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Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567 2 Simple Steps To Make The Enemy Leave James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1st Step is Submit: to give over or yield to the power or authority of another We must give all authority to God in order for the enemy to flee 2nd Step is Resist: to withstand, strive against, or oppose: We must resist the lies of the enemy. Final Result is Flee: to run away, as from danger or pursuers; take flight. With the combination of those 2 simple steps… the enemy has to and must flee So here is a very good example of the 2 simple steps in action Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a]by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Jesus submitted to God by fasting Matthew 4:2 Jesus didn’t fall for any tricks and lies from the devil the best example of resisting if you ask me Matthew 4:3-9 The Result is Matthew 4:10 -11 So simple remember this Submit, Resist, Flee

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567 Have you ever heard the saying: Your Pain is the preparation for what God is preparing for you. I can understand that pain is part of preparation when it comes to lifting weights. But when it comes to real life…I don’t get it. I’ve always had a problem with that statement…and I never fully bought into it. I would say to myself – why would God do this to someone? And the more I’ve experienced various types of pain I’ve lived through…I realize that there is truth in that saying; however, it is not in the sense that God has given you this pain in order to prepare you. But rather, He has the power to turn your situation around and work through you in any circumstance. Regardless of how shattering your pain is, there is refuge in Christ. You can allow your pain to be your preparation to have an impact. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. God is not giving you pain or trying to hurt you; but it is your pain that gives you the choice to lean on God and use it as fuel for preparation to fulfill your purpose. To trust that He will get me through this too…to spend time with Him in prayer and reading about Him so I will know His voice when He speaks to me. 1 Peter 4:12-14 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. God is not assigning us painful experiences, but He is saying don’t be surprised when they come your way. When we suffer, He suffers. But rest assured and expect that His glory will be revealed as we lean and trust in Him. God does not cause the pain, but He is our refuge…and He will use even the worst of pains to shine His light on this world. Jeremiah 19:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. What if I told you that God can even use your pain as preparation to build the infrastructure for what He has prepared for you!! FINAL THOUGHT: God is not the one that hurt you, but He is the one that has the healing power in His hands for where He’s taking you.

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567 Notes: Don’t Stop Keep Going? How many times in life have we gave up and settled on things prematurely? Rather it’s a dream, goal, relationship, even your faith? Well, let me be the first to admit, I have. Yes, with my dreams, goals, relationships and on my levels of faith and trust with God. But this morning I want to touch on that last one…. your faith…. settling for less with your faith…. You might ask… what do you mean settling for less with your faith…. Let me explain. Have you even been in a season where it feels like you keep going on and on in cycles? Where you feel that God is leading you in the beginning but days, months, even years later you are still in the same place. Even when you are doing everything right…. Talking to God, believing and trusting in His word, you know your walking by faith and not by sight kind of beginning. And then all of a sudden on this journey a test within the test throws you for a loop…. And the next thing you know you have convinced yourself to settle instead pressing forward to get through the journey. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. This morning I want to encourage you to 1. Remain steadfast: firm in purpose 2. Stand the test 3. Love God : Trust God : Be Patient with God Here are some other scriptures to encourage you not to settle but to keep moving towards the goal Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. He will give you the strength to keep going Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. All things will work together for our good if we stay in the will of God 1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Believers in Christ are automatically overcomers. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Even though the enemy is against you…. God is for you Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Worry and God can’t be in the same sentence. You can’t say “Well, I am trusting God but I don’t know if everything is going to be okay” When you become anxious that is simply a reminder of you not trusting God about the situation completely

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567 Notes: Are You Buried or Planted? Transitioning our thoughts when we feel buried under the stresses in life… Job 14:7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.” If this is true for a tree, surely it’s true for you. You are God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10. God never planted a tree…only seeds. You haven’t been buried, you’ve been planted. You’re simply growing roots so you can withstand the challenges for that next level. Lean into the process of growing roots…instead of fighting – lean into the growth process – lean into God. Trust that he’s already working on your future… The Bible says that: Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” God is strengthening your relationship with Him…building your character and your faith in Him. Let’s compare your growth process to the maturity of a bamboo plant. Did you know that it grows underground for nearly 3 years!!?? Most of us would give up before the fun ever started…before we ever saw the light! The bamboo plant didn’t give up just because it couldn’t see the sunlight…it was growing a solid foundation! So I’m going to tell you the very thing I was told to get me out of my funk… when I heard it…it was kind of like a gut punch and a hug at the same time!! Remember I said earlier that: You’re not buried…you’re planted. Think on this next statement for a while: Stop having a funeral for the things that are not dead. Get over it!!! Have your pity party if you must, then stop it bc now you realize that you’ve been planted…not buried!! Stop creating scenarios that aren’t real!! Quit manufacturing your fear or your anxiety! Stop feeding the lies and begin watering the seeds of hope and gratitude. If we don’t have hope for a better day, we will become more and more sick. Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Remember you’ve been planted…so water the seeds that will add LIFE and HOPE to your growth and your future. Every morning I want you to write down 3 things you’re grateful for in your life. I promise life will start looking a little brighter! This might be the very thing that pulls you out of the fog and closer to God.

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567

Join us every Monday morning at 7:13 am Call: (712)770-8009 Pin: 358567