Recognizing our humanity.

Image via WikipediaRecognizing our humanity.




If the Christian ceases to acknowledge his own humanity, then in time he will cease being a Christian.



The good news of God's continuing, renewing action in the world comes frustrating gift-wrapped in the bad news about humanity. There is ample evidence in the Scriptures of vital living flowing out of a deep personal sense of limitations, and of personal out of a deep personal sense of limitations, and of personal failure. The Bible is devastatingly frank in its assertion that even the heroes of the faith had, like us, feet of clay.



The person whose life is poured out in 'reckless living' has either come to think that he or she is 'god' and above human frailty, accepting responsibilities and personal attributes as being true about him or herself that rightly belong to God and to God alone; or the person has settled for a frenetic living that in part is a mask for an unconscious sense of personal human frailty, projecting personal weaknesses on to others, and then relentlessly trying to remedy those projections. As Beha puts it so graphically, writing of the energies thus expended in concealing personal pain.



"By camouflaging them with excuses, blaming circumstances or projecting responsibility onto others, we bury the nuclear wastes of our past and hope that there are no damaging leaks into the present. But there always are." (M. Beha, 'By his wounds.." Review for Religious, 43.2).



One key to avoiding, or being delivered from, the snare of 'reckless living' is for the Christian to accept his or her humanity, and to come to terms with human limitations and weakness. The Apostle Paul's insight that the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26) carries with it the conviction that the recognition of humanity is paralleled, for the Christian, by the active presence of the spirit. Spirituality is diminished to the degree to which the Christian ignores his or her own ordinary needs and incapacities.



The richness and power of living is only experienced in the pain of it. It is more stressful to deny or avoid human frailty than it is to accept it and experience grace in it.

Understanding stress in Christian living.

Image via WikipediaUnderstanding stress in Christian living.




There is much talk about stress these days. Unfortunately, the idea that stress is mainly the result of inadequate coping and inappropriate perception of the world is all too common. Conflict resolution and stress management courses have sometimes contributed to this interpretation by their emphasis on the individual person under pressure, at the expense of a better understanding of the work or family environments, and the social context in which the stress is experienced.



Hans Selye, one of the earliest researchers on human stress, distinguished between the positive or pleasant manifestations of stress (eustress), and the negative or unpleasant manifestations (distress). he concluded that eustress causes us much less damage emotionally and physically than distress; in the final analysis it is 'how you take' a given stressor which determines whether you can successfully adapt to pressure and change. We might recall the many reasons the Apostle Paul had for suffering distress - 'insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities' and yet he had inner resources that enabled him to rise above these: 'when I am weak, then I am strong... I will most gladly spend and be spent for your soul' (2 Corinthians 12:10, 15). A most daunting model of an ongoing powerful living, in the face of a negative work and social environment!



Finally, it is worth noting the related terms of burnout and depression. 'Burnout' relates to 'fuel depletion.' When a Christian suffers burnout, major emotional exhaustion and demoralization, it implies that there was an earlier stage of being 'on fire.' Burnout is a malady of the zealous, not the lukewarm, and it is characterized by the expending of great emotional energy, with little 'fuel replenishment' in return. 'Depression', on the other hand, relates to intra-psychic factors. Psychologist Dorothy Rowe says that depression is a prison that we build for ourselves - principally by holding certain key misperceptions about ourselves.

The world asks, "How can I get more?" Christianity asks, "What can I do without?"

Image via WikipediaThe world asks, "How can I get more?" Christianity asks, "What can I do without?" The world asks, "How can I find myself?" Christianity asks. "How can I lose myself?" The world asks, "How can I love myself better?" Christianity asks, "How can I love God more?"




Girolamo Savonarola's The Simplicity of the Christian Life is actually a discussion of the nature of the good life. He is seeking to answer the question, "What makes people happy?" of all created beings, writes Savonarola, only humans have to struggle to discover their proper role in the whole scheme of things. We are the only ones who seek for meaning, purpose, happiness. The peaceful happy life, says Savonarola, is not found primarily in sensual pursuits; nor in intellectual pursuits; nor even in spiritual pursuits, as normally understood. No the happy life is rooted in being obedient children of God the Father and discovered in imitating the life and teaching of Jesus. The main means through which this simple life of the Imitatio Christi occurs is love of our Father in Heaven.



Kierkegaard's Purity of Heart is to will One Thing relentlessly forces us to come, naked and alone, before God, where we must decide how to live. In reality, these subjects are an extended commentary on words of the Apostle James, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind" (James 4:8).



His point is a simple one. God is the only whole, satisfying, unifying reality in the universe. No desire can be fully satisfied when it is outside of God, and the individual becomes "not merely double-minded but thousand-minded, and at variance with himself."



Peacefulness and fullness of heart, then, is found in willing only the good, which is God. To do so unifies and simplifies everything. Utter abandonment, absolute commitment to the good, to God, is the requirement for willing one thing, for purity of heart.



