Integrity: Wholeness and Holiness

Integrity: Wholeness and Holiness
(Titus 2, Matthew 4)

Introduction: When I was growing up, one parent of a friend liked to challenge my group of friends on whether we were saved. It was good to be forced to think about eternal things and my relationship with God. However, I also remember that same parent was not honest - he suggested a way in which I might save money by cheating the government. The contrast was stark - and I remember his lack of integrity as clearly as I remember his gospel prod. How about you? Is your life a mixed message? What does it mean to live a life of integrity? Let's jump into our study of the Bible and see what we can learn!

1. The Right Example
1. Read Titus 2:6-7. What is our obligation to those who are younger? (To encourage them by setting a proper example.)
1. Why do we have an obligation to them?
1. Does this obligation extend only to those of us who are teachers? (We all are teaching something, whether we realize it or not.)
2. I listened to a young atheist complain that when he was out sharing his beliefs people would give him the "evil eye." The adult in the conversation assured him that society was improving by becoming more open to all views. Is an open, tolerant attitude our personal goal? Or, are disapproving looks part of setting an example? (The Bible tells us to set an example by doing what is good. When there are enough good people who live good lives, it creates social pressure to do what is good. A positive example is more compelling than a negative look.)
2. Read Titus 2:7-8. Who else, besides the youth, are watching us? (Those who oppose us. Allies of Satan.)
1. It may not come through in these lessons, but I regularly use humor when I teach my class. When I stand up to preach, the audience grins at me because they know what is coming. If I'm saying something funny, am I violating the Bible's direction to be "serious" in teaching? (The Hebrew word means "weight" or "honesty." If you look at the three words in our verse - integrity, seriousness and soundness - it paints a picture of high-level teaching. Not lightweight. Not last minute. Not second-rate. That does not exclude humor (I hope), but too much humor may make it seem you are not serious about the subject.)
1. Have you ever walked out of a boring sermon or lesson and immediately forgotten what was preached or taught?
1. Is part of being "serious" about teaching taking steps to help people pay attention and remember what was taught? (When I preach, about a third of the time I'm telling what I hope are humorous stories. The reason is to retain attention and pin my (serious) point in the memory of the listeners.)
2. From your own observations about teachers of the gospel, how important is integrity? (Opponents of the gospel love to point out the hypocrisy (generally in the area of sexual sins) of Christian leaders. You can think of several who fell. On the other hand, Christian leaders like Billy Graham, James Dobson, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell stood for decades in the spotlight without moral failure.)
2. The Right Example
1. Read Matthew 3:16-17. In the conflict between good and evil, what has just happened to Jesus? (The conflict begins in earnest. God has just said He is "well-pleased" with His Son. Satan wants to trip-up Jesus. Satan wants to ruin His example.)
2. Read Matthew 4:1-3. Put yourself in Jesus' place. Would you take Satan's suggestion?
1. What issues are involved in Satan's suggestion? (Satan is challenging Jesus' position and power as the Son of God.)
2. What would be wrong with turning stones to bread? God just told Jesus He was the Son. Jesus is hungry. Why not? (Satan is asking Jesus to prove that God is right. Satan is asking Jesus to depend on His own power, rather than trusting God.)
3. Read Matthew 4:4. How does this answer Satan's temptation?
1. How did Jesus understand the temptation? (Jesus saw this as an issue of trusting what God had just told Him - that He was the Son of God.)
4. When we think of being a good example to those around us and to unbelievers, what kind of things do we have in mind? (Obvious things. Not stealing, not lying, not committing adultery, and not swearing.)
1. Why are we studying such an obscure thing, trusting God, in a lesson about being a proper example? (All of the obvious things start out as an issue about trusting God. People steal to support themselves, people lie to avoid problems, people commit adultery to satisfy pride, people swear to sound brave. Trust and reliance in God is a cure for all of these obvious sins.)
5. Read Matthew 4:5-6. Would you be tempted to throw yourself down from a high building?
1. Does this show us that Satan is not very smart? "Here, jump off this cliff."(Satan is following up on Jesus' answer to the first temptation. Jesus said He was going to trust God and trust the Scriptures. Satan reacts by quoting the Bible and saying, "Let's see how much you trust God. Throw yourself down from this high point.")
6. Read Matthew 4:7. How do you understand Jesus' answer? (Satan is taking Jesus from one extreme to the other. Jesus' answer shows that we are partners with God in obedience. We should not put ourselves in dangerous places.)
7. Read Genesis 3:1-5. How is this like Jesus' first temptation? (It is a challenge over whether Eve will depend upon herself (or worse, the serpent) or whether she will trust God.)
1. The Bible does not say this explicitly, but what has allowed Eve to be confronted with this test? (She is apparently standing by the forbidden tree! There is just one tree in the entire garden that she should avoid, and she is standing by it! Worse, she says that it is wrong to even touch this tree so she should know that standing close is a bad idea.)
2. How does this compare to Jesus' second temptation? (She has put herself in harm's way. Jesus refuses to do that.)
8. In setting a good and honest example, how would you apply the point we just discussed? (Part of our example is to avoid being involved in activities which are obvious tests of our faith. The best example is not that we were tested and won, the best example is avoiding unnecessary testing.)
9. How else do you think we can we test God? (Jesus' answer in Matthew 4:7 is a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:16. Deuteronomy refers back to a story found in Exodus 17.)
1. Read Exodus 17:1-3. How are the people testing God? (By complaining about their circumstances and God's leading.)
10. How would you apply the point we just discussed in living a life of integrity? (We need to avoid complaining about God. We should set an example of gratitude towards God.)
11. Read Matthew 4:8-9. What issue do you see here? (Isaiah 14:13-14 suggests that sin originated because Satan wanted to be like God. Here, Satan asks Jesus to worship him. Since worship should only be given to God, in this way Satan would be "like God.")
1. Why would Satan think Jesus would fall for an obvious temptation like this? (Satan offers Jesus a "shortcut" for His mission on earth to win back the world for God. Accepting Satan's offer would avoid the pain and suffering that lie ahead for Jesus.)
12. Read Matthew 4:10. What answer does Jesus give to Satan? (Only God must be worshiped. Jesus rejects the offered shortcut.)
1. What lesson do we find in this for living a life of integrity? (No shortcuts. The most impressive example of a life devoted to God is serving Him when it is not easy. When it costs us something.)
13. Friend, your life creates an influence for either good or evil. You either bring glory to God or glory to Satan. Why not determine today to use your life to give glory only to God?
3. Next week: Optimism: Happiness and Healing.

Temperance

 

Temperance
(1 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 1, 1 Corinthians 9, Romans 14)
Introduction: Is temperance the right goal for a Christian? My old Webster's dictionary tells me that the word temperance comes from the Latin for "moderation." The new Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "moderation in action, thought or feeling." I hear Christians say that they are "sold-out for Jesus." Preachers tell me that I must give my heart 100% to Jesus. This is consistent with Deuteronomy 10:12 which tells me to serve God with "all" my heart and soul. It seems to me that 50% of my heart and soul would be more in accord with the goal of the moderate, temperate person. 100% seems a little extreme if moderation is the goal! Let's move cautiously into our study of the Bible and find out if temperance is truly God's goal for our life!

