3-24-2012 Wednesday Night at Redemption Fellowship

We have a Wednesday night bible study that we recently started called “Instruments in the Redeemers Hands“. It’s an interactive small group bible study that is geared toward helping people change.  It is a biblical view which we happen to think is the correct view for full person change.  By that I mean that personal conflict  (the problems we face in life) are often attacked and dealt with from a need based  perspective which is a anthropocentric and ungodly.  The scriptures declare that everything we do is for the glory of God (Romans 11:36). Therefore we want a God-ward view and desire for those who are in need of change.  The good news is that the bible declares all of us needy ( we are all equal) and in need of communal help.  The bad news is that it is often long and arduous and because we live in a moralistic therapeutic  deism society and therefore change is usually done one on one, from a me first point of view, or done with a professional. We think that the God of heaven and earth that knows us more intimately than we knows ourselves has provided us with everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  If we were really honest with ourselves we could all recognize we are desperately in need of constant change.  This is why we need to KNOW the instrument of change Jesus!!!  I know I fail far more than all of you will ever know and yet God has not given up on me, nor will he give up on you when you cry out to him!!

Our first week study  dealt with the question “Do we really need help”? Since we were created in the image of God as his image bearers ther must be some reason why we no longer bear his image well.  Thats because Genesis 3 shows us that the fall of man corrupted all of creation and  the progeny of Adam all are born sinners who sin by habit.  Adam and Eve took in bad council in the garden and we are all impacted in such a way that we need help from OUTSIDE ourselves.  Going further back than before the fall, we see that prior to this cataclysmic time, there was still a need for guidance.  Adam and Eve, prior to the fall still needed help with comprehension and direction to make sense out of life.  Therefore in order to make sense out of this life we need to go back to the great God of heaven and earth who made everything good (Genesis 1:31) and be willing to bow our hearts, minds and wills.  Hebrews 3:12-13 warn all of us from falling away from the Lord.  Sin, causes unbelief, a turning away from God and a hardening of our hearts.

So how does lasting change take place.  First man must turn from their sinful lives and trust alone in Jesus perfect life.  The power of God is able to change the hardest heart.  Once a heart is turned upward, the hard arduous life long struggle of fighting against sin begins. The good news is that the penalty of sin has been payed for by Jesus and the power of sin is now broken (Romans 6:14).  Do you believe this?  Can God actually help me with my deepest darkest struggles.  We believe he can, and yet this requires openness and a willingness to fight against sin in community. Last weeks study dealt with where the true battle against sin and temptation STARTS.  It is found in the heart.  Good fruit comes from a good tree and therefore we must be IN Christ to bear good fruit.  The book of Ezekiel (14:6-7) speaks of the need for repentance and for the Christian the new life in Christ requires daily repentance and turning back to Jesus and trusting in his work and word. Remember our hearts are always being ruled by something and what rules our heart is what we’ll give our lives for (Matthew 6:24-25). What you treasure is what you will follow hard after.  I know i surely don’t have this down perfectly and if you were true you might upon examination recognize there are some idols in your life that need to be crushed!!!

Thankfully we have a strong Savior, a big brother who has been tempted like us WITHOUT EVER FAILING, and yet is sympathetic and allows us to come to him for grace (his strength and power) and mercy (forgiveness for our failures) in OUR time of need.  Read this text slowly and tell me what this says to YOU (  ”Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”-Heb 4:14-16)

We believe the tool that reveals the idols and struggles that need to be drawn out is God’s word.  It is able to cut to the deepest  areas of our soul  (Hebrews 4:12-13)where only God knows where our deep pains are.  It exposes and judges the heart.  So we must examine our hearts and see what is judging it and weigh it against Gods word and see where we are lacking in thought and deed.

Our time of study is not a time of judgment and condemnation, but a safe place where sinners and even skeptics can come in and see what God has to say about our lives and how we CAN be instruments  of change.  Would you consider joining us this Wednesday???  Have a great weekend!!  Bible study starts at 6:30 PM and ends at 8:00 PM!!!