Resentment is #1 problem emotion

Emotions are signals about your surrounding circumstances and about yourself. Emotions are God-given. You are entitled to your emotions. Emotion is not a sin. Emotions influence behavior. How you react to your emotion may be a sin.

What is resentment?
Resentment is usually not a standalone emotion.
Resentment is a feeling based on a real or imagined grievance
● harboring of animosity against a person or group whom you feel has mistreated you.
● unresolved anger you have over a negative event which occurred in your past life.
● lack of forgiveness, the inability to let go and forget.
● root of distrust and suspicion you have when dealing with people or events that brought you
pain in the past.
● unresolved grief you experience when you find it difficult to accept a loss.
● result of heartbreak after exerting a great deal of effort and energy to achieve something that
eventually was lost to you
● grudge you hold against a person or group whom you feel has kept you from achieving.

Possible behaviors resulting from resentment:
● pout or fume silently in their presence or at the mention of their name.
● speak derisively or demeaning about them.
● become stuck in my efforts for personal growth and I don’t even know why.
● get furious for no apparent reason.
● get depressed, despondent, and find myself going in circles in my attempts to overcome these
negative feelings.
● grit my teeth and smile when I really want to scream and yell when these people are mentioned
to me.
● fake enthusiasm and excitement about being with these people when I’d rather have nothing to
do with them.

The Prodical Son’s Brother is an example of resentment: Luke 15
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Do you see the resentment? What other emotion accompanied the resentment?

1) Resentment is #1 problem emotion –Why do you think that is true?

2) Do you feel resentment?

3) What other emotion(s) accompany your resentment?

4) Write down what or who you resent

5) Confess it to the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness and help to release the resentment

Techniques to rid self of resentment include:

● admitting to yourself that there is unresolved resentment behind your attitude; confessing it to
Jesus and receiving His forgiveness. 1John 1:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

● identifying the “hot buttons” that indicate the presence of resentment in you and reacting with
prayer. 1 John 1:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

● asking Jesus’ help to let the past be the past so that it isn’t a chain around your neck anymore.
James 1:
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

● listing those for whom you have resentment and asking Jesus’ help for forgiving
Trusting Jesus to take vengeance on those who have hurt you in His own time and in His own way. All sin has consequences. Our job is to let vengeance up to Jesus and get out of His way. Romans 12:
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

● improving your self-esteem and self-worth by looking only to Jesus for approval and
recognition. Galatians 2:
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

●trusting Jesus for the victory – 2 Corinthians 2:
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Unchecked resentment can grow into deep seeded bitterness. Bitterness consumes the vessel that contains it.

Proverbs 14:
10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Hebrews 12:15
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Bitterness is like a Porcupine …

Lots of good points but hard to be near!

Bitterness is like an Iceberg: aloof, indifferent, problems beneath the surface

Are you chained in a prison of bitterness?

Warnings about bitter circumstances
1) Bitter circumstances can make satan’s lies seem true
2) Bitter circumstances can influence you to make wrong choices
3) Bitter circumstances can obscure a loving God
4) Bitter circumstances can start a root of bitterness

When the circumstances are bitter, remember Jesus hasn’t yet finished your story
Jeremiah 29:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Ephesians 1:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

Facts
You and I live in bitter circumstances that are sometimes hard to swallow and often not at all what we would choose. We live in a fallen creation. The God and man relationship has changed. Whereas Adam and Eve walked and talked with God daily, we cannot even see God face-to-face. Every human being is born with a fallen nature that is rebellious and sinful. We are born with Adam’s likeness. Like Adam, we make wrong choices and those choices have consequences.
You and I have an enemy with a deceitful gameplan. He uses lies to tempt our choices just as he used a lie to tempt Eve to make the wrong choice.1 Peter 5:
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

adversary = a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; enemy; foe.
devour = to swallow or eat up hungrily, to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly:
to engulf or swallow up; to absorb or engross wholly:
satan’s lies intensify the emotional pain of living here

Emotional pain blurs God’s reality
Because mankind was made in the image of God, your identity is linked to His identity. If you don’t see God clearly for Who He is, you can’t see yourself clearly for who you are in Him. Consequently, your perception of reality may become blurred. When we do not see God and ourselves clearly, that emotional pain can grow. Emotional pain does not mean your relationship with Jesus failed or that you are a 2nd class Christian

Christian life is a growing process– 2 Corinthians 5:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Why don’t we expect newborns to drive cars? Why don’t we expect youths to have the wisdom that comes only from experience?

