Relationships (Week 14)

This week was my favorite teaching of the whole DTS! It was because of the amazingly gifted and funny Troy Sherman who tough it. This topic is widely taught, there are many books on the subject, but Troy topped all of that, and spoke the truth! This teaching really hit me hard, this is defiantly one thing I really need to work on, and this is exactly what I needed!


Relationships:

God sums up the whole new testament with the love God and love others.

You want to know if you really love God?
You have to love your brothers if you love God.

1 Corinthians 13
What is love? 

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Faith vs. Hope vs. Love (the greatest)

When we make love the point faith and hope will be the overflow. Is love the primary thing you do?

Isn't that the opposite of the church today? We have made faith the most important! We have forgotten how to love. No wonder our churches are not how they should be.

Matthew 25:31-46 The parable of the sheep and the goats.
Love is self evident. If you really loved God you would be feeding his sheep.

Love compels you where duty will not. 

Why does everyone look up to Mother Theresa? Because of the love she had for others. All the people she ministered to died, she didn't heal them. She had no degree. She wasn't supported by her church. She just loved! Why can't we all be like her? We can if we choose to love above everything else.

Missions:

God will only ever do the maximum of what you give Him the capacity to do.


The very thing you think is disqualifying you from living in the kingdom of God, is the very thing God wants to use.

Think of the people in the bible. The better the person, the ones that did the most amazing things, were mentioned less in the bible. The worse the person the more God chose to use them, and they are the ones who have whole books just for them. 

When you start to discover your destiny, the devil is going to try to steal, kill, and destroy that by making you look at other things and see them as more beautiful and desirable. He will try to distract you from it in any way possible.

Why is it important to struggle with finances as a missionary? Because God is sending us to the nations. We will be able to identify with the nations who live in poverty.

Safety is an illusion, you aren't safe in the USA (shootings, natural disasters, etc.). No matter where you go you are not safe. This world isn't a safe place. Why wouldn't you live your life to the fullest and just go where God calls you (example: to the middle of the African jungle).

1 Corinthians 13:12 
Our understanding of love is limited. 

You don't sin and then receive a consequence. Sin is the consequence. That's why God says not to do it.

If we really know God loves us why do we not live like He did?

You can't go out and help people as a victim, you have to go out victorious.

Hurt people hurt people. Monsters are not born they are made.

Passion is not action.

Lies only have power if you give them power.

1 Corinthians 13:11
Expressing love (adult vs. child) 

Go wants us to do the best with what we have, then he will give you more responsibly.

When we constantly live a life of getting everything we want it literally takes away from living our lives.

What kind of life will you choose?

We become mature in the kingdom of God by love...not wisdom.

We need to stop asking God, "What do you want me to do with my life?" We need to be so in love with him, so in tune with his heart, that he no longer has to tell us. If he told us it would no longer be special. Do you know him enough that you no longer have to ask him? You already know what he wants you to do.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10
Spiritual Maturity is not measured in gifts

Yet, what are the primary reasons that churches fight? Over prophecy, knowledge, and speaking in tongues.

If these gifts alone make up your whole Christianity than you are not living a Christ would. However, these gifts should be the overflow of love. If you seek first love, all the other things will be added.

When our context is LOVE the world will come to us. Just as they came to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Love never fails, Why? 
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Bear (v)- To hold or remain firm under, support. 

Believe (v)- To have confidence or faith in the truth of. 

Hope (n)- The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. 

Endure (v)- to hold out against; sustain without impairment of yielding  undergo. 


Love is an adverb! It's something we either do, or we don't do. If we really love God are we showing it?

What is the primary reason we want to be safe? Because we don't want to endure pain. Love is one of the most hurtful things you can choose to do in your life. If you really want to be safe, you can never love anyone, you can't have any relationships at all. Well, God made us for relationships with Him and with others. Jesus took on more pain than any of us will ever take on when He died on the cross for us. He loved us that much! Do you know what really killed him on that cross? It wasn't the beatings, it wasn't the blood loss, it wasn't the shame, it was His broken heart that killed Him!

Hebrews 6:6 - "He who sins again and again crucifies the son of God all over again" (paraphrased).

God loves an infinite amount therefore He is able to endure pain an infinite amount.

LOVE IS PAIN


Why do we always pray the pain and suffering away when it comes? We ask Him to take it away, and He just might, realizing you are not ready for what He has for you. 

