Forgotten God Ch. 5 (A Real Relationship)
Posted by Tyler Conrad | | Posted On Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 2:54 PM
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This week we discussed the critical role that the Holy Spirit plays in our relationship with God. According to Francis Chan, “When it comes to a relationship with God, there is nothing worse than insecurity and nothing better than enjoying an ongoing intimacy and confidence in your relationship. Most believers understand that Christianity is about a relationship with God. But we don’t always recognize the Spirit’s critical role in that relationship.”
The Holy Spirit’s Role
Read Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 4:1-7. The Holy Spirit is what testifies on our behalf that we are sons and daughters of God! The Spirit does not make us slaves that live in fear; rather it brings about our adoption into God’s family. The Spirit is what enables us to cry out ‘Abba, Father,’ which is the most intimate form of the word Dad (closely equivalent to ‘Daddy’ in our culture). Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and the Spirit that now dwells within us that testifies that we are children of God, we can approach God’s throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16). This is an amazing truth- let it sink in!
Having a Relationship with God
1. Intimacy:
a. Francis shared a story of helping a girl deal with the death of her adoptive mother. He said she watched the girl as she grieved, and it struck him how much she just longed for her mother and wanted to be near her again. This adoptive mother had established such a close, intimate relationship with the daughter that went so far beyond simply providing the resources she needed to survive. This longing for someone we love is all around us, but have you thought about your relationship with God in this way? If a relationship/ marriage is healthy, you find the same thing. You look forward to spending time with that person and long for time to spend with them. Do you share that same kind of connection with God? Do you wake up each morning longing for time that you can spend time with God through prayer, reading His word, etc. or do you see those things as chores that you probably ‘should do’?
b. It always amazes me how people will tell me that they feel distant from God, but when I ask, ‘Are you reading His love letter to you (the Bible), and spending time with Him in some way (prayer, solitude, etc.)?’ they answer no without thinking twice. How can we expect to feel close to God if we never spend time with Him? James 4:8 tells us that if we come near to God, he will come near to us. Sometimes I think we get this turned around. We need to remember that God is stationary, and we are choosing to come close or move away from Him, rather than the other way around.
2. Unique:
a. In the video, Francis talked about how each one of the relationships with his children is different. He shows love to them in different ways, and he compared this to our relationship with God. We each find intimacy with God in different ways. For some people it is through music, for others it is painting, for others it is in silence, for others it is being with people, etc…find something that works for you and keep it a priority in your life. With all this said, it is hard (or impossible) to teach someone what it is going to look like to follow the Spirit, because it is so unique to each person.
Obstacles to Intimacy
1. Comfort:
a. As Francis states, “…many of us have made our lives so comfortable and safe that we don’t need to be comforted. Usually, it’s not until an unexpected tragedy strikes that we feel uncomfortable.” Have you experienced a time in your life where the Spirit absolutely had to come through for you, or else you were in big trouble? What do you feel in those moments? Does your level of intimacy increase? If you don’t have those moments on a regular basis, find ways to step out and be uncomfortable.
2. Noise
a. We live in a crazy busy world. Computers, text messaging, Facebook, etc…it never stops. Going back to what we talked about earlier, how can we expect to feel close to God if we do not spend time with Him? If we let our distractions completely take over our lives, we often have little time left to spend with God. How you find closeness to God is going to be largely dependent on your personality, but find something that works for you and keep it a constant in your life. For some of us, it is really hard to find down time. I want to remind you that spending time with God does not necessarily have to be you walking out into the mountains with a little cup of coffee and a blanket (it could be)…but it could also be prayer walking, painting, reaching out to others, going about your work in a constant state of prayer, etc. Jesus didn’t have texting or Facebook, but he did have plenty people following him around and asking him to do all sorts of things. It is interesting that Jesus often drew away from everyone to go pray (See Mark 1:35). Continually find ways to spend time with God, and only you and God and figure out what that looks like for you.
3. Feeling Unworthy/ Fear
a. Read Luke 15:11-32. The story of the Prodigal Son is a very powerful story and it is our story. The truth is that we are all unworthy, and there is nothing that we can do by ourselves that makes us right before God. The difference is how we deal with our feelings of unworthiness. When you fall into sin, do you huddle in a corner in shame and push God away because of your feelings of unworthiness, or do you draw close to God in those times, realizing that you are completely unworthy and completely dependent on God to help you fight in the midst of your broken state? Do you fight against God by pushing Him away or do you have a close, intimate relationship with Him where He helps you fight?
