SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES · 3. the race 4. the race 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that

34Spiritual Disciplines is a course comprised of five sections, each designed to help the student in his spiritual disciplines. They are: (a) Running the Christian Race - Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines, (b) Christian Values and Ethics, (c) Overcoming Stubborn Sins, (d) Discerning God’s Will, and (e) Financial Freedom.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

TABLE OF CONTENTSRUNNING THE CHRISTIAN RACE.......4

CHRISTIAN VALUES AND ETHICS.....15

OVERCOMING STUBBORN SINS......24

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL ...............31

FINANCIAL FREEDOM.....................40

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CreditsAuthor: David Graef and Cameron WoolfordGraphic Design: Ashley Day

3 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Description:

Spiritual Disciplines is a course comprised of five sections, each designed to help the student in his spiritual disciplines. They are: (a) Running the Christian Race - Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines, (b) Christian Val-ues and Ethics, (c) Overcoming Stubborn Sins, (d) Discerning God’s Will, and (e) Financial Freedom.

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to…

• Set the theological stage for future spiritual growth.

• Develop a lifestyle of prayer, Bible Study, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines.

• Articulate the shared values and ethics of Christianity.

• Understand the behavior cycle and how it relates to downward degradation of depravity and/or the upward progress of spiritual growth.

• Put practical steps into action to renew his mind with the truth of Scripture.

• Recognize false methods of determining God’s Will, and discern what God’s will actually is.

• Live contently within the means that God has provided (i.e. Love by a budget.)

Learning Inputs:

1. Attendance of course lectures

2. Completion of assigned reading

Outcome Activities:

1. Complete Homework Assignments

2. Complete Final Project

course: spiritual disciplines

RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN RACE:INTRODUCTION

4 |SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN RACE

4 Components:

1. for the race

2. for the race

3. the race

4. the race

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

5 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN RACE

QUALIFYING FOR THE RACE

Questions:

1. Is it possible that someone could run the entire Christian race, get to the finish line and hear, “Get away

from me, you evildoer, for I never knew you!”? Let’s take a look at Matthew 7:21-23:

2. Who is the “Cloud of Witnesses” in Hebrews 12?

3. How did they qualify? BY FAITH - PUTTING THEIR FAITH IN ACTION

The 2 Kinds of Faith Found in the Bible:

1.

2.

Questions for personal reflection:

What type of faith am I relying on? Am I a true son of God? Am I relying on someone else’s qualification?

Does my faith reflect a genuine life-change? What am I going to do about it?

James 2:4-14 & Hebrews 10:38-39

SIMPLE FAITH SAVINGFAITH


TRAINING FOR THE RACE

2 Essential Components of Training:

1. Discipline by your

2.

I. Discipline by your Coach / Trainer

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? Itsays,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 be-cause the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:4-11

Hebrews 12:4-11

A. Our trainer is - Our Heavenly .

B. Goal is (v. 10).

C. It is (v. 11).

D. The pain is (v. 11).

E. It produces a of (v. 11).

II. Self-Discipline

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 Make level paths for your feet, so that the

lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:12-13


Hebrews 12:12-13

A. Find your .

B. Develop a .

Examples:

WEAKNESSES SAMPLE TRAINING EXERCISE

Patience

Love

Generosity

Selfishness

Self-control

Laziness

WEAKNESSES YOUR PERSONAL TRAINING EXERCISE

Let’s practice:

3


RUNNING THE RACE

Part 1 - (Hebrews 12)

1. - Violation of a God-given or .

Examples:

2. - That which our .

Examples:

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1. Am I tangled up in any sinful habits?

2. Are there hobbies that take up too much of my time?

3. Are there friendships that bring me down spiritually?

4. Are there habits that hinder my walk with God?

5. Are there personal goals that slow me down spiritually?

6. Are there any fears that keep me from obeying God?

Part 2 -RUNNING WITH PERSEVERANCE

“ and are inversely proportional.”

The the level of excess weight, the the perseverance.

The the level of excess weight, the the perseverance.

Part 3 -STAYING ON THE COURSE

“We should avoid all and .”

