Excursus 4: Servir Unos a Otros en el Conflicto

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Traducido al español por: Kerry-Ann Chambers

Imagínese esto. La ciudad está rodeada de soldados enemigos. El rey joven y sus oficiales dentro de los muros de la ciudad, rehúsan tercamente el salir la ciudad, diciendo: “No dejaremos nuestra ciudad especial.” Una voz, sin embargo, les siguió dando las noticias verdaderas. “No ganarán. Dios ha dado esta gran ciudad a Nabucodonosor. El pueblo morirá de enfermedad y hambruna. La ciudad será quemada. Sus familias serán destruidas a menos que se rindan.” El rey es Sedequías, y la voz solitaria de Dios, es el profeta Jeremías. El resto de la historia está en Jeremías 38:14-28. La respuesta de Sedequías no fue aceptar la misericordia y gracia de Dios, a través de obediencia y hacer las cosas a la manera de Dios. En cambio, Sedequías eligió protegerse a sí mismo y escuchar a sus compañeros, ignorar el conflicto y esperar que las cosas cambien. Pero no fue así. Toda la familia de Sedequías fue asesinada; él fue cegado y encadenado.

Conflicto es Normal

Conflicto. La palabra tiene un tono desagradable. Pero, ya que somos seres humanos y el pecado aún habita en nosotros, ya que vivimos en un mundo caído, el conflicto es parte de nuestras vidas a diario. El problema no es si tenemos conflictos o no. Para los creyentes, lo que hacemos cuando enfrentamos un conflicto es el asunto.

Teniendo enemigos citiando los muros de su ciudad es una presión externa. En las escrituras, Pablo se refirió a estas presiones externas que nos afectan individualmente y a nuestra iglesia – persecuciones, enemigos, maestros falsos, y las autoridades Romanas. Él contempló estas presiones. Permanece firme en un espíritu. No tengáis miedo. Pero, aquellas presiones externas a menudo causan fricciones internas. Usted sabe que esa presión de su esposo por su trabajo afectará su relación de pareja. Pronto, ustedes tendrán su propio conflicto interpersonal. Esto es lo que parece estar sucediendo en Filipos.

En nuestro estudio previo de Filipenses 2:1-11, vimos a Jesús, totalmente Dios y hombre, como el más grande siervo y nuestro ejemplo de servicio. Estamos para servir a Jesús a través del servicio que hacemos unos a otros, tal como Él lo hizo. Yo compartí cuatro aspectos con ustedes sobre un siervo gozoso:

Pensar en otros antes que en usted misma.
Servir con todo el corazón.
Servir sacrificadamente y sin quejas.
Glorificar a Dios como representantes andantes del Dios invisible.

Servimos a Jesús juntos, y nos servimos unos a otros individualmente. Parte de servir a Jesús a través del servicio hacia otros es resolver conflictos interpersonales en el Cuerpo. El conflicto hiere Su cuerpo y minimiza la efectividad de la iglesia para avanzar el evangelio. Es difícil predicar a Cristo y hacer discípulos cuando gastamos energía en conflictos internos. ¿Cierto? Conflicto interpersonal puede tomar lugar de muchas formas desde simple choques de comportamiento (el hecho que dos damas no se lleven bien) hasta desafío abierto entre personas. Sin importar la forma, un conflicto presenta una oportunidad para crecimiento. De hecho, algunas personas no prestan atención a sus necesidades de crecimiento en un área de sus vidas cuando ocurre un conflicto.

Resolviendo Conflictos Interpersonales a la Manera de Dios

En el pasaje del día de hoy, Filipenses 4:3-4, no sabemos nada sobre estas mujeres. Quizá eran dos de las mujeres en el río cuando recibieron por primera vez el evangelio a través de Pablo. Quizá era diaconisas en la iglesia. Pablo las llama compañeras del evangelio. Ellas no eran insignificantes o causadoras de problemas. Ellas eran trabajadoras en dar al conocer el evangelio en Filipos. Probablemente, eran mujeres maduras, conocidas por los recipientes de esta epístola. Para los propósitos de nuestros días, las llamaremos Elizabeth y Cindy.

No conocemos cuál era el conflicto. Un comentario apuntaba: “Ha podido ser una fricción incidental entre dos mujeres cristianas energéticas.” Quizá, ellas se turnaban el tener la iglesia en sus casas. Elizabeth pudo haber criticado lo que hizo Cindy cuando fue la anfitriona. No había suficiente comida. Las sillas estaban muy cerca unas de otras. Quizá Cindy se atrevió a disciplinar al niño de Elizabeth. Esto es suficiente. Lo que haya pasado afectó a la unidad de la congregación. Y esto se trajo a la atención de Pablo. Esto había herido al cuerpo filipense. Aparentemente, medios inefectivos habían sido usados para parar el sangramiento. Pablo habla directamente a esta situación en su carta, y de su consejo sabio, podemos extraer tres principios concernientes a la resolución de conflicto.

Los Principios

Principio #1: “En el Señor “

La iglesia es un organismo vivo, no una organización. Un organismo compuesto de partes individuales. Así como nuestros cuerpos humanos responden inmediatamente para reparar una herida, bien sea ésta menor o mayor, así debe hacerlo el cuerpo de Cristo. Supongamos que usted se corta un dedo. ¿Qué ocurre? El cuerpo hace todo lo posible para comenzar el proceso de sanación. Las células más cercanas empiezan a trabajar en la coagulación, cierran la herida con una costra y luchan contra gérmenes invasores. Es la responsabilidad de las células más cercanas a la herida, el llegar allí primero y parar el sangramiento. Entonces, otras vienen a ayudar a reparar el daño y a hacer el cuerpo más fuerte. Así también debe hacerlo el cuerpo de Cristo. Las células dentro de nuestro cuerpo físico saben lo que deben hacer. los miembros del cuerpo de Cristo no siempre saben qué hacer. pero, la Palabra nos da dirección y guía para que seamos obediente.

No busco oportunidades para resolver conflictos. La mayoría del tiempo, mi respuesta es ignorar las semillas del conflicto, esperando que, al ignorarlas, la tensión se calme o simplemente desaparezca. Yo quiero que todos sean parte del equipo y se lleven bien como tal. Otra de mis excusas: no pienso rápido cuando estoy de pie. Así que, ¿cómo puede el Señor usarme para manejar alguna crisis entre dos personas, cuando yo no puedo pensar correctamente? Actualmente, Él no quiere que yo maneje ninguna situación. Él quiere que yo le permita a Él hacer Su obra a través de mí. Yo tengo que ser débil, para que Él sea fuerte a través de mí. Él quiere mi obediencia. Las células en el codo deben estar listas para reparar una herida, así como las células en mis dedos o en el corazón. Listas para funcionar de la forma que fueron diseñadas, dependiendo del flujo de vida sanguíneo para traer los ingredientes necesarios para sanar la herida. El propósito de la acción esa promover sanidad.

Principio #2: Estén de acuerdo unos con otros (o, viva en armonía).

Este es un principio de uno-a-uno. En tanto que usted reconoce que está en un conflicto con una hermana, entonces usted es responsable de hacer algo. Esté de acuerdo de trabajar en ello. Esto es obediencia. Abandone su derecho a estar en lo correcto. Esto es humildad. La razón es por el bien de la relación y de la iglesia. Este es otro aspecto de servirnos unos a otros tal como lo hizo Jesús.

Hablando de Jesús, ¿Qué enseñó sobre este punto?

Mateo 5:23-24 — Usted sabe que su hermana tiene un conflicto con usted; usted la ha ofendido, vaya y reconcíliese con ella.
Mateo 18:15-17 — Una hermana le ha ofendido, vaya y hable con ella solamente. Si ella le escucha, ustedes se estarán reconciliadas.

Pablo nos da más información sobre cómo lograr reconciliación.

Efesios 4:15-16 — hable la verdad en amor para la edificación y crecimiento de la iglesia, por amor a esa hermana y a la iglesia. Esta es su motivación.
Efesios 4:32 — actitud del corazón.

¿Notó usted el énfasis de Jesús en confidencialidad y confianza? Primero, vaya sola. Vaya directamente a la persona con la cual usted tiene el conflicto. Luego, unos pocos individuos selectos; luego las autoridades sobre esa persona. Nótese, Jesús no dijo que se debía hablar sobre este asunto a cualquiera que escuche. Algunas veces usted puede buscar consejo de una amiga de confianza en cuanto cómo proceder. Sin embargo, es fácil cruzar la línea de quejas y chismes. Yo llamo a esto compartir información sensible en lugares inapropiados. Es sensible porque cualquier cosa negativa que se diga sobre una persona o ministerio planta semillas de duda en la mente de la otra dama sobre esa persona o ministerio en su totalidad. Esto no es beneficioso para el Cuerpo. Alguien siempre sale herido. Es un lugar inapropiado cuando esa persona a la que usted le comenta la situación no tiene autoridad para hacer algo sobre la situación.

