Review of Week 44:

DEATH and LIFE: We are justified by His atoning death, and we shall be saved by His resurrection life.

FORMED: Salvation is the process of Christ being formed in us (Gal. 4:19 )

REAL FAITH: When we move from talking to walking, we move from faith ideals to REAL FAITH.

TRIED FAITH: We must be built up in faith that is REAL and TRIED

PURCHASED: We were bought with a price. We need to care less about ourselves and more about the kingdom.

LOVE and KEEP: As our love of God increases, keeping commandments becomes an increasingly natural and simple way of life.

DEAD and ALIVE: Are we fully identified with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ?

Nov. 4 - DRAW NEAR

James 4:8 “...Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded...”

Context:

v1 - quarrels and fights come from passion.

v2 - desires lead to inappropriate behavior.

v3 - friendship with the world’s way of doing things is enmity with God.

v6 - God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

v7 - the devil should be resisted.

v8 - draw near to God.

v12 - He is the lawgiver and judge.

Ex. 3:1-4 contains the burning bush incident while Moses was in Midian.

- Moses saw a burning bush.

- He drew near.

- God spoke to him.

What should we do when we are exposed to a truth from God?

- observing from a distance leaves us unchanged.

- moving closer leads to interaction with God.

Transact

- action across the space between you and God.

- moving from our place in this world to position ourselves before God.

What happens when we execute this transaction?

- the pull of the world and Satan’s lies become less of a problem.

- the truth becomes clearer and imprinted upon our character.

Are we taking every opportunity to draw near?

Nov. 5 - SUFFER

1 Peter 4:13 “...but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation...”

Context:

v1 - Christ suffered in the flesh. We’re to think the same way.

v2 - we’re not to live from human passions.

v3,4 - when we don’t join in the world’s sensuality and partying, we will be maligned.

v5,6 - the gospel is preached to get people from flesh to Spirit.

v7-10 - we’re to be self controlled, sober, loving, hospitable, good stewards.

v12 - we shouldn’t be surprised by testing trials.

v17 - judgment begins at the household of God.

Why are we to embrace trials?

- we’re sharing in Christ’s sufferings.

v19 “...those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right...”

Is all suffering the same?

- can suffer for doing wrong (murder, theft, etc.)

- can suffer for doing good.

How does avoiding suffering “short circuit” the will of God?

What happens through suffering?

- stamping out of personal ambitions.

- destruction of individual determinations.

- preparation for greater use.

Nov. 6 - PERSONAL BELIEF

John 11:26 “...and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?..."

Context:

- Lazarus was ill.

- Mary and Martha sent for Jesus.

- Jesus waits two days to respond.

- Lazarus dies.

- By the time Jesus gets to Bethany, Lazarus has been dead four days.

- John 11:23 “...Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again..."

Does Martha believe the words of Jesus?

- she believes within her program of belief.

- she believes Lazarus will rise on the last day.

Does Martha understand what Jesus is saying?

- she’s focused on future events. Jesus is working in the now.

What was the sisters’ “ordeal of doubt”?

- they had programmed belief.

- things didn’t go as planned.

- Jesus didn’t handle the situation the way they thought it should be handled.

What did Jesus do?

- He handled the situation in His way, raising Lazarus now, and glorifying God.

What is the difference between programmed belief and personal belief? [a “system of belief” misses the personal nature of a living God who reigns and interacts with humanity every day]

Nov. 7 - HIS PURPOSES

Romans 8:28 “...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...”

Context:

v1-3 - we have to put to death the deeds of the body if we are to truly live.

v17 - we’re heirs with Christ, providing we suffer with Him.

v20,21 - creation has been subjected to futility, but will be freed from its bondage.

v23 - likewise, we groan inwardly, waiting.

v25 - we hope for what we do not see.

v26 - we have difficulty in prayer.

v28 God is working all things together for good.

For whom is God working?

- those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

Is there a part of your life that you wish never happened?

Is there currently something in your life from which you want to escape?

Are you having difficulty in prayer over certain circumstances?

Are these part of the all things that God works together for good?

Does God know what He’s doing?

Do we trust Him?

Can God redeem your entire existence and use every part of it for His purposes?

What is our part? [love Him and answer the call to His purposes]

Nov. 8 - PRAYER TEMPLE

Rom.8:26,27 “...In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God...”

Do we know how to pray?

How does the Spirit help us?

Can we pray without words?

Can our spirit, with the Holy Spirit, interact in the spiritual dimension without our words?

When and how does this happen?

Can our words interfere with the deeper groanings?

Why did Jesus cast the moneychangers out of the temple?

- Matt.21:13 “...And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a robbers' den..."

- the house of prayer was being used for selfish ends.

Where is the temple of the Holy Spirit?

- 1 Cor.6:19 “...Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?...”

- is the temple being used for selfish ends?

Are we guarding the temple?

Nov. 9 - GOD’S POWER

Col.1:24 “...Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions...”

Did Christ suffer?

Why did Christ suffer?

- theologically: He took the penalty for all the sin of mankind.

- practically: Religious people didn’t like His message.

What is the difference between preaching the historic facts about Jesus and preaching the effects of redemption?

- historic facts: God’s reality, God’s intentions, God’s plan [God centered].

- effects of redemption: man’s reality, man’s preferences [man centered].

Was there anything lacking in Christ’s afflictions?

- no, He finished the work.

- yes, the enemies of God’s truth have not had their fill of persecuting Christ in believers.

How can personality get in the way of preaching the gospel truth?

- 1 Cor. 1:17 “...For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void...”

- 1 Cor. 2:4,5 “...and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God...”

- being attracted to a personality is not the same as being attracted to God.

- there is a major difference between the wisdom of man and the power of God.

Are we looking for God’s powerful life, or simply a wise presentation?

We must be prepared to suffer when we choose God’s power over the wisdom of men.

Nov. 10 - COWORKER

1 Thes.3:2 “...and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,...”

Do we consider ourselves coworkers? Fellow workers in the gospel of Christ?

Do we have ambitions or agendas that differ from God’s?

Does God expect every believer to be on the mission field?

What is the mission field?

What is the mission?

Where are laborers needed?

Which scenario best describes our Christian life?

- We’re looking for the blessings of God, the truth of the universe, and the peace that passes understanding.

- We’re blessing others, exposing lies, and helping others find the peace that passes understanding.

Are we fellow workers?

Should we be?