and the Christian faith. Scripture, especially here in Hebrews issues real and urgent warnings about this grave possibility, designed both to alert us to the deadly danger of apostasy and its consequences and to motivate us to persevere in faith and obedience.

Why was the writer warning these things? A few reasons, they were scattered and not gathering regularly. (Heb 10:25-26) They were persecuted by the Roman government and other Jews,  and as seen from last week they were not maturing in their faith.

The divine purpose of these warning passages must not be weakened by the view that states, “The warnings are real, but the possibility of actual apostasy is not”.

An examination of the above phrases will show that the writer refers to those who are sincere believers. The phrase "it is impossible" denotes absolute impossibility. It has been contended, that it denotes only great difficulty. But the meaning is that "the thing could not be done;" that it was not merely very difficult, but absolutely impossible. The word – “impossible” occurs only in the New Testament in the following places, in all which it denotes that the thing could not be done; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27, "With men this is impossible;" that is, men could not save one who was rich, implying that the thing was wholly beyond human power. Luke 18:27, "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God" - referring to the same case; Acts 14:8, "A man of Lystra, impotent in his feet;" that is, who was wholly "unable" to walk; Romans 8:3, "For what the law could not do;" what was absolutely "impossible" for the Law to accomplish; that is, to save people; Hebrews 6:18, "In which it was impossible for God to lie;" Hebrews 10:4, "It is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sin;" and Hebrews 11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please God;" in all of these instances denoting absolute impossibility.

These passages show that it is not merely a great difficulty to which the apostle refers, but that he meant to say that the thing was wholly unfeasible; that it could not be done. And if this be the meaning,

https://youtu.be/ey1UrHR0WMc

Why you be attitude? Matt 5:1-12 - attitudeThis is the beginning of the sermon on the mount. Some people elevate this sermon above other teachings of Jesus, but that’s not what Jesus did. While this was his longest most expansive treatise, its our elevation of it, not Him who gives it so much importance. Its all important, but its not exhaustive. People want to focus on a small part instead of being responsible for the whole parts. In this sermon, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and those who are following him. In the beatitudes- he’s showing his disciples the character of those who are in his kingdom and those who are going to inherit his kingdomIt’s a line of delineation for the disciples- if you’re going to be my disciples, if you’re going to be in my kingdom- this is who you must be. This must be your character.These are people who have been rejected or excluded from the power of Roman life, and the corrupt life of the Sadducees and PhariseesThese attributes, and why they are so timeless, is because they were the antithesis of the world’s ethos back then- and the antithesis of the worlds ethos nowTrue Christianity is not like the world, love the world or imitate the world. What is meant by blessed? Blessed in the simplest of terms means prosperous. Doing well. Fortunate. Well off. Doing better than most. Blessed. The kingdom of Heaven- who will receive it? Next week we talk about salt and light. This character precedes the ability to be salt and light to a loss and dying world. These characteristics display what we should be, who we are not, who we could be and who we can be

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those who feel an overwhelming sense of spiritual emptiness and insignificance in their life apart From GodA poor in spirit person feels empty. They are not self sufficient and strong- They admit weakIsaiah 66:2  “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My wordThis is in contrast to the pharisaicial spirit of self righteousness, support, and pleasureThe Pharisee has no emptiness because they are their own God- They are actually filled to the point they don’t need God and don’t desire after them. I admit I need people. I need their help, support, encouragement, affirmation. I do. I also admit I need God- Nothing the world gives satisfies- James 4:6 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”Are you poor in spirit, or do you depend on yourself? Do you long for God and his touch?We, as a society pride ourselves on self-sufficiency- but that’s not Godly. Never arrivingNo amount of personal righteousness can satisfy- only the Lord. Luke 18:13 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’Hebrew for poor- meek- abase self, afflict (-ion, self), answer [by mistake for H6030], chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble

 Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted. attitude

This isn’t upon all who mourn- its for those who mourn over their sin. They will be blessed, because when they mourn over what they have done, they find comfort with God’s pardon. I get no pleasure from listening to people talk about their past sins in a joking, positive lightIf you had killed someone, and got out of Jail and then laughed about it- is that Good/Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [a]have a contrite spirit.Yes, you’re forgiven, you’re set free- but that doesn’t mean you can’t hate your pastIsaiah 57:15 b“I dwell in the high and holy place,