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9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;

COLOSSIANS 2:9-10

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

COLOSSIANS 1:24-29 

THE POINT IS MATURITY (message title)

Maturity: the state, fact, or period of being mature.

Mature: fully developed physically; full grown. 

Having reached an advanced stage of mental or emotional developmental characteristics of an adult.

JESUS IS THE FOCUS; MATURITY IS THE GOAL.

Emotional Reasoning: letting your feelings guide your interpretation of reality. “I feel depressed; therefore, my life is not working out.”

Catastrophizing: focusing on the worst possible outcome and seeing it as most likely. “It would be terrible if I failed.” 

Overgeneralizing: perceiving a global pattern of negatives is based on a single incident. “This generally happens to me. I seem to fail at a lot of things.” 

Dichotomous Thinking: viewing events or people in all-or-nothing terms. “I get rejected by everyone,” or “it was a complete waste of time.”

Negative Filtering: focusing almost exclusively on the negatives and seldom noticing the positives. “Look at all the people who don’t like me.” 

Discounting Positives: claiming that the positive things you or others do are trivial, so that you can maintain a negative judgement. 

Labeling: assigning global negative traits to yourself or others

Mind Reading: assuming that you know what people thinking without having sufficient evidence of their thoughts.

IMMATURITY/MATURITY IS NOT A RESULT OF WHO YOU ARE.

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[d] in heaven.”

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![e] This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[f] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

MATTHEW 16:13-23

Jesus exposed how Peter came into this satanic way of thinking. He didn’t make a deliberate choice to reject God and embrace Satan; he simply let his mind settle on the things of men instead of the things of God, and Satan took advantage of it. Peter is a perfect example of how a sincere heart coupled with man’s thinking can often lead to disaster.

DAVID GUZIK

IMMATURITY/MATURITY IS NOT A RESULT OF WHO YOU ARE. IT’S A RESULT OF HOW YOU THINK.

Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

ROMANS 12:2

1. MATURITY IS NOT AUTOMATIC

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

COLOSSIANS 1:27

CHRIST IN YOU, not Christ (at church), not Christ (in me, Paul), not Christ (in them), not Christ (in theory). Your hope for maturity is Jesus in YOU. 

Maturity STARTS with Jesus in YOU. 

2. MATURITY IS A PROCESS

 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

(TRANSFORMED GRAPHS) 

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

LUKE 2:52

3. MATURITY IS GROWN THROUGH THE WORD

You are a hindrance[f] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

MATTHEW 16:13-23

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

1 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 

• Maturity starts with Jesus IN YOU. It is grown by you IN THE WORD. The end result is HUMILITY.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.

MATTHEW 5:1

“WE SHOULD GROW UP IN OUR THINKING SO WE CAN GROW DOWN IN OUR HUMILITY.”

JOHN PIPER

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am,

1 CORINTHIANS 13:11

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace...

Colossians 2:1-5 “For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery — Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.”
2. Our faith is meant to be an active faith
3. JESUS PERIOD
4. Heresy means an a opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth
5. “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk IN him, being rooted and built up IN him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the spiritual elements of the world, rather than Christ. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. You were also circumcised IN him with a circumcision not done with hands, but by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried WITH him in baptism, in which you were also raised WITH him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive WITH him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them IN him.”
6. “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the spiritual elements of the world, rather than Christ.”
7. Philosophy
8. Tradition
9. Supernatural
10. Gospel literally means “Good News”
11. Any gospel other than the true Gospel, is no gospel at all!
12. “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.”
13. “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,”
14. Faith in Jesus Christ isn’t the front door to Christianity, its the whole house
15. “being rooted and built up IN him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”
16. Live Christmas tree—(split screen)
17. Dead Christmas tree—(split screen)
18. Tornado aftermath pic
19. Jesus is Enough
20. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
21. “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
22. “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,”
23. “He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.”
24. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.”
25. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”
26. Alternatives just don’t cut it
27. Philosophy
28. Tradition
29. “Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.”
30. “These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.”
31. “You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
32. It’s not Jesus plus—it’s Jesus PERIOD!
33. Supernatural
34. “Let no one condemn you by delighting in false humility and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.”
35. “All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.”
36. through the Word
37. through prayer
38. through faith
39. through the church

• GOD’S WORD IS ENOUGH. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and YOU have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Colossians 2:9 

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH.

