Review of Week 16:

 

BLAMELESS: Are we meticulous about keeping our spiritual house clean? Are there things in our lives that we think don’t matter much, but God has a different view?

BELIEF: To bring the commonplace life up to the standard revealed in the “high hour”, we must pay careful attention while in the light and then rely on what we knew to be true.

BEELINE: Peter plunged when He saw Jesus. We can’t afford to do anything less. We can’t be so calculating

BE READY: We must allow the Lord to get our attention, we must turn aside, we must respond, in both the big and little things.

BE LOYAL: Passing the big test insures nothing. We must remain alert and loyal. We must receive wisdom from God, always.

BE ACTIVE: God knows our capabilities. Our spiritual capacity is not dependent on our natural ability, it is dependent on God in Christ Jesus.

BE SIMPLE: God wants to manifest Himself in us. We err by looking for Him to manifest Himself to us. Choose life, not lifestyle.

Apr 22 - UNVEILED

2 Cor.3:18 ”...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 from the Lord, the Spirit...”

Context: The skin of Moses face was shining after talking to God (Ex.34:29). He put a veil over his face so they wouldn’t see it fading (2 Cor.3:13). It still exists for those under the Old Covenant (2 Cor.3:14,15), but turning to the Lord removes it (2 Cor.3:16).

Is veil removal a good or bad thing? What should it accomplish?

Have you ever been disappointed by a fellow believer faltering? A fellow believer falling flat on their face?

Can we rely on others? [yes and no]

Will others disappoint us? [death, choices, etc.]

What does the Lord teach us through these times? Where must our faith rest?

Who must validate or invalidate our life? [God alone]

We are required to stay true - whether all alone, or with a great cloud of witnesses.

Can we stand before Him? Do we stand before Him? Will we stand before Him?

What happens when we stand before Him? [transformed into the same image].

Apr 23 - WORSHIP AND WORK

1 Cor. 3:9 “...For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building...”

Context: Paul explaining the foolishness of elevating one of God’s servants over another.

Think of someone you respect highly, someone you trust, someone you love, someone you’d rather be with than anyone else on earth.

Is it difficult to work with them?

Can even unpleasant jobs be enjoyable when working alongside them?

Think of someone you don’t respect, don’t trust, and don’t easily love.

Is it difficult to work with them?

Can even normally pleasant jobs be difficult when working alongside them?

Do you always get to choose your co-laborers?

Our worship is to be for God alone. Our eyes must fix on Him.

Our call is to do good works. Eph. 2:10 “...For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them...”

How can focusing on co-workers lead to trouble?

- loss of proper relationship with the Father.

- loss of freedom and delight.

- burnout and depression.

How can worshiping the work lead to trouble?

- loss of proper relationship with the Father.

- loss of freedom and delight.

- burnout and depression.

How does proper worship increase our capacity for good works?

- we’re not in charge.

- we’re not responsible for running the world.

- we’re free to be co-workers with the One who has all the resources and understanding.

What is our supreme goal?

Col. 1:10 “...will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;...”

Apr 24 - SUCCESS

Luke 10:19,20 "...Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven..."

Dangers in life:

1. Sin - all are born here (to be enslaved by sin).

2. Success in the World - all are pressured to conform to the prevailing culture (to be accepted by the world).

3. Success in Religion - those pressured to turn form the world at large to the prevailing religious culture (to be accepted by religion).

How can spiritual success be a perversion of God’s intentions?

- pride in what we know.

- pride in what we’ve done, or are doing.

- both cause an improper elevation of self worth relative to others, which decreases our capacity to function properly.

James 4:6 “...God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble..." If God opposes you, will you be successful?

O.C. says “One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit”.

The world is not as it should be. It’s full of snares, of entrapments. When the Lord delivered Israel from bondage and into the promised land - he warned them that the gods of the people would surely be a snare. Prov.18:7 says a fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself. Prov 22:25 befriending one with an angry disposition entangles you in a snare. Prov 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare. Luke 21:34 carousing, drunkenness, cares of this life will trap you. 1 Tim.3:7 without a good testimony to those outside the church - one falls into “the snare of the devil”

O.C. points out that the really devious snare is “taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in”, “making eyes at spiritual success”, rejoicing in the one thing Jesus told us not to rejoice in - spiritual success.

