Wednesday 02/24/16
Series: The Pursuit of God
Message – The Universal Presence III
{The audio is divided into two sections. The 1st is where we read through part of the chapter and divide into groups for discussion. The 2nd is when we come back together as and share from our groups.}
Last week we considered the question about how we most often perceive our relationship with the Holy Spirit as that of…
- A teacher with a student
- A parent with a child
- A mentor with an apprentice
- A co-laborer who works WITH you.
Several of you agreed that seeing Him as the One Who co-labors with us, is something that would help you in your daily walk – especially while seeking to become more aware of His ever present “presence”.
Q. Did you take steps to view Him this week as your helper? If so, how did that effect your awareness of Him? If not, what are you going to do to change that this week?
Q. As you consider the Holy Spirit as a co-laborer WITH you in the Kingdom – How does your thinking change from what it was before – how does “thinking that way” change things?
Part of the malady that effects Christians is their tendency to judge their spiritual progress against the perception they hold of their siblings (in Christ) spiritual progress.
Tozer hinted at this when he said, “We have been too blind to see, or too timid to speak out, or too self satisfied to desire anything better than the poor average diet with which others appear satisfied. To put it differently, we have accepted one another’s notions, copied one another’s lives and made one another’s experiences the model for our own.” While this may not be done purposefully, it IS in fact still done. We have a tendency towards a herd mentality but God would have us otherwise focused.
Paul said,
“For we have not the ‘courage’ to rank ourselves among, or compare ourselves with, certain persons distinguished by their self-worthiness. Yet they are not wise, measuring themselves, as they do, by one another and comparing themselves with one another.” – 2 Cor. 10:12
That having been said, scripture also says,
“(7) For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you (8) nor did we eat any one’s bread without paying for it, but we labored and toiled, working hard night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. (9) This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example–for you to imitate us.” ~ 2Thess 3:7-9
“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” ~ Heb. 13:7
Q. There is a persistent human desire to be like others. We don’t want to stand out and be the ‘odd ball’. This often springs (at least in part) out of our desire for acceptance and status. We look to others for our validation. Even those who seem to take pleasure in being different, do so out of a need to protect themselves from rejection which is just the opposite side of the same coin. Why do you believe there is SUCH a strong pull towards being like everyone else?
Q. Why do we believe there is safety in numbers? Looking back in your memory over scripture and even world history, is there really any noteworthy support for the notion that there is safety in numbers?
Q. What unnecessary dangers do people make themselves open to by seeking to be like others in their spiritual practices…meaning, how they worship, how they ‘draw near’ to God, where they worship, their friends, life habits…etc.?
Q. If we are not to use each other as a measuring stick for our personal spiritual progress – how do we assess our advancement?
Q. Clearly, leaders are supposed to be a “safe” example, yet we know that this is not always the case – even among those who are living Godly lives. How can we follow, leaders as Scripture tells us to and still avoid falling into any errors they might fall into?
Q. Spend some time talking about this statement Tozer made in closing out this chapter….
“Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days. Any man who by repentance and a sincere return to God will break himself out of the mold in which he has been held, and will go to the Bible itself for his spiritual standards, will be delighted with that he finds there…We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.”
This is where we left off this week. We will most likely resume from here next Wednesday…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!
