The fundamental principles:

Transcription

1 Transparency - The fundamental principles: The essence of Christianity is the exchanged life. Godʼs best will be experienced as we depend on Christ to live His life through us. Galatians 2:20 God desires a whole-hearted love relationship. heart for God and a passion for His purposes results from pursuing God whole-heartedly. The Great Commandment Matthew 22:37 Welcome to the Discovering God s est series. This series is about learning how to live the Christian life the way God intended. Christianity is not a religious set of rules or a code of ethics. Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God loves each one of us, and desires that we experience His best. efore we begin our lesson for today I want to review the fundamental principles that establish the basis for this entire series. The Christian life is a growing process. Godʼs best will unfold as we practice The Five Foundational Skills of the Heart:. PLUG IN to Godʼs Power Eph. 3: FOCUS IN on Godʼs Perspective Eph. : LOCK IN on Godʼs Priorities Col. : ZERO IN on Godʼs Plan Eph. 2:0 5. SHIELD IN with Godʼs Protection Eph. 6:0- Supernatural living requires a supernatural mindset Spiritual 3D Vision: Faith our lens for looking at God Hope our lens for looking at the future Love our lens for looking at others Corinthians 3:3; Colossians :4-6 Today s lesson is especially important because it provides the foundation for the rest of this series. 2

2 Lesson Transparency -2 Many believers in our generation have not fully realized that the Christian life is a supernatural life. Jesus Christ lives in us, and wants to live His life through us. Most Christians try to live the Christian life through their own self-effort. to God s est There are three categories of Christian living: Three Levels of Christian Living. Me Living for Me % 2. Me Living for Christ % 3. Christ Living Through Me %. Me Living for Me This category describes Christians who simply added Christ to the other interests and activities of their life. They seem to have little awareness that Christ is living within them. Their life remains selfcentered. 2. Me Living for Christ This level represents Christians who are genuinely trying to please God and serve Christ. ut they are living the Christian life through self-effort. This self-effort usually leads to frustration, exhaustion, and guilt. This person, therefore, has settled for doing their best rather than being their best. 3. Christ Living Through Me These are Christians who allow Christ to supernaturally live His C life through them. s you look at these three categories, what percentage of Christians do you think are in each of these levels? Just think about the percentages for right now and at the end of this lesson, we will try to write in some numbers. However, I think you may agree that the percentage of Christians who are really experiencing category three is very low. ut this does not need to be the norm that s the purpose of this series. First, we must understand what God s Word 3

3 . Our heart reflects our life. Transparency -3 The ible states that God created us with a body, soul, and spirit. ( Thessalonians 5:23) The ible also uses the word heart to describe the functions of the soul and spirit. Proverbs 27:9 s water reflects a face, so a manʼs heart reflects the man. In the ible heart describes the functions of the soul and human spirit. Soul M i n d Wi l l Emotions Human Spirit Conscience HERT ODY Senses Physical Influences Drives Our soul contains our mind, will and emotions. ut our heart also includes our spirit. It is through our spirit that we are linked to God. ut as a result of dam s sin all of mankind is born physically with a human spirit that is spiritually dead to God. ut even within this deadened spirit there is a conscience that to some degree points out the difference between right and wrong. It is obvious that over time the conscience can become callous to sin and looses its influence over behavior. Therefore non-christians are not conscious of this spirit component within the heart. Consequently it is their soul that directs their life. nd even after a person becomes a Christian with a reborn spirit they still continue to follow their soul and disregard the new leadership of their spirit. It is vitally important for all believers to understand this truth so they can explain it to others. 4

4 2. God looks at our heart. Transparency -4 Samuel 6:7 Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. Proverbs 2:2 ll a manʼs ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Chronicles 28:9 for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive Psalms 44:2 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Our heart is our control center. Proverbs 4:23 bove all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 6:9 In his heart a man plans his course, Psalms 90:2 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 9: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Matthew 2:34 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Romans 0:0 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, Our heart is our control center. Let s analyze some of the different functions of the heart in these various verses. Why is our heart so important according to these verses? Give your group members a chance to verbalize their observations. 5