En caso de un ministerio, acérquese a la persona que está involucrada el proceso de toma de decisiones de ese ministerio. Hay posibilidades que esa persona está en pleno conocimiento del reto. Su solución puede que ya se haya probado. O, el tiempo puede que no sea el correcto. En cualquier caso, la parte más difícil es dejarla allí, ¿no es cierto? Confianza. Esto es lo que está involucrado cuando se es humilde. Servir a Jesús a través del servicio de los unos a los otros en amor, no hiriéndonos unos a otros o al Cuerpo como un todo.

Principio #3: Ayúdeles— Intervención.

Pablo urge a otros alrededor de las dos mujeres a venir en su ayuda. Esta es nuestra responsabilidad. ¿Por qué? Un cuerpo trabaja para repararse a sí mismo para que pueda funcionar efectivamente. ¿Qué hace usted cuando dos de sus amigas se tratan mal la una a la otra? Para nuestros propósitos, vamos a hablar de dos etapas del conflicto: 1) Cuando se está desarrollando y, 2) Situacional.

Desarrollo significa que, en un período de tiempo, la relación entre las dos mujeres ha creado gradualmente más fricción. Sus amigos pueden reconocer claves sobre lo que está pasando, y alguien a quien le importa hablar la verdad en amor para ambas partes, esperando que reviente una explosión, quizá hace una llamada telefónica o una conversación a la hora del almuerzo. Idealmente, esta es la etapa más fructífera para ayudar a estas dos mujeres a reconciliarse. Es como un papel que corta, pero sana rápidamente.

El ignorar estas oportunidades usualmente trae una situación de crisis emocional. Esto es llamado conflicto situational. Lo que se acumula ahora sale por motivo de una mala palabra, una mirada, o un cambio repentino de planes. Una crisis existe. Algo tiene que hacerse para ayudarles inmediatamente. Mujeres en crisis tienen rápidamente una pérdida de perspectiva; ellas se sienten que todo se ha vuelto patas arriba. Es por esto que presenta una gran oportunidad para crecimiento personal. Pero, ellas necesitan una tercera parte imparcial, que las ame a ambas, para interceder y ayudarles a hablar sobre el conflicto. Esta es lo que se llama una Intervención en Crisis.

Muy bien, ¿cuándo interviene usted?

Cuando las dos mujeres no han sido capaces de resolver sus diferencias por sí mismas. Jesús dijo: “Usted es responsable de ir al que le ha ofendido, o al que usted ha ofendido y debe reconciliarse.” Si eso no se ha hecho, sugiéralo. Si ya se ha hecho, pero no ha servido, entonces se necesita ayuda de afuera.
Cuando el conflicto pone en peligro la seguridad o el bienestar de la iglesia. Usted puede darles una perspectiva y ayudarles a ver el bien mayor. Eso fue lo que Pablo hizo.
Cuando hay una explosión emocional, ayude inmediatamente.

¿Cuáles son los A-B-Cs de la Resolución de conflicto?

A = Alcance contacto de confianza con cada una de las partes en conflicto.

En otras palabras, logre tener su atención. Idealmente, esto debe hacerse de forma separada con cada una de las partes. Primero, hable con la más agitada y luego con la más calmada. No deje que ventilen sus cosas la una a la otra o a usted. Usted es un partido imparcial. ¿Cómo puede usted lograr un contacto de confianza? A través del ambiente, que sea privado y sin distracciones, donde la confidencialidad pueda ser preservada. Esté relajada y sea genuinamente amable y preocupada. Escuche cuidadosamente pero objetivamente al preguntar preguntas como: “¿Qué ha pasado?” recolecte los hechos. Deje que sea pausado. Este no es su tiempo de hablar. Debe escuchar atentamente.

B = Concéntrese en cuáles son los problemas presentes (Simplifique el asunto).

Para hacer esto, deben usarse habilidades reflexivas al escuchar. Concéntrese en la respuesta y el punto focal. Dar respuesta es seguir lo que la otra persona dice, pero con sus propias palabras, en forma de preguntas para clarificar como, por ejemplo: “Usted me está diciendo…?”, “¿Escuché decir que usted….?”, “Entiendo que usted dice….”. Esto garantiza a la persona que usted entiende su situación. Centrase en el punto focal es ayudar a las damas a hacer conclusiones sobre los problemas reales presentes que ellas confrontan. Tome los hechos que conciernen a la crisis solamente. No cada uno de los problemas que las damas han experimentado el año pasado. Separe los hechos. Qué es lo que ha causado el conflicto- EN ESTA OCASIÓN. Uno o dos cosas actualmente habrán causado el conflicto inmediato.

C = Coopere activamente (Introduzca una salida, un plan).

Ayude al proveer una posible salida al conflicto. Establezca metas que son posibles, medibles, y a corto plazo. Sugiera con tacto algunas opciones no amenazadoras:

¿Qué le gustaría a usted que ocurra?
¿Cómo puedo ayudarle?
¿Cómo ve usted que pueda ejecutarse el plan? ¿Qué hará usted? ¿Cómo lo hará? ¿Para cuándo lo hará?
¿Cómo evaluará usted esto más adelante? ¿Qué necesita cambiar en el plan, si es necesario?

Usted puede guiarlas a orar por las necesidades de ambas. Quizá, puede arreglar reuniones cortas y periódicas para compartir. Si ellas son compañeras de trabajo, desarrolle descripciones claras del trabajo, para que cada una de ella conozca qué debe hacer y qué no debe hacer. Hable sobre cómo advertir la posibilidad de conflicto de una forma no explosiva.

Conclusión

Somo uno en el Señor, quien tiene un Cuerpo. Cualquier ruptura o quebrantamiento causa dolor al Cuerpo y afecta negativamente el avance del evangelio. Somos de Cristo, no del mundo. Nos comportamos de forma diferente ya que pensamos diferentemente unos de otros. Debemos ser obedientes. No como Sedequías quien pudo haber salvado a su familia y a su ciudad si hubiese obedecido. Los caminos de Dios no son como los nuestros. Son mucho mejor.

¡Oh, amada, ore! Ore para que usted no sea la causa de discusiones en su iglesia, para que usted no llegue a ser parte de los que usted no sea parte de los que afectan el trabajo de la iglesia por la causa de Cristo. Y ore para seguir en los sabios pasos de Pablo si usted ha de ser parte de los que ayuden a resolver disputas entre otros. (Elizabeth George, Experiencing God’s Peace (Experimentando la Paz de Dios), p. 111)

Related Topics: Curriculum

English

11. Pensamiento Gozoso (Filipenses 4:6-9)

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Traducido al español por: Kerry-Ann Chambers

¿Qué es la preocupación? La palabra griega que se traduce como “afanoso” en el versículo 6 significa: “el ser empujado en direcciones diferentes.” La preocupación es el ladrón más grande del gozo. Sin embargo, no es suficiente para nosotras, el decirnos a nosotras mismas “para de preocuparte,” porque esto no atrapará al ladrón. La preocupación viene de “adentro,” y se necesitan más que buenas intenciones para obtener la victoria. El antídoto para la preocupación es una mente segura. (Warren Wiersbe, (Sé Gozoso) Be Joyful, pp. 125-126)

Lea Filipenses 4:6-9. ¿Qué observa en Filipenses 4:7 que pudiera causarle el no tener gozo?
¿Qué les dice Pablo a los filipenses, y a usted, sobre este ladrón potencial de gozo?
¿Cuál debería nuestra actitud en la oración? ¿Por qué es importante esta actitud?

Piense en el Significado: la palabra para oración es, generalmente, un término que significa una conversación de adoración con Dios, mientras que petición (suplicación) se refiere a una oración con un sentido de necesidad. El agradecimiento se centra en la actitud del corazón de uno cuando nos aproximamos a Dios. Peticiones se refiere a pedir directamente la ayuda de Dios en necesidades específicas. (Comentario Bíblico de Aplicación a la Vida, Filipenses, Colosenses & Filemón) Life Application Bible Commentary, Philippians, Colossians & Philemon, p. 115)

Lea Mateo 6:25-34.

¿Qué dice Jesús en este pasaje sobre la preocupación?
¿Qué revela este pasaje sobre Dios?
¿Qué dice Jesús que debemos hacer (Versículo 33), y qué significa esto (cómo puede usted hacer esto)?

¡El resultado es una promesa! Veamos Filipenses 4:7 y examinemos cada frase individualmente. Observa y defina lo que significa cada frase (use un diccionario de ser necesario):

a. La paz de Dios

Isaías 26:3, 12 –
Juan14:27 –
Juan 16:33 –

b. Transciende (sobrepasa) todo entendimiento (comprensión)

Salmo 147:5 –
Isaías 55:8-9 –

c. Guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús (hay sólo otra instancia de la palabra “guarda” usada de forma similar en el Nuevo Testamento. En 1 Pedro 1:5 se usa para expresar que estamos seguras en la salvación a través de Cristo)

Piensa en el Significado: La palabra griega para “guardar” es un término militar que significa rodear y proteger una comunidad o ciudad. Los filipenses vivían en una comunidad, y estaban familiarizados con los guardias romanos que vigilaban, guardando la ciudad de cualquier ataque externo. (Comentario Bíblico de Aplicación a la Vida, Filipenses, Colosenses & Filemón) (Life Application Bible Commentary, Philippians, Colossians & Philemon, p. 116)

Tu Viaje de Gozo: Resuma en sus propias palabras las verdades que ha aprendido y escribe lo que Filipenses 4:7 significa para usted. Siéntase libre de usar cualquier medio creativo para describir esto (dibujo, poema, canción, u otro).

