Lesson Three >>>Readiness for lifelong Learning
Readiness - Preparation or availability for service, action, or progress. Prompt willingness.
Lessons on readiness
>>> Matthew 9:14-17
When we do things out of routine and habit instead purpose and excellence we will become antiquated and futile. Don’t allow yourself to be connected to antiquated people, their anachronistic ways will cause you inner division. In order for God to give you fresh ideas and deeper revelation, your spiritual and mental capacity must be stretched, otherwise we will burst under the pressure.
>>> Luke 12:35-39
In this text Jesus is teaching on the importance of being servants who work diligently and wait expectantly.
Jesus desires for us to live faithfully and productively. If you live your life as one who constantly looks for excuses to get out of doing things or even seeks extensions only to evade their completion, you will miss out on the true blessings of GOD.
>>> John 14:12,13
Our faith in Jesus requires us to be productive on the earth, even at a greater capacity, due to our current capabilities. It is not God’s will that we allow our personal inabilities to hinder us from fulfilling our God given purpose. However if we rely on His divine assistance, our product will be the Glory of God.
>>>Hebrews 12:11
The purpose of teaching, training, molding and positioning, is not to be pleasant but to yield productivity. So as you endure the pains of the process, ponder the pleasures of the product.
>>>Philippians 3:12-14
As long as we are alive, we have not arrived. Nothing that we can attain on this side will equate with our eternal reward. So, keep a healthy hunger for knowledge, an unquenchable thirst for wisdom and a decent measure of ambition. Having this type of disposition will render great reward.
Practices for lifelong learning
Read - after the bible, you should be reading something that feeds your intelligence, sparks your creativity and stirs your soul.
Observe - Proverbs 1:20 “says wisdom cries out from the street.” Learn how to take in your surroundings. Actually listen to the people you engage with. You will learn something new.
Do - We learn the most from hands-on experience. We retain the most of what we read, see and hear when we are able to practice by doing.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Devotion to God
Devotion to God
Devotion - Focused commitment of time and energy; dedication; faithfulness; deep affection.
True devotion is the product of passion Psalm 42:1-2
Passion - intensity; strong emotion; zeal; motivation.
God’s devotion towards us
Jeremiah 31:3 God has pledged His love to us forever. He walks with us through disappointments and hardships; nothing can separate us from His love (Rom.8:31-39). Therefore, accept him, cling to Him and trust that His will for our lives is the very best for us.
John 15:13-16 Jesus is the best friend we could ever have. He loves us Just the way we are, He knows everything there is about us and still accepts us. This is why He laid His life down for us on the cross, so we could become acceptable and have an intimate relationship with him through His sacrificial death (Col. 1:19-22).
Revelation 22:17 It is the Holy Spirit’s will for us to be drawn to Him and experience eternal refreshment through The living water of God. All we need do is come thirsty.
Our devotion towards God lessons from devoted people
Genesis 5:24 Enoch
Enoch, who was the son of Cain, had to overcome his father’s sin to become one who “walked with God.” As we study history we find that he lived a full life of 365 years and walked past death directly into heaven because he walked with God. We learn from enoch that if we push beyond our past and make a commitment to God and walk with him daily, we will experience grace over situations that others can’t avoid.
Daniel 6:10,11 Daniel
Under the rule and employment of a pagan government, Daniel managed to remain faithful to his God and His standards, while remaining competitive and successful in his career. In the face of losing his job and his life, Daniel made the decision to remain faithful to his God and his devotional method. Although his decision led him into a fatal situation, the God that he remained devoted to sustained him, removed his opposition and caused his faith to become a national staple. Daniel teaches us that devotion in the face of danger will yield spiritual and temporal success.
John 19:26,27 John
The mutual love between Jesus and John was evident not only by their exchange at Calvary, but the many times he was called away by the Master and certainly by the fact Christ choose him to reveal his final revelation. Like John, when we get into intimate relationship with God, he will trust us with His great treasure and even greater revelation.
