Overcoming Family Dysfunction 

Scripture: ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””

Family Dysfunction In This Chapter

• ‭‭Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭11‬ ‭“And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.”

• ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.””

Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter

1. Abraham’s Generation

• Deception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18).

• Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16).

2. Isaac’s Generation

• Favoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family.

• Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).

3. Jacob’s Generation

• Deception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27).

• Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41).

4. Jacob (Israel)’s Sons’ Generation

• Violence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7).

• Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4).

• Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence:

• Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).

• The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28).

• Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat’s blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35).

• Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38).

DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God’s Word

• We All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of Dysfunction

• We Recognize It When It “Gets On Us”

• We Struggle To Recognize When It “Gets In Us”

• Part Of Discipleship Is The Transformation Of Our Dysfunction

Overcoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The Word

• The Word Brings Spiritual Life - Matthew 4:3–4 (ESV) And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

• Manna - Exodus 16:19–21 (ESV) And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”  But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.  Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

• The Word Reveals Dysfunction Within You - James 1:23–25 (ESV) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

• Following Jesus, some of it will just fall off

• The Word will reveal a manageable load at a time that is still attacjed

• Daily reading is like the finest of sandpaper - it hurts less

• Being in a Bible preaching/teaching church will expose chunks

• Podcasts/Books will help to fine tune

• The Word Reveals Dysfunction Around You - Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) 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.  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

• Lies believed will influence behavior

• We are being lied to on a level that is shocking

• It is more effective now because of SM proximity

• Double Speak - The phrase "double speak" is a general term often associated with, and influenced by, George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984).

• In modern usage, "doublespeak" is an unofficial, umbrella term used to describe language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. It is commonly used as a way to make the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, or to avoid taking responsibility for actions.

• Pro-Choice - a forced choice to embrace the death of a child

• Inclusivity - the exclusion of Biblical principles, and the celebration of things disallowed

• Gender affirming care -  Gender Rejection

• Affirmative Action - Opposition Action

• Undocumented Individuals

Overcoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The Holy Spirit

• Four Types Of Followers: Positional,  Cerebral,  Emotional or Spiritual

• Positional - admission of Jesus’ Lordship

• Cerebral - arguing Jesus’ Lordship

• Emotional - feeling Jesus’ Lordship

• Spiritual - engaging Jesus’ Lordship

• The Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you.

• Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."

• Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

• Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

• Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

• Freedom/Transformation  ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Scripture: Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God’s Word

• We All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of Dysfunction

• We Begin To Recognize It As It “Gets On Us”

• We Struggle To Recognize When It’s Gotten Inside Of Us

• God Wants To Remove It With Our Participation

Family Dysfunction In This Chapter

• ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭11‬ ‭“And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””

• Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

• ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.”

• ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.””

Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter

1. Abraham’s Generation

• Deception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18).

• Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16).

2. Isaac’s Generation

• Favoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family.

• Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).

3. Jacob’s Generation

• Deception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27).

• Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41).

4. Jacob (Israel)’s Sons’ Generation

• Violence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7).

• Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4).

• Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence:

• Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).

• The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28).

• Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat’s blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35).

• Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38).

Can You Identify Family Dysfunction On/In HYou?

• Affectionless Relationships

• Demeaning Comments

• Parents Who Undermine One Another

• Poor Financial Decisions

• Addictions That Rob The Family

• Violence

• Helicopter Parents

• "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times."

• Identity via Child - manipulate children, outcomes are “theirs”

• Virtue via Child  - manipulate children, valuations are theirs

• Stockholm syndrome

• Crossdressing syndrome

Why Is It There Family Dysfunction?

1. Lack Of Knowledge

2. Entrenched Dysfunction (not mental health)

3. External Influence (relational, cultural or spiritual)

4. A Failure To Lead 

Overcoming Family Dysfunction

1. Follow Jesus Engaged With The Holy Spirit

• Following Jesus gives you and your family to best chance of abundant life

• Four Types Of Followers: Positional,  Cerebral,  Emotional or Spiritual

• The Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you.

• Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."

• Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

• Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

• Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

• Freedom/Transformation  ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Daniel 3:24-25 (ESV)

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Today, I will be taking my story out of the book of Daniel.  We will be looking at the specific posture of faith these men took that positioned them for God’s intervention.

Summarizing the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego:

• Jerusalem was taken captive by Babylon

• King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to educate their best youth in the literature and language of the Chaldeans (highly educated class of men who serve the king)

• Three of the youths we know as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; who were later appointed over affairs of the province

• King Nebuchadnezzar decided to make a statue of gold for all in Babylon to worship

• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to obey the king’s command

• The Chaldeans maliciously accused the Jews of being insubordanate to the king’s order

• The king was furious at this and threatened them 

• Nebuchadnezzar had the three Hebrews thrown into the fiery furnace

• He looked and saw four men walking around, unharmed

• Nebuchadnezzar declared the God of Shadrrach, Meshach and Abednego delivered his servants who trusted in Him

3 Faith Postures In My “Fiery Furnace” Experience

1. Faith Obeys God Even Under Pressure

Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image, even though disobedience meant death in the fiery furnace.

Key truth: Biblical faith chooses obedience to God over cultural pressure, fear, or consequences.

Acts 5:29 (ESV)

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Cliche -”WWJD?” - But I find myself asking that often.

2. Faith Trusts God’s Power—But Submits to His Will

Daniel 3:17-18

“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… but if not, we will not serve your gods” 

Key truth: Faith believes God can act but also trusts Him even if He doesn’t act the way we hope.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’”

2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

3. Faith Experiences God’s Presence in the Fire

Daniel 3:24-25

God didn’t keep them out of the fire—He met them in it. A fourth figure appeared with them, and they were unharmed.

Key truth:

Faith does not promise the absence of trials, but the presence of God in them.

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Psalm 66:10–12 (ESV)

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

“And behold, I am with you always…”

Hebrews 11:11-12 (ESV)

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

The Fight For Family First

Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Today’s Goals: 

• Recognize where family falls in God’s list of priorities

• Review your priorities

• Put family back where it belongs, second only to Jesus

Family Is God’s Primary Focus

• After Creating Man, God Established Family With/For Him

• Genesis 2:18, 24 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

• Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

• The Priority of Family is seen in Biblical Lineages/Tribes

• The Priority of Family is seen in the New Testament Language

• Matthew 6:9 (ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

• Galatians 6:10 (NIV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

• 1 Corinthians 4:14–15 (ESV) I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.  For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We tend as young adults to:

• Take good family experience for granted and long to go off to the bigger and better

• It is a checkmark in the list of things to do and starting our family becomes a checkmark of things to do.

• Take a bad family experience and want to escape it

• We separate from our families - God is a god of reconciliation

• In trying to be nothing like them we end up carrying our trauma into our families

• We often become the very thing we said we would never become

Creating Family is the first thing God did

Calling us to create our families is the second.

Everything else in life is for the sake of the first and second thing.

Everything Works To The Demise Of Family

• The Enemy’s Subtle Attack On Her Husband - Genesis 3:1 (ESV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

• Genesis 2:15–17 (ESV) The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

• Genesis 3:12 (ESV) The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

• The Impact: Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV) therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Joseph’s Family

• Dad was tricked when he Got married Leah/Rachel

• Promised children, but barren Rachel suggested concubines

• Mom died giving birth to his brother

• Dad favored him to the detriment of his family relationships

• Genesis 37:3–4 (ESV) Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.  But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

• Genesis 37:23–24 (ESV) So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.  And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

• Genesis 37:28 (ESV) Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

• Genesis 37:31–32 (ESV) Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.  And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

• Genesis 37:36 (ESV) Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Do you understand that it’s more than good/bad people and good/bad decisions, THE ENEMY IS ATTACKING THE FAMILY IN CONCEPT AND IN EXPERIENCE?

• One man, one woman, for a lifetime… children?

• Cultural thoughts to the contrary are an evil agenda

• Dangerous food, party culture, abortions, DINK Culture, Same sex marriage, Bill Maher 

• Evil actions that impact your experience, view and pursuit 

Food For Though

• People Who Make Bad Decisions Are Influenced By More Than You Realize  - Luke 23:34 (ESV) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

• A Bad Experience Does Not Negate The Value Of ____. 

