Make It Right
If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. -Ephesians 4:28 (NLT)
If you’ve ever been guilty of stealing on a consistent basis, you know what it’s like when the Holy Spirit comes into your heart and puts His finger on that area of your life. Not only is there an understanding that this way of life needs to stop, but there’s also a desire to repay and make restitution.
That’s what’s being described for us here in the Book of Ephesians, and it’s the same spirit Zacchaeus had when He had a heart-to-heart encounter with Jesus:
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8 NKJV)
Undoubtedly, there were those who Zacchaeus had cheated at the tax table. But he wouldn’t be content to sweep them under the rug. After being in Christ’s presence, he knew what he had to do. He had to make personal restitution to those that he had stolen from.
If that doesn’t also happen in our hearts, then something is drastically off. It ought to become our personal mission to make things right with the people we’ve ripped off. That’s because our nature changes from “taker” to “giver” once God’s Spirit resides within us.
It may be uncomfortable, it may be awkward, it may even be risky to own up and give back to those whom you’ve taken from. But know this: It will also be right, and that’s the real measure of what we should do. If you’ve stolen from someone, then make it right by giving back.
Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss and share with your group the importance of righting your wrongs. Share about a time when you have seen restitution done right. What impact did it make?
Dig into Ephesians 4:28. What is the specific instruction given here? Why is this critical for the Christian to understand? Dig into Luke 19:1-10. How does Jesus respond to Zacchaeus’ willingness to give back? What does giving back reveal to the victim about the giver?
Decide as a group to make restitution a priority. Challenge your group to do their own “moral inventory” to discover where there needs to be genuine repentance followed by restitution. Share with each other next week how God was glorified by your willingness to right your wrongs.
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Always Provides An Escape
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. -1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
“I couldn’t help it! There was no way out! I had no choice!” Have you ever found yourself leaning on these excuses after you’ve stumbled in a specific area of sin? It sounds OK at first, but deep down in your heart you know it isn’t true.
Here’s what is true: God always provides an escape for us when we’re tempted. If we sin it’s because we choose to, not because we have no choice but to. No matter what the conditions or circumstances, God always gives us the option of righteousness in the midst of sinfulness. Always.
“That sounds great and all, but if God is really giving me a way out, why am I always falling? I never seem to be able to find that fire escape.” Understand, God’s way of escape isn’t outside but inside of you. It’s the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, who resides within each and every believer (Ephesians 1:13).
When temptations arise, we need to drop whatever we’re doing and ask God to strengthen us according to the power of His Spirit within us. “Lord, I know I can’t handle this. But I know you can. So please fill me with your strength so I can resist.” When we sincerely pray that prayer, we’ll find the strength to escape the sinful snares that tempt us (Galatians 5:18-25).
God always provides a way of escape for us, and it’s actually inside of us. But the question is whether or not we’re willing to use it.
Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss God’s plan for facing temptation. Talk about the patterns of behavior you see in most people who face temptation. How should it be different for a Christian?
Dig into 1 Corinthians 10:13. What does this verse tell you about God’s love and care for those feeling entrapped by the evil one? What is the responsibility of the person being tempted? How have you found this verse to be true in your own life? How are you relying on His Spirit to keep you from stumbling?
Decide to establish some accountability and encouragement among those in your group who are ready to get serious about eliminating sinful patterns in their lives. Define a “prevention plan” and an “escape route” to put into practice. Exchange phone numbers so that a timely call for support and encouragement can be made in the face of temptation.
Study by Pastor Bob Coy of The Active Word.
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Always Willing To Forgive
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. -1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV)
Ever consider yourself beyond forgiveness? Have you ever done something so horrible, so heinous, so hideous that you can only shake your head and ask yourself, “What was I thinking?” It’s in these moments that a thought can begin to sprout in our minds, a notion that our sin has exceeded God’s grace and that He’s unable or unwilling to forgive us.
Paul’s life proves otherwise. If God ranked our sin, Paul’s would be a solid ten. The Bible tells us that prior to his conversion, he was completely committed to wiping out every trace of Christianity. He was there holding the robes of those who executed Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and soon he was rounding up Christians and throwing them into prison (Acts 8:1-3, Acts 22:20). He even forced them to blaspheme Christ (Acts 26:11) and killed those who would not renounce their faith (Acts 22:4).
