Step Eleven also calls us to meditation.

Image via WikipediaStep Eleven also calls us to meditation. If prayer is speaking to God, meditation is listening to God. This involves:

Bible study.
The Bible is God's word. In it we find his will and his way, and we discover who he is. If we will let it, the Bible will function as a mirror for us, allowing us to see our behavior for what it is, and giving us a guide to evaluate what we are (or are not) doing.

Reflection.
This is a matter of listening. It will involve a quieting down, an offering of our life to God's control, a mulling over of issues, an alertness to new insights.

Meditation exercises.
There is no one way to meditate. Repeating the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy"), imagining that we are there during an event from the Bible (e.g., sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing him give the Sermon on the Mount), mulling over a phrase from Scripture (e.g., "My peace I give to you" John 14:27), reflecting on creation (e.g., letting the beauty of a flower draw us to God), or sitting in silence all qualify as meditation. Different people will find that certain styles of meditation suit them best.

Richard Foster writes: "Often meditation will yield insights that are deeply practical, almost mundane. Instruction will come on how to relate to your wife or husband, or how to deal with this sensitive problem or that business situation. It is wonderful when a particular meditation leads to ecstasy, but it far more common to be given guidance in dealing with ordinary human problems. Meditation sends us into our ordinary world with greater perspective and balance."

Prayer and meditation allow us to become better acquainted with the God to whom we have given our lives.

Witnessing
Step Twelve urges us to tell our story to others. This is, in fact, what takes place at Twelve Step meetings. Various people share publicly what has happened to them. often it is as a result of hearing the stories of others that people come to realize what is going on in their own lives, that they can get help with their problem, and that they need to take Step One. Thus they start on the road to recovery.

Telling our stories is called witnessing in the New Testament. This is how the church has spread throughout history: Christians tell others the story of Jesus and how they came to know him. Sharing with others about our addiction and how we have begun to recover from it gives us a natural opportunity to talk about God. After all, our recovery has its roots in the power of God and in coming to know God through Jesus Christ. In order to witness in this way, we will need to overcome our natural reticence to talk about faith issues. We do this when we come to realize how needy all people are. They may not necessarily be involved in addictive behavior, but they are still in need of God's love, forgiveness, and grace (because they, too, are human beings and are therefore sinful). You owe it to your friends to be open and candid about your spiritual journey.

Related articles

• Objective (georgehach.wordpress.com)

Image via WikipediaRepentance

What we are called upon to do in Steps Six through Nine is something called "repentance." Repentance is not a word most of us are very familiar with. Nor is it a word we especially like when we do not know what it means. Repentance smacks of sawdust trails, tears of confession, or men in white robes carrying signs urging repentance before the world ends. It is a pity that such a significant New Testament word has been corrupted over time in how it is understood. At its heart, the word repentance is neither archaic, cultic, nor emotional. It simply defines an attitude that is vital to the process of growth.

To repent is to change our minds about how we are living. Specifically, it is to decide not to live in a way that takes us away from God, but to turn around and start living God's way. Repentance emerges out of insight. We can't repent unless we see what is going on in our life. Before we can change our minds about what we are doing, we have to see that what we have been doing is wrong. Before we can change our ideas, we need to understand how they are in error. Repentance cannot happen without insight.

Once we clearly see the issue, we can then decide how to deal with it. We have two choices. We can decide to carry on in the way we have been going. In this case, we decide not to change. Or we can decide to turn around from the old, destructive way and start following the new, constructive way. The decision to turn away from the old towards the new is what is called repentance. It is the decision to change.

While it is true that repentance is a cognitive decision (deciding to change), it is also true that this decision must be given expression in our lives. This is where Steps Eight and Nine come in. They show us how to act upon our decision to repent. These steps ask us to make our repentance real in the world of our relationships.

Like most of the other steps we need to undertake, we take Steps Six through Nine not just once but continuously. We keep seeing "defects of character" that need changing, we keep reaching out to God to change us, and we keep making amends to people we have hurt. Repentance needs to become a style of life, not merely a single action.

