The God Of Possibilities: The “Po-Po” Principle

Recap of 3/7/2011:
“Who Do I Say That I Am?” was the question we started to unpack last week. Jesus said we would do the “same work” as He did (John 14:12 (MSG)). This is a BIG challenge to our mind and response to this thing we call “christianity”. Our default mindset is that we are not able to do what God calls us to do, however, scripture says otherwise! Our examination of 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 and the reality of “strongholds” demonstrated that our response to arguments, pretensions, and warped philosophies which set themselves against the Truth of Jesus Christ is to Believe the Truth by aligning every thought and emotion and impulse to the Truth. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). In the near future we will revisit the concept brought out in this scripture described in The Message version: “fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” You have a unique structure of life that God wants, rather “needs”, you to live for Him. Are you up to it?


For 3/14/2011:
Brief: The “Po-Po” Principle may be new to some as we prospect scripture this week. Yes, I know “po-po” has other slang overtones, but I wanted to use the term for this reason: when an influential authority shows up on the scene, things change … and that’s what the Truth of God does, it changes things. There is a fundamental error in thinking when it comes to the way we live and walk out our life with Jesus. The “put off, put on” principle will help us understand more about this as we shine light onto the deception of lust and desires.

Homework
Please consider sharing your personal discovery of your “Stronghold”, “Sentencing”, and “Salvation” based on the scriptural truth found in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Truth And Dare!
For each of the following scriptures answer the following questions:

• Who is this speaking to?
• What is being said here?
• Where and When does this take place?
• How is it done?
• Why do I care?

1. Ephesians 4:13-16 (NLT)
2. Ephesians 4:30-32 (NLT)
3. Ephesians 5:6-10 (MSG)
4. Ephesians 5:11-14 (MSG)
5. Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)
    

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
-- L. Frank Baum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) --

The God Of Possibilities: "Who Do I Say That I Am?"

Recap of 2/28/2011:
Last week, we talked about how God set an example in the beginning as He spoke creatively in Genesis. We then reviewed when Jesus spoke creatively in multiplying food to feed people, when calling Lazarus forth from the dead, also when He spoke healing on the lame, blind, and bound. In the same way as God spoke and Jesus spoke, we can speak creatively as ambassadors for God. As heirs to the Kingdom, we have the same rights and permissions to continue the “body ministry” work that Jesus did during His time here. The spoken Word of God has power and as Jesus stated in John 14:12 (MSG) “I … am giving you the same work to that I’ve been doing.” So, when equipped and led by the Holy Spirit, we can do all the same work that Jesus did!!!


For 3/7/2011:
Brief: As we continue our exploration, we’ll be covering the aspect of “Who Do I Say That I Am?”. Part of our struggle in doing the “same work” that Jesus did is that we don’t know “who” we are in God. The enemy is working to ensure we are ineffective, but, God has a different plan for us! I’m thrilled to comb scripture with you to reveal who the Bible says you are!!

Homework
None given.

Truth And Dare!
For each of the following scriptures answer the following questions:

• Who is this speaking to?
• What is being said here?
• Where and When does this take place?
• How is it done?
• Why do I care?

1. John 1:12 (NIV)
2. John 15:15 (NIV)
3. Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)
4. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NLT)
5. John 15:5-8 (MSG)
    

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”
-- John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton (Lord Acton) (1887) --

The God Of Possibilities: "You’ve Got The Power!!" – Part 2

Recap of 2/21/2011:
Well, we don’t seem to get as far as I would have “thought” (grin). While we covered the topic of the power of thoughts, we didn’t reach the power of words (this week, maybe?). We reviewed the concept of the James-Ephesians Bridge and how the “sweet spot” of Ephesians 3:20 lies right between the guardrails of James 4:2 and 4:3 (see image here).


For 2/28/2011:
Brief: This week, it’ll be about the power of words. We’ll see how God set an example in the beginning, how Jesus further demonstrated it during His earthly ministry, and the same work that we have today. I’m excited to rummage around scripture with you to understand better our power to create and to destroy!!

Homework
Keep track of those thoughts which are positive versus those which are negative. Be prepared to share your results with the discussion group.

Truth And Dare!
For each of the following scriptures answer the following questions:

• Who is this speaking to?
• What is being said here?
• Where and When does this take place?
• How is it done?
• Why do I care?

1. Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)
2. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
3. Ephesians 2:7-9 (AMP)
4. Ephesians 2:18 (MSG)
    

“I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.”
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. --

The God Of Possibilities: "You’ve Got The Power!!" – Part 1

Recap of 2/14/2011:
We talked about the “Tale Of Two Gardens” and the impact of what was lost in Eden by Adam and regained in Gethsemane by Jesus (aka “Jesus, Tell Them What They’ve Won!!”). Our discussion challenged the thinking that walking in “the desert” is where things get tough. When, as I proposed, that walking on a day-to-day basis in the “garden” of a lush, green, fruitful life we experience some of our most arduous decisions for serving the Lord – just as Jesus did in Gethsemane.


For 2/21/2011:
Brief: We’ll be talking about the power of thoughts. The mind, as the very core of our person, influences our words and actions. When the Bible talks about “heart” we need to consider if the reference is really the “mind”. For example, Proverbs 23:7 (AMP) says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” For me, my heart is busy pumping blood, so I use my mind to think. How ‘bout you?

Homework
None for this week

Truth And Dare!
For each of the following scriptures answer the following questions:

• Who is this speaking to?
• What is being said here?
• Why should we do what is written here?
• How is it done? How does this apply to me?

1. John 1:12 (NLT)
2. Philippians 2:5 (AMP)
3. Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)
4. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
5. Acts 1:8 (AMP)
6. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
    

“I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.”
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. --

The God Of Possibilities: "Jesus, Tell Them What They've Won!"

Recap of 2/7/2011:
We covered the variability’s of what the gospels say about all things are possible with God. We also discussed a few people’s suggested “possibilities” and “impossibilities”. We concluded the discussion time with Mark 11:23 and the mountain of unbelief which can cause us a problem.

Homework for the week:  Observe your life and note three (3) times how your unbelief keeps you from doing the possibilities ahead of you.

For 2/14/2011:
Prepare To Share:
Consider the following questions and be prepared to discuss this during group.  What is a possibility and impossibility for another person you know and then for you?  How can you pray for them and for yourself?

Truth And Dare!
For each of the following scriptures answer the following questions:

• Who is this speaking to?
• What is being said here?
• Why should we do what is written here?
• How is it done? How does this apply to me?

1. Ephesians 3:12 (MSG)
2. Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT)
3. Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
    

“Without Divine assistance I cannot succeed; with it I cannot fail.”
-- Abraham Lincoln, February 11, 1861 --

The God Of Possibilities (Intro)

I'm so excited for where God is taking us this season!  Our subject title for this season will be "The God Of Possibilities" ... as Jesus spoke to His followers, “All things are possible for God.” What does that mean to us as Christians today? What does that look like in real life? How do I integrate this into my life? Join us as we explore and apply this to the life He is leading us to live.

Our first time together this season will be Monday, February 7, 2011, 6:00pm for dinner followed by the meeting beginning at 7:00pm. The menu is yet to be determined, but please bring a salad or dessert to share with the group. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (via email, or via comment to this blog).

Everything you think and feel and see around you will argue against what you are about to be exposed to.  Get ready!!

The Acceptance

We are given choices throughout life.  God established His creation with that same foundational element: choice.  This week we will be talking about "The Acceptance" of what God says is true.  The opportunity is offered to us by God to accept or reject - what will we do?

Here are the questions for this week's break out discussion:

• What is the greatest lie ever told?
• The Apostle Paul states in Romans 7:15 (NIV) "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." How does this relate to your life and your decisions to believe what God says is true?
• Kathleen Casey Theisen is quoted as saying, "Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of a situation. Then deciding what you're going to do about it." Describe when this has applied to you and what you did in response.
• After reading 1 Timothy 4:1-10, describe what "godless myths" and "old wives’ tales" played into your belief system which took you places that God had no intentions of you going.
• "Why would anyone believe a lie? Because the truth often demands painful transformations that most people are unwilling to make.", (citation: Dennis Allan). What painful transformations or adjustments have you had to make to align to God's truth?
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 speaks of a "lawless one", or "man of lawlessness" being revealed and ends where "God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie". What to do you think this is talking about? How do you think this will be manifested?

"To thine own self be true"
- Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82