you can change: living as children of god
YOU CAN CHANGE: LIVING AS CHILDREN OF GOD STUDY TEN – PERSEVERANCE AND CHANGE OVER TIME (“Why does this take so long?”)
A Recap of Where We Have Been in this Series – Lessons by the Dozen, Cousin. 1. God has adopted us. 2. We should bear a family resemblance. 3. Our motivation for change is our adoption. 4. Our aim is God’s character. 5. To change, we need to reflect deeply on truth about God and ourselves. 6. Christians change by a relationship of dependent responsibility with the Spirit. 7. Mature Christians recognize the goodness of God’s Law. (Joe Brehob) 8. Union with Christ changes the Christian’s very nature so we can obey, living as pickled people. 9. The root of sin - love of self and love of sin - is overcome by humility, repentance and faith. (Lance Dillard) 10. Besetting sin (Ben Bhasme) and temptation to sin (Scott Holley) arise from our failure to find comfort, security, safety, meaning or purpose, in God; however, meeting these needs in Christ allows us to overcome. 11. God disciplines his children as part of growing us in grace (Josh Wright). 12. Most change takes place over the long haul.
A. ALTHOUGH WE WHO HAVE RECEIVED GOD ARE NOW HIS CHILDREN, THERE IS YET MORE TO BE REVEALED - THERE IS A FUTURE ASPECT TO OUR ADOPTION! Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I John 3 2
18I
consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed... 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8.
B. THE NORM FOR GROWTH IS BY MEANS OF A PROCESS. He also said, ―This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.‖ Mark 4 26
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2 19
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. I Timothy 4:16 15
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12 1
Does this expectation of that growth is by a process deny miracles? Of course not! It does mean that we cannot require God to work in the same way on every occasion. There is a point to miracles, sometimes beyond even meeting the presented need. After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a] 2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ―Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?‖ 4 Jesus replied, ―Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.‖ 1
What is John to conclude from the miracles worked by Jesus? __________________ And there is a point to the process! Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5 1
What is the point to the use of a process of growth? ____________________________ Should we be disappointed that God uses a growth process to change us?
C. SO WHAT TAKES ALL THE TIME? TWO QUESTIONS: In How People Grow, Christian counselors Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, say the question they hear most often is, “Why does this take so long?” Here are factors they cite that make time a necessary part of growth: Experience versus Intellectual Learning Taking in Grace and Forgiveness Repeated Exposure to the Elements of Growth Internal versus External Change The second most frequently-asked question is “How can I know how long this will take?” (likely related to the bills for services). Generally the answer is ―longer than you thought.” Most of us want quick answers and a return to normal life. Cloud and Townsend say these are factors in the length of the process: Severity of the Issue Onset of the Issue Available Resources Spiritual Poverty Willingness to Forgive
D. OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGE FROM AN OLDER DISCIPLE
E. THE PLACE OF GOD’S GRAND PLAN FOR HISTORY IN OUR CHANGE. God’s Great Plan for History: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation. Matthew 24 and 25: A Glimpse into God’s Chronology and the Human Heart. In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus lays out for his disciples a glimpse into Holy History. Matthew 24 contains a limited chronology of what is to come. The end of Matthew 24 and Matthew 25, Jesus gives us story illustrations of how we should live now in light of what is to come. For each story: 1. What is the story about? _____________________________________________ 2. In the story, is there a figure whose return is expected? If so, when does the absent person return – as expected, before expected or after expected? _________________ 3. What is revealed about the characters in the story? Some are __________________________; others are _______________________. 4. In the story: Is there reward? Who gets it and what is it? _____________ receive ____________. Is there punishment? ― ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖‖? _____________ ―‖ _______________. 5. So why is time necessary in the story? What function does time serve? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ―There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. For those who knock it is opened. ‖ ― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
YOU CAN CHANGE: LIVING AS CHILDREN OF GOD TEN QUESTIONS TO DIAGNOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION Directions: If change over time indicates our direction, we ought to ask ourselves where our habits and inclinations show we are headed. Below you will find ten questions that indicate the condition of your spiritual health and the way you are moving. These are adopted from the book Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S. Whitney. Of course, an inventory of individual sins, great and small is important and enables you to grapple with acts, thoughts and attitudes that are helpful or damaging to your relationship with God, your relationships with others and your own well-being. However, as important as a catalogue of individual sins, is a reflection on the spiritual health of your soul. If your soul’s spiritual direction is healthy, the knowledge and passion to deal with particular sins will follow. Pick a time in the past, not greatly long ago (not when you were in sixth grade) and not in the immediate past (not yesterday – three years ago? you are free to pick the time – this is your spiritual health check, after all) and ask yourself if you have grown in spiritual health by looking at the following questions:
1. Do I thirst for God?
Do these Scriptures describe the arc of my life?
