Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Heahlthy Habits Review" Pt 2
Introduction
Today we will finish the series of messages on healthy spiritual habits for a deeper walk.
These are activities that condition the soul and deepen our connection to God.
All of the things we have studies this past year are prescribed by God on a regular basis.
They are the framework to address all the other spiritual issues raised in the Scriptures.
I. SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
No relationship flourishes without quality time with each other.
Unless we schedule it, it will not happen.
Life flies by and our spiritual life atrophies by lack of exercise.
Will you commit to giving time to him?
Daily, extended weekly, half a day monthly, fully day quarterly.
This is a day you have set aside for God.
We come to meet with God.
II. SUBMISSION
The original offense against God was failure to submit to His direction.
Rebellion, independence, indifference, self-reliance all stem from a failure submit to God’s authority.
Tell-tale signs of a failure to submit to Him include:
Ungratefulness, complaining, failure to pray, failure to spend time in Scripture, frustration, fear, anger, worry.
All of these indicate that I have snatched control of my life.
Usually this happens when God doesn’t do what I want Him too.
He is not fixing everything to my satisfaction.
I complain.
I struggle to make my life work on my terms rather than trust Him.
We should begin each day reporting for duty.
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4
Even though we would never say it out loud we often act as though God were our servant.
He exists to make our life work and please us.
Listen to your prayers.
Pay attention to your attitude when things don’t go your way.
We need to practice admitting our dependency.
God resists the proud but grants grace to the humble.
You are the Creator.
You are the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
I acknowledge my dependence on You.
I humble myself under Your mighty hand and loving heart today.
III. CONFESSION / REPENTANCE
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24
IV. INTERACTION WITH SCRIPTURE
Scripture communicates God’s heart.
Scripture reveals God’s interaction with people.
Scripture shares God’s desires.
Scripture reveals God’s character and nature
V. FAITH / TRUST
Interaction with the Word of God inspires trust.
Trust is the core element of all relationships.
Will we entrust our lives to Him?
Part of this discipline has to do with affirming what we believe to be true about God.
Not only affirmation but a decision to act in light of what we believe to be true.
GOD IS GREAT!
Self-existent -- He alone has life in Himself and existed Holy Trinity before anything came into being. He is the ultimate cause.
Eternal -- He existed before time and will exist through all eternity.
"Who was and is and is to come the Almighty."
Self-sufficient -- He has no need. He has no necessary relationship with anything outside of Himself but has voluntarily entered into relationship with us.
Unchangeable -- Because God is perfect and self-sufficient, there is no need for growth or change. He is the same in character yesterday, today and forever.
All-present -- God's presence is everywhere at one time. There is no place I can go to be outside of His watchful care. He is always available.
All-knowing -- God knows everything there is to know about anything, both seen and unseen things, actual and things possible. He is aware of everything about me.
All-powerful -- By the mere exercise of His will He produces whatever He will. He is able to bring about what is right.
Incomprehensible -- Ultimately, we cannot fully understand God. The finite cannot comprehend the infinite. We can only get a small glimpse of who He is by those things that He has revealed of Himself in the Bible.
Sovereign -- God has everything in His control. He is not wringing his hands in despair or frustration. God will bring about all of His purposes in spite of man's unfaithfulness.
GOD IS GOOD!
Love -- The core of God's nature is to give of Himself voluntarily, unconditionally to the needs of those He loves. This unconditional giving is based on the strength and commitment of the one loving, not the worthiness of the one being loved.
Merciful -- God takes pity on the misery of the sinner and withholds what is due (death and punishment) in order to extend what is not deserved (grace).
Grace -- God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Grace, at is core, is the underserved, unmerited favor and blessing that God gives on the basis of His love and mercy.
Faithful -- God never fails to do as He has promised and act according to what is right.
Longsuffering -- God is slow to anger and to react to the rebellion and disobedience of men. He is willing to put up with the pride, selfishness of men and continually love and draw them to Himself.
GOD IS PURE
Holy -- God is absolutely separated from all that is contrary to His own moral law. There is no evil in Him. He cannot do evil, nor tempt others to do so.
Righteousness, Just -- God absolutely conforms to His own moral law. Everything He does is always right. He cannot do anything else and still be God. It is His nature to always do right.
Truth -- God is the ultimate reality. He is the measure of reality.
Wrath -- God does have an angry side. He emotionally responds to evil and will ultimately bring judgment on those who have rejected the way of Salvation through Christ.
Jealous -- God alone has the right to be jealous. It is His response to anything that robs Him of the
rightful devotion of His creation.
WHAT IS GOD TO ME!
God is my Beloved.
God is my Champion, my Protector.
God is my Counselor.
God is my Designer, Creator, Maker.
God is the Father for which my heart longs.
God is my Friend and constant companion.
God is my God.
God is my Guide.
God is my Home, my safe place.
God is my righteous judge.
God is my King.
God is my Life.
God is my Light.
God is my Lord.
God is my Owner, my Master.
God is my Provider.
God is my Refuge, my strong Tower.
God is my Savior, my Redeemer.
God is my Source of satisfaction.
God is my Strength.
GOD TRANSFORMING WORK IN ME
God made me His creative masterpiece fashioned after His very image.
