Catch the American Spirit Sunday – November 4th at 9:30a

“Authority Gained” in Ripped Off series (notes & video) by: Pastor Sarah Marie

Last week was “Authority Lost” with Pastor James.

This week is “Authority Gained” with Pastor Sarah Marie.

We have gained authority through Jesus, the second Adam. We are positioned in this authority.

How many agree with me that there is a big difference between position and experiencing the benefits of this authority.

James 4:4,6-7 Living Bible

Do you want this authority to be effective and see results? Then follow these instructions:

To experience the benefits we need to grow in the knowledge of the Word. And that is not enough. We need to practice the Word until our actions are consistent with our talk. In the meantime, we need to know that there is an enemy that opposes the process.

Ephesians 4:21-24

I went to a church that taught the Word of God like Life Christian Church.

On a Wednesday night the pastor taught about the glory of God and how Moses had experienced God’s glory. He wanted more. At one point he said, “if you don’t go with me, I will not go”.

I was so affected by this teaching that before I went to bed I knelt down and said to God “you have shown your glory to Moses, then Moses wanted more. You said you would not be partial. What you do for one you’ll do for another. Show me your glory. Come in the night season. You said to ask and I am asking right now.”

Then I fell asleep. I had an expectation that something supernatural was going to happen. I thought I would have a dream. But when I woke up at 6 in the morning and nothing; no dream.

I set up in bed holding my Bible and said “Ma, you said, to ask. I have asked. If you don’t want to show me your glory, what can I do?”

When I said that I heard a voice from near my nightstand right next to me saying, “if you strip yourself of any fleshly desire and put on Christ, you will see my glory”.

At this time I did not know that Ephesians 4:21-24 actually says this. We will get to these scriptures later.

I answered and said “how do I do that?” The voice answered and said “How did you get saved? You believed then you said some words out of your mouth then you got saved”. I answered, “It is that easy?” I started to say, “I strip myself of any fleshly desires and I put on Christ”. Immediately Jesus appeared standing in the air a foot from the ceiling. We were conversing mind to mind. He wasn’t talking and I was not talking. But mind-to-mind he was quoting scriptures and I was quoting scriptures.

We were having so much fun I told Him “Oh my, this is what it means to have the mind of Christ?” And right there a beautiful man with overhaul jeans stood in between Jesus and I. And said to me, “Don’t listen to Him, listen to me, and if you do, I will give you all this”.

Then he showed me the property I owned in Roseville, MI. And on the roof there were diamonds and gold all shining. He said “If you listen to me all this I will give it to you”. I said “what am I going to do with that, I don’t want it”.

Then he took me to the property that I own in Pennsylvania and he showed me the same; all kinds of gem and gold. I said “what am I going to do with that, I don’t want it”.

Then he took me to a building where I had an exercising business and showed me that on the roof had the same things, gems and gold. But, this time the building was multiplying. And I saw so many buildings with exercising business. He said “you can have all this”. I started screaming by this time and said “I don’t want it, you can have it”.

He got mad and threw a thick spit like the size of half an egg. It landed right on my chest and with my breath I blew that spit back to him and it went right into his face. I expected him to be angry.

Instead, he started to look at me with his eyes intensively and felt like I was being hypnotized. I was losing my strength. When this started to happen, I was a little cocky with him knowing that Jesus was right there. He was going to help me. But I was getting weaker and weaker.

I looked up at Jesus and mind to mind I said “ma, aren’t you going to help me?”. Jesus said “I can’t, you say “it is written, be gone from me”. To my surprise with Jesus I could speak mind to mind but with the devil I had to speak words.

I said “It is written, be gone…and I never finished the word “gone” and he turned from a beautiful man to this brutal ugly beast and started screeching back. He said “I’m leaving for a while, but I will be back”.

Then I was left with Jesus. And Jesus told me that if I did not resist the devil with the Word, Jesus was not going to resist him for me. Because Jesus said that I had the authority to resist him.

James 4:7

Now this sounds so easy just strip yourself and Jesus would be right there. I tried to do this other times, but Jesus did not appear. Jesus expected me to learn to keep self under control and not to give place to the devil.

Satan influences the system of this world. Satan always appeals to the flesh. Jesus stripped him of his power, but if people don’t know, he will take total advantage of them.

