Week 4

Week 4

There are moments when I read passages like the one from last week that are full of promise, hope, and future, that I find myself doubting and/or anxious. I feel completely inadequate and untrained for the task at hand. I feel there is list of accomplishments that I must achieve in order to be able to live in such a way. The mere idea of being able to live in the fullness of Christ seems impossible to attain. My mind battles desperately with this idea that I must do something to earn this right of Freedom, the right to be one of His children, to live in the fullness of who He is and in the fullness of who He created me to be. I cringe to think of how my living in such a way cheapens the price that was paid for me, like it wasn’t enough that HE died for me and for YOU. I often live in this struggle it seems between pursuit of Him and doubt and fear. So often I get so hopeless that I just turn it all off, give up, and stick my head in the sand. I am tired of this back and forth between being full of faith and hope, and despair and drudgery. I want to be Free from doubt and hopelessness, and firmly planted in Him. However, if I am to be firmly planted in Him I have to know how to seek Him. For me this was not something that I really understood how to do until my adulthood. Of course there are prayer and bible studies, but what I mean is to seek truth straight from His Word. I mean seriously it is called HIS WORD for a reason…Why am I just now getting that???

This week I want you to choose the passage that you will study. It can be a “life verse”, one that has recently spoken to you, or you may take some time to pray and ask the Lord to reveal one to you, but you are to choose it. We need to start running to THE WORD for a word, for life, and to be fed. Far too often in my own life I’ve run to “Godly” friends, pastors, parents, bible studies, blogs, etc, but very rarely to the actual Word of God. This is where He is found, where we will be fed without fail, and where we will find life and freedom. Let us Dive into Him.

Verse :

Day 1:  Initial Read/Context

              - What stands out to you at first glance in this passage?

  

              - Who is this passage written to, what was going on before, during and after, and what is

                 being said and thought?

  

Day2:  Truths

               -What does this passage teach me about the author?

  

                -What does this passage teach me about God?

               -What can I learn about who I am in Christ?

Day 3:  Promises

               -What promises are being given in this passage?

Day 4:  Commands

               -What commands am I being given?

Day 5;  Apply

              -How can I specifically apply what I have learned from this passage to how I am living

               today?

             -What is God revealing to me about Himself?

             -What is God revealing to me about myself and who I am in Him?

The last four weeks of this study has taken us through four very different passages of scripture that have been linked in progression of God’s heart for us. The first one we looked at was the Gospel, God’s gift, our redemption, and a call to be light. The second passage we looked at the cost of following Christ and the reward that He grants to those who lose their lives for His sake. The third passage was a declaration of freedom, hope, and promise...That we are more than conquerors. Lastly, you chose one of your own. Whatever passage you may have chosen, whether Old Testament or New Testament, it all comes back to God’s desire for us to revel in the Gospel, dying to ourselves, and to Rise Up in pursuit of Him, in pursuit of MORE. He desires for us to walk as more than conquerors in all that we do, declaring the Gospel, dying to ourselves, and being FREE. Let us Rise up, Pursue Christ, and be FREE.