Lord, Teach Me Your Truth

Woodstream ChurchWomen’s Institute

September 2015

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus Is The Truth

1.Temptation

2.Reconciliation

3.Unbelief, Uncertainty and Unsure of Salvation

4.Thoughts

5.Humanity of Christ

Five Reflections of God’s Truth

Temptation is common to all Christians“But remember this – the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you.” 1 Cor. 10:13, TLB

Temptation

Temptation is of the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted)

Temptation is not sin but succumbing to it is.

Temptation (2)

God does not lead us into temptation.“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.” James 1:13, KJV

Temptation (3)

God does allow us to be tempted (Job) so that we can face temptation, overcome it and become stronger. “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:14, KJV. We are also blessed in victory (James 1:12).

Temptation (4)

No temptation is irresistible.“You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, TLB

Temptation (5)

We have an example in Jesus Christ.He “was tempted in all points like as we, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15, KJV.

Temptation (6)

“The sin is when we use the temptation for giving in.” None of us should seek out situations to be tempted. Satan will always attack us where we are the most vulnerable.

Temptation (7)

“But each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it I full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15, NIV

Temptation (8)

Reconciliation is forgiveness, pure and simple. It is through forgiveness that we are reconciled with God!

Reconciliation

The Basis for ForgivenessOwn up to what we are and have done (repentance). “For I know my transgressions, nd my sine is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight …” Psalm 51:3-4, NIV

Reconciliation (2)

Ask for it (confession). “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.” Psalm 51:7,9, NIV

Reconciliation (3)

The Results of Forgiveness Reconciliation. When God forgives, there is an immediate and complete change in relationship. Instead of hostility, there is love and acceptance. Instead of enmity, there is friendship. “God … reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.” 2 Cor. 5:19, NIV

Reconciliation (4)

Purification. The very essence of forgiveness is being restored to our original standing before God. “Purge me … and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7, KJV

God forgets our sin when He forgives it. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Heb. 8:12, NIV

Reconciliation (5)

Remittance. God drops the charges against us. He will not enforce judgment because of our sins. Jesus said to the woman taken in adultery, “… Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” John 8:11, KJV

Reconciliation (6)

Unbelief, uncertainty and unsure of salvation is doubt … doubting God and His Word.

Doubt can be debilitating. Hesitation and uncertainty are characteristics of the doubter. James says that the “double-minded” man is “unstable in all he does. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:7

Unbelief, Uncertainty & Unsure of Salvation

The opposite of doubt is faith. Jesus encouraged those who were passing through trials to “ask of God” and “ask in faith” (James 1:5-6, KJV).

Doubt is an effective tool of Satan. He caused Eve to doubt by asking, “Ye, hath God said” (Gen. 3:1, KJV).

Unbelief, Uncertainty & Unsure of Salvation (2)

The history of mind is largely centered around the battle for his mind. What we think is important. “He that ruleth his mind is greater than he that taketh a city.” Prov.16:32, KJV “As a man thinketh … so is he.” Prov. 23:7, KJV

Thoughts

The mind – or related words, such as “thoughts,” “the understanding,” and “the heart” which is used interchangeably for the mind, occupies an important place in Scripture. God wants to control our mind; so does Satan.

Thoughts (2)

The Bible mentions the unbelieving mind which is “hostile to God” (Romans 8:7, NIV), is blinded because of sin (2 Cor. 4:4), and is morally defiled (Mark 7:20-22).

Thoughts (3)

The Bible also mentions the carnal mind which is characteristic of the worldly Christian walking in the flesh (James 4:4), the unbelieving Christian (Hebrews 3:12), and the disobedient Christian (Luke 6:46 and Ephesians 2:2).

Thoughts (4)

Controlling our thoughts requires us to:

1. Model Christ’s Example – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus … (He) made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant … and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8, KJV

Thoughts (5)

2. Focus on God – “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3, KJV

Thoughts (6)

3. Transforming to God – “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2, KJV

Thoughts (7)

Prioritize God – “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5, KJV

“Commit thy works unto the lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Prov. 16:3, KJV

Thoughts (8)

Remember we are admonished to think about such things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. Phil. 4:8

Thoughts (9)

The predominant theme of the Scriptures is the Person and the work of Jesus Christ.

1. He is God.2. He became a human being, died by

crucifixion, and was buried.3. He rose again from the dead.4. He is the only all-sufficient Savior of the

world.5. He will come again.

Humanity of Christ

Jesus Christ became Man:“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, KJV

Humanity of Christ (2)

His miraculous birth was prophesied 800 years before His coming: “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” Isa. 7:14, KJV

Humanity of Christ (3)

The prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31, KJV

Humanity of Christ (4)

Jesus demonstrated human characteristics:

He became tired (John 4:6). He thirsted (John 19:28). He ate food (Luke 24:40-43). He showed feelings (Mark 6:34). He wept (John 11:35). He knew temptation (Hebrews 4:15). He died (John 19:30)

Humanity of Christ

If we are naming the name of Christ and Jesus Christ is the truth then our lives should mirror Christ’s life in how we manage:

1. Temptation2. Reconciliation3. Unbelief4. Thoughts5. Christ’s humanity within ourselves

Does my life reflect the truth of Christ?

So What Does This Mean To Me?

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Sowing Seeds Interest Meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Atrium.

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