Look Up: v24-25. Q. What is Paul comparing our spiritual walk to?

Q. v26. What else does he compare it to in verse 26?

The Corinthians were thoroughly familiar with sporting events as their city was host to the Isthmian games, an Olympic-style sporting event held each year before and after the Olympics. The average Corinthian would have been keenly aware of the discipline and stamina required for a man to succeed at the games. Paul uses their familiarity with sporting events to help them understand the discipline necessary to succeed in the Christian life. He describes himself as a runner in a race who has a prize in his sights or a professional boxer who makes contact with each of his blows.

Q. v29. How did Paul’s self-discipline affect his relationship with his physical body?

Q. What was his motivation for bringing his body into subjection?

The phrases “keep under” and “bring it into subjection” literally mean to “subdue” or “make a slave”. In Paul’s mind, in order to be a spiritual success it required that he become the master of his own flesh and it’s desires and not the other way around.

Discuss. What fleshly tendencies do you think we must be in control of in order to be a spiritual success?

Self-Discipline – A Mark of Discipleship

An integral part of self-discipline is the idea of “self-denial”. We live in a society where self-denial has given way to indulgence and instant gratification. There is no need, in our affluent society, to go without or to deny ourselves anything. But that should not prevent the Christian from practicing self-denial.  The disciplined Christian will learn to deny himself pleasures and indulgences, not only to protect his spiritual walk, but to ensure that he is in constant control of his flesh and not his flesh in control of him. This denial of self is a mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Look Up: Matt 16:24. Q. What did Jesus say that a man should do to “self” if he desired to be His disciple?

Look Up: Gal 5:24. Q. What is a characterstic of those who “are Christ’s”?

Look Up: Rom 13:13-14. Q. How should “putting on Christ” affect the way we treat our flesh?

To be a disciple of Christ one must be willing to crucify himself. To give his life, his own desires and his own priorities over to the control of Jesus Christ. But giving control over to Jesus Christ is not an act of passivity. It involves the constant, day-by-day subjection of our own bodies to our control as we are lead by the Spirit of God.

Motivations for Self-Discipline

1. Seeking The Best

A lot of Christians spend their life trying to find the fine line between liberty and sin. Once they find that line they spend the rest of their lives in the precarious position of trying to walk that line without falling full-on into sin. Paul had a different perspective. He not only abstained from out-and-out sin but also avoided anything that had even the potential to control or hinder him.

Look Up: 1 Cor 6:12-13. Q. What did Paul say was true about “all things”?

Q. v12. What is not true about all things?

It is true that the Christian will be forgiven of every sin if he sincerely repents, asking God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). But this is not a license to sin (Rom 6:1-2, 1 Peter 2:16). The question then that all Christian’s should be asking themselves is not “is it wrong”, but rather “is it beneficial to my spiritual growth”. This question raises our concern regarding spiritual life to a whole new level. It is deciding that although something is not necessarily sinful, it is not best for me. Paul was willing to forsake all (Php 3:8) if it meant that he would gain a greater knowledge of God and experience the power of his resurrection (Php 3:10). Like the olympic runner, he was running to win and would not allow anything to hold him back, even if it was not technically sinful.

Paul’s desire to discipline himself and to avoid anything that might hurt his spiritual life is a great mark of spiritual maturity. Whereas the spiritually immature often conform to the prevailing standards of a church out of obligation, the spiritually mature willingly limit their liberty in order to protect the precious relationship they have with God. Paul’s motivation for self-discipline was not to please people, to fit in, or to earn God’s favour, but to ensure that he would not become a spiritual failure. As such, true self-discipline starts in the heart. It is motivated by sincere desire to live a life close to God and to encourage others to do the same. It is this same desire that should motivate us to discpline ourselves.

2.      Encouraging The Brethren

Look Up: 1 Cor 10:23. Q. In this passage Paul repeats what he has already said in 1 Cor 6 but adds a phrase. What else should we take into consideration when deciding whether or not something is right to take part in?

To edify simply means to build up. Paul not only exhorted the churches to build up one another (Rom 14:19; Rom 15:2; 1 Cor 8:1; 1 Cor 14; Eph 4:12; Eph 4:29; 1 Thess 5:11), but he himself was always conscious as to whether or not his actions would be a benefit or a stumbling block to his fellow Christians (1 Cor 8:13; 2 Cor 12:19).

The eighth chapter of Corinthians is a wonderful example of Paul’s willingness to deny his own flesh for the sake of others. He was willing to abstain from eating meat offered to idols if it meant the edification of the brethren.

Discuss. What are some things that we might avoid entirely for the sake of weaker Christians even though they are not necessarily sinful?

3.      Avoiding Bondage

Q. Look back at 1 Cor 6:12. What did Paul say he would not allow to happen?

Paul understood that although we are under grace and not the law, not all things were beneficial for us. He also understood that not all things edify or build up the brethren. Further still, he understood that there are some things that are not necessarily sinful but have the potential to bring us into bondage. For all of these reasons he was willing to discipline his body and to bring it under his control.

Would you give your child a box of chocolates and trust them to only eat as much as is healthy? Or would you give them a limit knowing that they have a tendency to overindulge? Not unlike that child our flesh tends toward indulgence. And left unchecked, indulgence can lead to bondage.

How can you tell if you have become the servant of something that used to just be a harmless enjoyment? It might help to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this thing occupy an inordinate amount of my thought life?

2. Does this thing prevent me from accomplishing important tasks?

3. Have I begun to sacrifice social interaction, family life or friendships in favour of this thing?

4. Have I changed my social circle to one which revolves around this thing?

5. Do I spend an inappropriate amount of time, money or resources on this thing?

6. Have I become embarrassed or secretive about this thing?

7. Do I become irritated or angry when someone I love prevents me from taking part in this thing?

8. Have I tried to stop or limit this thing only to fail repeatedly?

There are some habits which are out-and-out sinful like drugs, alcohol and pornography but what about other things like food, entertainment and social media? These (and just about anything else) can be done in excess, thus creating a habit and bringing us unto bondage. Each individual ought to consider what it is in their lives that tends to bring them into bondage and then seek to moderate or abstain from those things.

Look Up: Heb 12:1. Q. In Hebrews 11 we see a list of great men and women of faith. Following this list in chapter 12 the writer of Hebrews encourages us to follow their example. What two things does the writer tell us we should “lay aside”?

Q. What will laying aside these things help us to do?

Remember, we started by looking at Paul’s analogy in 1 Cor 9 of an olympic runner. Here we are told that in order to successfully run this race we must lay aside, not only sin, but everything that weighs us down. Everything that produces an unnecessary burden upon us, that distracts and hinders us from focusing on the things of God.

Discuss. What are some other things that are OK in moderation but are unhealthy in excess?

Learning Moderation – The Key to Self Discipline

Look Up: Q. Considering 1 Cor 9:25 again, What approach must a serious athlete take toward “all things”?

To be “temperate” means to exercise self-restraint. Webster’s 1828 dictionary has it this way: “Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions;”. Let’s consider some things that prevent us from practicing moderation.

1. Enemies of Moderation – Laziness

Moderation involves harnessing our appetites and guarding against extremes in everything we do. Moderation requires a consistent assessment of our behaviour and because it requires consistency it is very difficult for the lazy or undisciplined person to practice.

Laziness is itself an act of extremisim. It is over indulging in sleep, relaxation, entertainment etc. The moderate will practice a reasonable bedtime and waking time (Prov 6:9-11). He will discipline himself to do all things with reasonableness, avoiding extremes in every area, including food and rest.

Discuss. How can physical laziness affect our spiritual life?

2. Legalism

Another enemy of moderation is legalism. The legalist seeks discipline or temperance through the rigid adherence to rules.

The legalist is prone to extreme swings in his spiritual devotion. When he finds himself over-indulging his flesh he will make some new rule or extreme decision to abstain from something that is not necessarily sinful. His lack of moderation leads him to make unneccessary rules. Unlike Paul, the legalist seeks to control himself, not from an inward desire to succeed spiritually, but from the outward pressure of a set of laws.

The legalist is prone to extremism in every area. He can swing from over-indulgence in the flesh to extreme decisions for God, and back to his flesh. He is the one who has “rededicated” his life to God countless times but never seems to stick to it. He has never learned moderation.

One doesn’t have to be a legalist to act like one. Sometimes the lazy, undisciplined, unorganized Christian can get fed up with their inconsistency and as a result make drastic decisions in their life in an effort to get their spiritual life in order. These folks decide to get rid of their TV’s when they spend too much time watching. They cancel their internet access to combat their obsessive surfing. They start an extreme diet when their eating is out of control. And, within a week or two they are out shopping for another TV, reconnecting their internet and back to their old eating habits. Why? Because the extremism that was behind their lack of spirituality is the same extremism that drove their spike in spiritual interest. What this Christian needs is not more “decisions for God” or more rules. They need to learn self-discipline.

3. Libertinism

The libertine is one who is not at all concerned with moderation. He feels that since he is “under grace”, he need not worry about self-discipline. He indulges his flesh, figuring he can simply ask God’s forgiveness if he stumbles into sin. His overarching concern is not “knowing God and the power of his resurrection”, but getting as much satisfaction out of this life as he can.

Learning Moderation  – The Key to Genuine Liberty

Ironically, it is not the lazy, the legalist or the libertine that experiences the most liberty. It is the moderate. The Christian who has learned to handle his appetites with moderation is free to experience all sorts of things that the lazy extremist or the legalist cannot. Because the moderate, like Paul, has learned “not be brought under the power of any”, he can enjoy things that the lazy extremist or the legalist could not handle (1 Cor 8).

While the lazy extremist is in bondage to something and the legalist is making new rules to govern the use of that thing, the self-disciplined Christian is enjoying it in moderation. Whether it be entertainment, food, social media, sports, hobbies or anything else, the self-disciplined person can enjoy them all without fear of bondage. He has learned what is reasonable and enjoys them only to that extent.

Conclusion

Essential to the Christian life is self-discipline. At the moment we became a disciple of Christ we entered into a lifestyle of self-denial and discipline. Paul understood this well and even likened it to the disciplined life of an Olympic athlete. We do not work for salvation, or to earn God’s favour, but we do work diligently to avail ourselves to the tools which God has given us for spiritual growth (His word, prayer, fellowship, preaching, etc). We also work diligently to protect our spiritual life by abstaining from sin and by doing everything else in moderation.

The Christian walk is one of consistent discipline. When we consistently pray, read God’s word, and apply it, we will see growth. But the hit-and-miss, inconsistent, Christian who swings between extremes of devotion and apathy will never make much spiritual progress.

Philippians 4:11. Q. What had Paul learned?

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Q. v12. In what circumstances was Paul able to exercise the attitude of contentment?

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Q. v13. How was he able to do this?

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­If there is an attitude that is completely foreign to our present world it is the attitude of contentment. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements designed to shake us out of our contentment and to breed in us a sense of need, want, entitlement and discontentment. We then head out of our houses and into the shopping malls! Our economy is driven by the fuel of discontentment.

In a society where meaning and fulfillment are often derived from material goods, it can be difficult even for a Christian to live in contentment. To help us to have a continual attitude of contentment we should remember the following six principles:

1. Stuff Does Not Produce Satisfaction

Ecc 5:10. Q. According to Solomon, the richest man that ever lived, what will never bring satisfaction?

Discuss. Why do you think the man that loves “silver” and “increase” will never be satisfied with these things?

We live in a relatively affluent society and as such, we rarely have pressing needs that cannot easily be met. We have quick access to everything we could want or need and are provided the means to obtain those things whether we can afford them or not! And then we are told that our success and self-worth is measured by how much stuff we have obtained. This distorted view of contentment and material goods is in direct contradiction to what Jesus taught:

Luke 12:15 Q. What did Jesus warn us to avoid?

Q. What does not define the quality of one’s life?

Contentment will not come as long as we have a distorted view of material things. Deriving satisfaction and fulfillment from things is putting an expectation on material things that only God can fulfill. This world’s continual quest for more and more stuff is really a quest for meaning, fulfillment and satisfaction – something material things can never produce.

Discuss. Why do you think that some of the richest men and women in the world seem to be the most dissatisfied?

2. Wants Are Not Needs

Many folks are discontent because they have convinced themselves that their wants are actually needs.

Discuss. Imagine that you are on a sinking ship and the only way to survive is to throw overboard extra weight. What things in your life would go first? How much that you own is actually necessary and how much is just dead weight?

Luke 12:22-28 Q. What did God promise to provide for us?

1 Tim 6:8. Q. What did Paul tell Timothy we should be content with?

Q. Based upon your answers above, how could you summarize our needs?

God has promised to provide for the needs of his children. But God’s measure of needs and our measure of needs is often very different. Whereas we might consider convenience and entertainment as necessities, God simply says “food and clothing”.

