2 Timothy 1:7

This week in ABF, Brad led us in learning about 2 Timothy 1:7. His notes are below incase you weren't able to be there this past Sunday.

2 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to Timothy, a man he had seen grow in maturity and had discipled from the beginning of Timothy's conversion. 

This was the last days of Paul's life, and he knew it.  Paul had been placed in prison again.  Emperor Nero was in power, and he was bringing great persecution to Christians.  They were being tortured and even murdered in many cases.  He writes this letter from prison, and you can feel through the tone of this letter that he knew his time was short.  (2 Tim 4:6 - 9)

2 Timothy 1:1-6.
Paul gives Timothy encouragement in vs 3 through His prayer.  Even though they are separated physically, Paul prays for him often.  

Vs 4 reveals the depth of their relationship and the spirit of love between these two men.  What an incredible bond we can share in Christ with our brothers and sisters.  We should praise God for the blessing of being in community with others who love Jesus.  

Vs 5: Pass on the love and faith you have in God to your family. 

Vs 6: Fan into flame the gift of God. Don't let it be extinguished.  There is this idea of cultivating and maturing your giftings through faith in God.

Then we arrive at our focal verse, verse 7.  

1. First, God gave us a spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives inside of us!  The same spirit that we read about in the scriptures! 

•   Ezekiel 36:25-29 – “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
•   John 14:26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
•   2 Corinthians 3:3 – “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
•   2 Corinthians 5:5 –"Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 
•   Ephesians 1:13-14 – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”

    2. Not a spirit of fear or timidity.  Earthly fear is not from God.  You will fear whatever your master is. If your master is money and possessions, then you will fear money and possessions.  If your master is found in some idol in your life, you will fear that.  If your master is the Lord, then you will fear the Lord.  That is for another message.  This verse is saying that the SPIRIT that has been placed inside of us, given us by God, is NOT a spirit of fear or timidity.  

•       Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
•       Isaiah 35:4– “Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
•       Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
•       Isaiah 41:13 – “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
•       Romans 8:15 – “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship…”

    3. The spirit given by God is one of power.  

•     Romans 8:11 – “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
•     Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
•     Acts 4:33 – “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.”
•    2 Corinthians 4:7-8 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
•     Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
•     1 John 4:4, 4-5 – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Paul says in Philippians that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. You cannot overcome the power of the spirit in such a man.  You can torture, threaten to kill, or even take the life of such a man, but they will maintain strength and power throughout the entire process.  

There is a song that says this line over and over again that I will listen to occasionally to get really fired up, and it says this, “The same power, that conquered the grave lives in me! Lives in me!  Your love that rescued the earth lives in me!  Lives in me!” (You can listen to this song here)

4. The spirit given us by God is one of love.  What draws people to the Lord is unconditional, unexplainable, undeserved love. Theologically explaining things to someone else will not motivate them to repentance.  However, the Spirit of God placed inside of you allows you to extend the love of God to others.  This is what draws them to the Lord.  It is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance!  Not that fact that is he all-powerful, all-knowing, mighty, just, king, sovereign.   He is all those things but it is his loving-kindness that draws men to repentance.

•     Psalm 103:8 – “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
•     Psalm 130:7 – “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.”
•     Romans 8:35-39 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
•     1 John 4:7-12 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him…Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

5. The spirit given us by God is one of self-discipline

•     Ezekiel 36:27 – “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
•     Romans 8:26 – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
•     1 John 2:3-6 – “We know we have come to know him if we keep his commands.  Whoever says, I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.  But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
•     1 John 4:24 – “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

I think we sometimes take for granted the freedoms we are given in this nation.  Do we face persecution?  Sure we do, but not like this. The churches at that time were facing great persecution. I want you to imagine that you are meeting in the church, quietly offering up your praises in whispers.  Stories are being shared among the members of things that are going on in other areas in the way of persecution.  Some have been embellished and exaggerated as they have been passed along.  People are scared, and they are turning to Timothy for answers, encouragement, and support.  And these are the words he offers.  “The Lord did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

Discussion:

1. Read the response of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that we covered in one of Pastor John’s sermons a few weeks ago in Daniel 3:13-18.  How does their response to King Nebuchadnezzar compare with these words of Paul?  
2. Does the realization that the power of the Holy Spirit of the Living God is inside of you change your way of thinking?  How so?
3. How does this word impact your marriage?    

