Review of Week 18:

CERTAINTY: The difference between childlike faith and deadly dogma is the difference between living comfortably with uncertainty and insisting on certainty

AGAPE: The love chapter in 1 Corinthians, read twice, makes the problem of mankind obvious. God is love. Man is something else.

USED: It may feel good to be polished up and shown off, but we aren’t just trophies to God. He uses us like tools to achieve His goals.

PATIENCE: Patience is learned. The more devoted to God we become, the more patient we are through circumstances. We learn to keep our gaze on him. He is reliable.

PRAY: Our personal sympathy and prejudice get in the way of proper intercession. Selfish perspective has a hard time accepting God’s perfect will.

ACCESS: Can we be bold in a way the High Priest of old could not? God is Holy. Sin can’t stand before Him. We can only get there by the blood of Christ.

JUDGMENT: Deception and rebellion make it difficult to get to God. It is with difficulty that the righteous is saved.

May 6 - FREE or ENTANGLED

Gal.5:1 “...It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery...”

What is involved in making a convert? [changing a person’s mind about something]

What is involved in making a disciple? [changing a person’s lifestyle]

What is involved in making a Christian? [changing a person’s life]

What is the difference between believing the Bible and believing Jesus? [principles vs. relationship]

From what is Christ freeing you? [from the bondage of improper thinking and from improper lifestyle]

Matthew 23:15 “...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte (convert); and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves...”

2 Peter 2:20 (discussion of dangers of false prophets) “...For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first...”

2 Timothy 2:4 “...No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier...”

What does it mean to be entangled in ‘civilian pursuits’? In ‘spiritual pursuits’?

What’s missing in both pictures? The freedom of Jesus Christ’s leadership.

What’s wrong with demanding that a person ‘believe this and that’? [It doesn’t go as deep as demanding that we line up with the standards of Jesus. Serving a belief system isn’t the same as serving a living God]

Are people wrong if they don’t see things the way you see them? Is it your job to make them see things the way you do?

Look to Jesus, the author and perfector.

May 7 - COST

Luke 14:28 ”...For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?...”

What did it cost Jesus to accomplish the Father’s will in His lifetime? Did Jesus know the cost?

What does it cost disciples of Jesus to accomplish the Father’s will in their lifetime?

v.26 must hate (even) their own life.

v.27 must bear their own cross.

v.33 whoever does not forsake all that they have cannot be my disciple.

Did you find Jesus or did He find you?

God uses those who love Him:

- personally (not just a concept)

- passionately (with enthusiasm)

- with great devotion (fealty, loyalty)

Can you afford to be His?

Are you a pessimist or an optimist?

The devil would love for you to doubt your ability to pay the price - to deceive you. Jesus knows you can pay it. He calls you. He empowers you.

1 Cor. 3:10-15 “...According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...”

What does it mean to “build enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus”?

Are we building for eternity?

May 8 - UNWAVERING

Rev.3:10 “...Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth...”

Context: Seven churches received messages from Jesus through His revelation to John. This message was to Philadelphia, the only church of the seven that didn’t get a negative report. Philadelphia is the faithful church. Are we?

Rev. 3:8 “...'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name...”

This is another devotion on perseverance. Like the Feb.22 devotion, O.C. says perseverance is:

- more than endurance.

- more than simply holding on until the end.

At what is God aiming with your life? Are we flying straight to the mark?

O.C. compares us to both arrows and bows, leading to these characteristics:

1. God is aiming at something we may not see. Are we okay with that?

2. The stretch and strain can put tension and discomfort in our lives (we must persevere).

3. His release is at the correct time - it’s not our call. The release leads to a mighty rush of purpose, during which we must fly true. Will good arrows then be reused?

Can we face whatever is in front of us without wavering? He who called you knows you, loves you, and CAN use you.

May 9 - REVELATION

Prov 29:18 “...Where there is no vision (revelation NIV,NKJV), the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law...”

What are the positives of a principled life? [consistency, predictability, etc.]

What are the negatives of a principled life? [inflexibility, application of the wrong principle to a situation, etc.]

What is a vision? [a big picture view].

How does one obtain a vision?

- People can cast a vision.

- God can provide a vision (a revelation).