3


DESIRABLE END POTENTIAL SHORTCUTS OR DETOURS

Examples of shortcuts and detours:

3


FINISHING THE RACE

2 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. 3 Consider him who

endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

The Goal:

The Process:

The Problem:


1. Our controls our .

2. Our determine our .

3. Our become .

4. Our HABITS build .

Question:

Where do we break into the cycle to make it work for us, instead of against us?

Option A: CHARACTER

Problem:

Can I just wake up one day and say, “Yesterday, I was bad. Today, I am good.” Not really. Our character

is who we are. We can’t just decide that we aren’t who we are. This is the exact definition of “deceiving

yourself.” 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the

standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.” You can’t just decide

to be wise and “poof!” you’re wise. There is a process (which begins with understanding that you’re a

fool!) If we try to reverse the cycle by starting with our character, we deceive ourselves. We call ourselves

good, but we’re still bad.

FINISHING THE RACE


Option B: HABITS

Problem:

Can we make a personal commitment to reduce our sinful patterns, bit-by-bit over time? It’s important to

remember that we’re talking about sinful patterns. Some things are not sin in moderation, like a bowl of

ice cream. It becomes sin when we eat in gluttony. In this case, we could reduce the frequency of the

action, thus making it perfectly ok to eat ice cream. But when it comes to sinful behavior, can we change

our habits by giving less occasion for the sin while permitting it in diminishing amounts over time? No. That

can never work! Why? Because we will develop the habit of permitting sin (even in small amounts.) Sin,

by its very nature, tends to grow, not shrink.

1 Corinthians 5:6 says, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole

batch of dough?” The idea is that once we see sin as permissible, it will spread. It will contaminate the

rest. This is the foundation of Paul’s argument for church discipline. It’s not so much the gravity of the sin

that destroys the church, it’s the tolerance of sin that does so.

Option C: ACTIONS

Problem:

Is it enough to say, I will no longer do “X.” “X” could be anything from looking at pornography to sharing

confidential information to your friends. Can we just shut off our sinful actions as if they had an on/off

switch?

Imagine you just finished washing your car. The water is still running out of the hose and you decide it’s

time to turn it off. So, you try to cap the end of the hose with your thumb. What happens? For some, it

doesn’t work at all. It only causes a bigger mess. Others who have stranger hands can make it work.... for

a while. Eventually though, the thumb will tire and the water will spray out again.

It’s the same with our actions. A disciplined person with a strong will (or even a stubborn person) can just

decide to stop an action, and it will work... for a while. But if we always maintain the desire to sin, over

time, it will wear us down.

Option D: THOUGHTS

17 So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the gentiles do, in the futility of

their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of

the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have

given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in

him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,

to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude

of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17-24


The Key to Overcoming Sin:

Believing will always lead to wrong . Renovation of the replaces the lies

with the of God’s Word.


SO WHAT FROM HERE?

From here, we will focus on 3 things:

1. Discipline from our Trainer, God (The Spiritual Disciplines)

• Prayer

• Fasting

• Bible Memorization

• etc.

2. Self-Discipline (Fruit of the Spirit)

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

• Forbearance

• etc.

3. Renovation of the Mind (Process for Overcoming Sin)

• Put on

• Put off

• Renew the Mind

15 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - CHRISTIAN VALUES AND ETHICS

CHRISTIAN VALUES AND ETHICS

As followers of Jesus Christ no matter where we are in the world at the time of our salvation we become

part of a new culture. Culture can be broken down into two areas, BELIEF and BEHAVIOR. As the Holy

Spirit begins His work in our lives using the Word of God to transform us He is changing our BELIEFS and

BEHAVIORS to align us with our CREATOR. We understand that it is God’s desire to take these two in order,

changing our BELIEFS before our BEHAVIOR. Trying to just change our behavior in order to accommodate

what we think God or others want does not cause true change and in time will produce exactly what

Christ confronted in the Pharisees, Matthew 23:26 “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup

and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” There is a direct connection between what our core

values are and how they shape our beliefs. There is another direct connection to how these beliefs shape

and direct our behavior.

WHAT ARE VALUES?