Examples of root-causes of emotional pain
Wounded or buried, unresolved emotions
Struggling to control unwanted behaviors
Don’t know how to face emotions, share emotions or manage emotions
Self-loathing
Guilt from the past

Inappropriate survival skills are forms of behavior learned incorrectly to adapt to circumstances. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you may need to relearn how to survive in this fallen creation as a new creation. For example, I learned to deal with difficulty and bitter circumstances by stuffing my feelings, ignoring them and not letting myself feel them. Consequently, I came to believe that I did not matter because I had been believing that my feelings did not matter. But by participating in a support group in my church, I came to recognize how I was inappropriately handling my emotions and to receive the healing only Jehovah Rapha can give.
John 11:
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Notice what Jesus said! Lazarus came forth from the dead still wearing his grave clothes and his face was bound with a napkin. Likewise, when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, things from our past may still cling to us and our focus may be bound to the past. Sometimes emotional healing is needed for wounds encountered in your past. Scars have no pain because the healing process is complete. Wounds still need healing. God has provided a remedy for your emotional healing. Notice Jesus told the others to ‘loose him and let him go’. We need Christian fellowship, friendship and sharing to loosen us from the things of the past.

The growing in Jesus process is so important to our spiritual growth and cannot be avoided or hastened. Why didn’t God take the freed Israelites immediately to the Promised Land?
Deuteronomy 7:
21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.
Deuteronomy 8:
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

You see God had prepared a process. The Israelites had to grow. One of the lessons they had to learn was God’s remedy for healing -Jehovah Rapha.
Exodus 15:22-27
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Questions:
Where were the Israelites?
What was the problem?
What action did they take?
What did Moses do?
What did God do?

How does the story of the Israelites give you hope?
Romans 15:
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

His cross for our healing
Where are our transgressions? Colossians 2:
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Where are our sins? 1 Peter 2:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Where are our iniquities? Isaiah 53:
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Where are our death sentences? John 15:
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

God’s invitation to receive His healing
Matt 11:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
What is the only thing you must do? Why not tell Him you are ready?

Amy Carmichael, 1913
Amy Carmichael was a missionary to India for 55 years without furlough. As a child she prayed for blue eyes and was sorely disappointed when God answered “no”. But her brown eyes helped her fit into the Indian scene. Here are some of her writings:

1) And shall I pray Thee, change Thy will, O Father, Until it be according unto mine?
But no Lord, no, that never shall be, Rather I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine.

2) I pray Thee, hush the hurrying, eager longing, I pray Thee soothe the pangs of keen desire,
See in my quiet places, wishes thronging -Forbid them Lord. Purge though it be with fire.

3) And work in me to will and to do Thy pleasure -Let all within me peaceful, reconciled,
Tarry content my Well-Beloved’s leisure At last, at last, even as a weaned child.

Questions for Reflection
1) Do you choose to give God all your pain, hurts, resentment, bitterness, anger, guilt?

2) Will you take God at His word and cast all your cares upon Him, thereby releasing them from you? 1 Peter 5:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

3) What circumstances are bitter now?

4) What is hurting you now?

5) Is it from the past or present?

6) Why not tell Him and ask for His help in applying His cross to the circumstances!

7) What is keeping you from fully trusting Him? Practice telling Him daily “I love You” and listen for His assurances of love.

Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us, looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

You anYou and I live in a fallen creation. We cannot see God face-to-face. Everyone is born with a rebellious, sin nature. But when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He makes you new. 2 Corinthians 5:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

You escape the second death. Revelation 2:
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 20:
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

You are brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ, your Creator. Romans 8:
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

You receive an incorruptible inheritance. 1 Peter 1:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

You begin a marathon and when you cross the finish line you will pass into the physical presence of the risen Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection
1) What need did Jesus meet for you?

2) What were your circumstances when you first received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

3) How has He changed you?

He Touched me
Shackled by a heavy burden, ‘neath a load of guilt and shame;
Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same.

Refrain:
He touched me, O, He touched me, And O, the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened, and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole;
I will never cease to praise Him, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.

Refrain:

Keep Your Focus on the Finish Line

Matthew 25:
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Luke 12:
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

1 Corinthians 9:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Questions for Reflection
1) What will it be like to see Jesus?
2) What are you most looking forward to?
3) What do you think you will say to Him?
4) What do you think He will say to you?