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42
1 2
6I
spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Psalm 143 7
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5
__ Yes, increasingly I thirst for God. __ I wish it could be true, but not so much. __ This is not my direction. _____________________ 2. Am I governed increasingly by God’s Word? 44I
will always obey your law, forever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I lift up my hands to[c] your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. 97
103
Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, 128 and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. 129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 127
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Psalm 119 131
__ Yes, I am governed increasingly by God’s Word. __ I wish it could be true, but it is not. __ This is not my direction. _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Am I more loving? ―As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love... 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.... 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15 9
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. 1
13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. I John 3
__ Yes, I see my love for others growing. __ I wish it could be true, but not so much. __ Nope. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4. Am I more sensitive to God’s presence? O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 1
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ―Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,‖ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 3
__ Yes. __ I wish it could be true, but little change. __ This is not an interest of mine. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ 5. Do I have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others? When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 34
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, ―Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,‖ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2 14
__ Yes. __ Little change. __ This does not describe my direction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6. Do I delight in the bride of Christ? Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him[c] to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 9
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84 1
__ Yes, I love the bride of Christ. __ I attend church, but that is enough, thanks. __ I am not interested, and the phrase “bride of Christ” is terrible. _______________________________ 7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to me? Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12 14
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. I Timothy 4 7
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6 18
__ Yes, the spiritual disciplines are increasingly important to me. __ I wish it could be true, but the spiritual disciplines elude me. __ This is not my direction ______________________________________ 8. Do I still grieve over sin? Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you 8
were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. II Corinthians 7
__ Yes, I see the Godly sorrow described above in my life. __ I wish it could be true, but this is not really the case. __ This is not my direction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9. Am I a quicker forgiver? And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.[g]‖ Mark 11 25
―Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 37
__ Yes, I forgive more quickly. __ It is not easy to forgive and not getting easier. __ This is not my direction. _________________________ 10. Do I yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus? I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.... 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8 18
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. II Corinthians 5 1
__ Yes, I yearn for heaven. __ I am somewhat interested in heaven. __ This is not my direction. Looking at the ten questions above, what can be said about my direction? Even if I am not satisfied with all the areas of my life, even if I am not where I would like to be, can I say that I see progress in my spiritual health?
A Recap of Where We Have Been in this Series – Lessons by the Dozen, Cousin. 1. God has adopted us. 2. We should bear a family resemblance. 3. Our motivation for change is our adoption. 4. Our aim is God’s character. 5. To change, we need to reflect deeply on truth about God and ourselves. 6. Christians change by a relationship of dependent responsibility with the Spirit. 7. Mature Christians recognize the goodness of God’s Law. (Joe Brehob) 8. Union with Christ changes the Christian’s very nature so we can obey, living as pickled people. 9. The root of sin - love of self and love of sin - is overcome by humility, repentance and faith. (Lance Dillard) 10. Besetting sin (Ben Bhasme) and temptation to sin (Scott Holley) arise from our failure to find comfort, security, safety, meaning or purpose, in God; however, meeting these needs in Christ allows us to overcome. 11. God disciplines his children as part of growing us in grace (Josh Wright). 12. Most change takes place over the long haul.
A. ALTHOUGH WE WHO HAVE RECEIVED GOD ARE NOW HIS CHILDREN, THERE IS YET MORE TO BE REVEALED - THERE IS A FUTURE ASPECT TO OUR ADOPTION! Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I John 3 2
18I
consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed... 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8.
B. THE NORM FOR GROWTH IS BY MEANS OF A PROCESS. He also said, ―This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.‖ Mark 4 26
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2 19
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. I Timothy 4:16 15
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12 1
Does this expectation of that growth is by a process deny miracles? Of course not! It does mean that we cannot require God to work in the same way on every occasion. There is a point to miracles, sometimes beyond even meeting the presented need. After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a] 2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ―Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?‖ 4 Jesus replied, ―Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.‖ 1
What is John to conclude from the miracles worked by Jesus? __________________ And there is a point to the process! Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5 1
What is the point to the use of a process of growth? ____________________________ Should we be disappointed that God uses a growth process to change us?
