PRAYER LIFE SEMINAR
Learning To Pray In A Distracting World
“How do you stay focused when you are distracted with so much to do?”
“How do you pray longer than five minutes?”
“How do you pray when your own life is messed up?”
“How do you ask when you’ve tried it before and it doesn’t work?”
Come learn the answers to these questions!
Join us on August 26, 2006 @ 8:45 a.m.
Lunch & Childcare provided
$15 a person
Register now ONLINE www.ompc.org
Oak Mountain has a prayer conference coming soon.
Led by Paul Miller
"Many of us are quietly defeated in our private prayer lives. We've tried praying, but it just doesn't seem to work. So we feel frustrated and guilty.
Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith, but it is often uncomfortable for Christians because it arouses feelings of frustration and guilt for them. Difficult questions that often contribute to these feelings are:
How do I start praying when my own prayers put me to sleep?
How do I ask when I've tried it before and it doesn't work?
In this seminar, we will learn step-by-step how to begin a private life of prayer in fellowship with our heavenly Father."
(For more information, please visit Paul's ministry website - www.seejesus.net)
About the speaker: http://www.seejesus.net/about_director.html
Friday, August 25, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness - Jim McCool
(Meekness and Humility)
July 30, 2006
Blessed is the man … He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalms 1:1,3
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Gal 5:22-25
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
1. What does gentleness look like & What does gentleness not look like?
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Isa 41:17, Lu 18:1-8) Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will. (Ga 5:23) Strong’s Lexicon in The Unbound Bible
"Meekness" is more in the mind internally; "gentleness" in the external behavior, and in relation to others… Jamieson Fausset Brown
>Self-forgetful and Others-rememberful
Strong’s Lexicon brings out two directions for the characteristic of gentleness, or meekness. The meekness toward God is anchored in the confidence that God will bring about justice in His time. This is related to what Gordon was talking about in the lesson on joy – specifically in adversity. It is also related to patience. It believes God is in control and He is bringing about, or allowing, what is best. The second direction is gentleness toward people. Gentleness is other-focused, not self-focused. It doesn’t create strife or dissention. This statement in Strong’s also points out how it is God’s goodness that allows the gentle person to be good to others. This is just another indication that the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit; all these characteristics come along together when the Spirit is bringing about growth.
James 3: 13, 16-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom…. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
>Temperament vs. Gentleness as a characteristic of Spiritual fruit
Some of us have temperaments that are the opposite of whatever Pleasers are. Our natural inclination is to view almost all of our anger as righteous indignation. We point to Jesus driving out the money changers, or just before he healed the man with the withered hand on a Sabbath and he looked around at the crowd with anger, or when he bellowed for Lazarus to come forth. We look at these and we say, “Yea, Jesus! That’s what I’m talking about!” And we justify our reactive temperaments. Clearly, we do not need anyone to tell us that it’s OK for God’s children to be angry about certain things. We know how to be angry all too well.
Others of us do, in fact, have the Pleaser temperament. We will just let folks string us out until we are way over-extended. We think we are being so gentle. Then, in order to keep from disappointing someone, we may resort to “a little white lie”.
Another distortion of a Pleaser temperament leads some of us to have a definition of gentleness that somehow includes passive-aggressive manipulation.
Coercing or manipulating others is not the same as being gentle. Denying our gifts as image-bearers also is not being gentle.
>Gentleness and Strength, or Courage, are not mutually exclusive
We have heard it said, “Meekness is not weakness.” The reference that John gave all of us to use as a starting spot for these lessons is The Fruit of the Spirit by John W. Sanderson. He camps out on the point in the chapter on gentleness that this characteristic does not exclude strength or courage. If we look at Moses, David or Paul, they were hardly men of weakness. John Sanderson makes the point that Christ was meek, but it took infinite strength for him to go through what he did for us.
Within the work of the kingdom, there are times and reasons for exercising more gentleness or more strength. And, courage is necessary to exercise either in a spirit of wisdom.
2 Corinthians 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
I Corinthians 4: 20-21 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Perhaps another way to look at this gentleness & strength issue is to recognize that it takes the meekness of wisdom and strength of character in order to bless others or to lead them into the throne room of God.
>Christ set an example of gentleness/meekness/humility
Psalms 45:4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 21:5 Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
Isaiah 53:7 and 1 Peter 2:21-23 Show us that Jesus’ response to evil against him was to silently entrust the situation and its outcome to God.
>Other examples
Moses Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Paul 1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
2. Where and when do we see it in Scripture?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt 5:5 (also Psalms 37:11) We see that there are some similarities between the fruit of the Spirit and the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are like the fruit of the Spirit in that they are not usually recognized as being descriptive of different kinds of people with different blessings. They are characteristics of a single kind of people who have a deep and complete sense of well-being as a result of recognizing how God is: (1) meeting their needs; and (2) strengthening them for service. Other places in Scripture where gentleness, meekness or humility is a characteristic of blessing or action:
Receive the word of God with gentlenessJames 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Answer for our hope with gentleness1 Peter 3:15-16 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (apologian) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Restore the erring with gentlenessGalatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Instruct opposers with gentleness2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Ministers are to … Titus 3:1,2 Remind [believers] to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once … But … God our Savior appeared….
It distinguishes those who are adorned and saved by God Psalms 76:8-9 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth.
Psalms 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Psalms 149:4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
By being teachable, the gentle are taughtPsalms 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Increases our joy Isaiah 29:19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Fosters unity in the church
Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. How do we get it?
>Diligently - We are to be aware of going after it.
1 Timothy 6:10-12 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.
Here, it is characteristic of those who are being saved. And, those who are already humble are to seek humility. So, we are to seek growth in the fruit (this is active, not passively sitting and waiting).
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Here, these characteristics are contrasted with anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, etc. as Paul tells us to put off the latter and to put on the former. The same Greek word to “put on” is used here as is used in Eph 6 where we are told to put on the whole armor of God. It involves our active participation.
>Communally
Most of the graces, fruit given by the Spirit, are evidenced only in community. Gentleness, along with patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control are all evidenced only in community. Not only are they evidenced in community, they won’t grow apart from community. e.g. Patience (or as KJV says, “long-suffering”) You can’t be long-suffering without being long-bothered.
Not only do we need other muscadine vines, we need the right kind of muscadines!
