To Be Like Jesus

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Restoring the Image (Part 25) - The Transforming Power of Prayer

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way." (1 Samuel 12:23)

When I consider the monumental task of helping a person become like Jesus, I quickly realize I have no power in myself (Phil 2.13). Sure, I can get people to do religious stuff but I can train a parrot to quote Scripture. Although we participate with God in the restoration process, we must never fool ourselves into believing it is our efforts that really change the human heart.

This is why prayer is so important. First, it is a declaration of our dependence on God to do a work in the individual’s heart. It is an act of humility that pleases the Father. We properly align our hearts and minds with God’s as we pray for another to do the same.

Secondly, prayer enlists God’s power to change a person at the depth of their soul. Without supernatural intervention, all change is superficial and temporary. We are not trying to help people just know and act like Jesus, we want them to be like Jesus (Lk 6.40).

It’s not difficult to learn to pray for others. We do it all the time and it’s a significant part of church life. But if you listen carefully, you almost never hear people praying for another’s spiritual wellbeing. It is normally a physical ailment or a particular trial a person is enduring. These are important, but they pale in light of spiritual needs. We need to pray for their spiritual growth and health as well. (Phil 1.9, Col 1.9, 2 Th 3.1, Phm 1.6, Heb 13.18, Jm 5.16)

Obviously, I’m familiar enough with their lives to pray through specific needs. But another way that I pray for others is to look through my quiet times and pray significant passages for them. I want to ask God to work the living Word into their lives (Heb 4.12). I pray for their future and of course, I ask them what they would like me to pray for them.

As disciplers, praying for others is not a luxury. It is the underpinning of all our labors.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Restoring the Image (Part 24) - An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21)

One of the greatest dangers facing Christendom today is the theology that teaches a formulaic solution to man’s condition rather than the actual person of Christ. For example, I hear things like: pray this prayer and you will be saved, come forward and receive the grace of God, you need to be baptized, etc… Doing these things are an important part of following Jesus, but they are often presented as the quick ticket on the train out of Hell with only a cursory mention of Jesus as the conductor. These formulas can be taught in complete isolation from knowing Christ and thereby negating the power of salvation through a misplaced faith and loyalty. We begin to put our faith in the formula rather than the person of Jesus Christ. Then we start hearing statements of faith like, “I know I’m saved because I went to catechism, or I was baptized, or I prayed the prayer.” Rather than, “I know I’m saved because I am a follower of Jesus and He is transforming me into His image.”

As witnesses and disciplers, we need to help potential followers of Jesus understand that these religious acts are empty in themselves. We need to help them see true spirituality is directly centered on the person of Christ (2 Cor 13.5, 1 Jn 5.11-13). And, although I believe conversion is instantaneous, I also believe assurance does not come from a single religious act but rather from an active lifestyle of following Jesus. We need to spend the time required to introduce people to Jesus so they can make an informed decision. Witnessing is helping people discover Jesus not religion.

The incredible side effect of sharing Christ rather than the formula is that we actually get to know Him better and become like Him.

Generational Ministry Bible Study

Generational Ministry Bible Study - Biblical study on how the Life of Christ transforms people from one generation to the next. (These verses were compiled through a survey of Navigator staff and associates on generational ministry. Thanks for your participation!)

1 Cor 11:1
1 Cor. 3:6-11
1 Kings 2.2-4
1 Kings 8.25
1 Thes 1:6-9
2 Tim 2.2
Acts 5:36-37
Col 1:28,29
Dan 4:3
Deut 11:18-24
Deut 18:15,18
Deut 30:16
Deut 4:9-10
Deut 6:4-9
Eph 3.21
Ezek 22:30
Gal 3:16
Gal 3:26-29
Gal 4:1-7
Gal 4:19
Gal 4:28
Gen 1:28
Gen 12:1-3
Gen 15:1
Gen 15:1-6
Gen 17:1-2
Gen 22:18
Gen 8:15-17
Gen 9:1
Is 42:6,7
Is 43:3-7
Is 49:1-6
Is 51:1-2
Is 51:8
Is 54:2-3
Is 58:10-12
Is 59:21
Is 6:8
Is 60:21-22
Jer 5:1
John 1:12
John 10:27
John 13.15
John 15
John 15:16
John 17
John 17:18-21
John 20.21
Joel 1:3
Judg 10:2
Lam 5:19
Lk 1.50
Lk 9:27
Mark 10:45
Mark 3:14
Mark 5:19, 20
Mt 28.18-20
Mt 3:8
Mt 4:19
Phil 1:6
Ps 102:18
Ps 145.4
Ps 33.11
Ps 60.22
Ps 71:18
Ps 78:1-7
Ps 89.4
Titus 2.3-5

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com or click the envelope below to send this post to a friend...

