40 Days of Purpose Week 4 YOU WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY 16 May 04

DAY 22 Book page 171 “You were created to become like Christ.” Two things: (1) This is true only if we are talking about being created by the New birth through the Holy Spirit because we did Acts 20:21. (2) Jesus said to become like the Father: (Mat 5:48 RSV) "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Gen 1:26 RSV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."" “Man” here in the Hebrew means mankind. Adam and Eve were made in the image of the Trinity and made without sin. A human without sin is like any Person of the Trinity. God had preplanned a contingency that if Adam or Eve used their freewill to sin, there would be a single way for them and any of their offsprings to start over by a New Birth. Adam and Eve had the whole image, sin has taken away the spiritual part of that image. The new Birth restores it again.

Book page 172 “Let me be absolutely clear: You will never become God, or even a god.” Certainly “image” does not mean identical to but a reflection of. (Psa 82:6 RSV) "I say, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;" Jesus, in His confrontation with the Jews regarding His deity, quoted the first half of this verse (cf. John 10:34). Since Israel's judges (Heb. elohim, lit. mighty ones or gods) were, in a sense, "sons of God," Jesus, "the Son of God," was not blaspheming when He referred to Himself with this title. (John 10:33-36 RSV) "The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." {34} Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? {35} If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), {36} do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?" A. T Robinson in his Word Pictures of the New Testament wrote “Ye are gods (theoi este). Another direct quotation after eipa but without hoti. The judges of Israel abused their office and God is represented in Ps 82:6 as calling them "gods" (theoi, elohim) because they were God's representatives. See the same use of elohim in Ex 21:6; 22:9, 28. Jesus meets the rabbis on their own ground in a thoroughly Jewish way.” We are not to be gods. But we are sons and daughters of the Father through adoption. What Jesus said is we are to live up to our being “in the image of God” now that we have the capability and help because of the New Birth. The image we are to achieve is the image of the Father. Jesus spoke of this often and the New Testament writers wrote much as well.

Book page 173 “Many Christians misinterpret Jesus’ promise of the “abundant life to mean…” physical life like we would want it. Jesus promised the ability to gain the abundant SPIRITUAL life by following his commands. AN abundant physical life is another story. Note (John 17:14 RSV) "I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Book page 173 “Never forget that life is not about you!” The author has a shallow understanding of the two basic purposes for the creation of humans by God that we have explored before in Day 1. There are two prime purposes: Humans were created by God and our purpose is both for God and for self-with-humans. But we must realize the two prime aspects of God’s purpose for everyone: An aspect of human fellowship with humans and the aspect of human fellowship with God. The two prime purposes for which God created Mankind are: 1) Freewill life in God’s righteousness and 2) Fellowship with our Abba Father.

God create life to be about you and about God. We do exist for God’s two purposes. It has always been to live in and like the image of the Trinity and to have fellowship with the Trinity with the Father as the focus. Life on earth was meant to be eternal. Sin changed that. Now a Christian’s life on earth is to achieve again these two prime purposes of God.

Book page 174 “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to produce Christlike character in you…. You cannot reproduce the character of Jesus on your own strength…. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives.” Here the author shows a gross lack of understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit and what a new babe in Christ is supposed to do. This distorts all the author presents as the ways to achieve the two prime purposes of God for our lives.

“We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work.” Yes indeed. But his work is not as the author states. The Holy Spirit’s work is to (John 14:26 RSV) "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." The author does often refer to the right scriptures, even though he doesn’t seem to understand what they say. For example, on page 175 he uses (Eph 4:22-24 RSV) "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, {24} and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." NOTE WHO HAS THE ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY! IT IS NOT THE Holy Spirit. In verse 23 the word “spirit” does not refer to the Holy Spirit. A. T. Robinson, the premiere Greek teacher (who was Dr. H. H. Hobbs teacher) wrote “That ye be renewed (ananeousthai). Present passive infinitive (epexegetical, like apothesthai, of alêtheia en tôi Iêsou) and to be compared with anakainoumenon in Col 3:10. It is an old verb, ananeoô, to make new (young) again; though only here in N.T. The spirit (tôi pneumati). Not the Holy Spirit, but the human spirit.” The role of the Holy Spirit is to (John 14:16 RSV) "And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever," The Greek for “Counselor” means 3875. parakletos, par-ak'-lay-tos; an intercessor, consoler:--advocate, comforter. This is not someone who assumes the responsibility but is there to aid and assist. IT IS NOT the Holy Spirit’s job to “Christlike character in you”! He is to HELP you do it as Jesus did with his disciples. Jesus never did it for his own disciples. It was their responsibility to reflect him. We are to learn what the Holy Spirit teaches and we are to use this knowledge to “put of your old nature” and to “put on the new nature” which he defines and details for us. HE WILL NOT DO IT FOR US!

