TOUR SESSION GUIDE APRIL 2018 Dr. Dave Earley SESSION ONE DRAW NEAR James 4-5 James 4:8 DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. I. HUMBLE YOURSELF (4:6) James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore. He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. God resists the proud But gives grace to the humble What is the type of attitude that attracts God / what is the demeanor that God cannot resist? Humility, brokenness. Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. What does it look like? 1
SESSION ONE CONTINUED The Proud & The Broken Nancy Lee DeMoss 1. Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope. 2. Proud people are self-righteous; they look down on others. 3. Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit. 4. Proud people have to prove that they are right. 5. Proud people claim rights; they have a demanding spirit. 6. Proud people desire to be a success and are wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked. 7. Proud people have a subconscious feeling, This ministry/church is privileged to have me and my gifts ; they think of what they can do for God. 8. Proud people feel confident in how much they know. 9. Proud people are self-conscious. 10. Proud people are quick to blame others. 11. Proud people are unapproachable or defensive when criticized. 12. Proud people are concerned with being respectable, with what others think; they work to protect their own image and reputation. 13. Proud people find it difficult to share their spiritual need with others. 14. Proud people want to be sure that no one finds out when they have sinned; their instinct is to cover up. Broken people are compassionate; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven. Broken people esteem all others better than themselves. Broken people have a dependent spirit; they recognize their need for others. Broken people are willing to yield the right to be right. Broken people yield their rights; they have a meek spirit. Broken people are motivated to be faithful and to make others a success. They rejoice for others when others are promoted. Broken people s heart attitude is, I don t deserve to have a part in any ministry ; they know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives. Broken people are humbled by how very much they need to learn. Broken people are not concerned with self at all. Broken people accept personal responsibility and can see where they are wrong in a situation. Broken people receive criticism with a humble, open spirit. Broken people are concerned with being real; what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows; they are willing to die to their own reputation. Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs. Broken people, once broken, don t care who knows or who finds out; they are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose. 2
SESSION ONE: THE PROUD & THE BROKEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 15. Proud people have a hard time saying, I was wrong; will you please forgive me? 16. Proud people tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin. 17. Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin. 18. Proud people are remorseful over their sin, sorry that they got found out or caught. 19. Proud people wait for the other to come and ask forgiveness when there is a misunderstanding or conflict in a relationship. 20. Proud people are blind to their true heart condition. 21. Proud people don t think they have anything to repent of. 22. Proud people don t think they need revival, but they are sure that everyone else does. Broken people are quick to admit failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary. Broken people acknowledge specifics when confessing their sin. Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin. Broken people are truly, genuinely repentant over their sin, evidenced in the fact that they forsake that sin. Broken people take the initiative to be reconciled when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationships Broken people walk in the light. Broken people realize they have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance. Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. SESSION TWO II. SUBMIT TO GOD (4:7) James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Every area of my life that is not surrendered to God is, or will soon, become a point of conflict in my life either inwardly or outwardly. a. Submitting to God is saying yes to God even when God my will and God s will cross. Luke 9:23-25 Then He said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 3
SESSION TWO CONTINUED b. Submitting to God is saying yes to God even when the decision is costly and painful. Luke 22:41-44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done. Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. c. Submitting to God is surrendering your Isaac to God Genesis 22:1-5 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. Genesis 22:2 Then He said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. The call to surrender is the call to obey commands that feel inconceivable and believe things that seem impossible. The call to surrender is the call to let go of what we love most to be embraced by the One who loves us the most. Genesis 22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. The call to surrender is a call to obedience. Genesis 22:4-5 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you. The call to surrender is a call to trust God. What is your Isaac? What do you need to submit to God? Past Future Health Finances Income / Job / Career / Business Home Clothes Food Furnishings Equipment Vehicles Reputation, recognition, rights Parents Siblings Mate Children Grandchildren Friends Time Vacation Hobbies Talents, gifts, abilities 4