Jesus is

Image via WikipediaJesus is

All this would be dark and dreadful news to us, except that the Bible goes on to say that help is here and available.  Sin is not the final word.  Jesus is.  He is the stronger power.  (We will discuss this in future subjects.)

However, for this wonderful news to be experienced, we must reach out and accept it to be true.  We must confess our sins (and sinfulness) to God and ask his forgiveness.  We must ask Jesus to become the LORD of our lives, the one to whom we give our lives in obedience.  But we won't reach out to God unless we see a need to do so.  We can't open ourselves to the life of Jesus unless we face openly the reality of sin to which our addiction points.  We will not ask for the resurrection power Jesus offers unless we "own" our problem.

And yet we tend to deny our problem.  This is true even of Christians who, of all people, ought to be able to confess their sin to God.  And yet, at times, it seems that it is hardest for Christians to admit they have an addiction problem.  Part of the problem is a defective theology of sin.  Some Christians feel that having once admitted to God that they were lost and sinful (and that they had been following their own ways and not God's ways), that this takes care of the problem.  Thereafter they live decent and honest lives.  They may not be perfect, but they are good.  Therefore, to admit that they are in the grip of addictive or compulsive behavior seems a betrayal of their Christian commitment.  To be a Christian and a sexaholic, for example, seems a contradiction in terms.  So it becomes very hard for them to admit their problem.  "Christians aren't supposed to live that way.  What will my friends think?"  As a consequence, they pretend that all is well.  Their religious commitment encourages this denial.

But this is bad theology.  The Bible clearly teaches that all people are always sinners.  The Christian is different only in that he or she has recognized the problem of sin and is seeking to live a new way by the grace of God.  But to live that new way requires that we stay honest about our behavior and that we continue to offer our sins to God for forgiveness.

In the passage we are going to study from Romans, Paul reflects on the agony of simultaneously finding great delight in the law of God, while being drawn to the evil which he does not want to do.  Paul knew from his experience what it was like to be controlled by forces over which he seemed powerless .

Evaluation

Image via WikipediaEvaluation

Today we are going to look at the last of the techniques of Bible study, the technique of evaluation.

The Technique of Evaluation is the one technique of study which would help us to discern the difference between what is good and what is evil, and it requires the most careful thought.

The Technique of Evaluation is the last of six techniques (Observation, Interpretation, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation, Application) that you will learn in these subjects.  The technique of comparison is really an application of the technique of observation to other parts of the Bible which talk about the same thing that you are studying. 

When we Evaluate something, we are trying to tell the difference between it and another thing.  As the Bible reference in Hebrews 5:14 indicates, believers must learn to Evaluate in order to tell the difference between good and evil.

EVALUAtion means to find the VALUE of something.  Examples:

The person who says: "The dog in my house is good."
The woman who says: "I do not like dogs in my house."
Some things are easy to evaluate.  Even without thinking there are some things that we already know are good or bad.  But, it is a different story when one must evaluate what lies behind a beautiful and convincing mask.

Remember the Pharisees and teachers of the law?  What was the lovely mask that hid their true intention to rob the homes of widows?
What technique did Jesus use to discover their true motives?
In cases like this it is hard to tell the difference between what is good or bad, right or wrong.  We must always remember that, ever since man fell into sin, his ability to use the intellect God has given him has been .  The Bible says that the mind of man is .

The Second Question

Image by humberpike via FlickrThe Second Question
Read Matthew 22:23-33.

Who asked Jesus this second question?
What was this question about? (See verses 28 and 30.)
Now turn to Acts 23:8 and read this verse.  We have already learned that the Sadducees made the error of taking away from the Word of God.  We know from the verse in Acts that they did Not believe that there would be a of the dead.

The answer that Jesus gave to the Sadducees went straight to the point. (See Matthew 22:29)  Jesus said that the Sadducees were wrong about the .  Their mistake was due to their ignorance of the and of the of .

