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SEAL training handout Feb 1 2012

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

One of the facts of human history is that peace has not characterized man’s earthly existence. Why?

1. The opposition of Satan our enemy
2. The disobedience of man our nemesis

We are engaged in a battle with the forces of darkness over who is in charge. God is calling us to peacemakers. We are called to restore peace that was lost at the Fall of Mankind. There is no such thing as a  truce with Satan; he only knows victory or defeat, life or death.

James 3:13-18 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

God’s way to peace is through His righteousness. Two people cannot be at peace until they recognize and resolve the wrong attitudes and actions that caused the conflict between them.

Hebrews 12:14-17Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…

Peace and holiness (living as a set apart people) are connected. Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Matthew 10:34-39 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

Is peace at any price true peace? To be a peacemaker on God’s terms requires being peacemakers in terms of Biblical truth and righteousness. The enemy of peace is SIN  because it separates us from and God and causes hostility, disharmony with each other.

Jeremiah 17:9 –10 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Men are without peace only because they are without God who is the source of our peace.

Colossians 1:19-23For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body.

A peacemaker is one who himself has made peace with God.

Philippians 4:6-7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A peacemaker leads others to make peace with God: Acts 10:34-43Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all– that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.

A peacemaker helps others make peace with others.

Matthew 5:21-26You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca! shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you are thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Be devoted and give preference to one another Romans 12:10; Accept one another Romans 15:7 Care for one another 1 Corinthians 12:25; Carry each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2; Forgive one another Ephesians 4:32; Encourage and build up one another 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Spur one another on to love and good deeds Hebrews 10:24; Confess and pray your sins to one another. James 5:16; Serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10; Love one another. 1 John 4:11

The church is a family to families and a place of family diversity. The church needs to become a place for small groups to develop where people can share their burdens and joys. The church needs to become a place where everyone has a role, ministry, place of service so that everyone feels at home.

Shalom: We are bringing Shalom (peace) into our community! Shalom is present when there is peace and justice. Shalom is usually translated peace. Peace is not seen merely as the absence of conflict but rather as the promotion of human welfare in both material and spiritual ways. Shalom denotes a culture characterized by justice and righteousness.

Isaiah 11:6-10In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all. The cattle will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together. And lions will eat grass as the livestock do. Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. And as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD.

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Matthew 26:36-43 Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane…and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress.  He told them, My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine. Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep.

He said to Peter, Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!

Again he left them and prayed, My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done. He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn’t keep their eyes open.

So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, Still sleeping? Still resting? Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Up, let’s be going. See, my betrayer is here!

Is there some way out of this? I don’t really want to go through this.  Is there some other plan here?

This is going to happen and there is nothing I can do to stop it, so I will commitment myself to do whatever you want me to do.

The Lord left the world unfinished so that more creation would take place!

Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day and the darkness night. Together these made up one day.

Speaking the truth in love!

Ephesians 4:14-15 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.  Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Psalms 13:1-6 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?  Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.  Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, We have defeated him! Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.  But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.   I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me.

Prayer is real when it is honest and vulnerable, transparent and open with God.

Jesus’ prayer assumes that He is going to be involved in the answer (in the creative process).

James 5:15-16 And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

Healing and Forgiveness Connected

Luke 5:17-26 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

When He saw their faith, He said to him, Man, your sins are forgiven you. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Rise up and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins — He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.

Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today!

Are we open and willing to be used by God who created all things?

Pray Unceasingly

Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

When we pray we become part of the ongoing creative process of God that continues to this day.

We feel prayer because we are part of an active living force, Jesus, and we are connected to the God of universe and to one another when we pray.

Prayer enlarges our view of life, perspective, it gives us a bigger heart and we feel things because of prayer and prayer changes us!  We become better people because we pray!

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Jan 29 2012 Abraham Father of Faith, Hebrews 11
The Requirements of Faith – Study Guide
 

Hebrews 11:8-12 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Abraham was a nomad who grew up in an unbelieving and idolatrous society

Abraham is an Old Testament example of foundational faith. Abraham demonstrated his faith through his actions.

1. left his old way of life and lived a new way of life (11:8);
2. became a father in his old age (11:11);
3. willing to obey God’s command to sacrifice his only son (11:17).

Faith is our willingness to enter into new territory; Faith is willing to NOT enter new territory!

Faith is about the trust and willingness to listen, understand and follow the WILL of the LORD!

Faith requires listening and understanding

Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
We need to learn that the “point of departure” is not as important as is the “point of ready-obedience”

2 Corinthians 5:14-18 Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!  All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did.

A life of faith often starts with our willingness to leave your current place of sinfulness (where we live) and walk as HIS Talidim, Follower, or Disciple and live in a new place of obedience with Him

Often giving up our old ways, patterns, and behaviors is one of the greatest obstacles and challenges we face in our on-going commitment to Christ (See Romans 7) .

