Longing For More

[iloveringyou]

I was at bible camp this year and it was great because it changed who I was. I have been going for about 10 years or so. But I always get there and I feel so alive in Christ. But once I leave I go back to my old ways and God is only on the sidelines in the picture, if that. Well this last year the whole weeks message and point was incorporating God into your everyday life. They gave us this folder filled with great ways to get yourself burning for the Lord. I will post some for you.

"Longing For More"
Lesson #1

Christians are faced with the challenge to "Grow Closer to God" or "deepen their walk with Christ". But what does that mean? How does a Christian really do that? Today we embark on a journey that will allow us an opportunity to discover and experiment with practical activities that have been used down through human time. Our goal is to uncover what "Saints", before us, have used to become more intimate with with their God! The format of this study is to learn, first of all,(intellectually) what a specific spiritual activity is. Then students will, second of all, (experientially) spend class time actually doing the activity itself. The intent of this study is to provide practical training in spiritual transformation for those who are 'longing for more' in their walk with God.

There are moments in out lives when a longing stirs within us. Perhaps, it's a special event or challenge from God's Word that moves us to want more of God. Maybe, it's a new activity in our lives that prompt our inner being to have a specific need. There are also times when we become aware of our brokenness and, at that moment of crisis, a real longing for fundamental change groans within us. We need to find ways to bring such longings into reality.

1.) Luke 18:1-8 presents us with a parable of a woman in need. Define what you learn about this woman and the longing of her heart. Does this story touch our experience of "Longing for more"? How?

2.) Luke 18:9-14 presents us with two men who add another dimension we must take into account when we "long for more". What is that lesson, if any, in this for us?

3.) Luke 18:18-29 brings us to an encounter Jesus had with a Hebrew ruler. This man also had a 'longing for more'. What is the lesson in the meeting that also adds to our discussions?

4.) Luke 18:35-42 wraps up our presentation of personal need, from the gospel of Luke. What is the lesson concerning "Longing for more" found in blind Bartimaeus? Explain your answer.

5.) This chapter of the Scripture has given us four pictures of people who had an urge to interact with Jesus. Why do you believe God, the Holy Spirit included this in the Bible? How does this opening study "set the tables" for us in the studies ahead?


THE NEXT LESSON IS ALL ABOUT CREATING SPACE FOR GOD(AND GOD ALONE) IN OUR LIVES. This was the key to Jesus surviving in his earthly, human life.

(I will continue the lesson in the next post I would love to see responses or answers. You don't have to post to be involved. =) Hope this helps and you enjoy.)

 

[iloveringyou]

Lesson #2 - "Creating Space For God"

One significant way to "Draw closer to God" or "Deepen one's walk with God" is to deliberately make more space for Him to fit into you life. In this activity, a Christian needs to experience concentrated time allowing his/her inner being(soul) to encounter God. Jesus did this regularly and Scripture gives us an account of several occasions where we see Jesus in such activity. We explore them today.

1.) (Mark 1:35-39) What takes place in this passage? What seems to be important for us to notice here? Explain your answers.

2.) (Matthew 4:1-11) Here is a second occasion when Jesus was in a place of solitude. What do we see in those verses that have a bearing on the practice of creating space for God? Explain your answers.

3.) (Luke 9:28-36) Here is a third scriptural account of Jesus making special space in His life for God, the Father. What do we recognize as key to understanding the importance of time Jesus spent with his Father? Explain your answer.

4.) (John 13:21-18:1) (Mark 14:32-42) These two passages of Scripture tie together to show us one more episode of solitude which Christ had with his Father. Where do we see the solitary time and what do we learn which adds to our understanding of the importance to create space for God in our lives?

5.) In light of the Scripture we have discussed this morning, how important is it for Christians to spend time alone with God? Does this include more then just having a devotional time with God?

6.) Does this conclusion bring a "fear" or "worry" into your thoughts and feelings? If you were to actually experience this kind of intimacy with God, what would you expect to happen?

7.) what will be your major obstacle to practicing solitude wuth God? Will it be boredom, distractions, confusion, or multi-tasking?




Next Post will have the first laboratory on it. =)

 

[iloveringyou]

Laboratory #1 - "Creating Space For God"

1.) Find a spot enough apart from others so you are somewhat alone. Settle into a comfortable position that allows you to remain alert. Take several minutes to breathe deeply as a way of releasing any tension you might be holding.

2.) Find a way to set aside all distracting ideas by reading (slowly and carefully) the following Scripture: Psalms 27. Notice the parallel statements in each verse. Each of those statements is a way to say the same thing. This gives us a better opportunity to understand what the author is saying.

