you have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12

Jesus said I came to give life and give it abundantly.
John 10:10

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13

Praying is a dynamic dialogue.

The Process:
Deny – something you have to lay down.
Cross – something you have to pick up.
Follow – an ongoing pursuit

The Barriers:
1. Cost

2. Convenience

3. Commitment

What do you need to Lay Down?

What do you need to pick up?

Persevering with people, pain, and problems.

1. Speak truth
2. Reconcile
3. Let go of them
4. Warning

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

5. Forgiveness

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-27

Remember!

1. The Lord.
2. Stood at my side.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:18-19

3. Gave me strength.

SO THAT?

1. The person is specific.
2. The message is specific.
3. The completeness of the message.
4. The completeness of the audience.

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6

I. We turn away from godly advice.

II. We turn to our pride.

“He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.”
Psalm 17:22 ESV

III. We turn aside from God’s calling.

What Now?:

1. Believe in Jesus.

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:5

2. Pray and repent.

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:12-13

3. Hide God’s Word in your heart.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:9-11

4. Submit to God.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7

5. Tell someone.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16

“He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.” Psalm 10:9

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions.” Hebrews 11:32-33

“Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.” Judges 14:5-6a

“Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” Daniel 6:21-22b

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-34

Heart → emotionally how are you doing?
1 2 3 4 5

Soul → spiritually how are growing?
1 2 3 4 5

Mind → mentally how are you expanding?
1 2 3 4 5

Strength → physically are you strong?
1 2 3 4 5

As we get better individually, we get better corporately as a church.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24

1. We don’t wait in defeat. We wait in victory.

2. In order to have victory now, you must first believe.

3. Have you been trusting in your own ability to have victory?

4. Celebrate the Victory.

Focus on the mission of Christmas, not the mess of Christmas.

1. You have been rescued.

rescued - to free from confinement, danger, or evil.

Mission Christmas: Go after others.

2. You have been redeemed.

Redeem - to buy out.

Christmas is not what you get, but what you give.

Mission Christmas: Pay for others.

3. You have been reconciled.

reconcile - restore friendly relations between.

We serve a forgiving God, in an unforgiving world.

Mission Christmas: Forgive others.

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Micah 7:18-19

The Church That Threatens The Enemy
Acts 16

1. The Spirit directs the church.

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:4a

The church is to be filled with the Spirit.
The church is to walk in step with the Spirit.

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 6:24-25

2. The devil distracts the church.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Division
Discouragement
Dependence

“Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Act 19:14-16

Details
Doctrine

3. The Lord delivers the church

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Suit Up, and Fight!

Pick it up, put it on, practice it!

1. Apply the truth of God.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

What lie are you believing about yourself?________________
What truth will you now stand on? ______________________

2. Rest in Jesus’ righteousness.

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” Romans 3:21-22

3. Receive His peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:6-9

What care do you need to give to God right now _________________.

4. Believe what God has said.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:23-25
I believe, __________________

5. You are my deliverer.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7
Where do you need to declare God’s deliverance? _________________

6. Listen to the Spirit.

7. Pray without ceasing.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17