Beginning Right - The Gospel

2002-07-05 - Rated 4 of 5 by 3 users - (Print Notes)

Part # 9: THE STORY OF THE MISPLACED KEYS by D-lite

<b>Topic</b>:FILLING THE CONTROL CENTER OF OUR LIVES
<b>Age Group:</b>Mixed adult (or Ladies Group)
<b>Goal:</b> By the end of this lesson the students will understand the importance and need of the Holy Spiritís control and filling in our lives.
<b>Key Scriptures</b>:Genesis 1-3; <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Eph+5%3A17-21">Eph 5:17-21</a> ; <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Jeremiah+29%3A11-14">Jeremiah 29:11-14</a> & various supporting scriptures.

RATIONAL FOR TEACHING:
We are created in the image of God for intimacy and relationship. Each one is created with a purpose and hunger that only He can fulfill and satisfy. Although, these God-given needs are not recognized, they are always felt, because this is what constitutes our personhood (Godís image in us). Often we seek to fulfill these needs with substitutes that do not satisfy. These substitutes are imitations that may temporarily look and feel like the real thing, but ultimately they disappoint us. Substitutes always lead to addiction and enslavement to a counterfeit spirit. God has given us these needs and has also given us the means to satisfy these needs. We have to examine carefully what we allow to fill our lives or we will end up in perpetual disappointment and ultimate disillusionment. God desires to fill and control our lives through the authentic and dynamic Holy Spirit.

____________________________________


Introduction: Empty spaces always get filled
My husband and I have lived in various places in our married life together. Come with me for a walk down memory lane as I describe some of the places our family has called ìhomeî over the years. We began in a one-room basement bachelor suite. All we had was a bed, a table, and a couple of chairs. From there, we moved into a more spacious basement suit and it felt very empty. We got on old sofa and chair, and a few more pieces of furniture to fill the empty space up a bit. Soon we moved to another province and lived in a small one-bedroom apartment. As I look at some of my old pictures, Iím amazed at how empty that apartment appeared. But when my younger sister came to live with us, we needed a bigger place and soon we moved into a 2-bedroom apartment in the same building. Not long after that, we welcomed our first child into our home and quickly outgrew the 2-bedroom place. The 3-bedroom townhouse was very large. Looking at pictures, I see that it was so spacious because we had so few furnishings to fill it. But give it a few years and that place too was much fuller. It seems no matter how much space we have it always manages to get filled with something.

Transitional Thoughts: The soul - our Control Center
When God created us, He designed us with a huge amount of inner space and His intention is to fill that space. A house is only a building until someone takes up residence there. Once a family moves into the house it become a home, because of the relationships those people represent. This God-shaped inner space is at the very center or core of our being. It defines who we are and out of it come our desires and motivation for life. This inner space is called our ìsoulî. It is a tailor made place where Godís Spirit intends to make His dwelling or residence in us. He wants to hang up His ìHome, Sweet Homeî sign on the doorway of our soul. His spirit and our spirit cohabit here. This space is designed to be home to the ìcontrol centerî of our lives. Because God is our Creator and loving Father, He intended that He would have complete access to this control center.

1. The Great Exchange - Freedom for Bondage:
Turn with me to Genesis and read with me (1:26-28; 2:1-3; 3:3-9). We see that God created man & woman in His own image and gave them a purpose and a job, to take care of His wonderful creation ñ the earth. After God finished His creative work, He decided to take a day off to rest. When He returns the following day to visit Adam & Eve in the Garden, He canít find them. They are playing ìhide & seekî and God is ìITî. God takes off one day to rest and He returns to find that theyíve handed over the keys of their control centre to the enemy. Through one act of the will ñ one choice, they handed the keys over to the enemy. Now they were no longer free agents because someone else would be in control. They had become servants or slaves of the one who held the keys. God had given them the keys to freedom, but they traded their keys for a lie. They had the truth, but did not trust God completely and so they listened to a lie. They were promised knowledge of good and evil and they received only evil. The keys to their control center were forfeited and would have to be bought back with a price.

2. The Great Consequence - God is locked out of the Control Centre:
They had locked out God and hid themselves. Did they think God could not find them or did they think He would not coming looking? God starts a search party and when He does find them, He sees they look very different than when He left them (turn your head sideways and look up & down as if Adam & Eve are standing right beside you). Well, well Ö what have we here? They are now fully clothed with stuff hanging all over their bodies Ö leaves? Can you imagine how strange this must have looked to God? He had created them ìau naturalî and now theyíve got vegetation tied all over their bodies. This was not how they had been created. Adam & Eve were now ashamed of what God had created. They no longer reflected Godís presence and His control in their lives, they had filled themselves with knowledge of good and evil and had shut out God. They had given away the keys to their control center. Things had changed, the relationship changed, the human DNA changed - death was inevitable. From now on, every offspring born would be born into sin and spiritual slavery. They had given their keys and all the keys of future generations to the enemy. The control center had a different master. The master of evil was now in charge.

3. The Great Cover Up ñ Skins for Sin:
God, being the loving Father He is, provides clothing to cover up their sin and shame. He made covers from the skins of animals for them to wear.
Application: You see, there is always a price to be paid and a sacrifice to be made for sin and disobedience. Sin always comes with wages and consequences. <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Romans+6%3A23">Romans 6:23</a> ìFor the wages of sin is deathÖî This time it was an animal that gave its life, to cover the sin and shame of Adam and Eve. Later, God would send His own offspring, Jesus to shed His blood for a covering for our sin and shame.
God being a wonderful Father doesnít abandon Adam & Eve but explains His plan to them. He tells them that someday He is going to redeem or buy back the keys of their control center.