¡Piénselo!: Cada vez que oramos, nuestro horizonte cambia, nuestra actitud hacia las cosas cambia; no algunas veces, sino todas las veces, y lo más asombroso es que no oramos lo suficiente. (Oswald Chambers (1874-1917))

Tu Viaje de Gozo: Pablo sabía que nuestros pensamientos determinan nuestras acciones lo que en tiempo revelarían nuestra actitud del corazón. En Filipenses 4:8; Pablo describe lo que debe prevalecer en los pensamientos de un creyente. ¿está usted actualmente preocupada sobre alguna circunstancia en su vida? ¿Puede usted pensar en un tiempo cuando usted pasó por una circunstancia difícil que le preocupó? Usted puede trabajar en su dificultad usando el versículo 8 (y siguientes) como una guía para el pensamiento correcto. Seleccione 3 o 4 principios y explique cómo el pensar en “estas cosas” puede ayudarle a pasar cualquier dificultad. Puede ayudarle también el considerar los casos opuestos a estas cosas.

Algo verdadero–
Algo noble (honorable, digno de respeto)–
Algo justo–
Algo puro (sano)–
Algo amable–
Algo admirable (de buena reputación)–
Algo excelente (virtuoso)–
Algo digno de alabanza–

¿Por qué es tan importante que enfoquemos nuestras mentes en las cosas verdaderas y excelentes? Véase también 2 Corintios 10:4-5 y Colosenses 3:1-3.
Tu Viaje de Gozo: ¿En qué pudiera usted meditar y pensar que estuviera a la altura del criterio de Pablo? Considere cómo usted aplica estas recomendaciones del Versículo 8 a sus elecciones del día a día (TV, libros, radio, etc). Comparta sus ideas con su grupo pequeño para animarse unas a otras en el pensamiento correcto.
Pablo nos da una formula simple para el pensamiento gozoso en Filipenses 4:8-9. Llene los espacios en blanco para ver cuál es esta fórmula.

Filipenses 4:8 nos dice que ______________________________.
Filipenses 4:9 nos dice que ______________________________.
Filipenses 4:9 nos dice que el resultado será: __________________.

Tu Viaje de Gozo: ¿Qué ha aprendido de este pasaje en Filipenses sobre la conexión entre practicar un pensamiento correcto y conocer gozo en su vida?

Related Topics: Curriculum

English

12. Vivir y Dar con Gozo (Filipenses 4:10-23)

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Traducido al español por: Kerry-Ann Chambers

Lea Filipenses 4:10-23.

Lea nuevamente y cuidadosamente Filipenses 4:10-13. ¿Qué le causaba a Pablo regocijo?
Describa el tono general de este pasaje.
En el Versículo 12, Pablo usa varios pares de opuestos para describir lo que él ha aprendido. Lístelos en este espacio.

Referencia Bíblica: Pablo hace un comentario interesante en el versículo 12 sobre vivir en prosperidad. ¿Cómo puede decir él esto? Pablo conocía de primera mano la riqueza y privilegios que vienen al ser un Fariseo prominente en la comunidad judía y también al ser un ciudadano romano (Hechos 22:3-5,25-29; 26:4-5).

¿Qué secreto había aprendido Pablo y cómo lo había aprendido?

Piense en el Significado: La palabra contentarme en griego significa “auto-suficiente” e independiente de otros. Pablo usó este término para indicar su independencia de todo menos Cristo, ya que Cristo era la única fuente de la vida de Pablo (Filipenses 1:21, 4:13). Esto contrastaba con la filosofía estoica (de ese tiempo) que usaba la palabra “contentamiento” para describir a una persona quien pasivamente aceptaba todo lo que viniese. El modelo estoico promovía auto-suficiencia al punto que todos los recursos para manejarse en la vida venían de uno mismo. Pablo explicó que su suficiencia estaba en Cristo solamente, quien proveía la fortaleza para enfrentar todas las circunstancias. (Comentario Bíblico de Aplicación a la Vida, Filipenses - Life Application Commentary, Philippians, p. 121)

¿Qué le enseña a usted las palabras de Pablo sobre contentamiento?
El término griego para “aprendido” es usado solo aquí en el Nuevo Testamento. Era una expresión usada para describir una iniciación por experiencia. ¿Qué clase de experiencias había tenido Pablo? Lea los siguientes pasajes y regustre sus hallazgos.

1 Corintios 4:11-13—
2 Corintios 11:23-29—

¿Cómo pudo Pablo, un prisionero y alguien quien había pasado por tantas dificultades, estar posiblemente contento? Vea los siguientes pasajes para hallar algunas claves.

2 Corintios 4:7-10—
2 Corintioss 4:16-18—
2 Corintios 12:8-10 –

Tu Viaje de Gozo: ¿En cuáles circunstancias lucha para mantenerse contenta? ¿Por qué cree que es una lucha?
Lea Habacuc 3:17-18. ¿Qué decisión tomó Habacuc?
Tu Viaje de Gozo: ¿Qué decisiones puede usted hacer ahora para que esté preparada para soportar esos momentos de lucha?

¡Piénselo!: Toda la naturaleza depende de recursos escondidos. Los grandes árboles envían sus raíces dentro de la tierra para poder sacar agua y minerales. Ríos tienen sus fuentes en montañas cubiertas de nieve. La parte más importante del árbol es aquella parte que usted no puede ver, el sistema de raíces; y la parte más importante de la vida cristiana es aquella que sólo Dios ve. A menos que tomemos de las fuentes más profundas de Dios por fe, fallamos contra las presiones de la vida. Pablo dependía del poder de Cristo obrando en su vida. “¡Puedo con Cristo!” era el lema de Pablo, y éste puede ser nuestro lema también. (Warren Wiersbe, ¡Sed Gozoso! - Be Joyful, p. 137)

Lea nuevamente Filipenses 4:14-19. ¿Qué aprendemos sobre la iglesia filipense y qué características en sus miembros demostraban este pasaje?

Pablo no siempre aceptó ayuda. En 1 Corintios 9:11-19, Pablo escribió que él no había aceptado dinero de la iglesia filipenses para evitar ser acusado de predicar para obtener dinero (predicar por las razones equivocadas). De hecho, mientras que estaba en Corintio, los creyentes filipenses le ayudaron (2 Corintios 11:9). Él aceptó su oferta porque ellos la dieron voluntariamente para ayudar a Pablo.

En Filipenses 4:17 Pablo escribe que no está buscando “regalos” de los filipenses. En cambio, él compara sus regalos a inversiones acreditadas a una cuenta. ¿Qué quiere decir Pablo con esta metáfora? Vea los siguientes versículos para ayudarle en su respuesta.

Mateo 6:19-21—
Hebreos 6:10—
Apocalipsis 22:12—

Pablo llama sus regalos un “sacrificio… a Dios” (versículo 18). ¿En qué sentido sus ofrendas eran ofrenda para Dios? (Véase también Oseas 6:6, Hebreos 13:15-16, Efesios 5:2 para algunas pistas.)

Referencia Bíblica: El sacerdote en el Antiguo Testamento iba al lugar santo para colocar incienso en el altar y éste ascendía con aroma agradable. Un cristiano en su dádiva es como un sacerdote que hace una ofrenda a Dios—véase Levítico 7:12-15. (J. Vernon McGee, Comentario A Través de la Biblia, Filipenses -Through the Bible Commentary, Philippians, p. 105)

La iglesia filipense no era rica (véase 2 Corintios 8:1-4), a pesar que ellos daban con un corazón de generosidad. ¿Qué les dice Pablo en Filipenses 4:19?
¿Cuál es la conexión entre la primera parte del pasaje de hoy sobre contentamiento, con la última parte concerniente a la dádiva?
Tu Viaje de Gozo: Del estudio sobre este pasaje y la toda la epístola a los filipenses:

¿Qué interfiere con su creencia que Dios suplirá todas sus necesidades? (Liste en este espacio y ¡sustitúyalas!)
¿Qué le ayuda a creer que Dios suplirá todas sus necesidades? (Liste en este espacio y ¡refiérase a ellas cuando usted necesite ayuda!)

Gozo en Resumen

“…Y esto pido en oración, que vuestro amor abunde aun más y más en ciencia y en todo conocimiento, para que aprobéis lo mejor, a fin de que séais sinceros e irreprensibles para el día de Cristo, llenos de fruto de justicia que son por medio de Jesucristo, para gloria y alabanza de Dios…Regocijaos en el Señor siempre. Otra vez digo: ¡Regocijaos!” (Filipenses 1:9-11, 4:4)

Tu Viaje de Gozo: Tome unos pocos minutos y revise su estudio a través de Filipenses. Piense sobre las verdades que usted conoce de Jesús, o sobre su relación con Jesús, que le trae gozo a su corazón. Use un medio creativo (canción, poema, dibujo, manualidad, u otro) para ilustrar esto en la próxima página.