Faith always requires patience

Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

As much as Abraham was willing to go he also had to be willing to wait.

The secret of Abraham’s patience was that he trusted in what was the ultimate place, promise which would be fulfilled, the Promised Land that was waiting for him!

John 14:1-4 Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Faith requires us to be stretched

Hebrews 11:11-12 It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise.  And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children — a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

Mature faith is not presumptuous!

Faith is willing to do what others might believe to be improbable, impractical or impossible!

When you walk a man or woman of faith we can come to times when we have nothing left but God, and then we will learn that God is enough!

Hebrews 11:13-16 These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven. If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them.

Are living for heaven or earth?

The answer to this question will change your life!

Romans 1:18-32
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Jan 22 2012 Homosexuality same sex issue Building Solid Foundations
The Bible addresses – Study Guide

We need to be clear and understandable as to the WHY and WHAT we believe.

We need to be COMPASSIONATE and CARING

If you’re a homosexual, you matter to God and you matter to us!

Homosexuality absolutely departs from God’s blueprint for sexual identity and intimacy.

Genesis 2:18-24
And the LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him…there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam’s ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam.
At last! Adam exclaimed. She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of a man.
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
God created humans to have a sexual identity and that identity is male and female.
The Church is being pressured to compromise on our historic and biblically based moral teaching on a subject that will create a meltdown of our core theology.
If we ceased to treat homosexual behavior as a violation of the biblical norm we will destroy our inerrant and inspired view of scripture

Homosexuality departs from the Biblical blueprint:

Rather than embracing solely the man-woman design for sexuality, homosexuality embraces a same-sex preference as the blueprint for sexual intimacy.
They depart from God’s intent for sexual intimacy to only take place within the confines of a marriage that is between a man and a woman.
Moral disobedience on the part of God’s people has always resulted in God’s judgment and the loss of direction and blessing of God.

Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, it is sin.

Leviticus 18:22 Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man has sexual relations with another man they have done a disgusting thing.

Every single reference in Scripture about homosexuality condemns it without question.

Romans 1:18-32 So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies…
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.
When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful.
They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

There are three steps that lead to moral decline as shown in Romans 1:24-28

Desires: (24) it starts with desire, curiosity, experimentation
Shame and Lust: (26-27); practiced behaviors; addictive
Evil minds: (28-32): pathological, brain is hardwired, requires healing and deliverance
There is no evidence that we are born homosexual

Homosexuality is a learned, chosen behavior.

Homosexual behavior as NOT a normal option to heterosexual sexual behaviors.
Being homosexual is not the same as being born Hispanic, Black, and Asian or of some other ethnic background
There is no etiology or causality for an orientation of homosexuality from any studies related to genetics, hormones, or brain structure but there is evidence of psychological and environmental factors that contribute to homosexual behaviors.

J.M. Bailey himself re-did the famous 10% study and reported his new crystal clear results that totally contradicted his first findings stating (2000):
…concordances from prior studies were inflated due to concordance dependent ascertainment bias.  The new study did not provide statistically significant support for the importance of genetic factors in causing homosexual orientation.

Homosexuality is a symptom of fallen humanity

1 Timothy 1:6-11 …We know these laws are good when they are used as God intended. But they were not made for people who do what is right. They are for people who are disobedient and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy…these laws are for people who are sexually immoral, for homosexuals and slave traders, for liars and oath breakers, and for those who do anything else that contradicts the right teaching that comes from the glorious Good News…
2 Peter 2:6-10 Later, he turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into heaps of ashes and swept them off the face of the earth. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people…the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while punishing the wicked right up until the Day of Judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own evil, lustful desires and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at the glorious ones without so much as trembling.
Jude 7 And don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil.

Homosexuality can be forgiven

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers — none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.
There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God.  You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
1 Corinthians 4:14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
Galatians 2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong.
Proverbs 29:25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the LORD means safety.
We will NOT fear man over God.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…
Homosexuals want to be covered and protected by civil rights laws just like those of true minorities
These laws protect people who are a minority because there are things about them that cannot be changed such as race or gender or things guaranteed in the constitution such as freedom of religious speech, whereas homosexual is a learned, chosen behavior
What the gay community wants is “special” rights not civil rights.
A major agenda of the homosexual community is to get the public to affirm their unhealthy lifestyle, as one homosexual admitted at a homosexual rally in Washington:
We are no longer seeking just a right to privacy and a protection from wrong. We also have a right — as heterosexual Americans already have — to see government and society affirm our lives.
They want to be granted special rights by gaining minority status and force its acceptance by society and ban any public disapproval of homosexual by calling it a “hate crime”.
June 10, 2003 Canada passed the law to accept same sex marriage and they are trying to pass laws about the Bible being “hate” literature because of what it teaches about the behavior of homosexuality

Homosexuals can find freedom from homosexuality

We need to remember that IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE is not the same as DIFFICULT TO CHANGE or UNLIKELY TO CHANGE.

