THE POWER OF RE-IMAGING

I.                   OUR MAKE UP

1.     Image and Likeness

Genesis 1:26

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness

We have godlike tendencies…

2.     We are Sovereign over our reality

Romans 6:16

¹⁶ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves, slaves, to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?

3.     Most of who we are is unconscious programming

Proverb 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

4.     Change requires re-imaging

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ 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.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

II.                THE PATH TO RE-IMAGING

1.     Get the picture right

Genesis 15:4-5

⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” ⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

2.     Keep the Picture Right  (Especially during reproduction times)

Psalm 1:1-4

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ²     But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. ⁴ The ungodly are not so…

Joshua 1:8

⁸ 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.

                  Genesis 30:37-43

            ³⁷ Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. ³⁸ And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. ³⁹ So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. ⁴⁰ Then Jacob separated the lambs and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban, but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. ⁴¹ And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters that they might conceive among the rods. ⁴² But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. ⁴³ Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

3.     Keep the Picture right long enough for new programming to take root.

Matthew 14:28-32

²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Answer Key: Sovereign; re-imaging;

FROM DISAPPOINTMENT TO APPOINTMENT (Part IV)

Casting off SP!

1 Kings 19:1-21

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. ² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” ³ And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. ⁴ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” ⁵ Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” ⁶ Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. ⁷ And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” ⁸ So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

⁹ And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” ¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazel as king over Syria. ¹⁶ Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazel, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ¹⁸ Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” ¹⁹ So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. ²⁰ And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” ²¹ So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

James 5:17

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…

I.                   FACTS ABOUT SELF PITY

1.     You can be anointed and find yourself in a place of Self Pity

2.     You can be a Prophet and find yourself in a place of self-pity

3.     You can have a great victory in God one day and be in self-pity the next day

4.     When you are in self-pity you seldom know that’s what it is

II.                THE SIGNS OF SELF PITY

1.     We Focus on the Wrong Things

1 Kings 19:2-3

² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” ³ And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba

2.     We Isolate ourselves

1 Kings 19:3; 9

……….And went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

⁹ And there he went into a cave and spent the night in that place

3.     We Devalue our Worth.

1 Kings 19:4

………For I am not better than my fathers.

Self Pity often arises through comparison

We criticize ourselves as we begin to compare…

4.     We Abdicate our Dreams.

1 Kings 19:4

 …….It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life;

You lose your vision when self-pity hits. You forfeit your future.  You forget your goals.  You basically want to give up.  You spend so much energy pitying yourself you’re so emotionally, physically, spiritually drained you just want to give up.  If not careful you will stop caring

5.     We Overrate our Work.

1 Kings 19:10

I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts:

6.     We Exaggerate our Problems

1 King 19:10

           “… I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it

away.”

7.     We Fail to see the Small Things

1 Kings 19:11-12

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

II. THE CURE FOR SELF PITY

1.     Examine Whether Your Response in Physiological

1 Kings 19:6

………And he did eat and drink and laid him down again.

Vince Lombardi, the famous coach of the Packers once said, "Fatigue makes cowards of all of us."

2.     Release your frustrations.

1 Kings 19:9-10

⁹ And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place, and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”

Psalm 55:22

 22 Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

3.     Refocus on all the things God has done.

1 Kings 19:11-13

¹¹ And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: ¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. ¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, what does thou here, Elijah?

4.     Get your mind off of yourself and onto others.

Stop thinking about yourself -- introspection -- all the time. Start thinking about others who are less fortunate than you. 

1 Kings 19:15 – 16

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazel as king over Syria. ¹⁶ Also, you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. ¹⁷ It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazel, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. ¹⁸ Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.

The quickest way to defeat self-pity is to get your eyes off yourself and start focusing on helping others.

Answer Key:   Anointed, Great Victory, Devalue, Release

FROM DISAPPOINTMENTS TO APPOINTMENTS (Part 3)

The Christmas Story

I.                   CHRISTMAS STORY DISAPPOINTMENTS

1.     I’m Pregnant

Matthew 1:18-19

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother, Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

2.     Don’t Touch Me

Matthew 1:24-25

²⁴ Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, ²⁵ and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

3.     A Burden

Luke 2:1-3

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quinines was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, every one to his own city.