Dictators say “you must”. Jesus says “If you”. What is the difference?

What is the natural response to a dictator? [desire to flee]

Do people see dictator or Jesus when they see us?

Apr 25 - EMPLOYABLE

2 Tim.4:2-5 “...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry...”

Is the unemployment rate in America only a function of available jobs? [employers say that the decreasing abilities and poor attitudes of applicants has created an increasing number of unemployable people]

Why is the harvest plentiful but the laborers few? Luke 10:2 “...And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest...”

Too many spiritually unemployed? Unemployable?

When is it easy to work in the fields? When is it difficult? When is it appropriate?

What is your understanding of “in season” and “out of season”?

Do good farmers and good athletes cease to work in the “off season”?

Do we only labor for the kingdom during times of great inspiration?

What motivates us to do what we do? [what we feel like doing? what we think everybody expects us to do?]

People who don’t know how to focus on anything but their own needs don’t make good employees. Are we good workers even when we think the boss isn’t watching?

Apr 26 - CONVICTIONS

Gen.22:2 “...He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you..."

What dilemma did God create for Abraham?

- cling to the promise or cling to God.

- follow principles or follow God.

Do we understand the ways of God? Do we adhere to any misconceptions?

Do we have convictions that need adjusting?

Do we have convictions that are “right on” that will keep us from obeying God?

How can convictions replace the Living God in a person’s life?

Can God call us to something inconsistent with our current belief system? [there’s difference between being devoted to God and being devoted to our convictions]

Is hearing a clear word from God sufficient to direct a person’s life? [we can’t hold to a past word so tightly that we fail to hear God speaking today]

Abraham embraced God’s initial promise. Abraham embraced God’s command to sacrifice the promise. Abraham embraced God’s substitutionary ram.

What does God want from us? Genesis 22:12 “...He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me..."

Apr 27 - SEEK HIM

Jer.45:5 “...But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,' declares the Lord,... "

Why does God “tear down” what He has built and “uproot” what He has planted? [God is not pleased when He doesn’t get the results He desires]

What does God desire from His people? [relationship, obedience, love, worship, good works, etc.]

Is it difficult to get into a right relationship with God?

Do we want a life with God, or do we just want a blessed life?

Do we seek Him or do we seek what He can give us?

What does it mean to become a Christian “on your own terms”?

Are we looking for what the “dream job” will give us, or for what we can give to the “dream boss”?

O.C. says it gets difficult when it isn’t God we want, but what He gives. Then it becomes a confusing struggle. Likewise it becomes a struggle when we think we have to perform for Him.

When we truly draw near to God, we cease asking. Listening becomes far more beneficial. Are we as good at listening as we are at asking?

Apr 28 - RECEIVE LIFE

Jer.45:5 “...But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,' declares the Lord, 'but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.' ..."

What do you consider to be important?

What do you think you can’t live without?

Colossians 3:1-4 “...Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory...”

When adversity comes - what do you want to have on the other side?

God promises to give you your life! Is that enough for you?

There was a phrase that was popular when my kids were growing up - “I don’t have a life”.

They didn’t, of course, realize what they were saying. They wanted certain things, certain activities, certain blessings. They hadn’t yet found God’s truth - they had their life, and it was a prize from God.

True life with God is a surprise and a delight.

O.C. says if you don’t have it you’re either disobedient or refusing to be simple enough.

Review of Week 15

DESTINY: Jesus was not derailed from fulfilling what He was sent to do. The Holy Spirit won’t be either. If we’re sad or dismayed because things aren’t working out as we expected, we must allow the reality of God penetrate our preferences. The truth will set us free.

BEYOND SIGHT: Seeing is a flesh sense. Receiving is an internal yielding at the spirit level. We live beyond sight.