“God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us.” True enough as far as it goes. In this statement, we have to put ourselves into this “mold” and fill all the voids so we will conform to the “mold.” The single most tools that the Holy Spirit uses is the Bible. He expects us to do diligent, intense, and in-depth Bible study. He will provide help and guidance not only from himself but from Christians who have grown some spiritually and circumstances to emphasize and apply lessons as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus said he will do. Note carefully (Mat 28:20a RSV) "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." This will take more than a shallow sitting time in Sunday School and dosing through a sermon on a Sunday.

“Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth.” That is why the Holy Spirit had Peter to lay our that growth process in (2 Pet 1:5-7 RSV) "For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, {6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, {7} and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." The author is nearer the right road about how God interfaces with our lives on page 177. God gives use spiritual tasks at the New Birth. We usually are not ready and able to do them at that moment, but these provide a structure and initial definition of the work God has laid out for each Christian to do. (Eph 2:10 RSV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." “Should” in the Greek means a spiritual and moral necessity. It is OUR responsibility to grow in capability to accomplish that work. As we mature the initial tasks may be expanded, replaced with new ones, or new ones added. God may or may not plan your secular career to fit these tasks. Most of the tasks can be done in whatever we choose and a means of making a living. If we are disabled, God will tailor the tasks to our situation, just as he does when we are have full body capability. The accept Jesus as Lord (a requirement in order to be saved), we must become his disciple. He places strict and tough requirements on this. (Luke 14:26-33 RSV) ""If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. {27} Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. {28} For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? {29} Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, {30} saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' {31} Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? {32} And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. {33} So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." This is something we are to tell the lost, otherwise they will think they have become disciples when they haven’t. Most Christians, be they leaders or not, teachers or not, have forgotten these critical COMMANDS and REQUIREMENTS from Jesus.

DAY 23 Book page 179 “God wants you to grow up Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet 3:18 RSV) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." Book page 179 “Spiritual growth is not automatic.” That is true. The Holy Spirit can teach all the time, but the Christian must chose to learn what he teaches.

Book page 179-180 “They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation. That’s all you need to get started: Decide to become a disciple.” The author is not quite on tract about discipleship. Jesus was pointed when he spoke to the masses and said (Luke 14:26-27 RSV) ""If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. {27} Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." And (Luke 14:33 RSV) "So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Just what does it mean to not be Jesus’ disciple? It means you are LOST. Jesus is either your Lord or he is not. If he is not Lord, there is no salvation. The commitment to follow Jesus MUST be there in the appeal to God to be saved. (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus is not LORD unless you make a life commitment to him upfront. He does not expect you to be able to do like that means, but you must commit to do whatever it takes at the subordination of everyone and everything else. Far too many preach that all you need to do is say you want Jesus to be your savior and then later you can decide to make him Lord. That is not what the Bible says. (2 Cor 4:5 RSV) "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." It is faith in Jesus as both Lord and Savior. No lordship, no salvation.

“God’s part and your part.” Once the Holy Spirit spiritually changes our spirit with the New Birth, God expects us to but feet to our promise of commitment. That is what Paul said in (Phil 2:12 RSV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" To be a growing disciple is SERIOUS BUSINESS! Yet the weakest part of typical SBC churches today is Discipleship Training. We need again Training Union.

“Changing your autopilot.” Book page 181 “Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.” This is why correct, personal, ongoing, in-depth, and practiced Biblical doctrinal studies are essential for anyone who would “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Again the author misuses the scripture by selecting a translation that does not have the correct Greek meaning. (Rom 12:2 RSV) "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Paul said to be “be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” It is not God who will do this. The NIV is wrong to say “Let God transform you…”! Paul said you “put off” and you “put on” in Eph 4:22-24. The author of Hebrews agrees. Heb 12:1 RSV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us," The responsibility is never God’s responsibility. God does not want to control your life anymore than he controlled Adam and Eve. He never takes back our freewill. The author keeps shifting back and forth between God changing you and “you must develop.” There is only one path. YOU must walk with the HELP of the Holy Spirit. There is no more for God to do. It is our lives to live as we choose. We are to choose to grow.