3 Descriptions:

1. The things you hold as important.

2. They manage the way you live and work.

3. They determine your life priorities.

The priorities that drive my lifestyle.

My values form a code that determine my priorities.

“Values are the essence of who we are as human beings. Our values take us out of bed each morning,

help select the work we do, the company we keep, the relationships we build, and ultimately, groups and

organizations associate with. Our values influence every decision and move we make, even to the point

of how we choose to make our decisions.“ - Dr. Robert Rue

3 Values that are import to you:


WHAT IS CHRISTIAN ETHICS?

Christian consists of the standards by which evaluate and determine our behavior so that

we may live as a believer a life that pleases God.

Your ethic answers the most important question for each believer.

How should I to do what is and and good?

Answering this question in affect creates the foundation to what our Code for Christian Living a Christian

Life springs from.

The Code for Living a Christian Life Consists of

BIBLICAL

VALUES

BIBLICAL VALUES

BIBLICAL ETHICS

BIBLICAL CONDUCT

BIBLICAL

CONDUCT

BIBLICAL

ETHICS


HOW DO VALUES INFLUENCE MY CONDUCT?

MY

PERSONAL

VALUES

MY CODE

OF ETHICS

MY

CONDUCT

I value my family more than my work.

If I ever have a conflict between priorities my family will win out every time.

I will miss my works party to be able to attend my daughters play.

Conflict: My work party is the same night as my daughters school play.

*Values help me discern between my priorities.


personal salvation the filter for my values was What makes me happy?

salvation the filter form my values is What Glorifies God?

A Difference in Values Can Cause Conflict

1. Biblical Values are Constant. They do not change.

2. When conflict arrises it is because there is a difference in personal values.

3. In theory all we need to do is our values with biblical values and this will eliminate conflict.

Culture Education

Family Religion

Personal

Values

FILTER

The Question

How Do we form Values?

Each of us has a culture we grew up in, a family we were raised in, a religious belief system and schools

that formed us. All of these together have shaped our values over the years. The key to all that has gone

into our lives has been the type of filter we have used to pick and choose what we let in and shape our

core values.

TWO TYPES OF FILTERS


But there is a struggle and a tension!

The Result:

1. If we are honest, we must admit that we have carried over some of our selfish values into our new life

in Christ.

2. These mixed, or at odd values affect our code of ethics.

3. This erroneous code of ethics produces a mixture of and behavior.

Past

Values

Sanctified

Values

There are things that make me happy but do not glorify .

There are things that glorify God but don’t make me .

There are things in common because sometimes what I hold as important is

also what God.


THE WORLDS WHERE I LIVE OUT MY VALUES AND ETHICS

Can I live with the same Values and Ethics in all my worlds?

God’s desire is that we form new values that will lead us to form a new code of conduct.

This process is called .

FAMILY CHURCHWORK

Biblical

Values

Personal

Values

Collective

Values

Shared

Ethics


Personal evaluation:

Next month a retreat (for women or men) will be a time where you could grow spiritually and connect with

the brothers in the church, but it means you have to spend a Friday afternoon or all day Saturday and you

already have planned on playing football, or hang out with friends, etc …

What will you do? Do you sacrifice your own time to invest in a time of spiritual growth?

You heard messages that told you to have a strong marriage, you need to invest the time and resources

required. This means a sacrifice of your time and money. You’ll have to spend less time at work / fishing /

spending time doing what you want and spend time with your spouse weekly.

Will I Invest the time and resources?

Are you investing time and resources?

Principles that will help me to form Biblical Values

Matthew 22:37-40

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all

your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor

as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

1. We value God and His Word above all things (Deut. 10: 14-22, Luke 11: 27-28)

a. We value the authority of God and all authority established by Him in this world.(2 Chronicles 30: 8,

1 Peter 2: 13-23)

b. Value exclusive place of worship God in my life. (Exodus 20: 3, Deut. 5: 7)

c. Value truth over comfort. (2 Timothy 4: 1-5)

2. We value others as ourselves. (Romans 12:10, 13: 8-10, 1 John 3: 16-18, Philippians 2: 5-8.)

a. We value people over possessions. (Romans 12: 9-16, 15: 1-3)

b. We value integrity over reputation. (Gen. 39, Rev. 3: 1-6.)

c. We value our physical and spiritual family for personal gain. (Ephesians 5:25, 6: 4, 1 Corinthians 12,

Romans 12: 3-5.)


