Point of Grace Online Worship - March 20, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 3.20.22 Sermon Notes – “Let Go to Hold On – The backwards way of Jesus!”

The backwards way of Jesus? A Let Go to Hold On Life

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Let Go of Self-Reliance to Hold On to God-Reliance

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4

Deny Self-Reliant me the lead …… “self” centered ...... filled with “self” …… Old Adam

Give God-Reliant me the lead …… “God” centered …… filled with “Spirit”…… New Creation … follow Jesus me

How do we deny self and follow Jesus when it comes to handling

Money, Wealth and Possessions? Where Self stakes a claim!”

Jesus is saying… I love you way too much to leave you to handle money on our own!

Luke 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus is saying, I will transform the way you view and value money!

Luke 18 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.]” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he (loved him) said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus is saying … Money is by nature a seductively, dangerous obstacle to following Jesus in the kingdom of God!

Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 0 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Jesus is saying … It is natural and often encouraged to put your security in money but your security must rest solely in God! Trust God while using money – do not – Trust money while using God!

Jesus is saying… I love you way too much to leave us to handle money on our own! I transform the way you view and value money! Money is by nature a seductively, dangerous obstacle to following Jesus in the kingdom of God! It is natural and often encouraged to put your security in money but your security must rest solely in God!

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.

Mon – Mark 10:17-27 Tue – Colossians 2:6-14, 3:1-3 Wed – Luke 19:1-10 Thu – Proverbs 3:5-12 Fri – Luke 12:13-21

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 13, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 3.13.22 Sermon Notes – “Let Go to Hold On – The backwards way of Jesus!”

The backwards way of Jesus?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Let Go to Hold On

Following Jesus is a “Let Go and Hold On” Life … a “Yes to Jesus and No to Self” Life

The Self-Reliant-Self …… “self” centered ...... filled with “self” …… Old Me

The God-Reliant-Self …… “God” centered (F,S,HS) …… filled with “Spirit”…… New Me

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4

“Do not worry!” Jesus

Matthew 6 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus makes the case for “denying self” – “putting off the old me” with its worry-

•                 Worry gets you nothing but costs you so much,

•                 Worry costs you so much life. Why do we do it? There is another way … other than the human normal.

Jesus makes the case for “putting on the new self” with its reliance on God not self (worry) –

•                 Your Father in heaven loves you very much

•                 He is extravagant in His care of His children – He knows our needs

•                 You are so very valuable to Him

•                 He provides for today … today and tomorrow … tomorrow!

How do I “put off old me that worries” and “put on new me that relies”?

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Seek – active engagement (Pray and Do) “It is a ‘felt’ step of faith.”

First - as absolutely unequivocally your number one priority every day

His Reign – His authority, rule, dominion, leadership, in-charge-ness revealed in Jesus

His Righteousness – Right standing before Him from Him and His next right thing for me to do!

Pray and Do

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I step out in faith and in Your name I deny my old “self-reliant-self” from leading my life today. I renounce its authority over me. I put off my old self along with its worry, self-centeredness and self-reliance …….

I step out in faith and in your name put on my new “God-reliant-self” that joyfully seeks Your leadership and reign Jesus over my life in every aspect. You love me so much, I am so valuable to you, You are so gracious to me, I love You so much and thank and praise You for your goodness. Today, I will dwell on Your character, promises and provision and will mention my problems – instead of the other way around.

Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 6:25-34 Tue – Psalm 62:5-8 Wed – Philippians 4:4-8 Thu – Hebrews 4:14-16 Fri – Jeremiah 29:10-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 6, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 3.6.22 Sermon Notes – “Let Go to Hold On – The backwards way of Jesus!”

The backwards way of Jesus?

Die to live

Be last to be first

Be least to be great

Serve to Lead

Give away to receive

Let Go to Hold On

Following Jesus is a “Yes” to Him

But also a “No” to …….?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. … 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Peter has a “Self-Reliant-Self” along with a “God-Reliant-Self” … which one will lead Peter today?

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9

What does “denying self … taking up my cross daily and following Jesus” look like?

The Self-Reliant-Self ……………. Has self in the center

The God-Reliant-Self ……………… Has God in the center

Following Jesus is a “Let Go and Hold On” Life … a “Yes to Jesus and No to Self” Life

Jesus, It is a step out in faith, trusting Your grace towards me as I ask You to reveal to me what it practically looks like this week for me to deny my “self-reliant-self” the lead and follow You with my “God-Reliant-Self” leading?