Micah 6:8

Today was the beginning of a new series in our ABF. For this series, we will be focusing on our favorite verses from the Bible. This morning Jordan lead us in learning more about Micah 6:8 and the context surrounding that verse.

Incase you were unable to make it, here are the notes from class so you can study it on your own time this week!

"What does the Lord require of you?"

Favorite Verses: Micah 6:8

Author: Micah, a Judean prophet; his name means "Who is like Yahweh?" (Micah 1:1, 3:8, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

When: During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (about 750-700 BC)

Theme: Judgment and forgiveness. The Lord, the Judge who scatters his people for their transgressions and sins, is also the Shepherd-King who in covenant faithfulness gathers, protects, and forgives them. (ESV Study Bible) Micah 1:2-7, 4:10, 7:18-20

Key Passage: Micah 6:1-8

Discussion:

1. How would you describe what is taking place in verses 1-5? Who are the characters and what is the story? Who is speaking? (notice the words case and indictment)

Balak/Balaam- Numbers 24:10-14

Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1, 4:19); Notice contrast from Shittim (Numbers 25:1-9) to Gilgal (Joshua 5:6-9) 

2. Who is speaking in verses 6-7? How could you put the question in verse 6 into your own words? How do the people view sacrifice?

3. Who is speaking in verse 8? What does God require and how do they reflect God's character? 1 Samuel 15:22, Matthew 23:23-24

Justice: Genesis 18:19, Deut. 10:12-13, 17-18 

Kindness: Genesis 21:23, Ruth 3:10, 2 Samuel 9:1-3, 7-8

Humility: Proverbs 11:2

 Application:

1. What are the things we try to do to appease God or to gain entry to Heaven and how do they compare to God's desire for our lives?

2. How can we show justice/kindness/humility in our marriages?

Don't forget, you can also listen to Pastor John's sermons on the iTunes podcast if you were unable to attend or didn't get to watch it live online. Check it out here for more information!

Reminders:

-Ladies, be sure to sign up for the Revolution weekend that will be Oct. 19-20. You can get more information and register here.

-Prayer will be next Sunday (Oct. 7) at 8:45 AM in our ABF room.

Have a great Sunday everyone! :)

Pray Without Ceasing Ladies

This is from a devotional I get emailed to me from the website Girlfriends of God. I thought it was a great reminder of how we can glorify God in everything we do.

Melissa


"Doing Laundry to the Glory of God
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,

(1 Corinthians 10:31, NASB).

Friend to Friend

In my last devotion we met Amanda who said, “I just never have enough time to spend with the Lord,” Amanda cries. “I work forty plus hours a week, commute ninety minutes both ways, oversee elderly parents’ affairs, and take care of my five-year-old son. I’m either on the road, at my desk or taking care of someone else’s needs. And on top of that, I never feel like I’m doing any of it well. What does God want from me in the middle of all this madness? How can I carve out time for Him? I feel like I’m constantly failing Him!”

We also looked at how to solve Amanda’s dilemma (and mine and yours) by erasing the lines between the secular and the sacred so that in him we live and move and have our being encompasses all of life. Here’s what it would look like.

Suppose you acknowledge God’s presence as you walk down the grocery store aisle, drive through the car pool line, sit in the hair stylist’s chair, stir the spaghetti sauce, shampoo your hair, love your husband, or rake leaves in the yard. Isn’t that what in Him we live and move and have our being really looks like? Praying with your eyes wide open at times is the only way to practice prayer without ceasing.

Monday always follows Sunday, but when you erase the lines that separate the secular and the sacred, the world becomes your sanctuary. God’s presence one steady stream.

This was true for Jesus. He never hurried. He never panicked. He was never driven by the tyranny of the urgent. If I were in his sandals, I probably would have been wringing my hands with all I had to accomplish in three and a half years. I can hear myself now: “I’ve got three and a half years to make a difference. How can I cram all the miracles and teaching into this short amount of time?”