The Ten Commandments: The Ethical Code for Israel

Love The Lord

Love Your Neighbor

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet

Biblical Principles to help me form my Code of Ethics:

1. It is a mistake to worship other gods or something created by the one True God. Exodus 20:3

2. It is wrong to covet what another man is or what he has. Exodus 20:17

3. It is a mistake to use my body for any perverse sexual activity as fornication or adultery. (1 Cor. 6: 18-20,

Galatians 5: 19-21)

4. It is a mistake not to tell the truth. (Leviticus 19:11, Ephesians 4:15)

5. It is not right to divorce. Marriage must remain for a lifetime. (Malachi 2:16, Hebrews 13: 4)

6. It is wrong to disobey the authorities that God has placed on my life. (Romans 13: 1-7)

7. We must love our enemies and do not pay evil for evil. (Luke 6:27, Romans 12:19)

8. We must seek the good of others before us. (Mark 12:31, 2 Cor. 5:15)


PERSONAL

VALUES

MY CODE

OF ETHICS

BIBLICAL

CONDUCT

I value the authority of God on my life. He is my Lord.

When I make decisions, I seek God’s truth always wanting His will for my life.

When I need to make a decision, I do not go to my friends but to my God and His Word

and I value his advice over everything.

24 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - OVERCOMING STUBBORN SINS

overcoming stubborn sins

INTRODUCTION:

Before we were born again, we were to sin, and we have brought many of our sinful patterns

right into our new life. However, God has called us to live a life free from such slavery. (Ephesians 4:17-19)

GOOD NEWS! WE don’t have to be slaves.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility

of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because

of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have

given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

(Romans 6:17-18 & 1 Corinthians 10:13)

17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart

the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and

have become slaves to righteousness.

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not

let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way

out so that you can endure it.


1. Our controls our (Titus 1:15)

Ej. Let’s say that a man sees a pretty woman who is hoping to get his attention...

a. The man of poor character will think...

b. The man of good character will think...

2. Our determine our . (Proverbs 17:8, Isaiah 29:15, Matthew 6:7)

3. Our turn into over time. (Hebrews 10:24-25 & 1 Timothy 5:13)

4. Our develop our . (Ruth 3:10-11 & Proverbs 31)

THE BEHAVIOR CYCLE

26 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - OVERCOMING STUBBORN SIN

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ROMANS 1:18-32

How does this relate to the Behavior Cycle?


CHARACTER

CHARACTER

CHARACTER

ACTIONS

ACTIONS

ACTIONS

THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS

HABITS

HABITS

HABITS

controls

controls

controls

develop

develop

develop

determ

ine

determ

ine

determ

ine

turn into

turn into

turn into


The Law of Diminishing Returns:

When a pleasure is gained illegitimately, the joy that it produces will diminish with time and repetition, never reaching the level of the first experience. In attempts to continue experiencing joy, one must delve further and further into the activity until there is no joy found at all. - David Graef

Example: Roller Coasters

Example: Remember your first kiss?

A romantic kiss can produce a sense of joy and pleasure, even if it is not a pure expression of

. If it is not, over time it will lose its . Usually, the couple will experiment with even deeper expression in order to receive the same level of pleasure. Why?

Because...

HOW DO WE BREAK THE CYCLE?CHARACTER

ACTIONS

THOUGHTSHABITS

controls

develop

determ

ineturn into


3 STEPS

1. /

2. /

3. /

Examples: Ephesians 4:25-29

1. “Changing our Character” is . (1 John 1:8, 1 Corinthians 3:18 & James 1:21-22)

2. “Changing our Habits” is . Sin tends to , not shrink. (Hebrews 11:25)

3. “Changing our Actions” is . Eventually, the heart will reveal itself. (Proverbs 4:23)

4. We break the cycle by . (Ephesians 4:17-24)

Underline every word that has to do with the mind.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off Renew your mind Put on

etc. etc. etc.


