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DAILY RESURRECTION POWER

In Tender Mercies (one of my all time favorites!)

God uses a young widow to love “Mac,” a recovering alcoholic,

into the Kingdom. Her son, “Sonny” and “Mac”

are baptized one Sunday. On the way home, they reflect.

tender-merciesSonny: “Well, we’ve done it, Mac. We’re baptized.”

Mac: “Yeah, we are.”

Sonny: “Everybody said I was going to feel like a changed person. I guess I do feel a little different. But I don’t feel a whole lot different. Do you?”

Mac: “Not yet.”

Sonny: “You don’t look any different.” (Sonny sits up to look at himself in the rearview mirror.) “Do you think I look any different?”

Mac: “Not yet.”

Rankin Wilbourne said he knew after receiving Jesus, that Jesus promised rivers of living water would flow out of his heart,

but it seemed more like a trickle than a river.

Likewise, It took forty years between John Newton’s conversion

and his conviction regarding the slave trade,

forty years for the gospel to truly change him.

I too feel like I have grown so much in the last fifteen years,

but I am so sad it took me so long too really “get” some truths.

Wilbourne articulates these truths in Union with Christ. As I read them, 

I thought,

“Yes — that’s why I’m finally experiencing more of the power of His resurrection.”

philippians-3-10-that-i-may-know-him-brown-copy

We will look at two secrets of “union with Christ” Wilbourne articulates over the next two weeks: dying with Him and glorifying Him.

unionwithchrist

This week we will consider the truth of “dying with Him.”

It’s the same one that is the backbone of Ann VosKamp’s new book,

The Way of Brokenness.

Ann writes:

annvoskampbroken

Christ was broken on the cross and it led to life.

Yet we are afraid of being broken, of being “crucified with Christ.”

Rankin writes that the first test to “determine whether the radical nature of union with Christ is sinking in is to ask this:

Are you threatened by it?

Before you can rest in the comfort and experience the peace of your new identity in Christ, you have to sense how frightening it can be.

We love our idols — and letting them go feels frightening.

Though many of you have seen this testimony from Rebecca before,

watch it and find where she tells about how “she was scared – and why.”

SUNDAY, JAN 15TH Afraid to Die

1. What stood out to you from the above, and why?

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY: Crucified with Christ, We then LIVE!

alive-in-christ-a-sermon-for-confirmation-from-romans-6114-1-638

Union with Christ means He is in us, and when we die with Him, suffer with Him, we also rise with Him and experience the power of His resurrection!

Prepare your heart with this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0_1jazh454

 

As I consider my life, there were many times I died to myself voluntarily, and God blessed it. Yet often I did not die — either because I was rebelling or I did not see my sin, my hidden heart idols. Yet when God took Steve, it caused me to press into Jesus like never before — for where else could I go? The husband I had so relied on, even to the point of idolatry, was gone. And through that, I had to turn to the True Husband who would never die. So “being crucified with Christ” may come upon us involuntarily when our world falls apart, or it may come upon us voluntarily when, by faith, we choose it. But either way, the way of brokenness can lead to life, to experiencing more of the power of His resurrection, the power that brought Jesus out of the grave!

resurrection-power

 

2. How wise we are when we choose to die to ourselves by faith, when we recognize sin, turn from it, and allow God to fill the place. What fruit followed Rebecca’s choice to die to her nightly ritual and replace it with communion with Christ?

3. Where have you died to yourself and seen Christ bring a resurrection?

dead-to-sin-alive-to-god

4. Meditate on Romans 6:1-8

A. Read through vs.1-8 and find as many phrases as you can that describe union with Him.

B. Which phrases are frightening and which give you hope?

C Baptized means “immersed.” He is not talking about literal baptism here, though baptism, especially immersion, pictures this truth. What promise comes with immersing yourself into His death, according to verse 4?

D. What promise is in verse 5? This doesn’t just mean heaven, but an eternal life beginning on earth.

E. What reasons are given in each of verses 6, 7, and 8 for being united with Christ into His death?

5. Mediates on Romans 6:9-14

A. What must we do according to verse 11? Where must you consider yourself dead today?

B. According to verses 12-13 we must stop doing something and start doing something. Explain and then explain how this applies to you.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY: SERMON “Perfect Freedom” Tim Keller

LISTEN TO THIS AND SHARE YOUR NOTES AND THOUGHTS. IT’S ESSENTIAL KELLER (AND FREE) ON ROMANS 6. EVEN IF YOU’VE HEARD IT BEFORE, LISTEN AGAIN. As Keller says, “Romans 6, 7, and 8 are vital in understanding the power to be found.”

