Wholeness Journey V: The Seven Steps to the Life of God

1
Wholeness Journey V The Seven Steps to the Life
of God

• This presentation is not designed to give you the
  formula that will get you whole, but to put you
  on the journey to discover Gods custom made plan
  for your individual wholeness

Adapted from What the Bible Teaches about
Mercyby Rex B. Andrews
2
Prayer

• Blessed and Holy Father, speak to us in Thy love
  and let us see the beauty of Thy holiness. Open
  Thy Word to our hearts, and open our hearts to
  Thy Word, we pray. We ask for the witness of the
  Holy Spirit in every one who receives this study,
  that they may see that Thou are really guiding
  into a life of full triumph over all the works of
  the devil and of the flesh. O Jesus, take over in
  every life and show each one how to lose his own
  life, too. In His dear name Who led the way
  through death into life - Jesus the Christ, the
  Son of the Living God. Amen

3
Retracing Mankinds Descent

• There are seven steps down and out of the
  knowledge of God
• Seven steps mankind has followed down, and out,
  from the God-knowledge into the flesh lust-love
  and works which are in the world - and in
  ourselves by being born into it
• Seven steps that have landed mankind in the
  anti-God, and anti-Christ realm called the lusts
  of their own hearts, and the spirit of this
  world
• The purpose of this study is to set out on a
  journey to retrace these seven steps back up and
  into the lost knowledge of the living God
• Jesus called that knowledge, eternal life

4
The Knowledge of God

• NKJ Hosea 41 Hear the word of the LORD, You
  children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge
  against the inhabitants of the land "There is no
  truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.
• NKJ Hosea 46a My people are destroyed for lack
  of knowledge of God.
• of God added to show that it is the knowledge
  of God or rather knowing God intimately that is
  the issue contextually (see Hosea 41 above) and
  not simply knowing about things. Knowing God
  intimately will reveal the truth that He is Mercy
  Himself!

5
First Step

• NAU Romans 121a For even though they knew God,
  they did not honor Him as God
• Why has mankind refused to honor (glorify) God?
• Because there was something about Him which they
  did not like
• Therefore, they would not glory in that which He
  gloried in
• It is Gods will that the first Adams race
  detests, despises, and refuses
• It is His will which causes the reaction in the
  human heart, to refuse Him as God
• God Himself is what His will is - they are one

6
First Step (Contd.)

• What the Bible teaches about Mercy is the
  Knowledge of God or said another way - knowing
  God intimately
• When you know God intimately, will you glorify
  Him as God - as the God who reveals Himself as He
  is?
• NLT Hosea 66 I want you to be merciful I don't
  want your sacrifices. I want you to know God
  that's more important than burnt offerings.

7
Genesis Chapter 1

• Why are most Christians bored?
• They view the Bible from a people-centered view
  of the Scriptures
• Most dont get excited until Genesis 3, then they
  have something to live forsaving the lost world!
• They have nonverbally communicated to themselves
  and God that the Bible is all about people

8
Genesis Chapter 1 (cont.)

• Two views on the main character of the Bible
• God is the main character of the Bible and lives
  to radiate His glory therefore, God lives for
  God
• Humanity is the main character of the Bible and
  God lives to provide for us therefore, God lives
  for humanity
• The average true believer says the Bible is all
  about God, but lives as if humanity is
• Consequently, humanity often replaces God as the
  main character of the Bible

9
Genesis Chapter 1 (cont.)

• Lets look at two examples
• First example What did God get out of Jesus
  death?
• Most Christians want to say He got us but that
  is jumping straight back into a people-centered
  perspective!
• He also received glory, honor, praise, adoration
  and obedience. Most Christians overlook this
• Second example Why dont you want others to go
  to hell?
• Most people dont want others to go to hell
  because theyll suffer (back to a people centered
  perspective)
• David talks about the praise God wouldnt receive
• NKJ Psalm 309 "What profit is there in my blood,
  When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise
  You? Will it declare Your truth?

10
Cat and Dog Theology

• These two views on the Bibles main character
  have birthed two types of Christianity
• These two differences are seen in the different
  attitudes between a dog and a cat
• A dog says You pet me, you feed me, you shelter
  me, you love me, You must be God.
• A cat says You pet me, you feed me, you shelter
  me, you love me, I must be God.
• Its very hard to differentiate between a Dog and
  a Cat in church
• They both look and act Christian but there is a
  huge difference in their heart attitude

11
Getting to Heaven

• Cats have a tendency to walk away from hell.
  Their sole focus is on themselves
• Dogs walk toward heaven having fallen in love
  with God
• Many Christians today are joyless simply because
  they are still focused on themselves and are
  walking away from hell
• NKJ Matthew 1344 " Again, the kingdom of heaven
  is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man
  found and hid and for joy over it he goes and
  sells all that he has and buys that field.

12
Guarantee of Salvation

• Cats are sure they are Christians because they
  prayed a prayer some time in their lives
• Dogs are sure they are Christians because they
  hunger for God in their lives. This is how they
  know they are believers whether or not they
  prayed a prayer at some time in their lives

13
Obedience School

• Both Cats and Dogs want obedience in their lives.
  Dogs want to obey God. Cats want God to obey them
• You usually see this reflected in the motive for
  their prayer requests
• Cats pray for a more Christ-like spouse in order
  to have a better quality of life for themselves
  and children
• Dogs pray for a more Christ-like spouse in order
  for the name of Jesus to no longer be reproached
  by their poor behavior

14
Quiet Times

• Both Cats and Dogs have quiet times
• Dogs focus on Gods glory (they think, How is
  Gods reputation being affected by my life?)
• Cats focus on themselves (how can they better
  their life?)