Related Topics: Curriculum

English

Recursos

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Traducido al español por: Kerry-Ann Chambers

Carol Kent, Becoming A Woman of Influence (Convirtiéndose en una Mujer de Influencia)
Cynthia Heald, Becoming A Woman of Grace (Convirtiéndose en una Mujer de Gracia)
Elizabeth George, Experiencing God’s Peace (Experimentando la Paz de Dios)
J. Vernon McGee, Through the Bible Commentary, Philippians (Comentario A través de la Biblia, Filipenses)
Life Application Commentary, Philippians, Colossians & Philemon (Comentario Aplicación a la Vida, Filipenses, Colosenses y Filemón)
NIV Study Bible (Biblia de Estudio NVI)
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
The Teachers Commentary (Comentario para Profesores)
Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament (Comentario de Conocmiento Bíblico, Nuevo Testamento)
Warren Wiersbe, Be Joyful (¡Sed Gozosos!)

Related Topics: Curriculum

English

Christmas [2017]: The Christmas Massacre (Matthew 2:12-23)

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December 24, 2017

I decided to speak about “The Christmas Massacre” before I saw a Babylon Bee spoof about the Hallmark Channel. Instead of running the usual light, fluffy Christmas movies, the article said that Hallmark will run one this year called “The Christmas Slaughter,” about a young man who goes home for Christmas where he meets a charming farm girl who is actually a demonic axe murderer.

The Bee is satirizing the way Christmas is often pictured as a nice, sentimental holiday that is out of touch with the world we live in. Christmas cards picture Mary and Joseph serenely looking on baby Jesus as He sleeps in the manger, with angels hovering overhead, the star shining down, and the shepherds and wise men kneeling in worship, with the words, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”

Other than being historically inaccurate, that message is not the total picture that the Bible gives about the Christmas story. The scene is historically inaccurate because the wise men (we don’t know if there were three, but only that they brought three gifts, or if they were kings) and the star were not at the manger on the night of Jesus’ birth. They came to Bethlehem some months after Jesus was born, when Joseph and Mary were living in a house. And, shortly after the wise men left town, life for many was not exactly peaceful. Joseph, Mary, and their infant son had to grab their belongings and flee by night to a foreign country to protect Jesus from being killed by the paranoid King Herod, who then massacred all the little boys in Bethlehem under the age of two.

So the complete Christmas story is about poor refugees who had to flee for their lives from an evil dictator. It sounds a lot like our world! God didn’t bring His Son into the world in a safe, peaceful environment, but into the sinful, troubled world that we still see all around us. But in all of this, God was sovereignly in control, working His eternal purpose to save a people for His glory. Herod’s Christmas massacre teaches us some important lessons about God and about suffering:

The Christmas massacre shows that we can trust our sovereign God even when evil seems to prevail.

The news bombards us with the suffering caused by the brutality of ISIS and other Islamic terrorists, the civil war in Syria, the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, and other atrocities. Closer to home, we’ve had recent mass murders at the night club in Florida, the music concert in Las Vegas, and the church in Texas. Skeptics ask, “How can a loving and all-powerful God allow such horrible events?” Even some Christian theologians (who hold to “open theism”) argue that God is not sovereign over such events. They say that He has no control over human free will. He doesn’t ordain or know the future in advance and He is just as frustrated by such events as we are. They’re trying to get God off the hook for evil things that happen. But the Bible clearly affirms that …

1. God is sovereign even when evil seems to prevail.

Matthew’s account of this Bethlehem massacre brings out several important truths:

A. God is not a passive spectator in the theater of human events.

Rather, He ordains all events for His own glory. He chose the time and place for the Savior to be born (Gal. 4:4-5): “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” The magi asked (Matt. 2:2), “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” The chief priests and scribes knew from Micah 5:2 that the Messiah and Ruler would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5-6).

Clearly, God directed the magi through the star to make the long journey to Bethlehem to see this young child. Somehow God revealed to them that Jesus was born “King of the Jews” (Matt. 2:2). The magi were likely astrologers who had an interest in dreams, magic, and mysterious references to the future (D. A. Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervan], ed. by Frank Gaebelein, 8:85). Matthew knew that the Old Testament forbids astrology. Carson observes (ibid. 8:86), “Matthew neither condemns nor sanctions it; instead, he contrasts the eagerness of the Magi to worship Jesus, despite their limited knowledge, with the apathy of the Jewish leaders and the hostility of Herod’s court—all of whom had the Scriptures to inform them.”

Numerous speculations have been made as to the nature of the star that directed the magi to Bethlehem. I think that probably it was a supernatural phenomenon, but even if it was a planetary conjunction, a supernova, or a comet, it is clear that God sovereignly used it to announce the birth of Jesus to these men.

Also, God actively intervened to warn the magi not to return to Herod; to warn Joseph to flee to Egypt; to direct him after Herod’s death to return to Israel; and, to warn him not to settle in Judea, but to move north to Nazareth in the region of Galilee (Matt. 2:12, 13, 19, 22).

The Bible is clear that God is actively involved in everything from the weather (Ps. 148:8; Job 37:6-13), to feeding the birds (Matt. 6:26), to the affairs of nations (Job 12:23; Ps. 22:28; Prov. 21:1; Dan. 4:25; Acts 17:26). So we can trust that He is actively involved in both the minor and major events in our lives, everything from the frustrating driver in front of you to the cancer that threatens your life. It’s not that we are robots, with no power of choice, but rather, in a way we cannot comprehend, God providentially uses human choices to accomplish His sovereign will for His glory. Because He is not a passive spectator in human events, we can trust Him and seek Him in all of life’s experiences.

B. God directs His people in times of confusion, danger, and fear.

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, God often used dreams to direct the people involved. Through a dream, He directed Joseph not to divorce the pregnant virgin Mary, but to take her as his wife. He used a dream to warn the magi not to return to Herod. Again, He used dreams to direct Joseph to flee to Egypt, to return to Israel, and not to settle in Judea (Matt. 1:20-21; 2:12, 13, 19, 22).

Does God use dreams to direct people today? Except for the birth narrative, the only other reference to dreams in Matthew is Pilate’s wife’s dream regarding Jesus (Matt. 27:19). There is only one other New Testament reference to dreams, when Peter on the Day of Pentecost cites Joel, “your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). There are a few Old Testament references to God using dreams, mostly with Joseph and Daniel. But God warns His people about false prophets who use their dreams to entice His people go after other gods and forget His name (Deut. 13:1-5; Jer. 23:26-27).

God is using dreams and visions to bring many Muslim people to faith in Christ in our day, so we should not deny that He can use dreams today. But, His normal means of directing us is through the wisdom found in His Word and through the godly counsel of mature believers (see my sermon, “How to Know God’s Will,” 12/30/12, on fcfonline.org). If you’re in a time of confusion or fear, seek the Lord through His word, properly interpreted. Often He will impress a verse or passage on your heart that provides the wisdom you need. I would advise against using a dream alone as your main source for guidance in a major decision. And, if any dream goes against God’s word, it is not from God (Jer. 23:28).

C. There are times when evil people prevail, but God uses them and their evil deeds to accomplish His holy purpose, but He’s not responsible for their sin.

Herod was one of the most despicable characters in history. When the magi came to Jerusalem, he was nearly seventy years old and sick with the disease from which he would shortly die. Over the course of his life he had ten wives. He murdered one wife and had ongoing conflict with his sons, putting them into prison and executing two of them. As he faced death, he rounded up many Jewish leaders and ordered that they should all be slaughtered at the moment of his death so that there would be national mourning rather than rejoicing. Five days before he died, he executed another son who had threatened his rule. So the slaughter of all the young boys in Bethlehem was in line with his pattern of murdering anyone who was a threat to his throne.

There have been many wicked rulers over the centuries, but none of them have thwarted God’s sovereign plan. God used the Assyrians to wipe out the northern tribes of Israel because of their idolatry (Isa. 10:6-11). He used Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, to destroy Jerusalem and the temple, and to take the Jews into captivity (Jer. 25:9). But, He also humbled Nebuchadnezzar with a strange disease where he ran wild like an animal for seven years, to teach him (Dan. 4:25), “that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 declares, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Concerning Pharaoh, who refused to let Israel be freed from slavery, God declares (Rom. 9:17), “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” Scripture has repeated examples of God using Satan and demons as well as evil people to accomplish His own holy purpose (e.g. 1 Kings 22:23), and yet He holds them accountable for their evil deeds (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology [Zondervan], pp. 322-327 cites many examples).

There is a common misconception that if you trust in Christ, He will protect you from all problems and trials (just name and claim your victory!). But God allows His people to suffer hardship, persecution, the loss of homes and property, and other trials (Heb. 10:34-36; 11:35b-38). He has determined the exact number of martyrs (Rev. 6:11). In the great tribulation, He will use Satan, antichrist, and the beast to accomplish His purposes before He sends them forever into the lake of fire. So when bad things happen to you because of evil people, don’t conclude that God has abandoned you or that He must not exist. He is sovereign even when it seems that evil is prevailing.