"There have been times in my life when suffering was so paramount and inner peace seemed so far away that I have wondered if I would ever find it again...on hindsight I have gradually discovered... that it was in these very times of personal pain that God was in fact calling me to deepen my faith and trust in him" (Buckley, Let Peace Disturb You, p. 28).



When we feel life closing in around us, the darkness descending, or when it seems a hopeless task to change our own circumstances or the situation of those for whom we feel a responsibility, can there really be a way forward? Or should we 'cut and run' if we're not made of the stuff of martyrs? When the pressure is really on, Christians often do not feel capable of responding decisively and objectively, let alone able to discern "the truth" of the matter or hand it over into God's care. Too often we are victims rather than victors in our experiences of stress. How does this happen? And why?

What "grace" (help) am I receiving which helps me cope?

Image via WikipediaWhat "grace" (help) am I receiving which helps me cope?




It cannot be based on just reward; because our reward is in the future. Just as in school on earth, we as children were not able to just base our educational growth on our graduation. We needed a system of reward and penalties to be in place within the school system.



A basic concept that is very hard for both earthly and heavenly children to understand is; why can't our Fathers give us what we ask for when we ask for it?



When we are tempted to think of being rewarded for obedience, the discipline of adversity is recognized (Deut. 8:5) and a warning is uttered against ever regarding these material rewards as anything other than the evidence of a Father's Love. Is there a more fitting word for our self-oriented society than Deut. 8:7-18?



(2 Esdras 7:18-25)The angel replied, "Do you think you are a better judge than God? Do you think you are wiser than God Most High? It is better to let many people of the present age perish than to allow them to neglect the Law that God has given them. God has given clear commandments to everyone coming into this world, telling them what they should do to obtain life and to avoid punishment. But the wicked would not listen and refused to obey him. In their foolishness they have made their own wicked and deceitful plans. They denied the existence of God Most High and refused to follow his ways. They have rejected his Law, refused to accept his promises, disobeyed his decrees and failed to do what he commanded. That's the reason Ezra, that then there is emptiness for the empty and fullness for the full."



I hope you have acquired a appreciation for why God punishes the child of earth. But why can't he reward his children? The basic reasons that Fathers can't provide us with everything we ask for is that there are plans for our development, the families development and the world around us. Our request may not fit into the plans at that time. We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us form pain. God will stay close.

No hurt or pain.

Image via WikipediaNo hurt or pain.How can a earthly Father protect his Child from all hurt or pain? Should he keep his child from all personal contact; because he wants to protect him/her from any unpleasant relationship? Then how does he protect from Loneliness and make available Love and Accomplishment?




Should a earthly Father keep his child in bed all his life; so he does not acquire any disease or injury? What about inherited disease, or weakness of his body? How can he provide experience and accomplishment? God knows that in order to become morally strong and good, we must learn the difference between HIS right and wrong. His loving discipline enables us to do that.



(Proverbs 3:11-12)"Son, when the Lord corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning. The Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son of whom he is proud."



Where have you experienced the "leading of the Lord?"



In order to allow the child to mature, accomplish things, experience emotions, love, and many other human benefits; the child must also face the negative side.



(2 Chronicles 6:30-31)"You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as he deserves; so that your people may have reverence for you and obey you all the time they live in the land..."



The same holds true for our heavenly father. He provides us with free will; and if we exercise it we may face negative consequences. If we wish to accomplish things for his glory; we must learn from it, trusting God and being willing to change.



(Lamentations 3:37-39)"The will of the Lord alone is always carried out. Good and evil alike take place at his command. Why should we ever complain when we are punished for our sins?"



When you're feeling forsaken and chastened how do you express your feelings? How do you avoid wallowing in self pity?



Penalties must be imposed by any truly loving father, because he recognizes that each of us have free will. This free will allows us to choose God's way or Earth's way. if we choose God's way (and this way requires submission) versus Earth's way which gave us assumed and false control, power and other earthly qualities, we would not choose God's way, if there were no penalties.

What would you say to a friend who is having a "bad time" and is becoming "bitter" to God?

Image by Fergal OP via FlickrWhat would you say to a friend who is having a "bad time" and is becoming "bitter" to God?




St. Augustine explains that: "God knows, controls and acts in all events in order to fulfill the divine purpose for the creation (Confessions, V, 7; on the Trinity, III, vi, viii, City of God,, V, 8).



"While we live our life here on earth, so long as we live it 'with' him, and allow him to live it 'with' us, then we experience the deep joy, satisfaction and security that the sheep knows in the presence of its good shepherd... We can be deeply and gratefully aware of God's continuing presence with us in days when all goes well. It is just because of that,, however, David declares, that we can be sure of him when all does not go well, even when the light fades and we find ourselves in darkness... So the idea is that God's comfort and strength are 'with' us in all kinds of darkness, in times of depression, serious illness, rejection by one's friends, horror at discovering the disloyalty of one's own heart, and so on, as well as the experience of disloyalty of one's own heart, and so on, as well as the experience of death itself... But God's loving presence declares David, will be real and true then as it is now when all goes well. We are to remember that in Biblical thinking although God is light, yet he dwells in the darkness into which we must go in our turn." (George A. F. Knight - Commentary on Psalms - Psalm 23).