6. Notes or comments from Perfect Freedom.

SATURDAY:

7. What is your take-a-way and why?

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017

 

We are hard-wired for glory,

but in our sinfulness, instead of seeking glory for God,

we crave it for ourselves.

The first principle articulated in the Westminister Confession is:

cathechismlooking-at-the-big-picture-57-728We have deceitful hearts, and it is easy to think we are glorifying God, when what we are really doing is feeding our idols. As a young speaker, I told many stories of how God was meeting me, and He was — but looking back I realized it was more about me (and feeding my approval idol) than glorifying God. Liz Curtis HIggs (one of the funniest women alive) told me — “I realized people remembered my funny stories but not the message about Jesus.”

Kathy Keller, when Tim was a young preacher, often gave him a thumbs down after preaching. But she said, “When you get to Jesus, that’s when my heart begins to melt.” He took her criticism to heart and became the preacher he is today.

Isn’t it amazing that even in ministry (from parenting to preaching to pro-life volunteering) we can still be seeking our own glory instead of God’s!) This week we will look at John 12 for insight into replacing our quest for our own glory with a quest for seeking God’s glory. Though we thinking seeking our own glory will lead to joy, it does not. Instead Lewis says:

quote-the-scotch-catechism-says-that-man-s-chief-end-is-to-glorify-god-and-enjoy-him-forever-c-s-lewis-81-59-461. What stands out to you from the above, and why?

Monday-Wednesday Bible Study (Take two questions a day)

PREPARE YOUR HEART WITH THIS:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax_NMWLEb6U

hard0wired

We are hard-wired for glory, but in our sinfulness we corrupt that desire, and seek glory, not for God, but ourselves. We see the contrast in our opening passage.

2. Read John 12:1-8

A. Whose glory was Judas seeking? How can you tell? Where did this ultimately lead for him?

B. Whose glory was Mary of Bethany seeking? How can you tell? Where did this ultimately lead for her?

C. Ask yourself today, each time you begin a new task or venture, “Whose glory will I seek in doing this?” Come back and report how it impacted you.

3. Read John 12:9-19 and find passages that show whose glory the chief priests were seeking. Explain why you think that is true.

4. Read John 12:20-26

A. What hour does Jesus say has come, and what does He mean?

B. How does Jesus explain and illustrate “the broken way” and how it leads to fruitfulness?

kernal-of-wheatmaxresdefault

C. Through this illustration, how can you see how the truths of dying with Christ and glorifying God are linked?

D. “Losing your life” sounds frightening — it is the upside down way of the Kingdom. Share a recent time when you faced this trauma and either failed or succeeded in obeying and what happened.

5. Read John 12:27-36  Why was Jesus’ soul troubled” What caused Him to submit to the hard path?

6. Read John 12:36-43

    A. Why did many of the authorities, though they believed, refused to confess it?

    B. Ask the Lord to show you where you are seeking man’s glory. What does He show you?

    C. Pray for yourself here.

Thursday-Friday (Message from Rankin Wilbourne)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8-EgmP1UX8

7. What comments to you have on the above? 

Saturday

8. What is your take-a-way and why?

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262 comments

  1. 6. I think I seek mans glory all the time. As I struggle with an approval idol my heart is turned to what others think of me. If I am painfully honest with myself I want God to be glorified in all my actions because I want to be glorified in all MY actions. I HATE it when people think badly of me. When I was fired from my ministry position the shame I felt overtook me and led to a deep depression. As I was healed from the feelings of rejection and sadness the shame was uncovered and it was overwhelming. I was able to talk to a women who’s husband fell in ministry and has been healed. what she said to me was a game changer. “what is it to you” I was lamenting about how It broke my heart that the students thought badly of me and that the board beleived everything that was said. I wanted to change what they thought of me. my friend kept saying, you worry about you, let God worry about them. LET IT GO.  before that all I could think of was how to “fix” what they thought of me.
    my approval idol lost a lot of its power that day, but I am sure there will be more letting go and opportunities for growth.

