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Living A Transformed Life In Christ PDF

92 Pages·2014·1.26 MB·English
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Book Four of The Curriculum: Living A Transformed Life In Christ Bill Loveless Christ Is Life Ministries C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 1 1 b y B i l l L o v e l e s s All rights reserved. This book may not be copied or reprinted for a commercial gain or profit. The use of this material for personal or group study is permitted. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright ©1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Christ Is Life Ministries Website: www.christislifeministries.com Email: Living From The Overflow of Christ Table of Contents Lesson 1: The Overflow and Christ-Like Attitudes………….. 3 Lesson 2: The Overflow of And Ministry…………………..….. 16 Lesson 3: The Overflow and Christ Building His Church Through You………………………….……………….. 29 Lesson 4: The Overflow Of As A Result Of Our Beliefs About God ?……………………………..…………… 40 Lesson 5: Walking With God – Entering His Rest………….. 62 Lesson 6: Growing Into A Deeper Intimacy With God…….. 72 Appendix: ………………………………………………………….. 86 2 Lesson One The Overflow and Christ-Like Attitudes DAY ONE Introduction Through the first three books we have discussed the foundational truth of Christ living His life in you, your true identity in Christ and the transformation of your soul. All of these three studies have primarily focused on what God promises to do IN you. However, as I have said many times during these studies God wants to do a work THROUGH you as well. I call this work through you the OVERFLOW of what the Holy Spirit has done in you. We will focus on the overflow in the following areas: • The impact of Christ-like attitudes in personal relationships, in marriage, with children, and the workplace. • What ministry looks like from the overflow of Christ living through you. • Walking with God and experiencing a deeper intimacy with Him. In this lesson we will focus on Christ-like attitudes that are formed as a result of transformation of your soul as a fulfillment of your spiritual destiny. Remember Your Spiritual Destiny? In Book One we discussed God’s spiritual destiny for your life. Let’s review the verses that reveal to us our spiritual destiny. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 Your spiritual destiny is to be transformed into Christ-likeness. Let’s review the meaning of Christ-likeness. Christ-Likeness Is God’s transforming process of your soul so that you will THINK, BELIEVE, CHOOSE, and BEHAVE like Christ. 3 Paul has another way of explaining Christ-likeness in Galatians 4:19: “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” What does Paul mean when he says “Christ is formed in you?” Let’s look at Philippians 2:5 to find part of the answer. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus.” The outcome of Christ being formed in us are Christ-like attitudes. What are Christ-like attitudes? Christ-Like Attitudes Are attitudes in your SOUL that are the OVERFLOW of the characteristics of your true identity in your HUMAN SPIRIT. Remember that in your true identity in your human spirit is who you really are. Your true identity is made up of divinely imparted characteristics (2 Peter 1:4) As your soul is being transformed these characteristics of your true identity produce Christ-like attitudes in your soul. Therefore, in addition to your mind, emotions, and will being transformed, the Holy Spirit produces Christ-like attitudes in your soul. This is illustrated in the diagram below. Christ-Like Attitudes Formed In Your Soul BODY SOUL Christ-Like Attitudes MIND Huma n spirit EMOTIONS Your True Thinking and Healing of believing Identity damaged emotions truth. WILL Greater dependence and willingness 4 Below is a partial list of some of the characteristics of your true identity. God’s desire is to transform your soul so that these characteristics become Christ-like attitudes of the soul. Unconditional love Victory Worth Acceptance Faith Freedom Patience Strength Peace Power Forgiveness Understanding Security Fearlessness Wisdom Discernment Adequacy Humility Confidence Boldness Righteousness Selflessness Rest Compassion Courage Hope Gentleness Control Faithfulness Joy Remember the diagram of the characteristics of your identity in Christ in your human spirit? Your True Identity In Your Human Spirit BODY SOUL Human spirit (Identity In Christ) Righteous, Worthy, Humble, UnconditionBalOlyD loYv ed, Secure, SPIRIT Acceptable, Pat ient, Forgiving, Complete, Wise, Compassionate, Discerning, Adequate, Thankful, Confident, Selfless, Joyful, Peaceful, Sacrificial The following diagram illustrates how these characteristics of our new identity become Christ-like attitudes in our soul. 5 Christ-Like Attitudes Formed In Your Soul BODY SOUL SECURE FORGIVING Human Selfless Spirit FEARLESS True Identity Adequate Patient Humble Victory REST Christ- FREE Confident Christ-Like Attitudes and The Line Let’s look at the same truth just discussed using the Line analogy. God Transforms Our Soul To Experience Christ-Like Attitudes SPIRIT (New Identity) Unconditional Love Worthy Humble Secure Acceptable Patient Forgiving Kind Complete Compassionate Discerning Wise Adequate Thankful Confident Sacrificial Righteous Selfless Free Victorious Powerful Joyful Peaceful Good SOUL Unconditional Love Worthy Humble Secure Acceptable Patient Forgiving Kind Complete Compassionate Discerning Wise Adequate Thankful Confident Sacrificial Righteous Selfless Free Victorious Powerful Joyful Peaceful Good 6 TRANSFORMS Above the line in your human spirit in union with God is the place of our true identity. As your soul is being transformed, these characteristics become an experiential reality in your soul. I think it is important to distinguish between human attitudes and Christ-like attitudes. DAY TWO The Difference Between A Human Attitude and A Christ-Like Attitude Human attitude – an attitude produced by man that can be changed by thoughts, feelings, the flesh, the power of