Press On
When the valley is deep- When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary- When we stumble and fall
When the choices are hard -When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources-When we’ve given our all

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on – To press on

Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti
d I live in a fallen creation. We cannot see God face-to-face. Everyone is born with a rebellious, sin nature. But when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He makes you new. 2 Corinthians 5:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

You escape the second death. Revelation 2:
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 20:
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

You are brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ, your Creator. Romans 8:
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

You receive an incorruptible inheritance. 1 Peter 1:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

You begin a marathon and when you cross the finish line you will pass into the physical presence of the risen Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection
1) What need did Jesus meet for you?

2) What were your circumstances when you first received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

3) How has He changes you?

He Touched me
Shackled by a heavy burden, ‘neath a load of guilt and shame;
Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same.

Refrain:
He touched me, O, He touched me, And O, the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened, and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole;
I will never cease to praise Him, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.

Refrain:

Keep Your Focus on the Finish Line

Matthew 25:
6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Luke 12:
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

1 Corinthians 9:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Questions for Reflection
1) What will it be like to see Jesus?
2) What are you most looking forward to?
3) What do you think you will say to Him?
4) What do you think He will say to you?

Press On
When the valley is deep- When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary- When we stumble and fall
When the choices are hard -When we’re battered and scarred
When we’ve spent our resources-When we’ve given our all

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

In Jesus’ name, we press on-In Jesus’ name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on – To press on

Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

You and I are in a race. It’s not a sprint but rather a marathon. From the moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior until the moment you cross the finish line into His physical presence, you are in a race. Your race is designed uniquely for you. Jesus has created you and gifted you uniquely for success in your race. But the most important part of the race is where you are now. You cannot change the past. The future is not yet here. So run well today!

So how will you know if Jesus considers your running successful? What does He require? We know for sure His requirement is not speed. You are in a marathon.

Deuteronomy 10:12
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Micah 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Mark 12:29-31
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Summary of Jesus’ Requirements
• Fear the LORD your God
• Walk in all His ways
• Love Him
• Serve your God with all your heart and soul
• Do justly
• Love mercy
• Walk humbly with your God
• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
• Love you neighbor as yourself

So how would you rate your current spiritual fitness?
What do you need to work on?

Here is Jesus’ promise in Hebrews 13:
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How does Jesus describe success? Joshua 1:
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Face to Face – Carrie E. Breck

Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

Chorus
Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now, I see Him, With the darkling veil between,
But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen.

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.

listen to the piano=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5OxufmdNuE
listen to singing= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuLig-W4wSU

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

You and I are in a race. It’s not a sprint but rather a marathon. From the moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior until the moment you cross the finish line into His physical presence, you are in a race. Your race is designed uniquely for you. Jesus has created you and gifted you uniquely for success in your race.But the most important part of the race is where you are now. You can not change the past. The future is not yet here. So run well today!

Jesus’ admonition-Abide in Him
John 15:
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Paul’s admonition- Keep your body under subjection:
1 Corinthians 9:24
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway

Where are you today?
1) What is the last thing you read in the Bible?

2) What is the last prayer you gave to Jesus?

3) What obstacles and difficulties are in your race? Have you talked to Jesus about them?

4) Are you fully trusting Jesus for your circumstances?

5) Are you memorizing and meditating on His word?

6) Are you keeping His commands?

7) Is your joy full?
8) Are you focused on the goal?
9) Are you dressed in the armor of the Lord?
Finding it Home
When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea, Unknown waves before you roll;
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity, Though fear and conflict seize your soul.

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God’s!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial! Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night, O how lonely death can be;
At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light, For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God’s!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial! Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!

Listen to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1glUFnLC928

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

Because your identity is connected to God’s identity, when you don’t see God clearly for Who He is, you cannot see yourself clearly for who you are in Him.

Man was created in the image of God- Genesis 1:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Man had responsibility-Genesis 2:
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Man disobeyed God– Genesis 3:
1And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Man’s disobedience caused all to be born with that rebellious, sin nature- Genesis 5:
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:.

You and I live in a fallen creation we each have a rebellious, sin nature. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we receive a new nature but still maintain the rebellious, sin nature. When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, His enemy becomes our enemy. So your enemy wants to steal away the inheritance Jesus Christ has bought for you.

The enemy’s weapons are lies. He seduced Eve to disobey God and with lies about your identity he wants to seduce you and steal your inheritance. You can use God’s Word, which is the Sword of the Spirit to refute the enemy’s lies.

