Lessons Learned So Far in 2020

Overlooking Fear and Experiences

- without even knowing it, there have been lots of times I’ve overlooked the fear or experiences of others because I didn’t consider them valid and I won’t do that anymore

Being Insensitive to Race Issues

- I’ve not been sensitive to how important race and racism is to others and I will be more sensitive to it

Understanding People’s Feelings

- I need to understand that I’m up against people’s feelings oftentimes. When I pastor people, and I need to better understand why they feel the way they do.

WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS! WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS!

as with every last days warning, GET RIGHT WITH GOD!!!!!

Matthew 24:10–12 NKJV

10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

2 Timothy 4:2–5 NKJV

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Satan only has one enemy.

WE wrestle against flesh and blood

The weapons of OUR warfare are *not* carnal, but mighty IN GOD!

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Carnal: sarkika

finitely human adj. — characteristic of humanity in distinction to transcendent divinity.

question: if we’re fighting a carnal battle, are our weapons still powered by God?

Who is “we” and “our” in this passage?

SO, if you were the enemy, and there was literally only one force that could stop the enemy’s plans, who would you target?

Is the church made of only one race?

If the weapons of our warfare are *not* carnal, then what are they?

You know what this means? No matter what it *looks* like, everything is really an attack on the church!

Satan knows something, if we keep our eyes on the things of earth, on the natural, on the carnal, we’ll never be able to fight him.

Satan’s goal is simple: keep our attention on the things of the natural at all costs.

Matthew 13:22 NKJV

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Colossians 3:2 NKJV

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

John 18:36 NKJV

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Philippians 3:18–19 NKJV

18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

What are we battling?

SIN SIN SIN SIN SIN!!!

Sin is the thing our flesh wants. Sin is how the devil gets us to do his will. WE ARE PEOPLE OF GOD AND WE BATTLE SIN! Not even the people committing the sin!

Romans 7:23 NKJV

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

James 1:14–15 NKJV

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

God’s Word says:

sin is our greatest problem

The World says:

injustice is our greatest problem

Injustice is a symptom of sin.

If we focus all of our attention on a symptom, do we fix anything?

How do we use our weapons then?

Mark 16:19 NKJV

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

Romans 10:14 NKJV

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

But wait, how could the Word change anyone?

Galatians 5:16 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

What if people walked in the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

What if we just neglect that?

Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 3:26–29 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

How could that passage change anything?

this passage dismantles the idea of “us vs. them.”

Galatians 5:14–15 NKJV

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Critical Theory:

“your people” are those in your oppression group

our greatest problem: injustice

our oppressor: those traditionally with more power