1 Tim 6:7. Q. What will happen to everything we have accumulated when we die?

All the things that we have worked so hard at accumulating in this life will ultimately be left behind and only those things done for the glory of God will remain (1 Cor 3:11-15).

Matt 6:31-34. Q. If God will provide our needs, and material goods are not of any eternal importance, where should we focus our efforts and desires? (see also Col 3:2)

3.      All That We Have Comes From God

Oftentimes what leads us to a spirit of discontentment or covetousness is a feeling of injustice regarding our circumstances. We feel we deserve more or are “owed” more than what we have.  We compare ourselves to others and decide that our standard of living ought to be higher than it is. This type of discontentment only comes when we first lose sight of the fact that God is in control and that He is our provider.  We see an unfortunate example of this in Numbers chapter 11.

Numbers 11:1. Q. What displeased the Lord? What was God’s response?

Numbers 11:4-6. Q. It wasn’t long after God’s fiery judgment that discontentment reared its head once again. Who started the complaining in verse 4?

Q. Who else began to complain? .

These families became dissatisfied with the manna which God had provided for them and began to lust after the foods which they had in Egypt. It is not surprising that the ungodly mob of people who followed the Jews out of Egypt became discontented. But what is shameful is that God’s people, taking their cue from this “mixed multitude”, also began to murmur and complain.

Numbers 11:6. Q. Who provided the manna? (Exodus 16:15).

Q. v6. How did these complainers refer to God’s provision of the manna?

God miraculously provided manna for Israel in the wilderness. This food was both flavorful and filling (Ex 16:18,31). It was enough to satisfy the needs of Israel, but not enough to satisfy their lusts. They became discontent with God’s provision and began to crave the food from the Godless nation of Egypt. When we turn to the world to satisfy our lusts we are no better than the Israelites who were longing for Egypt. And like the Israelites, our lustful attitude has discontentment with God as it’s source.

Numbers 11:18. Q. What did Israel say about their life in Egypt?

Exodus 3:7. Q. Israel had a short memory. What motivated God to deliver them from Egypt?

Israel complained in Egypt, were delivered by God, and complained some more. This is evidence that discontented people will not be satisfied in any circumstances!

Numbers 11:33. Q. God ultimately sent an abundance of quail to be eaten by all the people. Q. What happened when they were in the midst of satisfying their lust for meat?

God had already planned to execute judgment upon these discontent, unthankful complainers before he sent quail for them to eat. He had given them over to their lusts and allowed them to reach the unfortunate end of their murmuring. Instead of being content with a little and the Lord, they preferred an abundance without Him. They got their wish!

Summarize Proverbs 15:16.

Whether we have an abundance or whether we lack we are in circumstances orchestrated by God. He is the sovereign of the universe and the provider of everything (Rom 8:28, James 1:17). Because God is sovereign, a complaint about our circumstances is a complaint against Him.

4.      Needs are an Opportunity for God to Provide

Matt 6:31-33. Q. Why should we not be anxious about our needs? (v32)

2 Cor 9:1-15. In this passage Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to follow through with a commitment they had made to give financial relief to the Macedonian church.

Q. In v6 he is comparing giving financially to sowing and reaping seed. What will the person who gives little receive? What about the one who gives much?

Q. v8. When we incur a need because of our liberal giving, what is God able to do?

When we have needs it is an opportunity to trust God to provide for us. 2 Cor 9:10-12 indicates that God’s provision is fourfold. He provides us with the substance to give to others, he replaces the necessities we may have sacrificed through our giving, he multiplies the effectiveness of our giving, and he uses our giving to bring forth righteousness and thanksgiving in his kingdom. This is the same truth found in Prov 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. (see also Prov 19:17, Luke 6:38)

1 Tim 6:17-18. Q. How did Paul tell Timothy he should warn the rich?

Q. What should they trust in?

Q. According to v18, what should they be ready to do?

Whereas needs are an opportunity to trust and rely upon God’s provision, a lack of want often causes us to forget God and trust in our own riches.

Rev 3:16-17. Q. What attitude did the riches of the Laodicean church create?

Q. How did Christ feel about this church?

Instead of being anxious about our needs being met and doing all we can to ensure that we never go without, we should look at trials and needs as opportunities to trust God and to see him work.

Discuss. How might having a need end up being a greater blessing than having everything we want?

5. Christ is the Source of Continual Contentment

We started this study by considering the example of the Apostle Paul and his contentment in all sorts of circumstances. He learned to be content when he had much and when he had little. Q. According to Php 4:13, what was the source and strength of his contentment?

1 Timothy 6:6. Q. What, when added to contentment, is great gain?

Matthew 6:33. Q. After Jesus told us to not be anxious in seeking the fulfillment of our needs, what did he tell us to seek?

It is often a lack of godliness and righteousness that causes us to look to the world for satisfaction. In contrast, true contentment comes only through a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When our focus is right and we seek the righteousness of God above all else, the material things of this world will tend to lose their luster.

Discuss. How might God go about teaching us that true contentment comes only through a right relationship with Jesus Christ?

Now, having considered that stuff does not produce satisfaction, that wants are not needs, that all we have comes from God, that needs are an opportunity for God to provide, and that Christ is the source of continual contentment, let’s look at one last principle that will help us to maintain contentment – Others are more important than ourselves.

6. Others are More Important than Ourselves

The covetous man is a self-centered man. His covetousness prevents him from rejoicing when others are blessed (1 Cor 12:26). Instead of rejoicing when others are blessed he looks at their blessings with envy. He is preoccupied with getting more and better stuff and, as a result, overlooks the needs of others while indulging in his wants.

Philippians 2:3-4. Q. How should we view one another?

Q. v4. How will valuing others above ourselves change our view of material goods?

1 Cor 10:24. Q. What should we seek? In contrast to what?

1 Cor 13:4-5. Q. What are we expressing when we seek the well being of others?

Discontentment with our own circumstances will make it very difficult to give to others. In fact, according to 1 Cor 13, our self-centered approach to material goods is unloving. It puts ourselves first and other’s last which is the exact opposite of the example which Christ left us (Php 2:5-11).

Stuff does not produce satisfaction, Wants are not needs, All that we have comes from God, Needs are an opportunity for God to provide, Christ is the source of continual contentment, and Others are more important than ourselves. Next time you find yourself discontent with your circumstances consider which of these principles you have forgotten!

Review

1.      It is not uncommon for depression or trauma to drive people to compulsive shopping or hoarding. Why do you think this is the case?

a.      Why will they never be satisfied?

2.      How can we maintain a right attitude toward material things next time the latest electronics or fashion catches our eye?

3.      How might an understanding that all that we have comes from God help us to cope with needs or trials?

4.      All sin is dissatisfaction with God, yet God is the source of all blessings. How can we become more satisfied with Him?

5.      How does contentment with our circumstances enable us to be more giving to others?

[Audio]

Unity is not technically an “attitude” but the desire for, and pursuit of unity can certainly be classified as an attitude of the heart. God’s desire for the church is perfect unity. Jesus prayed that the church “may be one” (John 17) as such, much of the Spirit’s internal work has the purpose of producing spiritual unity in the church (Eph 4).

Discuss. How would you define unity?

1 Peter 3:8. Q. What did Peter encourage believers to be?

2 Cor 13:11. Q. How did Paul encourage the Corinthians to be unified?

1 Cor 1:10. Q. In what 4 ways is unity described in this verse?

Unity can be described negatively as “a lack of division” or it can be described positively as having commonality in our thoughts, desires, affections, pursuits and consequently, our actions.

The World’s Unity vs. The Spirit’s Unity

Unity is hard to come by in this world. Generally, worldy unity is artificial and fragile. Unity in the world is accomplished when individuals see it as in their best interest to lay aside differences. This type of unity is fleeting. When one party feels that his needs or wants aren’t being met he will, driven by self-interest, disrupt the unity. Spiritual unity is not this way.

Eph 4:1-6. Q. What did Paul encourage the Ephesians to “keep”?

There is a stark contrast between the world’s “spirit of unity” and the church’s “unity of the Spirit”. The focus of a “spirit of unity” is unity for unity’s sake and often results in compromise and a lowest-common-denominator type of religion. The “unity of the Spirit” is a principled, spirit-led and spirit-empowered unity under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In our day of countless denominations, worldy compromise and doctrinal ignorance there is a consistent call for the unification of the body of Christ. Oftentimes these would-be unifiers call for unity “at any cost”. They are willing to lay aside most anything that causes division, including distinct, biblical doctrine and standards of personal holiness. This is not Spiritual unity. Jesus himself said that there are times when division is necessary (Luke 12:51-53; Matt 18:17).

Spiritual unity keeps the Spirit of God as it’s center and it’s circumference. All that we are and all that we do must please the Spirit of God. For this reason, it makes no sense to compromise doctrine or holiness in an effort to unify. In doing so, we grieve our very source of spiritual unity and are left only with unity for unity’s sake.

Discuss. When might division be required instead of unity?

God’s Provision for Lasting Unity

Spiritual unity does not come about by organization or outward pressure, nor is it driven by self-interest. Spiritual unity is produced by the inward work of the Holy Spirit as He motivates us to please our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Spiritual unity was a mark of the early church:

Acts 1:14, Acts 2:1. Q. What phrase in these verses indicates the early church’s unity?

Acts 4:32-37. Verse 32 tells us that the early church was of one heart and of one soul. Q. How do we know that this unity was not driven by self interest?

Q. v33. What spiritual fruit was produced by this unity?

After the death of Jesus Christ, the disciples were initially distraught. They did not understand God’s redemptive plan. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were sad, Peter returned to his fishing trade, Thomas doubted the resurrection. This was an opportunity for discord and dispondency but neither of these came to pass. Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them a unified comission (Matt 28:19-20), and told them all to meet together in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4). They were immediately unified in obedience to their risen Lord.

The Indwelling Spirit

The disciples, in obedience to Christ, met together and continued in one accord in prayer and supplication. Then, in Acts 2, we see how Jesus Christ planned for this unity to continue and to grow.

Acts 2:4. Q. What provision did Jesus Christ send to the church?

John 17:20-23. Q. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit as actually an act of the Father in answer to the prayer of Jesus Christ (John 14:26). What did Jesus pray for believers in this passage?

Christ’s prayer was not primarily about practical unity in daily church life but about the spiritual union that takes place at the moment of salvation. This spiritual union with Christ, the Father and all other believers happens as God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within the believer. In John 17:22, Jesus prayed And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. The Holy Spirit is the “glory” which God the Father has given us and the means by which all believers are united to Him. We are one because we now share his very nature.

The Bible refers to this moment of uniting with God by his indwelling spirit as being “baptized into Christ” (Gal 3:27). For this reason also, the church is referred to as the “body of Christ” (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 4:12)

1 Cor 12:13. Q. What has the Spirit done for us? How does this verse speak of unity?

Eph 4:4-6. Q. What 7 things speak of Christian unity?

All believers share the same Lord, same faith, same God, same calling, are part of the same body, and have been baptized by the same spirit. Our baptism into the body of Christ speaks of our positional or spiritual unity. This took place on a spiritual level at the moment of salvation and will never change. This unity is essential for, but different than, the practical unity which every church must work to achieve.

Unity Through Maturity

After Paul listed the seven things which bring unity from diversity in Eph 4:4-6, he went on to list the diverse spiritual gifts that exist within the unity of the church.

Eph 4:12-13. Each of these gifts are for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:. In short, they produce spiritual maturity. Q. According to verse 13, what result will the exercise of these gifts produce?

Unity, knowledge of the Son of God, and Christ-likeness are all marks of spiritual maturity. Q. According to verse 14, what other mark of spiritual maturity goes hand-in-hand with unity and Christ-likeness?

Discuss. How do you think spiritual maturity contributes to church unity?

Unity in the church is produced when Christian men and women grow in the faith. This growh entails increasing in the knowledge of Christ and becoming stable in our doctrine. When we all seek to please the same Lord, studying and obeying the same Bible, adhering to the same doctrine we will naturally be unified. In contrast to this unified maturity, division in the church is a hallmark of spiritual immaturity.

1 Cor 3:1-4. Q. v1-2. How could Paul not speak to the Corinthians? Q. What do these verses indicate about their spiritual maturity?

Q. v3-4. What evidence did Paul give of their spiritual immaturity?

Prov 6:16-19. Q. What does God think about someone who “soweth discord among brethren”?

Church unity is the product of men and women growing in the Lord and walking in the Spirit. As an individual Christian matures he grows in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. These are the fruit or evidence of the Spirit’s working (Gal 5:22-23). This spiritual fruit is developed in each and every growing Christian and as such, leads them to have new and increasing areas of commonality. The Christ-like character in me, will not clash with the Christ-like character in you!

