Review of Week 26

HUMAN NATURE: We can’t minimize the reality of sinful human nature. We can’t minimize the redemptive power of repentance and forgiveness.

SORROW: Sorrow can burn up shallowness and reveal the true self relative to God.

GRACE: Grace is sufficient in tribulation, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonment, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings.

DEVOTION: Devotion to God absolutely requires denying self, but denying self doesn’t necessarily equate to devotion to God.

THAT: Have we laid hold of THAT for which we were laid hold of by Christ?

VIOLENCE: It will take violence to change who we are, resulting in the proper change in what we do.

RIGHTS: We must learn to be more concerned for others’ rights than our own.

July 1 - PRISON

Matt.5:26 “...Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent...”

Context: Personal relationships. Anger and careless language are more serious problems than most people realize.

How and why does the Holy Spirit convict? John 16:8 ”...And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;...”

What happens when a person doesn’t respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit? [they get imprisoned in something less than God’s best intention]

What is a prison? Have you ever been in prison? Are you in prison now? Are you confined? Restrained? Are you free to be and do all God created you to be and do?

Without proper relationships, we become imprisoned. We underestimate the lasting effects of unresolved conflict with our fellow man. God would have us free. God would have us reconciled

How does a person get out of prison? [full payment, good behavior, pardon]

What is a repeat offender? [someone who returns to prison for the same crime]

How can a person avoid becoming a repeat offender? [behavior must change]

How does right relationship with God and man deliver a person from prison, and keep them from reentering?

- Jesus paid the full price.

- The Holy Spirit leads to truth.

- Truth transforms (Rom.12:2).

- Attitudes and Behavior changes.

If I had two identical plants and I put one by a window and watered it regularly, and one in the basement and watered it rarely, would they be equally free to be all they were created to be? Is not having light and water a prison? Is there sufficient light and living water in our lives?

If one plant was transplanted to a bigger pot as it grew, but one was left in a small little vase, would they be equally free? How can man’s religion be a small little vase that confines and restrains the full growth God intends?

July 2 - DISCIPLE

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...”

Out of context, this scripture seems extremely harsh - - hate everybody!!

Context: Luke 14:15-24 describes the parable of the great supper. Many were invited, but, each had an excuse for not coming (buying land, buying oxen, newly married).

Curious or religious are not the same as being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Many are curious or religious, but when the challenge comes to actually follow Jesus Christ, more fall away than become disciples.

What things in life will clash with the call to follow? What things in your life are clashing even now?

What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?

- one who has such a personal, passionate devotion to Christ that all other loves become as hates by comparison.

- one who refuses to make excuses no matter when the call to follow comes.

- if you’re a disciple, you’ll love (agape) others, but loving others doesn’t mean you’ll follow Christ.

Does reciting the sinners prayer make a person a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Can a person ask for forgiveness and not be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Can a person be devoted to religious creeds and organizations and not be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

How can a person become and continue to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

John 6:44 “...No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day...”

John 16:13 “...But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come...”

Christianity isn’t something we possess. And if we can’t afford to lose the things we do possess, we can’t afford to have them.

July 3 - EXPOSED

Isa.6:5 “...Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts..."

Isaiah prophesied in a time when both the northern and southern kingdoms had experienced increased prosperity and power. Israel had fallen into pagan worship, and Judah, though maintaining an outward conformity to orthodoxy, had fallen into serious moral and spiritual decline.

Do you think Isaiah looked pretty good when compared to the average man of the day? Do you think you look pretty good when compared to the average American in the year 2012? [Yes, he did. Yes, you do]

BUT! In our scripture, as Isaiah came into the presence of the Lord, ‘sitting on a throne, high and lifted up’ what did he say? [I AM RUINED - UNDONE].

In the presence of God, we don’t have a vague, generalized sense of sin.

In the presence of God, we know exactly where our sin is concentrated.

What was the sin that Isaiah recognized? [Unclean lips].

Did Isaiah continue in his sin? Why was it necessary to fix the problem? [Isaiah had a purpose, and he had to be made fit for it].

Do you have a purpose? Are you fit for it? How can you become fit for it?

We usually do just the opposite of what we should. We try not to approach God until we get our act together. But He’s the only One who can keep us from acting and truly make us His. Its a hot time, but a time for being set apart.

Long to be in His presence - accept the identification of particular sin.