• Family/Church/Relationships

• Concept of Family/Church/Relationship

You Are God’s Agent For Restoration/Redemption

• Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

• Boundaries not walls

• Genesis 45:7–8 (ESV) And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.  So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

• Injuries become strengths

Genesis 30:22–24 (ESV) Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.  She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”  And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

Today’s Goals: 

• See your story in proper context 

• Understand the Universal Plot Twist

• Respond so that the Author’s storyline can be realized

Your Story Is Being Written/Recorded

Joseph’s story is one of many stories in the Bible

Every story is being recorded, yours included

Revelation 20:11–15 (ESV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

What’s written so far?

• How will it turn out?

• Is it a good story? Is it guaranteed? Will destiny be fulfilled?

• What will it take to be fulfilled - get aligned with the author

Acts 3:15 (ESV) and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Your Story Has A Larger Context

• Personal/circumstantial/context - we live life at this very granular level

• Illus: consider the ant, in the grass on a football field - zoom out to the people watching the game in the stands and then to the climber on top of a nearby hill, and then to the passenger in a passing airplane, and then to the astronaut on the moon

• Family/circumstantial context

• Regional/circumstantial context

• Global/circumstantial context

Embedded into your story is the spiritual context for each: 

• Personal Spiritual Context - Psalm 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

• Family Spiritual Context

• Deuteronomy 7:13 (ESV) He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

• Deuteronomy 5:9 (ESV) You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

• Regional Spiritual Context

• Daniel 10:12–13 (ESV) Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.  The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

• Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 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.

• Global Spiritual Context 

• 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

• Luke 11:20–22 (ESV) But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;  but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

A Universal Plot Twist Is Planned For Every Story 

The Revelation: Acts 9:1–6 (ESV) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

The Response: Acts 9:17–20 (ESV) So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;  and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.  And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

The Universal Impact: 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Joseph’s life fulfilled maximum impact

The plot twist was introduced

He responded

It’s impact was recorded

What about you?

Psalm 139:14–17 (ESV) I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

2 Kings 4:14–20 (ESV) And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”  He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway.  And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.”  But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.  When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.  And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.

Exceptional Promises Are The Norm For Kingdom Participants.

• Belief in God is good

• Following Jesus is the starting point

• That will take you into a Journey of Kingdom Participation

• We still live in the world

• We have a new King

• We have a new law

• We have a new way of living

• We have a new family

• We have a new mission

• We have a new economy

While the decision to follow Jesus unlocks salvation but participation in Kingdom, and taking Kingdom ground unlocks a next level experience in all arenas of life.

2 Kings 4:8–10 (ESV) One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.  And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way.  Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”

Matthew 16:16–19 (ESV) Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Promises Received Are Promises At Risk.

2 Kings 4:20 (ESV) And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.

“God… I thought you were giving me this amazing promise and now you are taking it away???” Your promise is always at risk and you must protect it.

The Attacks You Will Face:

• Pushback Of This World

• Sin & Stupidity

• Attack By Worldly Haters

• Attacks On Kingdom Players

The Same Kingdom Participation It Took To Receive The Promise Is The Same Kingdom Participation It Will Take To Maintain The Promise

• She could have given up, appreciative for what was done, surrendering the full promise for a full life.

• She should have become an emotional disaster and added to the problem

• She could have called for natural help

• 2 Kings 4:22–25 (ESV) Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.”  And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.”  Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.”  So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite.

• She could have leaned on her own spiritual strength

• Instead she tapped into the flow of what brought the promise in the first place.

• Hebrews 10:39 (ESV) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

• Philippians 3:16 (ESV) Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

• Elisha’s ability to deliver results required him to be a Kingdom participant 

NOVEMBERFAST: Call On The Lord

Genesis 4:25-26 (ESV) And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Why Fast? Why NovemberFast? Why Call On The LORD?