St. Aquinas elaborates that, "all things are subject to the government of God who rules everything immediately according to the design of providence and some things immediately according to the execution of this design through secondary causes. Thus God works in every action of every agent as its end, its first cause, and as its normal cause." (Summa Theologiae, 1a, g. 103-105).



How am I being improved by my Father's discipline?



According to Calvin; "Every natural event and human action is decreed, willed and directed by God" (Institutes, 1, xvi, 3-5; xvii, 6; xviii, 1-3).



D.M. Baille states it as:"Every Christian believes also that whatever comes to him comes from God, by God's appointment, God's providence. And not simply in the sense that God works through the natural (including the psychological) laws of His own ordaining; as if, having 'wound up' the universe to run by these laws, He had then left it to run it’s course. The Christian believes that in some sense everything comes to him directly from God whose working is always individual" (God was in Christ, pp 111-112).

Rose Garden

Image via WikipediaGod our Father in Heaven never promised us a "Rose Garden." He only promised his love and support.




How should you deal with Good Luck/Bad Luck?



(Job 36:15)"But God teaches men through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes."



Who have you been in a situation where you have been stretched by God in order to learn something from him? What did you learn? Was the pain worth the gain?



Being a Father he will also discipline his children. he does this for the same reason's an earthly father does. It is a blessing to be disciplined by God when we do wrong.



(Job 5:17)"Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you."



How does this advice ring true and applicable to you?



"All events are providential. It is the unanimous testimony of the Bible and the theological tradition of the church that God is the lord of history, that God is in control of all events, and therefore God brings it about that all events serve the divine purpose of bringing the whole creation, and especially each person, to its fulfillment. As Paul says, 'From God and through God, and to God are all things' (Rom. 11:36). The main biblical image for this is the rule or Kingship of God ( Ex. 15:18, Ps. 47:7-8; Isa. 6:5; 1 Tim. 6:15). In particular God rules all events in nature for the welfare of all creatures (Job 38: 41; Ps. 145:15-16; 147:9; Mt. 6:26; 30; 10:29), and especially each person (Mt. 6:25-33; 10:30, Rom. 8:28). God rules and controls human history, (Old Testament passim., Lk. 1:50-53; Acts 17:26-28; Rom. 11:30-32; 13:1-6, 1 Cor. 1:28-30) including every human action (Ps. 127:1, Prov. 16:1, 9, 19:21, 21:1; Isa. 26:12, 1 Cor. 12:6; Phil. 2:13). God even causes evil acts (Ex. 7:3, 1 Sam. 19:9, Exek. 20:25-26, Isa. 6:9-10; 63:17, Mt. 13:13-15; Jn. 12:39-40; Acts 28:25-27; Rom. 9:18, 11:7-8; 2 Thes. 2:11-12). However this is always a means to the fulfillment of the divine plan to bring the whole creation to its fulfillment. Thus God also overrules and uses natural and moral evil to fulfill the divine purposes (Gen. 45:5; 8; 50:20; Jn. 9:1-3; 11:4 Acts 2:23; 4:27-28)" (Theological Questions-Owen C. Thomas).

Growing

Image via WikipediaGrowing



I reserve a daily quiet time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will, for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.



Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)



FOUR CAUSES OF RELAPSE



1. Reverting to willpower. How can you be so foolish! You began by God’s Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power? (Galatians 3:3 TEV)God will let you relapse if that’s what it takes for you to realize you can’t do it on your own.“You won’t succeed by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6 GWT)



2. Ignoring God’s plan, word, and direction for you. You were doing so well! Who made you stop obeying the truth? (Galatians 5:7 TEV)You didn’t get into your challenges overnight; you’re not going to get out of them overnight either.



3. Trying to recover without support.



4. Becoming prideful.Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall (Proverbs 16:18 TEV)If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12 TEV) If you think you’ve got it all together and under control, that’s when you’re really in danger, because pride is one of the most destructive forces in your life.Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mark 14:38 NIV)



Now that we have the basics down; we can get into more practical actions.

WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS

Image via WikipediaWAYS TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS




1. Focus on victory one day at a time.“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)



2. Focus on God’s power not my willpower.Can … a leopard take away his spots? Nor can you who are so used to doing evil now start being good. (Jeremiah 13:23 LB)I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)



3. Focus on the good things not the bad. Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure … Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. * We’re not talking about the power of positive thinking* We’re talking about putting the Word of God into action through our lives.“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)



4. Focus on doing good not feeling good.* If you do the right thing, your feelings will eventually catch up with you.* If you wait until you feel like submitting, you’ll never submit.* It’s always easier to act your way into a feeling than to feel your way into an action.