God accepts, welcomes, includes, and warmly receives me. I am no longer alienated.
God acquitted me so that I am no longer condemned and guilty.
God makes me adequate, complete in Christ, no longer inadequate.
God caused me to be alive in Christ, no longer dead to the things of the Spirit.
God appreciates and rewards me so I am no longer judged, unnoticed or ignored.
God assures me of His ear because there is no more separation between us.
God restores beauty, adornment, fragrance and I am no longer defiled and dirty.
God chose and cherishes me as Christ's beautiful bride.
God personally calls me to Himself so I am no longer rejected.
God deeply cares for me with compassion so I need no longer feel hopeless and insecure.
God made me heir of His Kingdom and a joint-heir with Christ His only begotten Son.
God granted me citizenship in His eternal heavenly kingdom.
God cleansed me.
God provides confidence and assurance of His love and a glorious future.
God broke sin’s death grip on me through my death with Christ.
God delights in me, desires me, wants relationship with me and seeks my response.
God enlightens me.
God pour His favor on me not condemnation or punishment.
God fills me with the fullness of His divine nature.
God has forgiven my sins past, present and future.
God enables me to serve Him and no longer be driven by sin and Satan.
God made me His friend.
God specifically gifted me and calls me for His eternal work here.
God assigned a permanent and continual guide in the Holy Spirit.
God assures a glorious future.
God made me a saint, holy and special in His eyes.
God in Christ lives in me which is my only hope of glory now or ever.
God justified me (declared me righteous) and considers the righteous life of Christ as my righteousness.
God keeps me by His power for a salvation to be revealed at the last days.
God deeply and unconditionally and continually loves me.
God completely changed my spiritual nature so that I am a brand new creation of God.
God now claims exclusive rights to my life. I am God’s cherished possession.
God grants me supernatural power and authority over Satan and his army.
God has generously granted me everything pertaining to life and godliness.
God has blessed me with every possible spiritual blessing.
God commissioned me as His special ambassador.
God enlisted me as His well-equipped soldier.
God promises that I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loved me.
God completely understands me and everything about me.
God eternally united me with Christ making me worthy, significant, valued and precious.
God continually works in me until I not only want to, but actually do the things that please Him and will continue that work until Jesus returns.
AS HIS CHILD:
God appreciates all I do in love.
He approves me as a person.
He cares for me as a helpless child or a loving husband.
He delights to give me what is best.
He desires my highest good.
He desires to beautify my life.
He favors me beyond measure.
He values me highly.
He wants to fellowship with me.
He feels with me.
He knows my every circumstance.
He draws me to Him.
He walks with me always.
He dwells in me always.
VI. WORSHIP / THANKSGIVING / PRAISE
All relationships are fueled by expressions of thanks and praise and affirmation and adoration.
The core of worship is the Spirit-inspired response of the heart of man to the Spirit-revealed wonder of God.
Such response comes in numerous forms.
Worship is about expressing our gratitude, honor and praise for who He is, what He has done.
Open to response. Kneel, stand, praise, thanksgiving.
VII. PRAYER
At this point in a relationship there is freedom to express need.
We can be vulnerable and honest as to our struggles.
With God we realize His love and care and permission to bring our requests to Him.
He said cast all your care upon Me because I care for you.
It is as time we uplift each other.
VIII. SACRIFICAL SERVICE / SIMPLICITY
Relationships deepen with mutual sacrifice.
The greatest expression of intimacy is selflessness.
Sacrifice has to do with giving up something valued highly for the sake of someone valued more highly.
Family Sacrifice – continually release them to God.
Time sacrifice – discipline of silence and solitude regular time set aside just for God
Money – discipline of giving (regular giving and freewill offerings)
Possessions – the discipline of simplicity
Pleasure – the discipline of fasting
Power – the discipline of service to others in Jesus’ name
The more we focus on serving others and sacrificing for others the more motivation to liver more simply.
We seek to use things and love people rather than love things and use people.
Think about regular ministry to others. What are we doing?
God called us to inherit a blessing and be a blessing.
The more we serve others, the more grace floods our lives.
He provides the energy and motivation to reach out to others.
IX. CONNECTION
Relationships are about deeper connection.
God tells us to continually come together for encouragement.
Pursue meaningful connection. The body reflects unity, diversity and mutuality.
Connect this year.
Connect with God.
Connect with ministry to others.
Connect for mutual encouragement.
Opportunities for growth and service
Greet and Encourage!
X. WITNESS FOR CHRIST
God tells us to look for opportunities to reach and touch.
Reach and teach.
We must all somehow be involved in the global effort the spread the good new.
XI. SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Every relationship requires protection.
Everyday we pray for protection.
Heavenly Father,
Having put on your armor, and by the authority and power and through the blood of Jesus Christ, I take a stand today against every work of Satan or any of his evil workers. I embrace Your purposes for my life but refuse and actively resist every purpose of the evil one to trip me, trap me, discourage me, defeat me, hinder me, deceive me, tempt me or any of my family in any way. By Your divine power I pull down every fortress and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Christ in me or in any of my family. I purpose to operate by faith against his schemes and resist with the Word of God as You give me strength. I break and cancel every curse or hindrance against me or my family by the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray for your protection for me and my family through this day.