We need the right kind of community. We need a community where we have given others permission to speak into our lives. This won’t be everyone in the church; but, if there’s no one who has the right to speak into your life and point out where there’s an absence of fruit, then you aren’t hanging out with the right muscadines. Getting to that place takes intentional wisdom.
>Paradoxically
Spiritual fruit bearing is organic growth. It’s not mechanical; it’s organic. What’s the difference?
What does it take for a seed to grow? It has to die.
Organic growth of Spiritual fruit is paradoxical in a way.
What does it mean to be self-forgetful?
Is this a Biblical mandate? Absolutely. Think of others more highly than we think of ourselves.
But, what does it mean for us to study and show ourselves approved? We have to be self-aware.
How can we do both: self-forgetful and self-aware?
Seeing little stars at night is clearer with our peripheral vision. We gaze in one direction and we see more objects in our peripheral vision than if we looked straight at the area where those objects reside. Likewise, when we gaze at Jesus, we are able to see more of ourselves and more of others.
There has to be recognition of our weaknesses without an intense focus on us or them. If we’re trying so hard to be gentle, or humble, or meek, it’s still about us. When there’s a focus on “growing fruit”, the flesh will absolutely turn it into a performance. And, then, we are under the law again.
>Crucifixically
What’s the solution? Crucify the flesh (vs 24). But, focusing on crucifying the flesh, just like focusing on growing fruit, is just another focus toward a performance-based identity. So, how do we do this? Notice that “crucifying the flesh” is always linked with the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16 & 24). Having desires is not bad. The flesh does desire; but, the Spirit desires, too (Gal 5:17). God created us with desires. So, gratifying the flesh versus crucifying the flesh doesn’t have to do with getting rid of our desires. It has to do with what our desires are.
For example:
Desiring the acceptance of others is not a bad thing. When it becomes an ultimate thing, we have set our hearts and minds on the things below. We have turned a good thing into an ultimate thing. When my sense of being a valuable person is dependent upon another person’s acceptance, that person’s acceptance has become my God. At the point I am aware of it, I have to say to myself, “The God who made me with the desire for acceptance … that God does accept me! That’s the ultimate acceptance I really want and need.”
First, I have to be aware of where I have placed my highest desire. Then, I remember where my ultimate identity and satisfaction lie. I remember that God “takes pleasure in his people, he adorns the humble with salvation (Ps 149:4 and Col 3:12)
When the flesh is being crucified like this, the fruit will grow. When the fruit grows, it includes gentleness.
(Meekness and Humility)
July 30, 2006
Blessed is the man … He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalms 1:1,3
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Gal 5:22-25
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
1. What does gentleness look like & What does gentleness not look like?
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Isa 41:17, Lu 18:1-8) Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will. (Ga 5:23) Strong’s Lexicon in The Unbound Bible
"Meekness" is more in the mind internally; "gentleness" in the external behavior, and in relation to others… Jamieson Fausset Brown
>Self-forgetful and Others-rememberful
Strong’s Lexicon brings out two directions for the characteristic of gentleness, or meekness. The meekness toward God is anchored in the confidence that God will bring about justice in His time. This is related to what Gordon was talking about in the lesson on joy – specifically in adversity. It is also related to patience. It believes God is in control and He is bringing about, or allowing, what is best. The second direction is gentleness toward people. Gentleness is other-focused, not self-focused. It doesn’t create strife or dissention. This statement in Strong’s also points out how it is God’s goodness that allows the gentle person to be good to others. This is just another indication that the fruit of the Spirit is one fruit; all these characteristics come along together when the Spirit is bringing about growth.
James 3: 13, 16-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom…. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
>Temperament vs. Gentleness as a characteristic of Spiritual fruit
Some of us have temperaments that are the opposite of whatever Pleasers are. Our natural inclination is to view almost all of our anger as righteous indignation. We point to Jesus driving out the money changers, or just before he healed the man with the withered hand on a Sabbath and he looked around at the crowd with anger, or when he bellowed for Lazarus to come forth. We look at these and we say, “Yea, Jesus! That’s what I’m talking about!” And we justify our reactive temperaments. Clearly, we do not need anyone to tell us that it’s OK for God’s children to be angry about certain things. We know how to be angry all too well.
Others of us do, in fact, have the Pleaser temperament. We will just let folks string us out until we are way over-extended. We think we are being so gentle. Then, in order to keep from disappointing someone, we may resort to “a little white lie”.
Another distortion of a Pleaser temperament leads some of us to have a definition of gentleness that somehow includes passive-aggressive manipulation.
Coercing or manipulating others is not the same as being gentle. Denying our gifts as image-bearers also is not being gentle.
>Gentleness and Strength, or Courage, are not mutually exclusive
We have heard it said, “Meekness is not weakness.” The reference that John gave all of us to use as a starting spot for these lessons is The Fruit of the Spirit by John W. Sanderson. He camps out on the point in the chapter on gentleness that this characteristic does not exclude strength or courage. If we look at Moses, David or Paul, they were hardly men of weakness. John Sanderson makes the point that Christ was meek, but it took infinite strength for him to go through what he did for us.
Within the work of the kingdom, there are times and reasons for exercising more gentleness or more strength. And, courage is necessary to exercise either in a spirit of wisdom.
2 Corinthians 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
I Corinthians 4: 20-21 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
Perhaps another way to look at this gentleness & strength issue is to recognize that it takes the meekness of wisdom and strength of character in order to bless others or to lead them into the throne room of God.
>Christ set an example of gentleness/meekness/humility
Psalms 45:4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 21:5 Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
Isaiah 53:7 and 1 Peter 2:21-23 Show us that Jesus’ response to evil against him was to silently entrust the situation and its outcome to God.
>Other examples
Moses Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Paul 1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
2. Where and when do we see it in Scripture?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt 5:5 (also Psalms 37:11) We see that there are some similarities between the fruit of the Spirit and the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are like the fruit of the Spirit in that they are not usually recognized as being descriptive of different kinds of people with different blessings. They are characteristics of a single kind of people who have a deep and complete sense of well-being as a result of recognizing how God is: (1) meeting their needs; and (2) strengthening them for service. Other places in Scripture where gentleness, meekness or humility is a characteristic of blessing or action:
Receive the word of God with gentlenessJames 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Answer for our hope with gentleness1 Peter 3:15-16 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (apologian) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Restore the erring with gentlenessGalatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Instruct opposers with gentleness2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Ministers are to … Titus 3:1,2 Remind [believers] to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once … But … God our Savior appeared….