How many people today are mistaken because they do not know the Bible or the Power of God.

Who darkens the mind so that people cannot understand the Scriptures?
Who brings light to the mind so that we can understand the Scriptures?
The Sadducees were looking at things from the standpoint of only the material and natural instead of viewing things from a spiritual and super-natural perspective.

The main point of Jesus' answer can be found in Matthew 22:32.  God, Jesus says is not the God of the but rather the God of the .
How did the people react to Jesus' answer?

Related articles

• Without Christ (georgehach.wordpress.com)
• The First Question (georgehach.wordpress.com)

Four terms

Image via WikipediaJesus used Four terms to describe the human personality in the Great Commandment as it is found in Mark 12:30.  Which of the Four terms used there is Not Included in the list of modern terms?

The word Soul is translated from the Greek word psyche.  The Greek word itself is used as the root for a number of modern English words, including "Psychology."

The study of Psychology deals with the thinking, feelings and actions of people.  It deals with all of the parts of the human personality.  In the same way, the Biblical word Soul talks about: All of the innermost parts of man's personality, including the heart, mind, and strength.

What is the term that Jesus used in Matthew 22:37 which has to do with ALL of man's inner being?

The creation of man is described in Genesis 2:7 in the following way.  "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being."  In the New American Standard Bible, according to the marginal note which belongs to this verse, the word "being" should be literally translated with the English word soul.  Where did the soul of man come from?

What three aspects did God create in the human personality? , , .

According to Genesis 1:27, man is different than all of the rest of God's creation.  How is man different?

In the past subjects we studied the Image of God in man.  Because man is made in the image of God, he has some of the same abilities that God has.  For instance, like God, man can also:

•Love

•Reason.

•Make Decisions and Act.

Which of these abilities matches the following parts of the human personality?

1.The Intellect? 

2.The Will? 

3.The Emotions? 

When God first created man in His own image, man was perfect.  This means that the Soul of man was also .  Man's soul was made perfect in man's

The Great Commandment

Image via WikipediaThe Great Commandment
Now let's look at the First of these Two Commandments more closely.  Read Matthew 22:37.  The First commandment says that we are to God with ALL of our , , and .

These three aspects of the human personality include all of man.  In other words, the Great Commandment teaches us to love God: TOTALLY.

At this point we should notice that there is a small difference between the way that Mark quotes this verse from the Old Testament and the way that Matthew quotes it.  Read Mark 12:30.  What word does Mark Add to the quotation from the Old Testament?

Modern psychologists describe the human personality with these words: Emotions, Intellect, Will.  Notice how closely these modern terms match the words that Jesus used to describe man's personality.  Answer below by matching the modern terms with the words which are used in the Bible.

Heart: Feeling joy, sorrow, etc.  The
Mind: That part which thinks.  The
Strength: What causes us to do things.  The
A person's Will is that part of the inner being which enables one to make decisions and to control one's own actions..  It makes it possible for a person to DO or NOT DO something which he or she has decided upon.  Which one of the terms Jesus used refers to this same aspect of the human personality?

On the other hand, when we talk about the Feelings which we have in our heart, we are talking about that part of the human personality which, in modern terms, is called the .

Our ability to understand, to learn, and to KNOW is a part of the human personality the Bible calls the and which we call the today.

4. Regression

Image via Wikipedia4.  Regression
Regression is the first Defensive adjustment.  Regression occurs when a person who finds himself in a difficult situation unconsciously goes back to a form of childish behavior which helped him solve the problem in his youth.  Now, such behavior only make the adult look foolish.  Here is a sample list below of them.

Pretending to be sick.
Doing something foolish without thinking about it.
Kicking or throwing something when you angry at someone.
Pretending to be annoyed or upset.
Refusing to speak to someone who has offended you.
Crying and sobbing anytime someone talks to you.
Screaming.
Acting like a baby.
Regression can also be illustrated from the Bible.  One of the kings of Israel, a man named Ahab, wanted a vineyard that belonged to a humble neighbor named Naboth.  But, Naboth did not want to sell the property.  Read I Kings 21:4.