5. Focus on people who help me, not hinder me.Bad company corrupts good character. (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV)Bad friends will ruin good habits. (1 Corinthians 15:33 NCV)Bad friends will destroy you. (1 Corinthians 15:33 CEV)Are you getting the message? If you don’t want to be a failure, stay away from failures. Don’t hang around in places or with people that will mess you up.Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble … A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided corn is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)You must be in a relationship with other Christ followers who want to see you succeed. That’s why you need a small group.



6. Focus on progress not perfection.Remember, it’s taken you your past lifetime to get where you are today. The healing process take time.God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished. (Philippians 1:6 LB)God will never give up on you. He’s going to do it. And he will bring the work to completion.

FOUR STEPS OF THE COMMITMENT CHOICE

Image via WikipediaFOUR STEPS OF THE COMMITMENT CHOICE




1. I accept God’s Son as my Savior and LORD. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31 NIV)



2. I accept God’s Word as my standard.All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. (2 Timothy 3:16PH)



3. I accept God’s will as my strategy for living. God made you for a purpose that he wants you to fulfill.



4. I accept God’s power as my strength.I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) I [am] standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him.” (Revelation 3:20 LB)



The Commitment Choice means you are making the decision to turn over responsibility for the results when we do our part.



You will seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).



Submission to every change God wants to make in my life



I voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life.



Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” Matthew 5:6 (TEV)



MAKING CHANGES



God wants to transform your character into the character of Christ.



… let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. (Romans 12:2 GNT)



In other words, if you want to change the way you live, you must first change the way you think.

FIVE BARRIERS TO COMMITMENT

Image via WikipediaFIVE BARRIERS TO COMMITMENT



1. PrideArrogant people are on the way to ruin. (Proverbs 18:12 TEV) A self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face. (Proverbs 10:8 LB)



2. GuiltProblems far too big for me to solve are piled higher than my head. Meanwhile my sins, too many to count, have caught up with me, and I am ashamed to look up. (Psalm 40:12 LB) God knows all about your sins and your failures, and he loves you anyway. He is ready to forgive all of them if you will just humble yourself and ask him to forgive you.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJV) Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5 NLT) There is no sin that God cannot forgive. Don’t let pride or guilt keep you from taking this step.



3. FearWhat are you afraid will happen if you commit your life to Christ? What are you afraid God will do if you give him care and control of your life? What are you afraid of losing? What are you holding onto – a relationship, a habit, a life style, a possession, your own ambition – that is keeping you from getting a grip on what God’s wants for your life?



4. WorryGod has a stronger grip on you than you have on him. And he will give you the strength to keep moving forward one moment at a time.God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you to grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished. (Philippians 1:6 LB)



5. Doubt “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24 NLT) “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed … nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 NIV) It’s not the size of your faith that matters; it’s the size of the God you believe in that makes all the difference. A little faith in a big God, along with being in God’s will and plan for you and it being what God decides is good, gets big results.

ACCEPT GOD’S OFFER TO HELP YOU

Image via WikipediaACCEPT GOD’S OFFER TO HELP YOU




It’s not enough just to believe in God. You’ve got to plug into his power.



The only way to get God’s power is to surrender to him and let him fill you with his Spirit.



The Spirit that God has given us … fills us with power, love, and self control. (2 Timothy 1:7 TEV)



You’re not really in control until Christ is in control. How do you plug into God’s power? Real simple. Believe and receive. First believe that God exists, that He is in control of the world, and is in control of your life (because you asked Him to be), and tat he knows and cares about you, and has the power to help you. Then receive him into your life – simply say, “Jesus Christ put your Spirit in me.”



God is the higher power you can plug into. Open your heart and life to him today.



“When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)



Committing your Life and Will



We need to consciously choose to commit all your life and will to God’s care and control.



“Happy are those who are humble.” (Matthew 5:5 TEV)



LETTING GO – THE COMMITMENT CHOICE



Meekness is not about weakness. Meekness is about strength under control. The Commitment choice is about surrendering control of your life to a power much greater than yourself.



“Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me … For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 PH)

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S EXISTENCE

Image via WikipediaACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S EXISTENCE




Anyone who comes to [God] must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)



The question for most people is not, “Is there a God?” The real question is, “Can he control the world around me and my life?”



UNDERSTAND GOD’S CHARACTER



Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God?. (Colossians 1:15 PH)



THREE THINGS WE LEARN ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER FROM JESUS CHRIST



1. God knows about my situation.You … have seen the crisis in my soul. (Psalm 31:7 LB)You know how troubled I am; you have a record of my tears.(Psalm 56:8 TEV)O God, You know how foolish I am. (Psalm 69:5 NLT)



2. God cares about my situation.He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic. (Psalm 103:13 LB) He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14 TEV) “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love.” (Jeremiah 31:3 NIrV) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)



3. God can change me and my situation. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) God showed his great love for us, by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT)

CONSEQUENCES OF PLAYING GOD

Image via WikipediaCONSEQUENCES OF PLAYING GOD




1. We fear that someone will find out who we really are – someone who is not in control of the world around us



2. We are immersed in frustration. Unable to cope with the circumstances and environment around us.



3. We are worn out and have no peace. We have no future but death (the end).



4. Being in control of our life we must acknowledge one failure after another and accept the consequences.



We don’t change when we see the path we need. We change when we whole heartily admit we cannot control our life. God whispers to us in our everyday life, but he shouts to us in our complete, total failure. The fact is that if you could solve your problems, you would have done it a long time ago.