The more suffering you go through in this life the better and stronger you will be.
"You will never develop the necessary endurance needed to take down giants unless you take on the lions and bears." (David and Goliath).

How tall can a building be? Only as deep as the foundation is. He is asking how deep He can dig our foundation (how much suffering we can take), so that He can build our building higher. How deep are you allowing God to dig your foundation?

We need to stop asking God "What am I supposed to do with my life, what is you will?" What are we allowing Him to do in and through our lives so that He can use us?

Why would He tell us what to do in the future when we can't even endure what we are going through now?

Why do we walk through the valley of the shadow of death? So that we don't have to fear that situation anymore.

We shouldn't be wishing that pain away, we should be asking for it, because we need it!

Jesus was born homeless. 
Fled the country as an illegal alien. 
Moved into Nazareth and was raised in the Ghetto. 
His father left his family leaving him fatherless.

Why did He allow his life to be this way? So that He could identify with us!

Why should we endure pain in our lives? So we can identify with others!

1 Corinthians 13:6

"Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth." 

Judging is the complete opposite of love. It's not a gift to see what's wrong in the world, it's a gift to see what we can change. 

We don't have the right or the wisdom to judge. 

We are not to determine what is good just truth.

Where do we find truth? In The Word.

Why do we condemn others living in sin? We also are!

By judging someone you are saying that you are perfect and better than that person. That's not true!

Read Matthew 7:5!!

1 Corinthians 13:5
Love keeps no record of wrongs

Forgiveness!

Yes, even the people that don't deserve it! You don't deserve it either!

We also have to forgive ourselves.

The power of the cross is found in forgiveness.

Those who forgive much love much.











*Teaching by Troy Sherman

Rescuing and Restoring Street Children (Week 13)

-1 John 3:6-8

Would you be able to love deep enough to lay down your life for your brother?


Children at risk are usually at risk because of generational wrongs. We have to figure out how we are going to break that.

The risks that children are under: 

• Abuse
• Dysfunctional families
• Inadequate infancy
• Lack of education
• Extreme economic poverty
• Violence
• Refugee/displacement
• Problems with the law
• Physical/mental difficulties
• Addictions
• Living on the streets
• Miscellaneous risks

It's not what we do it's who we are that will make a difference!

How can we help street kids?

When we help street kids, by giving them material possessions we are not really helping them. This allows them to continue begging, and will only help them go to hell more comfortably. (That may sound blunt, but think about it, it's true). If we are not feeding them spiritually and/or taking them off the streets it doesn't matter what we do, it's not going to help them.  

How to effectively build up ministries in helping children at risk:

The first step to building our ministry is always prayer. 

-Lamentations 2:19- "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street."

The second step is to ask God what your focus will be (ex. street children, 0-12 years old). 

Don't try to take on every problem in the world! 

God will give us a calling with limitations, not to limit us, but to protect us. We need to do our part and God will use someone else to do the things we can't do. We need to be faithful and focus fully on what He is calling us to and stay inside those limits so we don't take on too much, get overwhelmed, and finally quit. 

-John 17:4- (We are to bring):

1. Honor and glory to God

2. By competing the task

3. That God has called you to

If you aren't satisfied with what God has called you to do then you are trying to be better than Jesus. Don't get discouraged when you don't see the fruit of your labor. Just do what God has called you and rejoice in that. And that way you can say you did all you could do. You may not see the fruit in your lifetime, but you never know who you will run into in Heaven someday, because you were faithful in what God gave you. 

First work on what is unseen: faith, intercession, the word, calling, relationships, dependence upon the Lord, Jesus is the Savior not me, right motivation, spiritual warfare, etc.

Then move to the seen: building friendships and trust, going where they are, find and train staff, build a home, rescue children, bring them into your home, etc. 

Do you have the right motivations? 

If your ministry built on any of these motivations alone it will not last: 

• Children's needs (there will always be needs in the world)
• Outside pressure (someone pressuring you to do it)
• My own needs (Wanting to fulfil your own needs, like you are only comfortable working with children)
• My own wants (I've always wanted to live in _____ working with children)
• Ministry needs (we have to have a ministry to children)

These things are not bad things, they just aren't enough, but themselves. When we only have these motivations our ministry will not last, you are going to eventually walk away from it. 

Our main motivation needs to be: 

• For the sake of His name (giving God all the glory, allowing Him to send us, we are just his hands and feet)

Only when our motivations are right will we truly make a difference! 

