Wednesday, October 26, 2011

October Bible Study notes


P.U.R.I.T.Y
*Passion* for Christ: We desire purity because our passion is for Christ and what He did on our behalf.
*Unite*: We seek to unite our desire with Christ’s desire for our lives.
*Repentant*: We repent of our sins and turn our hearts to Christ.
*Identity* in Christ: Our identity is in Christ because God sent Him to earth for us, Jesus died for us, and the Holy Spirit came to live in us.
*Transformed* : We are being transformed into Christ’s likeness as we seek Him through time spent in His Word, through prayer, and through study and meditation on God’s principles and character.
*Yielded*: We yield our wills and desires to Him.

Passion for Christ - what He did on our behalf. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~ Eph.2:4-10
We love Him because He first loved us! passion: strong and barely controllable emotion Think about a fire... Deut.4:24 (Jealous God. A Consuming Fire. Intense. Chasing us.) Girls are known for being emotional, moody. We have strong feelings that often consume us and easily control our responses to life! It’s how God has wired us. :) So, we especially, need to take these feelings to God in prayer. Pray that HE becomes the delight of our life and that we are totally consumed with Him. Ps.63: hunger and thirst for Him. 
Unite Psalm 86:11, Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. What is His desire for our lives? Any ideas?? Matthew 28:19 (go. make disciples. baptized. teach others/be taught His commands.) 1 Timothy 2:4, God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We’re here to be salt and light! Shine. Love others - point them to Jesus. So what are your desires? Psalm 37:4: delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires/requests of your heart. 
Repentant  literally means to turn around and go in a different direction! not my way, but God’s way. Matthew 4:17, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Acts 3:19-20, Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Have you asked God for salvation? What is God convicting you of right now? (testimony of His conviction in our lives- the need to respond and obey!) Ask God for a clean heart - Psalm 51. Spend time in prayer. It’s humility! Proverbs 1:23, If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you (see the warning in the next verses too). Respond to God’s Spirit now -- today. 
Identity what is your identity in Christ? God accepts us in Christ. Hebrews 10:14, For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified (the word perfect here does not mean without sin, but perfectly adequate. Jesus’ death on the cross is the only sacrifice ever needed. He alone makes us acceptable and adequate in God’s sight. 
Transformed transformed into His likeness. Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. It is our responsibility to pursue holy lives! Daily, we have decisions that set us apart from the world. God’s freedom = liberty to live as you should, not as you please. good quote- if you expect to resist temptation, it will be in direct proportion to your abiding in the Word.
Yielded Jesus is the ultimate example of this. He prayed, not My will, but Thine be done (Luke 22:42). God is a good Shepherd... He leads you in right paths. He is to be trusted! So, have you set aside your goals to follow Him? Yield (how does it work when you’re driving? or, how is it supposed to work??) Let someone else go first. God’s plans and thoughts for your life are so much better than yours. His way is perfect. Remember the old hymn, have Thine own way, Lord. Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. good question: If the Holy Spirit were to completely pull out of your life--would you even realize He was gone?