Can a principled life coexist with a life of vision? [Vision simply places the big picture context within which a person is to live by the proper principles].

When a person casts a vision:

SOURCE - human understanding.

ACTIVATION - human initiative.

COURSE - inevitable conflict with God’s intentions.

RESULT - failure to reach God’s intentions.

When God provides a vision:

SOURCE - God’s reality.

ACTIVATION - God’s prompting.

COURSE - with obedient cooperation, proceeds appropriately.

RESULT - reaching God’s intentions.

Without revelation, the people cast off restraint.

1960s - Prayer removed from schools (source of revelation and vision?)

1970s - Sexual restraints lost - free love

1980s - Fiscal restraints lost - national/personal debt

1990s - Political restraints lost - non accountable leaders

2000s - Lifestyle restraints lost - gay rights, gay marriages

Principled living erodes without revelation. We are living with the consequences of a destruction of principles. This destruction is a direct result of loss of heavenly vision.

If we try to face this with only our principles, we’ll end up with cynicism, pessimism, passive reflection.

If we face this with revelation from God, we’ll have optimism, readiness, and empowerment..

God help us. We are born for such a time as this.

May 10 - ADD

2 Peter 1:5-11 “...Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply (add) moral excellence (virtue), and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you...”

Does God save you? [if you do your part, and let Him]

Does God sanctify you (set you apart)? [if you do your part, and let Him]

Does God create good habits and character in your life? [if you do your part - let Him]

What does it mean to ADD something as you follow a recipe? [bring something else into the mix]

Is there a recipe for your life? Have all the ingredients been added?

Phil. 2:12 “...So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;...”

Why should all the 2nd Peter ADDing be done.

2 Peter 1:3-4 ”...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust...”

Do you want to escape the corruption that is the world? Do you want to become a partaker of the divine nature? Do you want everything that pertains to life and godliness? [if the answer is yes, then apply all diligence to ADDing.

May 11 - ADD LOVE

2 Peter 1:7 “...and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love...”

What are we to add to our brotherly kindness? [agape]

How is agape a step beyond kindness?

Agape - Love. The love of God. The kind of love that gave itself for us while we were yet sinners - seemingly unlovable.

John 15:12 “...This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you...”

Are you annoyed by people? Irritated by people? Angered by people?

Can you fake agape? [story of Camp Copneconic - canoes, swim test, class, tiptoe on rocks - I could only fake it just so long]

You want to be identified as His. You want to go out in the canoes. Surely you can love as he loved, keep on your toes. Can you keep your head above water?

Read 1 Cor.13 with your name inserted in place of agape to check how you’re doing.

How do you keep from drowning? 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...”

God is LOVE. If He lives in me, I can be love in any situation

Is agape spontaneous? [if we are abiding in Him, yes]

May 12 - HABITS

2 Peter 1:8 “...For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

Do you have any bad qualities? How did you develop them?

Do you have any good qualities? How did you develop them?

Do you have any qualities of which you are not really aware?

Thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become lifestyles

The qualities from 2 Peter 1 are to be more than thoughts or actions. They are to become unconscious habits and lifestyles.

What is the end result when the qualities are increasing? [useful and fruitful] Useful and fruitful in what? [truely knowing our Lord]

O.C. discusses habits as being conscious and unconscious. We are conscious of habits when we are first forming them, but they can eventually become so routine we’re not really aware of them

Bad Good

Conscious 1 3

Unconscious 2 4

Examples:

1 - sarcasm - learned from sitcoms as humor.

2 - sarcasm - brutalizing people without realizing it.

1 - over drinking - partying with friends for entertainment.

2 - over drinking - killing someone in a drunk driving accident.

3 - prayer - going to prayer meeting weekly.

4 - prayer - spontaneously praying in any and all circumstances.

3 - small group - getting together with believers.

4 - small group - caring for people, genuinely caring at all times.

O.C. says 3 is full of strutting spiritual prigs.

1s and 2s need to rub shoulders with 4s.

3s are tiptoeing, trying to keep their head above water.

4s are living eternal life.

Can you get to 4 without going through 3? 2 without 1?

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...”

Thoughts to actions to habits to lifestyle.

What affects your thought life?