PRACTICAL STEPS FOR OVERCOMING STUBBORN SINS

1. Determine the you need to overcome.

- Start small and .

- Let the Spirit guide you via .

- Let your mentors guide you via .

2. Determine what you believe when you are committing the sin.

Example: Pornography

3. Find Scriptures that the lies, and write them on 3x5 cards.

4. & in the Scriptures until you them.

31 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

INTRODUCTION:

Do you desire to live in God’s Will? If you are taking this course, there is a good chance you answered yes.

Have you ever struggled to know what God’s will was? The topic of finding God’s will is one of the most

perplexing issues in modern-day theology.

In his book, Just Do Something, Kevin DeYoung states the following:

“In the usual understanding of God’s will...[God] has the perfect plan for our lives. And He’ll hold us

accountable if we don’t follow His will. But He won’t show us what that will is... So we obsess over God’s will

of direction, eventually getting frustrated with God for not showing us what He wants.”

The Tension:

Perhaps you have heard or asked the following question yourself:

“If I mess up early on, does that mean I’ve screwed up my chances for ever being in God’s will?”

You see, sometimes, all we want is for God’s Word to be our Magic 8-Ball. We seek God’s ANSWERS only when we have questions.

There exists a tension: We want to live according to God’s will, but we struggle to know what His will is. But there is good news!

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. I Corinthians 14:33

God is not the author of all the CONFUSION surrounding His will. In fact, He loves to reveal secret things! Consider what Daniel said about God when the king asked him to tell him his dream before he interpreted it.

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets… Daniel 2:27-28a

God is not a SNEAKY God who likes to hide His plan from His followers, and then punish them for taking a wrong turn. No, God loves to reveal.

So, where do we go so wrong?


I. THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL METHODS

A. What are the Traditional Methods for Finding God’s Will?

1. We look for a .

The rational is, if God wants to reveal something to me, He’ll do it! Since He is all-powerful, He’ll

probably do it in some miraculous way! After all, Didn’t He give Hezekiah a sign to show that He

meant business when He promised him to extend his life? (See 2 Kings 20:8-11.)

Yes, God revealed His will miraculously… but does that mean it should be the normative method for

finding God’s will? Maybe God didn’t reveal His will every time because He is also in the business of

building FAITH. If God revealed His will miraculously every time, we would never GROW in our faith.

2. We lay out a .

The fleece method is a variation of the sign method. The terminology of the fleece comes from the

narrative of Gideon. (Read Judges 6:36-40.)

Some have used this passage to develop a method for determining God’s will (even though that is

clearly not the point of the passage.) The idea is that we TEST God. We say something like, “Ok, God.

If it’s your will for me to do “X” then make sure that “Y” happens as a sign.

The difference between a fleece and a sign is the issue of CONTROL. With a sign, God is at least in

control of the sign. With a fleece, we can make demands of God that He craft his signs to fit our

standard of proof.

3. We twist .

The twisted scripture method is also a variation of the sign method. In this method, the individual

goes to Scripture, but instead of looking for the objective meaning of the text, he or she will look for

hidden messages within the text. We will discuss this more in the next section.

4. We trust our .

Oftentimes, we simply trust our gut. By that, I mean that we simply follow our instincts or impressions.

B. The Problem with Looking for a Sign

1. It is true that sometimes God gives signs to reveal His will.

There are several biblical examples. (See Exodus 3:12, I Kings 13:3, Numbers 14:11-12, and Luke 2:12.)

2. These signs were given at .

Whether God gives a sign simply because we are still weak in our faith, or because His will in an

instance might be rather complicated, God is always in control of when, where, and with whom He

will do so.


3. When people asked for a sign, Jesus always pointed them back to .

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from

You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,

and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Matthew 12:38-39

Why so strong a statement? What’s so wrong with looking for a sign?

Even though God may choose to reveal His will through a sign of some sort, looking for a sign is not

healthy for several reasons. If we look for signs…

1. We will never have our faith .

God is in the business of building our faith. Consider how obvious He made His presence to the

Israelites early on, compared to how He related to them once they entered the Promised Land.