Book page 180 “The second half of thinking like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself.” This is not the Bible’s definition of mature thinking and living. Consider the second essential in the Law: (Mat 19:19b RSV) "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."" You cannot do this without first loving yourself! It is NOT a matter of forsaking self, but transforming self to love like Jesus. Jesus thought of himself in the Garden when he wanted the cup taken away. He thought about others also and gave the priority to others. We cannot have brotherly or agape love without loving ourselves. It is a balanced life that God calls us to. It is to bring us into a loving and caring family. We must know and love ourselves to do so. Book page 183 “Thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth.” This is overstated but thinking about others is an essential element of Christlikeness. Your yourself as God loves you is also an essential part. THE REAL HEART OF CHRISTLIKENESS IS LOVING GOD! (Mat 22:37 RSV) "And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

DAY 24 Book page 185 “The truth transforms us. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth.” Truth transform IF we let it. Many people know certain Bible truths but that does not mean they live it. God’s truths are not magic. We certainly must learn the actual truths of the Bible correctly. But head knowledge does not automatically cause heart action. The Bible is God’s documented word to us. There are lost people who can quote the Bible better than most of us. But they have not believed the truth in the Bible.

Book page 186 “There are more Bible in print today than ever before, but a Bible on the shelf is worthless.” This is true. To be a growing disciple of Jesus you must personally and correctly study the Bible.

“I must accept its authority.” If the Bible is not number one, then we will not get far in spiritual growth. We may become very religious, but truth is what God wants. I say number one because books by mature Christians can be helpful but cannot and must not replace or good before the Bible. Another critical issue is what translation of the Bible to use. It is rare that a translation into another language carries over all the thoughts and meanings in the original language. There are many English language translations. Some are good, some are not. Some translation most passages well but not all. It is the ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT which is infallible. God never promised that translations would be infallible. We don’t even have a close copy of the original manuscripts, which have all been lost over time. We do have copies of the originals that are almost perfect to the original as best we can determine by scholarship. But translations from these vary widely in accuracy in meaning to the best oldest manuscripts. Just because a book has the title “Bible” on it does not make it a good choice for Christians to us. The Bible is the SOLE word from God in documented form. All other books, etc. are not from God.

“I must assimilate its truth.” Book page 187-188 “It is not enough just to believe the Bible; I must fill my mind so that the Holy Spirit can transform me with the truth.” The author is half-right. We have the responsibility to study the Bible. (2 Tim 2:15 RSV) "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." WE have the action and responsibility. As we pointed out on Day 22, it is not the responsibility to “transform” us. His job is to help us “put off” and “put on”. How you study the Bible is critical. You must have a proper mindset. You must do it yourself. Merely sitting in a Bible class is never sufficient. Study is personal and only YOU can do it. Bible study must be regular and contextual. The use of references books and commentary are useful, depending on which ones you use. The best method to study the Bible is by Olin T. Binkley on How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible Study Sources. Memorizing verse is good IF you memorizing them in their context. For example: Eph 2:8-9 is often quoted. It is in incomplete passage. It must include verse 10 to have the correct Bible meaning in it. You must not just memorize a verse!

Study involves thinking so the material is learned for application. Book page 190 “Meditation is focused thinking. It is serious effort.” This thinking must always involve context and application. Unless we know what the Bible says, we cannot know what is in the “mind of Christ.” Worship and discipleship are much the same. Both involve using our minds correctly. We cannot be like the Father (Matt 5:48) unless we know the father. The Bible is the only way to learn about God. If necessary, take a course on correct study happens from any creditable source. It can be secular, because proper study methods and habits are universal.

“I must apply the principles.” Nothing replaces doing the truths that we academically learn. (James 1:22-25 RSV) "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. {23} For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; {24} for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. {25} But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing."

We must realize that the doing will not always be fun. It can be hard and painful. But it is always worth the doing.

DAY 25 Book page 193 “God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses circumstances to develop our character” This is logical because only living life really makes changes possible. Jesus, Peter, and Paul said problems are a part of living in a sinful world. Jesus asked the Father not to take Christians out of the world or put them in any special place. God does not cause situations, unless they are for formative or reformative discipline. What he does do is work to get the most good for you and for those who need your witness.

UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 8:28-29

The author is right that the passage does not mean we will get everything we want and we will be happy about it. (Rom 8:28-29 RSV) "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. {29} For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren."