What did Ahab do?
What psychological adjustment was Ahab using:
When a person refuses to perform a task which he is perfectly able to do, he most often uses regression as a means of avoiding it.  Many timid believers say that they cannot testify, when in truth the problem is that they DO NOT WANT to testify because they are afraid.  They are using regression.

In Jeremiah 1:6, the prophet used regression when he said that he could not testify to the people because he was a .
Gideon, in Judges 6:15, also used regression when he told the Lord that he could not save Israel because his family was the in Mannasseh and he was the in his family.
Believers sometimes use regression to avoid responsibilities in the church.  This is sad indeed.  Read Hebrews 5:13-14.

According to verse 14, God wants every believer to grow to
However, some believers, instead of growing, remain spiritual
What psychological adjustment is condemned by these verses?
Now write a description of Regression and some Biblical and Personal" examples.

2. Rationalization

Image via Wikipedia2.  Rationalization
The second type of aggressive psychological adjustment is called Rationalization.  Rationalization occurs when a person gives excuses for his actions without realizing that this is what he is doing.  It is a way of not facing the unpleasant, but the real reasons for the actions.  Rationalization can also be illustrated from the Bible.  Read Proverbs 22:13.

What is the reason that the sluggard (a lazy person) gives for not wanting to go out?
However, what is the real reason why he will not work?
Since this person cannot face the unpleasant fact that he is lazy, what psychological adjustment does he use to deceive himself?
Another example can be found in Acts 24-25.  Read this portion from the book of Acts.  Felix gave the false reason of ""He didn't have any more time to listen to Paul" for cutting the conversation short.  The real reason was : the message of coming judgment frightened Felix.

Rationalization is an unconscious way of making oneself seem to be right.  The person who rationalizes really believes that he is giving the true reasons for his actions when, in fact, they are False reasons.  Who is being deceived, when rationalization takes place?  See I John 1:8.

So then, Rationalization consists of giving , but more acceptable reasons, for our actions without realizing that we are deceiving ourselves because we cannot accept the reasons.

Now let's compare the two psychological adjustments we have studied.  Both of them are adjustments.

The  psychological adjustment in which I see, and dislike, in other people the very faults which I cannot see in my own life is called?
It is possible for me to overlook my own faults because I hide them with false reasons, without knowing that they are false reasons.  In other words, I use the adjustment called?
Write a definition of "Rationalization".  Also write a "Biblical Example".

1. Projection

Image via Wikipedia1.  Projection
The first aggressive adjustment is called Projection.  Projection occurs when a person trys to blame someone else for their own sin.  By blaming others for the sin they do not wish to recognize in themselves, they are able to act as if it is not there.

This kind of adjustment can be easily illustrated.  Have you ever noticed how easily ball players blame their own mistakes on others?

Projection is one kind of aggressive psychological adjustment which is used to overcome

Of course, we have all noticed how often children place the blame for wrong behavior upon someone else.

Remember the teaching about the Speck and the Plank in the Statutes of Humility?  (Matthew 7:3)?

The fact that you can see a small speck of sawdust in your brother's eye ought to lead you to a careful search in your own life to see if you are guilty of the same sin, only to a larger degree!

If the speck of sawdust you notice in your brother is a lack of love, what plank should you suspect in your own life which you may be projecting upon your brother?

When someone places a sin which is hidden in their own life upon another person by criticizing them, has taken place.  In this way they may ignore the problem in their own life.

An example of this psychological adjustment can be found in the Bible.  When the prophet Nathan told King David about the rich man who had stolen a poor man's only lamb, David became quite angry.  But, he did not realize that he had committed this same kind of sin himself when he had taken another man's wife.

Upon whom had David projected his sin?
What was this sin which David did not want to face in his own life?