2. We will the biblical methods for discerning God’s will.

If God consistently revealed His will through signs, we would never need to read God’s Word or rely

on the Holy Spirit (or pray for that matter.) Christian living would be pure religion and no relationship!

3. We might interpret occurrences as signs.

There is a danger in looking for a sign in that you can interpret almost anything as a sign, if you want

one bad enough.

I had a friend once that liked a girl from Lincoln Park, MI. He wondered if it was God’s will for him

to pursue this relationship, so he asked God for a sign. Later on that day, we went to the local

supermarket where we ran into Mrs. Lincoln, who had just parked her car. That was all it took. (And

the relationship never worked out.)

When someone presses forward with an endeavor, thinking it is God’s will, he can get himself into a

mess of trouble!

C. The Problem with Laying Out a Fleece

Truthfully, all of the problems with the sign method would also apply to the fleece method as the twisted

Scripture method. Here is the specific problem with using the Gideon narrative as the normative model

for finding God’s will.

1. The Gideon narrative is about the of Gideon’s faith.

2. The story of the fleece is from the of the story when Gideon’s faith was weak.

3. The point of the story was to show how weak in faith Gideon was.

4. It was never intended to be a method for discovering God’s will.


D. The Problem with Twisting Scripture

Let’s spend a little more time here, since this is such a prevalent method by Christians today.

Using the twisted Scripture method of interpreting the Bible is called, “Rhema Theology.” It is based

on a misunderstanding of the Greek word rhema in the New Testament. It is one of two words often

translated as “word.” Logos means word in the sense of message. For example, “I sent word (logos) to

my friends that I would be late.” Rhema simply means word in the grammatical sense. “This sentence is

six words (rhema) long.”

In regards to Scripture, some theologians have taught that logos is God’s word for the Bible, and rhema

is a special word from God, using the Bible but with an alternate and specific interpretation. This is

outright false.

1. Definition of Rhema Theology

An approach to the Bible that believes God presently reveals individual and PERSONAL interpretations

of the Bible to the reader today, and that these private interpretations are biblically authoritative

even though they are completely unconnected from the original CONTEXT of the passage.

Examples: What could be the subjective interpretations of the following?

a. Jeremiah 34:4-5a - For the person going into battle…

b. John 11:4 - For the person fighting with cancer…

2. 4 Problems with Subjective Interpretation

a. It is in Scripture. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

b. The Bible interpretation becomes subject to US, instead of us being subject to it.

c. The interpretation gets ignored.

d. We trust in promises that were never for us.

If God does not follow through in the way we (or desire), then we lose in

Him.

E. The Problem with Trusting our Gut

1. Sometimes, we just get a or an impression that one path is better than another.

2. There is no way of whether this is coming from God, or from some other subconscious

desire.

3. There is nothing wrong with trusting your guy as long as it is telling you to do something you know

is good.


4. The problem with trusting your gut comes when we give it the full weight of .

“So the problem with impressions is not that they are subjective... [It’s] in assuming they come from

the Lord... If a thought or impulse pops into your head, even if it happens while you are reading

Scripture, don’t assume it is a voice from heaven.” (pg. 84)

But what about the Holy Spirit’s guidance of Paul in the book of Acts?

1. The book of Acts gives numerous examples of visions, audible voices, and promptings of the Holy

Spirit.

2. These extraordinary means of guidance were sought out.

3. The normative method of the apostles was to use and good judgment.

“I don’t deny that God can still speak to us in direct, surprising ways. Of course, it must always be

tested against Scripture, but I believe God can still give visions. The point is that these extraordinary

means in the New Testament are just that - extra-ordinary.” (pg. 84)

II. 3 Types of God’s Will

To talk intelligently and biblically about God’s will, we must define the terms. There are three connotations

when we talk about God’s will, outlined by Kevin DeYoung in his book, Just Do Something.

A. God’s will of

This refers to God’s overarching PLAN, from before the creation of the world and into eternity future. It

includes everything that has happened, or will happen.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out

everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your books were written, every one of them, the days that

were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16

B. God’s Will of

This refers to what God desires that we DO.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you

should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like

the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage

of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you

before. I Thessalonians 4:3-6


The So-called Contradiction

Wait, isn’t that a contradiction? How can God desire for us to do His will, if He has an eternal plan? How

can God plan out the details of His decree, yet allow men to make choices?