I encourage you to take some time to stop. Get rid of all your distractions- turn off your phone, computer, etc., and take time to spend with God. Here are some scripture passages to help you reflect on the truths that we talked about this week.
-John 14-16
-Galatians 3:13-14
-Hebrews 4:14-16
-Luke 12:11-12
-Matthew 28:19-20
-Luke 15:11-32
-Romans 8
-The Book of 1 John
Forgotten God Ch. 4 (Why Do You Want Him?)
Posted by Tyler Conrad | | Posted On at 11:46 AM
The purpose of this chapter was to examine the right and wrong motives for wanting to follow the Holy Spirit. Here are some motives that Francis talks about.
Wrong Motive:
1. Selfish Gain:
a. A good example of this is found in Acts 8:9-24, which describes Simon the magician, who wanted the Spirit’s power for selfish reasons. The Holy Spirit works to glorify God (John 16:14) and Him alone, not us (Matthew 5:16).
b. Another way that one might selfishly seek the Spirit is by trying to lead the Spirit instead of following. If we try to lead the Spirit rather than follow it, we often start with our own dreams and desires and ask the Spirit to work so that we can accomplish our selfish plans instead of following wherever the Spirit leads. Are you truly willing to go wherever the Spirit leads?
Right Motive:
1. The Common Good/ Love
a. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. In this passage, Paul tells us that the Spirit works in us for the common good. It is love for God, for His people, for His church, etc. If you read 1 Corinthians 12-14, you will get an idea of the proper function of the church. Have you ever taken the time to realize that God has put you in the unique position you are in right now, with the specific gifts He has given you, so that you may use them selflessly for the common good? As we focus on the Bible study every week, it is often easy to overlook what is right in front of us. The Spirit works through each of us, if we let Him, to build up and love the people around us. We have each been equipped with specific gifts to be able to do that. When we come on Sunday morning, some have been gifted with music, others with preaching, others with the technical aspects of the service, others with relational skills, etc. We each have unique gifts/ personalities that God uses for the common good if we let Him. What an amazing thought!
With that thought in mind, the majority of the time spent this week was on investing in one another. We got into small groups and shared our unique stories, struggles, and spoke truth into each other’s lives through God’s living word, made possible through the Holy Spirit. It is amazing what God puts in front of us each day, and the resources He gives us to be His hands and feet if we obey Him!
Forgotten God Ch. 3 (Theology of the Holy Spirit 101)
Posted by Tyler Conrad | | Posted On at 11:02 AM
In this chapter, Francis examines what scripture says about the Holy Spirit. Since much of the Holy Spirit is mysterious, this theology is far from complete, but it is a start. In the video that went with this chapter, Francis compared the church (in general) to a football team that gets in a huddle, calls a play, gets pumped up about it, and then goes and sits on the bench instead of running the play. A good thought to chew on for a while! Below are the questions/ concepts we went through relating to the theology of the Holy Spirit. Who the Spirit Is
1. Read the following statements about the Holy Spirit. Take your time. Think about the practical implications of that particular attribute of the Spirit. If you want to spend more time on each point, look up the accompanying Scripture references. Under each statement, record your thoughts about how understanding that truth about the Spirit should affect our lives.
a. The Holy Spirit is a Person. He is not an impersonal force or thing. Many people refer to the Spirit as an “it,” but the Bible consistently describes the Spirit as a Person (for example, see Matthew 28:19 where the Spirit is an equal member of the personal Godhead or Ephesians 4:30 where He is said to have emotions). Rather than using the Spirit as an energy boost or tapping into Him like an electric current, we actually talk to Him, relate to Him, cooperate with Him, and make ourselves available to Him (2 Corinthians 13:14). Give an example of how this difference between Person and thing should affect the way we live.
b. The Holy Spirit is God. He is not less than the Father or the Son; He is consistently presented as equal (Matt. 28:19). Just like the other members of the Godhead, the Spirit is sometimes referred to simply as “God” (Acts 5:3-4). How do you think this ought to change the way we relate to Him?
