Joy

Bible Quotation

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven". Luke 10:20

Questions

Why does Jesus warn against spiritual success?

Why does experience make poor foundation for assessing ourselves spiritually?

Is Jesus announcing a ban or a warning?

What is the real basis of joy?

Is rejoicing 'in the Lord' always possible?

Do you rejoice much or little?

How can you increase your joy?

• Jesus gives this warning as he has just spoken about the powers the disciples have, he is warning us about becoming joyful in our own ends and power. In this we can become so in awe of what we can do that we in fact deny it is Gods power not ours.
• We as human beings assessing ourselves can become vein and only see dimly our reflections in the mirror of life how we are acting within our lives, where as He sees us clearly in every nook and cranny even though we may have hidden sides.
• Jesus is issuing a warning of our ability to see all things clearly. We can over look some things but often we may only see one side of the picture whether it be the good or the not so good.
• We as human beings are not always in union with our Lord and at those times  we feel the distance and our joy is not that of the Lord only when we are in union with Him is it truly Joy of the Spirit.
• To me the real basis of joy is that by the power of Jesus Christ I am made fit to live eternal life with the Father in heaven. All else is earthy experiences.
• Do I rejoice I wonder? There are moments of clear rejoice where I am very clear on my path and am in union with Christ. At other times the light is not as bright. But I believe that to appreciate the Light we need the experience the darkness.
• I can increase my Joy by reading His word and walking a closer walk with Him in all that I do each day.

Lord let me walk the roads of my life in union with You as You direct my journey. Let me be the person You need me to be so that others may see and believe in YOU. Amen

Income

These Quotations and Questions are from:

Short Steps for Long Gains

brief studies to Christian growth - by Simon Manchester

Matthias Media

Bible Quote

'On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.." 1 Corinthians 16:2

How much of your money belongs to God?

How much should we give to gospel work?

Which words above imply discipline?

What guidance is provided concerning the amount to give?

What benefits come from generosity?

What is the greatest incentive to generosity?

How is your giving going?

 

• Home much of my money belongs to God, I wonder each day? Some doctrine says that we are to give 10% to the work of Gods Church, now is that before TAX or after TAX I wonder? Jesus did say when asked about a coin and who it belonged to "Render that which belongs to Cesar to Cesar and that which belongs to God to God.. I believe it is up to each individual to consider how they utilise the income of their home, with prayer, asking to be led to use the money in a wise way, which ultimately gives joy to God. He will put it in our hearts as to how we should or should not be distributing the income.
• Again as to how much we should give to gospel work is one of a personal walk with Jesus. Where the money income may be insignificant, that person may have much more in value to give in other ways. Utilizing their God given talents in His work.
• The implication of the words 'should set aside a sum' seem to me that each of us should be utilizing the incoming money in such a way that is befitting Gods word on our heart.
• The Guiding words are 'in keeping with his income'.. Simple but some would like to espouse it in a way that will benefit the church or the organisation rather than the individual.
• When we are generous with our time and money we reap what we sow, the abundance of giving gives much pleasure to the giver, and benefits the person who is in need of the giving.
• The greatest incentive to generosity is in the giving and if it is in a way that is honourable to God and not man and we do not seek praise here on earth we will find the Heavenly rewards.
• My giving some may say is at a lull but there is a time and place and we need to be discerning in where and how we give. Sometimes we have to get our own budgets in order and learn the lesson He is teaching us as we continue our walk with Him. Then the day will come and others will see how fruitful we have been. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.

Lord let my income be such that I have all my budget expenses paid, that I have some money left over for some small pleasure, but give me enough that I may become more generous to others in need. Give me each day my daily bread..  

Home

Bible Quotation

"And whatever you do, in words or deeds, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

How is the gospel affecting your home life?

Does this verse allow for the separation of Christian and 'secular' life?

How do we do things in Jesus' name?

Is anything outside his interest?

What makes this command hard to keep at your place?

Could you really change things?

How could your home be more fruitful?

