Session 6: The Fullness of Christ Study Questions

Transcription

1 Main Subjects & Scriptures to Understand and Own I. Implanted Life to Fullness of Life (pp. 1-2) God s original intention was for the life of His Son to fill humanity in fullness. Scriptures Eph. 1:22-23; 2:21-22; 3:19 and 4:13; 1 Peter 2:5. II. #1: The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us (pp. 2-4) Through a strong spirit, believing that Christ is in us and wants to make His home in our heart, and by knowing Christ s love experientially, our hearts are filled with the fullness of Christ. Scriptures Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:23; Ephesians 3:11-19; Hebrews 4:12. III. #2: Abiding in Christ (pp. 4-5) As we allow Christ to dwell in our heart continually and we draw from His life regularly, allowing Christ to live instead of us, we progress into fullness by bearing fruit, more fruit, much fruit, and fruit that remains. This is the abiding life. Scriptures John 15:1-11; 1 John 4:13; Col. 1:27; Ephesians 3:17; 1 Cor. 6:17; Gal. 5: IV. #3: Gaining Christ in Our Soul (pp. 5-6) By valuing Christ above all, putting no confidence in the flesh, we gain increasing measures of Christ in our soul until He fully possesses our desires, thoughts, choices, and emotions. Scriptures Phil. 3:1-21; John 3:30. V. #4: Internal Intimacy with Christ (pp. 6-7) As we pay the price to know Christ intimately in the secret place, we increase our oil supply, which is the presence of the Holy Spirit, enabling our lamp of first love to burn bright. Scriptures Phil. 3:8; 1 Cor. 1:9; Matt. 25:1-13. VI. #5: Maturity through Obedience to the Word (pp. 7-8) By regularly planting God s Word into our heart and through sustained obedience, we are transformed into mature sons who are an exact representation of the Man, Christ Jesus. Scriptures Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:28; Matt. 13; Mark 4; Luke 8; James 1:21. Lifeschool International Page 1

2 1. From Point I. Implanted Life to Fullness of Life, d)-e), read Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:19 and 4:13 focusing on the various forms of fullness of the Lord in these verses. From this, what can we conclude is God s original intention? With this being such a weighty answer, selah pause and think about this! 2. From Point I. Implanted Life to Fullness of Life, f)-g), think of how this will play out in you individually as well as corporately from Ephesians 2:21-22, 1 Peter 2:5 and Ephesians 1: From Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, a)-c), in Ephesians 1:13-14, when were we sealed with the Holy Spirit, who was given as a pledge of our inheritance? Define the pledge and think through this in context of an investment like a mortgage. Do you invest regularly in your inheritance, just like in the natural? On average, people put about a fourth of their income towards their home in the natural. 4. From Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, d), in Romans 8:23, Paul looks towards the first fruits of the Spirit, but what does he say we do for more more fruit? Do you do this? If not, ask the Father to help you do so. 5. From Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, e)-h), study Paul s prayer in Ephesians 3: For what reason did Paul bow his knee before the Father? Stop and pray this for yourself. Looking at Ephesians 3:16, what part of us did he pray would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit? Does this differ from our hearts according to Hebrews 4:12? Explain this distinction. Lifeschool International Page 2

3 6. From Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, go back to i). According to Ephesians 3:17, a strong spirit is required so that what? Then from k), explain the spirit and the heart and how they work together. 7. From Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, l)-n). What does dwell mean in Ephesians 3:17. Sit before the Lord, thanking Him for the Spirit within your spirit, and ask Him to further cross the boundaries to come and take greater residency within your heart! 8. Working from Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, o)-q), let s look at o) and consider the necessity of a strong spirit if we want Christ to make His home in our hearts. This is conditional upon what? And what is the enemy of this? From p), do you have a personal revelation of Christ in you. From q), pray again this prayer of Paul for yourself in this area. 9. Working from Point II. #1. The Fullness of the Indwelling Spirit Filling Us, r)-t), continue your prayer from Ephesians 3:18-19 to comprehend the great size of God s love and to truly know His love which goes beyond the mere knowledge of the brain. 10. From Point III. #2. Abiding in Christ, b)-d), look up the word abide from John 15:4 in a concordance. Meditate on this meaning in context of this verse. Look up 1 John 4:13, Col. 1:27 and Ephesians 3:17 in connection with this. Lifeschool International Page 3