This is why He says to seek Him first. If we stay connected to Him we will get empowered to resist the devil and we’ll avoid many things.

Matt 6:33

This means find out how God wants things done. How He wants us to live and treat other people. How He wants us to act in certain situations. What kind of attitude we should have.

As long as we live in this world, the devil will always presents to us things that appeal to the flesh. But the key to victory is that Jesus holds it all together for us. All we need to do is put Him first.

When something happens, God is waiting to see how we are going to respond. And the devil is going to try his best to let us fall into his trap. If we know the Word, we will say “It is written”. This will determine the victory or defeat.

An example of when I fell.

Ripped Off Series “Authority Lost” Pastor James Boyd (video & notes)

Ripped Off – Authority Lost – video and notes

Pastor James

The authority given:

Gen 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over allthe earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

• God created a family that had emotions, feelings, and personalityas Him. He wanted a family that He could love and be loved by. He created kids who had a free will to love Him
  • I just need a hug…the feelings of God
• We see in these opening verses that he gave them authority even as he had authority
• Everything was subject to Adam: climate, crops, animals.
  • God had a “mini-me” – Adam ruled the earth and God ruled the universe
  • Bear video – opposite from the garden scenario
  • Adam could change the weather to water his crops, tell his crops to grow, and tell the bugs to stay away from the crops. He had complete control, and this was God’s intent.
• He was made in God’s image so he ruled like God

Don’t be ripped off. Gods intent hasn’t changed.

There was one thing that the man (Adam) needed to stay away from. It was the tree, and not just the tree but the fruit of the tree.

Example (Jim Vliet or Ron Miller):

• We look like this a lot of times.
• Jim Vliet dressed in police gear and telling me to give him my license.  I tell him to sit down and be quiet.  I revoke his authority and he listens and sits down quietly.
  • I haven’t taken away his authority.  He is still licensed by the county to get my license from me.  However, he somehow doesn’t know this and sits down and follows my directions.
  • He still has his badge.  He still has his gun.  He still has the backing of the county to get my license, but he doesn’t use it.  He’s persuaded that I know more and have authority over him.
• Let’s show this example in a different light. 
  • Jim now is persistent that I need to give him my license.  He comes over and demands it.  I don’t give it to him, so He cuffs me and takes it.
  • This is a picture of what you can do to that lying deceiving enemy that tries to steal your authority.
    • Honestly, the enemy can’t steal your authority.  Just like I can’t tell Jim that He can’t see my license.  Jim has authority to do so, but in the first scenario he didn’t give me his authority, he chose not to use it.  He was scared and timid and didn’t know his rights.  The second scenario was a bit different.  He demanded that I present my license to him.  He used the authority that was given to him.

Don’t be ripped off. Gods intent hasn’t changed.

Genesis 3:1-6 – Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

• “and he said to the woman” – the enemy will attack at your weakest point
  • I’m not saying the woman is weak, but this was Adam’s weakest point. You guys know what I’m talking about.
  • God said directly to Adam, but the enemy came in through talking to His counterpart.  Adam was more persuaded since he heard directly from God.
    • Be careful of this. Wherever your weakest part is, tis is where the enemy will try to come in.
    • “you will not surely die” – God was talking about spiritual death, but the enemy twisted the story. He convinced them that death wasn’t going to happen, because He twisted God’s words.
      • This is what the enemy does. He twists God’s words.
      • “knowing good and evil” – God was trying to save man from knowing the evil side of things. He wanted man to only have to contend with good things and have dominion, but the enemy convinced him otherwise.

Whatever voice we listen to becomes our master.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

Lusts of this world

• The enemy used the lusts of this world to rip off Adam from God’s intent
  • Lust of the flesh (saw the tree was good for food)
  • Lust of the eye (it was pleasant to the eyes)
  • Pride of life (desirable to make one wise)
  • Adam and Eve switched masters. They decided to go by this worlds entrapments, instead of God’s promises.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

How does this apply today?