C. SO WHAT TAKES ALL THE TIME? TWO QUESTIONS: In How People Grow, Christian counselors Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, say the question they hear most often is, “Why does this take so long?” Here are factors they cite that make time a necessary part of growth: Experience versus Intellectual Learning Taking in Grace and Forgiveness Repeated Exposure to the Elements of Growth Internal versus External Change The second most frequently-asked question is “How can I know how long this will take?” (likely related to the bills for services). Generally the answer is ―longer than you thought.” Most of us want quick answers and a return to normal life. Cloud and Townsend say these are factors in the length of the process: Severity of the Issue Onset of the Issue Available Resources Spiritual Poverty Willingness to Forgive
D. OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGE FROM AN OLDER DISCIPLE
E. THE PLACE OF GOD’S GRAND PLAN FOR HISTORY IN OUR CHANGE. God’s Great Plan for History: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation. Matthew 24 and 25: A Glimpse into God’s Chronology and the Human Heart. In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus lays out for his disciples a glimpse into Holy History. Matthew 24 contains a limited chronology of what is to come. The end of Matthew 24 and Matthew 25, Jesus gives us story illustrations of how we should live now in light of what is to come. For each story: 1. What is the story about? _____________________________________________ 2. In the story, is there a figure whose return is expected? If so, when does the absent person return – as expected, before expected or after expected? _________________ 3. What is revealed about the characters in the story? Some are __________________________; others are _______________________. 4. In the story: Is there reward? Who gets it and what is it? _____________ receive ____________. Is there punishment? ― ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖ ‖‖? _____________ ―‖ _______________. 5. So why is time necessary in the story? What function does time serve? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ―There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. For those who knock it is opened. ‖ ― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
YOU CAN CHANGE: LIVING AS CHILDREN OF GOD TEN QUESTIONS TO DIAGNOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION Directions: If change over time indicates our direction, we ought to ask ourselves where our habits and inclinations show we are headed. Below you will find ten questions that indicate the condition of your spiritual health and the way you are moving. These are adopted from the book Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald S. Whitney. Of course, an inventory of individual sins, great and small is important and enables you to grapple with acts, thoughts and attitudes that are helpful or damaging to your relationship with God, your relationships with others and your own well-being. However, as important as a catalogue of individual sins, is a reflection on the spiritual health of your soul. If your soul’s spiritual direction is healthy, the knowledge and passion to deal with particular sins will follow. Pick a time in the past, not greatly long ago (not when you were in sixth grade) and not in the immediate past (not yesterday – three years ago? you are free to pick the time – this is your spiritual health check, after all) and ask yourself if you have grown in spiritual health by looking at the following questions:
1. Do I thirst for God?
Do these Scriptures describe the arc of my life?
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42
1 2
6I
spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Psalm 143 7
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5
__ Yes, increasingly I thirst for God. __ I wish it could be true, but not so much. __ This is not my direction. _____________________ 2. Am I governed increasingly by God’s Word? 44I
will always obey your law, forever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I lift up my hands to[c] your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. 97
103
Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, 128 and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. 129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 127
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Psalm 119 131
__ Yes, I am governed increasingly by God’s Word. __ I wish it could be true, but it is not. __ This is not my direction. _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Am I more loving? ―As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love... 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.... 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15 9
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. 1
13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. I John 3
__ Yes, I see my love for others growing. __ I wish it could be true, but not so much. __ Nope. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4. Am I more sensitive to God’s presence? O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 1
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ―Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,‖ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 3
__ Yes. __ I wish it could be true, but little change. __ This is not an interest of mine. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ 5. Do I have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others? When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 34
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, ―Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,‖ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2 14
__ Yes. __ Little change. __ This does not describe my direction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6. Do I delight in the bride of Christ? Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him[c] to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 9
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84 1
__ Yes, I love the bride of Christ. __ I attend church, but that is enough, thanks. __ I am not interested, and the phrase “bride of Christ” is terrible. _______________________________ 7. Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to me? Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12 14
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. I Timothy 4 7
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6 18
__ Yes, the spiritual disciplines are increasingly important to me. __ I wish it could be true, but the spiritual disciplines elude me. __ This is not my direction ______________________________________ 8. Do I still grieve over sin? Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you 8
were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. II Corinthians 7
__ Yes, I see the Godly sorrow described above in my life. __ I wish it could be true, but this is not really the case. __ This is not my direction _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9. Am I a quicker forgiver? And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.[g]‖ Mark 11 25
―Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 37
__ Yes, I forgive more quickly. __ It is not easy to forgive and not getting easier. __ This is not my direction. _________________________ 10. Do I yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus? I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.... 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8 18
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. II Corinthians 5 1
__ Yes, I yearn for heaven. __ I am somewhat interested in heaven. __ This is not my direction. Looking at the ten questions above, what can be said about my direction? Even if I am not satisfied with all the areas of my life, even if I am not where I would like to be, can I say that I see progress in my spiritual health?