Three and a half years translates into 1,278 days. If you go back and count the days recorded in the four gospels, you’d come up considerably short. So what was Jesus doing on the days that were not mentioned by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? He lived His life. He worked. He ate. He washed. He partied. He prayed. He studied. He meditated. He listened. The Sacred lived in the midst of the secular.

Paul wrote: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB). Whatever you do…

Cleaning bathrooms to the glory of God.

Vacuuming the floor to the glory of God.

Reading my Bible to the glory of God.

Singing praises to the glory of God.

Being intimate with my husband to the glory of God.

Cooking dinner to the glory of God.

Helping in the soup kitchen to the glory of God.

Shopping for groceries to the glory of God.

Mailing packages to the glory of God.

Filing my taxes to the glory of God.

All things…to the glory of God.

What does “to the glory of God” mean? The Greek word for glory, doxa, denotes honor or splendor, a reflection of God’s character. We are to reflect God’s character, His ways, and His splendor in everything we do. Discounting sinful behavior, such as sexual perversions, gossip, drug and alcohol abuse, or any number of immoral acts that contradict the life of a Christian, our entire existence both in the secular and the sacred realm could and should be an act of worship. When that happens, words such as “do everything as unto the Lord” and “pray without ceasing” become clearer and more within our grasp.

Yes, we do need times alone with God. Jesus pulled away to be with the Father often. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to spend extended time alone with his Father, then we certainly do too. However, by acknowledging God’s presence in every aspect of our lives, we will experience the blessed union in all things. Moments of sudden glory will appear as manna from God.

God longs for you to experience His presence in the spin of the laundry, the sizzle of the cooking, the buzz of children’s chatter, and in the quiet of solitude. From the time God rent the curtain in the Holy of Holies when Jesus took his last breath on the cross, God welcomed you into His presence…not just on so-called holy days, but everyday days.

Let’s Pray

Lord, I’m glad You’re sticking with me today…and I’m sticking with You. I acknowledge Your presence now and through my entire day. I’m not saying “See you later,” with this Amen. We’re going into this day together!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen."

This Sunday

Don't forget, we will have a class meeting after ABF this Sunday. We will be ordering pizza, so bring $5/person. See you there!

Gifts from God

I thought this was a great article on where "our" money comes from. Hint: it's not from you!

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/08/it’s-not-your-money-is-it.html

Leading Indicators-Encouragement

This week, we are looking at how we can encourage our spouses.

Marriage Tip Monday

Liven up a Monday evening with a special treat for dessert!  Here are a few ideas: Create an "Icecream Sundae" bar at home, surprise your sweetheart (and maybe the kids, too!) with an evening walk or drive to a local icecream shop, or pick up your spouse's favorite pint of specialty icecream at the grocery store on the way home! 


From Union 28

Leading Indicators

On Sunday we will be looking at how going to bed at the same time is important to a marriage. I think Trey & Michelle will be providing their testimony. Hope to see everyone there!

Marriage Tip Monday

Laughing with your spouse is a wonderful way to relieve stress and share a fun memory.  But be sensitive.  Sometimes a moment which seems funny to you may be the "straw that breaks the camel's back" for your spouse if he or she has had a rough day.  Enjoy the times when you can share a laugh and embrace the moments when giving your spouse a hug - or just some space - is the best medicine.

From Union 28

Leading Indicators

Sunday, we will be looking at Prayer as a leading indicator. Cameron & Lauren will share their testimony on how prayer has affected their marriage.

We hope to see everyone there!

It's a Luau Party!!

Don't forget....hope to see all of you there!!

When: Saturday June 30th 6-9pm
Pre-Event: Smoke the Pig- Friday June 29th @ 6pm

Where: Cameron & Lauren's Apartment Complex
1124 Hidden Ridge Irving,TX 75038

Please see the email Tyler sent out regarding items to bring. We need lots of fun Luau games and decorations if anyone has any.

Bible Study

The Bible Study at Lesli's house will resume THIS Thursday at 6:30. See yall there!

Marriage Tip Monday

Cultivate a spirit of generosity in your marriage.  Generosity is "Liberality in giving" or the "willingness to give."  Be willing to liberally give your love, forgiveness, affection, words of affirmation, and even your time and energy to your spouse.  Never base your giving on what you might or might not receive in return.  The beauty and power of a generous spirit is the joy that radiates from a pure motive.

