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Opening passage and word of encouragement from Jeanne Hazel:
Philippians 3:7-16 – in nutshell: Forget what’s in the past and press on to the goal of Jesus. Give God thanks when He answers prayer!

Roger spoke from Matthew 13:1-23 Lessons of the Sower.
What type of believer are you?

Roger encouraged us as believers in Jesus Christ to love God with all our heart and mind.
“It’s not your ability – it’s your availability! Live for God with all your heart!

Three keys to being the seed that produces 30, 60 or 100% more:
1) Read the Word of God in big chunks. Read chapters and long passages to learn more about the heart and working of God in bigger pictures.
2) Spend time with God in prayer.
3) Worship God with singing and praise

It’s hard to carve out time in our busy days! Perhaps set your clock an hour earlier to spend time with God before the demands of the day capture your attention.

During today’s message a young toddler was walking around clutching a little daisy freshly picked from the church lawn. She admired it and studied it in great detail fully absorbing the little flower’s beautiful, delicacy and wonder.

To be like a toddler and be so absorbed with the wonder and reality of God, His goodness and His love that we want to take Him in to the best of our ability!

At the opening of the service this morning Jeanne read all of James 4. Please read James 4 today! It’s an important reminder on how to conduct ourselves, especially when too often a common reaction these days is to be judgmental and critical.

I hope you are all doing well as you trust in God’s faithfulness and love during these seemingly dark days. These are times when we need to lean hard into God’s grace and mercy, completely dependent on Him for peace of mind.

Nothing takes God by surprise. There is not one movement, not one tumultuous event, not one angry thought or word that takes God by surprise.
Psalm 139: God knows all about me: when I sit down or get up, He knows what I’m going to say before I open my mouth. Even the darkness is not dark to God.

We can have full confidence that God knows exactly what’s happening here on earth! The one thing that each one of us can, and must do is to be in prayer for our world leaders, for our nation, and for believers to all be in sincere prayer. Pray God’s will be done! Pray that His wisdom, discernment, and calmness will be in the hearts and minds for people making decision so that true Truth will be revealed, true Justice will be exercised with common sense and decency. Pray the forces of evil will be held in check!

Pastor Roger Knox brought a message: The Importance of God’s Word. We need to be soaking in His Words, especially these days! As Roger reminds us, when Satan tried to trick and tempt Jesus, Jesus always refuted him by speaking scripture. “As it is written…” Can you rebuff Satan’s temptations by a verse that gets to the heart of the temptation?

Let’s be people of the Word in 2021.
Blessings to each of you as you shine the light of Jesus in this dark world,
Wanda

November is the month we focus on practicing gratitude. As believers our hope and eternal assurance is in the Living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Redeemer Savior, Lover of my soul!

We have confidence this world is not all there is to life – this time is just our beginning. We do not know what heaven holds but we do know there will be no pain or sorrow.

Your soul.
Do you know where your soul is destined?

2014 Pew Research Center Survey in 2014
Overall US Adults: 58% believe there’s a hell / 72% believe there’s a heaven
Evangelical: 82% hell / 88% heaven
Atheists: 3% / 5%
Agnostics: 9% / 14%

There is the spark of God even within an Atheist.

In Jesus’ story of the farmer with the extra abundant harvest (Luke 12:16-20) God’s word to the farmer who was planning to horde his goods and live a self-satisfied life was “Tonight your soul will be required of you!”

Your soul will be required! Non-negotiable. What will happen when God requires your soul?

God, the one who breathed life into our bodies, creating our souls is the owner of our souls. He requires our souls after our earthly body dies.

Jesus talked of God’s severe judgment in Luke 12:5, 10 as well as in
Matthew 25:31-46 The gathering at the day of judgment where everyone considered as either sheep or goats. The sheep are welcomed into the “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
The goats are the wicked who’ve only cared about their own pleasure and self-gratification. The goats are cast into “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Rev 20 :10 and the devil, the beast, and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire where they are tormented forever.
20:11 – 21:4 There is a separation of the followers of Jesus into eternal life in God’s Kingdom, the evil will be cast into the lake of fire – their 2^nd death.
 
As believers we are assured that our eternal place will be in God’s kingdom!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
5 About the times and the seasons: Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. ⁶ So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

Are you thanking God for the saving work of Jesus who died and paid the price for your soul?