Most importantly: KEEP JESUS CHRIST IN THE CENTER OF ALL YOU DO!

Steve Bartel and his wife Evie are the founders of Formando Vidas and they have been working with the street children of Bogota, Colombia for 28 years. They have taken in many kids in their own home over the years and they currently have 9 children living in their home. 

Check out their website here: http://colombiastreetkids.org/

*Teaching by Steve Bartel

Destiny (Week 12)

Destiny is the purpose, the plan, and the call of God on our lives.

Your destiny is not your good idea, it's God's plan for you.

Your love of Christ is demonstrated by you laying down your life and surrendering to His will.


Worship means: worth-ship, (worshiping something because of the worth of it).
Worship is not just singing. Actually, the greatest act of worship is living out your life for God.
-Romans 12:1- "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."


Salvation is free, but destiny will cost you everything.


Destiny is found in intimacy through a relationship with God. Destiny begins with intimacy. Without intimacy you can't be a person of destiny. Anointing is what makes you the person of destiny.  Ministry always flows out of intimacy.

God is not looking for ability, He's looking for availability. Not the most talented, but the most committed.

"At the foot of the cross the ground is level. We all have the same opportunity to be great in God."


Destiny is God's adventure for our lives.

If you live in destiny you will never have a dull and uninteresting life, because God is not dull and uninteresting!





What is the will of God?

1. It's good (God is always good, even though our circumstances may not be).
2. It's pleasing (Where God calls us, He always gives us grace, not only to endure it, but also to enjoy it). 
3. It's perfect (Not according to the standard of this world but of the kingdom of God). 


We are all people of destiny but it will require our ALL!!

When you live your destiny you transform the destiny of thousands of others, and you chance eternity for them!

The heart is the key to destiny.
-Proverbs 4:23- "Above all else, guard your heart,
 for everything you do flows from it."
Heart truth is truth that you've embraced.

-Romans 6:16-17- "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance."

Where you submit yourself is where you become a slave. You can either be a slave to sin or a slave to obedience from the heart. 


Compassion is NOT a feeling it's ACTION! 
Compassion is NOT feeling bad about someone's situation. Compassion IS changing their situation. 

-Mark 12:28-31
The most important thing is love. 

Destiny is found through dying to self and embracing God's plan. 

-Matthew 10:34-39
When you live for God, those who refuse to live for God will hate you and they will not understand you. 

-Matthew 16:24-26

To be a follower of Christ you must:

1. Deny yourself
2. Take up your cross
3. Follow Him

-Matthew 6:24-"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Our destiny is not a position or a title. Remember, it's not about you.

Jesus can only become somebody to the degree you become nobody. 


The road to destiny is paved with stones of brokenness and humility. Unless you walk on them as a way of life you will never become great in His kingdom.


You can never show God until you know God!  

-Philippians 3:7-10- "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

-Jeremiah 29:11-13- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

The blessings, however are always greater than the cost to pay to be in the destiny God has for you. First you begin to know God (how awesome is that?). Then He gives you unexpected blessings! 


Your destiny is how God sees you, not how others see you. 

Before you can know the truth of God's destiny you must expose the lies that others have spoken over you. 

-2 Corinthians 5:14-17 "...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation..." 


-Acts 4:33-37- "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet."

Barnabas means son of encouragement. 

En/courage- To fill with courage. 
Dis/courage- To rob or steal courage. 

Which are you? An encourager or a discourager?





*Teaching by Wick Nease

Ministry Prep (Week 11)

We spent 3 days doing ministry prep for our outreaches coming next month. This information would be very useful for any mission trip or team.

Team Unity:

Unity is not everyone being the same.
Unity is an acceptance of the diversity in gifts and strengths, a common goal, cooperate humility, and having a clean heart towards each other.

Humility is the vine, unity is the branch!

Openness is critical but it may not always equal depth.
Openness needs to be paired with trust and commitment.

How committed to you to the people on your team?

Humility always asks this question: "What can I learn from you?"


Biblical Themes of Effective Team Work:

• Forgiveness, confession, grace
• Acceptance of self and to others
• Good communication
• Humility
• Teamwork
• Freedom in Christ
• Encouragement
• Truth
• Enabling of Holy Spirit for gifts and to meet weaknesses 
• Servant heart

Embrace change and uncomfortableness because that's how we become more like Jesus. 

If we don't enjoy the people we are ministering to our hearts are wrong. 