4 11. From Point III. #2 Abiding in Christ, e), what is the job of the vine in John 15:5? Read 1 Cor. 6:17 and then see yourself as the branch and the Lord as the vine. Look up the word join from this verse and ask the Lord to help you further join yourself to Him. 12. From Point III. #2 Abiding in Christ, f), what is the progression of fruit mentioned in John 15:4, 2, 5, 8 & 16? Ask the Lord which level of fruit is in your life presently. What are the fruits of Christ in Gal. 5:22-23? 13. From Point IV. #3 Gaining Christ in Our Soul, a), what is the history of Paul at the time of his writing Phil. 3? Read Phil From Point IV. #3 Gaining Christ in Our Soul, b)-g), what did Paul see as rubbish or confidence in the flesh in order to gain Christ from Phil. 3:4 and 8? Read all the questions in g) allowing the Holy Spirit to help you answer these. 15. From Point IV. #3 Gaining Christ in Our Soul, i), John the Baptist states in John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease. Often times in our walks we will decrease of self but not unto His increase. Religion can promote this yet it s not life based in Him. Ask the Lord to help you do both of these. Are you currently seeing the decrease of yourself UNTO His increase in you? Lifeschool International Page 4

5 16. From Point V. #4 Intimacy with Christ, a)-c), read Phil. 3:8 focusing on knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and that I may gain Christ. There it is! This is the goal! Define surpassing value in relation to knowing Christ Jesus. On the flipside, what is your history in religion like Paul in his Jewish roots. Seek the Lord to take you beyond any religious roots not resulting in knowing Him. 17. From Point V. #4 Intimacy with Christ, d), in 1 Cor. 1:9, what were we called into? Meditate on this. 18. From Point V. #4 Intimacy with Christ, e)-f), from Matt. 25:1-13 put yourself into these scriptures. Which level of intimacy (oil of the Holy Spirit) do you currently have? Would you be wise or foolish? Don t be afraid to ask the Lord this. Remember there is no condemnation yet welcome His action changing conviction. The test of the level of the oil in our lamps is in the night hour. When you are tested what does your oil supply look like? This should challenge us all in a good way to continually pursue more oil in being with the Lord! 19. From Point VI. #5 Maturity through Obedience to the Word, a)-c), Paul talks about a mature man in Eph. 4:13. What would his definition of this be in this Scripture? Define mature from the Greek. 20. From Point VI. #5 Maturity through Obedience to the Word, d)-g), read Col. 1:28 and define complete. Now think of the Tree of Life (Christ) wanting to grow from seed to a full grown, fruit producing tree in you, and through you until you are in His exact image and likeness! With this in mind, think about the daily time you take to cultivate Him within! Here s a challenge Over the next week be purposeful in this! Cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate Him. Lifeschool International Page 5

6 21. From Point VI. #5 Maturity through Obedience to the Word, h)-j), the seed is explained as what according to Luke 8:11? What do we have to do with this seed in our hearts? Let s not stop at seed form. Jesus intent is maturity. Define maturity. 22. From Point VI. #5 Maturity through Obedience to the Word, k), consider James who was familiar with the parable of the sower. He said the word of God is able to do what in James 1:21? Think back to the two trees. If you are living in any way out of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in doing good things to become a better person, give this tree a further death blow by cultivating the word (Jesus) in your heart! Here in lies the power! Remember only one tree remains at the end of it all. Our walk is unto the full cutting down of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 23. From Point VI. #5 Maturity through Obedience to the Word, n), take a quick read through Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 and see if you can find these 7 keys to faith, full obedience and Christlikeness. 1. Hearing the Word; 2. Understanding the Word; 3. Agreeing with the Word; 4. Owning the Word; 5. Overcoming by the Word; 6. Valuing the Word; 7. Doing the Word. Lifeschool International Page 6