• The first family had been through some stuff

• Experienced perfection

• Clarity of vision of all things

• Deception brought imperfection

• Personally

• Collectively

• Relationally

• Blindness

• Removed from Garden of Eden

• Cain killed Abel

• Seth was born “replacing” Abel

• Adam: First generations experienced perfection

• Seth: Second generation lived in the residue

• Enoshe: Third generation only hears stories.

• ENOSH - אֱנוֹשׁ means "man" or "human" often emphasizing human frailty or mortality. 

• “At That Time…”

• Call - qara - spoken, proclamation, declaration, cry, invitation, summon. A formal intentional collective public seeking of God

There should come a moment when we look around and say, “Enough is enough. We want something different. We want something better. We want the best and this isn’t it. We want WHO they had so that We can enjoy what they had. Enosh recognized: 

God / Heaven = Good

• James 1:16–18 (ESV) Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Me / Earth ≠ Good

• Isaiah 64:6–7 (ESV) We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities

On Earth As In Heaven

• Matthew 6:9–10 (ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Novemberfast: I Am Seeking Him 

Jeremiah 29:10–14 (ESV) “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

• To See Him, He Must Become Brighter, Everything Else Dim

• commit to a personally defined level of fasting

• Turn off Social Media/TV

• Stops the projects

• Pause the hobbies

• Attend weekend gatherings

• Attend mid-week corporate prayer.

• To See Him, Looks Where He Is

• Prayer/Presence

• Word

• listen to daily NovemberFast podcast each day - comment

• read assigned Bible passages each day.

• To See Him, Put Yourself In A Position To Need Him

• Adjust food

• Adjust pleasures 

• In the burn, in that need, invite Him to meet that need.

Novemberfast: I Am Seeking What Is MisAligned

Mark 8:23–26 (ESV) And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

• Personally

• Friends/Family

• Career

• Finances 

• Health

• Future

• Ministry

• Church 

• Community

• State/Nation 

The discovery of misalignment is the start

• Discovered in the word

• Discovered in prayer

• Discovered by revelation

• Discovered by discomfort

That creates a prayer list

Thematic prayer lists give you general topics

21 Days will give you specifics

• spend time in topical prayer each day building a Prayer List For 2026

Novemberfast: I Am Seeking A Shift

Ezekiel 37:3–7 (ESV) And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling…

Discovering something is out of alignment is the start. Realignment is the goal. The shift comes:

• Asking

• Telling: Authority

• Taking Action: Personal Responsibility

Psalm 27:8 (ESV) You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV) But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 34:4 (ESV) I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ (‭ESV) ‬‬“And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.”

• Who would want to kill Jesus?

• Why would they want to kill Jesus?

Luke 13:31–35 (ESV) At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.  Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

In our lifetime, there have been assassinations.

Charlie Kirk is the first spectacle/murder

• Recorded live/high def while streaming

• Can be replayed infinitely

• The arguments about his message are typical

Unlike other assassinations, we can go back and review his message unlike any other. Something different:

• He was political, but was doing more than arguing politics 

• He was smart, but more than arguing facts

• He regularly declared TRUTH - preacher/prophetic/apostolic

• He had influence in the highest spheres: culture, finance, politics and church.

• Shockingly, no scandals (though people are doing everything to create them.

His funeral was a first ever in my lifetime

• Largest funeral in our time

• Who’s who of finance and politics

• Powerful worship, for hours

• Hours of the Gospel being preached - JESUS

A gospel that doesn’t reach all spheres of society, including our leaders in government, is an ineffective gospel.

Our message isn’t for these four walls - it’s for this zip code, for this region, for our nation, for the world.

“The church should stay out of politics!” I agree to the point that we have to be careful about trying to get specific candidates elected under the banner of “God’s Man.” Politics is attempting to influence morality and Christians are attempting to influence morality, Christians have to speak into politics. 

• Moses appealed not only to the Israelites, but also to Pharaoh 

• Prophets spoke directly to Kings - Elijah/Ahab/Jezebel

• 1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”

• Jesus was before Pontus Pilate

• Paul/Silas preached to their jailer

• Paul preached to Publius and eventually appealed to Rome 

Acts 19:21 (ESV) Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

A version of this is playing out in American right now.?

