Review of Week 49:

PRESS ON: We need to lay hold of that for which God has laid hold of us, not our idealistic vision of a perfect world.

SPIRIT POWER: It isn’t about what we’ve figured out intellectually, it’s about the Spirit’s Power to give us life.

OVERCOME: Tension is a reality as we overcome the forces acting against us.

WORK it OUT: Working it out involves knowing what God is doing, making appropriate decisions, and living responsibly.

ESTABLISHED COVENANT: The covenant made by God is firmly established. It is available to anyone who will receive it.

REPENTANCE: Repentance is the bedrock of Christianity. It is the path from sin to salvation that differentiates Godly grief from worldly grief.

PERFECTED: Knowing we are perfected by Him gives great joy. Not knowing leaves us in fear.

Dec. 9 - CRUCIFIED

Galatians 5:24 “...Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires...”

Context:

- Christ has set us free.

- we shouldn’t use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.

- if we walk by the Spirit, we don’t gratify the desires of the flesh.

- works of the flesh are evident.

- fruit of the Spirit is evident.

- the flesh must be crucified.

What is crucifixion?

- a deliberately slow and painful execution.

- performed to terrorize and dissuade those that witnessed it.

- it involves both pain and public exposure.

Do we do this with our flesh?

Why is giving up sin not enough?

- trying to control outcome is insufficient.

- it’s like pulling heads off dandelions.

- as long as the root remains, more will appear.

What is the root of sin?

- flesh - my right to myself.

Why are self help and self improvement attempts dangerous?

- there’s a deception present when a person thinks they’ve gone from bad to better.

- the ceiling that caps human efforts to be good is way below the holiness demanded by God.

How much flesh must be crucified?

- not some, but all.

What does it mean to deny self, and why is it difficult?

Dec. 10 - SPIRITUAL

Galatians 4:22 “...For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman...”

Context:

- talking about position in the kingdom.

- to be immature is to be no better than a slave.

- this natural world enslaves everyone.

- Jesus coming is about redemption and adoption.

- the option still exists to be enslaved once more.

- the process of Christ being formed in us is like the anguish of child birth.

- Abraham gave birth in two different ways:

- slave woman birth by flesh.

- free woman birth by promise.

How does one get from the natural to the spiritual?

- would perfect obedience accomplish it?

- is perfect obedience possible?

Why was sacrifice (ram, Jesus) necessary? [sin]

What must happen before we can walk by the Spirit?

- the sinful nature must be sacrificed.

What happens if the sinful nature isn’t sacrificed?

- it makes a mockery of godly life.

- it produces a continual swither (agitation resulting from active worry).

What does it take to avoid a continual swither?

- self sacrifice.

- self discipline.

Dec. 11 - PERSONAL LIFE

Matthew 16:24 “...Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me...”

Context:

- the Pharisees and Sadducees want a sign from heaven.

- Jesus warns his disciples to beware of the leaven (the teaching) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

- Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.

- Jesus starts explaining His coming death and resurrection.

- Peter doesn’t yield to God’s plan and Jesus recognizes Satan in him.

What are the distinguishing features of the work of Satan? (v.23)

- mind set on things of men, not God.

- hinderance of what God is doing.

What is the solution for this hinderance (v.24,25)

- deny self, take up cross, follow Christ.

What is individuality? [distinctions of self]

What is personal life? [a person’s place in the kingdom]

How does individuality interfere with personal life?

- without a personal place in God’s bigger plans, individuality is independent and self serving.

- individuality fights for self-preservation.

How is personal life far beyond individuality?

- a person’s life as a part of the kingdom of God is far more valuable and fulfilling than anything individuality can attain.

Dec. 12 - UNITY

John 17:22 “...The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;...”

Context:

- the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus.

- the work is done. It’s time for glory.

- Jesus was faithful in giving words.

- His disciples had received them.

- both v.11 and v.22 say “...that they may be one, even as we are one...”

Judges 17:6 and 21:25 ”...In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes...”

What problems are created when everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes?

Is this a description of our current world?

What was the oneness that Jesus was praying for his disciples?

- unity, not uniformity.

- everyone’s personal life working together in the kingdom.

What would the world be like without a variety of personalities?

Do personality differences lead to problems?

- not if everyone is desiring the unity that Jesus prayed for.

- only if individuals are more concerned with individual desires than with God’s desires.

How is the presence of various personalities a recipe for true life?

- we’re shallow, narrow, and incomplete without each other.

What is the greatest gift given to mankind? How does it promote unity?

- agape, the unconditional selfless love of God

- it is always more concerned for others than for self.

- it pulls people together rather than pushing people apart.

Dec. 13 - INTERCESSION

Luke 18:1 “...Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,...”

Context:

- parable of the persistent widow.

- the judge was neither God fearing or respected.

- the widow kept pleading her case.

- the judge finally gave her justice.

Is God just?

Will God give justice?

What is intercession?

- entreaty in favor of another

- a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another.

When is intercession futile sympathy?

- when we don’t understand God’s heart.

- when we don’t persist in finding His heart.

What is the difference between putting yourself in a person’s place, and putting yourself in place of God?

- to go to God on behalf of the person, we must understand their place.

- we can never be God to people.

What do you find difficult in intercession?

- the amount of need all around us?

- the temptation to be Mr. Fix It rather than a connection point between people and God?

How can being Mr. Fix It actually be a problem?

- if we prevent connection with God’s reality, our band aids can be more harm than good.

Dec. 14 - PEACE

John 14:27 “...Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful...”

Context:

- Jesus doesn’t want hearts to be troubled.

- there is a place for us.

- Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

- if we believe in Jesus, we do His works, and greater works.

- the Holy Spirit is our helper.

- the Holy Spirit teaches all things.

- Jesus offers peace - our hearts won’t be troubled.

Why does trying to serve both God and self lead to perplexity?

- God’s purpose and our desires are rarely in agreement.

Why does this lead to troubled hearts?

- people want what people want, and God doesn’t seem to be cooperating.

Does Jesus want us to have troubled hearts?

How can a person have peace in a troubled world?

- recognize that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

- respond to the Holy Spirit, who is our helper and teacher.

- embrace the reality that what God is doing is more valuable than our preferences.

- simply obey.

How can ‘problem facing’ move from perplexity to excitement?

- problems from disobedience will always perplex us.

- problems that arise while obeying God have the assurance of heaven’s resources and outcomes.

Dec. 15 - TRUTH

2 Timothy 2:15 “...Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth...”

Context:

- soldiers, athletes, and farmers must all be true to something beyond themselves.

- people should not be distracted from the rules of engagement.

- words have the potential to ruin people.

- the truth must be rightly handled or people are led into more and more ungodliness.

Is there truth in the world?

Do we possess all of it?

Does this mean we believe some lies?

How do we move into more truth?

- revelation from God can be directly, through His word, through His people, through His creation.

- life experiences.

- working through perplexities.

Are we interesting in coming to the truth?

What’s the difference between having truth and borrowing truth?

- voicing a truth, usually with cliches, doesn’t mean we are really living there.

What’s the difference between making truth and finding truth?

- people construct their own preferred truth systems.

- real truth is found by those who wrestle with God.