November 4th, 2012 Keeping it Simple

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to

worse, deceiving and being deceived.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult

you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and

be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted

the prophets who were before you.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and

with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on

your gates.

22 But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

11 “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of

burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and

lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling

of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New

Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become

a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take

your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the

oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love

your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in

heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the

unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors

doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do

not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in

the heavenly realms.