When we ignore the Holy Spirit when He's leading us to minister to someone, it's like we are cutting God's arm short.

We need to obey, not just based on results.


Sharing Your Testimony: 

Testimony- what you have seen or heard

As we share our testimony we need to share what we have seen or heard, not just the story of how we prayed the sinners prayer, or how we were living horribly and now we are not.

Edit your testimony for clarity. Edit any unclear words, unclear circumstances, and unclear challenges, that the unsaved would understand.

A testimony is like a window that someone can look through and see God's beauty. 

We have many testimonies, not just one.

We have to remember not to keep what God's been doing to ourselves. It needs to be shared.

Using Stories to Show God's Love to Others:

Effective story telling uses:

• Actions (Acting out)
• Engaging audience
• Questions
• Eye contact (if appropriate in that culture)
• Enthusiasm

The primary way Jesus ministered was through stories!

Pick a story in the Bible (Ex. Jonah, the lost sheep, etc.) and decide how you want to share it.


Questions to ask God while preparing stories:

1. Why? To make sure your motives are right and your heart is aligned with God's.
2. What? What to speak on. The goal is to bring reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 3:19. 
3. How? Through drama, puppet show, art, props, etc.

You don't have to be a gifted speaker to be God's anointed messenger!

Holy Spirit (Week 10)

-John 14:16- "He will be with you, and He will be in you."

Who is the Holy Spirit?
-John 1:1-3-
God the Holy Spirit was always there doing the work of God and He still is.

Evangelism:

Evangelism is helping people to fall in love with Jesus.

Evangelism isn't for only the people who have that gift, it's for everyone, no matter where you are or what you are doing.

-2 Corinthians 5:17-21

The Church has done evangelism in the wrong way. The "Turn or Burn" attitude is not making anyone want to fall in love with God. By condemning people we are not showing them the love of God. There is only one judge. He is God, we have no right to judge others. When you pass judgement on someone you are also guilty of something, weather or not it's the same sin.
God's kindness leads us to repentance. We need to love people, be relational, not judging, accepting them right where they are at,  and love them like Christ loved. People have to be loved before they will believe!

You can't stop people from sinful behavior, that's God's position. God doesn't send anyone to Hell. People send themselves to Hell by rejecting Jesus.

You're not going to change the world with your good looks, your giftings etc. Only by the spirit of the Lord working through you.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit: 

Is it possible that God saves us and empowers us and that power is supposed to come on a daily basis?

The evidence of the Holy Spirit coming on your life is the courage, boldness, and unashamedness to proclaim Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:4, 2:1)

Acts 9:3-end (Evidence- proclamation)
Acts 10:34-end (Evidence- speaking in tongues)
Acts 19:1-7 (Evidence- speaking in tongues and prophesying)

Is this supposed to be a one time experience? No.
Acts 4:8-12, 27-31
Ephesians 5:15

Steps of Salvation: 

• Being born again
• Filled with the Holy Spirit
• Empowerment
• Continually being filled and empowered 

*teaching by Mike Esposito

Roots (Week 9)

Unless we identify with where we come from we have trouble seeing where we are going.

God's Design: 

In the beginning God designed relationships in perfect love. God intended man and woman to experience the joys of perfect love just as the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) did.

God created family like this:

• To be our primary place to learn
• To love and to be loved
• To belong and be accepted
• To be valued and cherished
• To teach us how to give and receive in relationships
• To thrive in difficult experiences
• To relate to different personalities

Foundations:

We love from the places we receive love. You can love to the degree you've been loved.
If you were designed in the image of God (which you were!) then you are designed to be a relater.

Does you life line up perfectly from how God designed it? If not, let's fix it.

-Psalm 49:3 - "My mouth will speak words of wisdom, the utterance of my heart will give understanding."

Unforgiveness and Bitterness:

Bitterness is not just a feeling of depression or the result of every wound or hurt I receive. I choose to keep that hurt alive in me by my unwillingness to forgive.
We may even need to ask for forgiveness for not being forgiving.

How we approach life is how we grow our roots and nourish them.

The fruit we produce depends on the roots we have established.

If your tree is growing with roots of resentment, anger, grudges, hate, bitterness, disappointments, broken relationships, etc. Then your fruits will be rebellion, stubbornness, wrong thought patterns, mistrust, questioning motives, etc.

When the fruit falls off we nurture the roots and build the tree up again. It's your choice what kind of roots you will have.