• Who we’ve listened to

Story – The one-arm boy (judo champion):

• This boy could have left the sensei and went to find another coach that would train him in more skills. He could have walked away from the competition, because he only had one move.  He could have been overwhelmed with only having one good arm, but he never would have reached his full potential.
• He probably heard from other teammates that there was no way.  He probably heard from his parents that he should join the special Olympics instead of go up against this force that was too powerful.  But, He decided to use his one move.  He didn’t even know throughout the story that this one move can’t be beaten, but he did it afraid.
• Who we listen to can impact our outcome.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

• What we’ve been taught
• Good, Bad, Fear, Doubt: If you know the issue, and you know the way out, you will win.  However, there’s a lot of churches that don’t teach the people that they are already victorious in Christ.  There are churches that teach that God does good and God does bad.  This is just not the case.  These are believers that don’t know their authority in Christ.  They are being tossed all over the place with everything that the enemy is throwing their way.
• They are actually implanting fear in their people. Something bad happens and the people doubt God, because they’ve been taught that He might not do anything. They’ve been taught that the will of God is different than it actually is. Believers are confused because of the teachings they’ve received for so long. They question Gods love and don’t use their authority in Christ.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

• Example: Cindy Cox- stage 4 melanoma, found Life Christian, healed due to this authority used, now there are over 30 people that have learned from her classes and been freed completely from cancer.
  • Here’s what it means when it says, He’ll work all things for good for those that believe. The enemy wanted to win another battle in the war and add confusion to the Body of Christ. But, Cindy got ahold of her authority in Christ.
    • Many believers are taught that this scripture means that God will send bad stuff to use it for our good. This isn’t the case. The enemy sends bad. God converts it to good, and wins. But He does it as a result of the authority that you have and call into existence.
    • God doesn’t plan on the enemy winning any battle in the war, but His people are going to need to learn about this authority to bring that to pass.
    • Cindy got into a church that believes that God is a good God, all the time. And life was spared because of how she was taught.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

The enemy’s tricks are still the same

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

The enemy knows what was given to him by Adam. He’s banking on you not knowing your authority.  He tried the same trick with Jesus too.

Luke 4:5-8 NIV

5         The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

6         And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

7         So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8         Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him

only.’”

Jesus used the Word as His weapon of choice.  You have a weapon of choice.  If you let your weapon of choice be the Word, you will never fail.  When the enemy hears the truth, he has to flee.  He has to get lost.  He can’t win.  Just like Jesus used, you can use.  The enemy has no answer for the Word being spoken.  That’s why it’s so important as believers to know what is ours by opening that Bible and studying it.  It’s important to use all of your tools.  You are saved the day that you accept Jesus.  The grace of Jesus is all over you.  But, when the enemy tries to talk you out of it, that’s when you need the Word.

It’s important to know your Word. Then, use it.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

Restoration foretold

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman,

And between your seed (the devil) and her Seed (Christ);

He shall bruise your head (the devils authority),

And you shall bruise His heel (referencing the cross).”

Ephesians 3:22-23 NIV

22         And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

23         which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

You are the body of Christ, the church. You have a head, Jesus. And you have feet…these feet are to stomp the enemy!

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

The Name – Jesus in the garden – isn’t it interesting that Jesus starts his trek to the cross in a garden.

• There’s authority in the name. Whenever you use the name the enemy shakes in his boots. I recall the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• John 18:6 NKJV – Now when He said to them,  I am He, they drew back and fellto the ground.
  • “fell” – thrust down, to lose authority, uncontrollably without power
    • “I am” – just those simple words took complete control. It was like a knock out punch. They went limp. They hit the dirt. They lost power in their bodies.
      • I assure you, they reformed the question after this instance.
      • You have this same knock out power. Not because you are tough, but because He gave you all power in heaven at you disposal.
      • “I am” a child of the Most High. “I am” the righteousness of God in Christ. “I am” more than a conquerer.

Don’t be ripped off, show the enemy what you know.

Practice who we are: the more you practice who you are in Christ and convince yourself of your rights as a child of he Most High, the more you’ll turn to it when needed.

Tell yourself what the Bible says about you. This will be your weapon of choice when the enemy tries to come against you.

Tell yourself daily how much God loves you.

Tell yourself daily how much power you have in Christ.

Tell yourself daily that you are His child.

Tell yourself daily that you are righteous in His sight.

Don’t be ripped off, God’s intent hasn’t changed.