4. The Great Promise ñ Godís Unconditional Buy Back Plan:
God explains, ìAnd I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.î (<a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Genesis+3%3A15">Genesis 3:15</a> ). God would provide an offspring - His own offspring ñ His only Son Jesus, to crushed and destroy the enemy forever.

Biblical Illustrations: We see that throughout Scripture God always keeps His Word. He never makes a promise He does not keep.
? He gave Abraham a promise and Abraham got a son, Isaac.
? He gave Noah a promise and Noah got rain and a big boat.
? He gave Joseph a promise, Joseph ruled Egypt, and all his family lived under his rule and prospered there. They became the great nation of millions in just 400 years.
? He gave Moses a promise and Moses founded the nation Israel and they continued to grow during their desert wanderings.
? He gave Joshua a promise and He gave Joshua the Land of Canaan ñ Known as the Promise Land. Thatís why itís called the Promise Land ñ because God promised it to Abraham and his seed.

God gave Adam the promise of a Redeemer and God sent His only Son Jesus to crush and defeat the enemy once and for all. <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Romans+8%3A1-2">Romans 8:1-2</a> ìTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.î Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He gives His disciples the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would come to free them, fill them and control them. They wanted and expected Him to take control and be their supernatural leader.

Application: God will never give you a promise that He will not keep. If itís His promise then heíll keep it. Donít ever doubt Godís Word. His Word is truth and His truth brings freedom. <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=John+8%3A34-36">John 8:34-36</a> reads, ìI tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.î God promised He would send Jesus to buy back the keys to the control center. Jesus would pay the price, His blood to cover our sin, once and for all.

5. The Great Filling of the Holy Spirit ñ Understanding Godís will:
Ephesians 5:17-21, ìTherefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord¥s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.î

Jesus had told His disciples that He had to go so that could come and take up residence in the control center of every true believer. <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=John+14%3A16-18">John 14:16-18</a> , ìI will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Then in <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Acts+1%3A8">Acts 1:8</a> He says, ìBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.Öî
? We have the counselor
? We have the truth
? We are not orphans ñ we have a relationship with God and Ö
? we have the power
? we have the Holy Spirit
? we have the keys back
? and now we have the choice of who will get our keys
? we can determine who will take up residence in the control center of our lives.
Remember Ö ìTherefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord¥s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, Ö Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Will we give the keys to God or will we allow other things to fill and control us? These things may fill us, but they will never satisfy us. When God created that inner space called our soul. He made it so that His Holy Spirit would be the only thing that could fill and satisfy its every longing. This inner space is
? the place where our desires come from.
? Itís the place where our dreams are formed.
? Itís the place where we find peace
? Itís the place where relationship exists and grows.
? Itís where we walk in the intimacy with God and one another.
? Itís the place God fills and lives
? It gives us personhood
? It defines who we are
He created the soul to be the ìcontrol centerî of our lives. He is our Creator and loving Father, and He intends that He have complete access to our control center.

6. The Great Leader ñ Makes Great Followers:
Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit intends to take over. He intends to be in command. He intends that He will be the leader and we will be the followers. Thatís what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Heís in charge. It is Godís intention and will that the Holy Spirit take complete control over every our action and our every thought. Listen to His instruction for us, ìTherefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord¥s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. î (<a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Eph+5%3A17-20">Eph 5:17-20</a> ).

When we give our lives to Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit. Listen as I read <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Eph+1%3A13-14">Eph 1:13-14</a> . ìAnd you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God¥s possession-- to the praise of his glory.î The question is not if we have Him, but will we give him the control of our lives?

Illustration: We know all to well that just because weíre married does not mean that we always live in a right relationship with our spouse. Things can easily go sideways as we struggle over issues and decisions. We know that maintaining a healthy, growing relationship takes time, attention, and careful nurture. Yes, we may be married, but what is the health of that relationship? (As women, if weíre hanging onto control, not allowing our husbandís to be the leader in the relationship and family, then it would appear that we arenít doing relationship the way God intended.)

Application: In every relationship, it all boils down to whoís going to be in control. Every relationship needs a leader. Depending on the nature of the relationship, you may be called to be the leader. But in our relationship with God, Heís the leader ñ Heís the Father ñ Heís the potter, we are the clay.

Challenge: The choice and the challenge is whoís going to be our leader? To whom have we given the keys? Are we hanging on to them or have we put the keys into Godís hand. God will not pry open our fingers, and take the keys by force. He will not trick us into giving Him the keys. He will simply wait for us to come back to Him and give hand over the keys. He created us for a purpose. He has a plan.

Listen as I read <a href="LookUp.phtml?verse=Jer+29%3A11-14">Jer 29:11-14</a> , ìFor I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD Öî

He gave us a will so that we could freely choose to love Him and give Him complete access to the control center of our lives. He wants us to open our hand and place the keys to our control center into His hands. Today we have that opportunity. I invite you to recommit your keys to his care and control. He is completely trustworthy and will never lose your keys. He will always consult you on His plans for you and will work with you to prosper you through His plans.

Prayer: Jesus today we stand before you and we see your hand is open before us. Your hands are empty. All they hold are the scars of the nails that held you on the cross as you bought back the keys that were misplaced into the enemies hands in the garden so long ago. Thank you for paying the price on my behalf. Today I stand before you holding the key that you paid for ñ the key that is stained with your precious blood ñ the key that gives you complete access to my control center and soul. Today I place my key into your hands, you paid for it and it belongs to you. It does not belong to me. I have no right to keep it because I did not pay for it. I give you complete control over my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, so that your thoughts and your love will fill my heart and mind. Exchange my weakness for the power of your Holy Spirit and give me the courage to walk with you all the days of my life. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Prev | Next | Index | Responses (0)

Goto Advanced Mode

© Authentic Walk Ministries, 2000-2013 (more)