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 4:18-22 Tue – Luke 10:38-42 Wed – Matthew 9:9-13 Thu – Matthew 14:25-33 Fri – Matthew 16:21-25

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 27, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 2.27.22 Sermon Notes – “He’s the One … Listen to Him”

Luke 9:28-36

The Transfiguration

What difference did it make then?

What difference does it make now?

Luke 9 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

The Transfiguration

What difference did it make then?

What difference does it make now?

2 Peter 1 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Jesus is the ONE and Only

Listen to Him

He is Our Anchor and Compass

We need to trust Him as this for us right now!

Jesus,

Jesus what are you saying?

How do I live aligned with You every day?

I am listening!

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 9:10-17 Tue – Luke 9:18-27 Wed – Luke 9:28-33 Thu – Luke 9:28-36 Fri – 2 Peter 1:13-18

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 20, 2022

Point of Grace Worship    2.20.22 Sermon Notes – “Amazed and Astonished”

Luke 4:31-43

The Rescuer – Watch Jesus using His authority and power!

The Rebuked – Watch the demons and disease respond to Him!

The Rescued and Responding – Watch people, like you and me, respond to Him!

Luke 4 31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. 38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

The Rescuer – Jesus uses His authority and power:

• to rescue people … He is for us!

• with real kindness and goodness … no wonder they were astonished!  

The Rebuked – Demons and Disease

• Jesus is strategically restoring and correcting the painful results of a sin riddled world!

• Glimpses of a new kingdom with a new king!

• He is the One “all” powers must obey!  

The Rescued and Responding – People like you and me!

• Amazed and Astonished

• “Sought Him and came to Him”  

Jesus,

How do I respond to You in light of all this?

How do I live aligned with You every day?

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. Notice how Jesus uses his power and authority and how His kindness shows through. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 4:31-37 Tue – Luke 4:38-44 Wed – Luke 5:12-16 Thu – Titus 3:3-8 Fri – John 10:7-16

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 13, 2022

Freedom for the Captives           2/13/21

Luke 4:13-30

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

What is happening in this passage?

1. Jesus is announcing the arrival of The Kingdom of God

2. Jesus is defining His mission

"The creator has now come into the exiled world. With full control to make all things new and all things right. Jesus tames the forces of creation and brings harmony into the world."

Where Jesus is there true life is also found

Jesus’ mission particularly includes the outcasts both socially, spiritually and otherwise

Jesus invites us to join Him on His mission

We cannot join the healer unless we have been healed ourselves  

How do I find Identity, Belonging & Purpose?

“…What Madonna is looking for, what we are all looking for is an ultimate verdict that we are important and valuable. We look for that ultimate verdict [to affirm our identity] every day in all the situations and people around us. And that means that every single day, we are on trial. Every day, we put ourselves back in a courtroom“ Tim Keller The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness

How do I get that Ultimate Verdict? How do I get out of the Courtroom?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.

The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Luke 4:13-22

Tue – Luke 4:23-30

Wed – Romans 8:1-4

Thu – Luke 3:21-22

Fri – Ephesians 1:3-10

Sat - Psalm 139:1-5

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths... Just be... “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 6, 2022

Point of Grace Worship 2.6.22 Sermon Notes – “Under Attack-4!”

Temptation?

The temptation of Jesus shows us that Satan will ultimately tempt us to “forsake the Father and take control ourselves” in order to get for ourselves the life we think we deserve.

His goal is to drive an eternal wedge between us and our Father in heaven!

James 1 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Satan will

- Cast doubt on the Father’s goodness, His trustworthiness and our “beloved” identity in Him,

- Deceptively present alternative routes to the good life and

- Lie about the reality of consequences.

Luke 4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

I get a new mindset to face temptation because Jesus is the One who won!

In Christ, I am not a victim of darkness but a bearer of Light!

Matthew 16 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The church is not hunkered down and hiding but invading and prevailing!

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

In Christ, I am not a victim of darkness but a bearer of Light!

1 Corinthians 10 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

When tempted I get to lean into my God’s faithfulness and look for His way of escape!

1Peter 5 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, James 4 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

In Christ, I am not a victim of darkness but a bearer of Light!

A Very Helpful Prayer

I now bring the kingdom of God, the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ against Satan and against His kingdom and against every force of evil coming against me, my family, my kingdom and domain. I renounce all sin and all evil (name it if you can) and bind and banish evil away from me in Jesus name! Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 16:13-20 Tue – Matthew 16:21-26 Wed – Luke 4:1-13 Thu – 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 Fri – James 1:9-15

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 30, 2022