• A nation/states founded on biblical principles 

• We have the highest population of non-Christian’s trying to throw off our Christian-based framework

This will be more defined than ever in your lifetime.

People will be involved. The spiritual realm will be very active 

THERE IS ASSAULT ON TRUTH

This is not an attack on facts, but TRUTH

• 2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning…

TRUTH is under attack

• Genesis 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning, God

• created the heavens and the earth.

• Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…

• Genesis 1:27 (ESV) male and female he created them.

• Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

• Genesis 2:15 (ESV) The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

• Genesis 2:16–17 (ESV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

• Genesis 3:4–5 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

THERE IS AN ASSAULT ON TRUTH TELLERS

• God is the ultimate truth teller - his WORDS created life

• TRUTH tellers declare, deposit and reinforce LIFE

• You are not a threat based on what you believe

• You become a threat by what you declare with your life and especially with your WORDS

• Adam/Eve were the original TRUTH tellers - the moment that they sinned, they were deceived and their role changed

• Cain killed Able

• Genesis 4:3–8 (ESV) In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,  and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,  but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.  The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

• 1 John 3:12 (ESV) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

• Saul tried to kill David

• Saul killed priests - 1 Samuel 22:17 (ESV) And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” 

• Jezebel killed the Prophets

• Herodias killed John the Baptist 

• Mark 6:17–20 (ESV) For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.  For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

• Mark 6:23–25 (ESV) And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”  And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”  And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

• Pharisees killed Stephen - Acts 7:54–59 (ESV) Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

• Jesus

• Every apostle but John 

There is going to be an attack on Christianity on a new level. Not just individuals, but Christianity will be the new racism

THERE IS AN ASSAULT TO BE SILENT ABOUT, TOLERATE, AFFIRM & ULTIMATELY CELEBRATE ANTI-TRUTH

• People become deceived - believe the lies

• 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

• War on Words:

• Gender Affirming Care

• Planned Parenthood

• Social Pressures - Go along to get along

• Redefining of LOVE - Love without truth is not LOVE

John 14:6–7 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 8:31–32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ (‭ESV) ‬‬“And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.”

• Who would want to kill Jesus?

• Why would they want to kill Jesus?

Luke 13:31–35 (ESV) At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.  Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

In our lifetime, there have been assassinations.

Charlie Kirk is the first spectacle/murder

• Recorded live/high def while streaming

• Can be replayed infinitely

• The arguments about his message are typical

Unlike other assassinations, we can go back and review his message unlike any other. Something different:

• He was political, but was doing more than arguing politics 

• He was smart, but more than arguing facts

• He regularly declared TRUTH - preacher/prophetic/apostolic

• He had influence in the highest spheres: culture, finance, politics and church.

• Shockingly, no scandals (though people are doing everything to create them.

His funeral was a first ever in my lifetime

• Largest funeral in our time

• Who’s who of finance and politics

• Powerful worship, for hours

• Hours of the Gospel being preached - JESUS

A gospel that doesn’t reach all spheres of society, including our leaders in government, is an ineffective gospel.

Our message isn’t for these four walls - it’s for this zip code, for this region, for our nation, for the world.

“The church should stay out of politics!” I agree to the point that we have to be careful about trying to get specific candidates elected under the banner of “God’s Man.” Politics is attempting to influence morality and Christians are attempting to influence morality, Christians have to speak into politics. 

• Moses appealed not only to the Israelites, but also to Pharaoh 

• Prophets spoke directly to Kings - Elijah/Ahab/Jezebel

• 1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”

• Jesus was before Pontus Pilate

• Paul/Silas preached to their jailer

• Paul preached to Publius and eventually appealed to Rome 

Acts 19:21 (ESV) Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

A version of this is playing out in American right now.?

• A nation/states founded on biblical principles 

• We have the highest population of non-Christian’s trying to throw off our Christian-based framework

This will be more defined than ever in your lifetime.

People will be involved. The spiritual realm will be very active 

THERE IS ASSAULT ON TRUTH

This is not an attack on facts, but TRUTH

• 2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning…

TRUTH is under attack

• Genesis 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning, God

• created the heavens and the earth.

• Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…

• Genesis 1:27 (ESV) male and female he created them.

• Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

• Genesis 2:15 (ESV) The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

• Genesis 2:16–17 (ESV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

• Genesis 3:4–5 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

THERE IS AN ASSAULT ON TRUTH TELLERS

• God is the ultimate truth teller - his WORDS created life

• TRUTH tellers declare, deposit and reinforce LIFE

• You are not a threat based on what you believe

• You become a threat by what you declare with your life and especially with your WORDS

• Adam/Eve were the original TRUTH tellers - the moment that they sinned, they were deceived and their role changed

• Cain killed Able

• Genesis 4:3–8 (ESV) In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,  and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,  but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.  The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

• 1 John 3:12 (ESV) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

• Saul tried to kill David

• Saul killed priests - 1 Samuel 22:17 (ESV) And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” 

• Jezebel killed the Prophets

• Herodias killed John the Baptist 

• Mark 6:17–20 (ESV) For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.  For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

• Mark 6:23–25 (ESV) And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”  And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”  And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

• Pharisees killed Stephen - Acts 7:54–59 (ESV) Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

• Jesus

• Every apostle but John 

There is going to be an attack on Christianity on a new level. Not just individuals, but Christianity will be the new racism

THERE IS AN ASSAULT TO BE SILENT ABOUT, TOLERATE, AFFIRM & ULTIMATELY CELEBRATE ANTI-TRUTH

• People become deceived - believe the lies

• 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

• War on Words:

• Gender Affirming Care

• Planned Parenthood

• Social Pressures - Go along to get along

• Redefining of LOVE - Love without truth is not LOVE

John 14:6–7 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 8:31–32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Demons In Modern Day

Ps Steve Parrish 2025.09.17

From Sunday’s Message: The Antidote To Evil

• Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭37‬-‭43‬ (‭ESV)‬‬ On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,”

GOD HAS A GLORIOUS PLAN FOR EVERY LIFE.

This boy throwing himself in the fire is not the glorious plan. This is the glorious plan: 

• Psalm 139:13–18 (ESV) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

• thoughts: (HEB) rea - plans/aim

His plan is in our DNA: 

• Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  

• Jeremiah 29:12–14 (ESV) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

The glorious plan of God was interrupted be demons. But WHY does it happen?

THERE IS AN OPPONENT TO GOD’S PLAN

Demonic function happens in a permissive authoritarian structure where they are either invited or allowed to be overrun.

This boy was likely overrun or experienced the invitation via family authoritative structure.

THE OPPONENTS PLAN: STEAL, KILL & DESTROY

WHY throw him in fire?

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

• Genesis 4:7 (ESV) And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

• Luke 22:31 (ESV) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

HOW DID/DOES DEMONIC ACTIVITY MANIFEST TODAY? 

The Bible doesn't provide a comprehensive checklist of signs for demonic possession or oppression, but it does describe various instances and characteristics associated with such spiritual influence. Below is a detailed summary of the signs found in Scripture, along with their references, based on accounts of demonic activity in the Old and New Testaments. I’ve included both explicit cases of possession (where a demon controls a person) and potential oppression (where a person is influenced or afflicted by demonic forces without full control), as the Bible sometimes blurs the line between these states. The terms "possession" and "oppression" are not always distinctly defined in Scripture, so I’ll note where interpretations vary.

Physical Afflictions or Supernatural Strength - demonic influence can manifest as physical symptoms, such as seizures, muteness, blindness, or extraordinary strength that defies normal human capability.

• A boy with seizures, described as being thrown to the ground, foaming at the mouth, and convulsing, is said to be possessed by an evil spirit (Mark 9:17–20, Matthew 17:14–18, Luke 9:38–42)

• A man in the synagogue at Capernaum convulses when confronted by Jesus, indicating demonic control (Mark 1:23–26, Luke 4:33–35). 

• The Gerasene demoniac displays superhuman strength, breaking chains and living among tombs (Mark 5:1–5, Luke 8:26–29). 