Because of Who Jesus is

1) Advocate – 1 John 2:
1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2) Alpha and Omega- Revelation 22:
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

2) Creator –Genesis 1:
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth

3) First Fruits -1 Corinthians 15:
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

4) God –
Isaiah 45:
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 46:
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
John 1:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

5) High Priest –Hebrews 4:
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

6) the I Am- John 8:
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
I Am the Light of the world-John 8:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
I am the Door-John 10:
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
I am the resurrection and the life-John 11:
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
I am the way, the truth, the life – John 14:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I am the Good Shepherd-John 10:
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
I am the vine-John 15:
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

7) Immanuel – Matthew 1:
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

8) Judge – John 5:
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

9) Lamb of God-John 1:
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

10) LORD of Hosts – Isaiah 47:
4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

11) Lord of Lords and King of Kings-Revelation 17:
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

12) the Propitiation for our sins- 1 John 2:
2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

13) Savior/Redeemer – Matthew 1:
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins

14) Wonderful, Counselor –Isaiah 9:
15) Mighty God–Isaiah 9:
16) Everlasting Father–Isaiah 9:
17) Prince of Peace –Isaiah 9:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

18) Your life – Colossians 3:
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Circle the three that matter most to you today

Because of Who You Are in Jesus
1) Alive –
Colossians 2:
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
John 5:
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
1 John 3:
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

2) Beloved with an everlasting love –
Jeremiah 31:
3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

3) Caused to triumph in Christ Jesus – 2 Corinthians 2:
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

4) Chosen before the foundation of the world-Ephesians 1:
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5) Created for Him – Colossians 1:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

6) Delivered from the power of darkness –Colossians 1:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

7) Forgiven of all trespasses– Colossians. 2:
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians. 1:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Ephes.1:
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8) Heir
Galatians 4:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:
4 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

9) Healed with His stripes – Isaiah 53:
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

10) His workmanship Ephesians 2:
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11) Indwelled by Christ – Colossians 1:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
12) Indwelled by the Holy Spirit –
John 15:26;
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

13) Justified – Titus 3:
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal

14) Laborer together with God-1 Corinthians 3:
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

15) New –
Ephesians 2:
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Ephesians 4:
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians 3:
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

16) Reconciled to God – Colossians 1:
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

17) Redeemed from the penalty of death and slavery to sin –
Galatians 3:
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Titus 2:
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

18) Regenerated – Titus 3:
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour

20) Risen with Jesus Christ – Colossians 3:
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

21) Sufficient in all things through His grace-2 Corinthians 9:
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

22) Translated into the kingdom of Jesus–Colossians 1:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Your identity for Service

A) Entrusted with the gospel-1 Thessalonians 2:
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

B) The Light of the world -Matthew 5:
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

C) The salt of the earth -Matthew 5:
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

D) Called to follow -1 Peter2:
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

E) Chosen and ordained -John 15:
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you

Circle the three that matter most to you right now

Questions for Reflection
1) Are you believing a lie about your identity?

2) Which of these Bible verses can you use to refute that lie?

3) Are you living your inheritance?

How Great Thou Art – Carl Boberg
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Refrain

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Refrain

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Refrain

Listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us, looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

When combined the four gospel accounts about the crucifixion of Jesus give the complete record. The individual records are part of the whole as any eye- witness testimony would be. One of the last statements of Jesus is recorded only by John.

John 19:
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

‘It is finished’ is the translation of the Greek accounting word ‘tetelestai’, which literally means “paid in full”. Nothing remains to be paid. The debt is satisfied.

What debt? The debt you and I owed to God, our Creator.

Romans 3:
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The reason for John’s record is given in chapter 20:
28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

There remains nothing for you and I to pay. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He forgives all your sins (past, present and future) and marks your debt “PAID IN FULL” because He already paid it for you. He makes you free from the sin debt and the penalty of sin.
This is what Jesus says in John 8:
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

It is Finished-Bill & Gloria Gaither
There’s a line that is drawn through the ages-On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging-For the gain of man’s soul or it’s loss
On one side, march the forces of evil-All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory-And they meet on Golgotha’s hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict-And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God’s son, in the balance -And then through the darkness He cries
Chorus
It is finished, the battle is over-It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict -It is finished and Jesus is Lord
Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making I didn’t know that the war had been won
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming And now praise His name, I am free.

