Review of Week 38:

PIOUS BLETHER: Earnest, but foolish and irrelevant talk won’t work. Draw near and receive help in time of need.

TEMPTATION: If we are alive, we will face temptations. We must recognize, and use, the way of escape. We must not try to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways.

TEMPTATION: Don’t get all religious by focusing on controlling outer enticements. Get relational. Get personal with Jesus about your inmost desires.

STAND BY JESUS: Don’t turn back when curiosity turns to challenge.

PERFECT: Jesus described the way of the kingdom: the attitudes, the actions, the love. We are to be this way.

HIS SERVANT: We were formed for Him.

TEACHER: The Lord of everything is a teacher for those who will learn.

Sept.23 - ONWARD

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...”

Why did Jesus go up to Jerusalem? [to fulfill the Father’s intentions for His life on earth]

Why did the disciples go up to Jerusalem? [they were following Jesus]

How can persecution interfere with fulfilling the Father’s intentions?

- making decisions to avoid persecution derails an otherwise faithful life!

How can acceptance interfere with fulfilling the Father’s intentions?

Luke 4:42-43 “...When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose..."

How can blessings interfere with fulfilling the Father’s intentions?

John 4:34-38 “...Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.' "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor..."

Luke 10:2 ”...And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest...”

Basking in blessing can make one less eager to work the fields.

How are we affected by gratitude or ingratitude?

How can we keep the most important things the most important things?

Sept.24 - RECONCILIATION

Matthew 5:22-24 “...But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering...”

What is the difference between a brother having something against you, and you having something against a brother?

Which does God say is your business?

Does God see things that you don’t see?

Is God interesting in taking care of things, both good and bad?

- encourages growth of the good.

- encourages death of the bad.

What is the difference between admitting sin and confessing sin?

- admitting is saying I was wrong, but it can still be done arrogantly.

- confessing is a deeper, more humbling process, that leads to true repentance.

What does it mean to give up your right to yourself?

Can God guide you into something you don’t want to do if you won’t surrender your right to yourself?

Do you have the right to be annoyed, frustrated, angry, demanding, etc.?

Can God ask you to give up these rights?

Sept.25 - GO FURTHER

Matthew 5:41 "...Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two...”

Will disciples of Jesus meet tyranny and injustice in this world?

What is the example of this cited in Matt.5:41?

- a Roman soldier could make anyone carry their gear for a mile.

- was this fair?

What did Jesus say is the appropriate response?

- not complain.

- not appeal to higher authorities.

- do twice as much as what is demanded.

How can this be done without resentment?

- enthusiasm alone can’t stand up to the strain.

- a list of rights and wrongs won’t lead to this type of humility.

- relationship with Jesus and a submission to purposes beyond our preference and understanding is the only way this is possible.

Has our disposition been replaced with the disposition of Jesus?

The supernatural is beyond us, so to live in this realm we must get beyond our natural inclinations.

Sept.26 - RECONCILIATION

Matthew 5:22-24 “...But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering...”

Same scripture as Sept.24.

1. We’re bringing ourselves and/or our sacrifice before God.

2. The Holy Spirit gently convicts us of unfinished business.

3. We must go and reconcile any problem created by our attitude or actions.

4. Then we can approach God correctly.

Sept.27 - COST

Luke 9:57 “...As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go..."

Context:

- Jesus “...set His face to go to Jerusalem...”

- Jesus explains the cost of following Him.

Has following Jesus been everything you hoped it would be?

Are there situations or events that cause people to stop following Jesus?

Luke 9:58 “...And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head..."

- does this sound like the type of rest you prefer to experience by coming to Jesus?

- the intentions of Jesus go beyond the natural order of things.

- the intentions of Jesus may not be pleasing to me.

Luke 9:59-60 ”...And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God..."

- is it wrong to fulfill earthly responsibilities?

- do our priorities always have Jesus on the top of the list?

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 does it mean to be fiercely ready but never go?

- we want to follow Jesus but our eyes keep looking in the wrong direction.

What does it cost to follow Jesus?

- it may not please me.

- it requires prioritizing my life.

- it requires action.

Sept.28 - OUR ISSUE

Mark 10:21 “...Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me..."

Context:

The rich young man comes up and kneels before Jesus.

He asks what he must do to inherit eternal life.

He claims to have followed the commandments from his youth.

Jesus doesn’t dispute his story.

What is Jesus’ response?

1. Love: Jesus looks at people with great unconditional love.

2. Get rid of ___: Jesus identifies our issue - that which has enslaved us and keeps us from following Him.

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...”

Have you ever heard anyone say “I hate my life”?

Have you ever said it, or felt it?

Is this considered a positive or negative thing?

Is it a prerequisite for being a disciple (following Jesus)?

Is it the starting gate for inheriting eternal life?

Does Jesus love us enough to bring us to the point of decision in the area most critical to our following Him?

Does His response to us make us sad?

Sept.29 - DOWN WITH RIGHTS

1 Corinthians 9:16 ”...For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel...”

Context:

- Paul explains the rights that exist for those that serve the Lord.

- Paul then lays down his rights to avoid putting an obstacle in the way of spreading the gospel.

- His stewardship of the gospel is more important than his personal rights.

Are there more than a few things in life that clamor for our attention and mental processing?

Where do these things stand in relation to the purposes of God?

How can raging circumstances be a reminder to put first things first?

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;...”

Can God work ALL things together for good?

What good? [to become conformed to the image of His son]

To what does being conformed lead?

- being good stewards of the gospel.

- not demanding our rights.