1. Christian Leaders

1. Read 1 Timothy 3:1. What is the "highest" office in your church? (Some Bibles translate the word "overseer" as "bishop," "elder," or "pastor.")

1. Would it be sinful to want to hold that highest office? (The context suggests this is a proper ambition.)

1. Read 1 Timothy 3:2. What do we learn about temperance and holding the highest office in the church? (Being "temperate" is a requirement.)

1. If someone had, say, ten wives, then that might be a little extreme. Isn't it just as extreme to have only one wife, as opposed to a more moderate three? (We learn from this that the way the Bible uses the term "temperate" might not be the same way we use the term "moderate." The Bible takes the "extreme" one wife standard.)

1. Read 1 Timothy 3:8-9. Deacons are the next level of leadership. Are they to be temperate?

1. Is there anything temperate about holding the "deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience?" (This suggests that the deacon knows the truth and then obeys it. This does not suggest a moderate approach to sin.)

1. Moderate Christian Followers?

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. What topic is the Bible discussing? (The end of the world.)

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7. In this context, if you were to be moderate, you would be in favor of twilight, right?

1. If I told you someone never slept, would you consider that temperate? (No.)

1. Is God telling us not to sleep?

1. If you say "no," then is God also not discussing getting drunk? (God is not talking about sleep or drunkenness, He is talking to us about being alert. A person who is asleep or drunk is not alert.)

1. What, exactly, is God telling us about temperance? (He is telling us to be alert and self-controlled. When we think about temperance, we need to think about self-control.)

1. Read Revelation 3:14-16. Are these temperate, moderate, people? (Yes. Luke-warm is the picture of moderation.)

1. Before you reach a firm conclusion about moderation, read 1 Corinthians 9:20-23. What does this suggest about moderation? (Paul seems to change with the crowd - the perfect moderate!)

1. Read Romans 14:19-23. Are standards to be sacrificed for the sake of peace? Isn't this the picture of moderation? (It seems so.)

1. We've gone through a number of Bible texts, some seem to promote moderation, others say moderation is terrible. How can we determine what situation requires moderation and what situation requires "extremism?" (Read Romans 14:1. We have to decide what matters to God. On disputable matters we need to be moderate. On matters of growing faith for others, we need to avoid condemnation. On things that matter - like promoting the gospel, we need to be "hot," we need to be extreme.)

1. The Path to Temperance

1. Read 2 Peter 1:5-8. What kind of list is this? (It is a progressive list of Christian attributes.)

1. Where do we start? (With faith! The text assumes that we have faith because it says to "add to" your faith.)

1. Does it make sense to start with faith? (Read John 11:25-27. Faith in Jesus as God is foundational.)

1. Look again at 2 Peter 1:5-8. What is added next? (Goodness.)

1. Has goodness anything to do with temperance? (Goodness must refer to actions. Temperance refers to actions. God is asking us early on in our Christian experience to have good actions. To have a positive attitude towards others. This means moderation in condemnation on disputable issues.)

1. Does it make sense to you that "knowledge" would be added after goodness? How can you be good without knowledge? (This is a call to understand God's will with regard to our actions. Just being good is not sufficient. We need to know how best to act to help others.)

1. Why would "self-control" and "perseverance" logically come next? (Faith is a belief in Jesus. Goodness is a kind attitude towards those around us. Knowledge, is an understanding of what God would have us to do. Self-control and perseverance, involve putting in place those things taught to us.)

1. Do you think that self-control and perseverance would be included in what the Bible calls temperance? (Yes. We see that the Bible equates self-control with temperance. Perseverance is extended self-control. These calls to persist in living a temperate life are next to the most important step in the ladder of life.)

1. How do you explain that love is last step in the list? (This suggests that it is the most difficult to add to our Christian character. It involves a conversion of the heart to the greatest extent. This is not seem to be a 50% conversion.)

1. Examples For Christians

1. Read Genesis 6:9-10. What kind of man was Noah? (Righteous and blameless.)

1. I'll assume that you know the story of Noah and the flood. If not, read Genesis 6:11-9:17.

1. Read Genesis 9:20-22. Why would Ham tell his brothers about the condition of his father? (He wanted them to laugh at their father. This would decrease the stature of a man the Bible called righteous and blameless.)

1. Read Genesis 9:23. How did Noah's other sons treat him? (With love and respect. They took steps to retain the dignity of their father. They were not like Ham, who took steps to increase his father's shame.)

1. Read Genesis 9:24-27. Now we get to the hard issues. Isn't Noah the one at fault? He got drunk, no one made him do it. If Noah is at fault, why does the son of Ham get cursed?

1. Let's think back to our conclusions about the Bible and moderation. How would you apply those lessons here? (We must always ask "What is important? What matters to God? What will promote the gospel? In the ladder of Christian character, love was at the top. Ham and his son were not showing love and respect to Noah, a righteous man of God. This mattered much more to God than Noah getting drunk.)

1. What logic is there to the curse and the blessings? (Slavery degrades a person. Ham (and apparently Canaan) were degrading Noah. Thus, the curse imposes the same type of harm.)

1. What lessons should we to learn from this? (It is important to be able to decide when "moderation" is required and when "standing firm" is required. We need to "stand firm" on love and respect. Another important lesson that we must not miss is that alcohol opens the door to being humiliated. Finally, an important motive for love is that God's system of justice has a "pay back" aspect to it. See Ecclesiastes 11:1.)

1. Friend, in the past have you stood strong when it mattered and been moderate when the issues didn't matter very much? If you think you might not have gotten it right in the past, ask the Holy Spirit, right now, to convict you about God's priorities.

1. Next week: Integrity: Wholeness and Holiness.

Atmosphere of praise

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The Atmosphere of Praise

 

The Atmosphere of Praise
(Matthew 6, 1 Chronicles 29)

Introduction: Praise God! Just past midnight, a fire broke out in the first of a line of six townhouses between where I live and the beach. A strong wind drove the fire so that it quickly consumed one townhouse after another. I was certain that our condominium, which was only 15 feet from the last townhouse, was doomed. My wife, daughter and I prayed, the firefighters battled the flames, and the fire was stopped at the last townhouse! The fire even burned a hole in the fence between the townhouse and our condominium! Our hearts are filled with intense gratitude and praise. Let's explore what the Bible teaches us about praise from His people!