It distinguishes those who are adorned and saved by God Psalms 76:8-9 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth.
Psalms 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Psalms 149:4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
By being teachable, the gentle are taughtPsalms 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Increases our joy Isaiah 29:19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Fosters unity in the church
Ephesians 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
3. How do we get it?
>Diligently - We are to be aware of going after it.
1 Timothy 6:10-12 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.
Here, it is characteristic of those who are being saved. And, those who are already humble are to seek humility. So, we are to seek growth in the fruit (this is active, not passively sitting and waiting).
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Here, these characteristics are contrasted with anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, etc. as Paul tells us to put off the latter and to put on the former. The same Greek word to “put on” is used here as is used in Eph 6 where we are told to put on the whole armor of God. It involves our active participation.
>Communally
Most of the graces, fruit given by the Spirit, are evidenced only in community. Gentleness, along with patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control are all evidenced only in community. Not only are they evidenced in community, they won’t grow apart from community. e.g. Patience (or as KJV says, “long-suffering”) You can’t be long-suffering without being long-bothered.
We need the right kind of community. We need a community where we have given others permission to speak into our lives. This won’t be everyone in the church; but, if there’s no one who has the right to speak into your life and point out where there’s an absence of fruit, then you aren’t hanging out with the right muscadines. Getting to that place takes intentional wisdom.
>Paradoxically
Spiritual fruit bearing is organic growth. It’s not mechanical; it’s organic. What’s the difference?
What does it take for a seed to grow? It has to die.
Organic growth of Spiritual fruit is paradoxical in a way.
What does it mean to be self-forgetful?
Is this a Biblical mandate? Absolutely. Think of others more highly than we think of ourselves.
But, what does it mean for us to study and show ourselves approved? We have to be self-aware.
How can we do both: self-forgetful and self-aware?
Seeing little stars at night is clearer with our peripheral vision. We gaze in one direction and we see more objects in our peripheral vision than if we looked straight at the area where those objects reside. Likewise, when we gaze at Jesus, we are able to see more of ourselves and more of others.
There has to be recognition of our weaknesses without an intense focus on us or them. If we’re trying so hard to be gentle, or humble, or meek, it’s still about us. When there’s a focus on “growing fruit”, the flesh will absolutely turn it into a performance. And, then, we are under the law again.
>Crucifixically
What’s the solution? Crucify the flesh (vs 24). But, focusing on crucifying the flesh, just like focusing on growing fruit, is just another focus toward a performance-based identity. So, how do we do this? Notice that “crucifying the flesh” is always linked with the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16 & 24). Having desires is not bad. The flesh does desire; but, the Spirit desires, too (Gal 5:17). God created us with desires. So, gratifying the flesh versus crucifying the flesh doesn’t have to do with getting rid of our desires. It has to do with what our desires are.
For example:
Desiring the acceptance of others is not a bad thing. When it becomes an ultimate thing, we have set our hearts and minds on the things below. We have turned a good thing into an ultimate thing. When my sense of being a valuable person is dependent upon another person’s acceptance, that person’s acceptance has become my God. At the point I am aware of it, I have to say to myself, “The God who made me with the desire for acceptance … that God does accept me! That’s the ultimate acceptance I really want and need.”
First, I have to be aware of where I have placed my highest desire. Then, I remember where my ultimate identity and satisfaction lie. I remember that God “takes pleasure in his people, he adorns the humble with salvation (Ps 149:4 and Col 3:12)
When the flesh is being crucified like this, the fruit will grow. When the fruit grows, it includes gentleness.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Faithfulness -- July 15, 2006 -- John Pounders
Background
Galatians is the context for the fruit of the Spirit and that is important to understanding the significance. Why did Paul write the letter? He wrote to put down doctrinal error, some of which was coming from the Judizers, and to asset himself as God’s messenger and prophet to them.
In the delivery we get a great view of what a grace orientation vs. a works orientation to the Christian live looks like.
A balanced view of Grace is what we seek here at OMPC. We have such a wonderful opportunity to live out the Gospel of Grace within this community and to be a light to those around us.
Orientation in life
Galatians --> GRACE --> Faith --> Miracles 3:5
Holy Living 3:3, 4:19
Adoption 4:5
Promises to Abraham’s seed 3:29
GRACE ---> fruit of the Spirit
WORKS ---> curse ---> Bondage 4:24f
Ignorance 4:8
Rebellion against God and His Spirit
Rejection from the inheritance 4:30
Gal 5: 22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Galatians 5: 22,23
Goal: Your God is faithful to you and you can, by his power, be faithful to Him.
What is Faithfulness?
The Hebrew root from which the words translated "faithful" and "faithfulness" in the Old Testament are derived means to prop or stay or support. The intransitive use of the word signifies to stay oneself or be supported; hence, the word "faithful", as applied to a person, means someone a person can safely lean upon. The Greek word used in the New Testament means trustworthy or to be relied upon, but this Greek word is the same used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word mentioned above, and of course gets its meaning from this usage.
Why be faithful?
Examples of the faithful from Scriptures
4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
Daniel 6:4
1 Timothy 1:12
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
Paul
Moses
6 And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
Numbers 12:6-7
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,
Hebrews 3:5
Nehemiah 7
1Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.
Hanani and Hananiah
Workman repairing the temple of the Lord
2 Kings 12:10-17
10 When they saw that there was much money in the chest, (A)the king's scribe and the high priest came up and tied it in bags and counted the money which was found in the house of the LORD.
11 They gave the money which was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD;
12 and (B)to the masons and the stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the damages to the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13 But (C)there were not made for the house of the LORD (D)silver cups, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver from the money which was brought into the house of the LORD;
14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
15 Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully.
