Review of WeeK 11

VISION: We are Called to fulfill our part in the Heavenly Vision. We must be careful to not allow Practical Work to interfere.

SURRENDER: Just as natural love doesn’t love as God loves, so natural devotion doesn’t compare to abandonment. If we aren’t surrendered to God, we turn away from following Him.

SAVED TO: There is no part of self that doesn’t need deliverance? We must allow God to salvage us, to bring salvation to us completely. Saved TO His purposes.

YIELDING: A slave can’t tell his master that he insists on being free! Sin is a cruel master, and we will not get free by trying harder. Christ purchased our freedom. What part of our life has yet to experience his redemption?

DISMAY: Are we fearful of following Jesus? Is there some distance between us and Him? He’s on His way to fulfill the father’s purposes. Are we?

JUDGMENT: Hypocrisy gives the church a bad name. Saying we’re His when we are not. Being unaware of the darkness that has enslaved us leads to walking in unconscious unreality. Judgment awaits all.

PLEASE HIM: Is it our aim, in everything and in every way, to please the Father?

Mar 18 - HOLINESS

2 Cor.7:1 “...Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God...”

Context: Paul talking about not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (6:14) I will be their God and they will be My people (6:16) and come out from among them and be separate (6:17))

What does it mean to claim a promise of God? What gives us the right to claim a promise? On what do the promises depend?

God’s part: providing for His people. [none of these diseases, etc.]

Our part: being God’s people. [if My people who are called by My name]

O.C. talks about the promises of God having two sides, the human side, and the divine side

What does the human side look like? [I claim the promises. I stand on the promises. He will be my God and I will be blessed]

What does the divine side look like? [God has a claim on me. I will be his person. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s love works through me. I am the message]

Are we serious about belonging to God, or only serious about having His blessing?

Steps to holiness.

- cleansed from filthiness. [1 John 1:9 “...If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...”]

- transform natural life to spiritual life. [Rom. 12:2 “...And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect...”]

- attitude of Christ formed. [Phil. 2:5 “...Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,...”]

- spirit in agreement with the Holy Spirit. [Gal. 5:16 “...But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh...”]

Mar 19 - FAITH

Heb.11:8 “...By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going...”

Luke 14:26 “...If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple...”

Did Abraham know where he was going before He decided to follow God? Did he know what his inheritance was?

Why do you think God called him out? [What he wanted to accomplish in Abraham wasn’t going to be accomplished where he was. Being separated by God, for God, moves us from where we are]

What separation is demanded of Christians? [separated in attitude and action].

Is it hard for kids to understand that being like everybody else is a poor goal? Is it hard for Christians to grasp the same thing?

What is faith? Heb. 11:1 “...Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...”

Does a radical Muslim have faith? [suicide bombings, virgins]

What is Christian faith? [hoping for what Christ offered. conviction that it will come to pass even when it isn’t seen]

Do most people have faith? [only the really despairing have no faith]

Do most people have Christian faith? Do most Christians have Christian faith?

What is walking by Christian faith?

- knowing Christ.

- living as Christ lived.

- following Christ.

Is there a common development in the life of people who live by Christian faith? Is there something distinguishing in their life that identifies where they have spent time? Not riches, not fame, not popularity, not a life of ease - CHARACTER, Godly character.

Rom. 5:3-5 “...And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us...”

The more we walk with Christ, the more hope we should have.

O.C. says its not so much mounting up on wings, its more a matter of walking and not fainting.

Mar 20 - INTIMACY

Gen 18:17 “...The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,...”

Context: What is God talking about? Whether he should reveal His intent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. Did he?

Do you think its possible to know God’s intentions without having to ask? Did Abraham ask?

What’s the take-away from this verse?

- God interacts in the affairs of men.

- God lets people know before He does. [Amos 3:7 “...Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets...”]

Who do you let know what you’re about to do? [friends, family, coworkers - people with whom you have a relationship] [Now it’s facebook and all of twitterdom].