THREE IMPORTANT FACTS OF LIFE



1. I am powerless to change my past.



2. I am powerless to control the world around me.



3. I am powerless to control my life.



Good intensions are not enough. Willpower is not enough. You need another source of power that can control the world around you along with your life.



The Holy Spirit provides the guidance on how to get your life under God’s control. How do you get the Holy Spirit’s guidance? There’s only one way; God gives it to the humble.



What needs to change in your life? The Control of your life.



Placing God in Control



We need to believe that God exist, He is in control of the world, that you matter to him, and that he has the power to control your life to meet his plans for you including joining him in a everlasting “Sharing Love Fest.”



“Happy are those who mourn, for God will comfort them!” Matthew 5:4 (TEV)

Dealing with Challenges

Image via WikipediaDealing with Challenges




We have discussed how we need to work with the purpose we are here for. Let us now take a further look at how we can cope with our challenges through pursuing our purpose here in this world.



Let us break down our main purpose into the 5 sub-purposes for our lives. They are worship of our ‘Highest God,” fellowship with Jesus and our brothers and sisters in Christ, discipleship in our faith, ministry to other humans, and evangelism.



We need the “Highest God



We need to realize that we are not in control of our lives. WE need to place God in control.



“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3 (TEV)



The Root Cause of humanities Problems is trying to play God.



HOW WE PLAY GOD



1. We try to control our lives and hide from ourselves and others that we are unable to successfully.



2. We try to control other people by manipulating each other through guilt or shame or praise or even through silence.



3. We try to control our challenges by saying things like: “I can handle it; it’s not really a problem. I don’t need any help.



4. We try to control our failure by avoiding it, denying it, escaping it, medicating it, or postponing it.



But the first step in getting our lives on the right path is where we realize AND accept the fact that we are not God, and we need help from someone much greater then ourselves to successfully get our lives into control.

What is a disciple?.

Image via WikipediaWhat is a disciple? It is used 262 times in the New Testament. Lexicons tell us that it means "one who shares a close and intimate relationship with a person." "The disciple is one who at Jesus' call follows after Him. He must observe the will of God and even binding upon himself unreservedly to the person of Jesus, go as far as death and the gift of his life out of love," In John 8;31, Jesus said, "If you continue in My Word, then you're My real disciple." John 15:8, Jesus says, "My true disciples bear fruit." Disciple are people who believe the gospel, people who have turned from their sin to embrace the forgiveness of God, people who have had a transformed life so that they are motivated to obey what the Lord has commanded them.Puritan William Perkins wrote these words, "The true Christian is of this disposition of mind that if there were no conscience to accuse, no devil to terrify, no judge to arraign or condemn, no hell to torment, yet he would be humbled and brought to his knees for his sins because he has offended a loving merciful and long suffering God," Sometimes we love very imperfectly and disobey, but the pattern of life is obedience and love for the Lord. And even when we fail to love Him, we feel the guilt, we fail to obey Him, we feel the guilt because we do belong to Him. We have that intimate relationship which God has in His grace given to us.The heart of discipleship, beloved, is a commitment to Jesus Christ. That means that you're willing to publicly identified with Him no matter what that cost. That means you're willing to face a hostile world boldly to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and master. All of us have times of failure, but it's not our purpose, it's not our desire to keep our relationship to Christ hidden, it's our desire to pronounce it, to proclaim it. He gives us a heart to love Him, a heart to want to proclaim Him, a heart to want to announce that we belong to Him.Are you a disciple who has repented (changed your life), made Jesus Lord of your life and love him with your whole heart, mind, soul, and spirit. If not Why?




If not, How can you?

There must be a true and actual abandonment of sin

Image via WikipediaTrue abandonment of sin.Spurgeon said: "There must be a true and actual abandonment of sin and a turning unto righteousness in real act and deed in every day life. Repentance, to be sure, must be entire. If thou dost harbor one of those accursed vipers in thy heart and dost give up every other, that one lust like one leak in a ship will sink thy soul. All transgressions must be renounced or else the gates of heaven must be barred against you. True repentance is a turning of the heart as well as of the life. It is the giving up of the whole soul to God to be His forever and ever."What is biblically defined repentance? The term demands radical conversion, demands a transformation of nature, a definitive turning from evil, a resolute turning to God in total obedience. There can be no going back, only advance and responsible movement along the way not taken. It effects the whole man. First and basically the center of personal life, then logically his conduct at all times and in all situations, his thoughts, words and acts.It starts out, you see that sin is sinful, you see that you are guilty, you see that Christ has provided intellectually and then it touches your emotions and there's a brokenness and a sorrow and a shame and a guilt that pours out and out of that sorrow comes the third element, and that is the volitional. Finally, repentance enacts the will and brings a change of direction, a new determination to abandon stubborn disobedience and surrender your life to Christ.Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world in its mind and outlook as well as its practices, and you deny yourself and take up the cross and go after Christ. Your nearest and dearest and the whole world may call you a fool or say you have religious mania, you may have to suffer financially, but it makes no difference. That is repentance."It becomes an ongoing way of life. The active continuous attitude of repentance produces the poverty of spirit, the mourning, the meekness that characterizes true believers in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. Repentance produces a new way of life. What are the fruits of repentance? Simply righteous deeds, holy deeds, godly deeds, transformed life. Luke 3 says: "Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none, let him who has food do likewise. Be content with what your wages are."What one action will you take this week to "produce fruit in keeping with your repentance"?