DEATH: We can’t curb, suppress, or counteract sin. We must be crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with

RESURRECTION: A well-adjusted person is one who is resurrected with Jesus. Trying to be like Jesus is futile, because our concepts of Him are faulty. The Holy Spirit is reliable.

ETERNAL LIFE: This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Eternal life is His life NOW.

BURDENS: Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. Be rid of illegitimate burdens.

YOKED: Being yoked to Jesus brings rest to our souls. He knows where to go, what to carry, and how to carry it.

Apr 15 - BLAMELESS

2 Chron.15:17 ”...But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa's heart was blameless all his days...”

Context: The spirit of God had come upon the prophet Azariah, who then explained the things of God to Asa. Asa then set out to make reforms in the land. He removed idols, reinstated sacrifices, and rallied the people to seek the Lord God. 15:17 says he failed to remove the high places, nevertheless his heart was loyal all his days.

What are High Places, and why have they always been a problem for God’s people?

How could Asa’s heart be blameless if he failed to remove the high places? Is it the high places, or what’s done on them that’s the problem?

Would it have been better to remove them? Would removing them have prevented any further problem? [they always seem to be rebuilt]

Is it possible that trivial matters to us are extremely important to God?

Can you take a day off morally and remain moral?

Can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual?

What’s the difference between a meticulous housekeeper and an average housekeeper?

Are we meticulous about our spiritual house? Should we be?

Are there things in our lives that we think don’t matter much, but God has a different view?

Apr 16 - BELIEF

John 12:36 “...While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them...”

Context: Following the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus explained His upcoming death. He then hid Himself from them. Why? John 12:37 “...But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him...”

Is our ability to see Jesus affected by our belief?

What is a mountain top experience? [above issues, feeling fine (triumphal entry)]

What is a valley experience? [down in the thick of realities, less perspective]

Which do we prefer? Do we get to choose?

What should we do and what should we remember when on a mountain top?

- get our bearings and perspective (don’t just be thrilled).

- we must move on, and it will mean functioning in less than the current state.

What should we do and what should we remember when in a valley?

- keep the perspective of the mountain and navigate carefully.

- know that this is not permanent, not all there is.

How can we, as O.C. says, “bring the commonplace life up to the standard revealed in the high hour,” or “live in the gray day according to what we saw on the mount?” [Pay careful attention while in the light. Rely on what we know to be true when circumstances are giving us the opposite information]

Examples:

- Room full of furniture - navigate during a power outage.

- Marriage - navigate during a feelings outage.

Isaiah 40:4-5 “...Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken..."

Apr 17 - BEELINE

John 21:7 ”...Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea...”

Context: Post resurrection. Out fishing. Lord Jesus on shore. Peter put on his garment and dove in.

Why would he put on his garment before diving into the water?

Opportunity presented, Peter plunged.

Should we be making a beeline for the Master?

Should we first get our house in order? Should we first bury our dead?

Can emotion lead a person to Jesus?

- emotions are powerful enough to make you jump.

- preachers appeal to emotions regularly to bring people to an altar.

Can emotions sustain a relationship with Jesus?

- emotions change when a person realizes the reality of the deep, cold water, and the great distance to shore.

- it takes more than emotion to go the distance.

- it takes more than will power to go the distance.

It takes faith (absolute assurance without sight) to finish the race.

Apr 18 - BE READY

Ex.3:4 “...When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am..."

What happened here?

1. God caught Moses’ attention - he turned aside to look. Moses could have been so intent on other things that he didn’t turn aside.

2. After getting his attention - God spoke to him. It wasn’t just a neat little occurrence of nature. The living God speaks to man.

3. Moses responded. He didn’t think himself crazy. He didn’t turn back to the familiar. He was ready to meet God

Moses was 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years in leading Israel.

Was he more ready to turn aside in Egypt or the wilderness of Midian?

How does God get our attention? Will we turn aside from what we’re doing to see what God’s calling is all about?

Are we ready for both big things and small things? Which do we prefer?

Will we say “Here I am” when God’s call us?