Rom 15:5-6. Q. What did Paul want God to do for the Romans?

Q. On what basis were they to be likeminded? (according to..)

Q. What would the result of this likemindedness be?

In the church we do not need to search in vain for areas of common interest. We are not strangers trying to get along. We are brothers and sisters in Christ with the exact same Spirit working to make us all like Jesus Christ. Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Spirit of God is what produces the ability for us to walk in supernatural unity. For this reason a growing church is a unified church.

Unity Through Labour

Eph 4:3. Q. What word in this verse speaks of the effort required to maintain unity in the church?

Like many aspects of the Christian life, unity is two-fold. It involves both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. On one hand there is God’s sovereign provision of the Holy Spirit as the source of our unity and on the other hand there is our responsibility to endeavour to keep unity. To endeavour means to use “diligence”, “labour” and “effort”. In other words, unity takes work!

Php 2:1-2. In verse 1 of this passage Paul is giving the reasoning or motivations for his exhoration to unity. The word if found in this verse can be better understood as “because”. Q. What 4 things does Paul list as motivations for unity?

Q. Being motivated by the 4 blessings in verse one, what does Paul exhort the church to do in verse 2?

The encouragement and comfort we have in Christ, the fellowship we have with the Spirit and the mercies which God has shown us should motivate us in gratitude, indebtedness and obedience to labour to keep the unity in the church.

Spiritual Attitudes That Maintain Unity

As we have already learned, spiritual maturity leads to unity in the church. The reason for this is that spiritually mature Christians will exhibit Christ-like character qualities. When we learn to respond to hurts, offenses and accusations with the meekness and gentleness that Christ did, we will be well on the way to maintaining unity in the church.

Now, let’s explore a few of the spiritual attitudes which maintain unity.

Eph 4:2-6. Q. In this passage Paul is telling the Ephesians to walk worthy of their salvation and to work at maintaining unity in the Spirit. What six attitudes are essential for keeping this unity?

Humility (lowliness)

Humility is one of the overarching character qualities that should define all Christians. God abhors pride. It was the very sin that had Satan cast from Heaven. It had no place in the presence of God in heaven, nor does it have a place in His church.

Php 2:5-8. Q. What quality of Christ does Paul tell us we should exhibit? How would this contribute to unity in the church?

Discuss. How might exercising humility help to maintain unity in the church?

Prov 13:10. Q. What is pride always the cause of?

Pride will, without fail, bring about arguments and offenses in the church. We can expect to find ourselves in situations where we disagree with others. The question is, how do we respond? Do we allow a contentious conversation to ensue so that we can prove our point? Do we go out of our way to prove ourselves right? Do we dwell on the disagreement? Do we involve others? All of these responses are driven by pride, show a lack of humility and will result in disunity.

Phil 2:1-3. Q. In this passage Paul is encouraging the Philippians to be likeminded, to have the same love, to be of one accord and one mind. In verse 3 he tells us how to maintain this unity. How should we never allow things to be done?

Q. What attitude should we have? How does this affect the way we view others?

Romans 12:16 tells us not to “mind high things” and to “condescend to men of low estate”. Romans 12:10 tells us to be “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love” and to “prefer one another”. Humility involves considering others as superior to ourselves. In a world driven by pride, that is a very difficult thing to do. Our flesh naturally desires pre-eminence and oftentimes attains it by looking down upon others. God hates pride and has designed the entire salvation plan so as to exclude any human boasting. For the sake of spiritual unity we should ensure that nothing that we do has even a hint of fleshly pride.

Discuss. How might thinking of others as better than ourselves show itself practically?

Meekness

“Meekness” is a humble attitude that expresses itself in the patient endurance of offenses. A meek person does not assert himself. He does not “always have to be right”. He does not engage in arguments which cause strife. He does not react harshly. He has learned how to maintain unity by putting down his own pride and making peace his priority.

Prov 16:32. Q. Who is better than the mighty? Who is better than one who taketh a city?

Prov 15:1. Q. If we find ourselves in a situation where someone is upset with us or “looking for an argument”, how should we respond?

Q. What is the likely result of this response?

Q. What is likely to happen if we respond to this person on their terms with anger, sarcasm or criticism?

It takes two to argue. Oftentimes those who are disgruntled look for opportunities to cause strife. They approach you with an angry, irritated tone or sarcastic words hoping to evoke an emotional response from you. When you oblige them by reacting with the same attitude they have, you have allowed them to successfully “stir up anger” and consequently, to cause division in the church. On the other hand, if you were to respond to this person with meekness, gentleness and humility it would have the same effect as throwing water on a fire. You rob the person of the fuel they need to fan their anger into wrath and bitterness.

1 Peter 3:8-9. Q. Peter tells us to be of one mind to have compassion one of another to love as brethren to be pitiful and to be courteous. Q. According to verse 9, how can we maintain these right attitudes?

Jesus told us how to handle offenses in Matt 5:39. He indicates that “turning the other cheek” is the same as “resisting evil”. Sometimes a meek and humble spirit is the best resistance against division in the church.

Longsuffering

Longsuffering speaks of being long tempered, patient, and having endurance through negative circumstances. Especially when dealing with others.

Paul told Timothy to preach and encourage with all longsuffering. In 1 Corinthians 13 we see that longsuffering is a characteristic of love. Romans 2:4 tells us that God is longsuffering toward us. To be longsuffering is to be patient and gracious with others even in the face of their shortcomings, immaturity and sin. It is enduring humility, enduring meekness and enduring love even when our flesh tempts us to give up on others.

Forbearance

Forbearance is even more intense than longsuffering. It literally means to put up with one another. It is loving in the midst of other’s imperfections, faults, annoyances even when it is taxing on us.

Love and Peace

All of the above must be done in the context of love and with the desire of maintaining peace.

Rom 12:10. Q. How does Paul tell us we should feel toward one another?

Rom 14:19. Q. What does Paul tell us we should pursue? (follow after). What will these things also be good for?

God hates discord in the church. He has placed us all into one body by one baptism of the Spirit with one Lord, one God and one Father of all. He has provided everything we need for continual oneness but, because we still exist in our mortal, sin-prone bodies we must always endeavour to keep unity and to resist division. The best way for the church to function in continual unity is for it’s members to be in a continual state of spiritual growth, consistently exhibiting the character qualities of Christ and employing the tools for unity which God has left us. When a church functions this way, they can with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 15:6)

In this lesson we are going to consider an attitude of the heart which is closely related to love. Compassion is inseparable from genuine love. True love always results in loving action (1 Cor 13). For this reason we often see the phrase “moved with compassion” in scripture (Matt 9:36; Matt 4:14; Matt 18:27). Compassion begins in the heart, but it doesn’t stay there. It overflows into loving action.

Compassion involves love, sympathy, pity, and even sorrow. To be compassionate is to share in the emotions of others. To be moved by their troubled condition and to seek ways to help. Compassion drives us to offer ourselves and our resources to alleviate the suffering of others.

Discuss. Considering the above definition, how has God shown compassion to us? Why is compassion the appropriate emotion to be shown?

Our God is a God of Compassion

Psalm 86:15. Q. How did the psalmist describe God?

Psalm 78:38-39. Q. What did God’s compassion lead him to do (or not do) for Israel? (4 Things)

Q. v39. What about man lead God to show compassion?

Lamentations 3:22. Q. For what reason are we not consumed?

We are all the beneficiaries of God’s compassion. If it were not for God’s compassion upon our sinful state we would all be consumed by His wrath (John 3:36).

As the the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ was the embodiment of this divine compassion:

Matt 9:36. Q. Why was Jesus moved with compassion?

Matt 14:14. Q. What did Jesus’ compassion lead him to do?

Matt 20:30-34. Q. In this passage some blind men heard Jesus passing by. According to verse 30, what did they ask Jesus for?

Q. v31. How did the crowd react?

Q. v32-34. What did Jesus do for them?

Q. How would you describe the attitude of this crowd toward the blind men?

These blind men did not have a sense of etiquette when it came to appealing to Jesus for healing. The men and women around the blind men would have denied them access to Jesus just to spare embarrassment. They were more concerned with proper decorum than the severe needs of the blind beggars. Now, turn to Luke 7.

Luke 7:11-15. Q. What lead Jesus to show compassion to this woman?

Discuss. What do Jesus’ words weep not reveal about His care for others?

It is interesting that no one in this passage asked Jesus to heal the widow’s son. He came upon the funeral procession, saw the weeping widow and had compassion upon her. He felt her pain, had pity upon her and healed her son.

Jesus looked upon the plight of the crowd in Matthew 9 and was moved with compassion. He was sympathetic toward their sinful state and their need for a saviour. In Matt 14 and 20 he had compassion upon the sick. His compassion lead him to heal the multitudes and ultimately to die for all men so that they could be freed from the bondage of sin (Rom 6:17-22). Jesus Christ is the perfect example of God’s compassion. Jesus not only exercised compassion through physical healings and by dying on the cross, but he continues to show us compassion day-by-day as he forgives our sin and provides us the power to live a successful Christian life (Heb 5:1-2; Heb 2:17-18).

Spiritual growth is a matter of becoming more and more like Christ. This means that as a Christian matures spiritually he will grow in his compassion toward others (2 Peter 1:5-7).

The Character of Compassion

1 Peter 3:8-9. Q. Who did Peter encourage us to have compassion on?

Paul used a similar phrase in Philippians and Colossians when he exhorted those churches to “put on bowels of mercies” (Col 3:12; Php 2:1-4). That is a strange phrase which we do not use but it literally means to have an inward affection of compassion or pity toward others. In this case he was telling the church to be compassionate toward one another. Let’s look at the character of this compassion:

Compassion Loves

At it’s most basic level, compassion is simply an expression of love. Compassion is love rising to the surface when we perceive the needs or hurts of others. The word itself simply means to “suffer (passion) together (com)”.

Compassion Sacrifices

1 John 3:14-18. Q. What is proof that we’ve passed from death unto life?

Q. v16. What should Christ’s loving sacrificial death motivate us to do?

Q. Laying down our lives for one another seems like a lofty ideal but John goes on in the next verse to give us a very practical example of this sacrificial love. According to v17 how can a Christian show sacrificial love toward a brother in Christ?

Q. John uses a phrase to describe witholding “this world’s good” from those who are in need. What is it?

Q. v18. How does John describe the compassionate love that sacrifices it’s personal goods for the sake of others?

A compassionate Christian will look for opportunities to come to the aid of those who are hurting and in need. He is moved emotionally and shares in the pain that others are feeling. His compassion motivates him to act in some way that will alleviate his brother’s pain (Rom 15:25-28; Cor 8:7-15).

In Luke chapter 10 a lawyer sought to “justify himself” by asking Jesus a trick question, “Who is my neighbour?”. In answer to this question, Jesus told a parable about sacrificial compassion. In his parable there is a man who was stripped, beaten and robbed. A priest and a Levite passed by without an ounce of sympathy toward him. A Samaritan came along and according to verse 33 of the passage “when he saw him, he had compassion on him”. The Samaritan’s compassion lead him to treat the man’s wounds, pay for a hotel and any other expenses that he might incur while recovering. Jesus then encouraged the lawyer to go and show the same sacrificial compassion to others (Luke 10:37).

Discuss. Practically speaking, what are some areas where we might be called on to show compassion in the church? How might we be tempted to withhold compassion?

There is another characteristic of compassion that we can learn from this parable. That is:

Compassion Overlooks

Genuine compassion is not hindered by social, ethnic or religious boundaries. Nor is it withheld because of ones failures.

1 Peter 4:8. Q. What does charity (love) do?

Compassion is moved by the hurts, needs and plights of men in general. It comes to the aid of people because they need help, regardless of who they are. Remember, Jesus had compassion on us while we were yet sinners (Rom 5:8).

Discuss. What should we think of a Christian who is calloused toward the needs of others and fails to show compassion?

Compassion Forgives

Matt 18:21-35. Q. What question did Peter ask Jesus?

Jesus took the opportunity of Peter’s question to tell a parable about forgiveness. In it, there is a king who asks for all of his servants to come before him that he might assess how much money he is owed.

Q. v24. How much did this servant owe? .

The king’s servant did not have the money to pay his debt. The king ordered his servant, his servant’s wife and his children to all be sold into slavery. The servant bowed down and begged the king for patience so that he might find the means to pay his insurmountable debt.

Q. v27. How did the king respond to the servant’s humble plea? What attitude motivated the king?

After the servant’s debt was forgiven he went out to find a fellowsevant who owed him money (which amounted to pennies). The servant took his debtor by the neck demanding payment. Despite his fellowservant’s pleas for mercy he had him cast into prison until the debt was paid.