From Union 28

Rolling Stones Baby Shower

Here are the pictures from the Rolling Stones Baby Shower a few Sundays ago. Thanks Erin for taking the pictures, it was such a fun time of celebration and prayer!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erin-king/7174528825/

Leading Indicators

This Sunday we will kick off our 12-week marriage series on Leading Indicators. This content has been taught about 20 times over the past six years to various groups at First Irving.

The lessons provide couples with very practical measuring tools to diagnose the health of their marriages. Each of the 11 indicators line up with
1) scripture,
2) Christian marriage counselors, and 3) secular marriage researchers.

The last time we went through the lessons, there was a lot of laughter, some tears, and great stories from newlyweds about their relationships.

We can't wait to see what happens as we open the Bible to learn about how to stay on the right track as we love God first and love our spouses second!

Marriage Tip Monday

Spring brings about change, and can inspire you to think about your dreams. Maybe there is somewhere you’ve always wanted to travel. Maybe you’ve dreamt of a career move. Maybe it’s the desire to have another child. Spend time sharing these things with your spouse and find something both of you want in life – then dream about how to make it happen. Shared dreams can help bond the two of you together.

From Union 28

Marriage Tip Monday

Smile!  A smile is a small, self-less act of kindness and respect that can make a big impact.  A smile acknowledges another person - it lets them know you are happy to see them, that they are worth your attention, and that you are pleased by their presence.  So the next time you make eye contact with your spouse, smile!  (This even works over the phone - your spouse can detect when you're smiling, even when your face is unseen!) 

From Union 28

Date Night

Looking for some fun things to do with your beloved this summer? Check out this website:

Here are a few of my favorites!

~ Go to a restaurant you both have never been to.
~ Go off the grid for the weekend- no cell phones, no tv, no computers. You'll be amazed at what you do for entertainment.
~ Go on a food crawl. Go to a different restaurant for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

Marriage Tip Monday

Husbands, a helpful invention has been the ability to record your favorite game and watch it later or find the rerun on the internet. If your wife isn't a sports fan, surprise her by recording the game and spending that time with her - she'll know you're making a sacrifice.

From Union 28

One Liners

From Janine Petry at Thriving Family 

I don't have a problem with respect — it's showing respect to my husband that I can't quite get the hang of.
Showing disrespect has become a modern marriage pastime. We laugh as our favorite on-screen wives make fools out of their husbands, and before long we're talking like these leading ladies.
Here are some ways we show disrespect:
Witty one-liners are clever ways to get the last word. Example: "You can tell me how hard work is after you birth three children."
Sarcasm uses mocking words to strike at him personally. Example: "That's your best idea yet; got any more?"
Misplaced laughter ridicules him, whether or not he's around. Example: "He actually thinks those look good together."
Demeaning reminders imply a lack of trust. Example: "So are we actually going to see you on time today?"
I've come to understand that the phrase "Women need love and men need respect" is more than just a slogan — it's Scripture (Ephesians 5:33). So I try to use encouraging words to show my husband respect. The opportunities are endless, and my words have the potential to empower my husband to be more of the man God wants him to be. When I'm sincere and he accepts my words, our marriage is strengthened.
Here's how I've been making the transition from casual disrespect to intentional respect: I start with prayer, asking God to change my heart and my attitude. I also listen carefully to my words. Finally, I replace rudeness with words that exhibit honor for the husband God gave me.
These alternatives show respect:
Ask questions: Give him a chance to express himself. Example: "What made work so difficult today?"
Keep it simple: Make clear statements about issues. Example: "I'm not sure that's going to work. Are there any other options?"
Encourage: Choose words that highlight his individuality. Example: "I love that he's daring enough to wear that."
Tell the truth: Express concerns and affirm positive changes. Example: "It's been really hard for us when you're late; I appreciate you making the effort to get home earlier."
I show respect to my husband because God brought up the subject. It's His way of leading me into a marriage that is blessed as it reflects the loving relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. Marriage has a purpose far greater than my husband's and my relationship. Our unity expressed in love and respect is nothing short of God's witness to the world of His great love.