Review of Week 35:

PEACE: Isaiah 26:3 “...You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you...”

WALK IN LIGHT: Darkness will not overtake us if we hear AND obey.

COMMUNICATE: Our life depends on our communication with God. We must use the language and the means. We must understand and be willing. Always.

BELIEVE: You can organize your belief system in your mind, but Jesus will send you out into the storm so you can know whether your faith is real or imagined.

REJOICE: It is what God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. Our rejoicing must be in what Christ has done.

JOY: Christ-consciousness fills up our joy, regardless of circumstances.

HOLY: Health and happiness are not as important as holiness. We must be holy.

Sept 2 - FLOW

John 7:37-38 “...on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' .."

Is it true that Americans prize ownership?

- Rather than share a vehicle, most have their own.

- Toys (snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs) rather than renting or borrowing.

- Kids want to get jobs to make a lot of money so they can buy a lot of stuff.

What makes ownership attractive?

- pleasure and prestige

- control - if you own it, you’re in control of it. What you say goes.

How much of God and His blessings can you possess? How much can you control?

“...If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink...”

- perceived as something to possess

- I can accept Jesus and have His fullness.

- It will be mine.

What’s the difference between a parking lot and a freeway?

- near Detroit during rush hour - not much.

- in a parking lot, other than tailgating at ball games, not much is happening.

Matt 10:7-8 “...And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give...”

Are disciples to be parking lots or freeways?

What’s wrong with trying to get more of God’s blessings to park in our lives?

Are we good conduits for the flow? What hinders the flow of living water to this world?

- selfishness that doesn’t open up to God’s life.

- selfishness that tries to possess God’s life.

- selfishness that won’t yield to God’s life.

The value of our life is not determined by what we obtain, but by what God pours through us.

What happens to water that doesn’t flow? [stagnant water is not refreshing]

Are we refreshing others?

Sept 3 - LUST

2 Samuel 23:16 ”...So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord;...”

Context:

- David is in the cave of Adullam.

- The Philistines - the enemy - had a garrison in Bethlehem.

- David longed for a drink from the well by the gate - currently in enemy possession.

- He, like many, spoke what was on his mind.

- His loyal mighty men overhear him - so three of them break into enemy territory, risking their lives for their leader, and bring back water from the well.

And what does David do? [doesn’t drink it, but pours it out to the Lord]

What do you think about this?

- It’s a slap in the face to the mighty men who risked their lives for their leader.

- David was resisting the urge to satisfy himself at others expense. This attitude was probably responsible for creating such loyal followers.

Why is corruption in places of power so common?

- self interest has the means to supplant responsibility

Why is corruption in Christianity so common?

- self interest has the means to supplant responsibility.

- people want the blessings for themselves.

What is the source of corruption? [self interest - lust]

What are some acts of lust that are sordid and vile? [rape, genocide]

Is all lust sordid and vile? In man’s eyes? [no] In God’s eyes? [yes]

If we always take blessings to ourselves and never learn to pour them out unto the Lord, other people do not get their horizon enlarged through us.

How can we move beyond the lust of self interests to being a conduit to bless others?

- crucify self.

- abide in agape.

- place other’s welfare above our own.

Sept 4 - DISCIPLE

John 17:6 ”...I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word...”

Do you think the devil is a deceiver?

Revelation 12:9 “...And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him...”

Do you think you can be deceived?

1 Peter 5:8-9 ”...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...”

Do you think the devil devours people? How?

John 8:44 “...the devil ...was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies...”

We aren’t swallowed up physically into some strange creature’s belly. We get swallowed up in his lies and deceit.

Jesus offers truth. The devil offers alternatives.

Sunday School class should systematically expose and refute the lies of the devil.

- Not from a historical or academic standpoint, but from a practical standpoint.

- The lies he currently passes off on us as truth must be overcome with truth.

This devotional deals with one of the devil’s lies.

We are not our own! Truth or lie?

- The devil would have us believe we have a lot of alternatives, that we can decide what’s best for us! Can we?

- I can be anything I want to be! Can you? Are we giving high school kids truth when we tell them they can be anything they want to be?

- It’s my life, I can do what I want with it! Can you?

- It’s my body, I can do what I want with it! Can you?

Oswald says the true nature of life is the deliberate giving up of myself to God’s sovereign preference.

- Is this the way American’s think?

- Has the roaring lion swallowed our culture?

- Have we been sober enough? Vigilant enough?

- Have we traded the truth for a lie?

Do we belong to Jesus? Is it obvious to the world around us?

Romans 8:28,29 “...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;...”

- Why does God work all things together for good? [He love’s us and is conforming us to His image]

- Why are we to be conformed to His image?

- not to be looked at.

- not to be adored or even respected.

- to go out and do His bidding.

- we are not independent of His purposes.

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...”

- Are disciples of Jesus His possessions?

- Can disciples of Jesus be anyone else’s possessions?

Are we disciples of Jesus Christ?

Sept 5 - WATCH

Matthew 26:40-41 ”...And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak..."

Context:

- The agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

- The cross was very near.

- He took 3 disciples with Him and asked them to ‘stay here and watch with Me!’

How did they do? What did they do?

- God events were unfolding - they slept.

- Opportunity was given to watch with Jesus - they slept.