Children’s Ministry Testimony at Life

My Life Children’s Ministry:

So my 8 year old Son asked me last week, “Dad, can I have a new Bible?” !!!  how awesome is that! He said he wanted a children’s Bible like they have in his class, (apparently his has too many pictures) . We were out so I stopped right away at the book store, my wife suggested that he could use one of my many Bibles. But I was so happy, when your son asked you for a new Bible, for me you run and get it. That was a great moment for me.

My 8 year old has some kind of fund raiser going on in his class at school. So he decided he would bring in his piggy bank and give all his money. This was about $60 , he was saving for a new video game. I let him do it, he took it to school, the teacher asked him if he was sure, three times and he said yes. I was so proud of him. We told him how happy we were and surprised him with a nice gift. Our son has always had a good heart, but I have noticed a Godly character being developed, that I cannot take full credit for. ( I’m hoping some of it is from me! lol).

Life Christian Church is helping my whole family see all that God has in store for us.  Thank God for you!

Blessed and Highly Favored

After church one Sunday we headed to the park to do a BBQ. On the way, we ran into my boss at a grocery store, the next day at work he asked about our BBQ. Then he told me that any time we wanted we were welcome to come over to his house and use his pool, BBQ, and house. Now my boss lives in a upscale golf course community, this was wonderful. He told me we didn’t even have to call, just show up anytime! Favor!  Wherever I go, people are finding favor with me, Gods favor is being poured out on me!

I was pondering this while I was working one day, before I go on I will start by confessing my love for espresso. now I go to install a fan and the lady says ” would you like me to make you an espresso?” FAVOR! I’m offered a lot of beverages, but I was reflecting on Gods favor at that moment and He answered me, it was like with that action he was saying “I love you son”.  Pastor, everywhere I go people are feeding me, blessing me with large tips, one guy gave me 36″ TV, and the next day he drops off the remote that he forgot to give me, one lady gave me a high chair and a stroller, many times I go back to the store to find out a customer stopped by and left me a tip. No doubt I’m Blessed, but let me tell you, I am Favored!

Rescue Series “The Robe” By: Pastor James (notes & video)

Rescue – the robe - click here for video

“your robe of financial breakthrough is complete”

by: Pastor James Boyd

• Review: whip, crown, spear…
  • He came to Rescue us from everything negative on earth. Physical healing, mental healing, relational healing, and today we move on to the robe.
• Cast lots for the robe
  • John 19:24 NKJV – They said therefore among themselves, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: They divided My garments among them,  And for My clothing they cast lots.  Therefore the soldiers did these things.
  • Psalm 22:18 NKJV- They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
  • Commentary: yet some have observed that the reason why the soldiers would not rend Christ’s coat was not out of any respect to Christ, but because each of them hoped to have it entire for himself. And so many cry out against separation, only that they may engross all the wealth and power to themselves.
    • They didn’t understand that the statement of the robe was much more valuable than the robe itself. They were looking at the fast food type increase from the event. But, Jesus was making a much bigger statement…
  • There was something special about that robe
    • The robe was also called a “mantle“. You’ll see as we continue that this was the mantle that Jesus passed to us. He was dismantled, so you could take His mantle. The mantle of financial breakthrough is yours.
    • There were 4 robes that Jesus wore. We’ll focus on the last for a second. It was put on Him by Pilot. It was purple. The color of royalty.
      • Emperor Aurelian refused to let his wife buy a purpura-dyed silk garment, as it cost its weight in gold!
      • After Rome fell, the color purple was distorted and they found cheaper ways to produce a similar color. But, Jesus wore the ultimate. He was stripped from the ultimate, so you could have the ultimate!
      • In Exodus, the color purple was used for the adornment of the tabernacle. The House of God. Jesus shows it on His body, the House of God. Now, you carry it on the Temple of the Holy Spirit. You! You are meant for the ultimate financial breakthrough!

It’s time to look further than our present circumstances and struggles. “Well James, maybe I was just meant to struggle to pay my bills, maybe I was just categorized here so that I can witness to others like me.”. No, you were meant to have a testimony of breakthrough into a new category. You were meant to take that testimony to others that are stuck in the spot that you were in. Your mantle of financial breakthrough is complete. Jesus laid down the ultimate, so that you could have the ultimate testimony.