© 2008 Following Jesus by Chuck Wood All Rights Reserved

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Illustration - The Discipleship Pipeline

I use this illustration to help guys gage the different growth phases men may pass through. It also gives them a definite vision for how God can use their lives as a laborer in the Kingdom.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Testimony 9: Seeing the Light

Chapter 9

But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
(1 John 1:7)

As the orange sunrise filled the room, Truth filled my soul. I had been living a lie. And I had lied to so many. I was lying to my Platoon Sergeant who had come to trust and respect me for my skills and leadership toward the younger guys. He didn’t know what was going on out at “The House.” I’m sure if he had, I would have been thrown out of the Army. I was a lie to my parents. Both were very successful officers. At the time Dad was a Major and Mom was a Captain. They were so proud of me because I was in one of the most elite units in the world. If they had known the real me, it would have broken their hearts. And lastly, I was a lie to myself. I thought, “as long as it didn’t affect my job, I could do anything I wanted. It wasn’t the Army’s business what I did off duty, right?” But I knew it was affecting my duties and more importantly, it was affecting my whole life. That morning it suddenly dawned on me: I couldn’t lie to God. He sees everything just as it is. In all its rawness, God saw my life as the train wreck it really was. He knew the truth.

Testimony 1: In the Beginning
Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You
Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion
Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution
Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted
Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee
Testimony 9: Seeing the Light
Testimony 10: Receiving God's Plan for My Life

Friday, December 26, 2008

Restoring the Image (Part 23) - Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

Restoring the Image (Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" (Romans 10:14-15)

We previously discussed the role of the Holy Trinity in a man’s conversion. However, Scriptures are filled with admonitions for human involvement in liberation of a man’s soul. We are not only image-bearers but the message-bearers.

In God’s great kindness, He allows us to participate in building His Kingdom. I’ve given this a lot of thought. I’m sure God could choose a more efficient method to proclaim the gospel. He could rearrange the stars to spell “John 3:16” or have a big angel show up on your 16th birthday to give you the message. Instead, He allows mere men to work by His side and participate in the “Family Business.” He chooses us. What a tremendous privilege.

On the other hand, reproduction goes beyond privilege. The Father commands us to help fish become fishers of men, sheep become shepherds, and people become priests (Mt 4.19, 28.18-20, Ac 1.8). The reproductive nature of God is part of our original design. To be like God is to reproduce like God. This is not merely reproducing in the physical realm, but it must also be spiritual. The people of Noah’s day had reproduced physically, but had failed to reproduce spiritually and the wrath of God was poured out on all mankind (Gen 6.5-8).

So, we are both privileged and commanded to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others to reproduce ourselves. This has intrinsic value to our own spiritual growth. More importantly, we glorify God by imitating His reproductive nature (Jn 15.8).

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Illustrations and Short Devo Index

Illustration - The Discipleship Pipeline
Illustration - The Tree
Illustration - Living Up to Our God Given Potential
Illustration - Phases for becoming a Man of the Word
The Parable of a US Army Aviator
Illustration - My Plan, His Plan, God's Plan
Illustration - The Components of Suffering
Lordship Changes
What does it mean to follow Jesus (Lordship)
Jesus and the Lordship of the Father
Motivation for the Word
The Five I's of Our Ministry
Illustration - 6 Obstacles to Truth
The Orbit Illustration (My Relationship with the World)
Time Management
Application of Truth and Grace
Key Passages for Family and Marriage
Balance for the Family and Lordship
Faith Illustration
The Prayer Hand
Corrections - Jesus, Man of Prayer
Quiet Time Illustration
The Temple Illustration