Abraham
Galatians 3:9
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
David 2 Samuel 22:22-25
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all his rules were before me,
and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
25 And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.
Other Examples:
The Thai Grandmom http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/fs/fs_15.htm
Seek to be Faithful to Him – He will enable you to be Faithful -- single mother sacrifice example (audio)
Bloggers:
Single mom: last paragraph shows His faithfulness to her:
http://serenity23.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-is-faithfulness.html
Young man struggles with meaning of God’s faithfulness:
http://ifgodislove.blogspot.com/2006/06/overrated-faithfulness-of-god-part-two.html
Suffering and His Faithfulness to believers
http://feistels-in-taiwan.blogspot.com/2006/06/i-walk-in-his-faithfulness.html
Adrian Warnock on the Fruit of the Spirit
http://www.adrian.warnock.info/2005/08/gods-will-and-fruit-of-spirit.htm
Conclusion:
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find” (Prov. 20:6).
“A faithful man shall abound with blessings” (Prov. 28:20):
O that it may be said of us, “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” (3 John 5)
Other Reference on Faithfulness:
Pink on Faithfulness: http://www.eternallifeministries.org/awp_faithful.htm
Scriptures on Faithfulness: http://wbt.godonthe.net/wbt_120.htm
David Hoke on Faithfulness: http://www.horizonsnet.org/sermons/tba18.html
Bible Dictionary – Fruit of the Spirit http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/BakersEvangelicalDictionary/bed.cgi?number=T279
Consider this example of "faithfulness" to the church...
Grandma Taw Bow, a resident of Thailand, does not
impress strangers. She is small of stature, bent with age,
her hands and fingers gnarled with arthritis. She often
stands quietly to one side.
Her name translated into English means "Always." Despite
her unimpressive physical appearance, Grandma Always has
inspired her missionary friends and Thai Christians by her
faithfulness.
A widow and over ninety years of age, she lives as a
servant in a Thai home. Every Sunday she walks two miles to
church. Out of her income of five cents a day, she
regularly gives one day's wages to the Lord every week.
When her missionary friends drive her home from church
services, she gets out, and bows her head in an audible
prayer for the missionaries and the work of Christ in
Thailand.
One missionary says, "The thought of Grandma Always'
faithfulness humbles and deepens us." (A Dictionary Of
Christian Illustrations, p. 121)
-- What the church needs are more "Grandma Always", both young and old!
Excerpt from Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, Paul David Tripp for why we want to be faithful.
II Corinthians 11: 1-3
1 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Paul writes these words to capture the principle of “long view living.” This means that today is preparation for tomorrow, and tomorrow is preparation for something else yet to come. Paul is saying, “I know I have hovered over you, but you need to understand why. I am afraid that you will forget who you are and to whom you have been promised.” To Paul, the only way to go through life properly is to understand that we are engaged. We have been betrothed to Christ, and our life now is preparation for a great wedding to come.
The difficulties now, the suffering now, the disappointments now, are the blessings now are all preparation for the wedding then.
Background
Galatians is the context for the fruit of the Spirit and that is important to understanding the significance. Why did Paul write the letter? He wrote to put down doctrinal error, some of which was coming from the Judizers, and to asset himself as God’s messenger and prophet to them.
In the delivery we get a great view of what a grace orientation vs. a works orientation to the Christian live looks like.
A balanced view of Grace is what we seek here at OMPC. We have such a wonderful opportunity to live out the Gospel of Grace within this community and to be a light to those around us.
Orientation in life
Galatians --> GRACE --> Faith --> Miracles 3:5
Holy Living 3:3, 4:19
Adoption 4:5
Promises to Abraham’s seed 3:29
GRACE ---> fruit of the Spirit
WORKS ---> curse ---> Bondage 4:24f
Ignorance 4:8
Rebellion against God and His Spirit
Rejection from the inheritance 4:30
Gal 5: 22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Galatians 5: 22,23
Goal: Your God is faithful to you and you can, by his power, be faithful to Him.
What is Faithfulness?
The Hebrew root from which the words translated "faithful" and "faithfulness" in the Old Testament are derived means to prop or stay or support. The intransitive use of the word signifies to stay oneself or be supported; hence, the word "faithful", as applied to a person, means someone a person can safely lean upon. The Greek word used in the New Testament means trustworthy or to be relied upon, but this Greek word is the same used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word mentioned above, and of course gets its meaning from this usage.
Why be faithful?
Examples of the faithful from Scriptures
4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
Daniel 6:4
1 Timothy 1:12
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
Paul
Moses
6 And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
Numbers 12:6-7
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,
Hebrews 3:5
Nehemiah 7
1Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.
Hanani and Hananiah
Workman repairing the temple of the Lord
2 Kings 12:10-17
10 When they saw that there was much money in the chest, (A)the king's scribe and the high priest came up and tied it in bags and counted the money which was found in the house of the LORD.
11 They gave the money which was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD;
12 and (B)to the masons and the stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the damages to the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13 But (C)there were not made for the house of the LORD (D)silver cups, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver from the money which was brought into the house of the LORD;
14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
15 Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully.
Abraham
Galatians 3:9
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
David 2 Samuel 22:22-25
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all his rules were before me,
and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
25 And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.
Other Examples:
The Thai Grandmom http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/fs/fs_15.htm
Seek to be Faithful to Him – He will enable you to be Faithful -- single mother sacrifice example (audio)
Bloggers:
Single mom: last paragraph shows His faithfulness to her:
http://serenity23.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-is-faithfulness.html
Young man struggles with meaning of God’s faithfulness:
http://ifgodislove.blogspot.com/2006/06/overrated-faithfulness-of-god-part-two.html
Suffering and His Faithfulness to believers
http://feistels-in-taiwan.blogspot.com/2006/06/i-walk-in-his-faithfulness.html
Adrian Warnock on the Fruit of the Spirit
http://www.adrian.warnock.info/2005/08/gods-will-and-fruit-of-spirit.htm
Conclusion:
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find” (Prov. 20:6).
“A faithful man shall abound with blessings” (Prov. 28:20):
O that it may be said of us, “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” (3 John 5)
Other Reference on Faithfulness:
Pink on Faithfulness: http://www.eternallifeministries.org/awp_faithful.htm
Scriptures on Faithfulness: http://wbt.godonthe.net/wbt_120.htm
David Hoke on Faithfulness: http://www.horizonsnet.org/sermons/tba18.html
Bible Dictionary – Fruit of the Spirit http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/BakersEvangelicalDictionary/bed.cgi?number=T279
Consider this example of "faithfulness" to the church...