Q. v32-34. When the king heard of how the servant whom he had forgiven treated his fellowservant what question did he ask him? What did the king have done to his servant?

Q. Remember, this parable was Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question regarding forgiveness. The king in the parable is a picture of God the Father, the servant is the sinner. In your own words, how does this parable apply to our own forgiveness and the way in which we should treat eachother?

God looked upon our plight as helpless sinners and was moved with compassion to forgive us (Col 2:13). Likewise, God expects us to show compassionate forgiveness toward one another (Eph 4:32).

Galatians 6:1. Q. In what spirit are we to restore a brother who is overtaken in a fault?

Q. Why should spiritual men in the church restore a brother with meekness?

The unforgiving Christian is a person who lacks compassion. He fails to recall how much God has forgiven him and fails to recognize his own propensity to sin (1 Cor 10:12).

Compassion loves, sacrifices, overlooks, forgives, and lastly and in summary:

Compassion Feels

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, , forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

The word tenderhearted means “pitiful, sympathetic, and well compassioned”. If we are to show compassion we must be sensitive and toward others. The calloused, detached, self-focused Christian shows himself to be unloving and consequently, uncompassionate. Compassion requires a purposeful effort to consider the needs and hurts of others and then to come along side with help, comfort and the encouragement that they need (1 Tim 5:14; Php 2:4).

Review

1. What might prevent us from showing compassion to others?

2. What can we do to overcome those hindrances?

3. If we have compassion toward someone, how will we not respond to them?

4. How will “considering thyself” (Gal 6:1), help you to show compassion?

5. Some people are not naturally emotional. How can these people increase in their compassion for others?

6. How might someone’s past failures keep us from showing them compassion? What attitude might we be tempted to have towards them?

7. How should Matthew 5:43-48 affect how and to whom we show compassion?

In Ephesians chapters 1-3 we learn about the blessings of salvation, and in 4-6 we learn about the responsibilities of salvation. The Christian’s responsibilities include walking worthy of his calling (Eph 4:1), walking in humility (Eph 4:2), walking in unity (Eph 4:3), and walking in the Spirit (Eph 4:17-32). When he lives a life of obedience toward God in this way he will, without a doubt, face satanic and demonic opposition. For this reason, Paul exhorted the Ephesians in 6:10 to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

We should not automatically assume that when trouble or temptations come into our lives we have done something wrong. There are times when we face trials because God is seeking to strengthen our faith (1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2-4). There are other times when we are drawn away into temptation by our own inward lusts (James 1:14). But other times still, we face opposition from Satan himself (1 Peter 5:8; Eph 6:11,16). It may be that some of the struggles and temptations we endure are acutally a demonic attack designed to shake our faith (Luke 22:31). These attacks seem to come most, not when Christians are doing wrong, but when they are experiencing a measure of spiritual victory. Sometimes we face persecution and opposition because of what we are doing right!

Our Empowerment – His Mighty Power

The fact that we are in a spiritual battle should not frighten or discourage us, because God has provided all the power necessary for us to emerge as victors.

• Eph 6:10. Q. In what two areas did Paul exhort the Ephesians to be strong?

The power of his might is a recurring theme in the book of Ephesians. In chapter 1 Paul told the Ephesians that he was praying for them. He desired that the eyes of [their] understanding would be enlightened.

• Eph 1:18-19. Q. In what three areas did Paul want the Ephesians to increase in their understanding?

Q. What similarity do you see between 1:19 and 6:10?

There is a power that works within us. It is the very same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Eph 1:20). This is what Paul calls “the power of his might” or “his mighty power”.

• Eph 1:20-21. Q. According to this passage, where did God place Christ after his resurrection? Above what?

All principality  and power, and might, and dominion speaks of all the spiritual host, both angelic and demonic (Luke 10:17, Col 1:16-17).

Q. According to Eph 1:22, what relationship does Christ have to all of these things?

Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Including all of the spiritual world. He is Lord by virtue of creation (Col 1:16-17) and his subsequent redemption of creation (Rom 8:19-23). As such, all of the demonic forces in this world are subject to him (Eph 1:22). We too can have victory over Satan and his attacks through the power of Christ. This is the power, in the form of the Holy Spirit, which Paul encourages us to “be strong in” (see also Eph 3:20-21).

Discuss .Can you think of some things that happened during Jesus’ earthly ministry that illustrated his power of the demonic realm?

Our Enemy – The Devil

• 1 Peter 5:8. Q. Who is our enemy? What does he desire to do? How should we respond?

We have a very powerful enemy called Satan. As scripture reveals, he was once a holy angel with an exalted position guarding the throne of God. Let’s look at some passages which describe his eventual fall.

• Ezekiel 28:11-19. This passage contains a dual prophecy and meaning. It had an immediate application to the king of Tyrus and his future demise. It also recounts the fall of Satan (who empowered the king of Tyrus) and describes his fall from heaven. Q. v12. How does this verse describe Satan?

Q. v13. Where had Satan been?

Q. v13. How is his covering described?

Q. v13. What else was prepared in him when he was created?

Q. v14. He is described as the ________________ who was upon the mountain of God.

Q. v15. How is his original creation described? What was found in him?

Q. v16. How did God respond to Satan’s sin?

Q. v16. What did God say he would do to Satan?

Q. v17. For what reason was Satan “lifted up” and “corrupted”?

Q. v18. How is Satan’s final demise described?

Satan as originally created was a beautiful angel. He had an exalted position as a “covering cherub”. He stood before the throne of God and was involved somehow in Heaven’s worship music (v13). Satan became lifted up with pride because of his beauty, wisdom and lofty position. This pride caused him to lead a rebellion against God. His desire was to usurp God’s position as sovereign of the universe (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Discuss . Satan fell because of his pride. In what areas of our society do we see Satan’s prideful influence?

• Rev 12:7-12. Because of Lucifer’s sin, God had Michael the archangel cast him from Heaven. Q. Heaven rejoiced to see Satan cast out. But a woe was pronounced upon the earth. Why should the inhabitants of the earth grieve? Why does Satan have great wrath?

Discuss . In 2 Thess 2:3-4 we see a description of the coming antichrist. He will be the embodiment of satanic power. What does the description of him in this passage tell us about the character and desire of Satan? In what areas do we see his desire played out in our society?

Our Environment – Surrounded by an Angelic host

Satan has now been cast to the earth. This world is the domain in which he exercises his influence and power. But it is not only Satan that we face, when he fell from heaven, he did not go alone:

• Rev 12:3-4. This passage is referring figuratively to Satan as a dragon (v9).  Q. According to verse 4, What did the dragon do when he was cast from heaven?

• Rev 12:9. Verse 9 in this passage gives us a little more detail. Who was cast out with Satan?

When Satan was cast out of heaven he brought one-third of all the angels with him. These are those whom he compelled to join him in his attempted usurpation against God the Father. It is interesting to note that scripture refers to these angels as “his angels”. This is an angelic host over whom Satan is chief (Luke 11:15).

Hebrews 12:22 indicates that angels are innumerable. Even one-third of this angelic host remains an incomprehensible number. All of these have joined Satan in his attack against God and God’s people. These angels are now on earth actively opposing all that is God’s.

• In Matt 8:16 we see a glimpse of the activity of Satan and his demonic angels throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Q. How did Christ deal with these devils? What does this verse indicate about the number of those who were possessed of devils?

There is a spiritual battle taking place all around us involving God’s heavenly angelic host and Satan’s demonic angels. We cannot see or feel it, but we should not be deceived into thinking the battle does not exist. Satan does not have the power to defeat God so his focus has turned from God, to those whom God loves. Christians are Satan’s target and the objects over which angels and demons continually battle. If the Devil cannot defeat God, he will try to defeat those whom God loves.

• 2 Kings 6:13-18. In this passage we find the King of Syria seeking to capture Elisha the man of God. The King sent a great army to surround the place where Elisha dwelt. Q. According to verse 16, How did Elisha respond to his young servant?

Q. v17. What did Elisha pray for the young man?

Q. v17. God answered Elisha’s prayer. What did the young man see when God opened his eyes?

Q. v17-18. Judging by the description of this host and the way in which they defeated the Syrian army, Who (or what) do you think they were?

Notice that Elisha did not pray that God would send this host of fiery chariots. He only prayed that the young man would be able to see the host that was already there. Like Elisha, we have a heavenly host of angels around us at all times. We see this illustrated again in Joshua 5:13-15 where Joshua meets “the captain of the Lord’s host”, an angelic being who was leading God’s angelic army against Israel’s foes.

God sends angels to minister to his people. We may not see them, but the fact remains, they are active and at work around us at all times.

• Heb 1:13-14. Q. What role do God’s angels play? For whom?

It is reassuring to know that God has an innumerable host of angels ministering to us. It can be equally troubling at times to realize that Satan too has a host of demonic beings out to damn us.

Our Enemy – A Great Demonic Host

• Eph 6:12. Q. What do we wrestle against?

The words used to describe the demonic forces in this verse speak of rank or orders (see also Eph 1:21; 3:10; Rom 8:38; Col 2:15; 1 Pet 3:22). Demons are organized. They are a militant forced lead by Satan himself.

• Mark 5:1-13. In this passage we see an account of Jesus’ encounter with Satan’s demonic host. Q. According to verse 9, how did this demon respond when Jesus asked his name?

Q. v13. Jesus permitted these demons to be cast into a herd of swine. How many were there?

There is an enormous number of demons (or as the KJV says “devils”), whose sole purpose is to attack God’s people on a spiritual level. Daniel experienced this first-hand in Daniel chapter 10:

• Daniel 10:2-13. Q. For how long had Daniel been “mourning” (praying)?

Q. In the verses following we read a description of an angel who appeared to Daniel. According to verse 12, when was Daniel’s prayer heard?

Q. Why was the coming of the angel delayed?

Q. Judging by the fact that this is an angel speaking to Daniel, and the fact that Michael the archangel had to intervene, who do you think the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” might have been?

There was a spiritual battle taking place which Daniel was oblivious to. His prayer was heard by God the moment he had prayed it. Yet the answer was delayed due to a struggle between one of God’s angelic host and one of Satan’s demonic minions. This, along with the experiences of Elisha, Joshua and Jesus, is a glimpse into the spiritual realm where a battle between good and evil, angels and demons is continually waged.

Discuss . How should the reality of the demonic world affect the way we view things such as psychics, séances, ghosts and the “paranormal”?

This World – Satan’s Domain

Remember in Revelation 12:12 where the fall of Satan is recounted. The angel pronounced a woe upon the inhabiters of the earth because Satan had been cast down to earth. The Bible refers to Satan as the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world, and the prince of this world. Today’s world system is, without a doubt, the Devil’s domain.

• 1 John 2:15-16. Q. What attitude are we not to have toward this world? What do we know about the person who does love this world?

Q. v16. How can all that is in this world be summarized?

Q. v16. What relationship does God the Father have toward this world sytem?

The term world in this sense is not referring to the physical earth but the world system. The philosophies, standards, and morals of today’s society are all a part of this world system. Satan runs rampant in this world and has exercised great influence over what this world values and promotes and what it despises and rejects. He is not omnipresent, nor does he need to be. He has set up this world system in such a way that it is a self-sufficient engine of immorality continually promoting his agenda and rejecting all that is godly.

The angel in Revelation 12 went on to say that Satan’s wrath was great because he knows his time is short. Satan, knowing his demise is fast approaching, continues to exercise his wrath toward God and God’s people. He prowls about this world looking for every opportunity to attack God’s people (1 Peter 5:8). He uses many methods to hurt and hinder God’s people. The Bible calls these sinister tactics “the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11).

The Wiles of the Devil – His Devious Methods

Satan has many devices that he employs in his war against God, but chief among these is the perversion of God’s truth.

• John 8:44. Q. What did Satan not abide in?

Q. What is Satan the father of?

When we are first introduced to Satan in Genesis 3, he was already busy distorting God’s truth. He began by questioning God’s word (Gen 3:1). He continued by discrediting God’s word (Gen 3:2) and finally he attacked the character of God himself (Gen 3:5). He continues this very same tactic today. He leads this world to question the veracity of the word of God, to actively seek ways to discredit it and to blaspheme God himself.

Discuss . In what ways might Satan accomplish the things mentioned above?

Satan’s lying distortion of truth comes in many different forms, including false religion:

False Religion

• Look again at John 8:44. In this passage, Jesus rebuked the Jews and (what had become) their false religion. Q. According to Christ, whose children were they?

Jesus was speaking to the religious elites of his day when he made this shocking statement. The Jews religion began as a legitimate, God-honouring religion. But through the process of time it became distorted and perverted. The truth of God was replaced with the commandments of men and true heart worship was replaced with cold, godless legalism (Matt 15:7-9). According to John 8:44, Satan is the father of this false religion.

