1-30-22 Set List: Grateful Mercy (w/ Nothing But The Blood and Break Every Chain) Message Special: Touch of Heaven Sermon Notes: Steps To Heal: 1. Honest before God. 2. Responsibility to God. 3. Mercy from God and to those who have hurt me. 4. Depend on the Holy Spirit for emotional health and healing. 5. Authority over the devil’s lies and deceptions. Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message) 43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Galatians 5:22,23 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Ephesians 4:26,27 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 1 Corinthians 10:3-5 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. Discussion Questions: 1. What do you feel like God is saying to you through this message? 2. Is there something that you need to be honest with God about? 3. How good are you at taking responsibility for your part in your hurt? Do you struggle with blaming others? 4. What lies does the devil speak to you? 5. What are some changes you want to see this week given what God is saying to you?