"Follow Your Heart""Follow Your Heart"

And 5 More Lies…And 5 More Lies…ExperienceExperience

Paintball- Wrong battlefieldPaintball- Wrong battlefield

The Rant- Wrong enemyThe Rant- Wrong enemy

Words as a WeaponWords as a Weapon - Wrong weapons - Wrong weapons

You have an enemy andYou have an enemy andYou were born into a warYou were born into a war

Denying it doesn't change itDenying it doesn't change itSending positive vibes Sending positive vibes Into the Universe…?Into the Universe…?

By his choiceBy his choiceWith 1/3 of the AngelsWith 1/3 of the Angels

Jesus talked about SatanJesus talked about SatanAs though he had As though he had Personal knowledgePersonal knowledge

Last week:Last week:The only entrance The only entrance

The Enemy has into your lifeThe Enemy has into your life

Is what you give himIs what you give himAnd what God allowsAnd what God allows

Fighting for victory?Fighting for victory?The outcome is already decidedThe outcome is already decided

(Christ) (Christ) disarmeddisarmed the powers the powers and authorities, he made a and authorities, he made a

public spectacle of them, public spectacle of them, triumphing over them triumphing over them

by the crossby the cross- Col. 2:15- Col. 2:15

He has delivered us from the He has delivered us from the kingdom of darknesskingdom of darkness and and transferred us to the transferred us to the kingdom of his kingdom of his beloved Sonbeloved Son- Col. 1:13- Col. 1:13

The battle needs:The battle needs:

Effective weaponsEffective weaponsA battlegroundA battlegroundThe right enemyThe right enemyA goalA goal

The Faith is not a theology The Faith is not a theology to be to be Known Known or a verse or a verse to be Quoted to be Quoted Or a club Or a club to which we Belongto which we Belong

The Faith is not a theology The Faith is not a theology to be to be Known Known or a verse or a verse to be Quoted to be Quoted Or a club Or a club to which we Belongto which we Belong

But a God we were But a God we were Created to ExperienceCreated to Experience

For the weapons of our warfare For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have are not of the flesh but have

divine power to destroy divine power to destroy strongholds. strongholds.

We destroy arguments and We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge against the knowledge of Godof God- 2 Cor. 10- 2 Cor. 10

……the weapons of our warfare the weapons of our warfare The war is assumedThe war is assumed

……the weapons of our warfare the weapons of our warfare are not of the fleshare not of the flesh

……the weapons of our warfare the weapons of our warfare are not of the fleshare not of the flesh

We do not wrestle againstWe do not wrestle againstFlesh and blood- 1 Tim. 6Flesh and blood- 1 Tim. 6

Great news!Great news!

If flesh and bloodIf flesh and blood

- People are our enemy- People are our enemy- Culture is a battleground- Culture is a battleground- Our strength is limited- Our strength is limited

……weapons are not of the flesh…weapons are not of the flesh…

Where we fightWhere we fightOur strength in the fightOur strength in the fight

Who we fightWho we fight

Where…Where…The culture warsThe culture warsAre not the battlegroundAre not the battleground

For Christ's followersFor Christ's followers

Taxes? To oppress us?Taxes? To oppress us?How dare they? How dare they?

We're God's people!We're God's people!

Give to Caesar Give to Caesar What is Caesar'sWhat is Caesar's

But Culture is antagonisticBut Culture is antagonisticYeah…Jesus kinda promised thatYeah…Jesus kinda promised that

(Christianity has (Christianity has Always been nice either)Always been nice either)

Our Strength…Our Strength…I may not have physical strengthI may not have physical strength

But I've met believersBut I've met believersWho have power in ChristWho have power in Christ

Beyond anything we can Beyond anything we can imagineimagine

If it's Our StrengthIf it's Our StrengthIn the cultureIn the culture

We can be outvotedWe can be outvotedOut-CourtedOut-Courted

Out-influenced/intimidatedOut-influenced/intimidated

The prayer of a righteous man is The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effectivepowerful and effective

