UPDATE!!! 2-27-14

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to give a quick update as to how life in Guatemala is going. We got assigned locations for our 6 months of field time this evening. I'm going to Kenya!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Praise God, He is so good. Thank you for your prayers.

IBS Philippians 2:8 (2-28-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Philippians 2:8 (2-28-14)

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

This week, I touched on pride, denial of self, Jesus-Others-You, on being a bondservant, and this IBS is going to be about obedience. These all tie into each other, but they’re each distinct. Jesus laid aside His pride, denied Himself, put God the Father first, took the form of a bondservant, and obeyed to the point of death. 

John 3:16 gives Jesus’ motivation for coming to earth - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...” God loved us all so much that He gave up His Son in order to have a relationship with us. Our sins didn’t nail Jesus on the cross - He didn’t have to pay the penalty. We see here in this verse that He died on the cross because He was being obedient to God the Father.

Isaiah 53:10 & 12 say “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin... Because He poured out His soul unto death... And He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” The only way to save us was to die a criminal’s death, and He did it out of love and obedience. 

Even though it may not seem like it at times, God knows what I’m going through and His desire for me is to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. To love Him is to obey Him, as well as those He’s placed in authority over me. How often do I disobey authority - if not in action, then in my heart? It’s always a heart issue - every action and word proceeds from my heart. 

My application for yesterday was to write “bondservant” on my hand to remind me that I willingly chose to have God as my Master. I know that He is a good Master - that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I desire to love and obey my Savior, and by default, should want to love and obey those whom He’s placed in authority over me. I’m going to write “submit” on my hand to remember that I need to submit to my elders.

IBS Philippians 2:7 (2-27-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Philippians 2:7 (2-27-14)

“but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Jesus did not come to this earth to build a Kingdom - He came to seek and save that which was lost. The disciples had this idea in their head that Jesus’ mission was to destroy the Roman empire and build His Kingdom on earth. Jesus did not make for Himself a reputation - in fact, there were several instances when Jesus told those He healed not to tell anyone, as Mark 5:43 says “But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it”. He also cast out a demon because He was annoyed with it for proclaiming His majesty. 

Christ’s main purpose is to glorify the Father - this is why He never gave glory to Himself. He is the great Comforter. Jesus came down from heaven, took the form of a bondservant and bore the sins of the world. When we repent of our sins and believe on Christ’s death and resurrection, Christ comforts us and shows us that we are cleansed by His blood.

Jesus came in the likeness of man to be able to relate to us, experience what we experience and be tempted in every way that we are tempted. He doesn’t sympathize with or feel bad for us, instead, He empathizes with us and understands exactly what we’re going through because He’s been through it. He needed to be able to represent us to God the Father, and represent God the Father to us. He was the bridge that crossed the impossible divide of sin between humankind and heaven. 

How often do I want to make a reputation for myself? How often do I choose to act like I’m above those around me instead of being a servant? Why in the world would I think that I deserve to have glory given to me when my holy and perfect Savior didn’t take ANY glory for Himself? I want to have a humble heart and a bondservant’s attitude. I chose to become Christ’s bondservant, so I need to ask the Holy Spirit for help so I can not only act like it but also so my heart will show it. I’m going to write “bondservant” on my hand to remind myself of the choice I made to serve Christ. 

IBS Philippians 2:5-6 (2-26-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Philippians 2:5-6 (2-26-14)

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”

This mind refers to a mind of putting others first. Jesus Christ was clothed in human form but was still fully God. He claimed to be equal with God and therefore saw Himself as having the same authority and power. God is omniscient - all knowing, omnipotent - all powerful, omnipresent - everywhere at all times, and perfect. Jesus said that He was all these things, and proved it by His miracles and raising from the dead. 

Having all authority and power, He chose to humble Himself to the level of a servant. Before He was betrayed, He washed all the disciples feet - even the feet of Judas. He stepped down from heaven to wash dirty feet, be beaten for our transgressions, and die a criminal’s death. John 1:12 says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name...”

He did all of this so that we could become His children - so that we could have a right relationship with Him and not be separated from Him for all eternity. His focus was to do the Will of the Father. He didn’t question the Father, He didn’t complain to the Father, He didn’t whine to the Father and say that it wasn’t fair that He had to die when He was innocent. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He pleaded with God to take away the cup (Luke 22:42), but said “nevertheless not My Will, but Yours, be done.” 

How often do we make plans or even do things without asking God what He wants, and then ask Him to bless it? This is really convicting for me because I do that a LOT. I don’t really think about what God wants for me, I only care about what I want. I’m so wrapped up in myself that I don’t care what God says, but I also don’t care about other people’s needs. I’m going to write JOY on my wrist to remind me that the order of caring needs to be - Jesus, Others, You. 