Grandma Taw Bow, a resident of Thailand, does not
impress strangers. She is small of stature, bent with age,
her hands and fingers gnarled with arthritis. She often
stands quietly to one side.
Her name translated into English means "Always." Despite
her unimpressive physical appearance, Grandma Always has
inspired her missionary friends and Thai Christians by her
faithfulness.
A widow and over ninety years of age, she lives as a
servant in a Thai home. Every Sunday she walks two miles to
church. Out of her income of five cents a day, she
regularly gives one day's wages to the Lord every week.
When her missionary friends drive her home from church
services, she gets out, and bows her head in an audible
prayer for the missionaries and the work of Christ in
Thailand.
One missionary says, "The thought of Grandma Always'
faithfulness humbles and deepens us." (A Dictionary Of
Christian Illustrations, p. 121)
-- What the church needs are more "Grandma Always", both young and old!
Excerpt from Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, Paul David Tripp for why we want to be faithful.
II Corinthians 11: 1-3
1 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Paul writes these words to capture the principle of “long view living.” This means that today is preparation for tomorrow, and tomorrow is preparation for something else yet to come. Paul is saying, “I know I have hovered over you, but you need to understand why. I am afraid that you will forget who you are and to whom you have been promised.” To Paul, the only way to go through life properly is to understand that we are engaged. We have been betrothed to Christ, and our life now is preparation for a great wedding to come.
The difficulties now, the suffering now, the disappointments now, are the blessings now are all preparation for the wedding then.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Food for Thought: Push-ups & Donuts
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the
school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.
"How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do ;you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.
When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.
Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one! "
Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"
Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.
Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there
were 34 students in the room. He st arted to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut" <>
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no
sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.
Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.
When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for
us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the
school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.
"How many push-ups can you do?"
Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."
"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"
Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."
"Do ;you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.
"Well, I can try," said Steve.
"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.
Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"
Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.
When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"
Cynthia said, "Yes."
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"
"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"
Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"
Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"
Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."
Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"
With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.
Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one! "
Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"
Sternly, Jenny said, "No."
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"
Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.
Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there
were 34 students in the room. He st arted to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut" <>
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."
"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"
Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no
sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"
Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."
Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.
Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.
When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"
As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."
Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for
us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."
"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"
Monday, June 12, 2006
Spiritual Growth
Living in the Light of Eternity
June 11 and 18, 2006
Living in the Light of Eternity
June 11 and 18, 2006
But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9
Views on death and eternity.
· Avoidance, too morbid to think about death and beyond.
· Believe the devil’s lies.
o Heaven doesn’t exist.I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
o Heaven will be dull and boring. There will be endless tedium.
o It’s unloving and uncivilized to talk about hell.
o Everyone will go to heaven.
· Paul’s view.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19
· The importance of forming our thoughts of heaven and eternity based on scripture.
· The importance of right thoughts about eternity to our spiritual growth.
Hearts and minds set on earthly things.
· Materialism – the most widespread cause of wrong thinking about heaven.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2
· Immediate gratification.
· The health and wealth gospel.
· Worldliness – love for earthly things, esteem for earthly values, and preoccupation with earthly cares.
o Those who conclude that the brevity of life is justification for hedonism.Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
o The tendency for us to hold tightly to the world because that is all we
know.
Hearts and minds set on things above.
· Everything we should love everlastingly, everything we should rightly value, everything of eternal worth is in heaven.
· The Father is there.
Pray, then, in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9
· Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand and makes intercession for us.
For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Hebrews 9:24
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
· Many brothers and sisters will be there.
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-23
· Our names are recorded there.
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-21
Living in the light of eternity.
· The Bible uses terms like aliens, strangers, foreigners, and pilgrims.
They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
· The eternal things of heaven can only be grasped by faith.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Cor 4:18 – 5:1
By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10
· Paul – an example of a proper biblical perspective.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
· The value of pain and pleasure.
I still can hardly believe it. I, with shriveled, bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees, and no feeling from the shoulders down, will one day have a new body, light, bright, and clothed in righteousness – powerful and dazzling…
It’s easy for me to “be joyful in hope,” as it says in Romans 12:12, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past twenty-odd years. My assurance of heaven is so alive that I’ve been making dates with friends to do all sorts of fun things once we get our new bodies…I don’t take these appointments lightly. I’m convinced these things will really happen. Joni Eareckson Tada
I learned long ago that spiritual growth will always include an awakening of deep longings for heaven, for pleasure at its best. Such an awakening leads to the true contentment of asking less of this life because more is coming in the next. Joni Eareckson Tada
· Renewing our citizenship.
o Use this earthly life to grow in holiness.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
Heaven is a holy place. Its inhabitants are holy. Its occupations are holy. To be happy in heaven, it stands to reason we must be prepared for it. Our hearts must be somewhat in tune, somewhat ready for it. J.C. Ryle
o Invest wisely, using this earthly life to lay up treasure in heaven.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Col 4:5
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10
What are a heavenly citizen’s best investments? Praying for unsaved neighbors. Visiting nursing homes. Asking forgiveness when we’ve offended someone. Building the character of children (and grandchildren). Supporting our husbands. Honoring our wives. Telling the truth. Encouraging the weak. Sharing a Christian viewpoint when the women at the hair salon start gossiping. Trusting and obeying God in small and great ways.
Joni Eareckson Tada
What does the Bible teach about our eternal state?
· The Christian view of death.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
· Intermediate heaven and the new heavens and earth.
o Intermediate heaven is where a Christian goes when he or she dies.
o This is temporary, where we dwell until prior to our bodily resurrection.
o The Bible does not teach purgatory or soul sleep.
o Our final destination is the new heaven on the new earth.
· The return of Christ.
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29
· The judgment seat of Christ.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12
· We will receive our resurrection bodies.
This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality! 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (The Message)
A new heaven and a new earth (read Revelation 21:1 – 22:5)
· The physical creation will be renewed and we will continue to exist and act in it. (21:1)
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
· The Church (New Jerusalem) is presented as a bride to her husband. (21:2)
· The presence of God and unending fellowship with Him. (21:3)
God said I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16
· No tears, death, sorrow or pain. (21:4)
· Physical features described. (21:10 -22:2) Biblical writers attempt to describe another level of reality in earthly terms.