Apr 19 - BE LOYAL

1 Kings 2:28 “...Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar...”

Absalom was David’s son. He conspired to overthrow his father, and did indeed chase him out of Jerusalem. Joab was the commander of David’s army, and he remained true to David, he slew Absalom whose hair had him hanging from a terebinth tree.

Adonijah, another son of David, and probably the oldest surviving son, presumed to be king when David was old, and his circulation was bad. Joab joined him, but Solomon, the son of Bethsheba, the wife David stole from Uriah the Hittite, was anointed king -- so Joab lost his life

Does passing the big test insure that we will continue to choose wisely?

There is an undercurrent of deceit that fills our world. It can take the feet out from under anyone who becomes over confident and careless. We must maintain our alertness

1 Cor. 10:12 “...Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall...”

1 Peter 1:3-5 “...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time...”

Apr 20 - BE ACTIVE

2 Cor.1:20 “...For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us...”

Do you think of yourself as a capable person?

Do you think you know what you are capable of?

Do you think God would require more of you than you are capable of?

Matt.25:14-30 - The parable of the talents. Two achievers. One fearful underachiever.

What was the problem with the underachiever? [He misunderstood the Master. He misunderstood his relationship to the Master]

What determines our spiritual capacity, the extent of our life in spiritual matters?

- not education, intellect, or natural abilities.

- the ‘yes’ promises and purposes of God.

Can you be and do anything you want? [that’s a lie]

Can you be and do all you were created to be and do? [that’s the truth]

Will God expect more of you than you can deliver?

Our spiritual capacity is not related to our natural ability. It’s dependent on God in Christ Jesus. And all the promises of God in Him are yes and so be it.

How would you describe a lazy person? [someone who chooses to do nothing rather than to do that which needs doing]

How would you describe a spiritually lazy person?

Apr 21 - BE SIMPLE

John 14:9 ”...Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?...”

Context: Philip had asked Jesus to show us the Father.

When you think of the disciples, do you think of them as being slow learners or quick learners?

What were some of the problems they had?

- they were looking for something more!

- they didn’t see the obvious before them, or understand the direction Jesus was going

Is looking for the spectacular still a problem?

O.C. says we look for God to manifest Himself to us when all along He wants to manifest Himself in us.

Review of Week 14

INTERCESSION: Jesus is at the right hand of God, always interceding for the saints. When we have compassion, access to the Father, and the mind of Christ, we will be interceding as well.

SIGHT: Saul was blinded to the old way of seeing, and given a new way of seeing. Has our sight been changed to allow us to see all of life through the creative and redemptive purposes of Christ?

BLIND: The eyes of religion were shut to God’s way and therefore Jerusalem missed His peace. Are the things that make for peace hidden from our eyes?

FAITH: Real faith isn’t good feelings and blessings. Real faith is living in a fallen world with the assurance of things not seen.

AGONY: His agony led to our access to God. When embracing God’s will includes agony, will we opt for enticing alternatives, or will we triumph by countering every temptation with God’s word, God’s directives, and God’s will?

VICTORY: He was crucified for all humanity, but not all humanity has been crucified with Him. Do we have the victory of dying to sin and living to righteousness?

WAIT: Have we made up our minds on doctrine before receiving God’s light? We can’t ever take ownership of truth to the point that we prevent God from expanding our understanding.

Apr 8 - DESTINY

Luke 24:25,26 “...And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?..."

Context: Jesus talking to 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were sad because v.20 the chief priests and rulers delivered (Jesus) to be crucified. v.21 they were hoping that (Jesus) was going to redeem Israel.

What was the destiny of Jesus? [crucifixion, resurrection, glory]

How is our destiny tied to His?

Romans 8:26-35 “...In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ?...”

Are we ever foolish? Are we slow of heart to believe all that was spoken? Do we know all that was spoken? [aah, the value of Sunday School]

When the disciples were sad and foolishly short on understanding v.27 Jesus expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself

Jesus was not derailed from fulfilling His destiny. Do you think the promised Holy Spirit will be derailed from fulfilling what He was sent to do in and through us?

Jesus was resurrected to fullness of life. We must arise, take up our bed and join Him in that life.