Elijah was a man Elijah was a man with a nature like ours… with a nature like ours… - James 5- James 5

The only thing that limitsThe only thing that limitsYour power in ChristYour power in Christ

Is youIs you

Humble, submitted, led, in faithHumble, submitted, led, in faith

Where we fightWhere we fightOur strength in the fightOur strength in the fight

Who we fightWho we fight

People are not your enemyPeople are not your enemy

People are not your enemyPeople are not your enemyEven if they think they areEven if they think they are

- May attack, provoke, bully- May attack, provoke, bully- Seek harm- Seek harm- But…Imago Dei- But…Imago Dei

There is one GodThere is one GodOne SpiritOne SpiritOne FaithOne Faith

The only time you have The only time you have An enemy is when An enemy is when

- You have been blinded- You have been blinded- They have been blinded- They have been blinded- Both have been blinded- Both have been blinded

Pride, Ego, Hatred and PrejudicePride, Ego, Hatred and PrejudiceBitterness and UnforgivenessBitterness and UnforgivenessSelf-righteousnessSelf-righteousness

Forgive as God in ChristForgive as God in ChristForgave youForgave you

Deceived by the EnemyDeceived by the Enemy

We We do not do not wrestle againstwrestle againstFlesh and bloodFlesh and blood

If believers, esp. grievousIf believers, esp. grievous"Divide and conquer""Divide and conquer"

They aren't the enemyThey aren't the enemyBut they may be But they may be Serving his purposesServing his purposes

Great News!Great News!

If your enemy is hungry, feed If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him him; if he is thirsty, give him

something to drink. In doing this, something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals you will heap burning coals

on his head.on his head.

Do not be overcome by evilDo not be overcome by evilBut But overcome evil with goodovercome evil with good

- Romans 12:20- Romans 12:20

I don't have to fight back andI don't have to fight back andWorry about ego and rightnessWorry about ego and rightness

Heaping hot coalsHeaping hot coalsBurns conscience and removesBurns conscience and removesJustification for their sinJustification for their sin

We We do not do not wrestle againstwrestle againstFlesh and bloodFlesh and blood

If I'm fighting another personIf I'm fighting another personI'm playing on I'm playing on

The Enemy's battlegroundThe Enemy's battleground

Disclaimer:Disclaimer:

Protect your familyProtect your familyIf conscience allows… If conscience allows… Protect your fellow man-CountryProtect your fellow man-Country

If people aren't the enemyIf people aren't the enemyThe my goal is not winning, butThe my goal is not winning, but

Opened eyes and Opened eyes and Changed heartsChanged hearts

For the weapons of our warfare For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh are not of the flesh but have but have

divinedivine power power to destroy to destroy (enemy)(enemy) strongholds strongholds

Strongholds=Strongholds= Ochyroma OchyromaFortress or walled cityFortress or walled city

Built to withstand all attacksBuilt to withstand all attacks

Ochyroma:Ochyroma:The arguments and reasonings The arguments and reasonings By which a person fortifies his By which a person fortifies his Opinion and defends it against Opinion and defends it against An opponentAn opponent

Have you dealt withHave you dealt withPeople like this?People like this?

Been this person?Been this person?

Strongholds keep peopleStrongholds keep peopleFrom seeing TruthFrom seeing TruthAnd following after ChristAnd following after Christ

The walls that keep outThe walls that keep outAlso keep from seeing outAlso keep from seeing out

……divine power to divine power to destroydestroy strongholds strongholds

Hint: NO ONE is hopeless!Hint: NO ONE is hopeless!

