These are the notes to the CDG Tuesday Night Bible Study on 8-14-18. This is the second Bible Study, with a sermon sandwiched between them, that the Holy Spirit has given me for the church. We are to face the fact that Christians can and do worry, become anxious, stressed, and depressed. It is something that can be used by the enemy to create guilt and doubt to disrupt the relationship between God and the believer. We should talk about it, see what the scriptures say about it and how with the help of the Holy Spirit to deal with it.
When your world has
been turned upside down by the news of a serious, maybe terminal illness for
you or a loved one; the death of a parent, child or spouse, loss of employment,
a serious financial crises, a divorce, the collapse of a close friendship. When any of those things happen, and
sometimes more than one of them happens at once, it feels as if everything is closing in our
you and there's no way out.
We know that
because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we
live in a fallen world where bad things happen.
Jesus Himself told us that trouble would come, but He also told us that
He has overcome them.
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you
these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The scriptures also
tell us that if we are in Christ we are more than conquerors.
Romans 8:37-39 NIV No, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
They also tell us
that no matter the situation we are never alone.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong
and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord
your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV Keep your
lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my
helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
We also know
Psalm 34:19 NIV The righteous
person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
We know all these
things and when things are going well we quote them with great enthusiasm. We still quote them, although not as
enthusiastically when trouble starts.
When the trouble lingers and even more trouble comes we may still quote them but, we may start to
wonder it anybody other than us hears or really cares. When it get to that point we need to be
reminded that God who made those promises loves us.
1 John 4:7-11 NIV Dear friends,
let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been
born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God
is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved
God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our
sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
He’s left us
reminders of that love,
4 Reminders from God that He loves
us
Reminder #1
Creation
The creation itself should remind us of how all
powerful God is. It is also evidence
that He does, in fact, exist. The very fact that he created the universe and
then allowed us to be masters over the earth should remind us that there is
somebody out there who is bigger than we are.
Genesis
1:27-31 (NLT) So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said,
“Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in
the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the
ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant
throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given
every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and
the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And
that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it
was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
When my wife and I visited Hawaii a few years ago the folk’s house where
we were staying had a view out of their kitchen window from which you could see
the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. It
was awe inspiring. On another occasion
I had an opportunity to drive to Las Vegas, from Payson, AZ, a little town
mountains. We drove through some canyons the view of which would cause my jaw
to drop. Looking up at some cloud
formations will give you that same feeling.
Psalm
19:1-6 (NLT)1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display
his craftsmanship.2 Day after day they
continue to speak; night after night they make him known.3 They speak without a sound or word; their
voice is never heard.4 Yet their message has gone throughout the
earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for
the sun.5
It bursts forth like a radiant
bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the
race.6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and
follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
God has made Himself obvious through His creation.
Romans 1:20
(NLT)20
For ever since the world was created, people
have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see
his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no
excuse for not knowing God.
These things about God’s creation remind us of how
big God is, His faithfulness, and proof that He loves you.
● The next time you see a sunrise, remind yourself,
God is faithful.
● The next time you see snow-covered mountains with
their peaks pointing toward the sky, remind yourself, God is faithful.
● The next time you see flowers that have burst into
bloom because winter couldn’t stop them from developing in the hidden places,
remind yourself, God is faithful.
● The next time you hold a soft-skinned baby in your
arms, remind yourself, God is faithful.
And the biggest thing of all is that we are made in
God’s image.
Genesis 1:26 (NLT)26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in
our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the
birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the
small animals that scurry along the ground.”
Reminder #2: The People We Meet
God uses what we may consider chance meetings or
encounters to benefit us later. God had
plans for you before you were born. Like
the prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) “I knew you before I
formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and
appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
You’ve never met anybody by accident.
Psalms 37:23 NLT The Lord directs the
steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Think about some relationships that you had when you were
in school. Not those where you stayed in
close contact but people that you haven’t seen for years or have never seen
ever again, maybe a teacher, a coach, or just another classmate. Think about the impact on you and your life
of something they said, an introduction to someone else, or an example you
follow today.