c. The Holy Spirit is eternal and holy. We read in the gospel of John about Jesus’ promise to His disciples that the Spirit will be with them forever (14:16). And in Hebrews we read that it was through “the eternal Spirit” that Jesus “offered himself unblemished to God (9:14).” Because the Spirit is holy (Romans 1:4; 5:5) and dwells in us, our bodies are holy sanctuaries from God’s vantage point. Too often we disdain our bodies as the source of sin and our fallenness; yet they are precisely where God the Spirit chooses to dwell! Thoughts?
d. The Holy Spirit has His own mind and will. He thinks and acts according to His own will and the will of God the Father (Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 12:11). The Spirit strategically enables and empowers us to fulfill our mission here on earth. How should the thought that the Holy Spirit has His own mind and will affect the way you think and plan?
e. The Holy Spirit has emotions. Paul tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). When there is disunity and lack of love, whether with other people or with God Himself, we cause the Spirit to grieve. We rarely think about the effect our sin has on God, but He is clearly saddened when we fail to honor Him as we ought. How should understanding that the Spirit can be grieved affect our attitudes toward sin?
f. The Holy Spirit is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. In Zechariah 4:6 God calls His people to rely on the power of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Paul not only says that the Holy Spirit knows everything, but that He reveals truth to us. And in Psalm 139:7-8, David tells us that the Spirit is everywhere, and we cannot escape His presence. How do these three truths affect the way we look to the Spirit?
What the Holy Spirit Does In and Through Us
2. God’s Spirit works in and through us in a variety of ways to glorify Himself. Below is a list of ways that He does this. For each item, ask yourself, “How is the Spirit working in this way in my everyday life? Or how might He do so?”
a. The Spirit helps us when we are in precarious situations and need to bear witness (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12).
b. The Counselor teaches and reminds us of what we need to know and remember. He is our comforter, our advisor, our encourager, and our strength. He guides us in the way we should go (Ps. 143:10; John 14-16; Acts 9:31; 13:2; 15:28; 1 Cor. 2:9-10; 1 John 5:6-8).
c. From the Spirit we receive power to be God’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. It is the Spirit who draws people to the gospel, the Spirit who equips us with the strength we need to accomplish God’s purposes. The Holy Spirit not only initially draws people to God the Father, but He also draws believers closer to Jesus (Acts. 1:8; Romans 8:26; Eph. 3:16-19).
d. By the power of the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the body. The Spirit sets us free from sin, which we cannot get rid of on our own. This is a lifelong process we entered into, in partnership with the Spirit, when we first believed (Rom. 8:2).
e. Through the Spirit we have received adoption as children, which leads us into intimacy with the Father, instead of a relationship based on fear and slavery. The Spirit bears witness to us that we are God’s children (Rom. 8:15-16).
f. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. He does this both before we initially enter into right relationship with God and as we journey through this life as believers (John 16:7-11; 1 Thess. 1:5).
g. The Spirit brings us life and freedom. Where the Spirit is, there is freedom, not bondage or slavery. In our world that is plagued with death, this is a profound truth that points to real hope (Rom. 8:10-11; 2 Cor. 3:17).
h. By the power of the Holy Spirit we abound with hope because our God is a God of hope, who fills His children with all joy and peace (Rom. 15:13).
i. As members of God’s kingdom community, each of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit in our lives for the purpose of the common good. We all have something to offer because of what the Spirit gives us (1 Cor. 12:7).
j. The fruit of being led by the Spirit of God includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attitudes and actions will characterize our lives as we allow ourselves to be grown and molded by the Spirit. The Spirit is our sanctifier (Gal. 5:22-23; 2 Cor. 3:18).
k. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we don’t know what to pray for or what to do, He actually intercedes on our behalf. He gives us strength in the midst of uncertainty and asks the Father to work according to His will (Rom. 8:26-27).
3. Take a minute to ponder the amazing power of the Spirit of God. Looking at the situations God has placed you in, what do you think He might be calling you to do through the power of the Spirit? If you are willing, say them out loud and keep each other accountable for them.
4. Spend some time in prayer. After looking through these Scriptures about who the Holy Spirit is and what He does, there are bound to be a number of things that you need to begin applying to your life. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that the world around you will see His power.