So Paul isn’t exaggerating or being diplomatic when he identifies himself as the chief sinner. If there was ever a person who seemed worthy of being disqualified from God’s forgiveness, it was certainly Paul. And yet, the astounding truth is that God was still willing to forgive Him. In fact, Paul points out that God forgave him in order to demonstrate that anybody can find forgiveness:
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:16 NKJV)
God is always willing to forgive, no matter what we’ve done or how far we’ve run from Him. That’s a truth that ought to embolden and humble us.
Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss forgiveness with your group. Would you agree or disagree that God is always ready to forgive us, regardless of our sin? What Scriptures support your position? Why do you think we find forgiveness so difficult?
Dig into 1 Timothy 1:12-16. How does Paul view the mercy and grace of God? Read Luke 19:10. How do these two passages reveal God’s heart to forgive? How have you experienced the truth of these passages?
Decide as a group to memorize some key passages that can be recalled as you face the accusations of the deceiver. Memorize verses like 1 John 1:9 and Romans 5:8-10. Learn the value of confronting lies with truth, and as a group, begin to exercise the Scripture memory muscles God gave you!
A Gift to Grow By
“If you knew . . . you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10 (NKJV)
A few Christmases ago, my wife and I decided that from that point forward we would give our children gifts that would be both enjoyable and educational. As much as I appreciate the value of enjoyment and entertainment, I also understand the added value of receiving something that offers the opportunity to learn. The benefits go way beyond the knowledge they gain; for as they open themselves to learn, it also opens the opportunity for me to teach as I come alongside them. “Christian, Caitlyn, here’s how you put that together.” And in the process of teaching and learning, we grow together and our relationship is deepened.
God hopes to do the same thing with us when it comes to the gift of His Son. There’s so much to be learned from Jesus. From the moment we accepted Him into our hearts, we were immersed into a new world of learning and divine discovery. As we continue to open ourselves to know and understand Him better, God sends His Spirit to teach and instruct us about this wonderful gift:
“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. & But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things . . .” (John 14:10, 26 NKJV)
Jesus made a powerful point to the woman at the well in John’s gospel. After they had gone back and forth a bit, Jesus cut to the chase. He told her that if she would accept God’s gift, He would teach her what it meant to find true and lasting satisfaction. She would be set free from the world’s dryness.
Jesus is certainly an enjoyable gift, but He’s also an educational gift. He never leaves us as we are but is always seeking to grow us and take us deeper into the ways of God. The question is whether or not we’re willing to learn.
Discuss with your group the greatest gift you ever received at Christmas. What was it and who gave it to you?
Dig into John 14:23-26. What promises are offered here? What does this tell you about Jesus’ love for you? How have you found verse 26 to be true in your life? Why is it essential to understand this truth?
Decide to journal about what Jesus has taught you recently. What lessons have you been learning? Record some things His Spirit has revealed to you.
Seize the Day
So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ “ — Matthew 25:20–21
As a young man, Alan Redpath was a successful accountant. One day, he was talking with a Christian friend who told him, “Alan, it is possible to have a saved soul and a wasted life.”
Redpath couldn’t forget those words. He knew he was guilty of having a saved soul and a wasted life. He prayed, “Lord, I want Your will for me. I don’t want to waste my life. I dedicate it to You.”
God redirected his course, and Redpath ultimately became an evangelist, pastor, author, president of a missions organization, and a dean of a Bible school. He served the Lord until the end of his life.
It’s possible that some of us could have a saved soul but a wasted life. In other words, you have the assurance of heaven, but you’re wasting your life here on earth. You’re not serving Christ to the fullest.
Every person’s life is filled with opportunities to serve the Lord. What we do with the opportunities is the big question. Do we let them slip by? Or do we seize the day and serve the Lord so that we can hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
If you desire to hear those words, then make a change in your life like Alan Redpath made. Take what God has given you and make the most of it.
You might say to yourself, “But I don’t have much.” You have everything you need. You have God’s most precious gift, Jesus Christ. You have the Holy Spirit to empower you.
God has instilled in your life certain gifts for His glory. That means your life is valuable.
Take what God has given you and dedicate it to His glory. Just watch what He will accomplish.
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Never Alone
“For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. ‘ ” -Acts 27:23-24
Time and time again, God reminded Paul of His presence, no doubt when he needed it the most. God knows what we need, and He knows when we need it.
He knew when Paul could use that extra assurance. When he was in that prison cell in Jerusalem, the Lord appeared to him and told him to be courageous (see Acts 23:11). Then from prison in Rome, he wrote to Timothy, “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength . . .” (2 Timothy 4:16).
