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DIGGING DEEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR SEPT. 29-OCT. 4 FOLLOWING SERMON FROM 1 JOHN 3:1-10

9/28/2014

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Monday - Spiritual Adoption - John 1:12 
In spite of the lawlessness that we may have lived in before, or the denial of God's sovereignty over all His creation including us, once we come to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, he offers unto us the right to be called the children of God with all of its rights and privileges. If we would look through the whole of scripture, we would find that this is the only right given to anyone by God, but it is the most complete, full of love, joy, happiness and more.

Tuesday - Children of God - Romans 8:14-15 
There are instructions that come with the right to be called the children of God. Paul, tells us that obedience is number one but we are to also live a life that should not be one of complaining or arguing, so that we can become more and more like Christ. We are to be without fault in a crooked and depraved generation( radically different) so that we shine like stars in the universe. We are to live lives that reflect the brilliancy of His holiness and glory and grace. We are to look like we are the children of God...inside and out.

Wednesday - Christ Sinlessness - 2 Corinthians 5:21 
From the words of the prophets of old, as well as the word from Jesus, Himself, no one could find sin within Him. Yet this Holy One became sin, took upon himself the sins of the whole world, so that we could take upon ourselves His righteousness. That righteousness would in turn sink deep within us to mix with the original purpose that God created us to live out and we become the rightfulness.. .the very righteousness of God. Just as He breathed into us the breath of life, we not only become a living soul but a soul that lives for His glory.. .showing others His holiness.

Thursday - Sin Forbidden - John 8:11 
So often we have looked at this passage dealing with the idea of judging others, but the words of Jesus towards the end of this encounter are of the utmost importance to all you come to Him and find forgiveness rather than condemnation; "Go now and leave your life of sin." It is the only way that we can live and remain in the state of no condemnation and that is to "sin no more!" The life of sin must be abandoned in order to enter the glorious relationship of peace with God. Sin is forbidden in that place of abiding with Christ.. .abiding in God forever.

Friday - Spiritual Victory - Romans 8:35-37 
As we live the life of being children of God and allow the Holy Spirit of Christ to lead us away from sin and into the glories of God, we can see the victories that we gain because of that walk in the Spirit. We can truly be overcomers.. ."more than conquerors" if we but allow the love of God to lead our lives not just on a overall daily basis, but a moment by moment residing in His wonderful Presence. For our ability to conquer is only found in the One person who loves us the most and knows us the best, Christ Jesus. It may be "an old, old story," but in Jesus we still have the victory

Saturday - Temptation Resisted - Daniel 1:8 
Even before the coming of the Christ, God sent Flis Spirit to rest on those who would live their lives for Him, and gave them strength to resist the temptation to lower their standards of faith and continue to trust in God. Daniel had the opportunity to have all that the people of his time would have thought was the easy life. Daniel chose not to defile himself, surrender what he knew was right for him, and chose for himself to continue in the lifestyle that he knew was determined by God to be the way of the blessed in Him. We too, are called upon to trust the strength of the Lord; resist the temptations that confront us; and abide in Christ always.

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DIGGING DEEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR SEPT. 15-20 FOLLOWING THE MESSAGE ON 1 JOHN 2:15-17

9/14/2014

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Monday - Separation - John 15:19; 17:16 
In these to passages of scripture, Jesus tells his disciples that they no longer belong to the world because He has chosen them out of the world and they have connected with Him in ministry and devotion to God. They have been separated out from the world not to be a part of it any more and because of this separation, the world hates them. There is a difference in the lives of those who obey the commands of Christ Jesus and live for Him. To serve the Lord with all our devotion, a separation from the world is needed. 

Tuesday - Worldliness - Luke 21:34 
Near the end of the ministry of Jesus, He tells His disciples that they need to beware of the tempting, enticements of this world for they will bring into life the things that would try to control them. Jesus latterly states that these will lead to the traps that will only bring anxiety to life. Worldliness will attempt to close in when we least expect it and rob us of the possibilities of finding that which can bring in satisfaction to our lives on a daily basis. It is the relationship we can have by walking, loving, following, separating ourselves to godliness through Christ.

Wednesday - Heavenly Mindedness - Hebrews 11:24-25
When speaking on the idea of focusing our attention on the things of Christ Jesus, the writer of Hebrews makes mention that Moses sought to align himself with the people and will of God and to turn away from the pleasures that were available to him. He chose to connect his life and lifestyle with that which was known as the way of the people of God rather than the pleasures of sin (Egypt) for even a short period of time. In Moses mind that was the right thing to do and he wanted it to be thought of that way by all others, a heavenly mindedness.