Today, November 1^st is celebrated by Christians around the world as “All Saints Day” to acknowledge people who’ve lived victoriously for Jesus.

A little boy attended a church with beautiful stained glass windows depicting the apostles St Matthew, St Luke, St John, St Paul, St Peter. Onde day he was asked, “What is a saint?”
The boy replied, “A saint is a person that the light shines through!”

Often there’s too much emphasis on “All Saints Day” devoted to honoring the dead in ways that aren’t glorifying to God, and some cultures take it to a demonic level – in the name of “Christianity”.

Perhaps one reason Luther posted the 95 theses (or, statements of faith) on Oct 31st was declaration that we’re saved by grace alone instead of the focus on canonized saints and their works – which can be at the heart of celebrating past “Saints”. He was well aware of the extent that many people tended to worship and idolize the saints.

While we don’t want to worship or idolize any human, there is validity in remembering and celebrating people who have spiritually influenced our lives, after all the Bible is filled with stories of people whose lives God used.

While Wikipedia, and many people, define saint as “a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness or closeness to God.”, the true meaning of the word in the Bible,“hagios / ἅγιος”, means “set apart” “sanctified” “holy” “true believers”. The word hagios appears 229 times in the Greek New Testament.

“Holy ones” was a known identifier to the Jews. Exodus 19:5-6 God described the Israelites as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. He’d set them apart, chosen as His people.
Daniel 7:18 God showed Daniel a vision of heaven and of God’s kingdom to come. In the vision a messenger said to Daniel, “But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.”
Matt 27:52 when Jesus died on the cross the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…
Acts 9:13 Annanias refers to the saints that Paul had persecuted
Six times Paul addresses letters to the saints at…”
Rev 14:13 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus!

Why? Why contemplate the lives of other Christians? Because their lives show us what can happen

because of faith!

Hebrews 11 Is often called the Roll Call of Faith Every single person exemplified / lived their faith through obedience! The author begins Hebrews 11 with “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” He goes on to list person after person who obeyed God because of faith!

Heb 12:1, 2 exhorts us to be faithful by fixing our eyes on Jesus.

This week I encourage you as you fix your eyes on Jesus to give the desires of your heart to Jesus in order to live as a “Set Apart One” a Holy person as He calls us, to also be mindful of, and grateful for, those who have affected and influenced your walk with Jesus, because of their faith.

How is your spiritual walk influencing anyone?

I. Children’s message:
Last week’s lesson was on Adam and Eve being tricked by Satan.
How did Satan appear to Eve in the garden? He disguised himself as a beautiful serpent.

Why did he put on a disguise?  
So he could trick them.
He was so jealous that they hung out with God every single day talking and having fun together that he wanted to destroy their friendship with God.

Satan hates God! He uses lots of disguises and methods to trick us into wanting to do the stuff he wants us to do which isn’t what God knows is best for us and spoils our friendship with Jesus.

Satan still uses disguises and deception to try to trap us into doing stuff he wants us to do. 
Jesus warned us about him! He called Satan a thief, because he is a thief.

Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…” John 10:10, 11

Jesus is referring to Satan as the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus is the complete opposite of a thief who steals kills and destroys – Jesus gives life!

A thief usually comes in the darkness – why?

People who sin don’t want to be seen, just like Satan – he likes to operate in the darkness because he’s up to no good disguising himself and lying.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the opposite of Satan and his dark ways and the darkness that he causes: Jesus is the Light of the World. John 1:4, 5 He came to shine on those in darkness and in the shadow of death. Luke 1:79

We’re not to have anything to do with the dark things of Satan: stealing, lying, cheating, disguising ourselves to trick people – these things aren’t pleasing to God.
Romans 13:12 tells us that “the night is almost gone and the day is at hand. Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light”
This means that Satan’s time of tricking people into wanting to do bad things is almost over – that Jesus’ light will completely overpower Satan. As people who love Jesus we need to stop doing the things that we know Jesus doesn’t like.
What does it mean to put on the armor of light?
To live for Jesus, to do things you know are pleasing to Him. He is the Light – always know that Jesus is with you, protecting you from Satan’s lies, tricks and disguises.

II Adult message (continues from the Kids message)
God warms us about not being defiled by Satan’s lies or his disguises.
Romans 13:12 – 14 “the night is almost gone and the day is at hand. Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly… 14 put on the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 6:14 – 18 …what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony does Christ have with the devil? What agreement the temple of God with idols?