In some special way, God reassured Paul of His presence. Acts 27 tells us that the Lord sent an angel to reassure him.
You can take heart in the face of danger or uncertainty because of your awareness of God’s presence with you. When your heart sinks, when it seems as though your life falling apart, you must remember the Lord is there with you.
You are not alone. No, there are not always easy answers. But we can be sure of this: He will be with us through the storm.
God was standing by Paul’s side, and God is with us in our storms as well. He may not necessarily send an angel. We may not necessarily hear an audible voice. But if we pay attention, we can hear the still, small voice of God. And certainly, He will speak to us through His Word.
Then we, like Paul, can reassure others that the Lord is in control.
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Discipline and Disposition – Prayer
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Matthew 6:6 (NLT)
It’s important for us to understand that prayer is an act of discipline. That is, it’s something that requires our special attention and effort. That’s what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew’s Gospel above. He tells us to break from our regular routine and have a deliberate attitude when we talk to God. Prayer is an act that deserves concentration and disciple.
But it’s more than that. It’s also a disposition, an ongoing attitude, a continual leaning. We get a glimpse of this in Nehemiah’s life. He was disciplined in prayer, but he also had a disposition of prayer. Watch how prayer was his natural and spontaneous response to the king’s question:
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven I replied . . . (Nehemiah 2:4-5 NLT)
Nehemiah didn’t say, “Can you hold that thought while I go away by myself and pray in private?” No, his prayer was automatic and in real time. That’s because Nehemiah had a prayerful disposition. Just like a compass that’s always pointing north, Nehemiah’s soul was perpetually in a prayerful position. For him, prayer was ongoing. His heart’s constant cry was, “Hey, God, I’m keeping this channel clear and open, and I’m reserving it for you and me to dialog throughout the day.”
Prayer is more than just a discipline; it’s also a disposition. If we don’t get this, we’ll restrict our perspective of prayer. We’ll see it as something that happens in the middle of life’s challenges, instead of seeing life’s challenges as happening within the constant context of prayer.
Never stop praying. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT)
Discuss, Dig, Decide Discuss with your group the importance of a disciplined prayer life. What adjectives would you use to describe your prayer life? What disciplines have you practiced and what prayer habits have you developed in your relationship with God?
Dig into Matthew 6:6. Why do you think Jesus would say this? How does this change your view of prayer? Read Nehemiah 2:4-5. What example can we gain from this?
Decide as a group to challenge each other to a more intimate and disciplined prayer life. Ask each other for a commitment in this area of your spiritual life. Commit to a time and place each day for personal prayer.
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Love Never Dies
Love never dies. -1 Corinthians 13:8 (Message)
Not many of our earthly activities will translate into eternity. In fact, most of what you’ll do today won’t be on your agenda when you’re in heaven.
There won’t be any need to swing by the dry cleaners, no soccer practices, no car lines at the kid’s school, no last-minute dashes to the supermarket, no trips to the vet, and no rush-hour commutes. But there is something that will translate into our heavenly existence, and that’s love.
Love will never die. It’s as eternal as God is, and it will be ever-present in His everlasting kingdom. One day, the material universe as we know it will pass away, yet love will endure. Time will suddenly cease, yet love will continue on. If you’ve been born again, if you’re looking to Jesus as your sole source of salvation, if you’re a new creation in Christ-love will be with you forever.
What’s the point? Since love is going to be a big part of our eternal occupation, it only makes sense that we commit to it now. The more fluent we are in God’s agape love here on earth, the more prepared we’ll be for what will come so naturally to us there. Besides, earth is never more heavenly than when the love of God is on full volume in our hearts.
Don’t let love be something that you’ll eventually get around to. Don’t put it off for later. Let love, the self-less and unconditional love of God, invade and dominate your heart right now. Invest in a loving lifestyle and you can be sure to reap a return in heaven.
Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)
Small Group Time: Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss as a group the meaning of this statement: Earth is never more heavenly than when the love of God is on full volume in our hearts. Share a time when you’ve seen this happen.
Dig into Galatians 5:13-14. What’s the specific instruction God is giving you here? What is it that keeps you from obeying this verse? What would be the results of you obeying this command?
Decide as a group to reflect back on this month’s lessons. Spend some time sharing which particular devotions moved you to a deeper love for God and a deeper love for others. Share how you are different now as a result of God loving you and you loving others.