Does God keep in touch with us, or do we have to initiate communication? Why?

Are we friend, family, or coworker?

Do we have the kind of intimacy with God that Abraham had? The kind of covenant? God promises - and will bring to pass. There’s a better covenant, but where is the response?

Psalms 37:4 “...Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart...”

Is our level of intimacy with God determined by our level of delight?

How often do we intercede for the rebellious that God is about to judge? Does God desire mercy? Are we His friends? Do we want what He wants, or what we want? When the two are the same, we are His friends.

Mar 21 - IDENTIFIED

Gal.2:20 “...I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me...”

What do you think it means to “sign the death certificate of our sin”?

What does it mean to sign off on our rights to ourselves?

How does identification with Christ’s crucifixion differ from imitation or effort to follow Him?

- Have you ever tried to imitate Christ? Sounds good. How successful were you?

- Have you ever tried to follow Him? Where is He now?

- Is the focus on His accomplishments or on ours?

What happens when we are truly crucified with Christ? Gal.2:20

- the ruling disposition changes.

- what drives us is not what drove us before.

Is this all taken care of when a person accepts Jesus into their life?

- yes, the ransom has been paid.

- no, we don’t necessarily identify with the entire redemptive act.

Do we want Christ to live in us?

Does God have faith in us?

Does our eternity depend on our faith or His faith?

Mar 22 - BURNING

Luke 24:32 “...They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?..”

Context: Road to Emmaus, following the crucifixion - Jesus joined them but they did not recognize Him. When they sat with Him and broke bread they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight

Why do you think the disciples hearts burned? What is this burning? [A part of us comes alive in the presence of Jesus - spirit life]

How does this differ from emotion? [emotion is soul life, which can drive body life]

What simple test can be applied to emotion to determine it’s legitimacy? [take it to its logical conclusion - will God be pleased. If not - be done with it. ]

The test is difficult to run if a person has no intimacy with God.

We need the big picture, not the little picture, to make these assessments.

Mar 23 - CARNAL

1 Cor.3:3 ”...for you are still fleshly (sarkikos) . For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?..”

Context: Paul just finished talking about (2:5) faith shouldn’t be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God, and that (2:14) the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.

Have you ever used the phrase - well I’m only human? Paul did too - when you’re behaving like mere men - you’re carnal

What is carnal?

- pertaining to the flesh, sensual.

- being in the natural state - unregenerate.

A faulty definition of salvation has led to adding a third category

1. natural man - unregenerate, void of spirit, no spiritual understanding, unsaved.

2. spiritual man - born again, alive to the spirit, responsive to truth, saved.

3. carnal - saved but living like unsaved

Is a carnal Christian an oxymoron?

What produces carnality? [birth]

What produces awareness of carnality? [rebirth]

What battle begins after rebirth? [the flesh vs. Spirit skirmish]

Gal. 5:17 “...For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please...”

What are some indicators that the flesh is leading? [envy, strife, and divisions]

Gal. 5:19-21 “...Now the deeds of the flesh (sarx) are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God...”

What are some indicators that the Spirit is leading? [fruit of the Spirit]

Gal. 5:22-24 “...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires...”

How can we overcome carnality?

Gal. 5:16 “...But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh...”

Mar 24 - POSITION

John 3:30 “...He must increase, but I must decrease...”

Context: John the Baptist - recognizing his position in relationship to Christ.

John had a ministry. Was it effective? Why must it decrease? [He was a voice in the wilderness, crying out - preparing the way for Jesus. But Jesus came!]

Would there have been some problems if John insisted on increasing his ministry?

Is the natural direction for organizational ministry to increase or decrease? What is the major problem that accompanies these tendencies? [ministries take on a life of their own. God and God’s purposes can get lost in the shuffle!]

Is the natural direction for personal ministry to increase or decrease? Problem?

