5 years later . . .

1. Drawing a line in the sandEsther 3Doug Brownaudio, pdf, and power point available @ karenvineyard.org

3. 5 years later . . .

4. EVIL signifies what is not in harmony with God’s order. In the Bible, evil is clearly depicted under two distinct aspects: moral and physical. Evil has been permitted by God in order that his justice might be manifested in its punishment and his grace in its forgiveness (Rom 9:22-23). Moral evil, or sin, is any lack of conformity to the moral law of God and is the cause of the existence of physical or natural evil.

5. A certain people . . whose customs are different v.8 • Who do not obey the king’s laws v.8 • Not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them v.8 • Destroy them . . . v.9 • Silver for the men who carry out this business v.9 • Kill, annihilate and plunder their goods v.13

6. Recognize the real source of opposition

7. Know your enemy Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5.8-9

8. Evil is systemic • Spreads rapidly like a virus. • Seeks carriers of the disease who will infect others. • Feeds off human sin which will create unhealthy connections and alliances if left unchecked. • Desires to poison not just individuals, but families, organizations, businesses, etc.

10. Refuse to personalize the conflict

11. Wrong ways to battle • Allowing Satan to choose the battleground This lures us away from the positive work of the Kingdom. • Carrying on a conversation with the enemy This gets us ensnared in a “loving dialogue” with the enemy which focuses us on the darkness. • Crediting the enemy with too much power This shifts our energy away from kingdom building and ignores human sin.

12. Wrong ways to battle • Praying against Satan instead of to God. We are called to practice God’s presence not the enemy’s presence. • Engaging in spiritual warfare that involved endless spiritual mapping . We end up spending more of our time studying Satan rather than worshipping God. Leanne Payne

13. Resist having the conflict define you

14. Resist Emotional Bondage See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12.15

15. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Mark 4.17 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1.29

16. Our identity is not an opponent of Satan, but a worshipper of Jesus the Messiah.

17. Worship the truth*Truly knowing the truth necessarily leads to worshipping Jesus who is the truth.

18. Purpose of the truth The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3.8

19. Promise from the Truth “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16.33 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 9.35

20. Leader: “Now have come the salvation and the powerand the kingdom of our God,People: And the authority of his Messiah. Leader: For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,People:  Who accuses them before our God day and night,  has been hurled down.

21. Leader: They triumphed over him  by the blood of the LambPeople:   And by the word of their testimony; Leader: they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.People: Therefore rejoice, you heavens  and you who dwell in them! Revelation 12.10-12