Review of Week 31:

CLOUDS: God is too much for us, but His Glory is our protection and our leading.

DISILLUSIONED: Unreality must be exposed. We must chase reality, not illusions.

ENDURANCE: Various trials put our faith to the test, producing an endurance that moves us toward perfection.

HEED: The spiritual world opens up when we obey.

STRAIN: The trials of life are the training regimen of God that lead to perfection.

CHOOSE: Choosing to please the Father is an act of our will, but it doesn’t mean we always have awareness of what He is doing.

TAKEN: Are we interested in being taken into the purposes of God?

Aug 5 - BAFFLING

Luke 18:31 “...Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished...”

Luke 18:34 “...But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said...”

Context:

The story of the rich young ruler, who kept the commandments from His youth, but became very sorrowful when Jesus described what following Him entailed.

Then a discussion of the difficulty of entering the kingdom of heaven - difficult enough that the question was asked “...who then can be saved...?”

Then Jesus says “...Behold, we are going...”

Which of the disciples liked where Jesus took them? [None]

Which would have chosen the path on which He led them? [None]

Which when their life was over, would look back and wish they had chosen a different path? [Only Judas]

Was Jesus Christ’s life a failure?

- by God’s standard? [no way]

- by man’s standard, at the time? [absolutely]

If we answer the call of God on our lives, will our life be a failure?

- by God’s standard? [no way]

- by man’s standard, at the time? [absolutely]

- by your standard?

How is the call of God implicit rather than explicit?

- it isn’t an external task.

- it’s an internal commitment to relationship.

Why is life with God so baffling? [Whenever we think we know exactly what we’re doing and where we’re going, He creates shifts and turns. He takes us aside and says ‘Behold, we are going up to die.’]

Why is relationship more complicated than principle and task oriented religion?

- it’s not defined the way we would usually prefer.

- it requires an ongoing vital interaction.

- it requires flexibility.

Do we believe God knows what He is after?

Do we trust the wits and wisdom of God as much as, more than, or less than we trust our own?

Which is more important, communion with Him, or knowing His purposes?

Do we live out our life in peace, knowing He is trustworthy?

The more I know, the more I know I don’t know.

The more I know God, the more I know what I don’t know can be entrusted to Him.

Thinking I know when I don’t really know is far more dangerous than not knowing but walking faithfully with Him.

Aug 6 - ASK

John 16:26 “...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;...”

Context: What day?

- Jesus foretelling His death and resurrection.

- Disciples will weep, world will rejoice.

- Grief will turn to joy.

- Explains asking the Father in Jesus’ name.

- concludes with John 16:33 “...These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world..."

Heb.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...”

What was the joy set before Jesus? Was it sitting at the right hand or was it fulfilling God’s purposes?

Why was Jesus sent? [Not to sit at the right hand, but to be sacrificed for the sin of mankind]

Did He endure so He could get to the purpose of God for Him, or was the very thing He was enduring the purpose?

We’re to look to Jesus as we run our race with endurance, since He’s the author and perfecter of faith. How has He taught us to live?

To always do those things that please the Father. ‘...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me...’

What is the natural human condition?

People want what people want.

No-one ever gets their fill of what they want, because their appetite always grows. Money, power, sex, food, fame, even knowledge of God.

When people want what people want, they’re in bondage to those wants.

What happens when people realize their plight?

Some fall into despair and lose all hope.

Some become aware of an all-powerful God. Surely an all powerful God can fulfill my wants.

Some are willing to move beyond their wants to embrace the Father’s pleasure.

There are two main camps that define much of contemporary, American Christianity.

1. I have to endure this life, I have to carry my crosses and God will someday bless me by giving me all I want and then some.

2. I don’t have to endure this life, because my God will, even now, give me all I want and then some.

These two branches get impatient with each other, without realizing that they share a common error. It’s not about their wants!

The joy that was set before Jesus was ‘pleasing the Father by fulfilling His purpose.’ The joy that is set before us is pleasing the Father by fulfilling His purpose.

O.C. says ‘the Cross stands for one thing only for us - a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ!

We don’t get through it - we go into it.

This devotional refers specifically to identifying with the Lord in prayer.

What should be the focus of prayer? What should we be asking?

Praying to get through to answers is looking to an end and failing to be alive in the process.

Prayer should bring us to perfect and complete oneness with God.

Aug 7 - REALITY

Luke 2:49,50 “...And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them...”

Context:

v.40 the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

v.42 when He was 12 years old they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom.

v.43 when they had finished

v.44 supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey

v.45 they returned

v.46 after 3 days ...they found Him in the temple, in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions

What do you think about this story?

He was 12 years old! He was a seventh grader. He was already baffling the teachers at 12 years old.

His parents assumed He was with them, that He would faithfully follow the customs, that He would make their business His.

They were wrong.

Were Joseph and Mary in touch with reality? [their reality, but not always God’s]

Have you ever misplaced Jesus?

How often do you misplace Jesus?

For how long at a time can He be missing before you realize it?

How long does it take to find Him again?

Jesus must be about the Father’s business.

- That’s what He told His earthly parents at the age of 12.

- That’s what He told His disciples as they walked with Him and learned from Him.