1. Model Praise
1. Read Luke 11:1. Look deeper into the disciple's request. What was He asking Jesus? (How should he address God? What should he say when speaking to God?)
2. Read Luke 11:2. What is the first point that Jesus tells us to make when addressing God? (Holy is Your name. The first point is to praise God!)
3. Read Matthew 6:10. What does this part of the Lord's prayer assume? (That a conflict exists between good and evil. God's heaven is coming to earth to solve that conflict.)
1. Is there a praise in this? (Yes! God has a superior way of life. God's superior way of life will prevail - and we are asking that this happen now.)
2. Step back a moment. What praise opportunity do we find in the conflict and the coming Kingdom of God? (If I am praying that God's will be done on earth, then I am seeking to have my thinking and my actions aligned with God's side of the conflict. Therefore, my thoughts and actions should bring glory to God. If so, that is one type of praise to God.)
4. Read Matthew 6:11. Is there any praise aspect to this? (We acknowledge God as the source of our existence, the provider of our daily needs.)
1. What praise habits do you have in connection with your "daily bread?" (It is proper to thank God before we eat. This is part of a life of praise.)
5. Read Matthew 6:12. Thinking of my sins is discouraging. Is there a praise opportunity in this? (Jesus is not asking us to dwell on our sins, He is asking us to dwell on the opportunity for forgiveness. This is one of the most powerful motives for praise - our God died for us to allow us to escape the death penalty for our sins.)
1. Notice that asking forgiveness for our sins is not what Jesus mentions first in this model prayer. Why is that? (Some Christians think we should soberly dwell on our sins. Jesus starts out with praise for God and only (much) later gets to the topic of our sins.)
2. The second part of this phrase mentions forgiving those who have sinned against us. Can you find a praise in this? (Having an attitude of forgiveness towards those who have sinned against us, reflects God's love. In this way we give glory to God for forgiving our sins.)
6. Read Matthew 6:13 and James 1:13-15. How can you reconcile these two seemingly contradictory texts?
1. Read Psalms 141:4. How does this shed more light on the issue? (David says "don't let me be sucked into evil." James explains that God does not "lead" us into temptation. But, God does aid us in escaping from temptation and from evil. I think Jesus is praying that God will stop us at the earliest point of temptation.)
2. If you prayed "lead us not into temptation," what would you be seeking from God? (To give us the right desires and to help us control our evil desires.)
1. How does that deliver us from evil? (Again, James tells us that we do not accidentally fall into the pit of sin. Instead, it is a process that begins with evil desires. If, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we get our thoughts under control, we will avoid the evil consequences that flow from our sins.)
3. How else does God deliver us from evil? (How about the fire that stopped just short of my condominium! See Psalms 91:9-11. But see Hebrews 11:35-38. We are right to praise God for deliverance from the evils of life. We should pray for this deliverance.)
2. David's Praise
1. The Bible records many of King David's praises. Let's study the one he gave at the end of his life. Why would that be the best praise to consider? (You have the perspective of time and experience - a life lived within and outside the will of God.)
2. Read 1 Chronicles 29:10. What reason does David give for praising God? (In these lines David praises God for who He is.)
1. How does this compare with Matthew 6:9? (Jesus and David start their praise in precisely the same way - praising God for who He is.)
3. Read 1 Chronicles 29:11. What about God is David praising here? (God is King of heaven and earth.)
1. How does that compare with Matthew 6:10? (Again, this parallels the Lord's prayer.)
4. Read 1 Chronicles 29:12-13. What other reasons does David give for praising God? (David next praises God for sharing His honor, wealth and glory with us.)
5. Read 1 Chronicles 29:14-15. Why is God's generosity to us so shocking? (Presents are often given to encourage the person receiving the gift to do something good in return. We have nothing to give God that He has not first given us!)
1. Have you ever heard of re-gifting?
2. Read Matthew 6:11. What parallel do with find with David's praise? (Both Jesus and David encourage us to praise God for giving material blessings to us.)
6. Read 1 Chronicles 29:17-18. What parallels do you find in Matthew 6:13? (Both speak of a life of integrity. We praise God by obedience to His will.)
3. Times of Praise
1. Read Psalms 92:1-3. When should we praise God? (Every day! In the morning and the evening.)
1. What has music to do with praise? (Music is one of the best vehicles, in my experience, for lifting my heart in praise to God.)
2. Read Exodus 20:8-11. What connection does the Sabbath have to praise? (Sabbath is a special time when we praise God for being the Creator of heaven and earth.)
1. How does this relate to Matthew 6:10: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven?" (Sabbath is not only a time to celebrate God's historic act of creation, it is a time to celebrate God's coming recreation. We celebrate the time when God's will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.)
3. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. What does it mean to "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes?" (I don't think this is simply telling the story. I think this includes an element of praise. When we celebrate Communion/the Lord's Supper/Eucharist, we are praising God for His victory over sin and death by His death on our behalf!)
4. Friend, do you live in an atmosphere of praise? Do you pray the Lord's Prayer and consider the praise in it? Do you praise God in the morning, the evening and before every meal? Do you set aside the holy Sabbath for praise? Do you celebrate the Lord's Supper as praise for the victory of the Kingdom of God on earth? If not, why not determine today to live fully in the atmosphere of praise?
4. Next week: Temperance.

I must tell Jesus

6. 
   
   
   

   
   
   I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
   I cannot bear these burdens alone;
   In my distress He kindly will help me,
   He ever loves and cares for His own.
   • 
     
     
     
     Refrain:
     I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
     I cannot bear my burdens alone;
     I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
     Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
7. 
   
   
   
   I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,
   He is a kind, compassionate Friend;
   If I but ask Him He will deliver,
   Make of my troubles quickly an end.
8. 
   
   
   
   Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,
   One who can help my burdens to bear;
   I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus:
   He all my cares and sorrows will share.
9. 
   
   
   
   What must I do when worldliness calls me?
   What must I do when tempted to sin?
   I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
   Over the world the vict’ry to win.
   
   

Rest and Restoration

Rest and Restoration
(Matthew 4, 5 & 11, Luke 12, Numbers 8)
Health & Healing: Lesson 7

Introduction: "I'll rest when I'm dead." Have you ever heard that? Ever said it yourself? Sometimes it feels that way to me. When I was in law school, students seemed to study every day. I believed that I should not work on Sabbath. It was a wonderful, guilt-free rest. God blessed me for it and gave me better grades than my buddies who studied every day. But, these days rest is more elusive. I still refrain from secular work on Sabbath, but I teach this lesson and sometimes preach. That seems to be as much work as anything I do during the work week. Some pastors take off Monday, but I need to work Monday. How do we balance work and rest? Let's jump into our study and see what God has to say on the subject!