Paul wrote because there were problems among the Christians in Colossae…

DAVID GUZIK

EVERY FAMILY NEEDS DIRECTION. EVEN HEALTHY FAMILIES.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4:16  

Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

2 John 1:8 

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.[b] He is a faithful minister of Christ on your[c] behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

Colossians 1:3-14

1. PRAY. 
2. SAY.
3. STAY. 

This letter – full of love and concern, written to a church Paul had neither planted nor visited – shows the power of Christian love. Paul didn’t need to see or meet or directly know these Christians in order to love them and be concerned for them

DAVID GUZIK

The fullness is in Jesus Christ. Not in a church; not in a priesthood; not in a building; not in a sacrament; not in the saints; not in a method or a program, but in Jesus Christ Himself. It is in Him as a “distribution point” – so that those who wanted more of God and all that He is can find it in Jesus Christ.

DAVID GUZIK

1. OUR VEHICLE IS JESUS.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers[a] in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Colossians 1:1-2

1. OUR ROADMAP IS JESUS.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

Colossians 1:26-27

1. OUR DESTINATION IS MATURITY IN JESUS.

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  

Colossians 1:28

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

MATTHEW 13:44-46

GOD’S KINGDOM IS YOUR GREATEST INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY. 

GOD’S KINGDOM IS GOD’S FAMILY. 

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A GROWING FAMILY. 

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A FAMILY WHERE GOD LEADS.

WE DON’T JUST EXIST FOR THE PEOPLE HERE. WE EXIST FOR THE PEOPLE NOT HERE YET.

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST INTO THE KINGDOM

1. GOD SAYS SO.

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria.

JOHN 4:1-4

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”… 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 

JOHN 4:27,34

1. YOU ARE GOD’S PLAN TO REACH PEOPLE

1. INVESTING INTO THE KINGDOM FILLS YOU UP

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes harvest?’ Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 

JOHN 4:34

WHAT KEEPS US FROM INVESTING?

1. WE DON’T KNOW

1. WORDLINESS

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

LUKE 12:15-21

1. WE MISUNDERSTAND ETERNAL TREASURES

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:19-21

1. WE AREN’T SEEING THE OPPORTUNITY

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 

JOHN 4:34

IT’S NOT DEVOTION UNTIL I’M ALL IN. 

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[f] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[g] in you.

JOHN 14:15-17 

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

MATTHEW 10:39 

YOU WERE MADE TO GO ALL IN

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered…

LUKE 7:36-50 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M DEVOTED?

1. HAS IT COST ME SOMETHING?

LID: FEAR OF LACK

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

MATTHEW 6:25-26 

2. HAVE I GONE PUBLIC?

It was bold for a woman with a sinful reputation to come into the house of a Pharisee, but she was willing to do anything to express her love for Jesus. 

DAVID GUZIK

LID: FEAR OF MAN 

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

JOHN 12:41-43

3. AM I COMMITED

Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt but in spite of doubt.

Rollo May

LID: FEAR OF DISAPPOINTMENT 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

PROVERBS 3:5-6 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

PSALM 51:16-17

VISION IS THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF OUR LIFE IN WORDS.

FILLED UP. POURED OUT.

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

JOHN 6:25-28 (ESV)

1. WE THINK WE CAN EARN IT.

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

JOHN 6:28 (ESV)

For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

ROMANS 3:23 (ESV)

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 

JAMES 2:10-11 (ESV)

2. WHEN WE THINK WE CAN EARN IT, WE BEND THE RULES IN ORDER TO GET THE SAME RESULTS.

I CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH WORK.

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 

JOHN 6:25-28 (ESV)

THE ONLY WORK YOU ARE CALLED TO IS BELIEVING.

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[e] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[f] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[g]

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

LUKE 23:32-42 (ESV)

Jesus answered the second criminal far beyond his expectation. The thief on the cross had some distant time in mind; Jesus told him today. The thief on the cross asked only to be remembered; Jesus said “you will be with Me.” The thief on the cross looked only for a kingdom; Jesus promised him Paradise.

DAVID GUZIK

MATTHEW 1:18-23

GOD WITH US. PERIOD.

OMNIPOTENCE: all-powerful

OMNISCIENCE: all-knowing

OMNIPRESENCE: all-present

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

PSALM 139:7-8

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US BUT WE AREN’T ALWAYS WITH HIM. 

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

PSALM 16:11

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

EXODUS 33:14

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

JAMES 4:8

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

MATTHEW 27:50-51

The veil was what separated the holy place from the most holy place in the temple. It was a vivid demonstration of the separation between God and man. Notably, the veil was torn from top to bottom, and it was God who did the tearing.

DAVID GUZIK

GOD IS WITH US IN OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

LUKE 1:5-13

GOD IS WITH US IN OUR LIMITATIONS

30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel[f] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

LUKE 1:30-35 

GOD IS WITH US IN OUR ORDINARY

39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

LUKE 2:39-40

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

    go into his courts with praise.

    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

PSALM 100:4

JAMES 5:13-18 

PRAYER IS…

OUR VIEW OF PRAYER DETERMINES HOW WE PRAY

Most Christians view prayer as “something I SHOULD do”, rather than “something I GET to do”. 