Apr 9 - BEYOND SIGHT

Mark 16:12 “...After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country...”

Context: Again, the 2 who walked with Jesus, not recognizing Him, who were sad and hoping for the wrong thing. The 2 who had their hearts burning within them and their eyes opened to the point of recognizing the living resurrected Lord.

Have you seen Jesus? Incarnate? [disciples and crowds] Glorified? [John, Revelation]

Did all who saw Jesus accept the purposes of God in their lives?

Will you see Jesus? Rev. 1:7 “...Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen...”

What is the difference between seeing Jesus and receiving Him?

- Seeing is NOT believing. Seeing is a flesh sense.

- Receiving is an internal yielding at the spirit level. Accepting what He has done.

Can a person receive without seeing?

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 “...Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 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...”

Can we be His and not recognize His presence with us? [it happened to the two on the road to Emmaus]

It’s fairly easy to get uniformity in description of the justification event.

It’s very difficult to get uniformity in describing how He leads us in real time.

Apr 10 - DEATH

Rom.6:5,6 “...For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;...”

What’s the difference between restraining and killing?

- a prisoner in a cell is restrained, protecting society from his evil intentions.

- capital punishment completely removes any additional threat of the evil.

Religion tries to modify behavior to restrain sin.

- Curb: Create boundaries to limit it. Don’t go there.

- Suppress: It wants to manifest, but I’m willing it down.

- Counteract: Apologize, flowers, try harder.

Have you ever found yourself handling sin this way? Is it effective?

Christianity doesn’t modify behavior by restraint. It kills it.

Romans 6:8-14 “...Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace...”

Galatians 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...”

Are we prepared to let the Spirit of God search us until we know what the disposition of sin is?

Do you think its possible to serve a dead master? Is it possible to by habit continue in something you have been purchased from? The accuser of the brethren, by deception, can keep you from walking where God has freed you to walk.

Apr 11 - RESURRECTION

Rom.6:5 “...For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,..”

What does it mean to have our life adjusted?

- An adjustment by a chiropractor takes a misalignment back toward its proper position.

- To have our life adjusted is to be manipulated toward what we should be!

What does a well adjusted person look like? [Like Jesus, who knew no sin]

How does this take place?

- The Holy Spirit invades our life.

- Out goes the bad. In comes the good.

Why are we not more like Jesus?

- We resist the Holy Spirit.

- We aren’t united in Christ’s death and resurrection.

- We hold on to things that should die.

Trying to be like Jesus has an inherent drawback. Our concept of Him is not perfect, in fact it is probably far from perfect. We then try to mimic our notion of Jesus - and fall incredibly short of Him

The Holy Spirit is a reliable guide and instructor.

Are death and resurrection instantaneous? What difference does this make?

Apr 12 - ETERNAL LIFE

Rom 6:9-11 ”...knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus...”

1st - Crucified with Christ.

2nd - Resurrected with Christ.

Now - Eternal life with Christ.

What is Eternal Life?

- Not simply endless existence. Everyone will exist somewhere forever. Matthew 25:46 “...These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life..."

- It’s a current and continuous personal relationship of intimacy. John 17:3 “...This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent...”

We talked about seeing, but not seeing.

Is it possible to be living, but not living?

Eternal life is NOW, and forever. And it is good!

Count, consider, reckon. Reckon is an accounting word - tallying up the particulars to get the final truth. We’re told to tally up the particulars to get the final truth - we’re dead to sin and alive to God.

Apr 13 - BURDENS

Psalm 55:22 ”...Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved...”

Have you ever carried a burden unnecessarily?

- Anyone who has not experienced the redemption won at Calvary is carrying sin, guilt and doubt that they needn’t carry.

- Short of total redemption there isn’t total freedom from the burden.

Are there legitimate burdens? Galatians 6:1-2 “...Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ...”

- Bearing the burden of someone caught in sin?

What’s the problem with burdens?

- They cause burnout. They lead to anxiety.

What causes Christian burnout? [What God asks us to carry, He carries with us. When we aren’t walking closely with Jesus, the load becomes too heavy. We can’t do it alone, though pride will urge us to try.]