• Matt 23:15. Q. According to Christ, where was one headed who became a prosylete (convert, or disciple) of the scribes and Pharisees?

Like most false religions, Judaism in Christ’s day had begun with an element of truth. Satan used a measure of the truth to seduce and entice people to embrace what was, in actuality, a satanic ploy to send them to Hell.

False religions and cults are a powerful tool of Satan. As long as man feels “religious” and his conscience is satisfied he will feel no need to search for the truth. He has been lulled into believing that his soul is safe and stands against any notion to the contrary – including the genuine biblical gospel.

Often, Satan waits until the true gospel has been preached and then steps in to distort, pervert or discredit it. He does this in the form of cults, false religion and skeptics. This is the basis of Christ’s parable of the soils in Matthew 13:3-23. Satan is the wicked one who snatches away the word when it is heard but not understood by an unbeliever (Matt 13:19).

Where false religions do not work, Satan is content to produce false converts within Christianity.

False Converts

• Matt 13:36-43. In Matt 13:24-30 Jesus tells a parable about a man who has planted wheat. While he slept an enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat. They looked so similar to the wheat it was hard to differentiate between the two. In Matt 13:36-43 he gives the interpretation of this parable.

Q. Who sowed the tares in the midst of the wheat? .

Q. What will happen to the tares? When will it occur?

In every church there are false converts. These are those who think they are Christians but are not (Matt 7:22,23; 1 John 2:19). Not only are these individuals duped into thinking they are going to Heaven, but they also satsify Satan by causing discord and division in the church of God.

Discuss . Why do you think false converts in the church are such a valuable tool to Satan? What influence can they have?

Spiritual Blindness

Where Satan is unable to persuade people to join him on the religious front, he is content to use other methods to blind them to the gospel message (2 Cor 4:3-4). Satan works in tandem with man and man’s own depraved nature to devise godless philosophies which question, pervert or dismiss God’s truth. Evolution, humanism and relativism are three such philosophies. By embracing these and philosophies like them, man can then justify his rejection of God and the gospel on the basis of his “education” or “enlightenment” (Ps 10:4; Eph 4:17-19). This sinful complacency results in spiritual blindness to the gospel message.

Temptation, Accusation and Doubt

When Satan fails to keep men from receiving Christ as their Lord and Saviour, he must resort to other methods still.

• 1 Cor 9:27. Q. What was Paul afraid he would become if he did not keep his body under control?

Satan has no power to steal any of God’s children, so his tactic here is to debilitate or render useless those who are already in the faith (Rom 8:38-39; 2 Cor 2:10-11). He weakens Christian’s through temptation (1 Thess 3:5). He hinders their work for God (1 Thess 2:18), he leads them into false doctrine (2 Cor 2:11) and causes them to wallow in all the discouragement and doubt that accompanies these attacks.

The only thing better than a non-christian in Satan’s eyes is an inaffective Christian! Consequently, he and his demonic hoard are relentless in their attacks against God’s people. The good news is that God has not left us without instruction, nor has he left us without the power to obey those instructions.

• James 4:7. Q. What two things must we do in order for Satan to flee from us?

Discuss . Eph 4:26-27 tells us not to “give place to the devil”. How can we apply this practically?

Discuss . 1 Peter 5:8. Q. What do you think it means to be “sober” and “vigilant” in regards to Satan’s attacks?

God has provided all the means and power to overcome our spiritual enemy. It is up to us to educate ourselves regarding our enemy and to implement our weapons.

• 1 Cor 10:3-5. Q. What are our weapons not?.

Q. If our weapons are not carnal (or fleshly), what are they?

• Eph 6:10-13. Q. v10. What will enable us to stand against he wiles of the devil?

Q. List all the pieces of spiritual armour found in Eph 6:10-18.

We don’t have to be alarmed over Satan’s attacks, but we do need to be armed! We have the ability to overcome the devil and his demons by the power of God that works within us (Eph 1:19-20, 6:10). The armour of God listed in Ephesians 6 is the means by which we exercise this power.

In coming studies we will explore each piece of armour in detail and discover how we can emerge from this spiritual battle as victors over the wiles of the devil.

What does 1 Corinthians 10:12 teach us about who might face Satan’s attacks. How can we obey the exhortation in this verse?

REVIEW

In the Old Testament we see the names of king of Tyrus and Satan used interchangeably, why do you think this is so? Where else in scripture is this done?

Do you think man ever taps into the demonic realm? How might he invite demonic attack?

2 Cor 11:14-15 tells us that Satan is, at times, transformed into an angel of light. What do you think this means? How does he do this in our society?

What methods might Satan use to cause problems in a church?

The opposite of humility is pride. Pride is at the top of God’s hate list!

• Prov 16:5. Q. What does God think of those who are proud?

• Prov 6:16-19; Prov 8:13. Q. What do the things listed with pride in these lists tell us about the seriousness of pride?

Discuss . In your opinion, Why does God hate pride so much?

Pride was the sin that caused Satan to be cast out of heaven (Isa 14:14-15). Satan sowed the seeds of pride in the heart of Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen 3:5-6). Pride remains a chief characteristic of Satan and of all who follow him (John 8:31-59; 1John 2:16). It is pride that is behind all strife, wrath and unbelief (Prov 13:10; Prov 21:24; Ps 10:4). And pride ultimately,  is followed by shame, destruction and humiliation (Prov 11:2; Prov 29:23; Prov 16:18).

God is the sovereign of the universe and Jesus Christ is Lord over all. God alone deserves honour, exaltation and praise (Ps 148:13). So, everytime man lifts himself up in pride, he challenges the sovereignty of God. He vies for the honour and praise that is due only to God.

God hates pride so much that he designed the entire salvation plan in such a way as to eliminate any possibility of men boasting of their salvation.

• 1 Cor 1:19-31. Q. What will God destroy?

Q. v26. God has not called many of whom to salvation?

Q. v27-28. Why has God chosen to operate this way?

Q. v29. Because God has planned salvation this way, what can no man do?

Salvation is by grace through faith and not of human works “lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:9). God actively designed salvation in such a way that human pride could play no part! As the hymnwriter put it:

Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I’m only a sinner saved by grace!

Humility – The Key to the Kingdom of God

Jesus Christ’s main opponents during his earthly ministry were the scribes and Pharisees. It is not surprising to learn that these two groups were known for their self-righteous pride (Luke 16:14-15). They strutted about under the guise of religious elitism the entire time being children of the devil and on their way to Hell. (John 8:44, Matt 23:15)

• Matt 23:1-12. Q. v5. Why did these men “do their works”?

Jesus went on to say that the scribes and Pharisees always sought the best seats at dinners and at synagogue. They loved personal attention and recognition in public. They relished titles designed to exalt them above the common people. The position they held within their religious system was, to them, something to be proud of and they wasted no opportunity to remind others of that fact.

The scribes and Pharisees were proud legalists. They prided themselves on keeping the rules that they wrote themselves. They were not concerned with inward purity, but only outward appearance (Matt 23:27). They were hypocrites who worshipped God with their lips, but not their hearts (Matt 15:1-9). What we see proven over and over again by the example of the scribes and Pharisees is that legalism and pride go hand-in-hand. The legalist believes he can please God in and of himself. He is depending upon his own righteousness to earn favour with God. Naturally, the man or woman who believes they have earned God’s grace will be lifted up with pride by what they perceive to be their accomplishment! (Rom 10:3)

In Luke 18:9-14 we find a striking illustration of this as Christ contrasts the prideful legalism of the Pharisees with the genuine repentance of a humble publican. The Pharisees were the religious rulers while the publicans were despised by the Jews and seen as sinners.

• Luke 18:9. Q. Who did Jesus speak this parable to?

Q. v9. As a result of their self-righteousness, how did they feel about others?

Q. v11. Why did the Pharisee thank God?

Q. v11-12. What standards did the Pharisee use to judge himself as righteous?

Discuss . It is good to not be an extortioner, or unjust or an adulterer. It is a good thing to fast and to give money. So, what did this man have wrong?

Q. v13. What would the publican not do?                            .

Discuss . The publican would not look to heaven and he pounded on his chest. What do you think these actions say about his view of God and himself?

The publican in Jesus’ parable was the complete opposite of the Pharisee. The Pharisee had a distorted view of God, himself and others. He thought he was good enough to find favour with God. So good in fact that he had the audacity to praise himself and his works before God. He felt that as long as his works outshined the works of others, he had attained righteousness. In contrast, the publican with utter humility would not even look to Heaven. But he stood with head bowed and smiting himself on the chest (a gesture of disdain for himself and his sinfulness), he prayed only seven words “God be merciful to me a sinner”.

Q. v14. Who went home justifed?                                   .

Q. v14. What truth was Jesus teaching through this parable?

The publican had no pretense about him. He knew he could not save himself  and was unworthy of God’s mercy. He humbly, and with anguish, cast himself at the feet of God the Father seeking forgiveness. These men were simply illustrations in Jesus’ parable. He painted the picture of a prideful and self-righteous man in contrast to a humble sinner in order to illustrate the way of salvation. The truth in this parable applies to every man or woman who comes to God for mercy.

• Matt 18:1-4. Q. v1. What question did the disciples ask Jesus?

Jesus did not accept the premise of the disciple’s question. He told them that they had to be “converted”. That is, their thinking was completely wrong and unless they understood the right attitude necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, they would not enter in.

Q. v4. What attitude is required to enter the kingdom of Heaven?

Discuss . Why do you think Jesus used a child as an example? In what ways must we become like a child in order to be saved?

A child is helpless and dependent. He has no accomplishments, no titles, and  no lust for exaltation. He is the epitome of humility. He has no pretense, and no hypocrisy, only a simple trust and reliance. To come to God as a child is to put aside our facades and self-righteousness, casting ourselves at his feet declaring our unworthiness and inability to save ourselves.

Jesus emphasized this truth in Matthew 5:3 where he said “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”. To be poor in spirit is to be humble, destitute and utterly dependent upon God. This is the attitude that everyone must have when they come to God for salvation. In contrast to this sincere humility Psalms 10:4 says The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Humility – The Basis of a Biblical Worldview

The Pharisee in Luke 18 was lifted up with pride and unwilling to humble himself before God. Not only did his pride preclude him from entering heaven, but it perverted his view in three important areas: his view of God; his view of himself; and his view of others. Likewise, everyone who is prone to pride will also have an ungodly and unbiblical view in each of these areas.

1.      A Wrong View of Self

• 1 Peter 1:24. Q. What is man’s glory like? What will come of it?

• Rom 12:3. Q. How should man think of himself?

• 1 Cor 4:7. Q. Answer the three questions found in this verse.

• 1 Cor 15:10. Q. What did Paul recognizes about his own abilities?

The psalmist had the right view of himself when he wrote Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Humility recognizes our sinfulness, our inability and our unworthiness of God’s favour.

• 1 Tim 1:15. Q. Earlier we saw a parable about a Pharisee and a publican. The Pharisee was self-righteous. He judged himself righteous by comparing himself to others. He had the wrong standard! How was Paul’s view of himself different than the Pharisee’s?

2.      A Wrong View of God

• Isa 42:8. Q. What will God not share?                         .

God alone deserves praise. He is the sovereign of the universe, the provider, protecter and enabler. Man has no right to exalt himself, because all that he is and all that he possesses is graciously provided by God. The prideful man has lost sight of this and places himself in a position that only God should occupy.

3.      A Wrong View of Others

Isaiah described the selfish, self-righteous, condescending attitude of prideful rebels when he summarized their attitude towards others in Isaiah 65:5: “[They] say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou”. God responded, “These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”

In stark contrast to these rebels, Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to view one another as better than ourselves. When we do this, we will also be concerned with the “things” of others more than our own things. This humility will lead us to care for, provide for, and pray for one another (1 Cor 12:25; James 5:16; ). It will enable us to forgive one another and ultimately serve one another (Eph 4:32; Gal 5:13).

This humble love and care for one another is a far cry from the attitude of the Jews of Isaiah’s day or the Pharisees of Christ’s day!

Discuss . How might our flesh react to the idea of serving one another or esteeming each other as better than ourselves? What fears might we have in doing so?

Without humility we cannot have a biblical view of God, ourselves or others. We will diminish God’s glory, exalt ourselves and disregard others. As a result, we will fail to reflect the character of Christ and bring shame to the name of God. Humility really is the cornerstone of Christian character. It is absolutely essential to properly reflect the character of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ – The Perfect Example of Humility

• Matt 11:29. Q. How did Jesus describe himself?

Jesus said that those who take his yoke upon them would “learn of him”. What would they learn? Meekness and lowliness. Humility is one of the hallmarks of Christ-like character. The Christian who walks with Christ on a daily basis through Bible reading, prayer and obedience will become increasingly like him. That is, he will exhibit more and more humility.