2. Because God is sovereign, we can trust Him even when evil seems to prevail.

Over the years, I have seen professing Christians turn away from the Lord because of trials that have come into their lives. Sometimes they bitterly complain, “I trusted in God and He treated me like this!” And so they turn to the world to find comfort and relief. But this account of Herod’s slaughter of the Bethlehem babies gives at least three reasons why we should trust the Lord, even when evil seems to be prevailing:

A. We can trust God when we don’t understand and when evil seems to prevail because His ways are not our ways.

God declares (Isa. 55:8-9):

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

If God had asked my opinion, I would have advised Him to take Herod’s life, as He later did with Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:23). He was already ill with the disease that would shortly kill him. Why not take him out before he carried out this atrocity? Think of the lifelong heartache for all those parents! But God allowed Herod to live and kill the young male children in Bethlehem. Matthew (2:18) says that this fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah (31:15) the prophet:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.”

Jeremiah’s prophecy referred to the women in Judah weeping over the deaths of their children when Nebuchadnezzar’s army wiped out Jerusalem. The Book of Lamentations further describes the horror of that slaughter and deportation of God’s chosen people. Matthew sees that prophecy as having a double fulfillment, first during the Babylonian victory and now again in Herod’s massacre of the children.

But the point is, neither tragedy thwarted God’s plan, but rather fulfilled it. Jeremiah 31 contains the promise of the new covenant, when God would abundantly bless His chosen people. And in Matthew 2, in the face of Herod’s horrific slaughter of the children, the Savior of the world was born and protected for His mission. Also, God assures believers who go through the horrors of the tribulation that He will reward them and punish their oppressors when Jesus returns (Rev. 6:9-11; 18:20).

B. We can trust God because He sent His Son into an evil world to solve the ultimate human problem.

Jesus wasn’t born into a protected bubble in a palace. His life was threatened from infancy. He later suffered horribly at the hands of sinners. His death on the cross is God’s provision for the root cause of evil in this world, human sin. When He comes again in power and glory, He will defeat the devil and judge all who persist in rebellion against Him. He will create a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells, where there will be no death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4).

But to reap the blessings of God’s salvation through Jesus, you have to trust personally in Him as your Savior from God’s judgment. When we talk about horribly evil tyrants like Herod, it’s easy to think, “Thank God, I’m not like that! I’ve never killed anyone. I’m a good person. Surely, I won’t face God’s judgment.”

But the Bible is clear (Rom. 3:23), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” While punishment will be worse for murderers like Herod, the Bible warns that all who have sinned will face God’s judgment. But the good news is, He offers mercy and forgiveness to every sinner! Heaven is not the reward for those who do good deeds. Rather, it’s offered as God’s free gift (Rom. 6:23): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul explains (Rom. 4:4-5), “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” Have you stopped trusting in your works and trusted instead in Jesus’ work for you on the cross? If not, don’t delay. Today is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late!

But, since evil has seemed to prevail throughout human history, how can we know that Jesus will return and ultimately triumph over evil? In a world where evil people oppress the innocent, how can we be sure that our trust in Christ will not be in vain?

C. We can trust God and know that He will certainly save all who trust Him because He protected our Savior from destruction.

In his treatment of Jesus’ birth, Matthew is at pains to show how everything fulfilled God’s word. Since God overcame Herod’s evil intent by protecting the Savior, we can trust Him to save us even when evil people seem to be prevailing.

In chapter 1, when Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, Matthew (1:22-23) shows, “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’” And, Joseph trusted God by obeying Him and taking Mary as his wife. Genuine faith always results in obedience.

Also, Matthew (2:5-6) shows that Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2. When Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt, Matthew (2:15) says, “This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” He’s citing Hosea 11:1, which refers to God delivering His people from Egypt during the exodus. Matthew wants us to see that Jesus is the embodiment of His son Israel. Jesus is the perfect Son who, in contrast to Israel, obeyed His Father. He fulfilled what the first exodus pictured, leading His people free from bondage to sin.

And, as we’ve seen, even Herod’s awful slaughter of the children of Bethlehem fulfilled Jeremiah’s reference to Rachel’s sorrow at the time of the Babylonian captivity. But Israel’s disobedience and Babylon’s merciless slaughter did not thwart God’s promise of a new covenant through Christ, when He would forgive His people’s sins and be their God (Heb. 8:8-12).

Finally, Matthew (2:23) also sees Joseph’s settling his family in Nazareth as a fulfillment of “what was spoken through the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’” But the problem here is that there is no Old Testament text declaring that Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Scholars suggest three main explanations (Craig Blomberg, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament [Baker], ed. by G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, p. 11). First, Matthew may be making a play on words between “Nazarene” and the Hebrew word for branch (netzer, Isa. 11:1), “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Second, he may be using “Nazarene” as a derogatory slang term to refer to someone from the insignificant town of Nazareth in Galilee (John 1:46; cf. Isa. 53:2-3; Ps. 22:6-8). Third, Matthew could be alluding to Judges 13:7, where the Lord tells Samson’s mother that her son will be a Nazirite. But, since Jesus wasn’t a Nazirite and the term has no connection with Nazareth, the third view isn’t likely (Carson, Expositor’s, 8:97).

This is the only time that Matthew uses “prophets” (plural), so he is probably summing up a theme found in several of the prophets, who predicted that the Messiah would be despised. This may include the reference to the branch, which “affirmed that David’s son would emerge from humble obscurity and low state” (ibid.).

But Matthew’s point in citing all of these Old Testament texts is that in spite of evil attempts to kill God’s Son, He protected Him so that He could fulfill His mission to “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). As Matthew and all the apostles proclaim, God raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him all authority in heaven and earth. He promised to return in power and glory (Matt. 26:64). So we can trust Him to save us for eternity, even if we suffer persecution or martyrdom at the hands of evil people.

Conclusion

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth there are three responses (cf. John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7 [Moody Press], p. 34). First, there is the response of Herod, who did everything he could to eliminate anyone who threatened his rule. Like him, some people go to extremes to resist bowing before Jesus as Lord.

Second, there is the response of the Jewish leaders, who studied and knew the Bible. They obeyed it outwardly, but they didn’t bother to make the five-mile trip to Bethlehem to see whether their Messiah and Savior was born there. Eventually, their indifference turned to hostility when Jesus confronted their sin. They refused to submit to Jesus as Lord.

Finally, there is the response of the magi. Although they were pagan Gentiles, they made the long, difficult trip to Bethlehem, sought Jesus until they found Him, and bowed before Him in worship. In the same vein, in obedience to God Mary and Joseph were willing to endure scorn and hardship. Be like the magi! Be like Mary and Joseph! Trust in Jesus as your Savior! Worship Him as your Lord! Obey Him even when it seems that evil is prevailing!

Application Questions

A skeptic asks, “How can God permit or even ordain evil and yet not be responsible for it?” Your reply?
How would you counsel a fellow Christian who said that based on a dream, he believed that God was directing him to make some major decision?
Some evangelicals argue that it is possible to accept Jesus as your Savior, but submission to Him as Lord is a later option. Which Scriptures refute this?
A Christian challenges you: “If God is sovereign, then people don’t have free will.” Your reply?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

New Years [2018]: Getting Out of the Spiritual Doldrums (Ephesians 3:14-21)

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December 31, 2017

Doldrums: Technically, the word refers to a part of the ocean near the equator where the winds are often calm. If a sailing vessel with no motor gets into the doldrums, it isn’t going anywhere. Webster further defines “doldrums” as (1) a spell of listlessness or despondency: blues; (2) a state of inactivity, stagnation, or slump.

I’m guessing that some of you may have drifted into the spiritual doldrums. You’re not doubting or denying the faith. You’re not thinking about becoming an atheist. But you’re not going anywhere spiritually. You’re spiritually stagnant. Your Christian life has become routine and boring. If this describes you in any way, I hope to motivate you to get out of the doldrums and make this a year when you make some significant spiritual advances.

For over a year now, the Lord has put Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 on my heart. I put it on a 3x5 card and have prayed it over and over for myself, my family members, and this church. It’s a “go-for-broke” prayer. In football, when a team desperately needs a touchdown, the quarterback will sometimes throw what they call a “hail Mary” pass. It’s a pass way down the field which, if caught, will often result in a touchdown. Paul’s prayer is like that but even greater. He prays (v. 19) that these believers will be “filled up to all the fullness of God.” Then, as if that weren’t beyond the limits, he prays (v. 20) “to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think”! God’s power is the limit! So here’s a New Year’s goal to help move you out of the spiritual doldrums:

To get out of the spiritual doldrums, pray this prayer often so that you and others will experience a year of unprecedented growth in the Lord.

