Sunday Morning, May 19, 2013
scriptures: Romans 8, Ephesians 2, 1 John 3, Mark 14
keywords:
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
NOTES
Sometimes we have to realize that us being uncomfortable about what to say in uncomfortable situations is fear. If you know what you feel, then share and say it.
Say things they way that they are so that people can deal with the truth and make decisions.
Being hesitant and fearful and unavailable doesn’t help.
If a person is going to get upset and act ungodly about you asking how they are, then it is a sign that there is already a problem.
Be direct and care more about a person’s comfort in Christ than about you or them being comfortable around each other.
If you have the guilt on your heart and don’t still talk to someone that you need to, then you will feel incomplete. Paul said the blood is off his hands, because he told them what needed to be
said.
Sometimes we just need to say I care about you spiritually or I am not sure exactly what to say.
LESSON
For many who grew up in a God-spoken environment, there is a God talk, but not always God seeking.
Romans 8:13-14
Can you say that you are led by God’s spirit? Are you seeking to be led?
For many people, they consider being led only if God puts a wall in front of them to make doing the wrong thing impossible.
People are often selfish. God is asking what do your life and practical plans have to do with God.
What does the things that God say have to do with what you are doing and accepting in your life.
That’s why they will go to any gathering that is called church, date whomever may say the name of Jesus. They do whatever they want to do.
If someone asks, have you thought about God’s will in this or that decision? “I don’t really pray for myself.” We need to seek God’s will.
We cannot pray for anything and everything with every person. Some illnesses and conditions are judgements and corrections from God. Jesus gave us the example to pray for believers.
We can pray for unbelievers to experience mercy and grace from God, but God’s not just pouring out the blessings for the godly.
do you seek the will of God, do the things that please God, OR do you just do what you want?
When you are led by the spirit of God, you even care about how things look because you want to please God and not be a distraction.
What do I think is going to happen because of what I am doing? Evaluating ourselves is important.
Do you pray for God to show you direction as you prepare to come to church or bible study?
For many people, they are led by their feelings (not feelings in God) – feeling so f fear, selfishness, just feeling like it.
What leads you?
The bible tells you things to put in your heart to influence you to godliness. the word, fellowship, praise and rejoicing.
Consider: When a person is not saved, there is not control.
Ephesians 2:1-3
You are not stronger than the spirit of the devil without the spirit of God. When you are not saved, there is another spirit working in you. They tend to gravitate toward the things that the world likes and ways of thinking. They are concerned about survival or covetousness.
People who are not spiritual do not make spiritual decisions.
In Christ, you have a higher standard than that.
We all have once lived in the mindset of this world. Can you say this is past for you?
Do you think of those that are unsaved as being led by a spirit? Are you?
Or are you led by the spirit of God?
By nature, people are not concerned with how things and decisions have anything to do with God.
The point is not to defend selfish decisions by saying I’m not trying to hurt anybody. The point is to ask is What are you trying to do? Are you led by the spirit of God?
When you think of things in the context of God, sacrifice enters in. To do what God wants instead of what you want requires you to sacrifice your desires for His.
To avoid knowledge by not asking the right questions is also negligence. It is willful ignorance.
Sometimes people will say they prayed before they made an ungodly decision. The question is what answer did you get to your prayer? Did you seek an answer or simply ask half-heartedly to be able to say you did ask? The truth is they have already decided what they wanted or were going to do before they “asked God”.
God does not have a low standard.
1 John 3:1-11
Believers need to understand that unbelievers do not understand, rationalize believers. They don’t follow or accept God, so why you.
vs 3 If you really want to be a Christian, then you are going to do what is right.
vs 7 Straightforward – allows you do evaluate yourself and others.
vs 9 Something in you controls you to do the right things.
Whose child are you?
Someone is the child of the devil. The ones that don’t do righteousness. You can talk about the Lord, but if you are not operating in fellowship, encouraging friends in Christ, you are not loving others in Christ, there is a problem.
It has always been about loving one another. Being led by the spirit of God will always lead you to loving service to others in God.
Even material gifts are things that God gave you to be able to share and bless others.
God was not thinking about himself when He died for us.
What have you thought about doing or done for the betterment of someone else in Christ?
Mark 14:32-36
Jesus said nevertheless, I will sacrifice to do God’s will. I will die for the ones that I love.
Do you say that I will do whatever it takes to do God’s will? Don’t focus on what it may cost you, but think and rejoice in the price He already paid.
You have to be willing to sacrifice and follow through. Then you can know that you can stand before Him without guilt.
How many times this week did you do the things that glorify God and help someone else, instead of making the choices that make you feel better and satisfy your guilty pleasures?
God makes us new creatures, with new natures, new desires, and led by a new spirit!
Challenge for this week.
Seek to grow in Christ and to know in Christ. Think about what is your nature, what is spiritual to God.