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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

ACTION PLAN: In a journal, take a spiritual inventory of where you fall on the spectrum of head to heart, Bible to Spirit. Recognize that it is okay to be where you are, but that it is also important to hold both the Sword and the Spirit equally. Write out why you lean toward Bible-knowledge or expressions of the Spirit, why you may have trouble with the other side, and one small way you can practice walking on the other side.

We will be a church that is COMMITTED to the Word of God.

POSTURE matters.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

"Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Matthew 7:14 (NIV)
PRACTICE matters.

"You will have the Holy Spirit's anointing to the degree that you honor what the Holy Spirit wrote."                                                                                         RT Kendall

ACTION PLAN: Pastor Stacie expands on this topic a lot more in a conversation with our Spiritual Growth team. This week, go deeper in your understanding of how to get in the Word of God by listening to this Doable Discipleship episode.

We will be a church DEPENDENT on the Spirit of God.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.                                            Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.   1 Samuel 16:13b (NIV)

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."                                                                                                                  Acts 1:8 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.     Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

ACTION PLAN: Go to a quiet space in your home and commit 15-30 minutes of your day in prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill every area of your life. Begin by recognizing your need for the Holy Spirit's power in different places of your life, then ask for the Spirit to move in each area. With whatever time you have leftover, worship in whatever way you are most comfortable, whether that is singing, journaling, drawing, or something else.

Challenge: Prioritize time to PURSUE GOD everyday.

'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.'"                                                                                                Acts 2:17 (NIV)

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:1-5a (NIV)

ACTION PLAN: In your schedule, write out what times each day you will pursue God intentionally. It does not matter what time it is or how much there is, just schedule something! Do your best to stick to whatever time you write out, but remember to have grace with yourself and try again tomorrow if you miss a day.