Mark 14:3-9 Mary of Bethany
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, was greatly devoted to Jesus so much so that she did not spare her greatest possession for the master. If we allow our resources to be governed by our devotion God as opposed to them being governed by our need for them, we will please God and cause Him to remember us.
1 Corinthians 7:35 Paul
As one who classified himself as a prisoner of the Gospel, Paul had total devotion to God. His devotion was made evident through his decision to live without a spouse, to give his full attention to God and His ministry. Like The apostle Paul if we surrender ourselves to God and his will for our lives, He will use us to produce greatness for His kingdom.
Simple Daily Devotional Method
Pray for inspiration
Read for information
Meditate for implication
Make time for daily devotion
Devotion quiz
What would you say you are most enthusiastic or passionate about?
What do the people closest to you say you are most passionate about?
If the answers to the first two questions are different, what does this reveal to you?
If it is true that our greatest enthusiasm portrays our true object of worship, what is the true object of your worship?
“God is looking for people who will take their lives out of park and shift into drive.” How does this statement apply to you?
What is one thing God is saying to you about your own devotion?
Devotion - Focused commitment of time and energy; dedication; faithfulness; deep affection.
True devotion is the product of passion Psalm 42:1-2
Passion - intensity; strong emotion; zeal; motivation.
God’s devotion towards us
Jeremiah 31:3 God has pledged His love to us forever. He walks with us through disappointments and hardships; nothing can separate us from His love (Rom.8:31-39). Therefore, accept him, cling to Him and trust that His will for our lives is the very best for us.
John 15:13-16 Jesus is the best friend we could ever have. He loves us Just the way we are, He knows everything there is about us and still accepts us. This is why He laid His life down for us on the cross, so we could become acceptable and have an intimate relationship with him through His sacrificial death (Col. 1:19-22).
Revelation 22:17 It is the Holy Spirit’s will for us to be drawn to Him and experience eternal refreshment through The living water of God. All we need do is come thirsty.
Our devotion towards God lessons from devoted people
Genesis 5:24 Enoch
Enoch, who was the son of Cain, had to overcome his father’s sin to become one who “walked with God.” As we study history we find that he lived a full life of 365 years and walked past death directly into heaven because he walked with God. We learn from enoch that if we push beyond our past and make a commitment to God and walk with him daily, we will experience grace over situations that others can’t avoid.
Daniel 6:10,11 Daniel
Under the rule and employment of a pagan government, Daniel managed to remain faithful to his God and His standards, while remaining competitive and successful in his career. In the face of losing his job and his life, Daniel made the decision to remain faithful to his God and his devotional method. Although his decision led him into a fatal situation, the God that he remained devoted to sustained him, removed his opposition and caused his faith to become a national staple. Daniel teaches us that devotion in the face of danger will yield spiritual and temporal success.
John 19:26,27 John
The mutual love between Jesus and John was evident not only by their exchange at Calvary, but the many times he was called away by the Master and certainly by the fact Christ choose him to reveal his final revelation. Like John, when we get into intimate relationship with God, he will trust us with His great treasure and even greater revelation.
Mark 14:3-9 Mary of Bethany
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, was greatly devoted to Jesus so much so that she did not spare her greatest possession for the master. If we allow our resources to be governed by our devotion God as opposed to them being governed by our need for them, we will please God and cause Him to remember us.
1 Corinthians 7:35 Paul
As one who classified himself as a prisoner of the Gospel, Paul had total devotion to God. His devotion was made evident through his decision to live without a spouse, to give his full attention to God and His ministry. Like The apostle Paul if we surrender ourselves to God and his will for our lives, He will use us to produce greatness for His kingdom.
Simple Daily Devotional Method
Pray for inspiration
Read for information
Meditate for implication
Make time for daily devotion
Devotion quiz
What would you say you are most enthusiastic or passionate about?
What do the people closest to you say you are most passionate about?
If the answers to the first two questions are different, what does this reveal to you?
If it is true that our greatest enthusiasm portrays our true object of worship, what is the true object of your worship?
“God is looking for people who will take their lives out of park and shift into drive.” How does this statement apply to you?
What is one thing God is saying to you about your own devotion?
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