2. Balance between rest and activity.

Image via Wikipedia2.  Balance between rest and activity.

For humans to engage in work is to experience pain.  The fatigue of work is its pain.  Only the lilies of the field neither "toil' nor are in pain, because they have no anxiety.  The Bible affirms that God, understanding the fatigue experienced by us, gives rest.  Rest, theologically, is both needed by men and women in living, and has its source beyond them.  Such rest is not merely a suspension of activity, but also signifies refreshment, and is to be seen as a corrective over and against the frenzied activism of much living.  While in an ultimate sense 'rest' is an experience, relaxation and refreshment it is also part of God's provision for all people.  Such divine provision must be claimed by Christians making the choices necessary if they are to receive this portion of God's gift of sustenance.  Intentionality on the part of Christians is required.

Such biblical figures as Jeremiah, Jesus and Paul model for us the way a leader in a demanding ministry situation may still retain the initiative  to call for 'timeout', and deliberately making opportunities for withdrawal from ministry with others to engage in prayer and adopt a quiet, contemplative disposition.

3.  From weakness to power; from works to grace.
Whenever a Christian faces and accepts his or her inadequacies, limitations and frustrations, the way is open for a deep nourishment of spirit by the Spirit promised us.  ('For when I am weak, then I am strong' - 2 Corinthians 12:10).  Christians, as part of the community of the church, need to share with all their brothers and sisters in this life-sustaining dependency which in turn creates renewal and  growth.

Rather than the fragility and humanity of the Christian being viewed in scripture in terms of negativity only (as obstacles to spiritual life and authentic living), they are depicted as aspects of God's grace, as instruments of his action in and through the life of his servants.  In this way, scripture encourages Christians to view the varied aspects of their personal vulnerability not as enemies that seek only to destroy effective living, but as allies which, if acknowledged and accepted, may be powerful agents of the Spirit of God, utterly alone and helplessness, which becomes the first step to the recovery of his confidence and hope.

In some cases, servant-children operate in daily life as though they do not stand under the gospel of the unconditional acceptance of them by God.  It is often difficult for Christians to claim and live by grace.

Coping

Image via WikipediaCoping

 

Scripture not only depicts the problem of pressure experienced by God's servant: it also highlights ways of coping with the problem.  We have seen that the biblical record does not minimize the existence of pressure, or the value of it.  Certainly, the suggestion is to be found there that it is possible to 'solve' the problem of pressure for Christians by adopting some kind of life-style that would be free of any such pressure.  The Bible contains insights into various ways in which such pressure can be coped with, and even turned to profit.

1.  Name the problem

Biblical characters, on occasion, are described as enduring extreme stress.  For example, Elijah experienced sheer exhaustion after the Mount Carmel event (1 Kings 19).  Also, Jeremiah's outburst, claiming that at one point in his ministry he had enough and was near to breaking point (Jeremiah 20) illustrates the intensity of this experience: 'Cursed be the day on which I was born.  The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!  Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, "A son is born to you..."'.

In the New Testament record, Jesus is depicted as undergoing deep agony on the Mount of Olives prior to his arrest, and he begs his Father, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup (of suffering) pass from me...'  Also, Paul indicates by letter the sufferings he and his missionary companions had experienced in Asia:'... for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.  Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death...'

While there are examples of biblical figures who apparently had no hesitation about articulating to God, and to others, areas of stress, modern Christians are often reticent to do the  same.  yet basic to all endeavors to cope with stress is the willingness to 'own' the stress: to recognize it with or without the help of  others, and to express it in some way.  To be able to name the problem is a significant undergirding factor which predisposes to healthy coping behavior.

4. Extreme Stress

Image via Wikipedia4.  Extreme Stress

While the designation 'burnout' is a modern one, the condition it describes is as old as events depicted in the Bible.  For example,, in the Psalms, David describes himself as being totally worn out:

"O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger,nor chasten me in the wrath.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am Languishing;O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.My soul also is sorely troubled.My soul also is sorely troubled.But, O Lord, how long?"(Psalm 6:1-3.  See also 25:19-21, 31:9, 10; 32:3, 4; 38:3, 4; 39:1-3, 7-11).