1. Rest Defined
1. What do you consider to be most restful? When you think of rest what comes to mind? Read Matthew 11:28-30. What kind of rest is Jesus offering to us? Is this spiritual or physical or both?
1. When I think about rest, I think about laying down. This text talks about resting in a "yoke," - which is a device to pull a load. How can putting on a load-bearing device be considered "rest?" (It assumes that we already have a burden ("come ... all you who are ... burdened"). Jesus is offering to share the effort of pulling our burden.)
2. How, exactly, do we add Jesus as a partner in carrying our burdens? (The text tells us to "learn" from Jesus how to be gentle and humble.)
1. What has that (being gentle and humble) have to do with resting?
2. For a few years now my wife and I have been in the process of moving to the town where I teach. We have not sold our old home and we have not purchased a new home in the new town. My wife and I have our eyes on a very impressive home that is for sale. When I consider the cost, I think "Not much rest there!"
1. Why would you or I buy an impressive home? (It has to do with not being humble.)
1. Can you see, now, why rest is linked to humility? (As long as we are pushing to impress those around us with our things, rest is not likely.)
3. I started out asking you whether Jesus is offering spiritual or physical rest. Has your opinion changed after further consideration of this text? (The two are linked. If our heart is right (we are humble) then physical rest is easier.)
2. Rest Essentials
1. Read Matthew 4:23-25. Imagine Jesus' life. Was His life like that of a movie star? (Yes, crowds followed Him.)
1. How would you feel if you had Jesus' job? (Imagine what a great thing it would be to heal severe pain, paralysis and demon-possession. I'm sure the people healed were ecstatic and grateful. It was a great job.)
2. Read Matthew 5:1. Has Jesus turned His back on those with severe pain, paralysis and demon-possession? (Yes. He saw the crowd coming and He headed for the mountains to rest!)
1. Was it a sin to refuse to heal these needy people? (Jesus lived a perfect life.)
2. Is your job as important and compelling as Jesus' job? (No.)
1. What does this teach us about our jobs and rest? (We think that we are indispensable. We think that others cannot get along without us. We think that we cannot rest. Jesus shows us by this example that sometimes we just need to sit down and rest - even if there are compelling reasons not to rest.)
1. Is the attitude that we are indispensable linked to the humility question we just discussed?
3. Read Genesis 2:2-3. John chapter 1 reveals that Jesus was the Creator. Even before Jesus took on human nature, He rested. Do you think that the God who could speak the universe into existence needed to rest? (I doubt it very much.)
1. So, why did Jesus rest? Why elevate rest to such a degree that the rest day would be considered holy? (He must have done it for us. God wanted humans to rest.)
4. Read Mark 6:30-31. Is it wrong to be busy - so busy that you do not have time to eat? (The text does not say that being busy is wrong, it simply says that rest "in a quiet place" is important.)
5. Read Exodus 23:12. How widespread is the human need for rest? (Assuming you have an animal which works - you need to give it rest. Even the least valued in the society (slaves and aliens) are entitled to rest.)
3. Rest and Balance
1. Read Luke 12:16-18. What do you think about this plan? (It seems like a reasonable business plan.)
1. What is the alternative? (Let his crops rot or give them away.)
2. Read Luke 12:19. Do you want to retire as soon as possible? What do you think about this farmer's plan?
3. Read Luke 12:20-21. When I was a college kid, one of my friends told me I should take a break from school, earn money and have some fun. I refused, saying that my goal was to be a lawyer and I needed to keep pushing on with my schooling. My friend responded, "What if you get run over by a truck?" I admitted that would be a problem for my plan.
1. Isn't Jesus' parable a lot like my buddy who said "What if you get run over by a truck?" (I did not get run over by a truck (although I had a very close call), and I soon had my doctorate in law. My buddy, who was also not run over by a truck, never finished college.)
1. Does my experience show Jesus' parable is a little unreasonable? Or, does Jesus have another point? (Jesus explains His point in verse 21 - don't be selfish with God.)
2. How was the farmer not rich towards God? How did this plan cheat God out of anything?
4. Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Does this suggest an answer to our questions about the farmer? (The farmer intended to have an extended rest in which he would focus only on himself.)
1. What does the Bible say that the rich (those who don't need to work) should do? (They need to "do good, to be rich in good deeds" and to be generous and share their money. This tells us that we have an obligation to God for both our time and our money.)
2. What does this teach us about rest? (That rest should come periodically. Resting all the time is not God's plan.)
4. Retirement Rest
1. After reading the story of the farmer, you may have some reluctance to retire. Is the idea of retirement consistent with the Bible?
2. Read Numbers 8:23-26. What does this suggest about God's view of retirement? (At least as to the Levites, God took them out of regular service at the age of 50.)
1. Was that the end of work for them? (No. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary distinguishes the word "work" from the phrase "assist their brothers." Work meant labor, but this commentary argues that the Hebrew word (mishmeret)means oversight, rather than just assisting. Whether the NIV or this commentary have the more correct view, the 50+ crowd was not laying down.)
2. What does this and the farmer story teach us about retirement rest? (Laying down and watching television all day is not the goal. At some point we can (and should) reduce the extent of our physical labor, but the ideal rest is to always stay in the yoke with Jesus helping to advance the Kingdom of God.)
3. Friend, have you reached the right balance in life? Do you have sufficient, but not too much, rest? If not, join me in praying that God will aid you in moving towards that right balance.
5. Next week: The Atmosphere of Praise.

Faith and Healing

 

Faith and Healing
(Proverbs 17 & 18, Romans 5, Mark 8 & 9)
Health & Healing: Lesson 6

Introduction: The Bible recounts many, in both the Old and New Testaments, who were miraculously healed. What the Bible does not explain is the mechanism by which this happened. Sometimes Jesus used mud, other times spit, sometimes Jesus healed from a distance. What should we conclude from that? The logical conclusion is that mud and spit had nothing to do with it. So why would Jesus use them?
Consider something else. Physicians do not really heal sickness, they merely improve the conditions for the body to heal itself. What should we conclude from that? The logical conclusion is that God created our bodies to heal themselves. Thus, the question about faith healing is this: what part of the healing process is connected with the mind? I recently read a book about the operation of the brain and it cited several scientific studies which showed that placebos (sugar pills) were effective in healing because people believed the pills were medicine, not sugar. Did God wire our brains to boost healing when we believe in healing? Let's jump into the Bible and see what it teaches us!

1. Mind and Body

1. Read Proverbs 17:22. Do you think this is counsel about health? (It uses terms connected with health: "medicine" and "dried up bones.")

1. When the Bible says "cheerful heart," is it actually speaking of the heart? (No. The idea is that the heart is the seat of our emotions. We understand emotions to be connected with the mind. When someone says "my heart was broken," we understand them to be speaking about an emotion.)

1. If we are talking about the mind and health in this text, what does this teach us about the relationship between our emotions and health? (That our mind has an impact on our health.)

1. Read Proverbs 18:14. What does this suggest about attitude and sickness? (That our mind helps us through illnesses.)

1. How can that be? (The Bible tells us there is a connection between our thoughts and our health.)

1. When Proverbs 18:14 says, "But a crushed spirit, who can bear?" what does it mean? (If the mind is wounded, what chance does the body have?)

1. Proverbs 18:14 does not answer the question. Presumably the answer is "you cannot bear illness with a crushed spirit." So, what is the solution to a crushed spirit?

1. Read Romans 5:1-5. We read here several "mind" terms: faith, peace, rejoice, hope. What do "rejoicing" and "hope" have to do with our spirit? (They are just the opposite of a crushed spirit.)

1. How do we get to rejoicing and hope? (We start with faith in Jesus. The way to a positive spirit, which has a decided impact on our health, is faith in Jesus.)

1. Faith and Jesus

1. Read Matthew 9:27-30. If you were just observing this miracle, what would you say were the elements of the miracle? (A mental conviction that Jesus could do cure their blindness, and Jesus' touch on their eyes.)

1. Read Mark 9:17-19. Was a miracle performed here? (No.)

1. Why were the disciples not able to heal the man's son? (Jesus must have been speaking to His disciples when he said "unbelieving generation." Thus, the disciples did not have sufficient mental conviction.)

1. Read Mark 9:20-24. What does Jesus say is the key to healing? (A mental conviction: "everything is possible to him who believes.")

1. What did the father think was the solution if he was a bit short of the mark in his mental conviction? (That Jesus could help him overcome unbelief.)

1. Was the father right? (Read Mark 9:25-27. Jesus healed the son. This obviously strengthened the belief of the father.)

1. Read Mark 9:28-29. This is a most interesting passage. The disciples want to know more about the mechanism for healing - why could they not heal this boy. What does Jesus say is the mechanism for healing? (Prayer.)

1. How does that make any sense? So far, we have learned that a mental conviction is the important part. What does prayer have to do with a mental conviction? (This opens up a new view of mental conviction. The mental conviction comes as a result of spending time with God.)