· The curse has been removed. (22:3)
· We will serve God. (22:3)
Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Revelation 7:15
· We will see God face to face. (22:4)
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
· No more night. The Lord will give us light. (22:5)
· We will reign forever. (22:5)
· Other descriptions.
o Christ will welcome us.
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Mat 25:34
o It is a place prepared by Jesus.Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
o No hunger or thirst.Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. Revelation 7:16
o There will be joy and happiness.
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:34
o We will rest from our labors on earth.Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 14:13
o We will have improved minds and clear thinking.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
o Feasting together.
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11
o Heaven will be a melting pot of ethnic diversity united by a common worship ofAfter this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-10
the Lord Jesus.
The Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have begun thinking less of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you get neither. W.R. Inge
Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity. Charles Spurgeon
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Spiritual Growth
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Worshiping God
June 4, 2006
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Worshiping God
June 4, 2006
Oh come let us worship the LORD; For we are His people, the flock that He shepherds.
Psalm 95
Why do we worship God?
• Everyone is a worshiper.
• Worship of God begins the Ten Commandments.
• Worship is the ultimate priority.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
• Worship brings glory to God.
• We worship in order for God to reveal more of Himself to us.
• To become like the one we worship.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:18
• We are redeemed to worship.
Salvation is God seeking worshipers.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23
o All who were redeemed by Jesus worshipped Him.
o All of heaven will be consumed with worship. (Revelation 4:8-11 and 5:11-14)
o Worship is not optional.
Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Matthew 4:10
What is worship?
• Worship defined.
o Rendering (ascribing) to God the honor that is due Him. Stephen Charnock
o Honor and adoration directed to God. John MacArthur
o God “wants to cultivate within us the adoration and admiration of which He is worthy. He wants us to be astonished at the inconceivable elevation and magnitude and splendor of Almighty God.” A.W. Tozer
• Worship as a way of life.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
• Worship as a specific activity.
o Praising Him for who He is.
o Thanking Him for what He does.
o The Psalmist combines praise and thanksgiving:
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever and His faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5
How do we worship?
• God commands that we worship in a way that He approves and that pleases Him.
• We must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23 above)
o Worshiping in spirit.
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. Matthew 15:8-9
o Worshiping in truth.
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
o A marriage between the mind and the emotions.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
o Not associated with a place. (Private and corporate worship)
• We must always come to God through Christ.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15
• We must worship with hearts free from cherished sin.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18
o “To cherish a sin is to hold on to some sinful disposition or course of action we know is wrong.” Jerry Bridges
o The difference between struggling with sin and cherishing it.
• The act of worship.
o Falling down in humility and confession.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are [a] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17
o Casting our crowns before Him (anything that calls attention to ourselves).
o Come let us worship the Lord!
Spiritual Growth
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Obedience and Holiness
May 28, 2006
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Obedience and Holiness
May 28, 2006
If you love me, you will obey what I command. John 14:15
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. John 14:21
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 14:23
Loving God.
• The great commandment (Matthew 22:37) and Deuteronomy 6:1-8.
o Obedience to God’s commands, decrees, laws.
o Observe them, keep them, obey them.
o Use all manner of memory devices to obey.
o Obedience to God is equated with love for God.
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
• · Biblical obedience is a willingness to listen to the authority and will of God and to submit to it.
· Only obedience from the heart, motivated by love, is acceptable to God.
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed. Rom 6:17
We should obey God because he has won our hearts in love. If he has not, our focus should not be so much on obedience as on knowing His love. For once we get that solidly in place, obedience begins to take care of itself. David Benner
• Seeing God’s heart in giving us His law to obey.
• Realizing that God is indeed a God of love, but this does not in any way diminish His holiness or His command for our holiness. Obedience is the only pathway to holiness.
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16
• Cruise-control obedience versus race-car obedience.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• How do we develop a whole-hearted obedience that is prompted by love?
o Take your failures to obey to the cross.
o Meditate on and respond to His love for us.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
o Overcome guilt and condemnation by turning to Christ.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:14
The obedience of Christ.
• Jesus was a model of loving submission and obedience to God.
I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. John 8:28-29
• He affirmed the law as having value forever.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18
• He told His disciples (includes us) that their obedience was the measure of their love for Him. (John 14 verses above)
• Learning from His example.
The relationship between law and grace.
• Grace is supreme and always precedes the law. (See preamble to the Ten Commandments, New Testament epistles).
• Legalism versus antinomianism.
“The law sends us to the Gospel, that we may be justified, and the Gospel sends us back to the law to inquire what is our duty in being justified.” Puritan writer.
• The Christian is not under the law...
o As way of justification.
o As a dynamic of sanctification.
• Shouldn’t we be led by love, not law?
Love is the driving force behind the law.
Law is a guide for our love.
The blessings of obedience in Psalm 119:
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. 2
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 9
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. 24
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 35
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. 52
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 71
Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 89
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 92
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 97
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 105
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 128
My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. 136
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 160
Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. 165
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25
Monday, May 22, 2006
The Marks of Spiritual Growth - Love
May 21, 2006
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35
Review: Romans 8:29…2 Corinthians 5:14…2 Corinthians 3:18…1 Timothy 4:7-8…Ephesians 4:15-16
1. Why did Jesus give love priority?
• Love is first and greatest.
For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Mat 22:37-40
• Agape love as contrasted with eros, phileo, or storge.
• God teaches us to love in order that we may know Him.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
• Love is the bumper sticker of our faith. (John 13:35) Observable love is the most clear and obvious apologetic for our faith.
• Love is a confirmation of our faith.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 1 John 3:14-15
• Love will lead to obedience and growth in holiness.
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:23-24
2. What does Christian love look like?
• 1 Corinthians 13 – The love chapter.
The qualities pictured here are a picture of our Lord Jesus.
This passage has been called the most beautiful in all of scripture and yet one of the most devastating.
• Verses 1 – 3: The supremacy of love over other things.
o Over spiritual gifts.
o Over intellectual powers.
o Over faith.
o Over material or bodily sacrifice.
• Verses 4-7: A list of love’s qualities.
• Love is patient.
• Love is kind.
• Love is never jealous, never envious.
• Love is not proud- arrogant, puffed up, conceited, self-important.
• Love is not rude.
• Love does not insist on its own way.
• Love is not easily provoked or angered.
• Love is not resentful. It keeps no record of wrongs.
• Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
• Love bears all things. It protects others.
• Love believes all things and hopes all things. It is always optimistic about its object.
• Love always perseveres.
• Verses 8-13: Love’s permanence.
o Love is superior to spiritual gifts, all of which will come to an end.
o Love is made perfect in eternity.
o The greatest is love.
3. Why don’t we love others as we know we should?
• Knowing that we are loved by God and others.
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19
• Inability to love ourselves.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14
• Judgmental attitudes.
• Fear.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
o Fear of rejection.
o Fear of criticism.
o Fear of painful consequences.
o Fear of commitment.
o Fear of conflict.
o Fear of abandonment.
• Self-centeredness. (See Gal 5:13-14 above)
• Overcoming the barriers.
o Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower.
o Trust God.
o Begin to act in a loving way, regardless of the way you feel.
Spiritual Growth
Growing Together
May 14, 2006
Growing Together
May 14, 2006
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Eph 4:15-16 (NLT)
Review: Romans 8:29…2 Corinthians 5:14…2 Corinthians 3:18…1 Timothy 4:7-8
The church is more than a building.
· Jesus died for us individually and to create a people.
He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:14
· Three purposes of the church.
o To exalt God.
o To edify believers.
o To evangelize non-believers.
· God is not only shaping us like Christ, he is shaping us in such a way that we fit together.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:19-22
· Our lives are intended by God to be ministries to our fellow Christians.
I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. Phil 1:25
The Biblical meaning of fellowship.
· Greek koinonia (1): To share together in the sense of joint participation or partnership.
o Sharing a common relationship that we as believers have in Christ.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3
o Forming of a partnership with the objective of glorifying God.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil 1:4-5
· Greek koinonia (2): To share with in the sense of giving what we have to others.
o Sharing what God has taught and encouraging others.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
o Sharing of material possessions.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Acts 2:44-45
Growing together - necessities.
· The mark of a Christian is love for one another.
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35
· Share the truth of scripture with one another.
o Sharing what God is doing in my life.
o Life groups – supper clubs or sharing God’s truth?
o Reading and memorizing scripture together.
· Be open and vulnerable sharing sins, failures, and discouragements as well as blessings and joys.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
· Be accountable to each other with a willingness to be checked on and challenged.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col 3:16
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21
· Pray for and with each other. (See James 5:16 above)
· Forgive one another.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col 3:13
Growing together- biblical exhortations.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. Ecc 4:9
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Col 3:16
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Prov 27:17
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecc 4:10
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thes 5:11
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Heb 3:13
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:24-25
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Spiritual Growth
Channels of Grace, Channels of Growth
May 7, 2006
Channels of Grace, Channels of Growth
May 7, 2006
Discipline (train) yourself for the purpose of godliness. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
1. What are the spiritual disciplines?
· God-ordained means by which we bring ourselves before God, experience Him, and are changed into Christlikeness.
· Routines versus disciplines. Disciplines are something to which we submit in order to change.
· Categories.
Personal – Bible intake (reading, studying, meditating and memorizing scripture), individual prayer, fasting, solitude, journaling, personal worship.
Corporate (requiring others) – congregational worship, corporate prayer, fellowship, serving, stewardship.
· Other characteristics.
o Biblical.
o Sufficient.
o Unique.
o Practices, not attitudes.
2. Why should I practice the spiritual disciplines?
· In them we can experience God’s glory and grow in grace. (2 Pet 3:18).
· God’s presence and power are intensified in our lives.
· Trusting God that the spiritual disciplines, instead of being drudgery and a boring duty, will lead to a deeper love for Jesus and for our neighbor.
· Is the prize worth the pain? Paul would say yes:
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. 1 Cor 9:24-27 (The Message)
3. What are the dangers of the disciplines?
· The spiritual disciplines are not by themselves the marks of Christlikeness as much as they are the means to it.
o Example of the Pharisees.
o Example of the cults.
· Only God’s grace working through the disciplines can transform those who practice them.
· The danger of imbalance.
o All the disciplines are important, not just a favorite few.
o The example of Jesus.
4. Practical guidelines.
Devote ourselves more to the pursuit of Christlikeness and the enjoyment of God through the spiritual disciplines than to the pursuit of efficiency and the completion of to-do lists.
Resist the temptation to believe in microwave spirituality or shortcut Christianity.
Read the list of spiritual disciplines. Do an honest self appraisal.
Brief Description of the Spiritual Disciplines
Bible Intake The most important of the spiritual disciplines. Nothing can substitute for it in our spiritual growth. This involves hearing, reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing scripture.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psa 119:105
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra 7:10
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psa 119:11
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
Prayer Prayer is talking with God about the things that are on our heart, offering praise and thanks to Him for His goodness and grace, and interceding with Him for the needs of others. One of the main reasons for a lack of Godliness is prayerlessness. Jesus expects us to pray:
Matthew 6:5-9 “And when you pray…” (Repeated in all four verses)
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col 4:2
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes 5:17
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:6
Fasting Voluntary abstinence from a normal activity, most often food, for a spiritual purpose. (Examples: To strengthen prayer, to seek God’s guidance, to express repentance, to humble oneself before God, to intercede for others. Jesus expects us to fast (But recognize that there may be medical reasons why one could not participate in fasting from food):
Matthew 6:16 and 17 “When you fast…”
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:23
Even now declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Joel 2:12
However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Mat 17:21
Solitude To voluntarily and temporarily withdraw to privacy for spiritual purposes. (Examples: To hear the voice of God better, to express worship for God, to be physically and spiritually restored, to regain a spiritual perspective, to seek the will of God).
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Mat 14:23
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psa 62:1-2
It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles. Luke 6:12-13
Journaling A journal is a place to record the works and ways of God in your life. It is one of the best places to chart your progress in the spiritual disciplines and for holding yourself accountable to your goals. The primary Biblical example is David’s Psalms. It is a help in meditation, in expressing thoughts and feelings to the Lord, in remembering God’s works, and a help in monitoring goals and priorities.
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Rom 12:3
Worship To give praise and thanks to God, to offer ourselves anew to Him and to hear His Word as it guides, comforts and encourages us.
