Southside Forums

[Pastor Charles]

Life Group Lesson
December 2, 2007
Mike Tarry, Life Group Pastor

Read Romans 5:6-8; so we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Do you struggle with boldness as a Christian? Where did Paul’s confidence come from? Paul realized that this body here on earth was temporary, it was weak, and would give in to temptations, but he could be confident in who he was in Christ. He knew that his future held a new body and being at home with his Lord where there would be no more sin, pain, and rejection of others.

Illustration: What if you were a new born eagle found by a farmer of chickens and he cared for you and raised you with the chickens, how would you live? You would flap your wings like a chicken and never attempt to fly because you didn’t know that you could. You would live your life like a chicken. Now say, the farmer takes you out and tries to teach you to fly, do you fly? No, because you still don’t know how. Then the farmer takes you to a high mountain and throws you out in the air, what happens? You struggle at first and cry out in fear, but eventually you flap your wings and fly. Do you think that the eagle goes back and flies over the chickens and wishes he could be like a chicken again? I don’t think so; because I know that God created me to be an eagle not a chicken.

In a similar way, many believers don’t realize their potential either because they have never been taught or never have spread their wings and soared free. New Christians and some seasoned Christians are scared to death to step out in faith and soar because they are afraid of failure and being hurt. What would it be like to see ourselves as our Father sees us? He says that anyone who belongs to Him has become a new creature and the old life is gone and the new life has begun. Isn’t it time that we stop living as the world and spread our wings and fly? Try something new for Christ today. It may be scary and you may ask what do I do, or you may say you don’t know how. Partner up with a seasoned Christian, one who does ministry and hang out with them. Who comes to your mind? Go talk to them, do it, you won’t regret it.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5; We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. 4 We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. 5 With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.

Welcome to the war. As Christians, we are not strangers to the spiritual war here on earth, nor do we fight our battles with physical weapons. What weapons do we use? Do you realize that there are ideas and strategies in the Word to show you how to be victorious in every situation? Fight the battle that is raging around you with the Sword, the Word of God. When thoughts come into your mind that would not be pleasing to the Father, tell yourself that Philippians 4:8 says that I am to: Fix your(my) thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Make your thoughts obey Christ. This is a daily battle. Write that scripture on index card or sticky note and attach it to anything you can and meditate on this scripture this week. I promise it will change your life. Where are your thoughts focused? If people could read your mind would you be honored or humiliated? All sin starts with a thought.

The book of Ephesians has been a transforming study for me many times; therefore I study it regularly. Have you ever thought of praying the scripture right out of the Bible? The Bible is God’s Word, right? He allowed that particular scripture to be in His Word for a reason. So, if I pray the same prayers that Paul prays in the book of Ephesians, my prayer should line up with the heart of God.

Illustration: Ephesians 1:16-20; I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. F3 19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

Now change the pronouns in the scripture to whom you want it to reflect (me, him, our pastors, our children, etc.); I will never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give (my pastors) spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that (they) might grow in the knowledge of God. 18 I pray that (their) hearts will be flooded with light so that (they) can understand the wonderful future (You have) promised to those (You) call. I want (them) to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance (You have) given to (Your) people. 19 I pray that (they) will begin to understand the incredible greatness of (Your) power for (those) who believe (You). This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at (Your) right hand in the heavenly realms.

I love that!!! How would lives be changed if we prayed the scripture for our fellow bothers and sisters in Christ? The world would change. Our prayer should be more intentional, mindful of what we are saying. Since we all spend relatively little time in prayer, make your time count. Plan your prayers and make sure they are big enough to match the size of God’s abilities. Please join me in praying this prayer for ourselves and for others. THAT’S A CHALLENGE.