1. How can this be true when the father was asked to instantly believe? (The only logical conclusion is that a greater degree of faith (understanding, mental conviction) is required of those who perform the miracle than for those who request the miracle.)

1. Now the important question: If God created our minds to help heal our bodies through faith, how does the mental conviction of the healer have anything to do with the healing? (This tells us that there is a supernatural element, beyond the logical/scientific connection between mind and body.)

1. Read Mark 8:22. What do you think the people meant when they asked Jesus to "touch" this man? (They wanted Jesus to heal him by means of putting His hands on him.)

1. Whose minds are first involved in this potential healing? (The blind man's friends. They believed that touching would be needed.)

1. Read Mark 8:23-24. Jesus both touched the blind man and put spit in his eyes. In the Matthew 9 healing of two blind men, Jesus just touched them. According to the record, no spit was involved. The friends in the Mark 8 miracle just expected a touch. Why did Jesus add spit?

1. Barnes' Notes on John 9:6 (involving another miracle using spit and mud) reveal that the Jews "regarded spittle as medicinal to the eyes when diseased." Would any of the observers believe that spit would immediately heal blind eyes? (No. But, it was the logical thing to use.)

1. When the man said that he saw walking trees, what did he mean? (After decades of heavy reading in college, law school and law practice, my distance sight was terrible before I had surgery on my eyes. I know what it means to say that people look "like trees walking around." It means the miracle did not work properly. The blind man's sight was improved, but not perfect.)

1. Read Mark 8:25. Is putting your hands on someone a second time (this time no spit) the "fix" for a botched miracle?

1. By now you should be very troubled by this faith healing. Why does Jesus have to use spit once, touching twice and why can't Jesus get it right the first time?

1. Indeed, why does Jesus ask the man "Do you see anything" - as if the outcome were in question? Isn't Jesus the power of the universe?

1. If you start out with two assumptions, that Jesus had the power to speak sight to this blind man, and that God works through the mind to heal, can you explain all of these odd facts? (In the beginning, it was the faith of others who brought the blind man to Jesus. When Jesus applied "traditional" remedies, touch and spit, His purpose was to help instill faith in the blind man. When the blind man first saw imperfectly, he was strengthened in his faith that Jesus could do something for him. The spit, touch and the two-stage miracle had nothing to do with Jesus, and everything to do with the blind man's faith.)

1. What lessons do we find in this for us and faith healing? (1. That when it seems that God has not perfectly solved our problems, perhaps it is to cultivate our faith. 2. Traditional healing techniques can create a faith partnership with God to heal our bodies.)

1. Is faith healing possible today? Can our minds heal our bodies when we believe in Jesus? Or, do we also need Jesus to be here? (Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-10. To whatever degree God has created our minds to heal our bodies, we are taught that the power of God (in the form of the Holy Spirit) is still present to perform healing. We do not need to doubt that.)

1. Friend, God has created your body to heal itself. God has created your mind to work in partnership with the power of God to heal through faith. Have you neglected such a great weapon against illness and disease? Why not, right now, commit your mind to trusting God to do miracles in your life?

1. Next week: Rest and Restoration.

The Environment
(Genesis 1-3, Leviticus 18, Psalms 24, Revelation 16)
Health & Healing: Lesson 5

Introduction: The Bible in Romans 1:25 warns us against worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. Such worship, the Bible tells us, trades truth for a lie. On the other hand, the Bible tells us in Psalms 19:1 that the heavens declare the glory of God. How, then, should we react to our environment? Should we treat it as a trust from God? Should we consider it an idol? Should we say "It is all going to burn," and look forward to a new heaven and a new earth? Let's jump into our study of what the Bible says about the environment and find out more!

1. First Assignment
1. Read Genesis 1:27-28 and Genesis 2:15. What was the original work of Adam and Eve? (They were to "work" and "take care of" the garden. They were to "subdue" the earth and "rule" over the animals.)
1. What does that suggest should be our attitude toward's God's creation? (Taking care of it is part of the original assignment for humans.)
2. Imagine you are a teenager and your father gives you a new car and tells you to "work," "take care of," "subdue" and "rule" over your new car? How would you understand your relationship to the gift? (God's gift teaches us that we are superior to the creation and that it was created for us and not the other way around. But, God gives us the responsibility to care for the creation. In our parallel to the teenager, the car is to be kept under control and cared for.)
3. As you contemplate the creation, do you think that Adam and Eve needed to work to have enough to eat? (Probably not.)
1. If you are right, why did God (Genesis 2:15) tell them to "work" and "take car of" the garden? (God's plan for us is to work. Idleness is not the plan. Their work was to aid the environment in which they found themselves.)
4. Let's look again at the idea of (Genesis 1:28) of ruling the creation. What does this suggest about the idea of worshiping the creation or putting the needs of the creation ahead of the needs of humans? (Humans are the superior beings, not the creation. Those who put the needs of animals above the needs of humans have the roles reversed.)
1. Are the needs of humans and animals mutually exclusive?
2. Read Genesis 3:17-19. Does sin change the relationship between humans and the creation? (Adam is still working the ground, but his work is much harder. The creation is no longer cooperating with him.)
2. First Rest
1. Read Genesis 2:1-3. We have the creation. We have the assignment to humans to work to take care of the creation. Now we have a rest. What does rest have to do with the environment? (Part of our personal environment is to rest. Rest commemorates the creation.)
1. Why would God make this rest "holy?" (Something that is holy is set apart from the common. This teaches us that work to improve our environment is the common, but celebrating the Creator by taking a break from work is special and holy.)
1. Does it matter which day God rested? (If the designated day is holy, and the rest of the days are common, then "yes," it makes a difference.)
3. First Environmental Consideration
1. Read Leviticus 18:1-5. How were God's people to live compared to the lifestyles of the Egyptians and the Canaanites? (They were to follow God's laws and not live a pagan lifestyle.)
1. Leviticus 18:6-19 lists prohibited sexual relationships. Let's read Leviticus 18:20-23. What sins of today's popular culture are listed? (Adultery, abortion, homosexual relationships.)
1. Why is having sex with an animal listed next to homosexual sex? (Our culture has deadened our sensitivity to the one sin, but not to the other. God views them both as sin.)
2. Read Leviticus 18:24-25 and Leviticus 18:27-28. What "new" view of environmentalism is presented here? (One aspect of Christian environmentalism is that sexual sin defiles the environment.)
1. How can that be true? What does sex have to do with the environment? (God is not talking about clean air and clean water. He is talking about clean lives. Just as Adam's sin (which logically has no relationship to the environment) resulted in an uncooperative environment, so our sins will cause the land to "vomit" us out.)
3. Read Jeremiah 8:1-3. What caused God to predict, approvingly, digging up the bodies of kings, officials, priests, prophets and people, and leaving them out of the ground? (They worshiped the sun, moon, and stars, and consulted the position of these celestial objects to determine their behavior.)
1. Does that sound familiar? (Horoscopes are created based on the positions of the sun, moon and planets. This astrology is directly condemned by the Bible.)
1. Why? Isn't the study of the bodies of the universe important? (Read Romans 1:25. There is nothing wrong with studying the heavens or nature. Indeed, David tells us in Psalms 19:1 that they declare the glory of God. The problem comes in attributing importance to the creation rather than the Creator.)
2. Can you be a true environmentalist without believing in God? (No. You are missing the main point. God created the heavens and the earth. If you don't understand this, you don't understand our environment. It is like someone who loves the Shelby Cobra automobile and does not know about the man Carroll Shelby. If you think that the Shelby Cobra was a chance event in an automotive junkyard, you don't understand the Shelby Cobra.)
4. I was recently reading a book about Plato and a series of lectures on astronomy. Plato was convinced, as are scientists today, that "math" can explain most things. By that they mean there are rules by which the universe operates. What logically follows from such a premise? (First, that an Intelligence created us, we are not the product of random accidents. Second, if rules apply to everything else, why should they not apply to us? What is so surprising about a rule-driven universe vomiting out those participants who do not follow the rules?)
4. Renters versus Owners
1. Read Psalms 24:1-2. A popular environmental claim is that we are trustees of the environment for future generations of humans. Who does the Bible say owns the environment? (God.)
1. At present, I have a home that I own about 200 miles from where I teach, and a second place that I rent which is close to the university. I know about being both an owner and a renter. What obligation does the renter have that an owner does not have? (I feel like I have to be careful not to harm the place I rent. On the other hand, I have a much greater personal interest in the home I own.)
1. Is there an environmental lesson in the fact that God owns the earth and everything in it? (It provides a Biblical basis for the idea of humans being "trustees" of the earth. We are trustees not so much for our descendants (although that makes logical sense), as we are for God.)
2. One of the blessings of being a renter is that I do not have to worry about the general maintenance of the building. Read Revelation 16:1-3 and Revelation 16:8-9. What is the Owner doing to the environment?
1. Right now we have a scientific debate about whether "global warming" has anything do with the conduct of us "renters." There is clear historical evidence of prior periods of warming and cooling of the earth. One of the earliest maps in existence shows a shoreline at the polar cap! How should we react to the message that God will send "intense heat" that will "sear" people? (The Owner can do what He wants with His property. As a renter, I still have an obligation to try to avoid injuring the Owner's property.)
3. Friend, God's original assignment to humans was to take care of the earth. Part of that assignment, however, is to live a life in accord with a rule-governed universe. Will you, right now, ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart to guide you into becoming an obedient and helpful steward of God's Kingdom?
5. Next week: Faith and Healing.