James (4:2) says that often we don’t have because we don’t ask. So don’t be guilty of not asking God to do this year that which is humanly impossible. Remember the angel’s word to Mary (Luke 1:37), “For nothing will be impossible with God.” To make this a perfect sermon (smile), I have seven points:

1. Pray this prayer often for yourself, your family members, and this church this year.

Do as I did: Put these verses on a card, tuck it in your Bible or put it on the table where you eat breakfast, and pray it over and over. Extend the prayer to missionaries and to the lost people you want to come to Christ. Note four things about this prayer:

A. Pray more for spiritual growth than for physical or material needs.

Paul wrote this letter from prison. Prisons in that day did not feed the prisoners three square meals per day. Probably his only clothes were those on his back. He was getting up in years and with all the physical abuse his body had suffered, he probably had a lot of aches and pains. What would you be praying for if you were in those circumstances? “Lord, please get me out of this prison! Provide the funds that I need for food and clothes! Heal my aging, aching body!” But Paul didn’t pray for any of those things. When he finally does ask for prayer for himself (Eph. 6:19-20), he asks for boldness in his witness!

Paul begins, “For this reason….” This takes us back to Ephesians 3:1, which looks back to chapters 1 & 2, but especially to 2:19-22. Paul is saying, “Because God saved you by His sovereign grace and made you as Jews and Gentiles into one new man, the church; and because you are being built together as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit; therefore, I pray.” What he prays is that God would make real in their experience what is true of them positionally in Christ. In other words, he prays more for spiritual growth than for their physical or material needs. (This follows the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer, Matt. 6:9-13.) Spiritual growth is paramount.

B. Pray in humble submission to and dependence on the Father.

Paul directs his prayer to the Father. He could have said, “I pray,” but instead he says, “I bow my knees before the Father.” He is not mandating a posture for prayer as much as he is revealing an attitude for prayer. Kneeling revealed reverence, submission, humility, and adoration before God. The Greek word translated, “before,” means, “toward,” or “face to face with.” Along with the word, “Father,” it implies the intimacy of a child coming before his loving father, who will warmly welcome him.

In that culture, “father” was not only a term of intimacy, but also of authority. The act of naming implied the authority of the one giving the name. While we are invited to come to God as our loving Father who delights in His children, we should always do so with reverence and submission to His sovereign authority. He is not our “good Buddy in the sky”! He is the Almighty, Holy God, before whom the angels cover their faces in reverence (Isa. 6:2)! Prayer is the admission that we are totally dependent on God. We can’t do life on our own. But the Father is able and willing to help!

C. Pray based on God’s grace, not your performance.

“Grant” (v. 16) means to give freely. We receive all of Christ’s riches through God’s grace, His unmerited favor. While we must confess and forsake all known sins if we want God to hear our prayers (Ps. 66:18), we don’t approach His throne on the basis of our being worthy to deserve His blessing. We come to Him as unworthy sinners, but through the merits of our High Priest, who invites us to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). John Newton says (goodreads.com): “This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus.”

D. Pray in faith, knowing that God’s supply is limitless.

Paul prays (Eph. 3:16) that the Father would “grant you, according to the riches of His glory.” He owns the world and all that is in it (Ps. 24:1; 50:10-12). But Paul has in mind not so much material riches as the spiritual riches that God has freely provided for us in Christ. He begins Ephesians (1:3), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” He goes on to say (Eph. 2:7), “that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Those riches display God’s infinite glory. Paul does not ask God to give out of the riches of His glory, but according to those riches. If a billionaire gives you $100, he gave out of his riches. If he gives you $10 million, he gave according to his riches. The supply of God’s riches for us in Christ is bottomless! So pray, believing that He can fulfill your request! What should you pray for?

2. Pray for the Father to grant that you will be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person.

Ephesians 3:16: “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man ….” Two reasons for this request:

A. You are praying for the power of His indwelling Spirit because your problems are beyond your strength to solve.

This is not a dramatic, one-time experience, but rather an ongoing experience of God’s power to change our hearts, as we walk in the Spirit every day. As Jesus stated (John 15:5b), “… apart from Me you can do nothing.” We’re totally dependent on Him, although we often forget this, as seen by our prayerlessness. It’s good to ask yourself often, “If God withdrew His Spirit from me, how long would it take me to miss Him?”

B. You are praying for power through His Spirit in the inner person because God changes outward behavior by changing the heart.

Modern science has made some amazing discoveries, but it hasn’t discovered how to impart life to a dead animal or person. But that’s what the new birth is about! God makes those who were dead in their sins alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5) through the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; Eph. 1:19-20).

So, pray for inner transformation for yourself and for others, not just outward behavioral changes. Many Christians mistakenly think that if a person prays to accept Jesus as Savior or “invite Him into their heart,” then he is born again. Maybe, but maybe not! The question is, did God change his heart? Is it evident that he has new life in Christ? Are his desires and motives different than they used to be? Does he now love God and His Word? Does he hunger and thirst for righteousness?

The battle against temptation and sin is a battle that is won or lost in the heart or inner person (Mark 7:21-23). You may be able to change your outward behavior through techniques or methods that you learn in counseling or through a 12 Step group. But if God doesn’t change your heart, you’re just putting a tuxedo on a pig! The Pharisees looked good on the outside, but Jesus said that they were like whitewashed tombs: clean on the outside, but inside they were full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (Matt. 23:27-28). Genuine Christianity is not just a moral improvement program. We need changed hearts. It begins at the new birth, but continues throughout life. For that kind of inner change, we need nothing less than the daily power of the Holy Spirit. Only He can make your heart the kind of place where Jesus is pleased to dwell.

3. Pray that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith.

Ephesians 3:17a: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith ….” Paul was writing to believers. So, doesn’t Christ dwell in the hearts of all believers? Yes, but this is something more. He’s talking about Christ being at home in our hearts.

A. Christ dwells in your heart as you trust and obey Him.

Biblical faith is not passive, where you “let go and let God.” Rather, it is an active reliance on God and His promises, often in the face of impossible circumstances. Biblical faith is always linked with obedience. If you trust God, you obey God. To obey God, you must trust that His Word is true. Jesus spoke of the link between our obedience and His being at home in our hearts (John 14:23), “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” Christ is not at home with a disobedient Christian who keeps a dirty house.

B. Christ dwelling in your heart means that He progressively takes over every area of your life.

This is a lifelong process where you welcome Christ into every aspect of your life, so that there is no known area that you would be uncomfortable having Christ be there.

Perhaps no one has put it better than Robert Munger, in his little booklet, “My Heart, Christ’s Home” [IVP]. He tells of how after Christ entered his heart, in the joy of that newfound relationship, he said, “Lord, I want this heart of mine to be yours. I want to have you settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to you. Let me show you around and introduce you to the various features of the home so that you may be more comfortable and that we may have fuller fellowship together.”

So he proceeded to take Christ into the study, which represents what the mind focuses on. The Lord had some cleanup to do there! They went on to the living room, where they agreed to meet each morning to start the day together. That went well until Munger got busy and started skipping those times. He had viewed those quiet times only as a means for his own spiritual progress, rather than as a time to fellowship with the Lord. They moved on through all the rooms of the house, remodeling and cleaning wherever necessary. The final room was a hall closet that Munger had kept locked. It was where he kept those secrets that he had tried to keep hidden from the Lord. He finally had to give the Lord the key so that He could clean out that closet.

That’s how God works in our hearts. He wants to move from room to room until every area of our lives is suitable for His dwelling place. He does this as we trust and obey Him.

4. Pray that you will be rooted and grounded in love.

Ephesians 3:17b: “that you, being rooted and grounded in love ….” Paul mixes his metaphors, using one from botany (rooted) and another from architecture (grounded) to strengthen his point. We should keep the connection with the earlier part of the prayer in mind. The result of being strengthened with power through God’s Spirit in the inner man is that Christ will come to be at home in our hearts through faith, resulting in our being rooted and grounded in love.

Paul does not specify whether this is God’s love for us or our love for Him or our love for others. So at this point, he is talking about love as the main principle of the Christian life. God’s great love for us as demonstrated in sending His own Son to be the sacrifice for our sins undergirds everything. Stemming from that, all of His commandments are summed up by the two great commandments, to love God and love others. Thus the Christian life is rooted and grounded in love. Pray that you and others would sink down roots into God’s love as seen at the cross. Pray that His great love in sending His Son to die for your sins would be the foundation of everything in your life, both Godward and toward others.

5. Pray that you will be able to comprehend with all the saints the unfathomable extent of the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

Ephesians 3:18-19a: Pray that you “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge ....”

“May be able” means, “to have the strength.” To “comprehend” means “to lay hold of or seize.” Every true child of God knows the love of Christ to some extent (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). But this verse states that you can never know it fully because it is beyond human comprehension. Paul wants you to make the immeasurable love of Christ yours on a deeper level. While this knowledge is based on information, it is more than mere information. Paul wants us to experience the limitless love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39). Obviously, this isn’t something you will achieve this year or in this lifetime. But, you can still grow to know it better.

Note, however, that you will not come to know the unknowable love of Christ by yourself. There is a corporate emphasis in this prayer. “Every family” (Eph. 3:15) should probably be translated “the whole family,” referring to the church. In Ephesians, Paul is talking about the church being built together into a dwelling place of God (Eph. 2:19-22). In verse 18 he prays that we may be able to comprehend the magnitude of Christ’s love with all the saints. Then in the doxology (v. 21) he prays that there will be glory to God “in the church and in Christ Jesus.”