sin, circumstances, relationships, Satan, or the world. Let me use an example to illustrate a human attitude and how it can change due to circumstances. Let’s assume you come home from work and have a human attitude of peace and joy. You open your mail only to find that the IRS says that you owe several thousand dollars of back taxes. Then you notice water start pouring down from the ceiling above. Before you can check out the water leak, your teenage daughter comes in and announces that she is pregnant. By now what do you suppose is happening to your human attitude of peace and joy? Now let’s contrast a human attitude with a Christ-like attitude. Christ-like attitude – a supernaturally produced attitude in your soul by the Holy Spirit that remains unchanged regardless of thoughts, feelings, the flesh, the power of sin, circumstances, relationships, Satan, or the world. Let’s use the same example above to illustrate a Christ-like attitude. If you were living from Christ-like attitudes of peace and joy then none of these events would rob you of your Christ-like peace and joy. To give us a better understanding of what Christ-like attitudes let’s look at what Paul and Peter had to say. Examples of Christ-Like Attitudes of Paul and Peter Paul As Paul was being transformed, he began to experience Christ-like attitudes in his soul. He refers to one of them in the following passage: “And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 This peace was so supernatural that even Paul could not describe it. The key thing to remember is that the peace Paul is describing is not a circumstantial peace. It is a supernatural Christ-like attitude of peace that can’t be changed regardless of his circumstances. Peter Look what Peter says about the Christ-like attitude of joy. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1 Peter 1:8 7 Peter had the same problem as Paul. He could not put into words the joy he was experiencing. Here again this Christ-like attitude of joy Peter was experiencing is an ongoing attitude in his soul that does not change. Adversity Cannot ROB You of Your Christ-Like Attitudes As you begin to experience these Christ-like attitudes, then every day you will be faced with circumstances and/or relationships that seek to consciously or unconsciously “rob” you of these Christ-like attitudes. Let me use Paul to explain. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “Therefore, I am WELL CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecution, with difficulties…….” (Emphasis mine) What were some of the distresses, persecutions, etc. that Paul was talking about. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 tells us that Paul was: a. Imprisoned. b. Whipped. c. Beaten with rods. d. Stoned. e. Shipwrecked. f. In danger from rivers, bandits, Gentiles, etc. g. Was hungry, thirsty, cold, naked. h. Under great pressure in dealing with the churches. If what Paul was referring to was human contentment, don’t you think that insults, distresses, beatings, whippings, and stonings might rob him of his contentment? I think you would agree that it would. However, Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 is bearing witness to a supernatural, Christ- like contentment that nothing or no one can rob him of. DAY THREE God Is Taking You To The Place of “BUT GOD” Whenever we get into conflict or some adversity, in our humanity, we tend to cry out for relief from the situation. We want the conflict to subside because no one wants to feel the pain that arises out of these circumstances. However, God uses these situations to draw us to Him and to grow our trust and Christ-confidence in Him. In addition, He is working in these painful situations to produce Christ-like attitudes such as peace, rest, or joy. Just like God used every circumstance in Paul’s life to produce Christ-like contentment, God will use your conflict, adversity and suffering to produce Christ-like attitudes in you. This does not mean that you will not feel the pain. The pain is very real. However, God is taking you to a place where His peace, joy, and rest for example are a greater reality than your pain/suffering. I call this the “but God” experience. Here is an example: 8 “I am being rejected by my spouse BUT I will not his/her rejection rob me of my Christ-like attitude of acceptance.” “I am in an impossible financial situation BUT I will not this situation rob me of my Christ- confidence in You.” “My son is rebelling against me BUT I will not let his behavior rob me of my Christ-like love for him.” What is the greater reality in all three of these examples: our Christ-like attitudes. Question: What are you negatively experiencing in your soul due to your present circumstances or relationships? What do you believe is the “but God” experience associated with those circumstances? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Engaging God: Seek God to reveal to you and move you to the place of “But God” in the negative or adverse situations you are facing. David’s “But God” Experience To better understand this point, let’s look at David’s “but God” experience in Psalm 13. The first four verses describe the pain in David’s soul. 1 “O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? 3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. 4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.” In these first four verses we see that David is in real pain. He is focused on himself and is doubting God. He is wondering where God is in the midst of his turmoil. Have you ever felt that way before? I am sure we all have. However, the good news is that this Psalm does not stop in verse 4. In fact the next word we are about to read is the key to the whole Psalm. 5 “BUT I trust in your unfailing love. (Emphasis mine.) I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6 I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.” We see the key word in this whole passage is the word BUT. Even though David is in this terrible situation and the pain is very real, what does he says is “but (God.)” We see in verse 5 9

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