15
Prayer

• NKJ Matthew 633 "But seek first the kingdom of
  God and His righteousness, and all these things
  shall be added to you.
• Dogs pray to establish Gods kingdom
• Cats pray to establish their own kingdom

16
Blessing and Responsibilities

• Cats want all the blessings and none of the
  responsibilities
• As a result, two major problems arise in Cat
  Theology
• An incomplete gospel comes about, and
• Cats have mixed-up priorities

17
Incomplete Gospel

• Over time, Cat Theology develops into an
  incomplete gospel
• Cats are saved from hell and it stops there
• This is not incorrect, but it is incomplete
• Dogs are saved from hell, FOR WORSHIP

18
In Our Prayers

• Praying Father, thank you for dying on the cross
  for our sins is not incorrect, but it is
  incomplete
• He died on the cross for our sins SO THAT we
  might point to God and glorify Him

19
In Our Blessings

• Cats focus on gathering all of Gods blessings
  with a bucket. And once they have them, they keep
  them
• Dogs gather as many blessings as they can from
  God and pass them on to others. They know that
  the blessings are meant to go through them to
  others

20
Mixed up Priorities Blessings and Glory

• Both Cats and Dogs want to see God glorified and
  want to be blessed by God
• Dogs hunger more for Gods glory
• Whereas Cats hunger more for the blessings

21
Worship

• Dogs worship God primarily for who He is
• Cats worship God primarily for what Hes done for
  them

22
Tessara

• Why all these differences? Dogs study Theology
  while Cats study MEology
• Dogs see Gods glory like a stained glass window
• Each piece of glass is called a tessera.
• Each tessera uniquely displays Gods glory, such
  as the animal kingdom, the family unit, taste,
  the stars
• Glory is any revelation or expression of His
  excellency in His presence, creativity and/or
  character
• One way God chooses to reveal His glory is
  through blessing us!

23
Satans Strategy

• Satan doesnt want Christians to focus on Gods
  glory
• His strategy is to get humanity to focus in on
  something safe and close to Gods heart so
  their focus is off of Gods glory
• As a result, we begin to think that life is all
  about us. Because of this, we make a foundational
  shift in our theology
• Our focus goes off of God glorifying Himself
  through blessing us
• Our focus is on receiving the blessings from God,
  and we become primary Gods glory becomes
  secondary

24
Cats are Living for Themselves

• Cats are basically living for themselves in a
  Christian context
• Theyve rejected other ways of life and have
  chosen Christianity as the best way to live for
  themselves
• Therefore, Life is still all about them

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WDGG

• Dogs ask one key question as they go through
  life What Does God Get?
• As a result, they realize that life is for God,
  it is not for us
• They see the joy God had in Genesis 1 while He
  was creating!

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A Prayer of Repentance

• Heavenly Father please forgive us
• For thinking life was about us and not You
• For advancing our kingdom and not Yours
• For seeking Your blessings more than You
• For an incomplete Christianity
• For mixed-up priorities
• For living for ourselves in a Christian context
• For not seeing Your glory all around us
• I repent (i.e., change my mind and heart)
• Please fill me again with your Holy Spirit that I
  might live to make You famous

27
Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory

• NKJ James 43 You ask and do not receive, because
  you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your
  pleasures.
• Our motive in prayer must be only for our
  Fathers glory it is not enough just to pray for
  good things
• For example, you may be praying for revival in
  your church so that we might have more people
  born again, that we would be better parents, or
  that the world would not influence our children
• These are noble requests that are in Gods will
  but are selfish in motive
• The only motive that is free from selfishness is
  the desire to see our Heavenly Father glorified
  in the things we ask of Him

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Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• The proper motive in asking for revival would be
  because we can not endure God seeing the blood of
  Jesus trampled underfoot by the worldliness of
  the church, by the sins of our children, or by
  the lack of Christ-likeness of our spouse
• We may be praying for the Holy Spirits power in
  our lives so that we can have a victorious
  Christian life
• This again has the selfish motivation of
  something to make our life easier or more
  pleasurable
• The proper motive would be that God would no
  longer be dishonored by our low level of
  Christian service and poor testimony but rather
  be glorified by the inward beauty in our lives
  and the power in our service that comes by the
  Holy Spirits presence

29
Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• NKJ 2 Corinthians 47 But we have this treasure
  in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the
  power may be of God and not of us.
• NKJ Matthew 516 "Let your light so shine before
  men, that they may see your good works and
  glorify your Father in heaven.
• The reason we stay on Earth after being saved is
  to show forth our Heavenly Fathers glory
• Our Heavenly Father is glorified by the
  revelation of His Son in our lives by the Holy
  Spirit
• The revelation of Jesus shows the world that He
  was Gods Son who died and now lives resulting in
  their salvation

30
Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• NKJ Philippians 210 that at the name of Jesus
  every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of
  those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11
  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
  Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Our Heavenly Father is glorified through our
  verbal and nonverbal (i.e., our actions)
  confession of Jesus Christs Lordship
• The confession of Jesus Christs Lordship is
  testimony that God is merciful!
• This is the glory of God - that He is merciful!
• The revelation of Jesus is the revelation of
  Mercy!