Why does O.C. say a person is out of God’s will if they become a necessity to someone else’s life?

Can compassion interfere with God’s will?

When is wrecking a part of saving?

How can we find the balance between bearing one another’s burdens and casting all our cares upon Him?

Is this another big picture, little picture question?

How do you measure your worth to God?

- What you do for him?

- How much people rely on you? Look up to you? Trust you?

If we’re not preparing the way for Jesus, we just may be trying to increase when we should be decreasing!

Review of Week 10

HOLD DEAR: What we hold dear affects our fruitfulness for the kingdom. Practical work is a competitor of abandonment to God. Common sense allows us to avoid what God requires.

FINISH: To finish the race, through all of life’s trials, is to enter into the joy of the Lord. In His presence is fulness of joy.

NEXT STEP: If we are His, we are His ministers ALWAYS. We must draw on him for our next step. There are no situations we will enter where we are not His representatives. Represent Him well.

CONQUER: In all things we are more than conquerors. The heavy surf is not something we fight. Its something on which we ride. God’s love can not be shaken.

SURRENDER: We don’t reform our old life, we live His life. Redemption was obtained at the cross, and when we are truly crucified with Christ, the life we live is Christ in us.

FOLLOW: We can’t set up camp on yesterday’s events. We must walk with Jesus, even when excitement turns to deep challenge. We can’t turn away.

MESSAGE: Do we try to carry a message, or are we the message? We’re ready to convince, rebuke, exhort, and teach when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Be the message.

Mar 11 - VISION

Acts 26:19 “...So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,...”

Context: Paul, defending himself before Agrippa

Paul’s vision - to spread the gospel and establish churches throughout the known world.

- He embraced the vision. What have we embraced?

- He touched the lives of others. What do we work into other’s lives?

- He bore all the hardships along the way. What are we willing to bear?

How do you get a heavenly vision? [from God, not man. Saul to Paul was a change.]

How do you lose a vision? [Spiritual leakage from not allowing the vision to permeate all practical issues]

How can we live in the light of God’s vision for us? Psalms 119:105 “...Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path...”

When does practical work put our soul’s welfare at peril? [when it causes us to miss the fulfillment of the vision]

How do we live in the light of eternity? [always be aware that the picture is bigger]

Mar 12 - SURRENDER

Mark 10:28 “...Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You..."

Context: This scripture comes following the interchange about how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples, who from my understanding were for the most part not wealthy, were astonished and said “Who than can be saved.” Jesus response: Mark 10:27 "...With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God..."

Do we see much abandonment for God these days?

Is surrender optional?

In the face of an overwhelmingly strong military force, what are the options? [death or surrender]

In the face of Almighty God, what are the options?

- surrender: death to self now, eternal life starts now.

- failure to surrender: self lives now, eternal torment (starts now?)

Is surrender negotiable?

Militarily, the ability to negotiate terms depends on the relative strength of the forces. Even if one party is weaker, if they are crafty enough, they might negotiate favorable terms.

God has all the power, and thus all the terms. Can anyone outfox God?

What do you gain by surrendering to God?

- Deliverance from sin.

- Holy Spirit guidance.

- Purpose and value.

- Kingdom life.

Why is surrender for personal gain a problem?

- It’s eros - self centered, with a hook.

- It’s not fealty - not the loyalty and devotion that God deserves.

1 Tim. 6:3-6 “...If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment...”

Is a different gospel being preached in 2012 - a means of gain.

True surrender (abandonment) is way beyond natural, selfish devotion.

Mar 13 - SAVED TO

John 3:16 "...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life...”

What does it mean to salvage something? [find a use for something that others would discard]

What do you think salvation is?

Is it being salvaged from a worse fate?

Is there part of your self that doesn’t need deliverance?

Is there part that hasn’t been delivered?

Do you want salvation to touch all that your are?

From what do you need to be saved?

- a beastly, anti Christian world.

- a fallen, perverted nature.