You want to know where true repentance shows up? In the character of your daily living. Do you make sure you don't take anything from anyone that you don't deserve? You don't force people. You don't accuse people falsely.

Times of refreshing.

Image via WikipediaTimes of refreshing.
How would you use Peter's answer (vv. 38-40) to explain to someone what it means to become a Christian? What is required? What is promised?How has repentance and turning to God brought "times of refreshing"(v19) to you? How can that be used as a means of encouraging others to come to Christ?In Acts 17:30 Paul "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, ." And in chapter 26 verse 19 "...and even to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God performing deeds appropriate to repentance."And even the work of God is geared to produce repentance. Why? Because it says in 2 Peter, again chapter 3 verse 9, "The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." So this is a call to turn from a self-directed life, a self-indulgent life, a sinful life to follow Christ. It is a turning, it's a turning from your own life, your own will, your own way, your own sin to follow at all cost. It is a change of mind. It is a change of heart. It is a new life of denying self and sin and seeing the Savior as Lord and King in self's place. How important is this? Luke 13:3 and 5, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish."What "fruit" do you want to be producing by this time next year?The Second Epistle of Clement in 150 A.D., says, "Let us not merely call Him Lord for that will not save us, for He says, ‘Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will be saved, but he who does what is right.' Thus brothers, let us acknowledge Him by our actions, this would end the world to come...this world, rather, and the world to come are two enemies, this one means adultery, corruption, avarice and deceit while the other gives them up. We cannot then be friends of both. To get the one we must give up the other."Martin Luther made repentance as his number one principal posted on the door: "Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in saying ‘Repent ye,' meant the whole life of the faithful to be an act of repentance."Westminster Shorter Catechism put it this way. Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ doth with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it unto God with full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience. Turning from sin which is a part of true repentance doth consist in two things. One, in turning from all gross sins in regard of our course and conversation. Two, in a turning from all other sins in regard of our hearts and affections. Three, such as have truly repented of sin do never return unto the practice of it so as to live in a course of sin as they did before.

Bring forth fruit.

Image by Lawrence OP via FlickrBring forth fruit.
In Matthew chapter 3, we are introduced to the first New Testament evangel, none other than John the Baptist. In verse 1 of chapter 3 it says, "Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Then in verse 8, further John said, "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance."How is repentance linked to your experience of salvation: In the Past? Now?Then in chapter 4 verse 17, following John the Baptist came the ministry of Jesus. "And from that time, that is the beginning of His ministry, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Chapter 9 and verse 13, "Jesus said, But go and learn what this means. I desire compassion and not sacrifice...that is I desire a heart attitude not external religion...for I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.How has coming to know Jesus been like moving from darkness to light for you?




Chapter 6 verse 12 of Mark, and here we find that the ministry has gone beyond John the Baptist, beyond Jesus to the Apostles, the disciples, and it says in verse 12, "And they went out and preached that men should repent."Let's go to Luke chapter 15 verse 7, "I tell you Jesus says after describing the man who lost the sheep and went to find the sheep, when he comes home, he rejoices," and so forth. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."Coming to the conclusion of Luke's gospel and bringing it very close to home, chapter 24 verse 46, Jesus sums up the gospel. "Thus it is written," Luke 24:46, "that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem."Now let's see what the early church did. Acts 2:38. Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost, this is the first sermon in the new era, the church is about to be founded and born after the resurrection. And what is the message that in fact is the invitation which gives birth to the church? "Repent." Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 of Acts, verse 19, "Repent therefore and return in order that you sins may be wiped away." Chapter 11 verse 18 says, "When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God saying, Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."

Humility

Image via WikipediaHumility.
If you had seen yourself as God's willing servant this past week, what would have changed in your attitudes and actions? Where do you particularly want to work on this in the coming week?




And finally, another element of loving faith, it's humble. For this you need to only look at the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." It goes on to talk about poverty of spirit, brokenness, repentance, sorrow, meekness, hunger, thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake. You see, true faith begins in humility and in brokenness and in sorrow and in repentance and in poverty in spirit and it ends in obedience and endurance. Loving faith is like that of the little child, if you don't come to Me, Jesus said in Matthew 18:4, as a little child, you can't enter My Kingdom. It's humble, obedient, and it's a gift from God.I remind you of that tremendously haunting verse, 1 Peter 2:7, "To those who believe, He is precious." When you love Jesus you don't have to try to submit to Christ, he's precious to you. You long to submit and change your life.