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Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• NKJ Hebrews 11 God, who at various times and in
  various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
  the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to
  us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
  things, through whom also He made the worlds 3
  who being the brightness of His glory and the
  express image of His person, and upholding all
  things by the word of His power,...
• NKJ John 149 Jesus said to him, "Have I been
  with you so long, and yet you have not known Me,
  Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father
  so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
• When the world sees Jesus, they see the Heavenly
  Father
• They then realize that He is for them and not
  against them
• That Satan has lied to them about God
• That He came to save the world and not to condemn
  it

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Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• NKJ Exodus 3318 And he said, "Please, show me
  Your glory."
• Recall that Moses asked to see Gods glory (His
  most magnificent attributes and power) and God
  answered
• NKJ Exodus 346 And the LORD passed before him
  and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful
  and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in
  goodness and truth,
• This truth was known by King David the man after
  Gods Heart (1Samuel 1314)
• NKJ Psalm 1038 The LORD is merciful and
  gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

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Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• NKJ Psalm 1172 For His merciful kindness is
  great toward us, And the truth of the LORD
  endures forever. Praise the LORD!
• NKJ Luke 636 "Therefore be merciful, just as
  your Father also is merciful.
• We glorify the Heavenly Father when we act like
  Him by being merciful
• However, we can only give what we have received
• NKJ Acts 36 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I
  do not have, but what I do have I give you In
  the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
  walk.
• Mercy, all mercy!

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Seek Only our Heavenly Fathers Glory (cont.)

• Again, we honor God as God when we chose to
  reveal that He is merciful by being merciful
• The more we understand from His word that He is
  merciful the more merciful we become
• Heavenly Father please FLOOD us with mercy that
  we might be merciers and not judgers
• NKJ Luke 636 "Therefore be merciful, just as
  your Father also is merciful. 37 " Judge not, and
  you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you
  shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be
  forgiven. 38 "Give mercy, and it mercy will
  be given to you by God good measure, pressed
  down, shaken together, and running over will
  mercy be put into your bosom. For with the same
  measure that you use, it will be measured back to
  you."
• Words in added by author

35
Second Step

• NKJ Romans 121b nor were thankful
• Ungratefulness for the mercy-of-life produces a
  very visible result - unthankfulness
• Gratitude for His mercy produces a very visible
  result - thankfulness
• Our thankfulness is really the only thing we have
  to give God that He has not given us

36
Second Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Philippians 46 Be anxious for nothing, but
  in everything by prayer and supplication, with
  thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
  God 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
  understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
  through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren,
  whatever things are true, whatever things are
  noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
  are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
  things are of good report, if there is any virtue
  and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate
  on these things.

37
Second Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Proverbs 237 For as he thinks in his heart,
  so is he.
• You become like what you think about in your
  heart for good or for bad
• NKJ Colossians 42 Continue earnestly in prayer,
  being vigilant in it with thanksgiving
• NKJ 1 Thessalonians 516 Rejoice always, 17 pray
  without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks
  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
  you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
• NKJ Ephesians 520 giving thanks always for all
  things to God the Father in the name of our Lord
  Jesus Christ,

38
Second Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Colossians 26 As you have therefore received
  Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted
  and built up in Him and established in the faith,
  as you have been taught, abounding in it with
  thanksgiving.
• NKJ Hebrews 1315 Therefore by Him let us
  continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
  that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to
  His name
• As you thank God for His name, God will become
  that name to you (e.g. as you confessed Jesus
  Lordship over your life He became your Lord)
• As you thank Him for being the God of Mercy He
  will become Mercy to you

39
Second Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Ephesians 51 Therefore be imitators of God
  as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ
  also has loved us and given Himself for us, an
  offering and a sacrifice to God for a
  sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all
  uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be
  named among you, as is fitting for saints 4
  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
  coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather
  giving of thanks.
• We are to give thanks rather than filthy talk,
  foolish talk, or coarse jesting
• Give thanks that He is merciful!

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Second Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Habakkuk 317 Though the fig tree may not
  blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines Though the
  labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield
  no food Though the flock may be cut off from the
  fold, And there be no herd in the stalls --18 Yet
  I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God
  of my salvation.
• Having an attitude of gratitude will keep our
  hearts tender towards God
• Consequently, we will have a heart through which
  Gods mercy can pour to meet the needs of others
  and ourselves
• Will you give Him thanks for the mercy freely
  given?

41
Third Step

• NKJ Romans 121c but became futile in their
  thoughts
• Imagination is the creative faculty by which we
  can form thoughts or ideas in the mind
• These ideas are images, produced by the ruling
  love
• Self-love produces self-images - futile or vain
  things
• Ideas which are forms of desire - desire for
  wants for self satisfaction - all vain, all
  futile
• Vain or futile means empty, worthless, especially
  that which disappoints hope

42
Third Step (Contd.)

• The higher degrees of vainness are found in the
  idea-images of ones own greatness of intellect
• Pride of intellect is such an immersion in vanity
  as to leave one blind, and almost helpless to
  break down and destroy the self images which are
  for the gratification of self
• Realize, arrogance is the precursor to ignorance!
• Vain imaginations, or thoughts, are the beginning
  of idolatry and idolatry is covetousness
• Covetousness is a lusting after something to
  exalt, and satisfy, and complete self
• These are thoughts of things that please the flesh

43
Third Step (Contd.)

• The mind of this world, no matter how brilliant
  intellectually it may be, is a reprobate mind
  apart from the understanding of repentance and
  faith
• The Science and wisdom of this world is still
  foolishness with God, and a reprobate mind may be
  full of all such knowledge and wisdom
• Opposite to vain imaginations are merciful
  thoughts which arise from the ruling love of
  Jesus Christ, in the blood washed heart and mind
• Your imagination is no longer vain when you live
  to do His mercy-will for Him

44
Third Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Isaiah 558 " For My thoughts are not your
  thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the
  LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the
  earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And
  My thoughts than your thoughts.
• God thinks and does things differently than we
  think and do
• However, we are commanded to learn to think as
  God thinks and learn to understand His ways
• NKJ Romans 122 And do not be conformed to this
  world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
  mind, that you may prove what is that good and
  acceptable and perfect will of God.
• God has given us the Helper the Holy Spirit in
  order to learn Gods thoughts and ways

45
NKJ 1 Corinthians 29 But as it is written "Eye
has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered
into the heart of man The things which God has
prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has
revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the
Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things
of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a
man except the spirit of the man which is in him?
Even so no one knows the things of God except the
Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from
God, that we might know the things that have been
freely given to us by God. 13 These things we
also speak, not in words which man's wisdom
teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14
But the natural man does not receive the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is
spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is
rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known
the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?"
But we have the mind of Christ.
46
Third Step (Contd.)