1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

We are living in times where Satan is hard at work to steal, kill and destroy! We must be vigilant to be aware of the disguises in which he cloaks his evil enticements.

Think about this: Costumes are a type of disguise. Does God want us to cover up, to change our identity?
I am who He created me to be.
Does disguising myself become a means of denying who God created me to be?

Be aware! While looking through Christian print-outs for the kids I saw two different coloring pictures among the Christian sites which instantly raised red flags:
Infant Jesus drawn to look like Buddha: what does this imply?
A LOL doll: Are you aware that the owners of the business who manufactures these dolls are deeply involved in grooming children to exploit them in deeds of darkness and rob them of their innocence? We need to be aware and on guard against things that seem appropriate for kids which are actually disguises to lure innocent children into traps of Satan.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who spilled His blood and sacrificed His life in the battle against Satan for our souls, we must be vigilant and on guard for disguises that cloak evil. Put on Jesus Christ – have the mind of Jesus Christ – ask for discernment and knowledge from the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.

As an old Gospel song puts it, “Shut the door! Keep the devil in the night!”

Isaiah 41:10  Do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be afraid, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you; I will help you;   I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.
    13 I am the Lord your God who takes hold your right hand,
              and says to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

Definition of Fear: an unpleasant often strong emotioncaused by anticipation or awareness of danger

Do you have a friend or acquaintance who’s become increasingly angry or even downright hostile? Are there some subjects you completely avoid knowing that they’re triggers for your friend. Perhaps you even try to avoid interactions with the person so you won’t become the target of their rage.

It takes only watching a few minutes of the news or reading your social feed to know that there is a great deal of anger out there. Why the anger, the shouting, the burning and riots?

Aggressive anger stems from a desire for control: For control over a situation or people.

Prolonged release of the stress hormones (adrenaline, cortisol) that accompany anger can destroy neurons in areas of the brain associated with judgment and short-term memory, and weaken the immune system.
Two roots of anger are:
Fear
Blame and Shame
Fear leads to blaming and shaming.
Fear that finds no relief will start lashing out in perceived self-preservation: Anger!

At the beginning of the Bible we are shown how disobedience leads to shame, fear and anger.

The blame & shame tactic began when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. God confronts Adam and Eve and suddenly Adam bursts out in anger blaming God and Eve. Eve, in her shame then blames the serpent. Humans’ whole world has changed from living in sweet relationships in paradise to being cast out of the garden and condemned to a life of unrelenting work and mistrust. Adam and Eve were ashamed, insecure, and afraid.  
Gen 3:8 – 13

Blame/shame: It’s far easier to blame than to take personal responsibility for one’s actions.

Lashing out in anger is often far easier than exercising self-control.

What was the source of their fear which lead to anger which lead to blaming? Sin!
Sin is the root of all fear, anger and violence! Sin is rebellion against God; it is the desire to be greedy for power and control instead of desiring relationship with God.

Instead of getting angry and blaming others, what would have been the right response?
Admit guilt
Repent
Trust God

Cain & Abel: Cain wanted to sacrifice his way. God even personally warned Cain not to sin! But Cain wanted to do things his way (sin).
His guilt made him insecure and fearful that Abel was getting favor from God which in turn made him angry.

Cain’s anger escalated into hatred, culminating in violence against Abel.

Repentance needs to be followed by Trusting God.

God even warned Cain against his sin. But Cain directed his perceived rejection into anger against Abel.

When our perception is limited and we can’t see the reality of a situation: When the disciples were crossing the stormy sea during the night and they thought they saw a ghost walking across the water towards them their perception caused them to be terrified.  
Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6:50
Peter’s fear morphed into anger so he grabbed a sword, swinging it at the servant when the temple priests and guards arrested Jesus. Peter’s fear caused him to lose focus on the big picture which was to completely trust Jesus.

1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment (Adam & Eve when they sinned)

When we sin admit our guilt, repent then trust God and His perfect love.

How do we counter the anger and hostility? Trust God, act in a manner that is obedient to Him (a quiet answer turns away wrath)

1 John 3:18 …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in action and truth. Sometimes it’s best not to say anything. Let our love in action speak for us.

Chris Laing shared that the need to admit, repent and trust form an acronym:

                                                  “ART”

When ART happens, God creates beauty from ashes!