I have experienced Christ’s love in many ways in my life, but you have experienced His love in other ways in your life. And that experience is multiplied throughout the entire church, both locally and worldwide. So when you get together with other believers, ask them to tell their story of how they came to know Christ. How has He shown His love in their lives? Share your story and how you have experienced Christ’s love. But we could pool all of the stories of all believers worldwide, and we still wouldn’t fully know the breadth and length and height and depth of His love! It surpasses knowledge!

6. Pray that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

This is the summit of this “Mt. Everest” prayer (v. 19): “that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” It’s comparable to Paul’s aim in Colossians 1:28 of presenting “every man complete in Christ.” It refers to the perfection of which God Himself is full. It is a prayer that God will totally fill or control every aspect of your life: your mind, your attitudes, your goals, your motives, your emotions, your relationships, your finances, and every decision you make. It’s comparable to Paul’s goal (Eph. 4:13) that “we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” It means “to be all that God wants you to be,” or “to be spiritually mature” (D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation [IVP], p. 195).

As with this entire prayer, this is a process that will never be complete in this life. But it is God’s goal that every believer be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). So we should join Paul (Phil. 3:14) in pressing “on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Finally,

7. Pray for God to do far more abundantly beyond all that you can ask or think for His glory.

Eph. 3:20-21: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Two things:

A. Pray big prayers, for God to do that which is humanly inexplicable.

Don’t be guilty of praying small, safe prayers. As I said, this is a “Hail Mary pass” kind of prayer. You’re going for broke, asking God for things that are way beyond human ability. But no prayer is too big or too difficult for God! Phillips Brooks said (goodreads.com), “Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.”

But, one caution: Sometimes, for reasons we cannot understand, God does not answer our prayers the way we had hoped. Paul prayed fervently for the conversion of the Jews (Rom. 10:1), but that prayer wasn’t answered. I’ve prayed for the conversion of some who have died without Christ. I’ve prayed for broken marriages that were not healed. I’ve prayed for sinning Christians to repent, but they persisted in their sin. So there is a mystery about prayer. We can’t always understand God’s ways. But, even so …

B. Pray for God to be glorified by converting sinners and sanctifying His saints.

God’s glory is the goal of redemption. Pray that God will convert sinners for His glory. That requires nothing less than His resurrection power (Eph. 1:19-20). He must grant faith and repentance (Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:25). But if He can save Paul, the chief of sinners, He can save and sanctify the most difficult people you know. So pray that He will do far more abundantly beyond all that you can ask or think for His glory.

Conclusion

Thus, to get out of the spiritual doldrums, pray this prayer often for yourself, your family members, and this church. Pray for the Father to grant that you will be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person. Pray that Christ would dwell in your heart through faith; that you will be rooted and grounded in love; that you will be able to comprehend with all the saints the immeasurable extent of the love of Christ; and, that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God. Pray for God to do far more abundantly beyond all that you can ask or think, for His glory.

My granddaughter, Jubilee, made me a bookmark with this verse from John Newton: “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such none can ever ask too much.” Wherever you’re at with the Lord, there is always more. Get out of the spiritual doldrums! Pray Paul’s prayer for yourself and others this year! Pray for a year of unprecedented growth in Christ!

Application Questions

Talk with a friend about a time you were in the spiritual doldrums. What helped you to get out? What didn’t help?
To what extent do you experience Christ dwelling in your heart through faith? How could you make this more regular?
Is your Christian walk centered on Christ’s immeasurable love or more on your performance? How can you change this?
What are you praying for that is way beyond human explanation or expectation?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

Related Topics: Christian Life, New Year's, Prayer

A New Beginning

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The Scriptures often speak of a fresh start or new beginning. We are reminded of this at the onset of earth’s history, for “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The apostle John uses similar language with regard the role of Christ in all of this:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God
And the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)¹

The centrality of Christ in all of this is communicated to the Colossian Christians by the apostle Paul saying, “All things were created by him and for him” (Col. 1:16; cf. Rev. 1:6; 22:13).

Many other texts likewise speak of some kind of beginning. For example, John the Baptist warned of that which was soon to happen (Luke 3: 4-7) and the apostle Peter warned, “The end of all things is near” (1 Pet. 4:7) and “It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Pet. 4:17).

Not to be overlooked also are those passages that speak of the beginning and the end. For example, consider the warning of the Lord to Samuel with regard to Israel and especially to Eli’s family: “I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end” (1 Sam. 3:12). In all of the above passages we are reminded that ultimately God is in control of all things;

I am God, and there is no other:
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning. (Isa. 46:9-10a).

Of particular interest are the poetic texts which speak of something beginning. The 102nd Psalm declares that just as was communicated in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 1:1), “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hand” (Ps. 102:25). Of interest also are those texts which speak of the true source of man’s knowledge. Solomon remarks, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). Walke remarks, “Wisdom consists in transcending the fallen human world and participating in the divine, the holy.”² Ultimately, then, a reverential trust in the Lord is the source of human wisdom.

Similarly, the psalmist concludes his remarks by saying,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
All who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. (Ps. 111:10)

Alexander observes, “All God’s dealings with his people are in faithfulness and truth, and his commands not only are but must be right, then the first step in wisdom, its first principle or element, is reverence for such a Being, proved by obedience to his will.”³ As previously noted, true knowledge is centered in a proper reverence for the Lord. If one wishes to have true wisdom, he begins with seeking the Lord’s counsel. Earlier the author of Proverbs (Solomon) has established the fact that gaining insight into real knowledge begins with the Lord: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Pro. 1:7). In context the emphasis here is that the foundation of true wisdom is the fear of God, or as McKane states “Without this basic reverence for Yahweh and submission to him, there can be no acquisition of wisdom”.⁴

Supplemental to, yet in accordance with, the above truths is the fact that with godly wisdom a Christian can and should live out his life, from beginning to end. Human wisdom has its source in the Lord, who has arranged one’s salvation (2 Thess. 2:13). In accordance with His grace, God chose believers long before earthly time began. As Paul says to Timothy:

Grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 1:9-10)

Therefore, believers are to live a holy life throughout their lives on earth.

Complimentary to Paul’s remarks in 2 Timothy are his words in Titus 1:2 that true faith and knowledge rest on the “hope of eternal life which God . . . promised before the beginning of time.” As Christ’s followers, believers should . . . be faithful in all things, even in such matters as the course of their daily tasks and contacts. This should be the constant, consistent goal and desire throughout their lives. … Moreover faithfulness to God should be a burning desire in the believer’s heart.⁵

What could be a better new beginning for each of us in this new year (2018) than to have surrendered our lives to God’s will and consistently live out our lives in full dedication to the Lord? May each of us do so with our whole hearts and desires! In so doing we follow Christ’s own earthly example. As the hymn writer expresses it:

Once I was lost in sin’s degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame –
Now I belong to Him!⁶

¹ All Scriptural citations are taken from the New International Version.

² Bruce K. Walke, The Book of Proverbs Chapters 1-15, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004), 442.

³ Joseph A. Alexander, Commentary on Psalms, (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1991), 471.

⁴ William McKane, Proverbs: A New Approach (Philadelphia, Westminister, nd), 264.

⁵ Richard D. Patterson, “Faithful to the End”, Bible.Org, 2004, p12-13.

⁶ Norman J. Clayton, “Now I Belong to Jesus”.

Healthy Living: A Study Of Colossians

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Genuine Christians can be deceived by false teaching, even teaching concerning Christ. Is there some concept that you have about Jesus Christ, salvation, or the Christian life that is not based on Scripture but on man-made tradition or philosophy? Will you give it up and accept the prescription for healthy living presented in God’s Word—Jesus Christ is above all powers and authorities, in all believers, and is all we need for earth and heaven! Dwelling in truth you can know leads to healthy living! Will you choose “healthy living?”

Using This Study Guide

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The Basic Study

This study guide consists of 12 lessons covering Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Most of the lessons are short. However, if you cannot do the entire lesson one week, please read the Bible passage(s) covered by the lesson.

Process of Bible Study: Each lesson includes core questions covering the passage narrative. These core questions will take you through the process of inductive Bible study—observation, interpretation, and application. The process is more easily understood in the context of answering these questions:

What does the passage say? (Observation: what’s actually there)
What does it mean? (Interpretation: the author’s intended meaning)
How does this apply to me today? (Application: making it personal) Questions identified as “Staying Healthy” lead you to introspection and application of a specific truth to your life.

Study Enhancements

Deeper Discoveries (optional): Embedded within the sections are optional questions for further research of subjects we don’t have time to cover adequately in the lessons or contain information that may enhance the basic study. If you are meeting with a small group, your leader may give you the opportunity to share your “discoveries.”

To aid in proper interpretation and application of the study, five additional study aids are located where appropriate in the lesson:

Historical Insights
Scriptural Insights
From the Greek (definitions of Greek words)
Focus on the Meaning
Think About It (thoughtful reflection)

New Testament Summary

The New Testament opens with the births of Jesus and John (known as “the baptist”). About 30 years later, John challenged the Jews to indicate their repentance (turning from sin and toward God) by submitting to water baptism—a familiar Old Testament practice used for repentance as well as when a Gentile converted to Judaism (to be washed clean of idolatry).

Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son, publicly showed the world what God is like and taught His perfect ways for 3 – 3½ years. After preparing 12 disciples to continue Christ’s earthly work, He died voluntarily on a cross for mankind’s sin, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven. The account of His earthly life is recorded in 4 books known as the Gospels (the biblical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John named after the compiler of each account).

After Jesus’ return to heaven, the followers of Christ were then empowered by the Holy Spirit and spread God’s salvation message among the Jews, a number of whom believed in Christ. The apostle Paul and others traveling with him carried the good news to the Gentiles during 3 missionary journeys (much of this recorded in the book of Acts). Paul wrote 13 New Testament letters to churches & individuals (Romans through Philemon). The section in our Bible from Hebrews to Jude contains 8 additional letters penned by five men, including two apostles (Peter and John) and two of Jesus’ half-brothers (James and Jude). The author of Hebrews is unknown. The apostle John also recorded Revelation, which summarizes God’s final program for the world. The Bible ends as it began—with a new, sinless creation.

Healthy Living

Heresy is an infection in the Body of Christ. It is an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious TRUTH. And like an infection in the human body, heresy always affects one’s spiritual health (as well as emotional, mental, and sometimes physical health). So, heresy must be addressed. It cannot be ignored. The medical treatment for all heresy is found in the New Testament!

The infection in Colosse afflicted the believers there regarding their view of the identity and deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote the letter of Colossians to contradict this infection. In Colossians, we find through Paul the greatest declaration of Christ’s deity found in Scripture. What Paul wrote then seems written expressly for our own day when so many are trying to rob Jesus Christ of his deity and sufficiency.

Introduction: Truth—the Prescription for Healthy Living

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Heresy (an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious TRUTH) is an infection in the Body of Christ. It’s not just error; it is anti-truth! And like an infection in the human body, it always affects life so it must be addressed. Thankfully, the answer to all heresy is TRUTH! Knowing truth gives us a spiritual immune system that fights and prevents infection. That is the prescription for healthy living. Here’s how we will see it work throughout this study of Colossians and Philemon:

Dwell in Truth You Can Know

To “dwell” means to make your home in. It’s what dominates your thoughts and attitudes, governs your life, has the most influence on you. God gives us plenty of truth in the Scriptures that we can know and trust. There are 66 books of revelation given. 1189 chapters. If we just took 1 chapter per day and wrote down all the truths about God and our relationship with Him that is revealed to us, it would take us more than 3 years to get through the whole Bible! God wants us to know the truth He has revealed. He wants us to make our home — to dwell — in that truth. It is for our own good!

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:17-19,

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing KNOWLEDGE of Him, —since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened—so that you may KNOW what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of His immense strength.”

Look at all that God says we can KNOW. Each passage we read or study has plenty of truth that we can KNOW with certainty and allow to govern our lives. At the end of each lesson, you’ll get to list all the TRUTH from that lesson that you can KNOW about God and His relationship to you. Throughout this study, you will DWELL in truth you can know.

Humbly Accept the “I Don’t Know or Understand”

In the midst of all those 1189 chapters in the Bible are verses we just don’t understand. Perhaps you don’t understand it now but will in the future as you learn more through Bible study and hear great teaching that helps you understand. But, there are things we will never know or understand.

Deuteronomy 29:29 says this,

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Notice the emphasis on the things revealed — we can KNOW them. But, there are “secret things” the Lord has not revealed yet. As we study the Bible, we can do our best to try to understand what is written—examining the original words to see what the writer meant and what the audience understood, looking at cross-references to let the Bible interpret itself, and ask the Spirit for understanding. But, you may never understand something that you read. Don’t let that unnerve you. 

In this study, after you list all the TRUTH from each lesson that you can KNOW, you’ll get to write the things that you just can’t seem to understand from the lesson or things you might not know. Then, you can make the choice to HUMBLY ACCEPT the “I don’t know or understand.”

Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God’s Word

To dwell in the truth of God’s Word, we must discern what we read and hear by comparing it with the complete revelation of God’s Word (the whole Bible). We can’t extract pieces of it (that is, a verse or group of verses) and build our foundation on that. Nor should we build our faith on experiences and feelings. There’s junk out there about God so it’s important to really get to know the God of the Bible.

Avoid the “look-imagine-see” way of looking at any verse, which leads to error. What do I mean by “look-imagine-see?” Someone looks at a verse or passage, imagines what they want it to say, and then sees in their mind what they have imagined through twisting word meanings and interpretations.

Cultural influence on Bible study feeds this “look-imagine-see” process. You look at the passage, imagine a way for it to fit a particular cultural slant, then you see what you want to see. Many types of false teaching through the years have started with this kind of “look-imagine-see” process. Avoid doing that by following the inductive process of Bible Study: observation (what the text says), interpretation (what was the author’s intended meaning—to him and to his audience that would read or hear it), and application (how to live this out in your life). That is the best way to study the Bible. Look at what’s there. Learn what it means and teaches you. Then, live it out in your life.

You want to make sure you are basing your faith on what is in God’s Word, not something you have heard before and not something you are imagining to be there. So, avoid that “look-imagine-see” way of looking at the Bible.

We will never know all there is to know about God. There’ll always be some mystery about Him. But, there’s plenty enough revealed in the Bible that we CAN KNOW HIM TRUTHFULLY and know how to live our life in Christ truthfully. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture we read and study to teach us about our God so we can know TRUTH and DWELL in that truth. Dangerous teaching comes from picking and choosing what you consider to be “truth.” All false teachers through the centuries have taken advantage of people who were not dwelling in the truth portrayed in the whole Bible.

At the end of each lesson, I will ask you to evaluate something you have read or heard in light of the TRUTH you are learning—books, social media, billboards—things that sound nice and comfy but may actually lead to or be based upon error in biblical thinking. I may even throw one into the lesson for you to evaluate and discern truth or error. DISCERN TEACHING through the complete revelation of God’s Word.

The prescription for healthy living has three parts:

1. DWELL IN TRUTH You Can Know

2. HUMBLY ACCEPT the “I Don’t Know or Understand”

3. DISCERN Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God’s Word

Enjoy healthy living!

You are here

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Excursus 4: Servir Unos a Otros en el Conflicto

Conflicto es Normal

Resolviendo Conflictos Interpersonales a la Manera de Dios

Los Principios

Principio #1: “En el Señor “

Principio #2: Estén de acuerdo unos con otros (o, viva en armonía).

Principio #3: Ayúdeles— Intervención.

¿Cuáles son los A-B-Cs de la Resolución de conflicto?

A = Alcance contacto de confianza con cada una de las partes en conflicto.

B = Concéntrese en cuáles son los problemas presentes (Simplifique el asunto).

C = Coopere activamente (Introduzca una salida, un plan).

Conclusión

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11. Pensamiento Gozoso (Filipenses 4:6-9)

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12. Vivir y Dar con Gozo (Filipenses 4:10-23)

Gozo en Resumen

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Recursos

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Christmas [2017]: The Christmas Massacre (Matthew 2:12-23)

1. God is sovereign even when evil seems to prevail.

A. God is not a passive spectator in the theater of human events.

B. God directs His people in times of confusion, danger, and fear.

C. There are times when evil people prevail, but God uses them and their evil deeds to accomplish His holy purpose, but He’s not responsible for their sin.

2. Because God is sovereign, we can trust Him even when evil seems to prevail.

A. We can trust God when we don’t understand and when evil seems to prevail because His ways are not our ways.

B. We can trust God because He sent His Son into an evil world to solve the ultimate human problem.

C. We can trust God and know that He will certainly save all who trust Him because He protected our Savior from destruction.

Conclusion

Application Questions

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New Years [2018]: Getting Out of the Spiritual Doldrums (Ephesians 3:14-21)

1. Pray this prayer often for yourself, your family members, and this church this year.

A. Pray more for spiritual growth than for physical or material needs.

B. Pray in humble submission to and dependence on the Father.

C. Pray based on God’s grace, not your performance.

D. Pray in faith, knowing that God’s supply is limitless.

2. Pray for the Father to grant that you will be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person.

A. You are praying for the power of His indwelling Spirit because your problems are beyond your strength to solve.

B. You are praying for power through His Spirit in the inner person because God changes outward behavior by changing the heart.

3. Pray that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith.

A. Christ dwells in your heart as you trust and obey Him.

B. Christ dwelling in your heart means that He progressively takes over every area of your life.

4. Pray that you will be rooted and grounded in love.

5. Pray that you will be able to comprehend with all the saints the unfathomable extent of the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

6. Pray that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

7. Pray for God to do far more abundantly beyond all that you can ask or think for His glory.

A. Pray big prayers, for God to do that which is humanly inexplicable.

B. Pray for God to be glorified by converting sinners and sanctifying His saints.

Conclusion

Application Questions

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A New Beginning

Healthy Living: A Study Of Colossians

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Using This Study Guide

The Basic Study

Study Enhancements

New Testament Summary

Healthy Living

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Introduction: Truth—the Prescription for Healthy Living

Dwell in Truth You Can Know

Humbly Accept the “I Don’t Know or Understand”

Discern Teaching through the Complete Revelation of God’s Word

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