• We change the way we think by meditating on the
  scriptures until we know them by heart (i.e., in
  our hearts)
• NKJ Proverbs 420 My son, give attention to my
  words Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not
  let them depart from your eyes Keep them in the
  midst of your heart 22 For they are life to
  those who find them, And health to all their
  flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
  For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put
  away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse
  lips far from you.

47
Third Step (Contd.)

• NKJ Joshua 18 "This Book of the Law shall not
  depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in
  it day and night, that you may observe to do
  according to all that is written in it. For then
  you will make your way prosperous, and then you
  will have good success.
• NKJ 3 John 12 Beloved, I pray that you may
  prosper in all things and be in health, just as
  your soul prospers.
• NKJ 2 Peter 14 by which have been given to us
  exceedingly great and precious promises, that
  through these you may be partakers of the divine
  nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
  the world through lust.

48
Fourth Step

• NKJ Romans 121d and their foolish hearts were
  darkened.
• Darkness is the result of not doing what God has
  said to do
• A wise heart is an enlightened heart
• Jesus said that the wisdom in man is to hear His
  words and do them
• The thoughts of the wise of heart arise from the
  love of giving life to others
• The giving of life is mercy - this is the wisdom
  of God!
• A heart full of the wisdom of God is full of
  light!

49
How It Works
NKJ 1 Thessalonians 523 Now may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you completely and may your
whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Heart
Spirit
Soul
Body
Brain
Contains Mind (logic) Will Emotions
Holy Spirits Holy of Holies
Physical connection between the Body and Soul
Has 5 senses Hearing Sight Smell Taste Touch
Spiritual connection between our Spirit and
Soul It is the incubator for our thoughts.
Hebrews 412, Luke 811-15
50
New Christian without a Renewed Mind
The soul calculates a response by our mind
(logic) and/or emotion
The Holy Spirit knocks on the door of our heart
desiring to fill it with mercy for them us
The brain converts sight and sound into pictures
and speech - they are being unkind
The senses detect someone talking to us
Something tells us we should not tell them off.
This is our conscience which is the hidden man
or voice of our heart
Spiritual Heart
Spirit
Soul
Body
Brain
We give them a piece of our mind!
The person is being unkind to us and based on a
mind conformed to this world we will or
choose to return anger - our justice!
We sow anger into our spiritual heart causing
it to harden or be seared to receiving the
Holy Spirits voice (via our spirit) and anger
starts growing in our heart
The brain converts the thoughts into signals to
operate the body
The Holy Spirit is grieved and respecting the
choice of our will being done - goes silent
51
Cultural Christian with a hardened Heart
The soul realizes that the mercy message is truth
and is convicted of sin
The Holy Spirit knocks on the door of our heart
desiring to fill it with mercy
The brain converts sight and sound into pictures
and speech - we have been judgers
The senses have read this teaching
Our conscience by the Holy Spirit tells us we
should repent (i.e., change our mind) and chose
to be a mercier in His strength
Spiritual Heart
Spirit
Soul
Body
Brain
We say a prayer of repentance from the depths of
our heart
We chose to repent and be cleansed from all
unrighteousness (1 John 19)
The brain converts the thoughts into signals to
operate the body
Our heart is renewed again to be a heart of flesh
(i.e., a heart sensitive to the voice of the Holy
Spirit) Ezekiel 3626,27
The Holy Spirit is overjoyed and floods our heart
with mercy
We believe the truth that if we repent God will
forgive us and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness 1 John 19
52
Spiritual Christian with a Renewed Mind
The soul calculates a response by our mind
(logic) and/or emotion
The Holy Spirit knocks on the door of our heart
desiring to fill it with mercy for them us
The brain converts sight and sound into pictures
and speech - they are being unkind
The senses detect someone talking to us
Something tells us we should not tell them off.
This is our conscience which is the hidden man
or voice of our heart
Spiritual Heart
Spirit
Soul
Body
Brain
We ask the Lord to flood them with mercy to meet
all of their needs!
The person is being unkind to us but the renewed
mind knows Jesus has already paid for this sin,
we listen to our conscience and will mercy!
We sow mercy into our spiritual heart causing
it to remain sensitive to receiving the Holy
Spirits voice (via our spirit) and mercy starts
growing and enlarging our spiritual heart
The brain converts the thoughts into signals to
operate the body
The Holy Spirit is pleased with Gods will being
done (i.e., mercy) and fills our heart with mercy
53
The Fifth Step

• NKJ Romans 122 Professing to be wise, they
  became fools,
• There are many forms of the self-profession of
  wisdom
• Nearly every darkened heart on Earth has some
  sort of profession of self-wisdom
• Ranging from trifling things to the folly of
  belief in ones own intellectual superiority
• In Jesus we see the lost wisdom of of living a
  simple, lowly life consisting of doing Gods
  desire - DOING MERCY!