Costly

Image via WikipediaCostly.When did you realize that following Jesus was costly? How so? Ever wonder since then if the cost was worth it? What keeps you going??




In John 6:14 when therefore the people saw the sign which He had performed they said, "This is of a truth," and that, of course, was the miracle of the loaves and fish, "This is of a truth the prophet...the one promised in the Old Testament, the Messiah who is to come into the world. Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone." He wanted nothing to do with their kind of faith. The believed He was the Messiah. They wanted to force him into their plans. He wanted nothing to do with it.When have you seen God stretch your limited resources (physically or emotionally) far beyond what you could have imagined? In what way do you need to trust him to do so now?You see, salvation and loving faith is more than wanting forgiveness, it's more than wanting heaven, it's being willing to turn from sin and submit to Christ.Loving faith is demonstrated by Peter, verse 17 of Matthew 16, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father who is in heaven." That is a confession. That is a loving statement. And Jesus says to him, you didn't get that from flesh and blood, My Father gave you that faith, My Father gave you that revelation. It is the Father God who enables anyone to believe.W.E. Vine said regarding faith, "It is a firm conviction, it is a personal surrender and conduct inspired by such surrender." He says when a man obeys God, he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Romans 7, Paul says I don't do what I want to do and I do what I don't want to do and I fight the battle of my flesh. To say you believe and don't obey is to say you don't believe, because if you'll believe, you'd do what you believe. What you believe to be true is what governs what you do. Paul says in Romans 6, it's so wonderful that when you were saved you took yourselves from being servants to sin and by God's grace you have now become the servants of righteousness, obedience.

Depths of the heart

Depths of the heart
.In the preface of Martin Luther's Commentary on Romans, he wrote this "Faith is not something dreamed, a human illusion although this is what many people understand by the term. Whenever they see that it is not followed either by an improvement in morals or by good works, while much is still being said about faith, they fall into the error of declaring that faith is not enough, that we must do works if we are to become upright and attain salvation. The reason is that when they hear the gospel they miss the point. In their hearts and out of their own resources they conjure up an idea which they call belief which they treat as genuine faith. All the same, it is but a human fabrication, an idea without a corresponding experience in the depths of the heart. It is therefore ineffective and not followed by a better kind of life," end quote.Luther goes on to write in the commentary on Romans, "Faith, however, is something that God effects in us. It changes us and we are reborn from God. Faith puts the old Adam to death and makes us quite different men in heart, in mind and in all our powers. And it is accompanied by the Holy Spirit. Oh, when it comes to faith, what a living creative active powerful thing it is. It cannot do other than good at all times. It never waits to ask whether there is some good work to do, rather before the question is raised, it has done the deed and keeps on doing it. A man not active in this way is a man without faith. He is groping about for faith and searching for good works but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Nevertheless he keeps on talking nonsense about faith and good works. It is impossible indeed to separate works from faith just as it is impossible to separate heat and light from fire," end quote. Where are you now in your response to the gospel? Why? In 1937, A. W. Pink said: "Salvation is by grace, by grace alone. Nevertheless, divine grace is not exercised at the expense of holiness for it never compromises with sin. It is also true that salvation is a free gift. But an empty hand must receive it and not a hand which still tightly grasps the world. Something more than believing is necessary to salvation. A heart that is steeled in rebellion against God cannot savingly believe. It must first be broken. And only those who are spiritually blind would declare that Christ will save any who despise His authority and refuse His yoke."(Luke14:25) "Great multitudes were going along with Him and He turned and said to them. If anyone comes to Me and doesn't hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Verse 27: "Whoever doesn't carry his own cross and come after Me, can't be My disciple." In other words, willing to die. "...So therefore no one of you can be My disciple who doesn't give up all his possessions."When God in His grace is working a true salvation it has these kind of ingredients. Genuine salvation requires true faith.

Who (or what) are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?

Image by hops_76 via FlickrWho (or what) are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?
How weak or strong are you in the faith; Like a lion in a zoo, who looks strong but has never been tested? Or a palm tree, not very strong but having a solid root structure?
The first evangelism outside of Israel, chapter 10 of Acts, verse 36. "The word which he sent to the sons of Israel--Peter--said preaching peace through Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all." We have covered a couple of the 747 times.Thomas acknowledge it. What did Thomas say when he saw Jesus Christ after the resurrection? "My Lord and my..." what do you think he meant?The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:3 is pretty clear. "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus is accursed and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." Repentance is not a human work. It's a work that God does. When God saves someone, He grants them repentance. He grants them the affirmation by His Spirit that Jesus is Lord.In Matthew 19:16, it says, "One came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life, how do I get eternal life?" That's the question. How do I get eternal life? Jesus said, "Why are you asking Me about what's good? There's only one who's good. If you want to enter life, do...what?..keep the commandments," Jesus also said to him, "All right," verse 21, "if you want to be complete, perfect, want to get into God's heaven, go sell your possessions, give to the poor, you'll have treasure in heaven and come and do...what?...follow Me." First test, will you admit your sin? Second test, will you submit to My Lordship?What have you given up to follow Jesus? How is your life different as a result?Jesus wanted the two things to come clear to that young man. When you want into the Kingdom, when you want eternal life, it is not as simple as just a decision, believing some facts. There must be an acknowledgement and turning from sin and there must be a willingness to submit to My authority even if I ask you to do the most difficult thing in your life...to give up that which you love the most. Let's establish, number one, the depth of your sinfulness and, number two, the height of My sovereignty, that's the issue.When you come to Christ and are truly saved, the Spirit of God will move on your spirit and you will call Jesus...what?...Lord.