When the conditions are right and you set your heart toward the purposes of God, no one can stop you. Only you can prevent it from happening. We prepare the soil by inviting God to come. He wants to be our Father. He wants to call us His children. He doesn't want us to live as slaves to the things that destroy us.


Removing Roots:

Definition of forgiveness: "The pardon of an offender, by which his is considered and treated not guilty."

One of the most powerful weapon of the enemy is unforgiveness.

Forgiveness is NOT a feeling. Forgiveness IS releasing a debt.

What is a debt? A hurt creates a debt, we feel something is owed to us. Therefore, someone has to cover that hurt (debt). In order to forgive we have to decide to let go of that hurt even though that person hasn't asked for forgiveness.

Jesus is the One who taught us to forgive, who paid the debt, who can set us free!

How to live a lifestyle of forgiveness: 

• Recognize- that you are bitter
• Repent- from your sin of unforgiveness
• Release- forgive the person 
• Receive- receive forgiveness and commit to God not to pick it up again. 
• Renounce- cut off the enemy's weapon of unforgiveness
• Replace- thank God for changing your grumbling heart to gratitude
• Remember- God has forgiven you from all your debts

*teaching by Gayle Keapproth

Spiritual Warfare (Week 7)

Growing up in the Western world we don't really believe in the spiritual realm. We think only what we see is what is real. But the spiritual realm is real! There are angels and demons all around. Here's proof:

-Ephesians 6:10-17- "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

     1. The Fact of Warfare

-We are in a constant battle, there is an enemy that wants to destroy us. 

-We also have a God that wants to bring us rest while we fight those battles.
-When we become Christians we are told, "Congrats! Now just run the good race of faith, it will be easy and everything will go well for you." Then something bad happens and we realize that's not true.
-It's only when we understand we are actually in a battle we can be free.
-If the enemy is coming against you telling you lies, all it takes is a simple prayer to come against it.


What are some lies the enemy has told you?

• I'm not good enough? 
• I'm not really saved? 
• God will never forgive that sin? 
• God doesn't really love me? 

-Ephesians 1:15-23

Questions on 

Ephesians 2:1-10:

1. Explain the before and after. We were all dead in our transgressions and now we are alive in Christ. 

2. What does verse 6 say about you? He seated us with Him in heavenly realms. 

Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6:

1. What does this say about you? Christ's power is far above all others. 

2. What is so important when it comes to spiritual warfare? To pray against it, so we can overcome it. So the enemy can't push us around when he wants. 

Spiritual Warfare is not magic. It means you look like Christ and act like Christ.
If you walk in humility you can never be defeated, you will always beat the enemy.
Christian means little Christ. We are supposed to look like Christ.


     2. We wrestle not with flesh and blood

People are not the enemy, but against the powers of this dark world.
We cannot win a spiritual battle with weapons.
It seems that God made us to be fighters.
If we don't take this need to see justice done in the world to God in intersession we can't win the final battle.
Christ never dealt severally with anyone stuck in sin, but he loved them right where they were and showed them kindness.
The enemy tries to get us to fight against each other, and we give in instead of fighting against the devil, and every time we do give in the devil wins.


The devil has schemes, plans for evil.

God did not fight the devil it was the angels who did.
Revelation 12: 7-9

Satan can only be at one place at a time. He sends spiritual beings to attack you, because he has important things to do.

If you are loving and humble the devil doesn't know what to do with you.

The devil tries to destroy us, most of the time lying about who God made us to be.

Demons speak and listen, that is why we stand against them in Jesus' name.

Spiritual Warfare is learning to recognize the strategies of the enemy, refusing to cooperate with them and aggressively cutting them off in Jesus' name.

If we believe everything that happens is God's will, then we don't believe we need to fight against anything.

We do spiritual warfare to drive back the kingdom of darkness and to build the kingdom of heaven.

How do we recognize strategies of the enemy? 

1. Ask yourself what would I do to me if I was the devil? (He's going to try to use those things.)
2. Know the nature of the devil. (John 10:10- "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.")
3. Statistics and conditions. (The enemy attacks certain areas, ex. divorce rates).
4. Ask God. (We are ready for this battle because we have weapons and and armor).

How do we pray, speak, live by the spirit? 

1. Remove hinderences (1 Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30-32)
2. Be led by the spirit (Romans 8:14)
3. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through you (Colossians 1:28-29, Ephesians 3:14-19, John 7:37-39)

Does Spiritual Warfare always work? 