Dr. H. H. Hobbs wrote in his book Romans, Word Books, 1977, page 111, that this verse should read "For we know with a certainty that to the ones loving God, he keeps on working together with respect to every single thing unto God, to the ones according to his purpose being called." God's purpose is 2 Pet 3:9. Then Dr. Hobbs made this critical and vital statement: ""Working together" relates not to "every single thing" but to "the ones loving God." So as in verses 26-27 believers must be involved in the Spirit's help in praying; they must also be involved in the working. We are not simply to sit and wait passively, but as we work in the events and conditions about us, God works together with us with the ultimate goal of good." Note how different this is from what you usually hear preached or taught. Almost always they say it is God working alone. NOT SO! It is no different with us than with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Another way of saying the meaning is God works out the maximum good he can from the situation he finds us in and in how closely we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thus in some situations, not much good is obtained from the usual human definition of good. A case in point is the two Christians who lied in 5:1-10. Both Christians died! How many of us would say good was worked for them? So once again we must use God's definitions and not ours. In their case God certainly did not control their lives. Not also that God does this only for his Family and not for lost people. So God is still working with his family to get for them all that life can give. As usual he is limited by the freewill actions of his family. The maximum good cannot be obtained if we are not working ourselves. Again "we are not simply to sit and wait passively, but as we work in the events and conditions about us." Life is ours to live. We live better when we work with the Holy Spirit. So who controls the good available to us? We do. Image that! Don't be an Ananias or Sapphira. Be a Paul or a Phoebe. Let us give God a lot to work with. Then he can do much good for us while working to fulfill his purpose. Thus the Commentary is wrong in concluding on page 73, "Only God can work all things together for good." As we have seen, this is not true nor what Dr. Hobbs taught. Let us do our work so God can do the most good from and with it.

BUILDING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

The “working out” develops character. It also shows the strengths and weakness. This is vital. Otherwise how are we to know what to improve and what to keep? Suffering is never popular or easy. But a sinful world always cause suffering in many forms, often several forms at once.

RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS AS JESUS WOULD

Book page 197 “Problems don’t automatically produce what God intends.”

“Remember God’s plan is good.” God always works for the best for us. This doesn’t mean it will be easy or painless. And it will include disciple as children of God. (Heb 12:11 RSV) "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Remember (Eph 2:19 RSV) "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," And our home is really Heavenly Jerusalem. (Heb 12:22 RSV) "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering," This is to be on New Earth. (Rev 21:2 RSV) "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;"

“Rejoice and give thanks.” Note (1 Th 5:18 RSV) "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." The key is “in”. Paul was in prison. Yet he sang and gave thanks to God.

“Refuse to give up.” Book page 199 “Be patient and persistent. What we have been talking about is going through the Growth Process of Peter. It takes time. It takes work. And we may have to stay in a certain area until we get it right before we can progress onward.

DAY 26 Book page 201 “Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.” Book page 102 “Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.” God works within the freewill of humans to channel certain events to gain the maximum good for a Christian. In general, God allows the Cosmos and humans to do what they want. This is his “permissive will.” Note Gen 3. This was not a temptation set up by God. (James 1:13 RSV) "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one". What God may do is test a person for a reason known to him. But temptation is a wrong word to be used with God. He does use the situation of a temptation to teach a lesson, but he sets up NO temptation.

HOW TEMPTATION WORKS

James puts it simply in (James 1:14 RSV) "but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." We tempt ourselves. No Christian can say correctly “The devil made me do it.” The devil can make a Christian do nothing. Nor can the devil indwell a Christian. That is impossible because every Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are at fault just as were Adam and Eve. That is not to say the devil doesn’t try to set up situations that will tempt us. But God NEVER does. The devil (so to speak) works to have us doubt the commands of God. The main thing he does is to use half-truths. Look at the temptation of Eve and Jesus. For Eve she was told God would not punish her. The key of James 1:14 is “lured and enticed.” To be aware of something that can cause us to do evil is not a sin. And good things can sometimes create evil desires. But when we move to do the evil, we are disobedient.

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

“Refuse to be intimidated.” Book page 105 “It is not a sin to be tempted.” Jesus was tempted in every avenue of life just like all humans. He never sinned. The solution to temptation is again simply stated by James: (James 4:7 RSV) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." YOU ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN SATAN! If you voluntarily follow the commands of God, the devil has not power over you.

“Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it.” So you need to know yourself. “Desires” is a general word. Dr, Hobbs pointed out that there are good desires and bad desired. James is addressing bad desires. You need to learn what desires lead to evil actions.

“Request God’s help.” The help we need is to know and categorize our desires so we can properly respond to them. God uses all ways to help us. (James 4:2-3 RSV) "You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. {3} You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." Here “passions” means the same as desires in James 1:14. Among the best ways that God helps are Bible studies and Christian friends. It is critical that we choose friends wisely. (Eph 5:3-7 RSV) "But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. {4} Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. {5} Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. {6} Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. {7} Therefore do not associate with them,"

DAY 27 Book page 209 “There is always a way out.” The problem is the way may be harder than just saying OK. (1 Cor 10:13 RSV) "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Use must find and use the escape.