54
The Fifth Step (cont.)

• Professing to be a fool, and to have nothing of
  of your own, you become wise!
• NKJ 1 Corinthians 410a We are fools for Christ's
  sake,
• NKJ Proverbs 334 Surely He scorns the scornful,
  But gives grace to the humble.
• NKJ James 46 But He gives more grace. Therefore
  He says "God resists the proud, But gives grace
  to the humble.
• It is the humble that receive Gods grace (i.e.,
  favor freely given)

55
The Fifth Step (cont.)

• NKJ 2 Samuel 2226 "With the merciful You will
  show Yourself merciful With a blameless man You
  will show Yourself blameless
• NKJ Matthew 57 Blessed are the merciful, For
  they shall obtain mercy.
• NKJ James 213 For judgment is without mercy to
  the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs
  over judgment.
• NKJ Proverbs 1117 The merciful man does good for
  his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his
  own flesh.
• NKJ Proverbs 2211 He who loves purity of heart
  purity of heart only comes by being a continual
  giver of mercy - a mercier And has grace on his
  lips undeserved favor for all, The king God
  will be his friend not just a son, not just a
  bond servant, but a friend of God!
• Words in added by author

56
The Fifth Step (cont.)

• NKJ Psalm 671 To the Chief Musician. On stringed
  instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to
  us and bless us mercy, And cause His face to
  shine upon us grace. Selah 2 That Your way
  mercy may be known on earth, Your salvation
  mercy among all nations. 3 Let the peoples
  praise You, O God Let all the peoples praise
  You. 4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for
  joy! For You shall judge the people righteously
  mercy, And govern the nations on earth. Selah
  5 Let the peoples praise You, O God Let all the
  peoples praise You. 6 Then the earth shall yield
  her increase mercy God, our own God, shall
  bless us. 7 God shall bless us, And all the ends
  of the earth shall fear Him.
• Words in added by author

57
The Sixth Step

• NKJ Romans 123 and changed the glory of the
  incorruptible God into an image made like
  corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed
  animals and creeping things.
• Think of it! Changed Gods glory into something
  else - a corruptible something else
• God is seen as a monster of destruction and force
• However, Gods glory is being merciful
• By becoming givers of mercy (merciers) we can
  change our love of corruption back into a true
  love of His glory

58
The Sixth Step (cont.)

• When our eyes being single on God as our wisdom
  then we exchange all images of corruptible things
  for the glory of God
• Christ-in-you, the hope of glory releases our
  eyes from their bondage to self-desires
• We see the need of others as He sees them
• God then takes over to separate you to the
  holiness of the zeal of His own love in your
  heart
• The dishonor disappears as you honor your
  redeeming God in all relations to all creatures
• We can do it in the will of mercy
• Gods love and will is to give life
• The giving of life is MERCY

59
The Sixth Step (cont.)

• NKJ Matthew 622 " The lamp of the body is the
  eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole
  body will be full of light. 23 "But if your eye
  is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
  If therefore the light that is in you is
  darkness, how great is that darkness!
• We either see God as He revealed Himself -
  Merciful - leading to being full of the light of
  mercy or we make God in our image - judgmental -
  leading to being deceived into thinking that the
  darkness of legalism we have is light
• NKJ Matthew 2324 "Blind guides, who strain out a
  gnat and swallow a camel!

60
The Sixth Step (cont.)

• Remember that we are not seeking the presents of
  God but rather Gods presence
• However, in order to see Him as He is we must
  have the veils of deception removed from our
  lives
• I am referring to the mask(s) that we wear to
  keep others from seeing who and what we really
  are our personas
• The same mask(s) that we wear to keep others from
  seeing what we are really like also keep(s) us
  from seeing what God is really like

61
The Sixth Step (cont.)

• NKJ Psalm 1154 Their idols are silver and gold,
  The work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but
  they speak not eyes have they, but they see not
  6 They have ears, but they hear not noses have
  they, but they smell not 7 They have hands, but
  they handle not feet have they, but they walk
  not neither speak they through their throat. 8
  They that make them are like unto them so is
  every one that trusteth in them.
• We become like what we worship therefore, it is
  paramount that we see God accurately in order to
  become just like Him
• NKJ 1 John 32 Beloved, now we are children of
  God and it has not yet been revealed what we
  shall be, but we know that when He is revealed,
  we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He
  is.

62
The Sixth Step (cont.)

• NKJ 2 Corinthians 318 But we all, with unveiled
  face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the
  Lord, are being transformed into the same image
  from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the
  Lord.
• Furthermore, we must realize how great is our God
• NKJ Acts 424 So when they heard that, they
  raised their voice to God with one accord and
  said "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and
  earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
• As we realize how great our God is then giving
  Him glory becomes a natural response and faith
  becomes easy

63
The Seventh Step

• NKJ Romans 124 Therefore God also gave them up
  to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to
  dishonor their bodies among themselves,
• Lusts (strong desires) of our heart cause us to
  change the truth of God into a lie and to worship
  the creature more than the creator
• Mercy is a zeal, a controlled fire, a divine
  passion, to effect the proof and image of Gods
  love by filling the need of others
• The mercying heart finds a power working within,
  a holy fire, that destroys the need-to-sin
• There is no lust or power of the devil which that
  holy zeal (i.e., mercy) cannot destroy

64
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Romans 1221 Do not be overcome by evil, but
  overcome evil with good.
• NKJ Matthew 1917a So He said to him, "Why do you
  call Me good? No one is good but One, that is,
  God.
• Evil is overcome by God as we yield our lives to
  His mercy in extending mercy to those wronging us
• NKJ Matthew 544 "But I say to you, love your
  enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
  those who hate you, and pray for those who
  spitefully use you and persecute you,
• Holy love is holy fire and mercy is love in action

65
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NAU John 724 "Do not judge according to
  appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
• There are two types of judgment, according to
• appearance and accusation of evil (condemnation)
• truth and mercy (righteous judgment)
• NAU Matthew 71 "Do not judge so that you will
  not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you
  will be judged and by your standard of measure,
  it will be measured to you.
• The measure which you use for others is the very
  same measure which will be used for you