5 3. God s best begins with a change of heart. Transparency -5 Our natural heart is sinful and sentenced to death. Jeremiah 7:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Matthew 5:9 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Corinthians 5:2-22 (TL) Death came into the world because of what one man (dam) did, and it is because of what this other man (Christ) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead. Everyone dies because all of us are related to dam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results. ut all who are related to Christ will rise again. Disobeying God = Sin = Death Spiritual Death dam and Eveʼs union with God was broken immediately and they were separated from Him. Physical Death damʼs sin began a gradual process of aging and disease ending with physical death. Ezekiel 8:3 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit 6

6 3. God s best begins with a change of heart. C o n t i n u e d Transparency -6 Spiritual birth changes our heart. Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; John 3:3-7 Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he cannot enter a second time into his motherʼs womb to be born! Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ʻYou must be born again.ʼ We are born spiritually when we accept Christ and His payment for our sins. Corinthians 5:3-4 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures he was buried he was raised on the third day John :2 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 7

7 3. God s best begins with a change of heart. C o n t i n u e d Transparency -7 We become a new creation through spiritual birth. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Pre-Christian Heart (Spiritually Dead) Soul M i n d Wi l l Emotions Human Spirit Old Self Separated from God HERT ODY Senses Physical Influences Drives New Creation Christian Heart (Spiritually live) Human Spirit New Self C Our spiritual life begins with spiritual birth which brings about major changes in our heart. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual birth as we invite Christ into our heart. Even though spiritually we have become a new creation with a new self replacing our old self, we bring along baggage. We still have a natural tendency towards sin that resides within our body and soul. It is our spirit which has been transformed and made totally new. Christ now lives in our spirit and is actively working to transform our soul. This transformation occurs as our mind is renewed with God s truth, our emotions experience healing and our will is brought into harmony with the will of God. The Holy Spirit of God is changing us from the inside out. ut we must cooperate. y faith we need to accept the fact that our old self has died (Rom. 6:) and we are now a new creation with a new nature. We didn t just add Christ to our life, we became a new creation! If you have not invited Christ into your life and received God s free gift of salvation, then you may do this at the 8

8 Transparency God s best can only be experienced through supernatural living. What is supernatural living? Natural living depends on natural means. Supernatural living depends on supernatural means. Every person has natural intelligence, strength, abilities, and resources which are used for normal living. ut the Christian life cannot be lived successfully through natural means. God designed it to be lived supernaturally. Supernatural living involves depending on God for wisdom, power, ability, and resources that are not available though human means. We must learn to do life Godʼs way. s we grow up we learn how to make things happen in life. We become accustomed to doing things in a way that is natural and instinctive. We have a natural way of thinking and we have a natural way of doing. It becomes automatic to us. However, it is impossible to live the Christian life through natural means, even through it s natural for us to approach it this way. That s why God wants us to learn how to live life supernaturally. Have you ever watched little kids learn to dress themselves? Sometimes it can be hilarious, although for them it may be very frustrating. Have you ever done the right thing in the wrong way? Or, can you recall watching someone else do the right thing in the wrong way? Describe the situation and what happened. This series is about the five foundational skills of the heart. These are spiritual skills which are only possible through Godʼs enabling. Each skill has a unique effect upon our heart. They are Godʼs way to supernatural living. Picture the little boy who is all excited because he put on his tennis shoes but then gets his shoes stuck in the pant legs when he tries to put on his trousers. Or what about the little girl who decides to wear her T-shirt over her dress because she forgot to put it on first. 9

9 Transparency -9 The Five Foundational Skills of the Heart for supernatural living.. PLUG IN to Godʼs Power for His supernatural resources Ephesians 3:6-7 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith 2. FOCUS IN on Godʼs Perspective for reality Ephesians :8-9 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe 3. LOCK IN on Godʼs Priorities for decision making Colossians :9-0 we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. nd we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way 4. ZERO IN on Godʼs Plan for your life Ephesians 2:0 For we are Godʼs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 5. SHIELD IN with Godʼs Protection for standing against evil Ephesians 6:0- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devilʼs schemes. C D E God wants us to have an empowered heart. God wants us to have an enlightened heart. God wants us to have a wise heart. God wants us to have a discerning heart. God wants us to have an secure heart. 0

10 5. The Exchanged Life is the key to supernatural living. Transparency -0 The Christian life is Christ. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Philippians :2 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Jesus modeled the exchanged life for us. John 4:0 Donʼt you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. John 4:8-20 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. efore long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. ecause I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 4:23 If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. C We have such wonderful resources for supernatural living! Jesus Christ dwells in us and wants to live through us! Our theme verse for this series is Galatians 2:20. The Christian life is the exchanged life. We are new creatures in Christ. Our hearts have been radically changed through the indwelling Christ. Jesus modeled the Exchanged Life for us with the Father. Then He announced that He would live His life through us in the same way. Note: Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit indwell us.