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Love Covers
Love . . . bears all things . . . -1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)
President William McKinley was lovingly devoted to his wife, Ida. She was an unhealthy woman and would frequently suffer from seizures that would distort her facial features. Instead of keeping her locked away behind the White House doors, McKinley proudly brought her to the most glamorous social functions and dinners.
Inevitably, a fit would seize her, and it was then that McKinley’s love for his wife would shine. He would drop whatever he was doing, take his napkin, and quietly curtain her face until the seizure would subside. It was William’s love for Ida that led him to cover her flaws.
That’s the way love works. Notice how the Bible tells us that love “bears all things.” The original word here for “bears” can actually be translated “to cover something in silence.” Love’s natural desire is to do what it can to cover the faults of others, not draw attention to them. Even when a flaw needs to be exposed, love does so in a way that’s discreet and appropriate.
Love covers. Isn’t that essentially what the cross represents? Wasn’t it God’s love that led Him to cover our sinful shortcomings by allowing His Son to die on our behalf? And aren’t we thankful that this is how God has dealt with us?
So how do we react in the presence of other’s flaws and faults? Are we quick to shine the spotlight on their shortcomings? Do we gawk and gossip? Or is there something inside us that wants to spare people the pain of having these things unnecessarily exposed? That “something” is love, and it’s more concerned with covering shame than advertising it.
He who covers over an offense promotes love . . . (Proverbs 17:9 NIV)
Small Group Time: Discuss, Dig, Decide
Discuss with your group the power of love. Share a time when you have seen someone’s loving action cover up the shortcomings of someone else. What impact did this make on you? Can you think of a Biblical example of this?
Dig into 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Proverbs 17:9. Check these passages out in different translations. What’s the point of this proverb? How has this truth been seen in your own life? How has God covered your offenses?
Decide as a group to cover over offenses with love. Schedule a visit to your local jail or prison. Challenge your group to share the love of God with those there who desperately need hope. This simple act can make a life-changing difference!
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Seeker Sensitive
Luke 15:1-7 – Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
When Jesus tells this story he is drawing from the Old Testament passage found in Ezekiel 34:11-12 ” ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
This passage makes it clear that God seeks lost sheep. When a sheep goes missing, who seeks who? Does the sheep seek the shepherd? Or the shepherd, the sheep? Obviously it’s the shepherd who seeks the sheep. That’s why David says in Psalm 119:176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek me.
God still seeks lost sheep, he seeks through human beings who share his concern. Those whose concern will outweigh the inconvenience (to put a sheep on your shoulders is heavy, a sheep can be between 70-90lbs.) Who can seek while also carrying responsibility for what they’ve been entrusted (to go seek a sheep, the shepherd would need undersheperds to assist with the 99.)
Cool story, when Muhammad ed-Deeb found the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran Cave I, he was a shepherd boy looking for a lost sheep. He counted his sheep and when he discovered that he was missing one, he left the 55 with two undershepherds and then in his search found the Dead Sea Scrolls, probably the greatest impact of any archeological discovery on Biblical study.
Who embrace the joy of finding the lost. (Some of those listening to Jesus would know the joy of finding lost lamb after searching like mad in the dangerous wilderness.)
I find it interesting that Jesus said that it brings more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. The question is, how many people don’t need repentance? The righteousness who need no repentance only exist in their own mind.
This has me thinking, what does it really mean to be seeker sensitive?
Is ‘seeker sensitive’ being attentive to visitors and guests who come to our church on Sunday? Or does it mean that we tune in our hearts to heaven everyday? Being receptive and responsive to the great SEEKER and His prompts to join Him. Today I want to be seeker-sensitive; to be aware and perceptive of what the SEEKER is up to. God invites me to co-labor with him, be a co-seeker in finding the lost sheep.
This requires that: I share his concern. To be disturbed in my soul for another person. That I realize the gravity of the person’s need. I am willing pay the cost of inconvenince. To share in God’s concern and seek with him will cost me personal time, money, sleep, reputation…what else will it cost me? If I share his concern and join in the seeking then I will get to share in the joy when one person is found.
It helps me to remember that there is not one person on the planet who God is not already pursuing. God is at work in every life. We just have to be sensitive to the SEEKER and find out how he’s working.
View more studies from Pastor Kevin Queen at http://www.kevinqueen.com