66
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Matthew 58 Blessed are the pure in heart,
  For they shall see God.
• This is the Spirit of Holiness, which is the
  Spirit of purifying, fire, separation from all
  that is not God
• NKJ Matthew 311 "I indeed baptize you with water
  unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is
  mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to
  carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
  and fire.
• The blessedness of the understanding open and
  alive in the knowledge of God is is the ability
  to see God as He really is

67
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• To see God, means to be opened to Him, and alive
  in His light, and to see as He sees - in LOVE
• We view others the way we view ourselves
• Without a purified heart we will see God in our
  image
• We must submit to Gods cleansing fire, becoming
  merciers, in order to have our hearts purified
• NKJ Isaiah 4810 Behold, I have refined you, but
  not as silver I have tested you in the furnace
  of affliction.
• NKJ 1 Peter 122 Since you have purified your
  souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in
  sincere love of the brethren, love one another
  fervently with a pure heart,

68
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Matthew 1518 "But those things which proceed
  out of the mouth come from the heart, and they
  defile a man.
• The scribes and Pharisees were offended by Jesus,
  because His disciples did not ceremonially wash
  their hands when they ate their food
• They were offended because He did not keep the
  tradition of the elders
• However, Jesus pointed out that they transgressed
  Gods commandments by their traditions
• One such tradition was that they could designate
  support that should go to their parents as
  corban (Hebrew for gift, offering, or oblation)
  and give it to the Religious Leaders

69
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• By declaring it corban they could supposedly be
  exempt from honoring their father and mother as
  stated in the Ten Commandments (5th Command)
• NKJ Exodus 2012 " Honor your father and your
  mother, that your days may be long upon the land
  which the LORD your God is giving you.
• Their tradition rendered the Word of God of no
  effect
• NKJ Mark 713 "making the word of God of no
  effect through your tradition which you have
  handed down. And many such things you do."
• They were hypocrites, RELIGIOUS ACTORS

70
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• They honored God with their lips but their heart
  was far from Him
• Such worship was and is vain, empty, useless
• It was teaching, as rules for life, the
  commandments of men - their heart was wrong
• These religious actors (hypocrites) were
  scrupulously attentive in seeing ceremonial
  observances, but stone blind to the one important
  thing which they were doing - making the Word of
  no effect
• The reason for this level of blindness is a
  defiled heart

71
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Jesus corrected their error concerning eating
  with ceremonially unclean hands by stating that
  it was what came out of the person that defiled
  not what goes into them
• NKJ Matthew 1511 "Not what goes into the mouth
  defiles a man but what comes out of the mouth,
  this defiles a man."
• Jesus later explained that it was what came out
  of the heart of person that defiled them
• NKJ Matthew 1518 "But those things which proceed
  out of the mouth come from the heart, and they
  defile a man.
• Point 1 of a purified heart It is what comes out
  of the heart that defiles the heart

72
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• A defiled heart is caused by what proceeds out of
  it
• What does proceed out of a defiled heart?
• NKJ Mark 721 "For from within, out of the heart
  of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
  fornications, murders, 22 "thefts, covetousness,
  wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye,
  blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 "All these evil
  things come from within and defile a man.
• Covetousness is the central name on the list
• Covetousness is lust (Romans 77)
• Lust, or coveting, is the source of the
  corruption which is in the world (2 Peter 14)
• Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 35)

73
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Idolatry is the love and worship of something in
  Gods place
• Therefore, coveting is the root of all evils
• The breaking of the tenth commandment is what
  causes the other nine to be broken
• NKJ Exodus 2017 " You shall not covet your
  neighbor's house you shall not covet your
  neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his
  female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor
  anything that is your neighbor's.
• Point 2 of a purified heart covetousness-lust
  proceeds out of the heart and defiles the man

74
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Matthew 2325 "Woe to you, scribes and
  Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the
  outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are
  full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 "Blind
  Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and
  dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
  27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
  hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
  which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but
  inside are full of dead men's bones and all
  uncleanness. 28 "Even so you also outwardly
  appear righteous to men, but inside you are full
  of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

75
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Jesus declares four times, in these four verses,
  that those directly named (the religious leaders
  or clergy) are defiled WITHIN
• However, this was not truth without mercy for in
  Christ Jesus mercy and truth have met together
• Jesus was not venting an overflow of aggravation
  or angry like we regular humans get angry
• He was pointing to the one and only hope left to
  them and by so doing was extending mercy
• The mercy is found in the words, Cleanse first
  that which is WITHIN

76
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Again, four times with unerring aim, Jesus points
  to the ONE thing wrong they were unclean WITHIN
• Any one of them, then or now, who would be
  willing to ACKNOWLEDGE the truth of what He said,
  AND appeal to Him for deliverance, would find
  that the truth was with MERCY, for that was what
  He had come to do
• He was not just closing the matter but rather was
  opening the way out CLEANSE FIRST THAT WHICH IS
  WITHIN

77
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• It is true that the blood of Jesus Christ
  cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 17b)
• It is equally true that if we walk IN THE LIGHT,
  as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
  Him (1 John 17a)
• THEN, in that WALK, there is a continual
  purifying, cleansing of the heart from all sin,
  by the blood of Jesus
• This is how the heart may be cleansed (cleansed
  within) and kept free from defilement

78
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Luke 1137 And as He spoke, a certain
  Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went
  in and sat down to eat. 8 When the Pharisee saw
  it, he marveled that He had not first washed
  before dinner. 39 Then the Lord said to him,
  "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup
  and dish clean, but your inward part is full of
  greed and wickedness. 40 "Foolish ones! Did not
  He who made the outside make the inside also? 41
  "But rather give alms of such things as you have
  then indeed all things are clean to you. 42 "But
  woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue
  and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and
  the love of God. These you ought to have done,
  without leaving the others undone.