Listen to the Gaithers=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxaAmNuL7BU
Listen with pictures=
http://www.ask.com/youtube?q=hymn+-+it+is+finished&v=B420qTV4S1w&qsrc=472
Questions for Reflection
1) What difference does it make to you that Jesus took your place and paid your debt?
2) What are some ways you can thank Him?
3) How can you fully appropriate the benefits of your forgiveness and now your close relationship with God your Creator in your daily activities?
Hebrews 12:

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

Jesus Christ was perfect, sinless, God-in-the-flesh when He:
Allowed them to take Him into custody, falsely accuse Him, mock Him, spit on Him and torture
Him
Carried the cross and walked to Calvary
Allowed them to nail Him to the cross
Allowed them to crucify Him

Why would He do that?
John tells us the answer is love in chapter 15:
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Paul tells us the answer is God’s solution to our sin problem
Romans 3:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew records Jesus’ decision in chapter 26:
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Note: a Roman legion is approximately 6,000 men but there is uncertainty whether surgeons and clerks were included in this number

He could have called ten thousand angels- Ray Overholt, 1924
They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed
They led Him thru the streets in shame-They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin
They said, “crucify Him: He’s to blame

Chorus
He could have called ten thousand angels To destroy the world and set Him free
He could have called ten thousand angels But He died alone, for you and me
Upon His precious head they placed a crown of thorns
They laughed and said, “Behold the king”
They struck Him and they cursed Him and mocked His holy name
All alone He suffered everything

When they nailed Him to the cross, His mother stood nearby,
He said, “Woman, behold thy son!”
He cried, “I thirst for water,” but they gave Him none to drink
Then the sinful work of man was done

To the howling mob He yielded: He did not for mercy cry
The cross of shame He took alone
And when he cried, “It’s finished,” He gave himself to die
Salvation’s wondrous plan was done

Listen with pictures- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R16ICkDks
Questions for reflection

1) As you consider the choice Jesus made what are your thoughts?

2) What difference does the choice of Jesus mean to you?

3) Do you feel loved today?

Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti

More than 2,000 years ago Jesus prayed for your earthy circumstances and your destiny. Imagine!
Jesus is not limited to time like you and I are. In fact Isaiah records a prophecy that when Jesus would hang on the cross, dying for your sins and my sins, He would see us.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

So what did Jesus pray for you? After they had eaten the Last Supper, before they went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would be arrested, Jesus prayed these words for you.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jesus prayed for you to be safe from the evil
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jesus prayed for you to be set apart for His service
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Jesus prayed for those with whom you share His gospel
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Jesus prayed for your unity with all Christians
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus prayed for you to be where He is
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus prayed for His love to be in you
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

The Beautiful Garden of Prayer- Eleanor Schroll, 1920
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, There’s a place that is wondrously fair,
For it glows with the light of His presence. ’Tis the beautiful garden of prayer.
Refrain
Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer!
Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer!
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, And I go with my burden and care,
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort In the beautiful garden of prayer.
Refrain
There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting, And He bids you to come, meet Him there;
Just to bow and receive a new blessing In the beautiful garden of prayer.
Listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R72DbPb4Njw

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run to obtain an incorruptible crown!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Voices in today’s marketplace of ideas insist Jesus never claimed to be God, that He was not executed due to blasphemy. What is the Bible record?
John records these occurrences, while Jesus was teaching in the temple at Jerusalem sometime between the 2nd and 3rd Passover celebrations during Jesus’ ministry.

John 8:
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

After Jesus was arrested what were the Jewish charges at His trials?

Matthew’s record in chapter 26:
57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Mark’s record in chapter 14:
53And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

Luke’s record in chapter 22:
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
Why then was Jesus crucified. John provides this record in chapter 18:
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

Questions for Reflection
1) How can you use these accounts to refute those false voices?

2) Have you thanked Jesus today for taking on the robe of humanity, living a perfect life in your place and dying to be the complete solution to your sin problem?

3) Do you see love in these records?

He is Lord – Anonymous
He is Lord, He is Lord
He has risen from the dead And He is Lord
Every knee shall bow-Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

You are Lord, You are Lord
You have risen from the dead And You are Lord
Every knee shall bow-Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

He is King, He is King!
He will draw all nations to him, He is King;
and the time shall be when the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King!

He is Love, He is Love!
He has shown us by His life that He is Love;
all His people sing with one voice of joy that Jesus Christ is Love!

He is Life, He is Life!
He has died to set us free and He is Life;
and He calls us all to live evermore, for Jesus Christ is Life.
Hebrews 12:
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us looking unto Jesus,
Coach Patti