Mark 9:14-29

Matthew 7:14:21

The disciples tried to drive out the demons but it didn't work. So Jesus comes and does it. 

Daniel 10:1-9

Daniel prays, fasts, doesn't use lotion.

On the 24th day He saw a vision.
Daniel finds out about this prophesy that has been given.

Luke 18:1-8
Imagine God is an unjust judge.
You don't know what's going on in the spiritual realm so be persistent and keep asking.

Luke 11:5-13
Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking, and you will find.
There are jobs that need to be done, some are simple and some are more complex and need more time to get done.

Every prayer you pray is heard and has meaning, but you don't always see the results right away.

This is the book we read during this week. I would highly recommend it especially if Spiritual Warfare is a new topic for you (like it was for me). 

*teaching by Manuel Rammiger

Character of God (Week 6)

God's Character: 

In the beginning, God...
 What kind of being existed in the beginning?
      The One who is eternal
 What kind of being speaks light into existence?
      The One who has extreme power
He hung the stars...He created us... He gave His only son for us... He loves us so much!


Why would an infinite God create finite man?
To be with us!

Don't create space between yourself and God. Always talk to Him. Ask Him questions. Tell Him how you feel, let Him be there. He wants to be!


He's so big you can never be in a place He is not.

He is the God who says: "I am with you!"

He feels what we feel, he lives right with us, why do we push Him away?

Love is a choice not a feeling. 

God chooses to love you!

Love: pursuing the highest good for a person.

He has the ability to reject us, after all He is God, but He chooses not to.


The Goodness of God: 

At the center of every action God takes is love:

• Truthfulness- willingness to express reality as it is without any distraction or deception. 
• Faithfulness- A commitment to love consistently. 
• Wisdom- knowledge used in love. 
• Mercy- an attitude of the heart that is totally free of resentment and bitterness. 
• Holiness- living unconditional love.

Knowing God as Father: 

There isn't a separation in the guidelines God fives to us and His love for us. 

God's law does not give you salvation. 

God designed us and tells us not to do things because He knows what we need and we don't need. 

He's faithful like the dawn. It doesn't matter what season you are going through, He doesn't change! You never have to earn back His love. He is always faithfully pursuing you!

Justice: 

Righteousness/Justice is a determination to deal RIGHTLY with every individual.

Justice is...different than mercy, and not the same as fairness.

He's working on your heart, not comparing you with others.

Mercy: 

An attitude of the heart, to pardon, accompanied by deep grief when pardon cannot wisely be granted.

Holiness:

Set apart.

Leviticus 11:44- "For I am the Lord your God, you shall therefore sanctify yourselves; and you shall be holy, for I am holy."

Can we really be holy? We will not be sinless, but yes, we are too valuable to get caught up in the things of this world. We are called to be set apart.

The Rescue Plan: 

Choosing to sin, is to choose the consequences of death, spiritual separation from God and eternal separation.

HE DOES NOT WANT THAT!
So, He rescued us from our sins on the cross!

Will you reach out and grab the rope so that you can be rescued? The choice is yours.


Is God safe?

No, He is not!
But, He is good!

We don't live in a world were when you get saved everything will be perfect.

"God never gives you more than you can handle?" Is that really true? Where is that in the bible? Everyday people go through things they can't handle. Cancer, sicknesses, suffering, etc.

God does give us more than we can handle so that we can't boast in ourselves, but in Him. If life wasn't hard, would we even need God at all?

How can we trust Him if He is not safe? Because He is good! Because He is love!

He's committed to running through this wild world right there with you! How awesome is that?

Suffering: 

God never plans, wills, or wants sin to take place. God never desires suffering for His children.

-Psalm 72:18- "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things!"

There are things that God does, and there are things that the enemy does.

-John 10:10- "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life and have it to the full."

Most of us have heard "Whatever happens is God's will." and "The reason God gave you this bad thing is so that you would learn something through it."  But that is not true. God doesn't do evil things, the enemy does.

God takes things that Satan meant to destroy you and makes something good out of it.

Beauty for ashes.

*teaching by Jason Hague

The Fear of The Lord (Week 5)

Fear of the Lord = intimate friendship

-Psalm 22:23, 33:8, 89:6-7- "You who fear the Lord, praise Him...", "Let all the earth fear the Lord...", "For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?"

-Proverbs 8:13- "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.."