    1. Oh Cyndi, I can so identify with you and your shame in your painful exit from your ministry position. I have “been there”. There have been a few times in our ministry for Christ when we have been “asked to leave”. In one case, in particular, it was a huge embarrassment before some people whose approval I very much wanted. My approval idol and pride took a very big “hit” in the aftermath of that time. The pruning was severe. The shame has repercussions even now, as your own story causes me to think once more about what happened almost 30 years ago. I too need to do more “letting it go” and let God use that pruning as an opportunity for new growth. Praying for you as you lean in to Him in this.

  2. just a blog org. note. sometimes its hard to figure out the week when you are scrolling up. I think a very easy way to help would be to put a roman numeral I or II in front of each question number. ie. I.1 or II.1 depending on the week. just an idea 🙂

    1. Great idea, Cyndi!

    2. This is a good idea. I tried to see if Dee could have the week 1 posts and week 2 posts separated with a line but she said it would be too hard. I think we can do this! 

  3. C. Through this illustration, how can you see how the truths of dying with Christ and glorifying God are linked?
     
    The illustration seems to say to me that I need to be willing to sacrifice the things of this world and turn totally toward living for the Kingdom of God.   That would “break” my sense of identity that looks for approval by others, and instead would find my identity with Him.    That would “break” my sense of wanting control of my life and would mean I would totally rely on Him.   Those changes of direction would mean God would be glorified.
     
    D. “Losing your life” sounds frightening — it is the upside down way of the Kingdom. Share a recent time when you faced this trauma and either failed or succeeded in obeying and what happened.
     
    I’m going to have to think about this one.   The word “recent” is holding me back, as I could quickly think of a time about 18 years ago – that’s not very recent!   🙂
     
    5. Read John 12:27-36  Why was Jesus’ soul troubled” What caused Him to submit to the hard path?
     
    Probably His soul was troubled because He didn’t really look forward to what was ahead – his crucifixion in particular.    He submitted to the hard path because it was what God had planned from the beginning.   The redemption of all of mankind was waiting on Him!   
     
    6. Read John 12:36-43
     
        A. Why did many of the authorities, though they believed, refused to confess it?
     
    They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.    The synagogue was the center of a Jew’s life; and for some of them, it was also their livelihood.   The thought of the shame and loss of being excommunicated was more than they could bear.  

  4. Hi again all! I just listened to Rankin’s msg…its my day off so I have time today 🙂   It was excellent. It tied in so well with what we have been studying…of course! The things that hit me were…”my ministry must be displaced by the ministry of Jeus”. My ambition must be crucified before it can be healed. I need to encounter Jesus, Love Him & His glory, Love what He wants for me….Love His vision for my life. His glory was to give His life to serve & save me; now “I want to live for Your Paraise!”   When I follow God’s vision for my life, I have the freedom to fail, freedom from envy ( I can be content), & God’s Words begin to weigh more than my own words & feelings & others words & opinions of me. Yes Lord, do this in me. Long process & daily yielding. 🙂

  5. I just wanted to share some exciting news…I had a few neighbor ladies over last night for a “post holiday get together”. At the end, I asked them if they would like to do a Book Club with a christian focus, & meet every 2 to 3 weeks. I showed them the book I was thinking of  “Heaven, How I Got Here” ( The Story of the Thief On the Cross), by Colin Smith. They said they were interested & took the book home. We are reading the 1st 1/2 (short book) & meeting again Feb 15th! I was so excited & looking with expectancy to see what God will do. Lord, may it be only for Your Glory, & Your ministry…draw them to You!  🙂  I would appreciate your prayers for them, thanks.

    1. Jenny–that’s wonderful! Looks like a great book too! Lord we pray that You would bless this book club and use it to stir their hearts to turn towards You, and may they come to know You Lord. Thank You for Jenny’s heart and her obedience in loving others for the Kingdom–we pray You will be glorified through this! Amen

    2. That’s great, Jenny. I’ll be praying. It sounds like an interesting book.

    3. Jenny, What a great idea! I will pray for you and the ladies. It sounds like a great read. Keep us posted on this group.

  6.     B. Ask the Lord to show you where you are seeking man’s glory. What does He show you? 
     
    I don’t think man actually places this burden on me, but I place it on myself…my body image. To be a dancer you must be thin and lithe (according to the world I suppose). We, as women, are conditioned that we should all look like the supermodels or actresses, at least that’s what we see in the magazines and on tv/movies. This is my problem, placing too much emphasis on this when God made me who I am, inside and out. Ugh. Such self-loathing at times. It makes me sick yet I can’t seem to knock myself out of it.
     