• A woman is described as "bound by Satan" for 18 years, suffering a physical ailment (bent over, unable to straighten), suggesting oppression rather than full possession (Luke 13:10–16).

• Scriptures:

• Mark 9:20: "When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth."

• Mark 5:3–4: "No one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet."

• Luke 13:11, 16: "A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years… Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free?"

Mental or Emotional Disturbance - demonic activity can cause mental torment, insanity, or erratic behavior, often leading to social isolation or self-harm.

• The Gerasene demoniac lives among tombs, crying out and cutting himself, indicating severe mental distress (Mark 5:5, Luke 8:27).

• King Saul, in the Old Testament, is tormented by an evil spirit, leading to paranoia and violent outbursts (1 Samuel 16:14–15, 18:10–11).

• Scriptures 

• Mark 5:5: "Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones."

• 1 Samuel 16:14–15: "Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul’s attendants said to him, ‘See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.’"

Speaking or Acting Under Demonic Influence - demons can speak through individuals or compel them to act in ways contrary to their normal behavior, often with supernatural knowledge or defiance of God.

• The demon in the synagogue recognizes Jesus as the "Holy One of God," showing supernatural awareness (Mark 1:24, Luke 4:34).

• A slave girl in Philippi, possessed by a "spirit of divination," predicts the future and follows Paul, proclaiming his mission until he casts out the spirit (Acts 16:16–18).

• Demons in the Gerasene demoniac identify themselves as "Legion" and speak collectively through the man (Mark 5:9, Luke 8:30).

• Scriptures 

• Mark 1:24: "‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’"

• Acts 16:16–17: "She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’"

• Mark 5:9: "Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’"

Opposition to God or Spiritual Truth - Demonic forces often manifest through hostility toward Jesus, His teachings, or His followers, sometimes inciting others to resist God’s work.

• The demons in the synagogue and Gerasene accounts react with fear and hostility to Jesus’ presence (Mark 1:24, Mark 5:7).

• In a broader sense, false prophets or deceivers influenced by demonic spirits oppose God’s truth (1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 4:1–3).

• Scriptures

• Mark 5:7: "He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’"

• 1 Timothy 4:1: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

• 1 John 4:3: "But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist."

Moral or Spiritual Corruption - Demonic oppression may lead to sinful behavior, deception, or leading others astray, often tied to idolatry or false worship in the Old Testament.

• In the Old Testament, idolatry is linked to demonic influence, as people sacrifice to "demons that are not gods" (Deuteronomy 32:17, Psalm 106:36–37).

• New Testament warnings about demonic teachings suggest influence over false doctrines or immoral behavior (1 Timothy 4:1).

• Scriptures

• Deuteronomy 32:17: "They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear."

• Psalm 106:37: "They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods [demons]."

Physical Harm or Danger to Others - Demonic influence can lead to violent or destructive behavior toward oneself or others.

• The boy with an evil spirit is thrown into fire or water, endangering his life (Mark 9:22).

• Saul, tormented by an evil spirit, attempts to kill David by throwing a spear (1 Samuel 18:10–11).

• Scriptures

• Mark 9:22: "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him."

• 1 Samuel 18:10–11: "The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul… Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’"

Unnatural Behavior or Loss of Control - Individuals under demonic influence may act in ways that seem unnatural, erratic, or beyond their control, often losing their sense of self.

• The Gerasene demoniac lives naked and isolated, behaving in ways that shock his community (Luke 8:27).

• The boy in Mark 9 becomes rigid and convulses, unable to control his body (Mark 9:18).

• Scriptures

• Luke 8:27: "When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs."

• Mark 9:18: "Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid."

Possession vs. Oppression - The Bible doesn’t explicitly distinguish between possession (full control by a demon) and oppression (external influence or affliction). For example, the woman in Luke 13:11 is "bound by Satan" but not described as speaking or acting under demonic control, suggesting oppression. In contrast, the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5) shows clear signs of possession, with demons speaking through him.

Old Testament vs. New Testament - Demonic activity is less detailed in the Old Testament, often tied to idolatry (Deuteronomy 32:17) or torment (1 Samuel 16:14). The New Testament, especially the Gospels, provides more vivid accounts of possession, likely due to Jesus’ ministry confronting spiritual forces directly.