In Philippians 2 Paul exhorts us to show humility. He uses the Jesus Christ as the perfect example.

• Philippians 2:3-11. Q. What attitude will keep us from doing things through strife and vanity?

Q. v3. How does a proper view of ourselves (lowliness or humility) cause us to see others?

Q. v4. How does humility change what we are concerned or preoccupied with?

Discuss. How is humility different from low self-esteem or a poor self-image? How does Christ’s example in verses 5-8 make the distinction clear?

Q. Pride causes men to exalt themselves, to seek prominence over others, to relish in accolades and to spend much of their lives ensuring that their projected image is secure. Humility is the exact opposite, according to Philippians 2:7-8, what did Christ’s humility allow him to do?

Humility is not concerned with self-image or reputation. It is willing to allow others to be perceived as superior. The humble person does not spend much time defending himself or habilitating his image, nor is he concerned with maintaining social status. Jesus possessed all the glory of God the Father but “thought it not robbery to be equal to God”. That means he did not feel compelled to grasp onto or protect his status. He willingly humbled himself by becoming a man and even subjected himself to the hatred, abuse and humiliation of those who were inferior to him.

Christ is the perfect embodiment of humility. All who come to him for salvation must humble themselves in the process. Even after salvation, as a believer grows spiritually, he increases in meekness and lowliness (Matt 11:29). In a striking contrast to this world’s thinking, even (and especially) those who are leaders in the church are to exemplify humility in the form of servant leadership.

Humility Means Servant Leadership

• Matt 20:25-28. Q. How did leaders behave themselves in the “Gentile world”?

Q. v26-27. How did Jesus say his disciples should behave?

Q. v28. What did Christ use to illustrate his own servant leadership?

• John 13:3-15. Q. How did Jesus illustrate humble servant-leadership?

Q. v13. Who is Jesus?                                         .

Q. Jesus was not instituting a new ordinance for the church in this passage. He was using an object lesson to illustrate a divine truth. If he was not instructing us to literally “wash one another’s feet”, what was he teaching us?

Humility Leads to Exaltation

• Matt 23:12. Q. Who will be exalted?                             .

• 1 Peter 5:6. Q. What must happen before God can exalt us? When will he do it?

The Bible says that after Christ took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death that God exalted him and gave him a name which is above every name (Php 2:7-9). The passage starts by telling us to let this mind be in your which was also in Christ Jesus. God’s exaltation comes when we humble ourselves under his hand.

The Pharisees sought man’s exaltation through pride, and got it in this life (Matt 6:5). The Christian is to seek God’s exaltation through humility and look for exaltation in the next life!

In the last two lessons in our series on attitudes of the heart we dealt with two foundational attitudes – faith and obedience. The Christian’s walk with God can really be summed up as a daily exercise of faith and obedience. Today’s lesson naturally flows from the previous two. When a Christian man or woman consistently exercises his faith through obedience he will inevitably advance in Christian maturity. This is what we call spiritual growth. Growth is our third attitude of the heart.

• 2 Thess 1:3. Q. Why did Paul thank God for the Thessalonians?

• 2 Peter 3:18. Q. What two things does Peter tell us to do?

Peter indicates that growth is actually a command from God. God instructs us to grow spiritually and He provides all the means necessary to do so. He expects our hearts to be orientated toward spiritual growth, which makes this a legitimate attitude of the heart.

Before we learn more about what spiritual growth is, let’s clear up some common misconceptions concerning spiritual growth.

Misconception #1. I must grow in order to be accepted by God

• Eph 1:6. Q. What has God “made us” by His grace?

Q. What is significant about the fact that this statement is in the past tense?

• 2 Cor 5:21. Q.Why was Christ “made sin” for us?

• Philippians 3:9. Q. Whose righteousness do we have? How did we get it?

We were accepted by God the moment we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord by faith. God’s acceptance of us had nothing to do with our worthiness. He accepted us “while we were yet sinners” (Rom 5:8), for the “sake of Christ” (Eph 4:32). This acceptance was immediate and irrevocable (Heb 13:5). Having been accepted by God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and not our own merit, it makes no sense to attempt to earn His continued acceptance through obedience or spiritual growth.

Discuss.What pitfalls might a Christian encounter if he believes his acceptance by God is dependent upon the rate or quality of his spiritual growth?

Misconception #2. Growth is always directly related to how long one has been saved.

• Job 32:9. Q. What cannot always be said about “great” or “aged men?

A Christian’s stage of spiritual growth is not necessarily related to how long he or she has been a Christian. Some grow fast, some grow slow, and some recede in their growth. There should be a definite progression in our spiritual growth all throughout our salvation, but unfortunately that is not always the case.

• Hebrews 5:11-14. Q. v12. What did the writer to the Hebrews believe they should have been able to do?

v11-12. Q. What was the writer not able to do because of the Hebrew’s immaturity?

v14. Q. Spiritual maturity does not necessarily have to do with time. How does one become spiritually strong?

Discuss.What could be some of the negative effects of a Christian who has not grown at a rate proportionate to how long he has been saved?

Misconception #3. Growth and knowledge of scripture are synonymous

• 1 Cor 8:1. Q. What affect can knowledge have on a man?

Discuss.Considering 1 Timothy 3:6 how might equating knowledge with spiritual growth lead to problems in the church?

Head knowledge and spiritual growth are not the same. Growth comes as a man learns scripture, obeys scripture and becomes closer to God as a result. There are many men who can quote scripture and know doctrine who do not have the spiritual wisdom or fruit that accompanies growth. A man who learns but does not grow is susceptible to pride. He can often cause undue discord in the church by his immature reactions to what he perceives to be false doctrine. He has not yet grown to the point where he can handle himself with the grace, meekness or compassion that comes with spiritual maturity.

Leaving the misconceptions regarding spiritual growth, let’s move on to a passage of scripture that deals with the stages of spiritual growth.

• 1 John 2:12-14. Q. What are the three stages of growth found here?

There are two different terms for children in this passage. The first in v12 seems to encompass all Christians. This is not an uncommon usage in scripture. Jesus, Paul and John all used this term to refer to the people of God (John 13:33, Gal 4:19, 1 John 2:1). Verse 12 indicates that there is something that all children of God have in common regardless of their stage of growth – that their sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ.

Verse 13 features another greek word translated “children”. This word refers to those Christians who are spiritually immature.

Children

• v13. Q. Why did John write to these “little children”?

Discuss.What are some of the characteristics of a physical baby? Using John’s analogy, how can we relate those characteristics to an immature Christian?

A spiritual child doesn’t know much. What he does know is that his sins are forgiven and that he has a new heavenly Father. That is pretty well the entire span of his spiritual knowledge – a simplistic understanding that he has entered into a new relationship with God.

Spiritual childhood is a necessary and wonderful stage of spiritual growth. The presence of spiritual babes in the church is an indication that a church is growing and people are getting saved. That being said, when this stage of growth persists for too long it becomes abnormal and even detrimental to a Christian and the church at large.

• 1 Cor 3:1-4. Q. Considering Paul’s tone in this passage, what did he expect from the Corinthians? What did he find?

Q. What were some of the evidences of the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians?

As we see in this passage, and as we have already seen in Heb 5:11-14, there is an expected time when a spiritual child should mature. This maturity might happen at a different rate for each Christian, but that doesn’t mean there is not an expected rate of spiritual maturity. When a Christian passes this point and remains spiritually immature, there is a good possibility that there is something wrong in his spiritual life. Paul expected a natural progression of growth to take place in the Corinthian’s lives, but did not see it. He went on throughout his epistle to correct false doctrine and to rebuke sin. The Christian who remains immature may have misconceptions, false doctrine or sin in their lives.

• Eph 4:11-16. Q. This passage indicates there are gifted men whom God has given to the church. These men are to use their spiritual gifts to mature the church (v12-13). According to verse 14, what is one of the results of spiritual growth?

Spiritually immature Christians are susceptible to false doctrine. It is easy for them to be led astray by cults or other false teachers (Gal 1:6-7, 2 Cor 11:1-4). Like a child, they lack discernment, are vulnerable and in need of protection from those who would do them harm (1 Cor 4:14-16). They have a basic knowledge of God but have not yet progressed to the point in their knowledge of the son of God (Eph 4:13), that they can refute false doctrine or defend the faith.

Young Men

• 1 John 2:14. Q. For what reasons did John write to the “young men”?

Q. John indicates that men and women at this stage of spiritual growth have “overcome the wicked one”. How did they do this?

Satan’s chief approach to harming Christians is not through temptation to sin, but through the lure of false doctrine. He often will “disguise himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14). This “light” often comes in the form of false doctrine and cults. The spiritual young men have overcome the wicked one by becoming established in their understanding of the gospel through the study of the word of God. These are those who have built upon the emotional and relational aspects of salvation and have added a solid, biblical theology.

• Col 2:6-8. Q. v7. What three terms are used here to refer to spiritual stability?

Q. v7. The Colossians were to be established in the faith as they had been ____________________.

Learning and applying scripture is the key to spiritual growth. This is the main tool which God has left us to ensure that we mature spiritually. Even the spiritual gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 are really just different ways of ministering the word of God to promote spiritual growth.

• 2 Tim 3:14-17. Q. What four things is scripture good (profitable) for?

Spiritual growth depends upon our consistent learning and application of God’s word. Through scripture we learn doctrine, are reproved, corrected and instructed as to how to live righteously. It is through scripture that we are equipped for “every good work”. The spiritual young men have learned this and spend quality time studying the word of God.

• 1 Peter 2:1-2. Q. According to this passage, how should we feel about the word of God?

We will never progress from spiritual immaturity and instability to being firmly grounded in God’s word if we do not have a sincere, heart felt desire to study scripture. The growth of many Christians is stunted because they do not have the right view of the word of God. They have failed to incorporate it into their daily lives and have failed to learn how to study.

Discuss. Spiritual young men know doctrine. They understand the word of God and are rigid defenders of it. They are ready and willing to go to battle over right doctrine yet they have much growth ahead of them. What are some ways that they might make their immaturity obvious?

Discuss. Bible knowledge is necessary to overcome Satan, but it is not enough for full spiritual maturity. What do you think the spiritual young man must have before he can be seen as a “spiritual father”?

Fathers

• 1 John 2:13,14. Q. Why did John write to the spiritual fathers?

• Php 3:10. Q. What was Paul’s desire? ____________________________.

Paul was one of the greatest Christian’s who ever lived. He was a spiritual father to many churches, yet one of his sincerest desires was to “know God”. This speaks of more than a simplistic awareness that God is our father. To “know God” in the sense in which Paul meant it is to have an intimate relationship with Him. These spiritually mature Christians have progressed from a simplistic knowledge of God their father as spiritual children. They have learned scripture and have become defenders of it as spiritual young men. But they have progressed even further by not only knowing scripture but by living it. They have entered into an intimate relationship with God the father.

Discuss. Considering 1 Peter 5:10 and James 1:2-4, What are some things that may have occurred in the spiritual father’s life that has promoted his spiritual growth?

The spiritual father has experienced answers to prayer. He has endured trials with God at his side. He has seen the word of God proven true over and over again. He not only knows scripture but he has applied it, proven it and lived it. He has prayed for wisdom and has received it. The spiritual father bears the fruit of the spirit and has developed a Christ-like character. He not only knows scripture but he has the wisdom and discernment as to how to practice and share it.

Discuss. How might Christians at each stage of spiritual maturity be an encouragment to one another?

Review

1.      Spiritual growth is not what causes God to accept us but what negative effects might a lack of growth have on our relationship with God?

2.      In your own opinion, what types of things might keep someone from growing at a reasonable rate?

3.      Have you ever met someone who could quote scripture but was obviously not very spiritually mature? What impression does this leave on people? How could it hurt them?

4.      Why do you think Satan chooses to use false religion and false doctrine to lead immature Christian’s astray? Why is it effective?

5.      Spiritual young men know scripture. They have a solid understanding of theology. Yet in today’s church there seems to be very few who really understand doctrine. Why might this be so?

6.      How can the church help change this?

7.      Why do you think trials and suffering are so effective in producing spiritual maturity?

8.      How might a trial in the life of a Christian NOT lead to spiritual maturity?

Last week we looked at the the foundational heart attitude of Faith. We learned that faith is trusting God based upon His revelation of Himself. Because our faith rests on the promises of God, it is not accurate to say that is a “blind faith”. Faith is standing firmly on the promises of God as found in His word. It is then trusting Him to fulfill those promises, based upon what we know about His character (Heb 11:6).

What we will see this week is that faith does not stand alone as an attitude of the heart but it is inseparably linked to another heart attitude – obedience.

• James 2:17-24. Q. v17. What is faith if it stands alone?

