Tuesday, August 14, 2012

C - Fellowship - 3


C – FELLOWSHIP – 3

Fellowship with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and with our fellow Christians has been considered in the past lessons.  1 Jhn.1:3; 1 Cor.3:23; Phil.2:1   This brings us into a greater fellowship within the body of Christ; however, just how deeply spiritual is our life?  We can know the facts but how deeply does it dwell within us?  Do we have a deep longing to be more involved in a spiritual way?  Ps.42:1,2; Jhn.6:35  This is the bread and butter of our spiritual life.  We need that longing!

Three things are often mentioned with regard to spirituality.  One is Bible study.  Without Bible study we would be without fellowship with God for this is how He speaks to us.  Ps.119:11   The Word of God shows us how to live to please our Lord.  Col.1:10   We must have prayer in our life for this is the way we talk to God.  1 Thess.5:17;  Matt.21:22   Attendance to the times Christians gather together is not only a commandment but necessary for fellowship.  Heb.10:24,25   This is more than “How are you” and “Have a good day”.  All three of these are of utmost importance and completely necessary; but each one may become ritualistic and herein lies the danger.  We just skim the surface.  The Pharisees were very careful to tithe but they were neglecting important graces necessary to please God.  Matt.23:23  

Several phrases or words from the Scripture come to mind as we think of depth in our spiritual life.  One of these words is all.  To walk in the Spirit we must give our all.  Lk.10:27   What are we holding back for self?  We want.  We worry.  It is difficult to trust that if we give our all, God will take care of us.  1 Pet.5:7; Matt.6:25   The word whole becomes important as Paul uses it in terms of his whole heart.  Rom.1:9   The completeness of our life in Christ involves our soul, spirit, and body.  1 Thess.5:23   If we are seeking to be more spiritual we must realize that we are not our own for we have been purchased with the blood of Christ.  We know that, but do we really consider it to the point of tears of thankfulness.  1 Cor.6:19,20

Focus is important as we cause our minds to slow down.  How often we begin prayer or Bible study and our mind begins to wander.  We have things to do so we race through this time with God without really concentrating and meditating on the truths of Scripture or on the needs for which we are praying.  How we need to apply these truths to our own lives!  Ps.139:23,24   We don’t stop long enough to consider and by rushing through, the Word is choked from sinking into our heart.  Mk.4:19

The Bible speaks to us with examples, commandments, and principles.  If we are reading about an event, it might be well to read it through to completion.  Then stop.  What character traits were shown?  Does this reveal something to me that I need to work on?  Does it contain principles of conduct and thought or perhaps even commandments that I need to observe as well?  We are told in 2 Tim.2:15 to rightly divide the Word of Truth.  Although the New Testament is for us today, the Old Testament still has many precepts that apply to us and from which we can grow.  Ps.51:10-12

Is our fellowship with the Lord confined to a particular slot in the day?  We may leave the Lord at the study table and we are done for the day as our minds begin racing toward the tasks ahead.  We may need to hurry on the outside but we need to always remember that the Holy Spirit dwells on the inside.  We can’t ignore that Spirit within us.  How many times a day do we tell the Lord that we love Him and then give Him thanks.  This is for very small things as well as the large things, for our life is guided and protected by Him.  Eph.5:20   Even when things may not seem to go right, if we are handing our lives over to the Lord, He knows what He is doing unless we mess it up.  Rom.8:28  

We all need guidance in many kinds of decisions.  God is there for your requests.  If we want fellowship with our Lord, we can’t ignore His presence with us at all times.  Phil.4:6,7   Fellowship is sharing and mutual participation.  That applies to our brothers and sisters in Christ but it also applies to our heavenly Father, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit.  We can pray any place and any time.  We can talk to God all day.  If someone comes to mind that needs help in some way, pray for them right then and there. We walk and talk in the Spirit.  We live with the Spirit in us.  Gal.5:25

Sometimes you might feel that you have no one to whom you can pour your heart out.  But you do!  Jhn.14:1,27   David poured his heart out to God and we can as well.  The Holy Spirit helps us do that.  Rom.8:26,27   Jesus is concerned for us.  Jhn.17:15-17   He will be with us to the end.  Matt.28:20

Keeping verses of Scripture in front of you helps keep our spiritual life to the front.  Jhn.15:7   My words abide in you!  Your words have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.  Verses that mean a lot to you could be put on cards where they would be visible in your everyday schedule.  Eventually your memory might kick in with some of them to be a real blessing to your spiritual life.

Titles or lines from songs sometimes bring spiritual thoughts to our mind as well as listening to gospel music of your choice.  Do we love the Lord?  We need to tell Him in thankfulness for what He has done and is doing for us.  Tell Him often.  Jesus wants us to have an abundant life.  Jhn.10:10   So let us move on to a deeper spiritual life.  Col.3:1-3


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Greater by Steven Furtick


Greater by Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick offers a challenge to believers in his statement, “Most believers aren’t in imminent danger of ruining their lives.  They’re facing a danger that’s far greater:  wasting them.”  We cannot be just “good enough”.  On the other hand, we don’t aim for greatness.  God can do greater things as we have confidence to know that anything is possible with God; as we have clarity to realize the next step God is asking you to take; and the courage to do anything God asks.

Furtick uses several examples from the life of Elisha to illustrate his point:  Burn the plough because we cannot hold on to the former things of life; Dig the ditches as we have faith to dig before we can see the rain; and from the illustration of the widow—God needs all we have.

“Greater isn’t automatic or permanent.  It is a daily, intentional decision.”  Furtick also mentions the fact that the greater we become in God, the less about us we become so obedience is the starting line of humility.  “God’s power within you is only potential until you convert it into strength—by faith and action.”

The points Furtick makes are backed with about 24 Scriptures.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.