Discernment of Spirits - The New Testament urges believers to test spirits to distinguish between divine, human, or demonic influence (1 John 4:1–3, 1 Corinthians 12:10), suggesting that not all unusual behavior is demonic.

HOW DO DEMONS ACCESS OUR LIVES

Invitation or Overrunning Authority

According to biblical teachings and interpretations from Christian sources, demons can gain access or a “foothold” in a person’s life through various spiritual openings, often referred to as “legal rights” or “open doors.” These are typically linked to sin, disobedience, or exposure to ungodly influences that give the enemy ground, as warned in Scripture (e.g., Ephesians 4:27). Below is a compiled list of common ways, drawn from biblical principles, with supporting verses where applicable. Note that while the Bible describes demonic influence and oppression, it emphasizes that believers have authority over demons through Christ (Luke 10:19; James 4:7).

• Ongoing or unrepented sin: Persistent sin, such as greed, theft, or willful rebellion, can invite demonic influence by giving the devil a place in one’s life, as seen in Judas where ongoing greed allowed Satan to enter him (John 13:27; Luke 22:3). 4 11 12 Supporting verses: Ephesians 4:26-27 (“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold”); 1 John 1:9 (“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”).
  
  

• Unforgiveness or bitterness: Holding onto resentment or refusing to forgive others can lead to torment by evil spirits, as it prevents God’s forgiveness and opens a spiritual prison. 11 12 Supporting verse: Matthew 18:23-35 (the parable of the unmerciful servant, where unforgiveness leads to being handed over to “tormentors,” interpreted as demons).
  
  

• Involvement in the occult: Practices like witchcraft, divination, sorcery, astrology, Ouija boards, or communicating with the dead are forbidden and directly open doors to demonic spirits. 11 10 12 Supporting verses: Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (“Let no one be found among you who… practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft… Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord”).
  
  

• Idolatry or involvement in false religions/cults: Worshiping idols or false gods, or embracing false teachings, aligns with demons, as sacrifices to idols are offered to demons. 1 11 10 Supporting verses: 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 (“The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons”); 1 Timothy 4:1 (“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”).
  
  

• Sexual immorality or illicit encounters: Engaging in sex outside of marriage creates soul ties that can transfer demons, as the two become one flesh spiritually. 10 12 Supporting verse: 1 Corinthians 6:16 (“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh’”).
  
  

• Generational curses or ancestral sins: Sins of ancestors, such as occult involvement or idolatry, can affect descendants, passing down iniquity unless broken through repentance. 10 11 12 Supporting verses: Exodus 20:5 (“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me”); Leviticus 26:40-42 (confessing ancestral sins leads to God’s remembrance and healing).
  
  

• Curses or spoken words: Word curses (e.g., harmful words from parents or self-curses like “I wish I were dead”) or generational curses can invite demonic torment, as the tongue holds power. 11 12 Supporting verses: Proverbs 18:21 (“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”); James 3:8-10 (the tongue is full of deadly poison and can curse people made in God’s image).
  
  

• Trauma, abuse, or points of weakness: Experiences like physical/sexual abuse, rejection, or moments of vulnerability (e.g., during fear, drugs, or emotional shock) can lower spiritual defenses, allowing demons to enter and exploit wounds. 2 10 11 12 Supporting verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 (“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”—implying fear can be a demonic spirit entering through weakness).
  
  

• Exposure to unholy things or cursed objects: Consuming ungodly media (e.g., horror movies, pornography) or bringing demonic objects (e.g., idols, occult items) into one’s life or home defiles it and invites spirits. 10 11 12 Supporting verses: Leviticus 18:27 (“For all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled”); Isaiah 2:18 (“He will utterly abolish the idols”).
  
  

• Believing the enemy’s lies: Accepting Satan’s deceptions about God, oneself, or sin aligns with him and can allow lying spirits to reinforce bondage. 11 Supporting verse: John 8:44 (“You belong to your father, the devil… When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies”).