• It was seamless, and even the soldiers didn’t want to rip it
  • They must have heard of the hem healing the woman
  • They must have wanted the whole robe to sell, because even they saw the value in a robe without seams.
  • Without a seam, it would rip and not have partial value. It was complete without being able to be divided.
  • He was rendered naked, so that we could be clothed
    • He was clothing us with His unclothing
    • He was stating another fact: you don’t have to go without, because I did.

“your robe of financial breakthrough is complete.” Instead of looking at your present situation, look further into the future of what Jesus conquered for you. Your financial breakthrough already has an account number. The funds are already there. The investment in this account was already wired.

• Story of the well known rapper

Your financial breakthrough is complete.

Financial breakthrough – the seams have to be removed

• There are four seams that are found in a lot of our garments. We add them ourselves, but they can be removed.
  • Budgeting, speak the Word, giving, and speaking positive words
    • I want to walk through these one by one, because the enemy tries to convince us that we still have seams. That we can still be pulled apart.
    • Jesus made a lasting impression on His way to the cross. You don’t have to have seams that can fray or be pulled apart.

1. Budgeting

• Your seams are showing. If you don’t budget, your seams is where your garment will fall apart.
• Proverbs 27:12 MSG – A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
• Proverbs 21:20 NKJV – There is  desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
• I look at the governmentand wonder how they keep it all together. Some may say they don’t. I believe there is a reason.
  • There are too many seams. There are too many objectives that have to be met. These objectives get attention when there is a squeaky wheel, and money is funneled to them. If you don’t take a look at what will be hindered, it seems like a good idea and a necessity, but it will hinder something else that is also important.
  • You’ve allowed too many seams. Too many priorities. You’ve been pulled apart, it’s time to put it all together.

Your robe of breakthrough is complete

2. Speaking the Word

• Abraham
  • The story of Abraham and the sand and stars
  • Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law.  Christ has redeemed me from poverty. The blessing of Abraham is mine.  (Galatians 3:13 and Deuteronomy 28)
  • For poverty He has given me wealth.  (2 Corinthians 8:9)
  • I delight myself in the Lord and He gives me the desires of my heart. (Psalms 37:4)
  • There is no lack for my God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:19)
  • The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, which is me.  (Psalms 35:27)
  • Speaking the Word gets our perspective back in line. Speaking the Word takes down the highway a couple of exits. Speaking the Word gets us out of the trees, so we can see the forest.

Your robe of breakthrough is complete

3. Giving

• Growing Good Corn
  • The story of the Nebraska farmer
  • You’ve thought it was a necessity for success to keep it all to yourself, but you’ve hindered your own crop.

Your robe of breakthrough is complete

The old donkey “Tommy”

• Story of the old donkey that pulled the man free
• You’ve felt like you’re out there alone, but He became poor so you would have your needs met. You’re not out there alone.

Your robe of breakthrough is complete

• You are not who the enemy says you are. You are not able to be pulled apart. You are a finance magnet. You are equipped with a seamless robe of breakthrough from above.
• Testimony: I just heard a testimony last week from one of the guys in our prayer circle on Thursdays. We started praying a month ago. The last time I heard of the issue, it still wasn’t answered. There were 8 days left to pay these few thousands of dollars. We continued to pray.
  • Pastor Sarah frequently says, “God is never early but He’s always on time.” This week, the gentleman showed up to prayer and told me the scenario.
  • He was heading out after prayer to pay this bill. God showed up just in time. It took faith and effort, but God made good on His Word. That bill was paid!

Your robe of breakthrough is complete.

Keeping your Faith Strong – vlog

Keeping your Faith Strong

by: Pastor Sarah Marie

Click on the image below for video:

More videos can be found here.

5 days for 6 days pay

Earlier, I wrote to you about my decision to work 5 days rather then 6, well after the first shocking check the devil was all over me. This was not going to work out, this was a big loss monthly and just simply wouldn’t cover the bills. Stress overwhelmed me, but I tried to remind myself that God would provide, but in the middle of this storm, I started to sink. Well, my boss approached me, he gave me some cash, a lot of cash, and said he was going to sit down and run some numbers to see how we could pay me closer to my 6 day pay for working 5 days! I didn’t tell my boss I needed more money, in fact I worried that I would be taken advantage of if they knew, but out of nowhere he comes up to me, tells me this and then gives me money to hold me over until he works out the numbers!