Q. v18. Because faith is an inward attitude of the heart, it cannot be seen. How can our faith be made visible?

Q. v21-23. Verse 23 indicates that Abraham believed God. How was this belief made visible, according to verse 21?

• Gen 22:8. Q. What did Abraham believe God would do?

When Abraham offered his son Isaac he did it in obedience to the command of God and by trusting in the character of God (Gen 22:2-3). He believed that God would provide a substitute for Isaac or that He would raise him from the dead (Gen 22:5, Heb 11:19)! Each of the men and women mentioned in Hebrews 11 have their faith described by an act of obedience toward God.

Discuss. What should we think of someone who claims to believe in God but has no evidence of obedience to God in their life?

Salvation – An Act of Obedience

• Heb 5:9. Q. For whom is Jesus the author of eternal salvation?

• Rom 6:17-18. Q. How did these folks become free from sin?

• Acts 5:32. Q. To whom has God given the Holy Spirit?

• Acts 6:7. Q. How does this verse describe the actions of the chief priests?

• 2 Thess 1:8. Q. On whom will God take vengeance?

The above verses make it clear that obeying the gospel is a synonym for salvation. It is perfectly legitimate and scriptural to see salvation as an act of obedience on the part of the unbeliever. This obedience could not happen without the intervening work of the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, it is an act of obedience.

Discuss.Why do you think Salvation can be referred to both as “belief” and “obedience”?

Saved By Obedience

Every man or woman who has ever been genuinely saved from their sin has done so by obeying the gospel. In order to understand why scripture refers to salvation in this way we must understand two very important, yet neglected, aspects of salvation – repentance and the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Repentance involves turning from sin and turning to God (1 Thess 1:9, Acts 26:17-18). It is the obedient response to the gospel’s claim that sin is a violation of God’s holy character and must be turned from.

• Acts 17:30. Q. What command does God have for all men everyhwere?

• Luke 10:13. Q. Why did Jesus pronounce woe or condemnation over  Chorazin and Bethsaida?

• Acts 2:38. Q. After Peter’s powerful salvation message at Pentecost, the gathered Jews asked him what they should do. What was Peter’s response?

Repentance is required for salvation (Acts 20:21, Mark 1:15). Jesus said that without repentance we would all perish (Luke 13:3). Since, according to these verses, repentance is a command it is also a matter of obedience.

Turning from sin to God is, in actuality, turning from a life of rebellion against God to a life of submission to Him:

• Rom 6:16-22. Q. v17. What were we? _____________________________

Q. v17. What did we do? __________________________________________

Q. v18. What did we become? ______________________________________

The Bible says that we were once the servants of sin but have become servants of righteousness. Salvation then involves a change in who we obey (Matt 6:24).

For the sake of the redemptive plan, God has put all things under the feet of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:36, Eph 1:22, 1 Cor 15:27, Heb 2:8). He has ordained that all who would be saved would do so by submitting themselves to the authority of Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9-10, Php 2:5-11).

Repentance and submission to the authority of Jesus Christ is a matter of obedience. Some might accuse us of “works-salvation” for preaching repentance and the lordship of Jesus Christ. The fact is, this obedience is the very essence of saving faith. It is not enough to believe the facts of the gospel. The devils believe there is one God (James 2:19), they even believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God (Matt 8:29; Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41). They certainly understand that Jesus rose from the dead and that he is Lord of all (Col 1:16, 17). Believing the facts of the gospel does not reconcile us to God, but responding to those facts with obedience does.

At the moment of salvation, the believer does not understand all that repentance and obedience to Christ entails. All they know is that He is the only way to be saved, and He is the one whom God has exalted as Lord over all. As the Christian grows, he learns more and more about what it means to serve God and to obey His son. The point is, salvation from it’s very starting point is a matter of obedience.

Discuss.If the above is true, how should if affect the way we present the gospel?

Saved To Obedience

The man or woman who understands that salvation is a matter of obedience to God will continue in obedience. Jesus Christ himself said that this continued obedience is a mark of genuine salvation.

• John 8:31. Q. Who are Christ’s genuine disciples?

• 1 John 2:3-5. Q. How do we know if we know Christ? In whom is the love of God perfected?

The true Christian understands that the Christian life is a life of obedience. From the moment we hear the gospel message and God’s command to repent, we understand that He requires obedience. In fact, the very essence of repentance is turning from disobedience to obedience.

• Eph 2:10. Q. What has God created us unto? What has God ordained?

• 1 Peter 1:1-2. Q. We are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. What are we chosen (elected) “unto”?

God’s plan of redemption includes calling out a people from sin and disobedience to submission and obedience. These are they whom God would create to perform “good works”. The continued, day-by-day work that God does in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is to make us obedient to His commands. Philippians 2:13 says For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

So integral to the salvation plan is obedience that Jesus Christ included it in the Great Commission:

• Matt 28:19-20. Q. According to verse 20, what were the disciples to teach others?

Christ told us that we are not only to preach the gospel but to continue to teach Christian’s what He had commanded, encouraging them to obedience.

Obedience, an Act of Love

Sometimes we think of obedience as forced or obligatory but a Christian’s obedience toward God is not this way:

• John 14:15. Q. If we love Christ, what will we do?

• John 14:21. Q. Who loves Christ?

The word of God is plain, if we love Jesus Christ, we will obey Him. Jesus’ direct statement that a love for Him results in obedience is clear evidence that salvation at it’s very core is obedient submission to the authority of Jesus Christ. This obedience is not driven by guilt, fear, or obligation. It is driven by heartfelt love for God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Christian obedience is a loving submission to the one who loved us and died for us. It is a legitimate attitude of the heart.

Trust and Obey, For There is No Other Way, To Be Happy in Jesus

• James 1:22-25. Q. v25. What will the man be who not only hears the word of God, but obeys it?

The word blessed here means “happy” or “fulfilled”. True happiness in the Christian life comes from obedience. The most miserable person in the world is a disobedient Christian. He can no longer find joy in sin, nor does he experience the blessing of an obedient Christian life. Consider some of the following blessings of obedience.

Answers to Prayer: • 1 John 3:22. Q. When can we be confident that we will receive answers to our prayers?

Spiritual Discernment: • John 7:17. Q. Who will be able to discern right from wrong doctrine?

The Presence of God: • John 14:23. Q. Who will experience the presence of God?

Stability in Life: • Luke 6:46-49. Q. v48. What is the man who obeys Christ’s words like?

Many of the promises and blessings that accompany salvation are conditional. That is, they only apply to the obedient Christian life. The Christian who fails to obey God’s word, to submit to the leading of the Spirit or who continues in sin, is forfeiting the blessings of obedience. He suffers from instability in life, spiritual ignorance, broken fellowship with God and unanswered prayer. True, spiritual happiness comes only when the Christian lives a consistent life of obedience.

Obedience is not legalism. It is not doing our best to follow God’s rules. It is a love-driven attitude of the heart. It is a loving submission to the one who died for us and the outward evidence of our faith.

Review

1.      Why do you think James says that faith without works is dead?

2.      Why is it accurate to say that salvation is an act of obedience?

3.      How do repentance and the lordship of Jesus Christ require obedience?

4.      Continued obedience is a mark of genuine salvation but that doesn’t mean that a genuine Christian is not sometimes disobedient. How can someone tell the difference between a lack of salvation, and backsliddenness?

5.      Sometimes we think of obedience as something that we are obliged or forced to do. How is Christian obedience different?

6.      Why will a disobedient Christian be unhappy?

The religions of this world offer salvation based upon the external performance or good works of it’s adherents. The Christian does not inherit Heaven based upon his good works (Titus 3:5, Eph 2:8-9). On the contrary, he obtains salvation by declaring his utter inability to earn salvation by his own merits and by expressing faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness as the only basis on which to enter Heaven (Matt 18:4, Rom 4:4-5, 2 Cor 5:21). Christianity is unique in that it’s veracity is entirely dependent upon the supernatural, transforming work which God does in the heart of it’s followers (1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14).

Because salvation by grace alone excludes the works of men and exposes man as sinfully unable to save himself, it has always been met with opposition in this world. Man is self-righteous. He is content to invent his own religion which smiles upon his efforts to earn salvation. This is true today, just like it was true in Jesus’ day.

Matt 23:23-28. Q. v23. How did Jesus describe the scribes and Pharisees?

Q. What were the “weightier matters of the law”?

Q. What do you think Jesus meant when he said “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”?

The Jews in Christ’s day were very concerned with the outward ceremony of the law. They paid close attention to every detail of every rule concocted by their religious class. They would go through the pains of giving precisely ten percent of even their smallest spices, but neglected the matters of the heart, like faith and mercy.

Q. In your own words, what do verses 25 and 27 mean?

Q. v26. What did Jesus tell the Jews they should have done?

Q. v28. What was the difference between how the Jews appeared externally and how they appeared internally?

During Jesus’ earthly ministry he continually rebuked the Jews for their religious hypocrisy. He reserved his harshest words for the religious crowd who celebrated external legalism in place of heart-felt devotion to God (Matt 23:13-33).

Matt 15:7-9. Q. How did the Jews honour God?

Q. What was far from God? _______________________________________.

Q. How did God describe their worship? _____________________________.

Q. What were they teaching as doctrine? _____________________________.

The Jews had allowed their religion to become so corrupt that they had begun to value and teach their tradition above God`s explicitly revealed word. They became so enamored with rules and commandments that they replaced faith with works and lost the heartfelt motivation that was intended to drive their obedience. Jesus repeatedly confronted this gross corruption of Judaism and as a result incurred the wrath of the self-righteous Jews (Matt 15:12).

Always a Matter of the Heart

Jesus was not really teaching anything new. His message was entirely consistent with God`s revelation in the Old Testament – a relationship with Him begins in the heart!

In Deuteronomy 6 we find what is commonly called the Shema. This portion of scripture is the centerpiece of Jewish morning and evening prayer services. The Shema is often spoken as a Jew`s last words and is diligently taught to Jewish children.

Deut 6:4-6. Q. According to the Shema, how were the Jews to love God?

Joshua 22:5. Q. In this chapter Joshua is dismissing the eastern tribes to their homeland after assisting in battle. Joshua gives them a charge before they leave. In it he quotes Deuteronomy 13. He told them to __________________ the Lord their God. How did he encourage them to serve God?

God has always sought men and women who would worship Him in love, with their whole hearts. This is a consistent theme throughout all of scripture.

New Heart Needed

There is a problem however with the command to love God with all of our heart, soul and might. What does ? Jeremiah 17:9 say about the heart of man?

Matt 15:18-20. Q. According to Jesus, what comes from the heart?

The fact is, man cannot truly and fully worship God in the sincerity of his heart while his heart is in bondage to sin (Rom 8:7-8). Man’s mind, emotions and will have all been tainted by sin (Rom 8:20-23). As a result, his sinful heart naturally tends toward self-righteousness and legalism. What is needed to bring men into fellowship with a holy God is not more commandments or stricter rules, it is a renewed heart.

This is the main truth that the schoolmaster of the law was meant to teach us, specifically, that man cannot please God in and of himself (Rom 8:8). He must be given a new heart (John 3:3). Man’s need for a renewed heart is the driving force behind God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again all so that man can be made new, from the inside out.

Ezekiel 11:19. Q. Here Ezekiel speaks of the new covenant which God would one day make with His people. What did God say He would take from them? What would he replace it with?

Jer 24:7. Q. What would God give Israel? How would they return to Him?

Jer 31:31. Q. What did God say he would make with Israel?

Q. What would this covenant not be like?

Q. What would God do with His law?

God promised that he would make a covenant with his people unlike the covenant which he made with the patriarchs. This new covenant would  involve not just the giving of the law, but the writing of the law on the heart of man. He would take out the stony heart and give him a renewed heart. All of this was accomplished through Jesus Christ.

Heb 9:15, Heb 12:24. Q. What is Christ the mediator of?

God’s new covenant was not simply that he would be a God to his people, but that he would give his people a new heart that they would have the desire and ability to worship him in the Spirit. When we speak of the heart we are really talking about the inward characteristics of man, his mind, his will and his emotions. All of these must be salvaged from the curse of sin and be spiritually renewed.

Salvation – The Renewing of the Heart

John 3:3,5. Q. What must a man be, in order to see the kingdom of God?

2 Cor 5:17. Q. If a man is in Chirst, what is he? What have all things become?

When a man receives Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, the Bible teaches that he is made spiritually alive (Eph 2:1,5). He is literally renewed on the inside (Titus 3:5, Col 3:9,10). This is a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy regarding the new covenant.

Titus 3:5. Q. What is it that renews us at salvation?