It would of course be a rather low-voltage spiritual life in which prayer was chiefly undertaken as a discipline, rather than as a way of co-laboring with God to accomplish good things and advance His kingdom purposes.” 

Dallas Willard

WE MISS OUT ON THE POWER OF PRAYER WHEN WE SEE IT AS A CHORE. 

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

MATTHEW 6:5-6

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

MATTHEW 6:1

JESUS MODELED CONSISTENT, PERSISTENT, AND INTIMATE PRAYER.

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

MATTHEW 14:23

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

LUKE 6:12 

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

MARK 1:35

IF JESUS HAD A POWERFUL PRAYER LIFE, SO CAN I.

PRAYER IS RELATIONAL

9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

MATTHEW 6:9

It was very unusual for the Jews of that day to call God “Father” because it was considered too intimate. It is true that God is the mighty sovereign God of the universe who created, governs, and will judge all things – but He is also to us a Father.

David Guzik

PRAYER IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE

“You are in a spiritual battle. If you are ignorant or ignore that fact, you probably aren’t winning the battle.”

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

EPHESIANS 6:12

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

C.S. LEWIS, Screwtape Letters

12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince[c] of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,[d] came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.[e] 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

DANIEL 10:12-14 

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

JAMES 5:16 

PRAYER IS WHAT KEEP US GOING

Cast your burden on the Lord,

    and he will sustain you;

he will never permit

    the righteous to be moved.

PSALM 55:22

NUMBERS 11:4-6

COUNTERFEIT COMFORTS. 

In the disciplines of abstinence, we abstain to some degree and for some time from the satisfaction of what we generally regard as normal and legitimate desires. “Normal” desires include our basic drives or motivations, such as those for food, sleep, bodily activity, companionship, curiosity, and sex. But our desires for convenience, comfort, material security, reputation or fame, and variety are also considered under this heading… Keep in mind that the practice of abstention does not imply that there is anything essentially wrong with these desires as such. 

DALLAS WILLARD

Abstinence is not a punishment from God. It’s a gift that helps you discover who/what is first in your life.

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

PHILIPPIANS 4:19 

EXODUS 20:2-6

YOU BELONG TO GOD.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

    before you were born I set you apart;

    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

JEREMIAH 1:5

“An idol is anything that we put over God and look towards to meet our needs.”

IDOLS ARE COUNTFIET COMFORTS.

 John Calvin says, “THE HUMAN HEART IS AN IDOL FACTORY.”

In fasting, we abstain in some significant way from food and possibly from drink as well. This discipline teaches us a lot about ourselves very quickly. It will certainly prove humiliating to us, as it reveals to us how much our peace depends upon the pleasures of eating.

DALLAS WILLARD

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’[e]”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.

“There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard[f] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

MARK 10:17-25

COUNTERFEIT COMFORTS KEEP ME FROM FOLLOWING JESUS

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

MATTHEW 6:24

COUNTERFEIT COMFORTS KEEP ME FROM HEARING JESUS

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

WHEN WE GIVE UP COUNTERFEIT COMFORTS, WE RECEIVE TRUE COMFORT. 

 ‘He is my shepherd,

    and he shall fulfill all my purpose’

Isaiah 44:28

Nothing on earth has greater potential to change lives and carry out His kingdom work in your community, than your local church.There’s nothing like the local church when it’s working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.

BILL HYBEL

Being disconnected from the local church, for whatever reason, is a dangerous way to live. Not only do these “ lone rangers” miss out on the blessings of functioning within the context of the body of Christ, but like lone sheep away from the safety of the flock and the watchful care of the shepherd, they are vulnerable to predators of every sort.

NANCY LEIGH DEMOSS

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

EPHESIANS 5:25

JESUS GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR A CONNECTED FAMILY

1. GOD’S PRESENCE 

8 “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.

EXODUS 25:22

15-16 Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?”

EXODUS 33:15-16

1. GOD’S POWER 

18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[f] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

MATTHEW 18:18-20 

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

    they flourish in the courts of our God.

PSALM 92:12-13 

1. GOD’S PEOPLE

25-26 The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26 (MSG)

26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

2 CORINTHIANS 14:26

JUST BEING CONNECT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST ISN’T ENOUGH. 

Some people think of the church as a pyramid, with the pastor at the top. Others think of the church as a bus driven by the pastor, who takes his passive passengers where they should go. God wants us to see the church as a body, where every part does its share.

DAVID GUZIK

Sedentary: (of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive

THE BODY WAS DESIGNED TO BE ACTIVE

I AM MEANT TO BE AN ACTIVE PART IN FELLOWSHIP