Jeremiah also appears to have experienced the dark depths of despair and feelings of helplessness and exhaustion implicit in 'burnout' (Jeremiah 4:19-21, 8:18; 9:1; 11:18, 19).

Jesus, especially in the spiritual and emotional battle at the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:42-44) and on Golgotha, is similarly tortured and pressured.  The intensity of that struggle, represented physically by Luke in his reference to Jesus' sweat being 'like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground' (verse 44), must be noted.

The cry of Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), echoing the opening words of Psalm 22, underscores the extent of Jesus' experience of bitter isolation as he approached death.  Already feeling alienated from almost all human companionship, Jesus embraces the darkest desertion of all: alienation from the Father.

These biblical examples suggest that 'burnout' is an acute development of the individual's reaction to other dimensions of pressure.  Certainly, there are echoes of this condition in the forgoing discussion of biblical material.

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.

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.

Comfort those in trouble

Image via WikipediaComfort those in trouble

 

Comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - II Corinthians 1:4


After Elsie Larson’s mother died, her siblings and she comforted one another sharing family memories. To her great surprise she discovered that Mom had not told them about our sister Lois’ near-death experience. So that year, in her Christmas card to her niece Judy, Lois’ daughter, she included a note to tell her about it.

While in the hospital with pneumonia, Lois’ heart had stopped. Doctors successfully stimulated it. When Lois opened her eyes she said, “I have seen God and he’s promised I will no longer have to suffer from my illness.” Lois had myesthenia gravis, a disease that had weakened her for years. Although her lungs continued to fill with fluid, she felt no need for the oxygen at her bedside. Exhilarated, Lois lived one more day. She couldn’t stop talking about her visit with God. And then she peacefully slipped away.

As it turned out, Judy, too, had not heard this story. She still tells me, several years later, “Aunt Elsie, I keep your note in my Bible and read it often. It comforts me.”

Elsie can understand that comfort because she, too, receive reassurance every day from Lois’ near-death encounter with God. On good days and bad days, I think we all need to be reminded that we have a brighter life awaiting us with God. Just as He promised.

Heavenly Father, thank You for glimpses of You from the other side and that we will be with You some day in eternity. Amen.


(2 Samuel 22:21-25)"The Lord rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent; I have obeyed the law of the Lord; I have not turned away from my God.  I have observed all his laws; I have not turned away from my God.  I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.  He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

"And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows I am innocent."

Just as there is a passing over from earth's childhood (school, graduation, puberty, parental independence, etc).  In order to pass over to Heaven and our reward,  we must go through death, submission to God and the other aspects covered in these subjects.

Actively following

Image by humberpike via FlickrActively following

 

It is impossible to be neutral about God.  Anyone who is not actively following him has chosen to reject him.  Any person who tries to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil is choosing to be separated from God who alone is good.

(Matthew 12:30)"Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering."

What real difference does Jesus' power make in your daily speech with others?

As a good friend or relative when you see someone in trouble, you will want to help them.  Well you have something that is very important to their present and future happiness, success and purpose in life.  You have an opportunity to save an individual from death (no future) and change their future to graduation to heaven.  Will you hate them so much that you withhold this information from them?  Love would not, and what else should there be.

If you have turned your life over to God, you will find a Love that surpasses any; that you can encounter any other way.  Would you not tell your friends and relatives of a engagement, marriage, or birth of a child.  And yet you have one of the two greatest events (accepting God's control of your life and graduation to your permanent home) in your life, will you withhold this.

Faith sharing should be  a spill over of your joy and love of your God and his other children.  When you have learned about your relationship and have completely committed to it; you will find it easy to talk about it.  An engaged individual who is deeply in love  has no problem, talking about it.  There would be no tongue tied individual giving that earthly news.  Can we do less if we are as deeply in Love with our Father in Heaven.  Jesus said his kingdom would begin quietly, and eventually push outward until the whole world has changed.