IBS Philippians 2:4 (2-25-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Philippians 2:4 (2-25-14)

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” 

My brain does not work this way. My brain wants to only be considerate of myself - I forget about God and those around me. I am a very selfish person. I tend to only think about what will benefit me, what will make me happy and how I can get the most out of whatever I’m doing or wherever I am. We are all born with this sinful mindset.

The struggle against the flesh is only a small picture of what the actual fight looks like. Ephesians 6:12 says “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 

Yes, we fight our flesh daily - but Satan wants to render us useless so that we won’t advance the Kingdom of God. He desires for us to be either living off our own strength or feel condemned because of our sin and not do anything profitable either way. He wants me to stumble and damage my witness. He wants me to give into his temptations so that I’ll satisfy my desires in everything except Christ.

Satan wants me to put myself above all else. A line from Veggie Tale’s, King George and the Duckie is a perfect reminder for how NOT live - “Concentrate dear Louis, and I think you will agree. The most important person in the whole wide world is me.” How vain to think that we wretched sinful human beings are better than anyone else on this earth?

There have been many times when I thought I was better than all the people here - even though I know that we’re all believers. I’m no different than anyone else - a sinner saved only by God’s grace through faith. I truly love and care about each person here and I’m incredibly blessed to know all of them. I am so excited to see what the Lord has for each of us here, and I pray for everyone often. I’m going to thank everyone for what a blessing they’ve been to my life.

IBS Philippians 2:3 (2-24-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Philippians 2:3 (2-24-14)

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

We had a great example of how to do this in the team-building activity where we had to all stand on the board. If we acted in selfish ambition or conceit, one or more people would fall off and there would be bad consequences - staying frozen for a time. If we acted in lowliness of mind and esteemed others better than ourselves, we moved fluidly and had good consequences - we did things faster and more efficient than the guys.

The root of all of this sinfulness is pride. Pride says “I’m better than everyone here, I deserve better, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get it”. In order to give preference to one another, we need to have our will submitted to Christ. JOY - Jesus, Others, You. God commands us to love Him with all we are, and to love each other as we love ourself. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we lived this out daily?

When we put Christ first and give preference to one another, we are humble and caring. We all know that loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourself is impossible. There will always be times (and personally, for me it is more often than not) when our flesh gives no thought to God or others, and makes a beeline for our desires. 

Mark 8:23 comes to mind “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Denying self is probably the hardest thing to do on this planet. Even when we don’t follow through with our actions on the outside, there’s always inner turmoil going on and our thoughts are going everywhere. 

I really love Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill it’s lusts.” Make no provision - if you’re seeing how far you can get to the edge without actually falling off the cliff, it’s time for a heart evaluation. I should be running away from that precipice instead of tip-toeing on the part where it’s crumbling.

From the start - our mindset should be that we are wretched sinners and are capable of any sin. The only reason we are saved is because Christ’s blood cleansed us, and there was nothing we did to earn it. I want to put aside my pride, selfishness and conceit - I want to be lowly in mind, giving preference to others and esteeming others better than myself. I’m going to memorize Romans 13:14 so that I will keep in mind to put away my flesh and live for Christ by serving Him and those around me. 

IBS Hebrews 13:17 (2-21-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Hebrews 13:17 (2-21-14)

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

We are commanded to obey and submit to those who rule over us - both obey and submit mean to yield to. This is the laying aside of our pride in thinking we know best or thinking that we should be in charge, and acknowledging that God put them in that place for a reason. 

Even though it may look like we’re obeying on the outside, if in our minds we are unwilling then it’s not true obedience. Colossians 3:23-24 says “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” No matter what we’re doing, our hearts should be willing and joyful. 

Those who are in authority must give an account for how they used their power of influence. People in leadership have a much higher responsibility than those under authority - every single person is responsible for their deeds and actions, but the people that are influences are given more consequences. 

Matthew 18:6 says “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” This is a very strong warning. Those who abuse their authority and use it for evil will have very severe consequences. 

We are to obey with joy and not grief. It is unprofitable for us to have an attitude or cause grief. If the person in authority is godly and is asking us to do something that glorifies God - why wouldn’t we want to do it? Also, why would we have a bad attitude about it and cause grief? 

I think a lot of the time - I do things half-heartedly or even with a bad attitude. I want to do everything as unto Christ - that means its not for the leader, its not for the people I’ll be serving and it’s not for myself. If I keep Christ as my focus during serving, I’ll have no issue whatsoever. I’m going to write “unto the Lord” on my wrist to remind me to not only have a good attitude, but also to remember that there’s no point in doing anything if it’s not for Christ.