• Our home life over the years has been affected by the gospel, as God has molded me into the Wife, Mother, daughter and sister or friend. As my life has been in line with the gospel then there has been real growth. When I wonder away at time the Christian growth does wain.
• I believe as a Christian we must live the life that God as ordained through Jesus Christ whether is be in our Christian fellowship or within the secular parts of our lives. It is by this means others will see and believe.
• As we live for Jesus, following his Words and examples we do this in His name. When we pray for guidance in Jesus Christ.
• Nothing is outside His interest, everything we do and think is of interest to Him. We often can try and shut Him out but even so He is there just waiting for us to return to His side.
• Our human frailties make it difficult at times. When we react to a situation before we think of what He would want us to do. Our wants and needs and selfishness can keep us from keeping this command.
• We have the power to change things at any time, when we react differently to any given situation then that situation is changed forever. Therefore when we seek Gods will in our home then we act and react differently to situations thus change will come. It may not always seem like this change is good but the final outcome will be for the good.
• Our home could be more fruitful when I let go and let God take over. Too often do I think I am but another player in the game of life, when I get the ball I think I have to run and make the try, when in fact I should stop and hand it back to God and then ask Him to show me the strategy of the next move.

Lord let me wait on Your Will each day of my game of Life..

Amen...

then the going will not be so tough.......

Growth

Bible Quotation

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

What is 'grace' for Christians?

How do you learn more of his Grace?

Is 'knowledge' just intellectual?

Who do you know who is 'Growing'?

Have you been growing this year?

What has contributed to that?

Are there any incentives to grow?

• Grace is the refinement of our state of being, our mind our soul our heart. It is like the free flowing waters of a clear stream which continually refreshes and shows us the journey and how to live the journey. It brings us closer to God as we walk each day.
• Grace comes as we begin to walk a closer walk with God, as we read His words and Pray and open heartedly accept His will for ourselves.
• I believe Knowledge is only ever information till it is given to another. There for Knowledge is more than just information it is knowing and understanding and accepting often by Faith do we really have Knowledge for with out the effort of Faith as we reach for the light switch does the light turn on. So to we now have the knowledge by reaching out to switch the switch will turn the light on.. It is like that for a Christian, with out the Faith to reach out and accept Jesus Christ the Light of God will never turn on even though we may have great amount of information on the subject, we have not got knowledge. We may understand intellectually but we have no Faith in that information. Just as a mathematician has to test and use his equations to prove they are right, first they have faith to challenge what they now know to come to their conclusion.
• I know that I am growing each day as God molds me and makes me as He wants me to be..Only when we are open to His WILL shall we grow in Grace.
• There have been times when I have notice great growth, and other times when I feel there has been no growth. Just as a garden sometimes need to lay without growth do I acknowledge that I need to lay dormant for the next growth spurt. As I stop and take in what God has to teach me then I begin to grow, often I may be in need of pruning to be able to grow as He wishes me to.
• Stopping and listening to God...not just hearing...but stopping and actively desiring to Know that He is in control and not I, then reading the Bible and Praying shows me the way to grow.
• The incentive to growing is the knowing and understanding of just where I am and where my journey may be from day to day. It can be the smile on my face, the warmth in my heart and the power in my words.

Lord let me Grow in your  Grace each and every day of my journey here on earth that I may fulfil the Journey you have made for me here.

Fellowship

 

Quotation

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.."  Hebrews 10:24-25

Why is meeting together important?

What might keep you from 'meeting'?

How do bad habits in this area affect us?

How do bad habits in this area affect others?

What factors brings about good fellowship?

Who encourages you?

Can you improve your effectiveness in encouraging others?

 

• Meeting together is important for strengthening and supporting each other. Just as a motor vehicle needs to go to a petrol station, or to a mechanic, for maintenance we need to meet with others to help refill the spirituality within by giving and receiving fellowship with each other. 
• Often habits can keep us from meeting together with others as we go our own way. We can often be disenchanted with others human frailties and use that as an excuse not to continue to meet with others, we can become cynical and keep to our selves thus missing out on what God may be offering us in fellowship with other people.
• These same factors affect us all at time as we believe we are right with God and do not have a need to meet with others to share our journey of life.
• Stepping out in faith and reaching out to others can unblock the obstacles which block us from these experiences.
• Where two or more are gathered in His name there is Love with this Love we can bring about great fellowship for our selve and others.
• God is encouraging me as I read His words and hear Him speak as He knows that my need for fellowship with others will in fact set me free..
• We can always improve our effectiveness as we walk in Faith following Jesus as we walk each day..