79
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• The Pharisee was faultfinding with the True Light
  because he did not conform to one of their
  ceremonials of exterior holiness
• This holiness in forms (e.g., ceremonials and
  symbols) is that which is outside and is the
  way the whole world worships
• The world ascribes holiness to the office of
  priests, symbols, vestments, writings, etc. -
  THINGS OUTSIDE
• However, there can never be any deliverance of
  mankind from the power of the devil (i.e.,
  deception) except as the heart is opened up and
  exposed
• Gods Kingdom must come WITHIN - Lord Jesus reign!

80
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Jesus stated, directly, in words, that their
  inward part - their heart - was full of lust,
  uncleanness and all wickedness
• They did not refute that directly but wanted to
  kill Jesus
• People do not like having their heart exposed
• But Jesus said that He who made the outside, made
  also that which is WITHIN
• Jesus sought to focus their attention on the
  heart, by the expressions inward part and that
  which is within
• Then He declared the MERCY

81
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Luke 1141 "But rather give alms of such
  things as you have then indeed all things are
  clean to you.
• The Greek phrase for such things as you have is
  ta enonta where ta means the things and
  enonta is a compound word meaning within
• NAU Luke 1141 "But give that which is within as
  charity, and then all things are clean for you.
• Jesus was talking about things outside and
  inside, without and within

82
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Jesus was talking about what they have and do
  WITHIN the heart, and what a terrible condition
  of defilement they were in
• This was true even though they were exceedingly
  religious - Jesus called them religious ACTORS
• A hypocrite is an actor - one who performs
  outwardly what they are not within
• However, Jesus shows them the key to overcoming
  this inward defilement

83
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Give alms from the heart (from within) and you
  are truly cleansed, and are not defiled by things
  outside of you
• Jesus has declared that as truly as the evil
  thoughts defile from within that from within can
  come forth cleansing
• This cleansing will clean the inside (the heart)
  and the outside (our relation to all things) of
  the man
• This giving must be of things that you have

84
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• There are three vital keys here
• Such as you have (you can not give what you do
  not have)
• What you have WITHIN
• We are to give that
• NKJ 1 Corinthians 47b And what do you have that
  you did not receive?
• NKJ 2 Corinthians 41b as we have received mercy,
  we do not lose heart.
• NKJ Titus 35 according to His mercy He saved us

85
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• What we have received freely from God we are to
  give freely
• NKJ Matthew 108b Freely you have received,
  freely give.
• Mercy is what we have all received and it is
  within us by the Spirit of Mercy (the Holy
  Spirit)!
• Jesus is saying that if we give mercy it will
  cleanse us on the inside and purify our view of
  things without

86
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• The evil heart pours out that which defiles the
  man
• The good heart pours out that which purifies the
  man
• Our hearts are purified by faith, we are cleansed
  by the blood of Jesus, we are made holy and
  righteous by His grace, and through Jesus Christ
  - we are made a new creature
• And it is all, literally all, MERCY!

87
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• What does the new heart do which purifies instead
  of defiles?
• It gives that which it has received - MERCY!
• How can we abide in a purified heart?
• By doing that which purifies!
• NAU Luke 1141 "But give that which is within as
  charity, and then all things are clean for you.
• However, you can not understand this teaching
  except by doing it

88
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• God earnestly desires you to be more than
  conquerors through Him that loved us
• However, you can not be this apart from a
  purified heart
• NKJ Matthew 58 Blessed are the pure in heart,
  For they shall see God.

89
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ John 738 "He who believes in Me, as the
  Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
  rivers of living water." 39a But this He spoke
  concerning the Spirit,
• NKJ 1 Corinthians 619 Or do you not know that
  your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
  in you, whom you have from God, and you are not
  your own?
• NKJ 1 John 227a But the anointing which you have
  received from Him abides in you,
• NKJ Proverbs 1821 Death and life are in the
  power of the tongue, And those who love it will
  eat its fruit.

90
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• NKJ Mark 721 "For from within, out of the heart
  of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
  fornications, murders, 22 "thefts, covetousness,
  wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye,
  blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 "All these
  evil things come from within and defile a man."
• Evil thoughts are from evil desires of
  anti-mercy
• Evil thoughts are the images of those evil
  desires
• Evil desires are made strong and able by the
  thoughts which make a place for them and a way
  for them
• What we think about grows in our heart to become
  intentions and then actions - for good or bad

91
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• We are to stop thinking anti-mercy thoughts and
  start thinking mercy thoughts
• NAU Philippians 48 Finally, brethren, whatever
  is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
  right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
  whatever is of good repute, if there is any
  excellence and if anything worthy of praise,
  dwell on these things.
• Thoughts of good are from desires of mercy
• Mercy is
• a passion to do the good that another needs
• the infinite supply of pure love for every need
• Again, this giving of mercy purifies the giver

92
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• For every case of the works of evil thoughts,
  mentioned by Jesus the purifying opposite is
  found in the thought and prayer of mercy
• Flood them with mercy fulfilling all their need
• The strength of this prayer is the BLOOD of Jesus
• Our very knowledge of what mercy is comes by the
  blood of Jesus
• The power of the blood of Jesus is Gods mercy
  overcoming evil!
• NKJ Revelation 1211 "And they overcame him
  Satan by the blood of the Lamb mercy and by
  the word of their testimony mercy, and they did
  not love their lives to the death all mercy.
  (Words in added by author)

93
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• The evil thoughts and temptations of adulteries
  and fornications can all be overcome by
  persistently praying the mercy prayer
• Again, it is the giving of what we have within -
  MERCY - that purifies and overcomes evil with
  good
• NKJ Romans 1221 Do not be overcome by evil, but
  overcome evil with good.
• That is Gods truth, Gods method, Gods plan
• Gods way to overcome evil is to overcome it WITH
  GOOD

