"Rule Like a Child"
TEXT: Genesis 4:7; Matt. 18; James 5:19-20
TRUTHS:
1. Being a righteous person has much to do with confronting and dealing with personal sin. Children of God must not allow sin to rule over them but instead are instructed to rule over sin. How does such a thing happen--by becoming childlike. We rule over sin by: (1) exercising humility, (2) pursuing innocence, (3) by being teachable, and (4) by offering forgiveness to others.
2. A local body should be made up of induvial believers who routinely pray and practice prayers of repentance. A local church must be on guard against holding aught in their hearts towards one another. It will impact the power that God can pour out on a body of believers and will hinder us from seeing others, the church, and the world in the way that the Lord does.
3. What is the plan of the devil? To make sure that you have unforgiveness in your heart (which enables sin to rule over you).
4. The Bible is not about practicality; it is about righteousness. Meaning, adherence to God’s Word may not prompt quick results (that are immediately noticeable). Sometimes practicing righteousness has no immediate benefit other than being pleasing to God.
5. What makes heaven rejoice? When someone lost in sin is found by the Shepherd. Additionally, the children of God are called to play a part in the Shepherd’s rescuing of lost sheep.
6. The Parable of The Unforgiving Servant teaches us the necessity of offering forgiveness to those who wrong or offend us. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to sin ruling over you and your life. When the Bible mentions that we are a people of ‘prophets and kings,’ this is what it is referring to—the work of forgiving others so that we rule over sin and prepare the way for the power of God to rescue lost sheep.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. How would you define what it looks like to practice each of the (4) things mentioned in 'Truth 1'? For example, what does it mean to practice humility in relation to ruling over sin?
2. In what ways will harboring unforgiveness and aught against one another (in a local church) change the way we see ourselves, the church, and the world?
3. Upon understanding what the plan of the devil is (and for believers especially), how should this inform our routine thinking as we live our normal day-to-day lives?
4. What are the children of God's roles when considering what it looks like to rescue lost sheep? What has the average believer been called to when considering the work the Lord has entrusted to His children (or Church)?
5. What would you say to someone who argues that 'Truth 4' does not provide a valid enough motivation to pursue righteousness? In other words, someone who says, "What's the use, it appears pointless and arbitrary to pursue in light of that reality?"
TALK TO GOD:
Pray into the following areas:
Quick to forgive, slow to speak, and slow to anger
For lost sheep to be brought into the fold
To become childlike and rule over sin
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