3.)Take time to digest each verse's meaning. Focus on what you learn about God from each verse. Literally, take significant time to think over each verse's meaning. How does that touch the need of your life right now? Don't just grasp it in an easy answer!

4)Allow yourself to enjoy God's presence in quietness for a few minutes, having meditated on the Psalm.

5.) Now, (when you are ready) imagine yourself in the historical setting of the story of blind Bartimacus , Mark 10:46-52, or in the place of your own need. Read the story slowly, seeing you as the person needing something from Christ and calling out to Him from the noisy crowd. How do you approach Him or try to get his attention? What word do you use? What emotion do you feel?

6) Imagine that in response to you cry, Jesus turns toward you. Now you and the Lord are face to face with one another. Allow yourself the realization that you have Jesus' undivided attention (because you do!) and hear His question to you: "What do you want me to do for you?"

7.) Do not be afraid of emotion; it is important that you let yourself feel how deep your desire goes. You may need to sit with the question and your answer for quite some time before you have fully gotten in touch with your heart's desire or have fully expressed it. Give this question and its answer all the time it needs.

8) If you choose to write down what you have discovered about own heart, begin with the statement; "God what I need most/ want from You right now is..." and then let your thoughts flow. Listen for Christs responce.

9) Don't feel as if you need to do anything; simply relish and savor the privacy and richness that come from when you are able to "experience what is happening" in God's presence, alone with Him!

 

[blueskye]

Thanks for that, very helpful.

Howeverrrrr, would God tell you to do something during this time?


The criticism I have with this sort of thing is that it is always about getting something from God / Jesus.....maybe, just maybe God wants something from us.

In a consumer society maybe we want want want and want of God too....just a thought.

 

[Jeffz]

Many desire the 'gifts' rather than the Giver. I long for more of Him for my needs He meets anyway. Seek first the Kingdom.

 

[iloveringyou]

People may look at it different but when I was at camp in in my time of renewal of my walk with God and using such material to get me going, I was long more in the sense for ME to change for God. I mean of course none seek God but I have always even in my times of despair, shame, even happiness(sense my happiness mainly sprouts from God) makes me long to be with him more, to improve myself for him, to please him, to be right in my walk with him.

Of course in my human nature I feel that God owes me. However I know he does not. He has given me everything, its not right for me to ask for more. The longing for more is really more in my heart to give him more.

Like I want to know him more, I want willingly and happily give him myself as a tool for him to use...and so on. And once I post the other lessons, they are more about self-discipline so you can incorporate God into your everyday life and live for him.

But I understand what you mean, God himself is sufficient, we should not ask him for more then he has already given- for he provides for all our needs. =)

 

[iloveringyou]

"Encountering God"
Lesson #3

A second way to "deepen one's walk with God" is to meet Him in the pages, chapters, and verses of Scripture. Ruth Haley Barton writes that "one way to reflect on out varied experiences with Scripture is to think about the difference between reading the newspaper or textbook and reading a love letter." She goes on to say that when we are in an information-gathering mindset, we are factual in our approach and even critical and judgmental, at times. When we are in such a mindset, it is very difficult to hear anything new because we have so many preconceived ideas in place. This mindset is very appropriate when we are students in a classroom setting, BUT this does not serve the deeper longing of our hearts to hear a word from God that is personal and takes us deeper into the love that we crave.

1.) In 1 Samuel 3:1-21 God brought His word to the young boy, Samuel. Describe what takes place here in light of our opening paragraph. What is asked of Samuel? Explain.

2.) In light of our own "quiet time" in God's Word, how do we understand the statement' "Scripture must become an instrument of God's control rather then a tool that we control to out own ends'"? What is the difference between these two approaches to reading the Bible? Explain.

3.) When we read Scripture for our relationship with God to grow, we need to be open to a different set of questions which help us risk greater level of truth with ourselves and God. Rate each of the following questions numerically in light of (#1) gaining Biblical Data and (#2) gaining personal growth from God:
- What does the Scripture mean? ____
- Why do I feel this way? ____
- What does the Scriptures say? ____
- What do my reactions to this Scripture tell me about myself? ____
- How do I apply this to my life? ____
- Where do I find myself resisting, pulling back, and wrestling with what the bible is saying? ____

4.) Hebrews 4:12-13 speaks to the topic of this lesson. What do we see which is different from the way we usually us the bible? Explain your answer.

5.) If you were going to put in your own words what you have learned in today's lesson, what would it be? When was the last time you "encountered God" like this?


(Next post will be Laboratory #2! =D)