-Proverbs 3:5-7, 16:6, 23:17- "Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil.", "Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil", "always be zealous for the fear of the Lord".

Awe- a feeling of deep wonder and respect for overpowering grandeur.

Reverence- Regard with affectionate awe.

Honor- To treat someone or something, according to their actual value.

Fear of the Lord- Seeing God for who He really is and respond accordingly.


If I do fear God I want to value what is important to Him.


Wrong attitudes about sin:

1. "If we know we can be forgiven we can sin without it being a big deal."

           (But forgiveness cost God everything! It is a big deal!)
   
     2. "We have to work really, really hard not to sin, because we are afraid of the consequences."
         
           (That would mean your view of God is based on fear, not a relationship.)

     3. "The more I sin the more I feel unworthy to receive forgiveness."

           (Jesus came to deliver His people from sin.)


           
How sins develop: 

Tempted--> Sin--> Weight on your will--> Habit--> Bondage (trapped)

-Psalm 25:4-5- "Show me you ways, o Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

How do we avoid Sin? 

1. Recognize it's our choice
2. Get honest with ourselves and God
3. Ask for God's help
4. Be diligent
5. Deal with our sin: 

           -Confession- admitting there's a problem

           -Repentance- ask for forgiveness

           -Renounce- saying "no more" 

           -Restitution- bring back to original state. 

*Teaching by Dawn Borchers

The Goal of DTS (Week 5)

What is a disciple?
It's a student who is continually learning from our teacher, who is Jesus.

Foundations:

We have to dig down and prepare a foundation for life in order to stand firm.



-Matthew 7:24- "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Google Images

• Built on the rock (God)
• The right priorities (Seek first His Kingdom)
• Knowing God is Holy (He never did anything wrong)
• Repenting (Get your heart right)
• Knowing the Father (through the Son)

You can't build your foundation on someone else's experiences.

You can't know and trust God if you don't know Him. 

Praying- is inviting God to have His will done on earth. 

God is saying: "You request, and I will answer."

-Matthew 6:9-13

We need to pray and meditate on the Lord's prayer not just repeat it. 

"Our Father in Heaven

hollowed be your name,

your kingdom come, 

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. 

And forgive our debtors, 

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from the evil one."

Stop and think about every word!

To Know God and Make Him Known:

Not to know about God, (but to really know Him), then we can go out and tell others of our personal encounter with Him. 

-Hebrews 3:10- "They didn't know His character, neither did they enter His rest."

-Isaiah 6:3- "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts."

Holy- historically blameless, 100% right, faultless. 

Pure- not living for yourself.

-John 14:6- "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." 

Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life to the Father. 

If He isn't your Way, Truth, and Life you have no way to the Father. 

God's Character:

God has a mind, free will, and emotions.

God's love is totally meaningless if you don't have a choice to love Him. 

Love is not an emotion, Love is a choice.

Love is choosing the highest good for God, others, and yourself.

Luke 6:32- "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them."



1 Corinthians 13- " If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."


We were created with intrinsic value because we were created in the image of God.

If you take God out of the picture, your value depends on how useful you are.


Sin: 

Sin is:
a choice to gratify self, selfishness, rebellion

Sin is not:
an accident, a sickness, a temptation, or transferable

*Teaching by Warren Keapproth

The Father Heart of God (Week 4)

I am His favorite!
(You may be wondering how everyone can be his favorite, but it's similar to a father who loves all his children equally).

If we don't know who He is as a Father, we really don't know who we are. If you know who He is as a perfect Father you will know who you are as a son/daughter.


Our greatest challenge is to try to picture God. In any ways that we see Him wrong it affects our relationship with Him.

The foundation of our relationship with God is undeserved love.


God's plan was to put a father in our lives to provide some of the aspects of who He is. But of course, no father is perfect, except Him. God wants us to look through the revelation of who He is as a Father, not who our earthly father is.

How does God see you when you sin?
The answer we come up with is directly related to how your own father made you feel.
That is not, however the way God really sees you.

Types of fathers (typically your earthly father will fall under one or more of these categories):
1. The good father: always there for you, encouraging and supportive
    -(God wants us to fully rely on Him, not our earthly father.)

2. The performance oriented father: the only way you belong is if you do everything well
    -(You become more and more religious and less relationship oriented.)

3. A passive father: caught up in his own things, in the room but not emotionally engaged, related to his own needs, not there for you.
    -(Your heart says you have a difficult time believing that God has time for you, He may seem far away.)