SESSION TWO CONTINUED III. DEAL WITH SIN (4:8-9) James 4:8-9 Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. It is impossible to draw near to God without dealing with sin. a. Sin and God cannot co-exist Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. When was the last time you literally felt the presence of God? When was the last time you were silenced by the powerful, awe inspiring, overwhelming presence of God? When have you come face to face with the burning holiness and absolute purity of God? Isaiah 6:5 So, I said: Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts. b. Sin separates us from God Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Every unresolved sin is like a brick in the wall between you and God. God is holy. God s primary attribute is holiness. If you want to draw near to God you must tear down the wall of sin. c. Sins can be washed whiter than snow Isaiah 1:16-18 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil Come now, and let us reason together, Says the LORD, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 5
SESSION TWO CONTINUED d. Sins are cleansed through confession 1 John 1:5-9 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Revival is not going down the street with a big drum; it is going back to Calvary with a big sob. Roy Hession Confession A, B, C s A. Apathy, anger, anxiety, addictions, and arrogance. B. Bitterness C. Carnality, complaining, covetousness, and a critical spirit. D. Deception, dirty mouth/dirty mind, dishonesty, disappointment, discouragement, and doubt. E. Envy, excuse making, F. Fear. folly, and failure to follow through on my commitments G. Greed and gluttony H. Hatred, high-mindedness, and hypocrisies I. Idolatry making gods out of things that are not godly & making gods out of people who are not god. Ignoring my sins. J. Jealousy K. Lack of passion, lack of love, lack of faith, lack of courage, laziness, loving money, and lust L. Pouting, procrastination, promoting myself and my agenda, and pride M. Refusal to trust, refusal to submit, refusal to obey; Resentment and rationalizing N. Self-centeredness, self-righteousness, self-pity, selfishness, self-righteousness, self-seeking O. Taking the love, goodness, mercy, and death of Jesus for granted. P. Unbelief, unethical, unmerciful, and unyielding. Q. Worrying instead of prayer. 6
SESSION THREE SESSION THREE IV. FORGIVE YOUR DEBTORS (4:11) James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. a. Being hurt is expected. b. Bitterness keeps us from drawing near to God. Bitterness blocks intimacy with God. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. c. Bitterness puts you in bondage. Matthew 18:34-35 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses. d. We must choose to forgive. FORGIVENESS BASICS Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. FORGIVENESS IS NOT 1. Forgiveness is not the same thing as excusing 2. Forgiveness is not tolerating sin. 3. Forgiveness is not foolishness. 4. Forgiveness is not waiting until they say they are sorry. 7
SESSION THREE: FORGIVENESS BASICS CONTINUED FORGIVENESS IS 1. Forgiveness is cancelling the debt. 2. Forgiveness is setting yourself free. 3. Forgiveness is giving up the right to get even. 4. Forgiveness is looking past the hurt to the person. Ephesians 4:32 5. Forgiveness is making four promises. I will not dwell on this incident. 6. Forgiveness is ultimately wishing the other person well. 7. Forgiveness is something that usually takes some time. 8. Forgiveness is walking in step with God. Colossians 3:13 9. Forgiveness is impossible without faith. Luke 17:4-5 I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you. I will not talk to others about this incident. I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship. FORGIVENESS IN ACTION I choose to forgive for I choose to forgive myself for I ask God to forgive me for being mad at Him about 8
SESSION THREE CONTINUED V. PRAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE WANDERER (5:19-20) James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. a. One man s sacrificial prayers for others saved a nation. Psalm 106:23 So he said he would destroy them had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. b. One man s bold prayers for others could have saved a city. Genesis 18:29-32 c. Our persistent persevering prayers for others make a difference PRAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE WANDERER James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Lord please: A Guide for Praying for Prodigal Loved Ones Luke 15 1. Bring him or her to a place of famine and need (Luke 15:14) 2. Create within them holy hunger and homesickness (15:16-17) 3. Cause them to come to their senses (15:17) 4. Draw them home (15:18) 5. Give them the gift of repentance (15:18-21) 6. Give us welcoming grace (15:20) A Guide for Praying for the Lost and Backslidden 1. Lord, increase your activity in the life of 2. Convict him/her of his/her sin, lack of righteousness and deserved judgment (John 16:8). 3. Animate every gospel truth in their life and silence very lie of the enemy. 4. Reveal to him/her who You are and what Christ has done for him/her. 5. Open the eyes of his/her understanding (Ephesians 1:18) and remove his/her spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4) 6. Draw him/her to Yourself in a powerful fashion. (John 6:44) 7. Block Satan from stealing Your Word from his/her heart (Matthew 12:19). 8. Help me to be willing and anxious to be the means by which You save and deliver him/her. Lord, show me how to lead him/her to Christ. 9. Send other people and circumstances across his/ her path to bring him/her a witness of Christ. 9
SESSION THREE CONTINUED NAME DATE STEP TOWARD JESUS 10