Did the disciples love Jesus? Did the disciples love what God was doing through Jesus?

Why was there a disconnect?

- People have their own private points of view, and get mired there.

- People evaluate God’s activity from their point of view, not from God’s perspective.

- People get devoured by their preferences.

Jesus extends an invitation to us to ‘watch and pray’.

What is the difference between watching for Jesus and watching with Jesus?

- Are we looking for Jesus to come to us and bless our lives?

- Are we looking with Jesus to embrace the Father’s intentions?

Jesus offers truth. The devil offers alternatives.

The creator of who we are, extends an invitation to view life with Him.

- To watch with Him.

- To see what He sees.

- To follow Him.

Can there be any better offer?

I pray that He will gather us up like a mother hen gathers her chicks.

- That He’ll pull us back from our wandering.

- That He’ll help us to see as He sees.

- That we’ll watch and pray with Him.

- That we’ll be His.

- That out of us will flow rivers.

Watch for it!

Sept 6 - RIVERS

John 7:38 "...He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' ..."

When we talked about the flow before, we talked about the problem of possessing - that we like to possess because we like to control.

Do you agree with the following statements?

- there needs to be flow.

- we can’t possess God and control Him.

- stagnant water doesn’t bring refreshing to anyone.

- individuals and/or churches that think they possess may be failing to refresh the world.

If we agree on these things, have we resolved our control problem?

What are some of your preferences for WHERE the river should flow?

- a non-Christian loved one (family member, friend, coworker).

- a stagnant Christian (family member, friend, coworker).

- a particular person in government.

Have you ever tried to aim the flow? How did that work for you?

From where does the flow originate?

Can we choose who gets refreshed by God’s flow?

Do you agree with Oswald that the river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles?

What happens to an obstacle in a river over time?

- It erodes, it gets smoothed.

Do all obstacles erode at the same rate?

Are your obstacles eroding quickly enough for you?

What control do you have over this process? [Increased flow = increased erosion rate].

What does pushing the obstacle around accomplish?

- Uses up your energy - tires you out

- May seem to be less in your way but may now be in someone else’s way.

What is the most important thing we can offer to our world? [rivers of living water from our innermost being]

Sept 7 - FOUNTAINS

John 4:14 ”...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life..."

Context:

- Jesus meeting with the Samaritan women.

- She has come to draw water from the well.

- He relates the truth about living water, about fountains springing up.

Consider the use of different types of fountains.

What do people expect from a drinking fountain?

- Clean refreshing water.

- They need refreshing - they go to the fountain.

- Is it disappointing when they aren’t working properly and there’s just a trickle?

- How do people see us?

- Do they expect to be refreshed by coming to us? Are they disappointed?

What do people expect from a rinsing fountain, like what’s in some public restrooms, with a whole series of water jets?

- Enough flow to help them feel clean.

- Is it disappointing when they aren’t working properly and there’s just a trickle?

- How do people see us?

- Do they expect to feel better, cleaner because of being with us? Are they?

What do people expect from a display fountain, like in a mall or a park, with water jetting high in the air?

- Relaxation. Pausing in their busy lives to be soothed by the sight and sound of it.

- Is it disappointing when they aren’t working properly and there’s just a trickle?

- Are people enjoying a fountain springing up in our lives?

- Do we bring relaxation and peace to those who come in contact with us?

Jesus didn’t say that the water he gives will move in us like an underground pipeline, six feet under where no one knows about it.

He doesn’t say ‘your faith is personal and you must keep it to yourself - its just between Me and you’.

When we drink of the water he offers, it becomes a fountain springing up

- We can provide refreshing to others

- We can provide cleansing rinse to others

- We can provide a calming peace for others

Sept 8 - DESTROY

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “...For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,...”

Why is it important to understand Spiritual Warfare?

- the enemy isn’t our spouse, our children, our boss, our pastor, our church board, our school board, our president, etc.

- if we’re warring against any of these, we’re fighting in the flesh, in the natural, and we’re not recognizing where the true fight must be fought.

Why is it important to use the correct weapons?

- fleshly weapons are only effective in fleshly battles, and that is not our fight. (bullying or rhetoric to outwit or outmaneuver)

- using the wrong weapons puts a person in jeopardy.

- the weapons we use aren’t the usual ones - they’re the big guns. (God’s word, prayer, the name of Jesus).

- using superior weapons makes winning wars easier.

What are divinely powerful weapons to accomplish? [destruction of strongholds and speculations]

What are strongholds?

- A stronghold is an area that has been fortified for the enemy’s use.

- It’s a place from which the enemy attacks with strength.

What are some areas that the devil has fortified in our country? [media, hollywood, etc]

How can Christians destroy these strongholds? [Not with the world’s weapons, but with divine weapons]

What are speculations (imaginations, arguments, pretensions)?

- engaging in endeavors involving considerable risk but offering the chance of large personal profit.

- the devil’s alternatives that tempt people to abandon God’s simple truth.

What are some speculations that the devil is using in our country? [abortion, homosexuality, etc.]

How can Christians destroy these speculations? [Not with the world’s weapons, but with divine weapons]

What does Oswald mean by saying you can destroy by neglect or destroy by violence?

- Neglect - don’t feed it, it will die.

- Violence - overpower it with something mightier.