        C. Pray for yourself here.
     
    Dear Lord, to quote the song, “You are good,  you are good, when there’s nothing good in me…”  thank you for being so good.  I need to live for you, only you.  You love me just for who I am. This is good, and it is right.  Would you help me focus on the positive parts of me? I do have good qualities, I just forget sometimes.  I am a very forgiving person. I will do anything to help others if I possibly can.  I am a decent dancer, who can share your word with others regardless of my weight.  Dear Lord, thank you for helping Bekah get better every day.  She has suffered so much with anorexia and other health issues, and all she wants to do is to be able to dance for your glory too. Thank You for loving us dear Lord. Amen.

  7. Notes on Rankin Wilbournes sermon on “Glorification.” 
     
    Defining glorification – Not what happens to you when you die.   The Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, which is to say the souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness and immediately pass into God’s presence.     Your spirit goes immediately to God, but your body/remains rest in the grave until Christ comes again.   On that day the dead shall be raised and be publicly acquitted, given a new heavenly body, uncorruptable, made perfectly blessed and in the full enjoying of God. 
     
    C.S. Lewis wrote an essay titled “The Weight of Glory.”  Lewis writes “It may be possible for each to think too much of his own glory hereafter.  It is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.”   The load or weight or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back.   A load so heavy only humility can carry it.   
     
    Glorification is not just what happens when you die–all creation will be made anew.  Every one of us, whether you are conscious of it or not, spends a great deal of time thinking about our future glory.   Nothing affects your today more than your understanding of where your life is headed. This is not a unique Christian idea.   The stoic philosopher Epictetus put it this way: “Men are disturbed not by things, but by their opinions about them.”   Your interpretation is shaped by your mindset.  Your mindset is shaped by your hope, your aspirations.  It is our mindset that most affects our life here and now.   The Biblical statement of this is in Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things are above, not things that are on the earth”.   Nothing shapes your present more than the future hope on which your heart is set. 
     
     Wilbourne was giving a five-night lecture series – the first was on Ambition 
     
    Four points of this message on Ambition: 
    1. Ambition reconsidered
    2. Ambition corrupted
    3. Ambition crucified
    4. Ambition healed
     
    Ambition reconsidered
    He referred to the film “Money Ball.”   General manager, Billy Beane changed the way players are valued in the major leagues forever – going from a collection of stats to on-base-percentage.  In the climatic scene , Billy Beane is talking to the owner of the Boston Red Sox.  The owner asked Billy if he understood that he was questioning the whole system – the way they have always done things?   He said, “No wonder they are so upset with you.”    
     
    Wilbourne says that’s exactly the way he felt when he became a Christian in his senior year in college.   He says he had an enormous sense of relief but also an enormous sense of trauma.  Because what Billy Bean had done for baseball, Jesus had done for him.  Jesus threatened his whole way of life.  He had overturned all the rules and threatened everything he used to live for.  His motivational structure was uprooted, and his ambition was challenged. 
     
    The one biblical text that was helpful as much as anything was the one in John 12.   John is making the point that each of us is ambitious, we are all glory-seekers.  Vs. 37:   Many leaders believed in Jesus, but they were afraid to acknowledge Him because they would lose their positions if they crossed the establishment.  It’s the same tension as when a college professor says, “How can anyone intelligent believe in Christianity?”       Vs. 43: John allows you insight into the real motivation behind their reluctance to acknowledge Jesus publicly: “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”    The NIV translates the word for glory as “praise.” 
     
    John Stott says “Ambition concerns our goals in life and our incentives for pursuing them.   So you hunger for glory.   The question is “Which Glory?” 
     
    Ambition corrupted
    Ambition is not the problem.   The problem is that our God-given hunger for glory gets corrupted.   What is corrupted ambition?  C.S. Lewis makes this distinction:   “It is not wrong for an actor to want to act his part as well as it can possibly be acted.   But the wish to have his name in bigger type than the other actors is a bad one.”    What we call ambition is the wish to be more conspicuous, to be more successful than someone else.  It is the competitive element that is bad. 
     
    In 1842, Timothy Dwight, president of Yale University, gave a commencement speech titled “The Love of Distinction.”   Dwight defined the love of  distinction as the desire to stand out from your peers in the marketplace in skill and ability.     Dwight said, :Nothing is going to make  more misery in your life than the love of distinction.”  
     