94
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Adulteries and fornication's are covetous desires
  of evil
• Do the opposite good and it (i.e., mercy)
  overcomes them
• We can overcome evil with good because it is the
  Holy Spirit who does the doing through us
• NKJ Ezekiel 3627 "I will put My Spirit within
  you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
  will keep My judgments and do them.
• Just as the evil spirit does the evil through us
• NKJ Ephesians 22c the spirit Satan who now
  works in the sons of disobedience,

95
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• When the thoughts of adultery and fornication
  come we must learn to pray instead of think
• That is, we oppose the evil thoughts by turning
  to the Lord in prayer
• Turning to the Lord is turning AWAY from the evil
  desire
• Praying to Him is putting Him and His pleasure
  before our eyes in place of that which tempts us
  to evil
• Flood them with mercy fulfilling all their need
• That means, GIVE instead of GET
• Help, strengthen, BLESS, instead of defile

96
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• The opposite of looking on a woman or man to lust
  after her or him is to look on them with the
  desire and prayer for their best good
• Sometimes you may have to pray the Mercy prayer
  repeatedly for it to take hold in your heart
• But the turning to God, and the thinking of His
  GOoD thoughts, robs the evil spirit of its power
• The answer to the Mercy prayer destroys the evil
• KJV Isaiah 1027b and the yoke shall be destroyed
  because of the anointing mercy.
• The angels go forth and separate the evil from
  the good
• The Holy Spirit pours from us and defeats and
  casts down the unclean spirit and all its lusts

97
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• The whole Kingdom of God goes into action, and
  into motion to accomplish that mercy and to fill
  the need WHEN THE BELIEVER PRAYS
• True lowliness prays so, and triumphs, for the
  Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT of prayer
• NLT Zechariah 1210 "Then I will pour out a
  spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David
  and on all the people of Jerusalem.
• NKJ Romans 826 Likewise the Spirit also helps in
  our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should
  pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
  makes intercession for us with groanings which
  cannot be uttered.
• The lowliness is the Holy Spirit, and the mercy
  is the passion of the Holy Spirit to do good

98
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Murders are obliterated by the Mercy prayer upon
  the one you hate-and-want-dead
• We murder in the heart just as truly as
  committing adultery in the heart
• The opposite of looking on someone with
  destroying lust in the heart is to look on that
  one with desire and prayer, in the heart, for
  their best good (God knows just what that is)
• What we know is that they, like us, need MERCY
• We ask God to pour abundantly overflowing floods
  of mercy on the object-of-evil-thoughts-and-tempta
  tion and all things become clean to us
• It is the purified heart overcoming evil with good

99
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Thefts, covetousness, and wickedness are all
  workings of desire to take away what belongs to
  another in order to satisfy and please ourselves
• Lust is coveting desire
• If you pray the Mercy prayer then God is in all
  your thoughts and the evil is overcome and
  destroyed
• If you pray to give instead of steal, the theft
  is destroyed
• It is the same way with all covetousness and
  wickedness

100
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Lasciviousness is the maggot like pleasure of
  enjoying all kinds of unclean thoughts
• One of the most certain proofs that the world is
  DEAD in trespasses and sins is lasciviousness -
  an internal pleasure in uncleanness, especially
  in sexual things
• The Holy Spirit will purify and cleanse all
  things before you if you will persist in the
  Mercy Prayer
• Mercy is a passion just as truly as
  lasciviousness is a passion but mercy is a
  passion to do good to another
• It is Gods clean and holy passion of heavenly
  love, to GIVE instead of GET

101
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• An evil eye desires to see evil happen to another
  and often is the retaliating spirit at work
• It means to project evil from the heart
• What will pluck out the evil eye, as Jesus said?
• Changing it at the root by projecting good
• Praying the Mercy Prayer upon whom your eye is
  set will cause it to be swallowed up in the GOoD
  eye - MERCY
• Gods eye is not an evil eye for that is the
  devils eye, the destroyer and the thief
• NKJ John 1010 "The thief does not come except to
  steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come
  that they may have life, and that they may have
  it more abundantly.

102
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Gods eye is good
• NLT Jeremiah 2911 For I know the plans I have
  for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good
  and not for disaster, to give you a future and a
  hope.
• If you will pray Gods thoughts and His ways, by
  praying the Mercy Prayer, then Your eye will
  become good
• We ask God to project good - floods - and when we
  do so we are seeing in His light as He sees
• NKJ Psalm 369 For with You is the fountain of
  life In Your light we see light.

103
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Blasphemy, pride, and foolishness are all much
  the same thing
• All blasphemy is both proud and foolish
• All pride is both blasphemous - in character -
  and utterly foolish in truth
• Foolishness is the working of folly, and the love
  of it
• Foolishness is blasphemous in character, because
  it is exalting folly in place of giving thanks
• The opposite of foolishness is giving of thanks
  and praise to God
• NKJ Ephesians 54 neither filthiness, nor foolish
  talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not
  fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

104
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• Foolishness, foolish talking, and jesting are
  full of pride (i.e., the desire to show off)
• Foolishness is a love of the pleasure of folly
• Folly is wisdom dead
• In all cases the character of blasphemy, pride,
  and foolishness is the complete opposite of both
  lowliness and mercy
• Giving thanks is clean and wise and light from
  heaven
• Giving thanks is lowly
• Giving of thanks is the very spirit of lowliness
  and mercy

105
The Seventh Step (cont.)

• In all cases the character of blasphemy, pride,
  and foolishness is the complete opposite of both
  lowliness and mercy
• Giving of thanks is the very spirit of lowliness
  and mercy
• The prayer for FLOODS of Mercy from Heaven, is