The Suicide Deception

“Suicide is the final expression of control over one’s own life.  The deception is the belief that death is the solution, the escape or the end of everything.”

From Dr. Neil T. Anderson's, Discipleship Counseling, page 323

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

Bitterness vs. Forgiveness

“Bitterness is to the soul as cancer is to the body.” (268)

“We forgive in order to heal. . . . Forgiveness is a hard choice that includes (1) allowing God to surface the name of every offending person with their painful memories, (2) agreeing to live with the consequences of the other person’s sin without seeking revenge, and (3) letting God deal with the offending person in His way and His time.” (266)


From Dr. Neil T. Anderson's Discipleship Counseling

"[26 ] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, [27 ] and give no opportunity to the devil. . . .  [31 ] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. [32 ] Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."  (Ephesians 4:26-32 ESV)

A Journey to the Cross: Prayer & Fasting

A Journey to the Cross - Part 1 from Jonathan Carl on Vimeo.
A Journey to the Cross:


Prayer & Fasting

Fasting: “A Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes” – Donald Whitney

Preparing for Ministry: The Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11)

Why fast? from Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

• To Strengthen Prayer
• To Seek God’s Guidance
• To Express Grief
• To Seek Deliverance or Protection
• To Express Repentance or Return to God
• To Humble Oneself Before God
• To Express Concern for the Work of God
• To Minister to the Needs of Others\
• To Overcome Temptation & Dedicate Yourself to God
• To Express Love and Worship to God

How do I fast?

• Normal Fast – fasting from all food, not from water
• Partial Fast – limitation of your diet
• Absolute Fast – fasting from all food and all water
• Supernatural Fast – requires God’s supernatural intervention to survive
• Private Fast - in a way not to be noticed
• Congregational Fast – united focus
• Other than food - “a voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity” - Richard Foster

Prayer

“Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing.” - E. M. Bounds


Preparing for the Cross: The Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)

Why pray?

• Communication with the God you love!
• Interceding for one another
• Dependence on God
• Thanking God for His work and provision
• Prayer makes a difference
• Loving obedience

“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…” (Ephesians 6:18a)

How can I pray?

• The Lord’s Prayer
• A - Adoration
• C - Confession
• T - Thanksgiving
• S - Supplication
• The Psalms
• Scripture
• Prayer lists
• Operation World
• Facebook
• News
• 3” x 5” Card in your bulletin – The Lost by name

“The life, power, and glory of the church is prayer…without it, the church is lifeless and powerless” – E.M. Bounds

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