Glory to God!

Proactive Parenting

Rescue Series “The Spear” by Pastor Tracy Boyd (notes & video)

Rescued: The Spear- Rescued from broken relationships

Sunday; March 25, 2012            Pastor Tracy Boyd

Watch video here -> or -> listen to audio here

Intro: Jesus purchased through His life the potential for any area of our life to be conformed to His abundance.

We’ve said that if Jesus had to simply die having our sins on Him then why all the brutality. The journey before the cross is significant showing all that Jesus purchased for our well-being. We’ve touched on so far that through Jesus rescued us from sickness – the Whip-and mental stress/fear/anxiety- the crown of thorns.

This week: the Spear in His side

John 19:31-37 (NKJ)

 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”^{[f] 37} And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

• No bones broken: Ex. 12:46 (No bones of the Passover lamb were to be broken, no bones of Jesus the sacrificial lamb were to be broken)
•  Pierced: Zech 12:10

Genesis 2:21-22 (NKJ)

Eve was made from a rib in the side of Man. God took from Adams side and put ever together.

Genesis 1:27 (NKJ)

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Notice In Gen 1:27 that the soul-ish attributes of both the male and female were present in Adam. God drew the female attributes out and formed her physical body! We are doubly removed from the earth- don’t know why our bodies are more stubborn to get in shape than theirs!

Gen 3:16 (NKJ)

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”

In the fall God said to her that her desire would be for her husband; in other words remembering her joint rule in the garden, she would desire to dominate her husband.  Really this dominating is working in both; one is trying to dominate the other instead of working together in their strengths.

• On the day she was deceived and ate sin entered and her relationship with Adam was pierced

In a husband wife relationship most women want to be lead not dominated and have a leader for a husband. Unfortunately because we want to have our way we many times manipulate and cause our husbands to follow us instead of letting them lead us.

• Mom always says treat your husband as a king and he’ll lead as a king; treat him as servant and he’ll lead as a servant.

• We see through the fall our leadership can greatly affect the man!

Often times, a woman will take over because they see a lack of action or confrontation.

The first fight happened after the fall with Adam playing the blame game. This is still going on.

We’ve been rescued from living in marital stress/broken relationships. Jesus released the potential through the spear in His side for us to have whole relationships.

Baggage

• Don’t realize that we come to relationships with baggage
  • We’ve picked up good and bad perspectives on life from the environments we’ve been raised in as well as the treatment we’ve received in previous relationships.
  • We interpret and respond through the past encounters many time repeating vicious cycles that we’ve been privy to.
  • Becky and John: the set up both came from dysfunction
    • Come to Christ however both have been operating in:
    • Ephesians 4:14 (NKJ)

 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (teaching/voices in our life), by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

• Solution 1: Ephesians 4:15 (NKJ) “But speaking the truth in Love may grow up…. “
• She began to point things out that could be done better. At first he went along with it but it bothered him. Why? Because in his previous relationship this was done to him wrong. So even though she was saying it right he was interpreting it wrong and stuffing. Then one day exploded. Then every time she brought any thing up he exploded.
• Speaking the truth in love affords the opportunity  to bring out in the open any feelings or thoughts that have been shaped by the above wrong teachings, wrong relationships and the adversary manipulating the process
• Solution 2: Ephesians 4: 23 (NKJ) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
  • The Word is the key that unlocks the door to the house of blessing
  • If we don’t renew then we continue to interpret through baggage: Pastor Mary example

This is so important he says it again:

Ephesians 4:25-27, 29 (NKJ)

“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. ²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (how we say it is just as important as what we say).

God wants to create a new species

Romans 5:5 (NKJ)

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

• He puts His love in us to love and receive love from God
• Out of that love we love our spouse, children, and neighbors
• That love is inoperative without the input of the Word and the cooperation of the will.
  • With out the word, we may be saved but still have old cycles and habits working in us that affect how we treat our spouse and even how we read them.
  • Then in ignorance we are hurting one another.
  • The enemy takes advantage of our ignorance and pushes our emotional buttons.
• We’ve been given the Holy Spiritas well to walk along side us to help
  • Parakletos is the same word used in genesis for helper: One who assists, helps, comes to ones aide!

God’s Word and His love empowers us to have rescued relationships and prevent us from piercing each other!