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Sinful Nature

Sinful Nature

 

What is wrong with indulging our sinful nature once in a while?

Jesus put out this invitation: "Follow Me...forsake all...lay down your life...submit to My authority...turn from your sin...repent...obey."Let us look at Mark chapter 8. Verse 34, "He summoned the multitude with His disciples, said to them, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me, for whosoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel shall save it. What does it profit a man to gain to the whole world and forfeit his soul?"What's a man going to give in exchange for his soul? "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him." If you have shame toward Christ He'll have shame toward you.Where does "Jesus' way" still conflict with "your way"? What is the cost-benefit ratio of each course?

In Matthew, chapter 13, verse 44, the parable is very simple. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found and hid...from joy over he goes and sells all he has and buy the field. Another parable, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. On finding the one pearl of great value, he went and sold all he had and bought it. Very simple parable. A man found something of value.. sold everything he had, took it. Both men sold all they had to have the treasure. It's a picture of the exchange, I give up all I am for all He is.Compared to the man and the merchant, how valuable is the kingdom to you and why: (a) It's worth more than anything else? (B) I think I'd miss too many of the other things? (C) I'm not ready to carry all this so far? What dose it mean to "sell everything" for the kingdom?

When you gave your heart and soul to Christ and submitted and bowed the knee before Him in submissive salvation and yielded your life to Him all under the power of the Spirit of God, you began a life in which He is Lord and progressively your life should be evidencing that obedience to His Lordship. He is called Lord no less than seven hundred and forty-seven times in the New Testament. In the book of Acts you have the preaching pattern for the rest of the centuries of the church's life, 92 times in the book of Acts, Jesus is called Lord. Lordship was at the very heart of gospel preaching in the early church. The very heart of it was affirming His Lordship. Peter says in Acts 2, "It shall be that salvation comes to everyone who calls on the name of the...what?...the Lord."To repent and be baptized in Jesus' name meant to turn away from all other loyalties and affirm allegiance to Jesus. In what ways does this call still present a challenge to you?

In Romans chapter 10, verse 9, "If you confess with you mouth Jesus as...what?...Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." Verse 12, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord." verse 13, "shall be save." And Lordship implies that He is sovereign. It implies that He is in charge. You go back through the gospels and the whole New Testament and you have affirmation after affirmation of the Lordship. Chapter 14 of Romans, verse 9, "For to this end Christ died and lived again that He might be...what?...Lord."

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If we endure

Image via Wikipedia If we endure

 

Second Timothy 2:12 says if we endure, we shall also live with Him. We shall reign with Him if we endure to the end. The faithfulness of God is a blessing to loyal enduring believers. But look at 2 Timothy 2:13, well actually the second half of 12, "If we deny Him, He'll deny us." See, if we endure, we'll reign. If we deny/reject Him at any point, our faith dies. He'll deny us. Beloved, it is the nature of Loving faith that when God gives that faith, He sustains that faith. And if there comes a point in time when a person rejects that faith, God denies that soul.What are some pressures on you that shake your faith? What encouragements do you find in this passage as you face those pressures? How can you respond with the spirit of power, love, and self-control God has given you?Jesus says: "I have not come to call the righteous but...what?...sinners to repentance. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." First Peter 2:7 says, "To those who believe, He is precious." Have you ever thought about that verse? I'll tell you whether a person's a Christian, is Christ precious? To those who believe, He's what? He's precious...He's very precious. What does that mean? Valuable, costly, highly prized, that's His Lordship. He's precious to the true believer.How does it make you feel to be chosen, royalty, and God's possession? When is it most difficult to remember what God has made you?

Jesus said: "The gate is narrow and...what?...few thereby that find it." Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 rather, "Do you not know the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, do not be deceived, neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effemitate, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, swindles shall inherit the Kingdom of God." In Galatians 5, it says, "The deeds of the flesh are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, things like this, the people who do those things, practicing them, will not inherit the Kingdom of God."What attitudes do you see in yourself: (a) Insistence on "my rights"? (b) Desire for revenge? (c) Desire to make things right? (d) Willingness to "bend the rules"? (e) Preferring my old way of life rather than following Christ?

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