(1)
Watch Francis Chan videos: (Sausage and Gambling in Vegas)
Sausage: It is obvious that we often
actually do not want to hear what the Spirit is trying to tell us. We
all have internal filters that keep us from truly hearing what the "Spirit
says to the Church" and to us individually. We read, "Unless a man
take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple" and still too often
we seek a comfortable religion and even to be accepted by the world.
Gambling
in Vegas video described how we often lose our enthusiasm for Christ as we grow
older and acquire status, possessions, family, and careers. It didn't hurt us
to be “all in” for Christ when we are young and the stakes are low and we have
nothing (Mark
12:43), but as we grow rich with worldly
possessions, status, family and careers, it begins to seriously pain us to give
everything over to the Spirit of God.
(2)
Despising Prophecies: We will use
the definition of "prophecy" to mean "speaking forth for
God", being given a word of wisdom or admonishment (Colossians
1:28) from a brother or sister in Christ, or
even hearing a nudge from the Spirit in or hearts (Galatians
4:6) as we “wait on the Lord”.
If
the Spirit is alive in the church, then He will daily have, moment-by-moment
messages for us….. if you are walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians
5:16). Sometimes these messages are a result of
studying God's Word and then reflection. Or they might occure when we experience
(gnosis) a creative thought in our minds or a pressing on our hearts (Acts
2:37), or sometimes they might be the result of a word of
admonishment from a brother or sister in Christ (Colossians
3:16). God wants us to be tender-hearted enough
to really hear the message and not be "buffed-up" with so much
pride that our hearts are hardened.
The
same sun that melts butter …hardens clay. God's word will either melt and mold our hearts or
harden them making us "stiff-necked" people. We WILL be
changed by the Word, this is God's Promise. "My word will not return to me
void" (Isaiah
55:11) In other words, His Word WILL change the
world. In what way is up to us. How are our hearts being changed? In what
condition is my heart?
Pride
is the one area of our lives that restrains the Spirit. Paul says, "I
count ALL things lost" for the sake of the Gospel. He took pride in
nothing except the Cross. We talk about what we take pride in. If we are Spirit-led, then from the
overflow of your heart, our mouths speak (Romans
15:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Question: Why are my lips moving?
(3)
The Forgotten God: "If the Holy
Spirit left your church would anyone notice?"
If
we depend on the talents and funds that we already have, we will have an
unremarkable church that has been built and sustained by the hands of men.
Anyone can build a church, offer exciting activities, and draw a crowd.
However,
if we give our lives over to God and depend on the Holy Spirit while giving God
the glory in ALL things, we will experience a fellowship that can do the
impossible (Ephesians
3:20).
(4)
Francis Chan has a video online Stephanie shared and I would like to share with
you. To summarize, he takes $2 and wads them up then throws them into the
audience. Of course, being Americans, the folks in the audience duck and the
money falls on the floor...no one picks them up. Yet in other countries this
would be a day's wage.
We
are rich if we have complained of cellular service being bad. We are rich if we
complain of gas prices for our cars. We are rich if we complain that there is
nothing on television tonight. We are rich if we send our steak back to be
cooked more. We are rich if we turn on the air conditioner. We are rich if we
can't figure out what outfit to wear. If we have hot water we are rich!
Yet
the word of God tells us that it is almost impossible for a rich man to enter
into the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you hear what the Spirit is saying to the
church? If you are dismissing or
justifying this statement in your mind...please watch this video:
(5)
While we are in prayer this week, let us offer up a prayer of agreement to not
only pray for those who are physically ill, but for those that are spiritually
and emotionally ill. Pray for those who have fallen to lust after the world and
its approval. Pray for those who are lukewarm, that God’s Spirit will light a
fire in their hearts. Let us agree to consider ourselves and brethren in the
Kingdom and pray for hearts to be melted, molded, and transformed by the Spirit of
the Living God.
Homework (Better Known as Renewing the Spirit in our Hearts):
(1)
Listen to Revelation 3 and 4
(2)
Read Chapter 3 in the book -- A great lesson!
(3)
Meet with your study buddies at least twice and
formulate some "Take-Aways" from what you are learning
(4)
Decide the answer to "With what and where should
a Christian be tattooed?”
(5)
Keep memorizing Romans 12:1-2
(6)
Pray without Ceasing
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