1 Peter 5:6-9 ”...Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world...”

How can the devil use burdens against you? [increasing anxiety devours a person]

Apr 14 - YOKED

Matt.11:29,30 “...Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light...”

Are we strong enough to face the world?

Isaiah 40:29 “...He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power...”

Should we look to escape the world and its demands?

What is a yoke? [A means of linking working creatures together to share a load]

Name some advantages of being yoked with Jesus:

- He knows where to go.

- He shares the load.

- We can learn from one who does all things correctly.

- He carries the correct burdens.

- Its a source of soul rest - otherwise our souls flounder around.

Does the presence of peace, light and joy mean a person has no burdens? [It only means they’re yoked with Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith]

How does the right yoke turn whine into wine?

Review of Week 13

CHRIST: I am not the Christ. He must increase. He is above all.

PURITY: Confess, draw near, humble yourselves. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. The pure in heart shall see God.

ELEVATION: The devil promotes with self-righteousness, self-promotion, and High Places. The invitation of God leads to more focus on Him and His purposes.

HONOR: We dishonor Him when we are loyal to our own ideas and notions. We honor Him when we are loyal to Him at all times.

SURPRISE: Are we ready for His visits? Are our eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith? Is a major surprise awaiting us?

INTERCESSION: Do we have more than an emotional interest in prayer? Does worship change the flavor of our intercession? Intimacy leads to understanding and appropriate participation.

DISCERNMENT: What do we do with what we see? Have we replaced ridicule and criticism with intercession and intervention?

Apr 1 - INTERCESSION

Rom. 8:27 “...and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God...”

Rom 8:34 “...who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us...”

Heb. 7:25 “...Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them...”

What role does Christ’s intercession have in our lives? Do we rely on His intercession?

What is our responsibility in interceding for others?

Are there more troubles in the world than you have time to pray?

How can people who care deal with the myriad of needs that surround them every day?

What are the prerequisites for sincere, effective, intercession?

- compassion: genuine concern for people.

- access to the Father: intimate relationship.

- proper processing of the situation: finding the mind of Christ.

When dealing with our own issues, why is it helpful, and healthy, to move our perspective from the little picture to the big picture? [broadening our perspective eases the pressure of the situation].

When dealing with the needs of the world, why is it helpful to do the reverse? [narrowing our perspective to the little picture of what God is calling us to do allows us to leave the big picture to Him]

Why is Worship the best starting place for both?

How can having an agenda of our own interfere with intercession?

Did Jesus heal everybody while on the earth? [those who came to Him, cried out to Him, or were brought to Him]

Can you fix every problem on this earth? Can you fix any?

Apr 2 - SIGHT

Acts 9:17 “...So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit..."

Context: Acts 9:8-9 “...Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank...”

Could Saul see before the Damascus road incident? [He could see, but He really couldn’t see]

Who blinded Him to his old way of seeing? [Jesus]

Who gave him a new way of seeing? [Jesus] How? [Intercession by Ananias]

Why was it done this way? [The Lord wanted it so]

How did Ananias know what to do? [He was close to the heart of God. When God spoke - he heard and obeyed]

What was the difference between pre and post intercession sight? [Paul’s sight was more than restored. It was expanded, and yet focused. He viewed everything afterwards through Jesus Christ.

What gets our attention?

How can we deal appropriately with all the demands of our BUSY (Being Under Satan’s Yoke) lives?

Do we see all of life related to the creative and redemptive purposes of Christ?

Apr 3 - BLIND

Luke 19:42 “...saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes...”

Context: Triumphant entry to Jerusalem. Pharisees scolding. Even the stones will cry out. Jesus’ weeping over the city of Jerusalem.

Why didn’t Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city, have the peace of God? [The things that make for peace were hidden from their eyes]

Why? [Like Saul - their sight was not really sight. It had NOT been changed to focus through the lens of Jesus Christ]

What blinds a people to the things that make for peace? What did Jesus find in Jerusalem? [religious systems. Placing our eyes on other than the true God]

How do false gods get created? [every culture creates gods to meet their preferences]

Does God hold us responsible for what we do not see?