4. The absent father: not there for you, he's absent.
    -(May have difficult time drawing close to God because you have a fear He will leave you.)

5. The authoritarian father: rule abider, at any costs he majors on the truth.
    -(You may think God is harsh, overbearing, and unforgiving.)

6. The abusive father: abuses his kids emotionally, physically, sexually, etc.
   -(You may struggle a lot with shame, you may have identity problems, you believe you are the problem,         you were created wrong from the beginning.)


Truths about God found in scripture: 

• Mark 1:40-42 

        Everything Jesus did was done our of compassion

        He is approachable.

        He is not detached emotionally.

        He was moved be the leper.

        He will restore you back from everything the enemy took from you.

• John 8:7-11

        He is non-condemning.

        He asks us questions when He already knows the answer so that we can get the revelation in our heart              for a lifetime.

        He doesn't focus on our sin, He gives a solution instead.
        He is a defender.

• Matthew 14:13-21

         He is a releaser, not a control freak. 

         He wanted them to believe themselves.

         Everyone followed Him because He was exciting.

         He is an equipter. 

         Out of His compassion He fed them. 

• John 13:3-11

         Jesus humbled Himself and washed their feet (only servants and children did this back then). 

         A servant Father, He stoops down to make us great. 

• Philippians 2

         Becoming humble like Him.

Jeremiah 1:5 "uprooting, tearing down, so there can be a building up and planting."

Hebrews 1:3 "Jesus is an exact representation of the Father."

October 2012

The Father is not distant and far away or unapproachable, He is closer than a brother! 

Seeking Him:

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"

You will find God to the degree that you seek Him with a pure heart and reckless abandon. 

Why do we need to seek God to find Him? For relationship. 

God is a gift giving father He wants to give. Keep pursuing boldly and you'll get what you are asking for.  

The reason we don't always find God is because we give up, and we aren't bold enough. 

How often does God think of us? 

Psalm 139:17-18 "God's thoughts toward you outnumber the grains of sand...they are precious thoughts."

Isle of Palms

Isaiah 49:15 -How can your God forget you?

Let's ask God: "In the areas that I missed out you would parent me and fill in those holes?"

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This was a very challenging week for us! Most of us grew up with "daddy issues" so there were a lot of tears as we processed and wrote letters of forgiveness to our dads. Even though we are not actually showing these to our dads it was a very powerful time of letting go. It was a hard week, but also a promising time as we looked at how our Perfect our Heavenly Father is and no matter how our upbringing was, God is always there for us and He will never leave us, and He cares so much about us, infinitely more than any earthly father ever could.  Also, it was very sobering to realize how much we really do relate to God in the exact way that we do with our earthly fathers. We have to train our minds not to think that way anymore. It will be a process, but I am so thankful God allowed me to hear this and begin to take it to heart. My prayer throughout this lecture phase is for God to revel His character to me so that I can become closer and closer to Him, so this teaching was very helpful in realizing who He really is. It was a little glimpse, and I can't wait for Him to continue to give me little pieces of who He is as I continue in this DTS. 

My hope is that I can also bring these subjects to you and hopefully teach you something as well. Please comment if you have any questions about this subject or any others. 

*Teaching by Ted Gerry and Paul Allen

Clean Conscience (Week 3)

The story of Gideon: 

Judges chapters 6 through 8

Google Images

God wants to use us to bring a great deliverance (like Gideon). He starts at home, with a simple thing.

What steps does God lead Gideon through:

     1. Destroy the alters and idols (anything above God, or even concepts of God that are not true, or fear).

     2. Reconciliation

Reconciliation: 

Reconciliation means: Repentance, humility, forgiveness, confession, admitting what we did wrong, making right, mending together.


Colossians  1:20- "...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

2 Corinthians 5:19- "...that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

Romans 2:15-  "They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)"


When God wanted to reconcile Himself to us He: died on the cross and forgave our sins. 



Fear of Man: 

Proverbs 29:25- "Fear of man will be like a trap, and God wants to bring freedom." 

How do you get rid of fear of man? 

It starts with a correct view of who God is, because sometimes unintentionally we see people as bigger than Him. We care more about what they think than what God thinks. We have to start caring more about God's approval than man's approval.  


Psalm 8


Fear of man leaves when you realize who God is and who you are in Him. 

Love displaces fear. Perfect love casts out fear. 

1 John 4:18- "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."


God, I want your smile to be the most important in my life.