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Mat 4:10
Fellowship Sharing of common life of Christ with other believers. God has made us in such a way that our fellowship with Him is fed by our fellowship with fellow-Christians, and requires to be so fed constantly for our own deepening and enrichment.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:24-25
Serving An outward demonstration of our love for our neighbor. Jesus is the example:
You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:13-17
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. Gal 5:13
Stewardship The disciplined use of time and resources to further the kingdom of God.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Eph 5:15-16
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. Psa 24:1
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Cor 8:7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:6-7
Spiritual Growth
Transformation and the Holy Spirit
April 23, 2006
Transformation and the Holy Spirit
April 23, 2006
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
1. And we all, with unveiled face…
· Spiritual growth or transformation involves all believers.
· A clearer apprehension of the covenant.
· Begins at conversion – a new principle of spiritual life.
I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. Jer 31:33
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Eze 36:26-27
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor 5:17
2. Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord...
· Spiritual growth results from a focused and continual gaze on Christ.
· Beholding the glory of the Lord in all His being and in all His works.
· Beholding the glory of the Lord in the gospel (the mirror).
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:6-7
* The gospel preaches to us that our sins are forgiven.
* The gospel preaches to us that the power of sin in our lives is broken.
* Cleansing our consciences from the guilt of sin must precede our efforts to deal with the presence of sin in our daily lives.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[a] so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:14
· The result of beholding is reflecting the glory of the Lord.
3. Are being transformed into the same image...
· Transformation is continual.
* From the Greek word form which we get metamorphosis.
* Occurs only four times in the New Testament (others: Matt 17:2, Mark 9:2, Rom 12:2).
* The difference between being transformed (2 Cor 3:18) and conformed (Rom 8:29) to the likeness of Jesus.
· God is not satisfied to leave us the way we are.
4. From glory to glory…
· Spiritual growth is a lifelong process and we never will never attain the goal completely in this life.
· Because it is a process, there will always be a conflict within us.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Gal 5:17
· Stages of growth.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 1 John 2:13
5. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
· The Holy Spirit is the agent for our transformation.
· The Holy Spirit uses means to bring this about including those He initiates (adversities, encouragement of others) and those He expects us to initiate (Scripture, prayer).
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13
· The Holy Spirit reveals what I am to put off and put on.
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. Col 3:8-10
· The Holy Spirit reveals the graces and blessings which should and could be ours.
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Pet 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Eph 1:3
· The Holy Spirit enables.
For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Rom 8:13-14
I can to some degree change my conduct, but only He can change my heart.
Transformation comes from a steady, concentrated gazing on Christ and a confidant relying on the Holy Spirit to effect the change. Oswald Sanders
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Spiritual Growth
Compelled by Love
April 23, 2006
Compelled by Love
April 23, 2006
1. Living by grace instead of by works.
· God’s acceptance and blessing are based on the merit of Jesus. Nothing you will ever do will cause Him to love you any more or less. He loves you strictly by His grace given to you through Jesus.
· How do we react to this emphasis on God’s grace?
· The Bible recognizes the possibility of misunderstanding and abusing the grace of God.
They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 4
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? Romans 6:1
· The grace of salvation is the same grace by which we live the Christian life.
We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:2
· Solutions to the grace/works problem.
Ø Not adding legalism to grace.
Ø It is to be so gripped by the love and generosity of God’s grace that we respond out of gratitude, not a sense of duty.
2. What about commitment, discipline, and obedience?
Motivated by a grateful response to God’s grace, not to try to earn God’s blessing.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
Fighting the tendency to divide the Christian life into grace and works compartments.
The fact is that we do have a duty and obligation to God.
But God motivates us to obedience, not on the basis of His sovereign rule, but on the basis of His mercy to us in Christ Jesus.
Our motivation for commitment, discipline, and obedience is more important to God than our performance.
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. 1 Chron 28:9
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Cor 4:5
What about our good works?
Ø Must be motivated by the right principle – love to God.
Ø Must be done for the right reason – in obedience to God’s revealed will as contained in scripture.
Ø Must be done with the right end – a desire for God’s glory.
3. Motivated by love and a deep sense of reverence.
Christ’s love compels us.
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor 5:14-15
The difference between grace and freedom from the law.
Ø Freedom from the law is a result of grace, but not the same as grace.
Ø Truly understanding the grace of God will not lead to abusing grace by living irresponsibly.
Reverence for God leads to obedience – the example of Joseph.
No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9
God is worthy because of what He does.
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Cor 7:1
God is worthy because of who He is.
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Rev 4:11
Diagram from sermon preached by Randy Pope at OMPC:
GOD
Performance . . . . . . . . . . Grace
Love
Spiritual Growth
Crucified with Christ
April 16, 2006
Crucified with Christ
April 16, 2006
1. The cross and spiritual growth. Jesus died for my sin
· The necessity of the cross/ God’s good news – the gospel.
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12
- The cross is God’s provision for my sin.
- All spiritual growth starts from the day I come to Christ.
- But I never have a day that I don’t need the message of the gospel. “Preaching the gospel to myself every day” tells me that:
Ø The gospel frees me from the penalty of sin.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Ø The gospel frees me from the guilt of sin.
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14
Ø The cross frees me from the power of sin.
Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. Romans 6:6
Ø The gospel frees me to live life as God intended – the Christ life.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21
2. The life of Christ and His own growth. Jesus lived as my example
Pattern
He grew in the fruit of the Spirit.
Ø His love in giving his life for many.
Ø His joy as the Great Shepherd who carries His lost sheep to the Father.
Ø His peace in the midst of a storm.
Ø His patience with slow-to-learn disciples.
Ø His kindness to the poor and needy.
Ø The sheer goodness of His life as He ministers publicly for three years.
Ø His amazing faithfulness to God in His mission and to undeserving men.
Ø His gentleness to the sick and needy, to the broken hearted, and to needy and hopeless sinners.
Ø His self-control when wicked men mocked and scourged Him.
He grew through overcoming temptation.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18
He grew in obedience.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Heb 5:8
He grew through experience.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52
Means
Jesus knew the scriptures.
Jesus found fellowship with God in prayer.
Jesus looked for fellowship with God’s people.
3. He is risen! Jesus ascended to heaven for me
To prepare a place for me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:2-4
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7
To send me the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor (Helper) will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7
To be my intercessor.
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 1John 2:1
To be my judge.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
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