Review of Week 21:

ESSENCE: You have a part in possessing your soul. Kick out the intruders.

KINGDOM: All these things shall be added to you - when you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness

ONE: Its impossible to be independent and be one with the Father and the Son. The world believes that Jesus was sent by the Father when they see oneness.

WORRY: Its not the devil that has the power to choke the life out of a believer, it’s the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches

FALL: You will have to feel very small in the sight of God before He will set you on your feet. Despair is turned to delight by the touch of Jesus

SURRENDER: When the natural is transformed into the spiritual, self interest doesn’t insist on control

UNCEASING PRAYER: When the natural is transformed into the spiritual, joy is always, prayer is continual, and thanks is given in all circumstances - without massive mental discipline

May 27 - EMPOWERED

Luke 24:49 “...And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high..."

When did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit?

John 7:39 “...But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified...” [Jesus at Feast of Booths, speaking of what was to come]

John 20:22 “...And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit...” [Jesus breathed on them prior to His Ascension]

Acts 2:1-4 “...When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance...”

Acts 2:33 “...Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear...” [Peter’s explanation]

What difference did Pentecost make in the life and purposes of the first disciples? [empowered to be witnesses].

What was their part in the process? [obedience - following instructions to wait]

When do believers receive the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 1:13 ”...In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,..”

Acts 19:2 “...He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit..." [sealed by but not received?]

What difference should the Holy Spirit make in the life and purposes of current disciples of Jesus? [empowerment to be witnesses]

What is our part in the process? [obedience - following the instructions of Jesus]

Ephesians 4:30 “...Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption...”

Christ has been glorified! The Spirit has been sent! I guess the question is - what remains that can keep us from being endued with power?

What characterized the disciples on the day of Pentecost? Acts 2:1 they were all with one accord (KJV) . They were all together (NIV,ESV,NASB).

My ceaseless prayer is that we move away from selfish independence to unity of life and purpose, empowered to go forth as His own

May 28 - PURPOSE

John 16:23 “... In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you...”

When was “that day”?

- Jesus was talking about His death and resurrection.

- A time of great sorrow, followed by great joy.

- “That day” referred to the time of empowered disciples.

Do you have questions you would like to ask Jesus?

What eliminates the questions that we have, but don’t even know how to ask?

- Trying to follow Jesus doesn’t do it.

- Talking with each other about His words doesn’t do it.

- The resurrection life of Jesus, manifested in us, changes everything.

What must happen for us to get beyond “what’s happening here?”

- Trust, surrender, oneness.

- Participating, as Jesus did, in the glorious will of the Father.

• Unceasing communication with the Father.

May 29 - ACCESS or ACTION

John 16:26,27 ”...In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father...”

Could you pick up a phone and get the President of the U.S. to talk to you? Are there people who can?

Could you improve your access to the President if you became friends with someone who had access? [They could talk to the President on your behalf]

How could you improve on this intermediary access? [Become a friend of the President]

Why do we pray in Jesus name? [We’re told to!]

Is your access limited to being a friend of a friend?

How was Jesus different from all other religious teachers and leaders? [authority and results]

Why was He different?

- He was One with the Father.

- He was always acting on the Father’s behalf, doing what pleased Him.

Can we be different than all the other religious people in the world?

Do we represent God, or ourselves?

May 30 - BUTS

Luke 9:61,62 ”...Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home. But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God..."

What is the difference between our buts and the but of Jesus?

- we frame everything according to our Basic Underlying Truth.

- Jesus frames everything according to the real Basic Underlying Truth.

What is common sense? Is it logical to say that the most people don’t have any common sense? [common sense is the sense that is common among people, even if it isn’t good sense].

Why don’t the expectations of God appeal to common sense?

- difference between humanity and deity.

- constant call to higher ground.

Is religious sense superior to common sense?

- religious people think so.

- God is unimpressed.

Jesus offers the opportunity to follow Him, and describes the danger of looking back.

What is faith? The hope for things not seen or even understood.

Is there a difference between following Christ because it makes sense, and following Christ because He is Lord?

What always happens in the 1st case? [A person gets hung up, stuck, paralyzed, when they can no longer logic it out - understand. They can’t go where Jesus would lead them]

Can we trust God to lead us? Will we follow where He goes? Will we get stuck in our buts?

May 31 - FIRST

John 2:24-25 “...But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man...”

What would it be like if everyone’s thoughts were publicly known? If no motives were hid?

What is the natural result of knowing that humans are corrupt, selfish, sinful? [Suspicion, lack of trust, despair]

What happens when a close friend, spouse, or spiritual leader demonstrates these failures? [Discouragement]

How does “Trusting in God First” make a difference in our interactions with others?

- He knew about us and loved us still.

- Nothing is too difficult for Him.

- If He can do a work in us, He can do a work in anyone.

Why should we “Put God’s Will First”?

- Our tendency to put perceived needs first.

- God can be working beyond our perception.

Why should we “Put God’s Son First”?

Hebrews 12:1-2 “...Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God...”

Rev. 19:10 “...Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said* to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy..."

June 1 - GOD KNOWS

Eze 37:3 “...He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, You know..."

Context: The hand of the Lord had come upon Ezekiel. He was brought out, in the Spirit, and set down in a valley full of bones.

What would your answer have been to the question, can these bones live?

- A pessimist would say “these bones are dry, this situation can’t be changed”.

- An optimist would say “with God all things are possible, let me tell you how this situation will be changed”.

- Ezekiel said “O Lord God. You know”

- Wouldn’t it be wise to admit that ‘O Lord God, You know’, and allow some revelation

What is the difference between working “with God” and working “for God”?

Which has the greatest risk for error? Which is done most often?

Can you save anyone?

- Have you ever felt pressured to save someone?

- Have you ever felt that someone couldn’t be saved?

What difference does it make for someone to understand the Grace of God?

Why is understanding the absence of the Grace of God important? [knowing our own depravity apart from God should change our Hope levels for other souls].

June 2 - FEAR

Psalms 25:12-14 “...Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant...”

The newer version of My Utmost uses the word obsession, the older uses haunted.

What does it mean to be haunted? Is it only something for TV shows and movies?

- In that context, it’s a fear that overshadows, that possesses a person or place.

If O.C. is using haunting/obsession to mean everything hinges on the fear of ...

- Is it healthy for a child to process life through ‘what will mom think?’

- Is it healthy to process life through ‘what will my friends think?’

- Is it healthy to process life through ‘what does God think?’

How is obsession with God’s truth different from obsession with God? [belief system vs. abiding life]

Who is teachable in God’s ways? 25:12 “...the man that fears the Lord...”