11 5. The Exchanged Life is the key to supernatural living. C o n t i n u e d Transparency - We died with Christ so Christ can now live through us. Romans 8:0- ut if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. nd if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 6:3-4 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 8:9- You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. nd if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ut if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. nd if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Ephesians 4:24 put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. It is important for all believers to remember that we couldn t save ourselves, or earn our way to heaven, through our own self-effort. It is equally important for all believers to realize that we can t live the Christian life in our own selfeffort. In other words, an exchanged heart should lead to an exchanged life. Let s look at these verses. 2

12 Conclusion to God s est Transparency -2 n exchanged heart leads to an exchanged life. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Three levels of Christian living. Me Living for Me % Remember, we didn t just add Christ to our life, we became a new creation. ut for many believers, Me living for me, or Me living for Christ in the power of self-effort is still the norm. The word exchanged, clarifies that it is no longer me living for Christ, but Christ living through me. Now let s write some numbers on the percentage lines. How many believers do you think are living in category? 2? 3? 2. Me Living for Christ % 3. Christ Living Through Me % C How do you think things would be different if most Christians were truly living the exchanged life of level 3? 3

13 Life pplication to God s est Transparency -3 Let s evaluate: what kind of Christian am I? Me living for me? or Me living for Christ? or Christ living through me? re you a natural Christian or a supernatural Christian? Have you experienced the joy of Christ living through you? Jesus illustrated it this way: John 5:-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. How does this passage teach the exchanged life? This is an important passage for each person to understand, not only for this lesson, but for the entire series. The time is yours. Spend sufficient time yet use flexibility as you bring this lesson to a close. Closing prayer: Give each person time to ask Christ to live His life through them this next week. You may also pray a sinner s prayer for salvation for those who may not know Christ personally. This series is just beginning don t miss a lesson!! The Christian life was designed to be lived supernaturally. s we allow Christ to live His life through us, we will find that there are five foundational skills of the heart as we Discover God s est. We will learn what it means to: Focus in on God s Perspective Plug In to God s Power Lock In on God s Priorities Zero In on God s Plan Shield In with God s Protection See you for the next lesson!!!!!! 4

14 Lesson to God s est. Our reflects our life. In the ible heart describes the functions of the (Proverbs 27:9) and human spirit. 2. God looks at our. (Proverbs 2:2; Samuel 6:7; Chronicles 28:9; Psalms 44:2) Our heart is our center. (Proverbs 4:23, 6:9; Psalms 90:2, 9:; Matthew 2:34; Romans 0:0) 3. God s best begins with a of heart. Our natural heart is and sentenced to death. (Jeremiah 7:9; Matthew 5:9; Corinthians 5:2-22 (TL); Ezekiel 8:3) Spiritual birth (Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:3-7) our heart. We are born spiritually when we ( Corinthians 5:3-4; John :2) Christ and His payment for our sins. We become a new (2 Corinthians 5:7) through spiritual birth. 4. God s best can only be experienced through living. Every person has natural intelligence, strength, abilities, and resources which are used for normal living. ut the Christian life cannot be lived successfully through natural means. God designed it to be lived supernaturally. Supernatural living involves depending on God for wisdom, power, ability, and resources that are not available though human means. We can learn to live supernaturally by practicing the five foundational skills of the heart. Handout page -

15 5. The life is the key to supernatural living. The Christian life is. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians :2) Jesus ( John 4:0; 8-20; 23) the exchanged life for us. We with Christ so Christ can now live through us. (Romans 6:3-4; 8:9-; Ephesians 4:24) Three levels of Christian living. Me Living for Me 2. Me Living for Christ 3. Christ Living Through Me Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Life application re you a natural Christian or a supernatural Christian? (John 5:-5) re you experiencing the joy of Christ living through you? Handout page -