1John: Love Beyond Reason This Thing is Real (1John 1:1-4)October 6, 2013Today’s Goal: To make your joy complete (ref. John 15:11, 16:24, Galatians 5:22a) App: All Eyes on Jesus.Truth From the Beginning (Vs 1)“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1Then God said, "Let us make man in our image.” Genesis 1:26aHe is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:15-16Why do we worship Jesus as God? 1.We worship Jesus because He said He is God.“I and the Father are one." John 10:302.We worship Jesus because He affirmed those who said He was God.“The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’" 64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. Matthew 26:63b-64a3.We worship Jesus because He said He came down from heaven.“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” John 6:384.We worship Jesus because He said He was sinless.“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” John 8:465.We worship Jesus because He said He forgives sin.“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:206.We worship Jesus because He said He’s the only way to heaven. (ref. John 14:6)7.We worship Jesus because He accepted worship as God. (ref. Exodus 20:3) “Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’" Matthew 14:338.We worship Jesus because He performed miracles. (ref. Mark 8:31)9.We worship Jesus because He knew the future. (ref. 1Corinthians 15:3-8)App: Whose testimony will you believe? What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Proverbs 3:5-7New International Version (NIV)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

The Pursuit of God Restoring the Creator-Creature RelationshipSeptember 22, 2013Today’s Goal: To better understand the collapse and restoration of a proper relationship with GodGod’s great desire is to bless His people (ref. Genesis 22:18, Jeremiah 29:11)“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 App: Are you walking in God’s blessing? The Need for Restoration: (ref. Romans 1:25-26)“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the task of making others His friends also. Our message is that God was making all human beings His friends through Christ.”2Corinthians 5:17-19 GNVApp: Have you been reconnected to the Father through Christ? Making God Our “Fixed Center”: “…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Heb. 12:1b, 2a.App: Make God your “fixed center”Worship: Growing in Relationship to Abba requires we serve Him“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 57:5 (ref. Revelation 4:11 KJV, Psalms 115:1)App: By an act of your will, allow God to have His proper place in your life "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1Peter 5:5b-7 (ref. John 8:34, 1Samuel 2:30b)The Umbrella of Provision, Protection and Power “I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.” Psalms 123:1“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalms 91:1-4What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of God The Gaze of the SoulSeptember 8, 2013Today’s Goal: All Eyes on Jesus.Introduction: Why All Eyes on Jesus“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 (ref. 2:23)“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2Faith is: The gaze of the soul“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:14-17App: The next time you see that blue star let it remind you: All Eyes on Jesus"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29b“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7Obtaining Faith: It’s a gift“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8Strengthening Our Gaze: (ref. Hebrews 11:4-29) “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17b“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of God The Speaking VoiceSeptember 1, 2013Today’s Goal: That each of us might better attune ourselves to hear what God is saying.“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27App: God is speaking, are we listening? How is God speaking to all people? "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me.” John 6: 44-45God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4b (also see 2:15b)For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (also see Psalms 19:1-4a)App: See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. Hebrews 12:25aFiltering Voices:App: Tune your ears Godward allowing Him to renew your mind through His Word and to speak peace to you by His Spirit.“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 “…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace… ” Romans 8:6b How God speaks through His Word“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63b“the word of God is living and active.” Hebrews 4:12a6 Guidelines for Hearing God’s Voice 1.Practice Stillness (see Psalm 37:7a)2.Desire Him more than anything (see Jeremiah 29:12-13)3.Expect Him to speak freedom into your life (see 2 Corinthians 3:17) Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (see 2 Corinthians 3:17)4.Expect Him to convict of specific sins“When He comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sinand righteousness and judgment.” John 16:85.God will never contradict His Bible or His character (see 1John 4:1-3)6.Don’t be surprised if you suddenly break into worship and gladnessWhat is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of God The Universal PresenceAugust 25, 2013Today’s Goal: To increase understanding of God’s presence and thereby to stir a desire in each one of us to walk in thatDivine Presence: God is everywhereWhere can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10Omnipresence: Omni = All (universal). There is nowhere you can go that God isn’t thereDivine immanence: There are no limitations to where God can be at the same time Sensing God’s Presence: “I will be with you.” “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Josh. 1:9“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4 KJV“…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3bApp: Celebrate the reality that God is with us Spiritual Receptivity"I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac……I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go…" Genesis 28:13a, 15aWhen Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Genesis 28:16App: To fully place ourselves in His hands, and to learn to be fully dependent upon His Holy SpiritJesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. John 7:37-39“When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." Psalm 27:8 NKJV (ref. Matthew 6:33 NKJV, Jeremiah 29:13)What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of God Apprehending GodAugust 18, 2013Today’s Goal: That each of us gain better clarity as to what it means to be “other-worldly”"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2Kings 6:16-17The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:7-8If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31bWhat is the level of your belief? (see Psalms34:8)App: To honestly assess what God is to you: Is He an inference, an ideal, a rumor or a reality? God as a Reality“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27”The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” 1Cor. 2:14-16"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38bApp: Have you experienced the transforming work of Christ?The Key of Faith (see 2 Kings 6:16-17)"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." App: “Elisha prayed”: To believe God for the impossible, we must first be able to see the invisible.What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of GodRemoving the VeilAugust 11, 2013Today’s Goal: To identify and deal with those things that keep us from fully enjoying God’s presence.As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2Two things for those who thirst for more of GodFirst: We were created for God’s pleasureThe earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it… Psalms 24:1Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11 KJVApp: Give God Glory Second: The Law of Two Veils…the carnal mind enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:7 NKJVBut now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one (Believing Jews and believing Non-Jews) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:14-1819Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23App: We must say and mean, “Lord, remove the veil that keeps me from fully knowing you.”What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of GodThe Blessedness of Possessing NothingAugust 4, 2013Today’s Goal: To challenge each of us to let go of stuff as we recognize that all of it, including ourselves, belongs to God.“The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…”Psalm 24:1"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3“Poor in spirit”: the recognition that none of the stuff of the world is ours to possess Tyranny of stuff:•To possess: To seize or take control of•Tyranny: Oppressive Power 32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:32-34Consider your greatest “possession”: Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:2 1) God never asks anything of us that He wouldn’t do for us (see John 3:16)2) Remember God’s promises (see James 1:17)“Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6Abram believed the LORD,and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:4-6God will remove anything that competes for the temple of your heart.“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17What should we do if we recognize a tendency to cling?First: Confess it as sinSecondly: Take this problem seriouslyRenunciation = self denialWhat is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Pursuit of GodFollowing Hard After GodJuly 28, 2013Please turn in you Bibles to Philippians 3:10Today’s Goal: To challenge each one of us to strengthen our resolve to follow hard after God. (ref. Philippians 3:10)To know (gnosko): beyond understanding a mere concept about Christ; it’s to be as acquainted with Him any true soul mateOur Part Vs God’s PartPrevenient Grace: God acts first"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:447The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:7-9App: To humbly give thanks to God for His initiative in this relationship “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (ref. Acts 16:31)My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 (ref. 2Corinthians 5:19 GNT)App: We must go hard after God.App: Do you truly know Him?It’s About a Personal RelationshipI want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowshipof sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11Salvation: Where the Pursuit BeginsNow this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you… …Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." Exodus 33:13a, 18App: There is little we need but God Himself (ref. Matthew 18:3-4)What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?