"Day and Night (Pt. 2)"
TEXT: Joshua 1:8; Romans 8:5-8; Matthew 16:21-23
TRUTHS:
1. We must be careful to guard against determining truth based upon personal preferences and deciding on that truth at such a quick and hurried pace. It will not be healthy for our souls, nor will it equip the generations below us to think critically and search for truth.
2. The Church of Jesus Christ is called to be the “pillar and buttress of the truth.” This highlights the importance of pursing truth in local churches. We are to be a visible representation of the truth and power of God.
3. Biblical meditation is not some new age practice that is simply done in the name of Jesus. Meaning, we aren’t called to simply think of spiritual stuff and see what pops into our heads. Rather, we think upon specific verses and ask ourselves questions concerning them. Meditation could rightly be defined as: (1) talking to yourself about God’s Word, (2) talking to others about God’s Word, and (3) talking to God about God’s Word.
4. Whatever your flesh wants, you can find someone preaching it in the name of Jesus. Our modern world does create some complexities concerning discerning what is true and untrue, this is one of them.
5. Jesus mentions “deception” four times when talking about the end (compared to only mentioning all the other aspects of the end only once). This reveals that we need to be concerned about deception as the end approaches. There are a lot of mysteries and unknowns concerning the return of Jesus, but it seems as if we can be certain about one thing: God’s people will face a great temptation to be deceived.
6. Individual biblical meditation is the “soil” in which corporate unity grows in. Meaning, as we individually meditate on God’s Word, our sovereign Father has a supernatural way of bringing us into corporate unity.
7. God created us with a capacity to enjoy things. It follows that, as a born-again child of God with new desires, to resist pursuing Christ and practicing the spiritual disciplines because they are viewed as un-enjoyable tasks should be viewed as a dangerous place to land.
8. God delights in mercy, not sacrifice. To primarily view the spiritual disciplines as sacrifices before God may position you to become self-righteous. We pursue Christ because we desire to, because we love Him and desire His presence, not primarily from a heart and place of sacrifice. Now, does that mean that Christians aren’t called to sacrifice? Oh no! Quite the opposite! The NT calls us to sacrifice to and for others, sometimes to the point of pain and loss. We sacrifice to God when we sacrifice for other people. These are important distinctions to make because they shape how we view God and His people.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. Why is determining truth at such a quick pace unhealthy for our souls? This seems like it could be a helpful practice, why is it not?
2. How can a local church be serious about pursuing truth? In what ways can we ensure that we are, in fact, the pillar and buttress of the truth?
3. In what ways can we prepare to resist deception? Can we?
4. What sort of questions should you be asking yourself as you meditate on God's Word? Give some examples.
5. "Whatever your flesh wants, you can find someone preaching it in the name of Jesus." What are some other ways that our modern world makes it difficult to discern truth?
6. What does this mean: "God delights in mercy, not sacrifice?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray into the following areas:
Help in practicing meditation (with self, others, and the Lord)
For ALAG to be a "pillar and buttress of the truth"
That we pursue Christ's Kingdom full of mercy (and not just sacrifice)
That the Lord would continue to prepare us to resist deception
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