Message Title: God Provides a Discerning Spirit
Date: August 15, 2021

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Do you realize how much God loves you?

HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US IS OLD

Psalm 86:13: For great is your love for me...

1 Kings 8:22: Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below -- you who keep your covenant of love with your servants...

God's Great Love Provides (declared in 1 John = 12 springs)

Life, Fellowship, Joy, Light, Forgiveness, Love for Others, Warnings, Grace, Compassion, Discerning Spirit, His Example, The Best Way of Life

PCC Mission: Empowering the generations to passionately follow Christ

Values:
--Living the Word of God
--Following the Holy Spirit
--Practicing Healthy Relationships
--Seeking Justice
--Giving Generously
--Sharing Jesus

What 3 BIG LIES hinder you from living passionately for God?

The Big Lies:
1. Lies about yourself
2. Lies about your savior, Jesus Christ
3. Lies about your circumstances

BIG IDEA
When we live from the wrong well, the lies limit the way we live for God.

Lies leave us lost, isolated, empty

And this is how we know he lives in us. We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:24

TRUTH: The Spirit of God is in us!

Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the sprits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

TRUTH: Discern what is of God

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:2

TRUTH: Jesus
--He is God in flesh
--He rose from the dead
--By grace and faith we have access
--Works are a response to His love

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

TRUTH: God Spirit > World's spirit

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:5

TRUTH: You will be misunderstood.

When we live from the wrong well, it limits the way we live for God.

What wells do you need to stop going to?

IDENTIFY YOUR LIES
--Lies about yourself
--Lies about your Savior, Jesus Christ
--Lies about your circumstances

TRUTH ABOUT YOUR LIES
--You are sinful but made and loved by God
--You are a child of God, accepted through Christ's sacrifice and your faith
--Your life will have blessing and great challenges, but God is present to bring perspective, power, and peace through His Spirit in you.

THIS WEEK:
--Lectio Divina: 1 John 3:24-4:6 find the great love in it
--Daily Examen: What well am I drawing from?

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

Beyond Sunday
The series Together: Responding to His Great Love is foundational to our new beginning at PCC. By studying the 12 springs from the great well of God’s love in the Book of 1 John, our hope is that it would empower us to love ourselves and others more, as we seek His future direction. This week, we focus on how God’s love provides a discerning Spirit that helps us to combat the lies in our life.

1. In the last week, how did you receive and/or release the love of God? If not, what could you do to position your soul to do so?

2. Lectio Divina: 1 John 3;24-4:6 What stands out (words, phrases, theme) to you after the second or third time you read it through?

3. What are your thoughts and feelings about the fact that God has given you His Spirit (the most powerful, greater One) within you, and that there are countering spiritual forces and antichrist (false teachers, beliefs, etc.) that potentially deceive us? How have you witnessed others being deceived and/or yourself?

4. What wells do you go to instead of the well of God’s love & truth? When and why do you? What does this result in when it comes to your faith and actions?

5. What lies about yourself, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and or circumstances do you need to acknowledge so that you can receive His loving truth? Pick one of the categories to focus more deeply on. What is the big lie that you believe? Who could help you work through these lies?

Resources to help you receive & release His Great Love

Focus
Breath prayer:
Inhale: Help me to receive you love / Exhale: Help me to release your love

Reflect (see links below)
Lectio Divina: 1 John 3:24-4:6 (try this 3X this week)

Daily Examen: Today, how did I receive the love of God and how did I release it?

Watch & Read (see links below)
--The Chosen (see the love of Jesus)
--Kids: What is a Christian? Journey through 1John on Right Now Media ----Kids: Have you filled a bucket today? (book)

For PCC's budgeted giving:
Fiscal year (June 1 - to date)

Giving Update
Budgeted Giving: $3,838,588
Giving to Date: $ 521,457
Still Need: $3,317,131