You will learn to:

• Walk in the Spirit
• Commit Everything to God
• Speak Words of Life
• Become Holy
• Press toward the Goal . . . to win the Prize
• Be equipped to become like Jesus

Here is a short video from Chris Hayward explaining more about what to expect and the benefits of Cleansing Stream.

Class starts Feb 19th so register today!

Cost for materials:

• youth $50 plus shipping
• Singles: $89 plus shipping
• Married Couples: $118 plus shipping

Psalm 32
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Jan 15 2012 Fresh Start Forgiveness Psalm 32 Slides
God’s Fresh Start – Study Guide

Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

Psalm 51:8-10 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me — now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Shame and Guilt

Guilt is a distinct emotion in which a specific behavior is viewed as unacceptable or wrong.

Shame is an emotion where we perceive ourselves as defective, unacceptable, or fundamentally damaged.

Psalm 32:1-2 Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

What is Human Sin according to the Hebrew Scriptures?

• Sin is an act of rebellion against the authority, will of God
• Sin is missing the true goal, purpose of life
• Sin is dishonest, evil character
• Sin is deceit and/or perversion of our soul or spirit

Romans 4:3-8…the Scriptures tell us, Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous. When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work. King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous: Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.

We have to be willing to come clean and assume personal responsibility for our sin before we can move on and receive the amazing gift of God’s forgiveness

When our sins are exposed we can find RELEASE from the weight of sin and discover the blessings of God

This demands total, complete honesty before God!

Key principles to learn from David:

• Guard you heart against rationalizations and justifications for sin
• Don’t allow temptation to turn into sin
• Never cover up or hide sin, rather acknowledge sin immediately to God

Psalm 32:3-5 When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.  Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, I will confess my rebellion to the LORD. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

The Key to a Fresh Start

Forgiveness

No matter what the sin and its consequences, confess it and do what is right!

How does this work?

Admit to the Lord the sin, come clean, accept culpability, confess to the Lord

Change the behavior (repent), stop doing the sin and commit yourself to not do it again.

Accept and receive the gift of the Lord’s forgiveness

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God… We tell the truth before God…

What does God’s forgiveness mean?

Psalm 65:3 Though our hearts are filled with sins, you forgive them all.

Psalm 86:5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.

Psalm 103:11-12 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.

Isaiah 1:18-19 …No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart….

1 John 1:9-10 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Our Relationship with God Provides Protection

Psalm 32:6-7 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

Be careful to NOT take advantage of God’s grace!

Our Relationship with God Gives Us Guidance

Psalm 32:8-9 The LORD says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.

God’s teachings are for the purpose of living and walking in the ways of God.

Worship is the Result of Our Relationship with Jesus

Psalm 32:10-11 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

A FRESH START happens when we no longer tolerate or repress sin and all of its sickness in the Body of Christ.

1. C.S. Lewis writes in his book, The Four Loves, “Need-love says of a woman ‘I cannot live without her’; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection – if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist…” (p 33). In what ways do you experience for your spouse what C.S. Lewis describes as “need-love”, “gift-love”, and “appreciative love”?

2. We can feel love for something simple because we experience a need that is fulfilled by that thing. For instance if I am dying of thirst in the desert then I would love a fresh drink of water. But there is danger in this type of love, when it comes to marriage, because when the need is met the love ends. Please look up 2 Samuel 13:1-15 and read it together. Why was Amnon so foolish in this passage?

3. Commitment makes all the difference. When a mutual commitment, before God, is made to another person in marriage then lifelong love and affection can be cultivated and grow. Discuss some ways that you can refresh your commitment this week.

4. Spend some time expressing your affection for one another? (I love you because…, I adore this about you…, I am proud of you because…, I appreciate it when you… etc…)

This passage is a summary conclusion to all the Law that Moses brought and taught to Israel:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between prosperity and disaster, between life and death. I have commanded you today to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, laws, and regulations by walking in his ways.

If you do this, you will live and become a great nation, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What holds us back?
Sin is our biggest concern

1 Corinthians 11:30 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

One thing we know for sure about sin is that sin always ends in something dying.

Proverbs 5:21-23 For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his incredible folly.

We are All Under the Direct Assault of Satan

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

James 4:1-6 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Believers in Jesus have the responsibility to fight against evil, immorality, and corruption.

Ephesians 6:12-14 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.

We are All in this Together

Matthew 5:45…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust…

BUT there is Amazing Hope!