Does sincerity get us any points? [sincere, but wrong, is still wrong]

Our we willing to repent of our worship of strange gods, that we might see, and worship, the Living God?

John 14:27 “...Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful...”

Apr 4 - FAITH

John 16:32 “...Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me...”

Context: Jesus is telling His disciples about what is to come.

Was the disciples faith real? [yes, as little as it was]

Why were they scattered?

- Did they (and we) have interests that were their own?

- Did Jesus have any interests that they (and we) didn’t share?

When are we the most comfortable being Christians?

- when with Christians.

- when in the safety of Christian circles.

Where is the greatest need for the redemptive work of Christ?

- in a lost world.

- outside the safety of Christian circles.

We think we have faith when we “possess” good feelings and blessings in our safe places.

We exercise faith, which we may not see or feel, when we walk by the Spirit in the realities of a fallen world.

Is scattering a good or a bad thing?

Philippians 1:6 “...For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus...”

Apr 5 - AGONY

Mat 26:36-38 “...Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me..."

At the beginning of His ministry, after being baptized by John, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. What was the basis of the temptations? [Stones to bread, throw yourself down, all these things I give you - Focus on self - possessions and interests]

Did Jesus focus on self? [He countered temptation to self with God’s word - directives]

What was going on in the garden of Gethsemane? What was the agony?

Luke 22:41-44 “...And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground...”

Some think He was agonizing over going through the crucifixion.

Some say it had to be something else, because otherwise this was a prayer God didn’t answer, or a righteous Son out of God’s will.

What do you think? O.C. thinks the devil insured that Jesus ministry ended as it had started - with temptations. That He had to decide whether His own interests would interfere with His Father’s.

Did doing God’s will allow Him to avoid agony?

Does doing God’s will allow you to avoid agony?

How did Satan try to prevent Christ from fulfilling the Father’s will, both in the wilderness and in the garden? [enticing alternatives]

How does Satan try to prevent Christians from fulfilling the Father’s will? [enticing alternatives].

His agony led to our access to God. Now what?

Apr 6 - VICTORY

1 Pet 2:24 “...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed...”

Who thought they had victory at the cross?

- Religious leaders who had been threatened by Jesus.

- Satan, who always tries to elevate his plans above God’s.

Who really had the victory at the cross?

- Jesus, in accomplishing the will of God against incredible odds.

- Sinners, in obtaining a way to relationship with a Holy God.

How complete was the victory? The penalty for sin was paid for all mankind.

Does that mean all humans are redeemed? [He was crucified for all humanity, but not all humanity has been crucified with Him]

Was it easy for Christ to go to the cross? [He did it because it pleased the father]

Is it easy for us to go to the cross? [To be totally crucified with Christ requires the same depth of commitment to the Father’s purposes that Christ demonstrated]

There are three incredible parts to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and none can be de-emphasized without perverting the gospel.

- Incarnation: God in flesh.

- Crucifixion: Payment for sin.

- Resurrection: Victory over death.

He came, He was sacrifice, He is risen indeed.

Apr 7 - WAIT

Mark 9:9 ”...As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead...”

Context: Jesus talking to Peter, James, and John just after the transfiguration, and hearing a voice from a cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, Hear Him!”

Did the disciples understand what was happening?

Mark 9:10 “...They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant...”

For what did the disciples have to wait? [Christ’s resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit]

John 16:12 “...I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now...”

Why do we have difficulty processing the words and ways of Jesus?

What is the critical component needed for processing truth? [the Holy Spirit]

Without the Holy Spirit, what leads our understanding? [our unyielding and headstrong opinions]

Explain the meaning of O.C. saying “if we’ve made up our minds on a doctrine, we lose God’s light in that area.”

Is he saying we shouldn’t or can’t be sure on anything?

Is he saying we can’t ever take ownership of truth to the point that we prevent God from expanding our understanding.

“Standing on the promises” - good hymn. Are we guilty of standing on partial promises?

When are we able to effectively speak of what we have seen?