4.     I Can’t Talk
Luke 1:18-20

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. ²⁰ But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.

5.     The Manger

Luke 2:7

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

6.     Satanic Strategy

Matthew 2:1-12; 16-18

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” ⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more.”

II.                CHRISTMAS STORY APPOINTMENTS

1.     Elizabeth Pregnant

Luke 1:5-7

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. ⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

2.     Joseph’s Dream

Matthew 1:20-21

²⁰ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

3.     Shepherds Visit Jesus

Luke 1:18-22

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. ²⁰ But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” ²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. ²² But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

4.     Wise men bring wealth

Matthew 2:11

¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

5.     Simeon gets to see Jesus before He died

Luke 2:25-35

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ²⁹ “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; ³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹ Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” ³³ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

6.     Salvation to the World Through the Birth of our Savior

Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Sufficiency and Security - The Cry and Longing of Every Heart.

1.     Description of this condition from Isaiah, Jesus, and Bernard of Clairvaux

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts, Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to Thee again.        We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still; We drink of Thee, the Fountain-head, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill! Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, Wherever our changeful lot is cast; Glad when Thy gracious smile we see, Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast. (Bernard of Clairvaux)

2.     Self-Diagnosis – Some Conditions and Questions to ask yourself.

Conditions

     i.      The feeling of being inadequate for a physical, emotional or spiritual challenge.

  ii.      Wanting more money, titles, education, fame, and other physical wants and needs.

iii.      Wanting to feel more spiritually satisfied and/or wanting more spiritual power.

iv.      Feeling insecure and wanting assured security.

  v.      Fear of the unknown and fear of the future. Worried and apprehensive of coming events and situations.

vi.      Confused and perplex on what is happening to you and/or what is happening in the world.

vii.      Feeling helpless and disillusioned.

viii.      Settled for whatever.  “Que sera sera”.

Questions

  i.      Are you seeking or have sought help for these and other mental, emotional and physically troubling problems and not quite finding it? 

ii.      And if you are a Christian or profess to be one, have you sought help by going up for prayers often?  Have you tried all or most of the “Christian” activities and yet these things seem to be recurring or you have not quite found the victory you want?

3.     The Solution – Falling and Staying in Love.   

 I.            It’s not an emphasis on ________________. Instead, it’s a __________ and _________________ commitment to a ____________ that will produce the necessary and required activities and results.

John 6:22-67 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God, the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”   . . . The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” At this point, many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

II.            _____________ and ______________ is falling and staying in love with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:5&6 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 4:10-13 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

III.            ______ is able to _____ and ______ all of your physical and spiritual needs.

  i.      He may have to use a donkey as in the case of Balaam (Num 22:21-34).

ii.      He may tell you the opposite of what you want to hear as in the case of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14)

iii.      He may take you through a process instead of speaking a word to bring forth the miracle, as in the case of the man born blind. (John 9:6&7) But His power will still be at work.

iv.      He may have to speak to an inanimate object like he did to the howling winds and boisterous waves in the sea of Galilee when the disciples were terrified of the raging storm (Matthew 8:23-27)

v.      He may keep silent and seem to be acting in the reverse of what you need, even when you are praying and begging Him as he did with the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22-28) because He wants to teach you the vital truth of perseverance for future battles. But He will always come through as He did for her.

vi.      He may tell you to take the prescribed, required and obvious actions as he did with the ten lepers (Luke 7:12-14). His power will still be at work because He is the Lord over everything.

vii.      He may call you out so you can repent and turn to Him for deliverance as he did with Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:21-25).  Please do not be set in your ways, do not resist Him and then go out into the dark.

4.     Results – The security and sufficiency you need in every situation.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)

The Christian life should be a ___________________ and _______________ life.

2 Timothy 4:6-8   For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

How many _______________ and ______________do you know that are named after Paul?  Why is that so?