The Water of Life

 

The Water of Life
(John 2-4, Romans 6)
Health & Healing: Lesson 4

Introduction: Read the first chapter of the Gospel of John, and ask yourself "Why did John start out his account of Jesus this way?" My reaction is that John is concerned that people do not understand who Jesus is. John essentially says, "Pay attention and I'll teach you what you should know about Jesus." Then John tells us a number of stories to teach us about Jesus. Three of John's first four stories explaining who Jesus is have something to do with water. The wedding at Cana story (John 2) converts water to wine. The Nicodemus interview (John 3) focuses on water baptism. The Samaritan woman story (John 4) explains about living water. Let's dive into our study and learn more about "the Water of Life!"

1. Wedding Water
1. Read John 2:1-5. Have you ever heard a conversation between a teen and a parent that sounds like this? (It seems that Jesus' mother is not really listening to Him. Jesus says "This is not the right time," and His mother hears "Yes, I'll do it.)
1. Is this a problem which needed fixing? Our lesson series is about health and healing. Which would be better to drink, water or wine?
2. Read John 2:6-10. How much wine did Jesus make? (Between 120-180 gallons!)
1. Since we are on the topic of water, what does this teach us about Jesus and water? (Jesus has the power to convert water into something special. He can make water more than water.)
2. What does this teach us about Jesus' willingness to make water special for us? (Jesus is liberal in His gift of converted water. He gives us more than we need. He gives us better than we need.)
2. Well Water and Living Water
1. Read John 4:1-3. Why would the Pharisees keep track of how many people were being baptized by John versus Jesus' disciples? (No doubt the Pharisees considered these two to be unauthorized competition. They were concerned.)
1. What caused Jesus to go back to Galilee - learning that the Pharisees were keeping track of Him or learning that He was winning in the baptismal contest? (Recall John 2:1-4. Jesus was concerned about the timing of His ministry. Apparently, He did not want to appear to be in a contest with John or to focus the attention of the Pharisees on Himself so soon in His ministry.)
2. Read John 4:4-6. The most direct way for Jesus to go back to Galilee is to travel through Samaria. He has been doing that, it is noon and the disciples have gone off to buy food (John 4:8). Jesus is tired. He sits down at a historic well to rest.
1. What kind of a relationship did the Samaritans have with the Jews? (It was pretty bad. The Jews thought the Samaritans were inferior, and the Samaritans had the kind of reaction you would expect.)
3. Read John 4:7-9. Is this woman being nasty to Jesus? Or, is she just needling Him for asking for a drink?
1. Do you think she is refusing to give Jesus a drink? Or, is she just reminding Him of the problems between the Jews and Samaritans?
4. Read John 4:10. How would you react to this statement if you were a Samaritan? (Talk about a superiority complex! He asks you for a drink, then announces He is "very important" and already has better water than you can give Him.)
5. Read John 4:11-12. How does this woman react? (She challenges Jesus - none of what Jesus says seems possible. After all, it was Jesus who first asked her for a drink!)
1. Does Jesus answer her question? Does He say He is greater than Jacob?
2. The prior chapter of John recounts Jesus' night meeting with Nicodemus - one of the most powerful spiritual and political leaders of the Jews. Read John 3:3-5. How would you compare the reaction of Nicodemus to the reaction of the Samaritan woman? (Jesus has both Nicodemus and the woman asking "How can you say such a thing? It makes no sense!")
1. Why is Jesus talking with Nicodemus about water? (He is talking about baptism - spiritual cleansing.)
6. Read John 4:13-14. What kind of water is Jesus talking about? Well water? (No. Spiritual water.)
1. Let's contemplate this just a minute. Assume you lived in that area of the world. What would water mean? (In dry, sandy, dusty areas, water makes all the difference. My brother used to live in Palm Springs, California. One city block is green and lush, the next block a dry sandbox. Water makes all the difference.)
1. What does Jesus' water mean for our life?
2. Think back to the wedding at Cana. What did Jesus' water mean for their life? (It made basic life better. It made life enjoyable. It made life richer and fuller.)
2. Look again at John 4:14. What happens to us when we drink Jesus' water? (We become springs of Jesus' water "welling up to eternal life.")
1. Tell me what you think it means to live that kind of life? (Full, exciting, vibrant life!)
2. I once read a magazine that attacked those Christians who love to celebrate their salvation. The magazine suggested that Christians should be very sober and sad because of their sins? (Our sins should sober us, but Jesus has forgiven our sins and has given us eternal life. A bubbling spring is not a good description for a sad and sober Christian.)
3. Our lesson series is about health. What lesson do we learn about health from Jesus' conversation about water? (Jesus gives us a life-giving, lush, bubbling life!)
3. Deep Water
1. Read John 3:1-5. Why is Jesus' statement true? What is the underlying logic?
2. Read Romans 6:1-4. What does the water of baptism do for us? (This is the logic of baptism: when we go under the water ("buried") we symbolically go under the ground and die Jesus' death for our sins.)
1. How does this symbolism unite the lesson of the wedding of Cana and the lesson of the Samaritan woman at the well? (Water, in Jesus' hands, can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Water, in Jesus' hands gives us new, bubbling, vibrant life to share with others.)
2. In the story of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, what do class, station in life, intelligence, gender, spiritual learning, money, power and past sins have to do with the availability of Jesus' water? (Not only is Jesus' water available to those in the highest and lowest places in life, but the need for Jesus' water is the same for both.)
3. Read Romans 6:5. What kind of life does Jesus' water bring us? (We will be resurrected into eternal life!)
4. Friend, human history is filled with the quest for some special drink that will give us life and health. We have the secret that humans have long sought - the water that give vibrant, bubbling, everlasting life! Will you, today, determine to follow Jesus' instruction to Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman? Will you (if you have not been) be baptized into the death of Jesus, and rise from the water into His resurrection? Will you determine to drink Jesus' living water that will make you a bubbling, vibrant spring of a Christian sharing Jesus' life-changing water with others?
4. Next week: The Environment. 