To what do you need to be saved?

- intimate relationship with God.

- loyalty and devotion to the King and the kingdom.

FROM without the TO leaves a person in the middle of a major tug-of-war.

Without the TO, a person lives in the wilderness. They question their decision to walk away from what the world offers. They start longing for the old life.

Was the act of God giving his only Son an act of abandonment? Did He love us enough to take “full surrender” action?

Do we love God enough to take “full surrender” action TO loyalty and devotion?

Mar 14 - YIELDING

Rom 6:16 “...Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?...”

Context: Paul talking about dying with Christ, dead indeed to sin, therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body.

Have you ever felt dominated by sin?

Consider the major area of struggle in your life that repeatedly makes you feel defeated?

Is sin your master?

Can you trace it back to a time of yielding to something that wasn’t from God?

Can one incident progress to enslaving tyranny?

Is it easier to get into debt or out of debt? Into sin or out of sin?

Can you will yourself out of tyranny?

Can a slave tell his master he insists on being free? No, he needs his freedom purchased by another - Christ purchased ours. We can’t fight our way to freedom - we yield to the finished work of Christ! CHOOSE! Abandon

God’s part: Prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 “...The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;..”

Our part:

Step 1 - Admit responsibility for being dominated by sin, as opposed to blaming sin for beating up on you.

Step 2 - Choose the right master. God, not self (sin).

Fact or Truth

Fact - you struggle in this world.

Truth - Rom. 6:14 “...For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace...”

We need to get serious about releasing our darkness to His light.

Mar 15 - DISMAY

Mark 10:32 “...They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,...”

Context: Same part of scripture we talked about where the disciples had surrendered everything to follow Jesus.

Have the challenges of following Jesus become bigger than you expected them to be?

Is it true that Jesus goes places we wouldn’t have gone? “...they were amazed...”

Is it true that following Him to these places takes courage? “...those who followed were fearful...”

Have you ever been “not quite sure” about where He was leading you?

Is Jesus is determined to lead you?

Is there some distance between you and Him?

In what way is Jesus “far ahead of us”? [He always operates in the ‘big picture’ - they were on their way to Jerusalem where God's redemptive work would be finished]

What is the darkness of dismay? [recognition of how short we fall, how little we know, how far behind we are]

What is the appropriate response to this dismay?

Mar 16 - JUDGMENT

2 Cor.5:10 “...For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad...”

Context: Paul says in the verses immediately preceding this that “...we walk by faith, not by sight...”, “...we are of good courage...”, and “...our ambition ...to be pleasing to Him...”

How does sin exact it’s own punishment on a person?

- it traps a person in less than God’s intentions.

- it becomes a person’s new normal.

Which sin escapes the judgment of God? [none]

How can the emphasis on ‘God is Love’ pervert our understanding of sin?

- we fail to understand the severity of the ‘Wrath of God’.

- we trivialize what Christ endured at Calvary.

- we lose the urgency of proclaiming the good news.

What is hypocrisy? [saying you believe something but living something else]

What did O.C. say is worse than hypocrisy? [unconscious unreality - being unaware of the darkness that has enslaved us]

Will we be surprised at the judgment seat?

What is the value of living with an awareness of the judgment seat of Christ?

How can we avoid unconscious unreality? [light chases darkness away]

Are we walking in the light?

Mar 17 - PLEASE HIM

2 Cor.5:9 “...Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him...”

What is the driving force in your life that all the rest of life is subjugated to?

What are some common goals that drive people’s lives?

- to become wealthy, famous, popular.

- to win souls, to establish churches, to have revivals.

Are these things wrong? How can they be a problem? If our goals wander from pleasing God - that’s the mark we will hit.

Do we need the approval of our audience?

If we get their approval does it mean we’ve hit the mark?

If we don’t get their approval does it mean we’ve missed the mark?

1 degree off, over a long distance, is a huge miss. Take aim people of God.