It would seem, at first glance, that the sovereignty of God and human responsibility (or volition) are at

opposite ends of the spectrum… that they couldn’t possible co-exist. (See below.)

Instead of seeing them as contradictions, it is best to see them as 2 sides of the same coin. It’s hard to see

one side when you’re looking at the other, but they are both parts of the same coin.

So we should not define God’s sovereignty in such a way as to eliminate choice and

responsibility.

3 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

But we also should not stress human responsibility in such a way as to God’s sovereignty.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25-30

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Matthew 6:25-30

C. God’s Will of .

This refers to the day-to-day will of God in which we seek to live. This is where 90% or more of the tension lies. We know God is in control (Will of Decree). We oftentimes realize that a path is sinful (Will of Desire), but we struggle to know what path God wants me to take today!

“One way to look at it is like this: God’s will of desire is the struggle between right and WRONG, but God’s will of direction is the struggle between right and LEFT.” - Dave Graef

The question now is, how does God reveal His will in these three areas?

Sovereignty of God Human Responsibility


III. How Does God Reveal His Will?

A. God’s Role & Ours: How God reveals His will, and what our role should be.

1. Will of Decree

How did Joseph know that God’s will of decree was for him to save the known world from famine?

How did Ruth know that God’s plan was for her to meet her kinsman redeemer?

2. Will of Desire

How did Joseph obey God’s will of desire?

How did Ruth obey God’s will of desire?

How God reveals His will... Our Role...

He UNRAVELS it over time. TRUST


He reveals it in SCRIPTURE. OBEY


3. Will of Direction

B. Tools of the Trade

1.

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

If you want to know what God’s will is, you have to get to know the Scriptures!

2.

...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. Proverbs 1:5

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 15:22

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs

19:20

3. PRAYER

a. Not for a .

b. For motives.

c. For .

d. For to obey.

e. For God’s to advance.


He gives us some TOOLS. USE THE TOOLS.


IV. How Do We Discover

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 12:31-34

1. We seek first that which would the Kingdom. (God’s will of Decree)

2. We what the Scriptures tell us. (God’s will of Desire)

3. We God’s will. (God’s will of Direction)

40 | SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - FINANCIAL FREEDOM

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP

Introduction:

In the Bible, it is called “being a good steward” referring to the person who manages their money as God

intended it. As a good steward, one has to be faithful no matter if they given much, or if they have been

given little to manage.

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. I Corinthians 4:2

3 Basic Principles of Stewardship

1. Everything I have has been given not earned.

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36

2. The person who gave me everything I have has an expectation.

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10-12

3. There are commands that guide how I am to use everything that has been placed in my hands.

The Bible gives guidelines and defines clear limits for one to be faithful in handling money. It also makes clear that God blesses those who are faithful.

Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. Matthew 24:46-47

And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, Deuteronomy 8:10-14

Conclusion:

The power of the truth of God enables me to be a good steward.


4 Aspects of Biblical Stewardship

Earn Biblically

Give Biblically

Spend Biblically

Save Biblically

I. Earn Money Biblically

3 Principles To Earn Money Biblically

Principle 1: The Bible teaches that the ability to make money is a from God.

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Principle 2: The Bible teaches that when you make money, you must do so to the Lord. What does “honor the Lord” mean?

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

1. I recognize that my work is an opportunity to represent my Lord in front of a lost world. All I do is to of who He is.

2. I recognize that everything I earn through this work, God has given me to administer for Him. I must keep Him as the priority over all my earnings.

Principle 3: God takes care of the you earn.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. Luke 16:10

II. Give Money Biblically

> Our giving should be .

> Our giving should also be done with .

> This is because this is the way in which we should reflect the way our Heavenly Father gives to us.

2 Principles for Giving Money Biblically

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 2 Corinthians 9:7


Principle 1: Giving is not just a financial matter, but also .

