“An Answer for Evil”

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
- 1 Peter 3:15, NIV

Good and evil confirm God’s existence.

“These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in”
- C.S. Lewis

“Without God all things are permissible.”
- Fryodor Doestoevesky

If God is absent, then evil abounds.

17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life…
- Genesis 3:17

Evil in Two Forms:

1. Moral Evil

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness…
- Romans 1:28-29

2. Natural Evil

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
- Romans 8:20-21

God’s cure for evil is revealed in the Gospel.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
- 1 Peter 2:24

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
- Revelation 22:3-4

"Journey Of The Heart"

"Faith is not merely a journey for the feet, but it is also a journey for the heart."
- AW Tozer

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.””
- ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
- Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”
- Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Heart Checkup

Am I harboring anger in my heart?

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
‭‭- James‬ ‭1:19-20‬

SOLUTION: Forgiveness

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
- Matthew 6:14-15

Am I harboring guilt in my heart?

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
-‭ Psalm 32:1-5

Solution: Repentance

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
- Acts 3:19

Am I harboring greed in my heart?‭

“And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."”
- ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭

SOLUTION: Give

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
‭‭- II Corinthians‬ ‭9:6-8‬ ‭NKJV

Am I harboring Fear in my heart?

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Isaiah 41:10

SOLUTION: LOVE

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
- ‭‭I John‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭

CONCLUSION

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
- ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9-10‬ ‭

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
- ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬

"Heart Health"

23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
- Proverbs 4:23

Understand that God’s purpose is a covenant relationship.

31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife…”
- Ephesians 5:31

Marriage is the goal

One plus One Equals

“…and the two will become one flesh.”
- Ephesians 5:31

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- Matthew 6:33

Passion should fit the purpose

Latin meaning of infatuation means false fire

Passion in the right place builds purpose. Passion in the wrong place will destroy it.

"What is Love?"

“What a person desires is unfailing love…”
- Proverbs 19:22, NIV

We’re looking for unfailing love, but we have failed perspectives and failed sources.

Types of Love

1. Eros: Romantic or Sensual Love

2. Storge: Family Love

3. Philia: Brotherly Love

4. Agape: Sacrificial Love

God’s love brings the greatest satisfaction, and it is our greatest standard.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
- 1 John 4:10

Stay in God’s love.

“9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
- John 15:9

Share God’s love.

“1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy… 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
- Philippians 2:1, 4

"Whose team are you on?"

1. Defense – Understand the spiritual attack of the enemy

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
- John 10:10 (ESV)

Understand the enemy’s advancement is spiritual in nature

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
- Ephesians 6:10-12

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
- Ephesians 6:13-18

19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
- Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)

Offense – Use the playbook

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
- Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

The Third Team - Team of Officials (Referees)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Dunamis – Forceful, explosive power.

Exousia - The proper authority to use power.

Know the score

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV)

"Striving for Excellence"

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 3:23-24

Excellence is a Journey

3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
- Daniel 6:3

Anything we do for God is worth giving our best

Excellence honors God

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
- 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Excellence Inspires People

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
- Acts 24:14-16

#EXTRAMILE

"Relational Unity"

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
- 1 Peter 3:8-9

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
- 1 Peter 4:8-10  

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
- Matthew 4:18-19

Three F’s

• Follow God

• Fish for men

• Fellowship with the church

Above All… Love one another

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
- 1 Peter 4:8

Show hospitality to one another

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
- 1 Peter 4:9

Serve one another

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
- 1 Peter 4:10

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- John 13:34-35

 #BETTER TOGETHER

"Spiritual Fervor"

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
- John 4:7-10

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
- John 4:13-14

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
- Psalm 34:8

SPIRITUAL FERVOR IS SUPERNATURAL

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
- John 4:14

Greek word for “drink” means “deriving from vines”

HOW DO WE GET SPIRITUAL FERVOR?

Not by being religious

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- John 4:21-24

We position ourselves and we simply ask

THE SECRET TO SPIRITUAL HUNGER AND FULFILLMENT

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
- John 4:34-36

We receive spiritual sustenance and fulfillment by doing God’s work

WE MINISTER TO OTHERS FROM THE OVERFLOW OF CHRIST

28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
- John 4:28-30

We will go from satisfied to becoming a spring gushing with life

THE FINAL RESULT OF RECEIVING SPIRITUALLY AND SHARING SPIRITUALLY

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
- John 4:39-42

#STAYHUNGRY

"Missional Passion"

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:4-6 (ESV)

MISSIONAL CULTURE

• Missional simply means to think like a missionary

• Missional means to think outward, beyond ourselves and our comfort zones

• Missional means to think globally

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

The mission and responsibility of the church includes both the proclamation of the Gospel and its demonstration. From Jesus, we learn the truth is to be proclaimed with authority and lived with grace. The church must constantly evangelize, respond lovingly to human needs, as well as “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7). By living out the implications of the gospel, the missional church offers a verbal defense and a living example of its power.
- Ed Stetzer

OWN THE MISSION

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV)

“If you love me you will obey me…”
- John 14:15

MISSION OF EVERY NATION

To honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation.

CHURCH PLANTING

History suggests that church planting remains the most effective form of evangelism.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Campus Manifesto by Pastor Rice Brooks

• The future leaders of society are on our campuses.

• Major movements, bad or good, start on the campus.

• The majority of those who become Christians do so as students.

• International students impact their nations.

• The values on campus become the values in society.

• The most available and trainable groups of people are on our campuses.

• When we reach a student, we reach a family.

• God promised to pour out his Spirit on sons and daughters. (Acts 2:17)

WORLD MISSIONS

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

5 CORE VALUES OF EVERY NATION

1. Lordship

2. Evangelism

3. Discipleship

4. Leadership

5. Family

#ALL IN

We accomplish this by connecting at the top to God, connecting to others at the bottom and reaching one life at a time. Brick by brick.

“Reverse the Curse”

Our lives can feel cursed.

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life…
- Genesis 3:14

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus... 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
- Esther 3:5-6, 13

17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
- Genesis 3:17-18

11 ...But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
- Esther 4:11

God has the power to reverse every curse!

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
- Esther 6:10-11

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.
- Romans 8:28

A process of worship and spiritual warfare positions us to experience God’s Divine Reversals.

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
- Esther 4:1

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
- Esther 4:15-17

Elements of Spiritual Warfare

Fellowship

for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
- Proverbs 24:6

Fasting

29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
- Mark 9:29

Finishing the Fight

...Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
- Esther 4:16