Thursday - Carnality - Romans 8:5 
Paul makes the statement plain in this letter to a church that could see the ways of the world being lived all around it. "Those who live according to the sinful nature (carnality) have their minds set on what nature desires; but those who live in accordance to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." The Spirit leads us in the pathway of the Light of God, Jesus Christ and we are to walk in that Light forever, not in desires that satisfy for just the moment. 

Friday - Unfading Life - Psalm 1:3 
The Psalmist had the correct idea when thinking of the one who lives his life for God. In keeping that life in the soil of God's garden of good soil and water, it continuously yields fruit in its proper time and brings with it the power of God to heal and will not wither. The life that is yielded to God has the opportunity to continually prosper for the cause of the Lord and to meet the needs of those to whom God will direct us, adding to the kingdom as God sees fit.

Saturday - God's Will - John 7:17 
John remembered that Jesus spoke of those who chose to follow in obedience the ways of the Lord and how that in doing so they would come to know that all Jesus did was in obedience to the will of God. He set the example for us to follow and to encourage us to seek it continually so as not to miss out on all the relationships that come from obedience (Matthew 12:50). Doing the will of God is not a job but has been shared throughout the New Testament as an act of love and adoration for God and His Christ, Jesus the Lord. If we love the Lord we will turn from doing the things that this world is caught up in and pursue the more perfect way of loving and sharing the love of God with all mankind.

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DIGGING DEEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR REVIVAL SEPTEMBER 8-13

9/7/2014

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 Monday  - Humility - 2 Chronicles 7:14 
If we look closely at the idea of revival or a time of spiritual renewal it always comes after a tune when individuals and groups humbled themselves before the Lord. They recognized that they were in need of the working of the Lord in their lives not just to have a good day but to experience the fullness of life on a daily basis. They desired to go beyond the idea of mire existence and wanted to live out that relationship that God desires to share with us.

Tuesday - Prayer - 2 Chronicles 7:14 
The humble attitude brings about the calling upon the Lord to meet the need of life, there is that desire to reconnect in intimate conversational communication with the Lord. To do more than just give the Lord our wish lists or even desires in the form of prayer requests, we come to want to talk with God. We realize that we have missed out on taking the time to have two-way communication with the One who understands us best and can communicate with us in so many different ways. One being prayer, holy conversation.

Wednesday - Broken Heart - Psalm 34"18 
We know that David knew that the Lord would forgive those who presented to Him a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51). But here in this passage, David shares the promise that if realize that we need more of Him to the point that our hearts become so hungry for His spiritual food, that our hearts break; The Lord draws close and will save those who are crushed in spirit. Have we had a Gethsemane experience where we felt hard pressed for the Lord with the weight of our need and cried out to the Lord in a state of brokenness.

Thursday - Confession - Psalm 66:16-20 
Are we brave enough, wise enough to confess our needs to the Lord. Sometimes we do not recognize that when the people of the Bible called out to the Lord in their iniquities, they were calling out to Him not just in then sins but in their weakness. Are we at this point, living the closest to the Lord that we can get. It may not be outright sin that is keeping us away but mismanagement of time to be alone with Him, not praising Him enough, or letting things keep us too busy. We need to confess these things to the Lord and ask for His help in getting us through these problems.

Friday - Repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:10 
Through the time of prayer and confession we find that what Paul states is truth, Godly sorrow causes us to turn our lives around and find that saving grace that continues to help us in getting our priorities right (goals and aspirations), help us with our time management (spending time with the Lord), and keeps us walking in the Light with Him who is the Light. It also says in verse 10 that no regrets are left when we live out our salvation. Let us live with no regrets before the Lord.

Saturday - Complete Surrender - Romans 12:1-2 
In view of all that God has done and provided (His mercies), how could we think of not serving Him. It truly is a reasonable service o f praise and worship, when we acknowledge the gifts and blessings that Pie has given. And it is not that we are squeezed into some mould to be shaped the same as everyone else, but He grants freedom to be us, individuals known personally by the God who knit us together even before we were born. He knows our name. Let us surrender all to win the victory!




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    Study guides provided by Pastor, Dr. David Shirer

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