Watching for our weakness Pulling down strongholds Pentecost Sunday Putting out the fires of the enemy Guarding our heart Wearing spiritual armour Powerful praying

We are in a spiritual battle We see it in the world around us. The cosmic struggle of good against evil.

C S Lewis There are two equal and opposite errors into which we can fall about the devil. One is to disbelieve his existence. The other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in him. He is equally pleased by both errors.

Luke 7: When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

2 Key Drivers in our lives -Our Hearts and Our Heads

The Egyptians believed: The heart was the seat of thinking The source of the soul, memory, emotions and personality The heart would be weighed after death They preserved the heart and threw away the brain

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it Over 200 times in the Old Testament and 100 times in the New Testament Guarding Our Thoughts

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength Mark 12:30 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Luke 12:34 The L ORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the L ORD looks at the heart 1 Sam 16:7

“Show me a man’s HEART What he thinks, he becomes” GHANDI

Our hearts are the source of everything we do King Solomon says the heart is the “wellspring of life.” Our attitudes are the sum total of what is in our hearts Our attitudes lead to our actions

Simon said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is” v39 What kind of a woman …looks at her outward appearance Was he being prejudiced? Are we? Was Simon more concerned with his own outward appearance? Do we judge? “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” Luke 6:45

“I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.” v44 “You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.”v45 “You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet”v46 Love, Surrender, Gratitude The Woman: “The overflow of a forgiven soul”

Our hearts are under constant attack We have an enemy who is bent on our destruction. He opposes God & he opposes everything that is for Him including us.

The Discipline of Reflection -Shrek -Donkey -Simon -The Sinful Woman Know who you are Know who Jesus is and what Jesus wants

Triggers Fear and anxiety Frustration Agitation Jealousy Sadness Loneliness Pride Disappointment

Protect the heart from everything that comes in This does not mean do not let anything in. Saying “Yes” to God’s will and pursuing it is diligence Saying “Yes” to a thing that is not God’s will and pursuing it, that is obstinacy SELWYN HUGHES

C S Lewis To love at all is to be vulnerable. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

Persevere in the face of hardship being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

Do what God wants you to do Now you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. 1Cor 12:27 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Build an atmosphere of community And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:18 “We must be intentional about building authentic relationships and real community.” MICHAEL HYATT

Alabaster Jar v37 Do not compromise

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:1 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 The Discipline of Rest

Your sins are forgiven v48 Jesus sees beyond our actions and our past and into our hearts Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” v50 A broken heart is an open heart… Jesus can carry out OPEN HEART SURGERY

Watching for our weakness Pulling down strongholds Pentecost Sunday Putting our the fires of the enemy Guarding our heart Wearing spiritual armour Powerful praying