1 Corinthians 15:21–24 Death came into the world because of what one man did, and it is because of what this other man has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, …and wherever there is sin, death results. But all who are related to Christ will rise again…

Secret Sin Drains Us of Strength

Psalm 32:3–5 there was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, I will confess them to the Lord. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Self Sufficiency Weighs Us Down

Proverbs 10:8 The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.

Proverbs 10:13-14

Ask the Holy Spirit for Insight

Are the events caused by:

1. personal sin
2. an ongoing pattern of unwise behavior
3. satanic warfare (evil)
4. the lack of wisdom or godlessness
5. life in a world that deals with self-centeredness

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

Act on our insight by doing the following:

Confess Sin: Appropriate God’s sanctifying power by confessing sin, cleansing, walking in the light of God’s Word with sensitivity to the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:6, 7, 9).

Change Behavior: Fully define the pattern of behavior; uncover the “traps”—situations, persons, places which usually precede the behavior. Submit yourself to God; practice the new behavior (Romans 12:1, 2; Hebrews12:1; James 4:7, 8).

Fight evil: Put on the armor of God, learn to wield the weapons of warfare. Ask for the anointing of the Spirit, be fervent in prayer in the understanding and in the Spirit. Ask others to stand with you (Ephesians 6:10–18; Luke 11:3, 13; Romans 8:26, 27).

Confront with Confidence: Submit yourself to God, pray for wisdom and healing. Lovingly confront the one in authority with the Word of God. Seek God for proper balance in following those in authority (1 Peter 5:5; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 4:2; 1 Corinthians 5:11).

Seek to Worship the Lord: Know that even the righteous are touched by power of the Holy Spirit and that God experiences our pain. Ask for deliverance and comfort from God. Hold onto your faith. Allow others to comfort you (Job 2:11–13; Psalms 22:1–5, 12–18; Hebrews 4:14–16).

Worship is vital to the defeat of the enemies of God and for maintaining peace for your own soul.

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

Some of Us Need to Fall in Love with Jesus

Mark 12:29-30 And you shall love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, with ALL your mind, and with ALL your strength.

He Created Us for the Purpose of Loving Him

Revelation 4:12 You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.

Here are the top twenty ways to stay fresh with the Lord:

• Consistently maintain closeness with Jesus
• Know and be known by Jesus
• Love and be loved by Jesus
• Talk to Him every day – pray
• Read His Word every day –integrate and apply
• Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit
• Have a supportive small group of people around you
• Ask for help; be assertive in getting help
• Be quick to forgive; be quick to ask for forgiveness
• Share Jesus with others
• Serve and love one another
• Work hard for the Lord
• Let the joy of the Lord fill your heart and mind
• Maintain an healthy attitude
• Never forget whose you are; children of the Most High God
• Learn to take minute vacations in the Lord’s presence
• Never give up on the Lord or yourself
• God is always faithful; Be faithful in your walk with the Lord
• Honor God is all you do, say and think
• Respect the Lord and one another

2. Do you feel like we are eating in a healthy way? What could we do better?

3. Do you feel like we are having good personal times with God on a consistent basis? If not, how could we re-work our schedules so that these are happening intentionally and regularly?

4. How often should we try to go on a date? Let’s set a date and time for our next two dates.

5. Are we involved enough with church?

6. Are we a part of a good community group? If not, how can we become a part of a good community group?

7. 1 Peter 2:12 says, Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. This verse teaches us that our lives can bring others to a place of glorify God. Are we living in such a way that others are glorifying God because of us?

 
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Fresh Start – Study Guide

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Now we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a FRESH START, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this come from the God who settled the relationship between us and him and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a FRESH START by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives!

Opportunity VS Obstacle

Nehemiah 2:17-18 Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work.

Lesson learned: Submit EVERYTHING to the Lord

We receive a FRESH START because
God is ALWAYS with us

Nehemiah 2:19-20 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you are doing? …So I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.

Remember what we have!

We have a heritage: God’s inheritance; power for the future

We have a right: as God’s Children; power for today

We have a memorial: a historical place; power in the past

God is God and there is none like Him!

God came to be with us and He stands with us declaring WE have a problem and together WE will fix it!

So let US rise up and build!

Trust in God’s Word
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Pray to the Lord and Keep on Praying
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Maintain Community Support
1 Peter 4:7-11 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Stop Living in the Past
Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Ephesians 5:10-20
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.

The Cockroach Principle

Our past secrets will have power in our lives only as long as they remain hidden in the dark. Secrets only have power as long as they remain a secret.

Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

Live with the Expectancy of the Lord
Luke 21:25-28 And there will be strange events in the skies — signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides…So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!

God wants us to live our lives with spiritual expectation not in spiritual desperation!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

GOD FIRST ALWAYS!

by BELIEVING with faith in His death (the sacrifice of his flesh) and resurrection…

by RECIEVING the Lord, living in obedience, depending on His Word and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.