Meditate

Image via WikipediaMeditate

 

Meditate on the things God has saved you from: hell, drugs, despair, alcohol, sinful habits, hopelessness, restlessness, and selfishness.  Thank God for this most wonderful gift of redemption.

What would it mean for you to start your day by trusting in God?

A five year old child may wish to drive his fathers car.  But a Father will not put his child in a situation where he would need to drive that car, because he is not ready.  The child may try on his own to drive, but only certain trouble will take place if he does.  But that same father will provide the opportunity when the child is ready, the family is ready (i.e. car is available), and the world is ready (i.e. legally of age).

"David dedicated this (23rd Psalm - 'I shall not want') Psalm to those servants of God who forsake all worldly desires and rejoice in their own lot, whatever it may be.  They appreciate their simple bread and water more than all of the delicacies of this world, for their attention is focused on the spiritual pleasures of the World to Come" (Ibm Ezra).

If the child waits till his father provides the opportunity, the child feels better about the situation along with the family, and the world.

(Proverbs 16:9)"You may make your plans but God directs your actions."

What role should feelings , circumstances, counsel, conscience, scripture, each play in knowing God's will?

If we learn to trust God, to provide us with opportunities to act when God's plan calls for our action.  We will find that we, God's family and the world will be better for it.  Be sure you understand what you're getting into, before you take the first step, be sure you are following God.

(Proverbs 19:2)"People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lords will is going to be done."

Who created you

Image via WikipediaWho created you

 

Who created you?  Who can you ultimately depend on?  Where can you find supreme truth?  Where can you find happiness?  Did you answer anything but God for these questions?  If so, you may be in danger of falling into idolatry.  Pull yourself out of that trap and let God be the one you rely on.

How might the purpose of God be traced in some recent events?

Our control of our world is not one of the options we are allowed.  We either "Trust God" or we are not God's child.  None of God's children's accomplishments are possible without mutual love and trust.  There can not be a proper relationship between us and our Creator/Father without this.  We either believe he is God, and has created everything or he is not our God.  If he has created everything, he is in control of everything.  Therefore he does not need our help.  Just as a mother may allow a child to help her while she bakes a cake God will allow us to help control the world around us.  This mother could bake the cake better by herself, but she does allow the child to help, for his growth.  God provides us the opportunity to be involved with the world in order to provide us a growth experience.  If we walk by our own light and reject God's, we become self-sufficient, and the result of self-sufficiency is torment.  We risk torment later when these strengths fade.

(Isaiah 50:10)"All of you that have reverence for the Lord and obey the words of his servant, the path you walk may be dark indeed, but trust in the Lord, rely on your God."

We have already seen that the Bible teaches that God was a God of love.  he wanted to do something for man.  He wanted to save man.  He wanted to free man from the curse of sin.  How could He do it?  God was a just God. He was righteous, and holy.  He had warned man from the beginning that if he obeyed the Devil and disobeyed God, he  would die physically and spiritually....

All through the Old Testament, God gave man the promise of salvation if by faith he would believe in the coming Redeemer.  Therefore God began to teach His people that man could only be saved by substitution.  Someone else would have to pay the bill for man's redemption....

Thanks be to God - that is exactly what happened!  Looking down over the battlements of heaven he saw this planet swinging in space - doomed, damned, crushed, and bound for hell.  He saw you and me struggling beneath our load of sin and bound in the chains and ropes of sin.  he made His decision in the council halls of God.  The angelic hosts bowed in humility and awe as heaven's Prince of princes and Lord of Lords, who could speak worlds into space, got into His Jeweled chariot, went through pearly gates, across the steep of the skies, and on a black Judean night, while the stars sang together and the escorting angels chanted praises, stepped out of the chariot,, threw off His robes and became man!

(From Peace with God by Billy Graham)