Lord help me to reach out to others so as they can reach out to me..

Amen..

Together we can move mountains... alone we feel empty...

Evangelism

Quotation

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

 

Questions

How does Jesus have such authority?

How might we explain it to a sceptic?

What does the command 'make disciples' mean?

What power creates a new disciple?

What makes a mature disciple?

Who will Christ be 'with'?

How are you going as a witness to Jesus?

 

Jesus has such authority because He is part of God, the part made human to walk upon this earth and take on the sin of human beings so that we may be fit to inherit eternal life with Him in Heaven.

To explain it to a sceptic it is in how we live our life that they will recognise the Christ in us. We can have all elegant words and know all the right Bible verses but with out LOVE that which comes from God we are but a clanging bell that they will never hear.

Making Disciples mean showing others the truth that we have found, expressing the Faith Hope and Love that we know are ours as we accept Jesus Christ as OUR Savior and live as Christ would want us to live.

The Creation of a new disciple comes as they accept for them selves personally what Christ did on the Cross for them, as they receive these truths, they are born of the Spirit and washed by the Blood of Christ and what was once a mystery to their minds becomes clear and simple as they begin to follow Christ day to day.

The making of a mature disciple is not the amount of time but the amount of effort put in by that person. The personal effort of reading His words and seeking His direction, and following the path that God has chosen for YOU. It is knowing...understanding...with Faith.

Christ is with us each day as we have accepted Him as our personal saviour or friend. He walks with us and talks with us in all that we do and say. He carries us through the tough times and gives us the wisdom to know where the journey is for us each day. Until our journey here on earth has been completed then He will be there waiting to welcome us up to Heaven.

How am I going as a witness to Jesus one might wonder, each day I spend moments with Him reading or just listening to what he might have to say to me.. I chat with Him and tell Him all the things that are on my mind. Sometimes I feel like I am walking very close to Him but other times I know I have strayed away, and He reaches out His hand to me and welcomes me to His side once again.

May I always be soft so that as God molds me into the shape he wants me to be it is not too painful, and follow Him each day.

Discipleship

Quotation

"The Son of Man must suffer many things..and be killed, and on the third day be raised.. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:22-23

 

Questions

• What is the difference between Jesus' cross and ours?
• Why is following Jesus (discipleship) so difficult?
• What sort of denial does Jesus mean?
• In practice, how do we take up our cross?
• In what areas do disciples struggle the most?
• Which areas are hardest for you?
• Is the 'following' worth it? Why?

Jesus' cross was for the atonement of all human sin to save us and make us fit to receive eternal life with him. Our cross is the personal walk we take with him each day once we accept His free gift for us.

Following Jesus is a discipleship as we in our human form are sinful and prone to sinful ways. To follow is to consciously each day decide to live as He would want us to live. It is practicing each day, it is learning the road rules of our highway to live beyond this world.

The denial Jesus refers to is our own self will to be selfish and go our own way, instead of following.

We take up our cross as we accept what Christ had done for us and we begin to live each day for Him following His words and not following our own self will. By doing this we show those around us the light which shines from within.

The hardest for me is to Trust and Believe that He is in control of my life each day in all that I do. I am often without Faith that He has the Map of my destiny, and it is up to me to follow each day.

The following is well worth it as each day there is a lesson to be learnt. As I remain close to Him each day I begin to gather strength of Faith and knowing and Trust. The road my be rocky but each day He gives me the Shoes to walk the roads. So often I dart off before putting on my shoes and then I complain and loose Faith and he smiles and shows me my shoes where I left them.

May I always have time each day to sit and pray and put my shoes upon my feet..