The way I plan my workday and workweek is the result of
something that a man taught me over 40 years ago when I worked for Bank of
America. My love for studying the
scripture is because I met a group of guys in San Jose over 40 years ago. I don’t even remember their names but the
result of meeting and studying with them is why I am doing what I do today and
using the spiritual gift of teaching that the Holy Spirit gave me.
When you doubt whether God cares about you and loves you
think about the people that he has placed in your life over the years. If I just sit and think back about some of
the difficult and stressful times I’ll remember somebody doing something, or
saying something or giving me something, seemingly out of the blue that helped
get me through. That wasn't just a
coincidence that was a reminder that God loves me.
Reminder #3: The Circumstances We Go Through
Our circumstances change and they change us. For example moving from one city to another
is a change in location or circumstance.
There are two possibilities. We
can be put in a situation where it is more expensive to live than where we were
before and that creates stress. That’s a
change for the worse, at least for a while.
On the other hand we move from one city to another and we get a huge
increase in income, that’s a change of circumstance that is for the good. But in either case it the change in
circumstance changes us.
Reminder #4: Jesus - The Greatest Reminder
Jesus is the greatest reminder of all of
God’s love. When things seem so
overwhelming we need to change our focus. When we realize that God gave His Son
Jesus so that He could pay the ransom for mankind and take the punishment of
sin we know that God loves us. Jesus
came and willingly laid down His life as our sacrifice He then sent the Holy
Spirit by and through whom we are able to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Romans 8:31-39 NLT What shall we say about such wonderful things
as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare
even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything
else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God
himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No
one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is
sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can
anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves
us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute,
or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake
we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite
all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our
worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s
love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all
creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you wrestle with anxiety and stress especially in
situations where you have no control remember all that He went through for
you. Remember the agony in the garden of
Gethsemane, the humiliation at His trial, the paid of the beatings and finally
His crucifixion. It looked as if He had
no control over any of this but on the third day He rose from the dead to show
that God never lost control. Jesus is
the Great Reminder that God loves you.
excerpted from God’s Wisdom and Promises by
Jack Countryman
Jesus answered
them, “Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that
you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am
not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” — John 16:31-33
My brethren, count
it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be
given to him. — James 1:2-5
Having been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory
in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and
perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us. — Romans 5:1-5
We do not lose
heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is
working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do
not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen
are eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Let love be without
hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not
lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. — Romans 12:9-12
In everything give
thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the
Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18-22
In all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. — Romans 8:37-39
How do you react
when life crashes in on you? What are your default responses, the things you
run to for comfort, relief, or escape?
Trying to avoid a
situation only makes matters worse. We end up even more frustrated, because
nothing changes. We may even feel guilty for not being strong enough to deal
with whatever thorn has gotten under our skin. Ultimately, we run even farther
away from the only one who can truly help us.
Until we’re willing
to have that honest conversation with God, we will never know peace. But how?
Habakkuk helps
guide us through the valley with three specific actions. First, Habakkuk
questioned the apparent injustice of God.
Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV How long,
Lord , must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save? Why do you make me
look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are
before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice
never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Habakkuk 1:12-17 NIV Lord , are
you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord ,
have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to
punish. Your eyes are too pure to look
on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the
treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more
righteous than themselves? You have made
people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no
ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them
up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for
by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying
nations without mercy?
I will stand at my
watch and station myself on the ramparts;
Habakkuk 2:1 NIV I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Then he decided to stop and listen to God.
Then he decided to stop and listen to God.
Habakkuk 1:5-11 NIV “Look at the
nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in
your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that
ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize
dwellings not their own. They are a
feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own
honor. Their horses are swifter than
leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their
horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; they all come intent on violence. Their
hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They
laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture
them. Then they sweep past like the wind
and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
Then God said take
notes.
Habakkuk 2:2-4 NIV Then the Lord
replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a
herald may run with it. For the
revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove
false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not
delay. “See, the enemy is puffed up; his
desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness
—
“Write it down so
that when I prove myself just and true, everyone can remember that I am a God
of my word.”. This will be your testimony.
Isaiah 40:8 NIV The grass withers and the flowers fall, but
the word of our God endures forever.”
Proverbs 3:1-3 NIV My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep
my commands in your heart, for they will
prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
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