Review of Week 9

MISGIVINGS: Like the Samaritan woman at the well, we don’t know what we really need, and we don’t have a clue how Jesus can provide it.

LIMITING: Jesus comes to the well, the place where we transact our everyday business - the place where we carry on the drudgery of life - the common place ...and he offers us something we truly need.

ABIDE: We leave Jesus alone when we don’t follow where he is walking - when we follow from a distance - when we fail to embrace him completely.

RESIGNED: When Jesus asks “what do you want me to do for you?”, what will you answer him? Do you believe He can do the impossible?

PAIN: The truth hurts. It is usually negative in its first appearance.

UNCOVERED: Allow it to hurt you to the uncovered quick and you’ll find the life of God working in you.

TEND: Given any two people, if one is easier for you to love than the other, the love you’re loving with isn’t God’s agape. You don’t have to learn to love, you have to learn how to let God reside in you.

Mar 4 - HOLD DEAR

Acts 20:24 “...But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God...”

Context: Paul reflecting on the chains and tribulations that await him as he proclaims the gospel

What is common sense? Does this change as culture changes?

What is Christian emotion. What is the difference between having our senses stimulated and having our spirit touched?

What is the call of God?

Is it possible to serve God without a vision or a call? Is it easy? Is it fruitful?

Without a vision or call, what guides us? [common sense - we aren’t bothered by what God expects or requires]

What do we count dear? What grips us?

How can “ordinary and reasonable service” actually “compete against our total surrender? [we make our own judgments as to how we can be of the most use]

When is “being useful” a problem? [when it deviates from “being used by God”]

1 Cor. 7:21-24 “...Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called...”

We should consider that we are not our own

Mar 5 - FINISH

Acts 20:24 “...But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God...”

What is the difference between pleasure and joy?

Pleasure is normally a short term, little picture, experience.

Steve Green’s song: “Guard your heart ...don’t trade it for treasure ...as payment for PLEASURE it’s a high price to pay.

Joy is an overall satisfaction, a big picture experience.

James 1:2 “...Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,...”

Matt.25:21 “...His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master...”

Psalms 16:11 “...You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever...” [lasting, vs. fleeting pleasure]

What we classify as trials should be counted as joy. Being faithful and good leads to entering the joy of the Lord. Fullness of joy is found in His presence.

Who will hear the words “well done”? [the good and faithful slave (servant)]

How does “the need” differ from “the call”?

The need is always around us, and is far more than we can meet.

The call directs us to live in a way that will meet certain need, but not all.

Is it difficult to ignore demands for service? [for doers, yes]

Is it difficult to meet needs continually? [for dreamers, yes]

Loyalty to finish the race, faithfulness with a few things, allows us to enter into the joy of the Lord. In His presence is fullness of joy.

Mar 6 - NEXT STEP

2 Cor. 6:4,5 “...but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,...”

Context: Paul, talking to the Corinthians about being ministers of God.

When are you a minister of God? When you teach a SS class? When you visit someone in the hospital? When you fix a meal for a funeral dinner? When you lead a small group? [ALWAYS!!]

What situation will you face this week where you aren’t a minister of God? [NONE. If you are born into the kingdom, you are His representative, ALWAYS! At church, at home, in the grocery store, when someone mistreats you, etc. ]

Why does O.C. say it takes more drawing on God to take the next step than to preach the Gospel? [You can preach from rote, from a filing cabinet, from a CD-ROM, but the next step is to take you beyond where you are. And in reality, good preaching requires just as much drawing on God]

Life is easy when we have:

- vision from God.

- enthusiasm for life.

- encouragement

What happens when these are absent?

- drudgery.

- depression.

- despair.

Which of these things can we control?

- we can read our Bibles, pray, and look for God, but vision is under His control.

- we can participate in things that pump us up (acquire the fire, etc.), but Webster’s definition of enthusiasm is “to infuse a divine spirit from God”. So true enthusiasm (non-hype) is also under His control.