FAITH FIRST

Faith First is a contemporary Christian singing group who commenced their ministry together in 1994. The group consists of four members, Andrea Judd, Marc Judd, Shani Judd-Diehl, and Scott Reed. All four members have been singing since they were children, and the group was finally formed while they were all students at Pacific Union College in Northern California. Faith First have performed concerts throughout the United States, as well as performing at youth conferences and churches, and on TBN’s “Praise The Lord”. The group is also well known through the Family Reunion concert series (www.familyreunionmusic.com).

VOR appriciate your ministry through the music that you perform, may the Lord keep you in ministry so that you can touch as many hearts of sons and daughters of the Lord. Amen

Celebrating Spiritual and Physical Fitness

Celebrating Spiritual and Physical Fitness
(Isaiah 40, Matthew 15, 1 Corinthians 3, John 5)
Health & Healing: Lesson 3

Introduction: Is there a difference between good ideas and Godly ideas? Is everything that makes common sense required by God? For example, is it a sin to drive without wearing a seat belt? If you say, "yes," is it a sin to buy an old car when new cars have numerous safety systems? If you say, "yes," is it a sin to buy a small car because large cars are demonstrably safer in an accident? If you say, "yes," then is it a sin to buy any car other than a Mercedes Benz S-Class - which is probably the safest large car in the world? What about our decisions on activities that do not cost us Mercedes money? These behaviors have an impact on death: 1)tobacco; diet/exercise; alcohol; microbial agents; toxic agents; firearms; sexual behavior; motor vehicles; illicit use of drugs. Are decisions in each of these areas a matter of righteousness and sin? Let's plunge into the Bible and see what God suggests!

1. Bird Health
1. Read Isaiah 40:30-31. Exercise is high on our list of decisions which have a clear impact on health. What kind of exercise is involved in these verses? (Flying, running, walking.)
1. No one ever told me I should fly for exercise. Are we talking about physical exercise in this text? (We know we cannot fly like an eagle, so the references to soaring, walking and running must be spiritual (or at least psychological) rather than physical.)
2. Let's assume that I am wrong, and we are talking about physical health. What does the text say gives us this physical health? Is it spending each morning in the gym? (No. "Hope in the Lord," gives these benefits.)
1. What does "hope in the Lord" mean? (Trusting God.)
2. Read Luke 12:22-26. In this second bird comparison, what is the connection between worry about our physical well-being and length of life? (None. Ravens do not plant food, reap food or store food - yet they eat.)
1. Is this an instruction to be lazy? (I doubt it. The two bird comparisons have the same point: trust God. Perhaps we should reorder the list of things that prolong the quality and quantity of life and put "trust God" at the head of the list.)
2. Mind and Body
1. Read Job 14:5, Psalms 55:23, and Exodus 20:12. As you consider the statement in Job, do you think that his unhappy statement is about specific persons or a general statement about the human life-span?
1. If you take all three texts together, what is the primary key to long-life? (Our life-span is in God's hands. It appears to be more a spiritual matter than a physical matter. This reinforces our original conclusion about trusting God.)
2. Read Matthew 15:15-20. How does Jesus compare our body with our mind? (What we think and say is much more important that what we eat.)
1. Read Matthew 15:12-14. What did Jesus call those who placed their emphasis on eating? ("Blind guides!")
2. Context is very important. Read Matthew 15:1-2 to see what triggered these remarks by Jesus. What does the context teach us about Jesus' remarks. (Jesus' statements are very broad, but what caused them was a hygiene dispute, rather than a dispute over diet.)
3. After the texts we have read, we might conclude that our physical health is of no spiritual importance. Is that true? What does 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 suggest?(Our body is where the Holy Spirit lives. Therefore we need to keep our body in good order.)
1. Does the text tell us how to do this? (No. It is not clear what we are to do to preserve our body.)
4. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-13. In the introduction, we discussed the difference between good ideas and what is required for righteousness. What does Paul say about diet here? (He makes that same distinction. Something may be "permissible" (meaning, "not sin"), but not a good idea (not beneficial).)
1. What is the ultimate end of food and diet? (God will destroy both.)
5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:13-20. We now see what Paul means by taking care of our "temple" and not destroying it. Does Paul's instruction have anything to do with diet and fitness? (No. Paul tells us that sexual immorality is inconsistent with the Holy Spirit living in our "temple." Christians often refer to their "temple" with regard to diet, smoking or fitness, but Paul specifically says he is not writing about food.)
3. Supernatural Intervention
1. There is much scientific evidence that diet and exercise increase the quality and quantity of life. In Exodus 22:31, Leviticus 11 and Leviticus 17:13-15 God gives advice on diet. Has what we have discussed so far given us reason to ignore that advice?
2. Read Genesis 6:7-8. If you could choose to be Noah or someone who had a great diet and worked out every morning, which would you choose? (Your life expectancy would be much longer if you chose to be Noah.)
3. You know the story of the destruction of Sodom. Read Genesis 19:12-13. What would be your life expectancy if you were not related to Lot? (Short.)
4. Read 1 Chronicles 10:13. Why did Saul die? (Because of unfaithfulness to God.
1. We have read three texts (and there are many more) that record that God supernaturally intervenes to take the life of some humans. What does this teach us about physical and spiritual fitness? (We have to keep the spiritual and physical in proper perspective. God cares about what we eat. He cares a lot more about our spiritual fitness.)
1. How do we become spiritually fit?
4. Spiritual Diet and Fitness
1. Read John 6:51 and John 6:53-58. What is the miracle diet for eternal life?
1. Is this actual food? (Jesus says it is "real food" and "real drink" but I think He means the principles are real, not that we are cannibals.)
2. Read Leviticus 17:11-12. How do you think Jesus' listeners reacted to His statements? (The Jewish leaders would have thought He was advocating something that was prohibited by God!)
1. I need some practical help here. What does it really mean to eat Jesus' flesh and drink His blood? (Think again about Leviticus. Life is in the blood. By accepting Jesus' blood (death on the cross) we look to Him for salvation. We look to Jesus for guidance and protection (the trust we discussed earlier). We must eat and drink to live. Jesus teaches us that we should be as constant in seeking Him as we are in seeking food and water.)
2. Read 1 John 5:12 and John 5:24-25. If you want to live a long and healthy life, what is the formula? (We "cross over" from our life here on earth to eternal life when we accept Jesus as our Savior!)
3. Friend, a healthy diet and exercise are very good ideas which will likely increase the quality and extend the quality of your life. I am a vegetarian and I walk the beach in the morning. When I lived closer to the university, I used to ride my bike to work for exercise. I take the stairs instead of the elevator. However, these good ideas for physical fitness pale in comparison with the importance of spiritual fitness which frees us from worry, and allows us (right now) to cross over to eternal life. Will you commit right now, to eternal life and health?
5. Next week: The Water of Life.