Forgotten God: Ch. 2 What Are You Afraid Of?
Posted by Tyler Conrad | | Posted On Friday, November 5, 2010 at 1:51 PM
“If you say you want the Holy Spirit, you must first honestly ask yourself if you want to do His will. Because if you do not genuinely want to know and do His will, why should you ask for His presence at all? But if you decide you do want to know His will, there will be moments when you have to let go of the fear of what that might mean- when you have to release your grip of control on your life and decide to be led, come what may (p. 51).”This quote summarizes the second chapter of Francis Chan’s book, Forgotten God. When considering what the Holy Spirit is and the adventure of following it, it is important to consider things that may get in our way and things that we will have to give up in order to follow. Our discussion for this week centered around these common fears/ questions:
1. What if God doesn’t come through?
a. “I think the fear of God ‘failing’ us leads us to “cover for God.” This means we ask for less, expect less, and are satisfied with less because we are afraid to ask for or expect more (p. 47).” (See Luke 11:13)
b. “Do you believe that God in heaven gives His Spirit to those who ask? Do you really believe it? This truth and what it means is so incredible that no one who actually believes it could then fail to ask for the Holy Spirit (p. 48).” (See Acts 2:38) Do your prayers and actions give evidence of your belief?
c. “I’ve heard many people question God for not responding when they prayed in faith. I don’t doubt that these people prayed in faith, but the question is whether they prayed for things God has promised. Often, it’s the un-promised requests that God answers with a no (p. 49).” Think about this for a while…what has God truly promised us? Do you trust God that when He says no or “not in this way” to you, you still believe He is good and doing what is best? (See Isaiah 55:8-9)
2. Do I even want this?
a. What if you got a letter from God that told you exactly what you are supposed to do in life from now on. Would you honestly want to read it, even if it completely turned your life upside down?
b. Are you honestly willing to give up everything in your life for God? All your money, material possessions, relationships, etc…Could you sit around a table with your family/ friends and tell them that you are leaving to follow Jesus and may never come back? Do you think that you could give it all up at this point in your life? Why or why not?
c. As Francis illustrated with his gambling story, it seems to be harder to give everything up when the stakes get higher. How high are the stakes for you in your life, right now? If we believe that it is harder to give everything up when the stakes get higher, do we really believe that God is worth it? Have you ever let the cost of following God deter you from actually following Him?
d. “Do you thrive on controlling the big and small in your life? Does the thought of letting go and listening to the Spirit’s guidance scare you and only make you cling tighter to what you think you have (p. 50)?”
e. At this point, question yourself: Do you really believe that where the Holy Spirit would lead you is better than where you would lead yourself?
3. Is my reputation in the way?
a. There are many differing beliefs about the Holy Spirit. Are you afraid to change your view of the Holy Spirit because what others might think of you? Do you have enough humility to be open to the possibility that you have been wrong in your understanding of the Spirit? Maybe others will label you charismatic or flat out crazy. Do any of those labels get in the way of your relationship with the Holy Spirit?
b. “Wherever we are at in this continuum (conservative vs. liberal views of the Holy Spirit), the point is that we need to base our understanding of and experience with the Holy Spirit on biblical truth and not on fear (of what others might think of us). As disciples of Jesus, being in relationship with Him must be our focus. When we allow other’s perceptions of us (or even our perceptions of their perceptions!) to control how we live, we are enslaved (p. 53).”
4. Good fear (or at least legitimate concern)
a. Read 1 Thess. 5:19. Are you concerned about breaking this command as much as you are concerned about the thoughts/ feelings of those around you? Now read through verse 22. We are called to ‘test everything’…do you do that? Faithful community is vital in this process. “Some conservatives may quench the Spirit by ignoring His working, but surely putting unbiblical words into the mouth of God is a form of quenching the Spirit as well. We need the Spirit in order to live faithfully. But we also need one another as we work out our faith.”
b. When looking at obstacles in your way to following the Holy Spirit, it is important to consider what your source of fear is. Do you fear these selfish things (discussed above) more than God Himself and quenching (putting out) the fire of the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19)? Remember that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of all wisdom (Psalm 111:10)
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