“Refocus your attention on something else.” Meditate on These Things: (Phil 4:8 RSV) "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Sometimes easier said than done, but always the best way. (Rom 6:11-14 RSV) "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. {12} Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. {13} Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. {14} For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." You are your mind. Your spirit controls your body by the mind. The metaphor about the heart is from ancient days when people didn’t understand how the body works. It is the mind that is the set of everything. It controls everything. As the ad says “A mind is a precious thing to waste.” (Phil 2:5 RSV) "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus," A brotherly fellowship is an excellent aid to resisting the devil. Note notes that to achieve this mindset and mind-action, it is available by being in (In the Greek meaning in the sphere of) Jesus. Being in the sphere of Jesus is what occurs when we do (2 Pet 3:18 RSV) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

“Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.” This is an important option. But you must take care in selecting the one or those in whom you seek help. Make sure they are indeed “godly” in actuality and not just in words. Good people can help but hey cannot change you. You must “put off” the wrong that can develop. (James 1:15 RSV) "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death." James admonishment: (James 1:16 RSV) "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." This comes form knowing and growing spiritually. (James 1:17-18 RSV) "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. {18} Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

Don’t forget that your greatest and most effective Helper is the Holy Spirit! (Rom 8:26 RSV) "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." Certainly help in resisting the devil and temptations can be times of weakness. The major, perhaps even prime, reason Christians have so much trouble is because the Holy Spirit is forgotten, except maybe in saying the Doxology. But Paul commanded under times of temptation: (Eph 5:18 RSV) "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,". Here we MUST know have the Greek says and not improper English translations. This is a much abused verse because the English translations are so bad. Few care to check the Greek. The key words are “be filled.” In English, that means to fill up as putting water in a pitcher. So the Charismatic Movement thinks this means Christians can pour in the Holy Spirit at will. The Greek means to be fully influenced by. "Filled" actually means to be fully influenced by and not to obtain a fill-up. So it is a call to be influenced not by alcohol and drugs (temptations) but by the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit never leaves us. We can leave him in the sense of not following his guidance. It is our choice. BE WISE! We always have the Holy Spirit completely. What the Holy Spirit does not have is us completely. So we are not to walk out of step with the Holy Spirit by seeking the world's empty glories in wrong temptations or challenging other Christians that we are better than they are.

“Resist the devil.” This can only be successfully done by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit while we Bible study, join together with Christian who seek to edify, and communicate with the Father. Satan has NO POWER over a Christian. The problem is ourselves with an old mind that is in need of better reprogramming.

“Realize your vulnerability.” Book page 215 “Don’t carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them.” Good advice. We should be aware that there are good temptations and well as bad. And that what may tempt you toward sin may not be wrong for another to do. Note Rom 14-15.

So the whole subject of temptation is not a simple issue in statement or definition. But the key is always to “BE FULLY INFLUENCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is always a matter of being your call, your choice, and your use of your freewill.

DAY 28 Book page 217 “There are no shortcuts to maturity.” The Growth Process of Peter makes that quite clear. Each is a step that can take a lot of time to progress in before one is able to move to the next step. And the growth must be in quality as well as in size. Quality is always the harder part.

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?

It is not as the author states. It takes so long because God respects our freewill. He does not force any change on us. He does not control our lives. If we don’t want to do it, it won’t get done. Remember we “put off” and “put on.”

“We are slow learners.” This is individual, of course.

“We have a lot to unlearn.” The putting off is not easy. But we are the one who have to do it. (Eph 5:15-16 RSV) "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, {16} making the most of the time, because the days are evil."

“We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves.” It is natural to protect ourselves. Who wants to hurt ourselves? But the putting off and putting on can hurt at times. We must accept it and get through it.

“Growth is often painful and scary.” This is true even with God’s discipline and even our own to ourselves. (Heb 12:11 RSV) "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." But working with the Holy Spirit will always get you through.

“Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it.” Book page 221 “Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement.” The less we allow ourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit, the less we feel God is working. Too much is placed on feelings. Paul said to have joy. Joy is not happiness. Joy rests on the facts. Happiness rests on circumstances and our state of wellness and mind.

“Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned.” This is a good idea. But keep it personal and private.

“Be patient with God and with yourself.” God takes the time he must take to keep Christians moving toward doing John 17:21-23 and Matt 28:19-20. We never see the Big Picture as God see it. At times we must do tasks when we don’t see how they fit into that Picture. This is the time to talk with the Father and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Marvin Ganote, Hobbs Study Class Adult Teacher, ganotemd@dma.org Lesson at: http://www.dma.org/~ganotemd/lesson.htm or http://homepages.udayton.edu/~ganotem/bible/lesson.htm