We destroy We destroy argumentsarguments and and every every lofty opinion lofty opinion raised raised

against the against the knowledgeknowledge of Godof God

We destroy We destroy argumentsarguments and and every every lofty opinion lofty opinion raised raised

against the against the knowledge knowledge of Godof God and take every thought captive and take every thought captive

to obey Christto obey Christ- 2 Cor. 10 - 2 Cor. 10

and take every thought captive and take every thought captive to obey Christto obey Christ

BattlegroundBattleground

Not a human disputeNot a human disputeNot great reasoningNot great reasoning

PrayerPrayerTruth of the gospel andTruth of the gospel andConviction of God's SpiritConviction of God's Spirit

I was with you in weakness I was with you in weakness and in fear and much and in fear and much

trembling, and my speech trembling, and my speech and my message and my message were were not in plausible words not in plausible words

of wisdom…of wisdom…

……but in but in demonstrationdemonstration of the of the Spirit and of power, so that Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the wisdom of men but in the power of Godthe power of God- 1 Cor. 2:3-5- 1 Cor. 2:3-5

Because the goal is notBecause the goal is notWinning the argumentWinning the argument

But winning the personBut winning the person

Not to my side Not to my side (politics, denoms, causes, etc)(politics, denoms, causes, etc)

But (back) to our KingBut (back) to our King

StrongholdsStrongholdsArgumentsArguments

OpinionsOpinionsRaised against the Raised against the gnosisgnosis of God of God

Gnosis: Knowledge gleaned from Gnosis: Knowledge gleaned from first-hand, personal first-hand, personal experienceexperience

God wants to be known God wants to be known By experienceBy experience

And as he is knownAnd as he is knownLives are changedLives are changed

The Faith is not a theology The Faith is not a theology to be to be Known Known or a verse or a verse to be Quoted to be Quoted Or a club Or a club to which we Belongto which we Belong

But a God we were But a God we were Created to ExperienceCreated to Experience

God'sGod's...invisible attributes, ...invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation perceived, ever since the creation of the world, of the world, in the things that in the things that have been madehave been made- Rom. 1:20- Rom. 1:20

Sense of aweSense of aweOf wonderOf wonder

Of peaceOf peaceOf joy and giddinessOf joy and giddinessIs a hint at GodIs a hint at God

"Knowledge of" means nothing"Knowledge of" means nothingGreat theology is wasted timeGreat theology is wasted timeQuoting verses is futilityQuoting verses is futility

IFIF it doesn't lead to it doesn't lead to Walking with/Experiencing GodWalking with/Experiencing God

God wants to be knownGod wants to be knownExperientiallyExperientially

The Enemy wants to keepThe Enemy wants to keepGod from being experiencedGod from being experienced

The Battle's Goal:The Battle's Goal:That God would be experiencedThat God would be experienced

And known as GodAnd known as God

Last week:Last week:FearFear

Anger/unforgivenessAnger/unforgivenessSelf-seekingSelf-seeking

Divination and Misplaced FaithDivination and Misplaced FaithPursuing Wrong DesiresPursuing Wrong Desires

Every single oneEvery single oneKeeps us from experiencingKeeps us from experiencingThe joy of following ChristThe joy of following Christ

By faithBy faith

WordWordFellowshipFellowship

WorshipWorshipPrayerPrayer

They devoted themselves to the They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayersbread and the prayers

God wants to be God wants to be experiencedexperiencedNot just knownNot just knownAs a conceptAs a concept

Or a belief systemOr a belief systemTo which we clingTo which we cling

This sickness will not This sickness will not end in death. It is for God's end in death. It is for God's glory, that God's Son might be glory, that God's Son might be glorified through itglorified through it- Jesus- Jesus

Up until now you have asked ofr Up until now you have asked ofr nothing in my Name. Ask, that nothing in my Name. Ask, that you may receive, you may receive, that your joy that your joy might by fullmight by full- Jesus- Jesus

Prayer moves the hand of GodPrayer moves the hand of GodAnd produces joy, confidenceAnd produces joy, confidenceGreater FaithGreater Faith

To face whatever To face whatever Comes our wayComes our way

The Faith is not a theology The Faith is not a theology to be to be Known Known or a verse or a verse to be Quoted to be Quoted Or a club Or a club to which we Belongto which we Belong

But a God we were But a God we were Created to ExperienceCreated to Experience

Q and A…Q and A…

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