Principle 2: You should be asking God to show you how much to give, where to give, when to give, and

even, in some cases, if you must give to something or to someone.

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put

into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

What about Tithing? > The Bible, in the Old Testament refers frequently to give proportionately as tithing. The literal translation of the word tithe is TENTH > In the NewTestament, we do not have passages that focus on tithing, but we found a guide for the believer to give.

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1 Corintios 16:2

III. Spend Money Biblically

6 Principles for Spending Money Biblically

Principle 1: If one believes that the money you have is yours to spend as you please, this leads them to spend . It is very easy to get on that road, however, it is very dangerous and hard to get off of.

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Haggai 1:6

Principle 2: This path often leads to strained relationships with others, to headaches, stress and dissatisfaction.

Principle 3: Spend recklessly or with a lack of wisdom, is the leading cause of financial difficulties..

Recognize God

Receive Increase

Give The NeedySpread the Gospel


For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has

enough to complete it? Luke 14:28

Principle 4: The road in the beginning seems so but, over time, more and more difficult, until you end up in slavery. You become a slave to your debts, lenders and possibly even bankruptcy.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7

Easy Debt Hard to pay it back Financial Slavery

Principle 5: God can use your financial slavery to help you decide to stop doing things your way. God wants you to walk in His way, because by doing so, you will receive .

And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. Job 36:8-11

Spend Recklessly Debt > Payments > Slavery GOD’S WORD Save > Pay > Liberty Spend Wisely

Principle 6: At first, spending biblically can seem very difficult.

WHY?

1.Because you’re used to doing things your own way, rather than doing God’s way. Something new always starts to be difficult and uncomfortable.

2. Second, it takes time to make a budget or a spending plan.

What is a Budget?

Definition:

My fundamental tool for the biblical and strategical management of my money for the honor of God. It is an itemized list or summary of my income and expenses for a months time. The Budget keeps my income aligned with my expenses acting as a limit or filter by which I measure financial decisions from myself and my family.

6 Steps to Creating a Budget

Step 1: what your monthly earnings are.

- Take your annual earnings/salary and divide it by 12.

- Make sure that does not include benefits or money set aside for taxes.

Step 2: Subtract the fixed monthly expenses..

- Mortgage, Rent or Car Payments etc…


Step 2: Subtract the fixed monthly expenses..

- Mortgage, Rent or Car Payments etc…

Step 3: Subtract the average for other monthly expenses.

- Electricity, Water, Gas.

- Always estimate on the high end.

Step 4: Make a Budget with the money that remains for…

- Including food, clothing, entertainment, gasoline, car repairs and home, gifts, holidays, etc.

- All expenses should be in the expense list.

Step 5: every expense and put the bill in a file marked with the category, keeping your expense current.

- The goal is to not to spend more than the limit set in the budget for each area.

- If you do not have a receipts, write one for your own records.

Step 6: After a month, see if you could “live in BLACK.” not going over your budget.

- This is to say you lived with in your means, not beyond what you earn.

- At the end of the month you will have earned more and spent less.

6 Principles That I Should Remember While I Make a budget

Principle 1: Do not forget to give your to your local church.

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Galatians 6:6

Principle 2: Pay your and your debt always.

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:7

Principle 3: Take care of the needs of your family before your own.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8

Principle 4: Spend than you earn.

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Proverbs 21:20

Principle 5: Pay your bills and debt on time.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:28


Principle 6: your debt, this is a priority.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romanos 13:8

IV. Save Money Biblically

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timoteo 3:1-5

4 Biblical Principles on Saving

Principle 1: The main reason why most people are poor savers is that we live in a culture that does not practice self-denial.

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Proverbs 21:20

A good rule is to keep two to three months of your salary in the bank so if you can not work due to illness or emergency you can still provide for your family and pay your bills while you look for a new job.

Principle 2: it is better to save a little than nothing at all.

Principle 3: Try to create a financial cushion saving a little at a time for times of emergencies. This will bring some security during times of emergency.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Proverbs 22:7

Principle 4: If you save money for things you want or need, you can stay out of debt. Learn to wait until you have saved to buy the things you want.

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SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES · 3. the race 4. the race 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that