The Power of Choice

The Power of Choice
(Genesis 2-4, Deuteronomy 30, Hebrews 11)
Health & Healing: Lesson 2
 

Introduction: Too many choices! Have you ever heard someone say that? Wegman's is a new grocery store in my area. I've never seen anything like it. The different kinds and amounts of food to choose from seem almost sinful. Some people in the world do not have enough to eat, and this store seems to have not only every kind of food, but an astonishing variety of each food. Milton Freedman is an economist who wrote a book entitled "Free to Choose." He argued that a free people in a free economy will prosper. Thus, Wegman's, with its overwhelming number of choices, is the direct result of a free economy. Wegman's felt sinful. Is this idea of a free people making free choices sinful? Or, is free choice at the heart of God's Kingdom? Let's jump into our study of the Bible and find out!

1. First Freedom
1. Read Genesis 2:15-17. Would God get sued by a products liability lawyer?
1. We have a deadly product which looks like many other beneficial products. The product is not labeled, God only gave an oral warning. It has a deceptive, even attractive title ("knowledge of good and evil"), and not "killer tree". The dangerous fruit looks good (Genesis 3:6). It is not hidden away or fenced off, it is (Genesis 3:3) in the "middle of the garden." Does God have any defense to putting this deadly poisonous fruit tree where it can easily harm someone?
2. Read Genesis 3:9-12. Does Adam have a complete and absolute defense against any charges God might bring? Not only can he claim the things I just mentioned, but now God's agent (the woman) gave him some fruit and encouraged him to eat it.
1. Should we also sue God for punitive damages (damages intended to punish a knowingly reckless defendant)?
3. If God were the manufacturer of chain saws, the purpose of the chain saw is to cut wood, not your leg. The manufacturer does everything, within reason, to make sure the chain saw is used only for its intended purpose. What is the intended purpose of this fruit tree in the middle of the garden? (It can only have one intended purpose, to pose a test of human free choice.)
1. With all of the obvious steps that God could have taken to make it more difficult to eat the fruit, why did He not do more? (God is the intelligence of the universe. He obviously decided not to do more. The only reason I can think that He would do this is to give humans absolute free choice.)
4. What did God value more than free choice?(Whatever else is included in free choice, nothing seems more important than it. God and humans suffered terribly as a result of being given free choice. Can you hear Adam and Eve saying, "If You loved us, you would not have allowed this to happen?")
1. Some people say that religion should have nothing to do with politics. Some suggest that communism or some sort of socialism is most consistent with Christianity. What does Genesis teach us? (God's system of government maximizes individual freedom. Although God created a rescue plan for our freedom to choose, there was no obvious safety net in Eden to keep us from choosing sin.)
2. Choices and Consequences
1. Read Genesis 4:1-2. Cain was the first human who was birthed. How did Eve view Cain's birth? (A cooperative venture with God.)
2. Read Genesis 4:3-7. What choices were given to Cain?
1. Did Cain possess the power to master sin? (God says "you must master [sin].")
3. Read Genesis 4:8. Is this premeditated murder? (It seems so, because Cain asked Able to go out to the field.)
4. Read Genesis 4:9-14. What are the results of Cain's choice? (His brother is dead, and Cain's life is ruined.)
1. Why did God not protect Abel? Recall that Genesis 4:4 tells us that God looked on Abel with favor.
2. When Eve and Adam heard of this, how do you think they felt?
1. What went through Eve's mind when she thought back about how God blessed her with Cain (Genesis 4:1)?
2. Would Adam and Eve blame themselves for this tragedy? Did they bear part of the blame? (Yes. They introduced sin into the world.)
3. Would Adam and Eve have preferred, at this point, not to have had free choice?
1. What had free choice cost them?
5. Read Deuteronomy 30:10-14. Is it possible to keep God's law? (This text says obedience is "not too difficult" or "beyond [our] reach.")
1. Read Romans 3:10-12 and Romans 3:19-20. How do you reconcile Deuteronomy 30 and Romans 3? They seem to contradict each other!
6. Read Deuteronomy 30:15-19. Does this help us to understand the apparent conflict between Deuteronomy and Romans? (Romans makes clear that no one can, through human effort, meet the perfect standard of righteousness required by God. On the other hand, Deuteronomy teaches us that we all have free choice. We can choose life or we can choose death. We can choose to "walk" in God's ways or we can choose to live a disobedient life.)
1. Do these choices have consequences? (Deuteronomy 30:16 tells us that obedience helps us to "live and increase." Deuteronomy 30:18 tells us that if we disobey we will be destroyed.)
2. Notice again Deuteronomy 30:19-20. Who else benefits from our choices? (Our children! We previously observed how the choices of Adam and Eve impacted the lives of their children - who themselves made choices.)
3. The Rule of Choice
1. The media and some Christians scoffed when a prominent American television evangelist pointed out that the recent devastation in Haiti might have something to do with the long-standing practice of voodoo by some Haitians. Is that a reasonable statement, given the texts we have just studied? (Yes.)
1. What about all of the Haitians who are devout Christians? Can they suffer because of the choices of others? Or, do earthquakes have nothing to do with the choice of anyone?
2. Read Luke 13:1-5. What does Jesus say about suffering and sin? (Sin will kill the wicked in the end. However, bad things that happen to us during life might not be the result of our sin.)
1. How can Jesus disagree with what Moses was inspired to write in Deuteronomy 30? (I think this is like English grammar - there are exceptions to the rule. The general rule, noted by the evangelist, is that our choices have consequences for good or for evil. But, sometimes bad things happen which have nothing to do with the choices that we made. Jesus warns us against thinking that we are more righteous because we have not suffered.)
3. Read Hebrews 11:32-34. Are these heroes of faith? (Yes. This is the "faith chapter" of the Bible and these are some of the heroes.)
1. How did life turn out for these heroes? (It turned out great. They won!)
4. Read Hebrews 11:35-38. Are these also heroes of faith? (Yes. But, their names are not even mentioned.)
1. How did life turn out for these heroes? (It was lousy - the worst ("sawed in two")!)
5. Read Hebrews 11:40. How do you explain these outcomes in the face of our study about choice and the results? (The normal rule is that choosing God makes our life better here on earth. Sometimes this rule does not apply, and we cannot conclude someone is a sinner just because they suffer. But, there are no exceptions to the rule when it comes to eternal life. Choosing God brings eternal life. Choosing evil brings eternal death.)
6. Friend, will you choose eternal life today? Why not, right now, ask Jesus to be your Master and ask that the Holy Spirit guide your life into right choices?
4. Next week: Celebrating Spiritual and Physical Fitness.

Copr. 2010, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: http://www.GoBible.Org/study/602.php>