July 4 - FRET NOT

Psalm 37:8 "...Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing..."

Not too long ago we talked about frittering. How a 16 year old boy can fritter away his money and have nothing to show for it! How a Christian can fritter away their spiritual life and have nothing to show for it. Now we move from frittering to fretting.

Are we supposed to fret? Do we fret?

Is Psalm 37:8 correct - that fretting only causes harm?

When does the blessing come? [Not in the knowing but in the doing!] Is it possible to know we’re not to fret, but to fret anyway?

What are some things you fret about? [Money, travel of loved ones, kids or loved ones salvation].

How and when do you stop fretting?

- We usually stop when external circumstances line up (ex. The kids call to say they made it - I can stop fretting!)

- The ‘don’t fret’ must work regardless of circumstances.

What is at the heart of fretting? [I want my way, and I’m afraid I might not get it ]

- When people want what people want, they never can be free.

- When people want what God has planned, they find they’re free indeed.

Describe how fret "...leads only to evildoing..."?

- it's caused by calculating without God in the equation.

- it's evidence that a person is walking by sight, not by faith.

- nothing good comes from failing to trust God, at all times, in all circumstances.

July 5 - PLAN

Psalm 37:5 "...Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it..."

Do you like it when what you planned comes to pass, when something turns out just the way you planned it?

Would it be nice to find a scripture promise that says take your blueprints to God and He’ll make sure its all put together according to your plans? [Good luck, this isn’t it].

What happens when our plans aren’t made with God?

- Have you ever made plans without consulting with others that it would affect - spouse, friends, employer, etc., only to find out there was conflict?

- If there’s a conflict between your plans and God’s - what's going to happen? [Your plans are going to change, or you’re going to miss out on God’s plans.]

- What part of your life can you plan without God?

Why shouldn’t we plan with concern for evil?

- We shouldn’t plan with any evil intent.

- We shouldn’t let evil’s intents dissuade us.

- Why would ambassadors of light spend time focused on darkness.

What are some problems with planning with a rainy day in mind!

- We end up hoarding. We don’t hold loosely.

- We end up taking instead of giving.

- We lose our freedom to live in His abundance (The bigger barn problem?)

July 6 - BATTERED

Is.35:7 "...The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes..."

This is a great devotional, discussing how a vision (a real vision) becomes a life reality.

Prov.29:18 "...Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law..."

Getting the vision isn’t the end of the matter.

How soon do vision’s become reality?

In Acts 10, Cornelius and Peter both had visions

- Cornelius had an angel tell him to send men to Joppa for Peter.

- The next day Peter saw a sheet with unclean animals, which God had cleansed.

- While he wondered what it meant, Cornelius’ men arrived.

- Two days later Peter was in Caesarea preaching to Cornelius and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all visions became reality that soon?

Peter was told he’d be a fisher of men. How long did it take that to happen?

Have you experienced God taking you down into the valley to batter you into the shape of a vision? What's He doing? Why?

How does our impatience complicate the process? [we are in such a hurry that we’d rather skip the very process that MUST take place].

Is there something in your life that feels like a beating, that may really be God working toward His good intentions for you? [don’t try to avoid what God is using to get to His ultimate intentions for you]

July 7 - NARROW

Matt 7:13-14 "...Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it..."

Luke 13:24 "...Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able..."

John 14:6 "...Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me..."

Do you agree with O.C. that all noble things are difficult?

What is the function of a gate or a door?

- It's actually designed to inhibit free passage.

- It opens up to something bigger once you’re through it.

What is the context of this teaching?

- Matthew chapters 5,6,7 is the Sermon on the Mount and multiple 'you have heard it said, but' teachings.

- Matthew 7 teachings include 2 gates, 2 types of fruit, and 2 foundations.

So what it the gate?

- Is it a reference to Jesus Himself as the only way?

- Is it a reference to the need for inward holiness vs. external rules and regulations?

- Is it a one-time passage, or are there multiple opportunities to choose the narrow or the wide gate?

Had the religious people of that time found the narrow gate?

Have the religious people of our time found the narrow gate?

When we meet with various obstacles and trials:

- Do you think there are gate choices (narrow or wide) to be made?

- Are correct choices always more difficult than incorrect choices?

Does it take practice to get through narrow gates?

Following Christ is not for cowards. He takes us off the well trodden wide way and offers a narrow gate, which leads to life. Few find it.