- That’s what He modeled for all disciples.

What happens when our business and the Father’s differ? [Jesus will be doing the Father’s business, and distance will be created between us. Separation.]

Lord help us to identify with your life more completely. Simplify our walking. Be alive and real, and present in us.

Aug 8 - ROOM

Luke 1:35 “...The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God...”

How did Jesus get into Mary? [The Holy Spirit]

Whose idea was it? [God’s] Who came to whom? [God came to her]

What was Mary’s responsibility?

- To carry the child and give birth to redemption for mankind.

- To adjust her plans to line up with God’s plans.

Did she? Are you grateful for Mary?

Gal.4:3-6 ”...So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!...”

How does Jesus get into us? [The Holy Spirit]

Whose idea is it? [God’s] Who comes to whom? [God to us]

What is our responsibility?

- To carry His life faithfully.

- To adjust our plans to line up with God’s plans.

Is there room for Jesus in our lives?

Mary had room, and birthed God’s plans. Do we?

Phil.3:12-21 “...Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself...”

Aug 9 - UNHINDERED

John 11:41 ”...So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me...”

Context:

Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, four days dead.

Speaks to the dead man’s sister (Martha).

11:40 “...Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?..."

11.41 “...I thank You that You have heard Me...”

11.43 ”...He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth..."

Jesus thanked the Father that He had heard Him, then He spoke, not softly, but with a loud voice, and Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Did the Father hear the Son? How often? [Every time He spoke.]

How often does the Father hear us?

Were the Son’s prayers hindered at the tomb? How often were the Son’s prayers hindered? Why? [He was intent to always do what pleased the Father - not my will but yours.]

How often are our prayers hindered? What hinders our prayers? [1 Pet.3:7 tells husbands to honor their wives so their prayers wouldn’t be hindered]

O.C asks what our prayer is like when we come in contact with the occurrences of life as ordinary human beings. Is it prayer that is heard? That is unhindered?

Does common sense stand at a tomb and cry with a loud voice - come forth?

Common sense doesn’t detect God.

Common sense is the culturally normal sense that dwells in a person whether or not they have communion with God.

Jesus detects the Father, is aware of the Father’s good pleasure, and is a part of bringing it to pass.

Jesus in us detects the Father, is aware of the Father’s good pleasure, and is a part of bringing it to pass.

Mankind’s problem is that even when we become aware of this life beyond common sense, rather than allow the life of Christ to live in and control us, we respond like Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:14-25

- The disciples laid hands on people and they received the Holy Spirit.

- They were God’s, God heard them, and their prayers were unhindered.

- Simon offered them money, saying “Give me this power, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

- He wanted it for himself. He didn’t want God’s purposes. He wanted to possess God’s power.

Which do we seek? His purposes or His power?

Aug 10 - SUFFER

1 Pet 4:19 “...Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right...”

Given the choice to suffer, or not, which would you choose? Will everyone choose not to suffer?

Given the choice of God’s will, or another, which would you choose? Will everyone choose God’s will?

Which is more important to you, God’s will, or not suffering? In theory? In practice?

Can God’s will be suffering? Not suffering?

Was Jesus sent to suffer? What % of His life involved suffering? Did the fulfilling of His call and purpose necessitate suffering?

Were you created to suffer? What % of your life involves suffering?

What reactions do onlookers have to other’s suffering? [Contempt. Sympathy.]

Why did O.C. dislike sympathy for those that were suffering?

It could lead to people feeling like God was dealing harshly with them.

It could hinder the purposes for the suffering.

Sympathy can enervate suffering: [To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of]

Matthew 16:23 “...But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's..."

Jesus didn’t appreciate Peter failing to embrace the suffering that was to come.

Are sympathy and compassion the same thing? Do you think O.C. was against compassion?

The servant who was forgiven much, but didn’t forgive much was in trouble because he didn’t have mercy (Matt.18:33)

Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd (Matt.9:36)

1 Peter 3:8 tells us to ‘be of one mind, having compassion for one another’

Aug 11 - ALONE

2 King 2:12 ”...Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces...”

Context:

Elijah was the established prophet. Elisha was the up and coming prophet.

A chariot of fire appeared and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

What must Elisha have felt? What’s it like to lose a respected leader? Can you make it without him? He saw him no more!

What was the Jordan? What did it stand for?

The separation between the old and the new, the natural inheritance and the promise.

Elisha had crossed the Jordan before with Elisha.

2:14 “...He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over...”

Will your faith get you across the Jordan when you stand alone, without your spiritual advisors?

What happened at Jericho? Not the wall-falling of Joshua, but in this story?

The prophets recognized that Elisha had the Spirit of God, but insisted that they find Elijah, their normal.

2:16 “...They said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send..."

Will you remain true to what God’s doing in you when others want to maintain the status quo?

What was Bethel?

The place where Elisha was mocked.

2:23 “...Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!..."

Can you stand alone against the ridicule of those who do not know, who do not understand?

Don’t be surprised when you face your Jordan, your Jericho, and your Bethel alone. Alone in the flesh is not alone in the Spirit. Jesus knows about the Jordan, about Jericho, about Bethel. You’ll get no sympathy from Him - just compassion.