Bible Studies

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LESSON 4

GOD’S INVITATION INTO A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM

God’s commands are never unattainable or impossible. All that we ever need to become like Christ was given to us the moment we first repented and believed, and the Holy Spirit came to live in us.
· 2 Pet. 1:3,4 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

This is the first part of our inheritance – a down payment, if you like.

· 2 Cor. 1:21,22 – Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
· Phil. 2:12,13 – Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Everything we need to know about our immensely powerful, loving and gracious God and His views and solutions to all of life’s problems are found in the Bible. Christ is the perfect embodiment of the Father because he is God in the flesh. A wife who marries for love has a passionate desire to know everything about her husband and to maintain an intimate, constant communion with him. We must do the same if we want to please God and desire to live in the power of His Holy Spirit.

Obedience becomes increasingly easier as we continue to search the scriptures, finding out more about the true God in the Bible. Knowing only portions of the Bible means that our view of God is distorted and this adversely affects our behaviour and thinking. How can we truly love a God whom we don’t know properly? How can we possibly be obedient if we don’t know exactly what we are to obey? How can we stand firm in the faith if we aren’t aware of all God’s wonderful promises – the provisions that He has made for us – the strength that is available to us – the all-powerful Spirit that lives within us? It is through the Word that we are shown these truths. The word of God is living and active, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. It would be foolish to ignore them!

READ AND DISCUSS EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES IN LIGHT OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS:
· Zech. 4:6 – So (the angel of the Lord) said to (Zechariah), “This is the word of the Lord … Not by (man’s) might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.
· Ez. 36:27 – “I will show (you) the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned amongst the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord”, declares the sovereign Lord, “when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws ………… then you will know that I am the Lord.”
· Phil. 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
· Psalm 119:129-133 – Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
· Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
· Matt. 22:29 – Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”

Part 2 of Passionate Spirituality explores why we so often fail in our duty as the Bride of Christ; God’s provision for our weakness; and the meaning of real faith and Christian maturity. Lesson 5 explains what it means to be “called to be like Jesus”

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