- we can sometimes choose our companions, but can we control their input into our lives?

Will we take the right step when life is hard?

To “live an undefiled life” we must have more than the spurring, stirring, and provoking of people around us. We even need more than fixing our eyes on Jesus. We need God on the inside?

Will me take the next step with God in mind?

Mar 7 - CONQUER

Rom. 8:37-39 “...But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord...”

How do tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, etc. affect us?

- disrupt

- distract

- discourage

How do these things affect God? [the Kingdom is not shaken]

What is the underlying foundation of the Christian faith [agape - if God is for us, who can be against us?]

Is God for you?

What drives our lives? Is it God’s love?

- If so, we aren’t shaken - we are more than conquerors - we are part of God’s eternal plans

- If not, we are less than conquerors - we are conquered

Was Jesus driven by God’s love? Was He more than a conqueror? Did He live to a ripe old age? How can He then be called a conqueror?

God’s ways vs. Our ways

God’s sight vs. Our sight

God’s plans vs. Our plans

Its only through Him who loved us - through His sight, His plans, His ways, that we are conquerors.

Can we, like a surfer in a raging sea, face our challenges with enthusiasm, not fear? Can we conquer? Can we overcome?

Mar 8 - SURRENDER

Gal 2:20 “...I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me...”

Context: Paul explaining how to live - specifically to not get bogged down in self effort.

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?

- not physically hanging on the cross.

- identify with the truth that our sin put Him there.

- the death in us of the things for which He died.

What does it mean to become one with Christ?

- give up sin.

- give up improper world view.

- surrender all.

Is surrender positive or negative? [usually considered defeat]

What must be surrendered?

- our rights to ourselves.

- our ownership of possessions and desires.

- our very lives.

How do pretense and deceit interfere with surrender?

What follows surrender? [either assimilation or rebellion]

O.C. says to be united with Christ is to relinquish our whole way of looking at things. What is he saying? We must let go before we can lay hold. Again think of what we’re holding - we can’t grab on if we have our hands full of something else - opportunity comes - what will we do?

Mar 9 - FOLLOW

John 6:67 “...As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?..."

Context: The point in Jesus ministry when excitement turned to challenge. Only a few are willing to continue walking with Him at this point.

6:63 "...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life...”

6:64 "...But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him...”

6:65 “...And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father..."

6:66 “...As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore...”

Is our adventurous attitude toward Him, toward another, or non existent?

Notice the 666 (John 6:66)? The mark of the beast is to follow another.

Who are we following?

What does it mean to set up camp on yesterday’s events?

What is the difference between working for Jesus and walking with Jesus?

Which is easier?

How can we become fellow laborers with Christ? [don’t walk away when it gets challenging]

Mar 10 - MESSAGE

2 Tim.4:2 “...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction...”

Context: Instructions to Timothy after reminding him that God and the Lord Jesus will judge the living and the dead. The kingdom is coming but people want to hear what people want to hear.

What’s the difference between a spiritual agent and spiritual messenger? [we’re not to be hired hands, but to be the message]

Do you have a message to share? Are you the message? What’s the difference?

When is an Ambassador a traitor? [when he embraces the world to which he’s sent rather than representing the world from which he was sent]

What are the steps to becoming a faithful and effective spiritual messenger?

- Repentance [conviction of sin leading to turning from sin].

- Symbolic Death [baptism by water - representing death to old ways and rising to new life]

- Real Death [baptism by the Spirit - violent death of our own selfish ambitions and desires so we might embrace His purposes]

How good were the disciples at convincing, rebuking, exhorting, teaching before Pentecost?

What was the problem? They weren’t spiritual messengers.

What happened at Pentecost?

- not a teaching event that changed their intellect so they could better debate.

- an empowering event, filled with the Holy Spirit, becoming true witnesses.

- being the message is different than discussing the message.