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This session is kind of confusing because our presented lesson had little to do with the book material we were given at the beginning. So this is going to include elements from the book material while incorporating the lesson that was presented. I'll start with the book material and clue you in on the other...
If most of us were asked to gauge exactly where we stand in terms of our devotion to God, we may not have any quick or easy answers. But God knows where we are and how far we need to go on our journey. He has also given us a map to guide our way. This map includes milestones we can use to track our progress --
1) Self-indulgence* -- this is our starting point before conversion and possibly even a bit later. In any case, we don't yet realize the importance of Spiritual Growth. We think we are just fine where we stand, thank you very much. And this wasn't brought out in the material or lesson; but I'm sitting here typing and struck by the analogy of having climbed into a car, and maybe even turning the engine, but there's been no movement. You haven't decided to leave the driveway (or dealership) and actually go anywhere. You haven't started down the road yet.
2) Once you have started down the road, you're going to encounter a number of Struggles or obstacles. Other drivers, accidents, construction detours, rough roads, animals, and weather. All of these test our skill and endurance*.
Likewise, our faith gets tested by "quagmires", as our presenter phrased it -- they are as follow:
Ego - (selfish pride) Materialism - (consumerism*)
Greed - (idolatry) Media/digital world (unbridled)
Culture (secular/worldly)* Factions - (divisiveness) ((both in Church and out))
Lusts (fleshly desires) Strongholds (habits/addictions)
Priorities (misplaced) Anxieties (worries)
Distractions (innumerable)* Lethargy - (Spiritual laziness)
Our discussion was on how we can escape these traps and what steps we can take to be fully surrendered to God.
To be fully consecrated to God, one may describe it in a number of different ways*. "Dedicated", "devoted", "committed", and "sold out", just to name a few. The question is, if we're not, what do we plan to do about it??
One thing we can do is to continually preach to ourselves every day as we choose Him. This involves the idea that, while our Salvation is a "one off" decision that may involve a progression of belief and acceptance; we are up against a daily battle to maintain that decision. As Paul encourages us along with his friends in Philippi; "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." (Phil. 2:12) This doesn't mean we need to be scared of what God will do to us; it simply means that we love and respect God more than anything or anyone else in the World, and we want to make sure that we are living our lives in a way that pleases Him. (much like we desire to please our partners in life, we don't want to do anything to hurt them) ((or we shouldn't want to))
We are reminded in Romans 10:9-10 that conversion not only means turning away from something, but also turning toward something better. (infinitely better, in this case) While rejecting evil, we embrace God. The moment our hearts and minds are made up, the Holy Spirit indwells us in order to guide our steps in the following time we have. We may be young (as I was)* and have decades ahead, or we may be on our deathbed at whatever age, like the Thief on the cross and only have an hour or less. Consecration also means, probably more than any other idea, actually; that Jesus is our Lord, and not just our Savior. Think about a Choir Director or Coach. They are your leader by title if you're in the choir or on the team, but they become more effective in your performance if you hang on their every word and follow their instructions. Jesus may be present in your life, but how much of an impact are you allowing Him to have?? That's consecration.
If you've been following along a bit, you'll remember that our core verses for this series are Romans 12:1-2, where Paul is appealing to their better natures in response to God's willingness to graft the Gentiles into the "trunk" of Jews as one tree of believers. He says here that the best way they can repay that favor is by presenting their lives as a Living Sacrifice to Him. In turn, we are encouraged to do the same.
Getting back now to the book material, the next "milestone" on our road is Sacrifice. We need to get our priorities straight and "loosen our grip" on things that distract us or outright pull us away from God.
Milestone number 4 is Servanthood. As we are reminded in 1 Timothy 6:9-12 and Matt. 6:24, among others, no man can serve 2 masters. We will either serve ourselves and prioritize our own desires or we will serve God. There is no way to do both and be successful as a Mature Christian.
The final milestone is Slavery. In this, we not only serve God as we have chosen to do already; but we literally chose to become His Bond-Servant. We desire nothing other than to live according to His commands with the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost.
The questions in the material review it somewhat as already shown above, but two of them dig a little deeper than what I've covered. We're just going to look at those right now --
Milestone 2 is about?? Struggles. These tests are?? personal*, difficult, and unexpected. They produce an inner dedication and result in a consecration breakthrough.
Milestone 4 is Servanthood. We need to present EVERY -- person, possession, place, power, and purpose of our lives to God.
This was from our lesson on April 16th. I'll blog the lesson from April 23 either tomorrow or Monday, so keep your eyes open!!
God Bless!!
Footnotes --
1) Personally, I don't agree with Self-Indulgence as a "milestone" considering the lack of movement I brought out in the driving analogy. Sometimes, you just have to go with what is presented...
2) The list of "struggles" or "obstacles" here is strictly mine, continuing with the "driving" theme from the previous point.
3) I had written down notes from discussion of the culture/world "quagmire" in light of different cultures and different time periods. Also, on the point of innumerable distractions, the point was brought out of doing daily devotions. It comes down to the question of why we do them, if at all. Are we doing them because we feel we have to or because we truly want to??
4) I also just wanted to add to the point on Materialism (consumerism). It has been brought out in regular Sermon Summaries before that consumerism doesn't have to apply only to shopping in stores, but it may also apply to people when "shopping" for Churches. Are we looking for God or just a "good experience"?? It's an important question.
5) I realize this bit should technically come before the list of struggles, but it just flows better with the book material this way.
6) I was Saved at the "tender age" of 6 with the help of my First Grade Teacher. :)
7) Struggles, or tests are designed to the individual, according to their biggest weaknesses. That being said, it's NOT God who is giving the test!! We do it to ourselves by rejecting God's advice. If you read Matt. 18:18-20, you will see that God simply allows what we allow into our lives. (I know all about Job, but that was a special case)
Music -- Never any rights!!
I don't usually include music on this page, but we sang a few hymns at the end of the lesson --
Bonus one I thought of earlier this afternoon --
Neither one of these quotes were in the lesson, but they both fit perfectly for post images --