The fulfillment of God’s new covenant was accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Christ rose from the dead, having defeated death, sin and Satan, he sent the Holy Spirit of God to dwell inside of God’s people (John 14:17, John 16:7, 1 Cor 3:16). It is by the Holy Spirit of God that he took away our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh, that He wrote his law on our hearts.

When a man is saved, there is a real change which happens on the inside. God literally makes a spiritual transformation inside of him. Now, having been made spiritually new, man has the ability to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to please God by obedience.

Eph 2:8-10. Q. v10. Who’s workmanship are we? __________________.

Q. v10. What has he created us for? ________________________________.

Q. v8,9. What part did we play in this transformation? __________________.

God is very clear. Salvation is the result of his divine action on the inside of man. He makes us spiritually new and enables us to exercise good works. Our ability to please Him comes only after salvation and is the result of his work in our hearts. This is profoundly different from those religions which teach we must, by our own ability, earn favour with God.

Attitudes of the Heart – The Spirit’s Fruit

Upon salvation, man is made spiritually new. He has been given a new heart, yet he remains in a sinful body in a sinful world (Rom 7:24, John 17:15). The Spirit’s work does not stop at salvation but continues until the day of redemption (Eph 4:30).

Gal 3:3. Q. What did Paul tell the Galatians was a foolish thing to do?

The Spirit’s continued work remains in the realm of the heart. He continually seeks to bring man’s thoughts, emotions and will under his control. The same Spirit that made us spiritually new in an instant at salvation, continues His work of making us more and more like Jesus Christ on a daily basis (Rom 8:29).

Gal 4:19. Q. What was Paul laboring to see done in the lives of the Galatians?

This is, in a nutshell, the work of the ministry. All the spiritual gifts given to the church are for the purpose of bringing men and women into spiritual maturity, that is, Christ-likeness (Eph 4:11-16). And this work happens in the heart.

The focus of the Church’s work then, is not the outside of man, but the inside.

Eph 3:14-21. In this passage we find Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church. This offers valuable insight into Paul’s approach to ministry. Answer the questions below to see what Paul’s ephasis and concern was.

Q. v16. Paul wanted the Ephesians to be strengthened by what? Where?

Q. v17. What would the result of this spiritual strength be?

The word “dwell” here means to “settle down”. To be strengthened by the Spirit means to have Christ settled in our hearts. That is, he is comfortable, and at home. This happens as our lives line up with his will by obedience to his commands (John 15:7, John 14:21).

Q. v18-19. What else results from being strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man?

Q. v20. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to what?

Paul desired that the Ephesians be strengthened on the inside by the Spirit. This was the focus on his ministry. We should also seek to promote the work of the Spirit inwardly. How then should our church go about this? Do we use guilt, gimmicks, programs or pressure to help develop the heart attitudes of faith, hope, and love? Do we devise rules to help people live disciplined lives of unity, humilty, joy, and thankfulness? Do we offer incentives and rewards if people exhibit compassion, contentment and self-discipline? Or is there a better way? What is the Biblical way?

Spiritual Fruit, by Spiritual Means

John 6:63. Q. What are Christ’s words? ___________________________.

Hebrews 4:12. Q. What is God’s word a discerner of?

1 Thess 2:13. Q. What is at work in believers? ______________________.

Since man’s sanctification or increasing Christ-likeness is an internal work produced by the Spirit of God, it only makes sense to use God’s means to encourage that growth. His main method of promoting spiritual growth is the ministry of the word. This is why it is absolutely essential that the Christian avail himself to the word of God (Luke 4:4). This also gives the church a mandate to focus on strong, accurate Biblical teaching and preaching. If God’s chief work is internal, by the Spirit, through the word of God, than it makes no sense to deemphasize Biblical teaching or to seek new means or methods to produce growth (1 Thess 5:20)!

Secondly, God does his internal work through the ministry of spiritual gifts. God has given every believer a spiritual gift (Eph 4:11, Rom 12:5-8) for the purpose of edifying or building up the church (1 Cor 12:7). These gifts produce spiritual maturity (Eph 4:13), doctrinal stability (Eph 4:14) and, loving unity (Eph 4:15-16). Each of these occur on the inside of man.

Conclusion

God desires men and women to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Man’s sinful heart has prohibited him from worshipping God in this way. He continually falls back into sin, self-righteousness, and legalism. But, from the beginning of time, God planned on remedying man’s sin problem by providing him a new heart. This is what he called the new covenant. He accomplished the new covenant through the death, burial and resurreciton of Jesus Christ. Upon Christ’s ascension to Heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers. It is through the Spirit that God renews the hearts of men and women, reconciling them to God and enabling them to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

God’s work is an inside job! As a church we must seek to encourage and promote this inner work by using God’s means and methods. Emphasizing outward conformity to rules is not God’s way. He has not told us to manipulate, threaten or guilt people into obedience, but to preach, teach and practice His word in the power of His Holy Spirit.

The faithful teaching of God’s word and the production of spiritual heart attitudes is a long process. Paul compared it to labouring in birth! But it is God’s way and we dare not deviate from it. As a church that means we will continue to make the teaching and preaching of God’s word the centerpiece of our ministry. We will seek to promote inward transformation to Christ-likeness and not outward conformity to rules, preferences or the standards of men.

The life of a growing Christian will be predominantly characterized by spiritual heart attitudes. Outward changes will occur in every believer’s life, but this is the evidence of an interal work and not a replacement for it.

Review

1.      Why do you think man tends to create religions which rely on good works?

2.      What type of ungodly attitudes do you think a works-based religion might lead to?

3.      What type of worship has God always desired?

4.      Why can’t man worship God in a way that pleases Him?

5.      How did God solve that problem?

6.      What work is God continually doing in the life of a Christian? Where does He do it?

7.      How might we help or hinder the work that God is doing in us?

8.      If we lost sight of the fact that God’s work happens in the heart of man by his Holy Spirit, how might our church become imbalanced?

This conforming process takes place as we learn more about God the Father and submit ourselves to Him. So although the Holy Spirit is responsible for producing these attitudes, we are also responsible for obediently submitting to the Spirit’s work within us (Eph 4:30-32; 1 Thes 5:19).

This week we will be dealing with a foundational attitude to all others and that is Faith.

• Heb 6:1. Q. According to this verse, what two things are foundational to Christianity?

• Romans 5:1. Q. How are we justified? ________________________.

Faith is the door which all men and women must pass through when entering the Kingdom of God (Gal 3:22; John 3:15). It is trust in God.

• Hebrews 11:6. Q. What must we have to please God? ______________.

Q. According to that verse, what two things does faith encompass?

Faith in God is believing that He exists, and that He is who He has revealed Himself to be. It is then trusting Him based upon that revelation. A Christian has, by definition, exercised faith in God when he trusted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord (Gal 3:26). He believed that God existed, he believed the testimony God gave of His Son and trusted that God would save him as He promised (1 John 5:10-13).

Not only does a man become a Christian through an initial exercise of faith (Eph 2:8-9), but he continually grows in his faith as he matures spiritually (2 Thess 1:3).

• Gal 3:11. Q. How should the just live? _________________________.

Faith is Trusting God

We have already seen that faith is believing that God exists, that He is who He has revealed Himself to be and trusting Him based upon that revelation. At salvation, we trust God to fulfill the initial promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. Following salvation, the Christian life consists of learning more and more about God and developing an ever increasing trust based upon our growing knowledge of who He is and what He has promised.

In 2 Timothy Paul is writing to Timothy from prison. He has experienced much affliction for the gospel’s sake and is aware that his death is imminent. It is under these circumstances that he wrote 2 Timothy 1:12:

• 2 Timothy 1:12. Q. For what two reasons was Paul not ashamed?

1. _________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________

Paul’s unashamed faith was firmly founded upon the fact that he knew God and based upon this elder saints deep knowledge of God he was persuaded that God would preserve him at the time of judgment. Deep faith comes from deep knowledge of who God is.

Many Christians find it difficult to trust God because they have a shallow understanding of who He is. It is hard to trust someone that you do not know! As we read and obey the Bible, experience answers to prayer and trust God through our trials we learn more and more about Him. The more we learn about him the easier it becomes to trust Him. The more we trust Him, the easier it is to exercise faith.

Paul had experienced both triumphs and trials in his Christian life and through it all He learned to trust God by faith. In Philippians 4:12 Paul said “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

• Philippians 4:13. Q. What belief sustained Paul through his times of abundance and abasement?
____________________________________________________________

The Christian life is a life of faith. Q. Gal 2:20. How did Paul say that he now lives?

For the Christian, all of God’s promises are culminated in the person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says For all the promises of God in him [Jesus]are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. If we ever doubt God’s loving care for us, or his ability to help us, we need not look any further than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God proved His loving character by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. He proved His endless ability by raising Him from the dead (Eph 1:19-20).

The Hall of Faith

Hebrews chapter 11 is commonly referred to as God’s Hall of Faith. In it, we find a list of some of the great men and women of faith found throughout the Old Testament.

Abraham

• Heb 11:8-10. Q. How did Abraham respond to God’s call?

Q. Did Abraham know where he was going? ______________.

Q. v9. If Abraham did not know where he was going and had no rightful claim or ability to take the land he was in, on what basis was he dwelling there?

Abraham did not know where he was going, yet he obeyed. He uprooted his family and travelled to a strange land all based upon his trust in God. He believed that God would fulfill the promise that He had made even though the circumstances around him did not reflect it.

• Romans 4:16-24. Q. v17. What two things about God did Abraham base his faith on?

v18. Q. Abraham believed even against hope. On what basis?

v19. Q. What did Abraham not consider?

v20. Q. Abraham was ___________________ in faith.

v21. Q. What was Abraham persuaded about God?

• Heb 11:17-19. Q. What did Abraham do by faith?

Q. What had Abraham received from God? ________________________.

Q. What did Abraham take in to account when he offered Isaac?

Abraham was willing to disregard his difficult circumstances and the apparent impossibility of his situation all based upon God’s promise. He was able to trust and to remain strong in faith because he knew God. He knew God enough to be persuaded that He would keep the promise that He had made. He offered Isaac knowing not only that God had promised him a seed, but that God was also able to raise him from the dead.

Faith involves standing on God’s promises and believing He is able to fulfill them.

Sarah

• Heb 11:11. Q. What did Sarah do by faith?

Q. How did Sarah judge God? __________________________.

Q. Because Sarah judged God as faithful, what did she believe God would do?

Sarah did not have the strength or ability to conceive. The reality of her situation was bleak. There was no logical reason to believe that she would have a child naturally but she did have a child and through that child a multitude of descendants arose (v12). Sarah did not only believe in God, but she believed God. She knew God was faithful and unchanging and based upon her knowledge of who God was, she trusted Him.

Joseph

• Heb 11:22. Q. What did Joseph do by faith?

There were no circumstances occurring in Egypt at the time of Joseph’s claim that would have lead him to believe that the children of Israel would depart. He based his claim entirely upon faith in the promise of God. He so trusted in God’s promise that he gave the children of Israel instruction as to how to deal with his bones when they finally escaped Egyptian bondage (Ex 13:19).

Looking at the above examples we could say that Faith is resting in God’s promises based upon our trust in His character and ability. Like Abraham, Sarah and Joseph we should not allow circumstances to affect our faith. Even when we don’t understand our circumstances, we can still understand our God. In order for us to truly exercise faith then, we should seek to learn more about God and more about what he has promised!

His Promises

List the promises found in the following passages.

• Rom 10:9-10 _________________________________________

• John 10:27-28 _________________________________________

• Heb 13:5 _____________________________________________

• Php 4:19 _____________________________________________

• 1 Cor 10:13 ___________________________________________

• 1 John 1:9 ____________________________________________

• James 1:5 ____________________________________________

• Rom 8:28 ____________________________________________

This is only a small sampling of the multitude of promises God has given to His people throughout scripture. Do you believe them? Even God’s most difficult promises become easy to believe when we learn to trust Him. Getting to know our eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, holy, sovereign, righteous, promise-keeping God, leads us to real faith. No matter how unbelievable God’s promises might seem at first glance, they all become believable as we grow in our knowledge of who God is and what He is able to do.

A Lack of Faith?

Do you sometimes find it hard to trust God? Even the Apostles had to ask Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Take what faith you have now and ask God to give you more, than trust that He will (Mark 9:24).

An essential inward attitude in the Christian life is faith. What can we do this week to help deepen our faith?

Review

1. Christianity is not a matter of conforming to outward religious standards. What is it a matter of?

2. How does becoming like Jesus happen?

3. In your own words, what is faith in God?

4. Faith involves more than belief, what should our faith lead us to do?

5. If we want to deepen our faith, what should we learn more about?

6. How should the fact that God sent Jesus Christ to die for us increase our faith?

7. Why can we still have faith when our circumstances don’t make sense?