    Ambition crucified.
    The question is “Can our ambition be healed?”   To be healed, sooner or later, it has to be crucified.  Wilbourne stated that he is aware that his ministry must be displaced by the ministry of Jesus.  He must be bumped aside, perhaps painfully, from the center.   Otherwise his ego is too tied to how he is doing.   Crucifixion of your ambition is the only way you’ll be free.  Regardless of your calling, you too, sooner or later must be displaced, perhaps painfully, from the center.   The more competent you think you are, the more difficult and painful that displacement will be.
    When we are displaced, it feels like a “little death.”   Thank God for those “little deaths.”  
     
    Andrew Purvis put it this way: “By his grace, God brings us to the place where our reliance on what we can do is crucified by God.”    Wilbourne goes on to say he thinks there is a 14-year gap in the biblical record of Paul’s life.  He thinks it took Paul 14 years to heal from his trauma.   Glorification isn’t just about our future, it is what reorients our present aspirations.   What makes you seek God’s glory is finally seeing what his glory looks like.     John 12:27: “Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say?  Father, save me from this hour?   No, it was for this very purpose that I came.”God was most glorified when the Lord of glory was crucified.  
     
    Ambition healed.
    A few pictures of healed ambition:    
    1.  Healed ambition gives you the freedom to fail.   Fear of failure is big, and it is under so much of what drives us.   You can take risks instead of going where other voices are telling you.  You can go where God is leading you, even when it doesn’t make sense. 
     
    2. Healed ambition gives you freedom from envy.   Envy says “What about me?  Why do they have what I don’t have?”  If what you are doing really is for God, you can be content with whatever comes your way.   It allows you to enjoy the success of others in your field.  You can be second and you can be satisfied. 
     
    3.  God’s words in your heart begin to weigh more than your own thoughts or fears.   Glory literally means “weight.”  That is why Lewis’ essay is titled The Weight of Glory.  
     
    Wilbourne closed with a story about a preacher’s daughter who went into a deep depression in college.   She wanted to die.   Depression is complex – it is physiological and mental, but there is always a spiritual component.   She came to her Dad, a nationally known pastor.   He said he had been praying about this and he had some advice for her.  He knew she didn’t drink alcohol and had been saving herself for marriage.   But he told her to go out and raise a little hell – get drunk, have sex.   She protested that he had always taught her against those things.  She didn’t get his advice.  Her father said he had written down some of the things she had been saying, and over the years they had their little debates.  He reminded her that she had complained of being ugly and fat.  She agreed. He said “Let’s assume Jesus Incarnate in the flesh actually walked into this room, and I said “Jesus what a wonderful opportunity to settle a debate between me and my daughter.   She thinks she is ugly and fat, and I believe she is beautiful and wonderful.  Jesus would you break the tie?”      Then he said to his daughter, “What do you think Jesus would say?” Her head dropped and she said “Jesus would say I am beautiful.”   Then he asked her which would be worse, living outside His rules or calling Him a liar.   She said “Calling Him a liar.”   
     

    1. Thanks for the notes, Deanna. (Do you ever go by “Dee”? I almost called you that by mistake and then wondered if it might be appropriate.) 🙂 I going to listen to the sermon now using your notes as a guide.

      1. Yes, Diane, in fact my husband calls me Dee.   When I was in college that was all I went by.   Strangely enough, at this stage of my life most of the people who called me Dee have died off or have moved away, so I don’t really hear it much, except from my husband.   

        1. Deanna, that is so cool. Now I know 2 “Dees”! You might be interested to know that my older brother used to call me “Deanna” (two syllables) when we were teenagers. I have no idea why really, except the names are similar, and he liked to tease. My husband and best friend call me “Di” (long i). Is your name pronounced with two or three syllables? Dean-na or De-an-na?

    2. I’m printing your summary – thank you! This sermon was so impactful for me; I keep revisiting it and mulling over how it applies to my lifelong struggle with career achievement. Dee, thank you for sharing these wonderful studies that are so helpful in going deep !

    1. Praying!

    2. I’m praying, Dee. I hope you have a great time in Alabama.

    3. Thank you for the kind words about my notes!   You have to be careful, you know, as you might be enabling my approval idol!   🙂     Got you covered in prayer for your Alabama event!   

  8. Terrific sermon by Wilbourne! It is part of a series and I would like to hear all of them. Where can I find them, Dee?
     
    Thesis: Nothing shapes your present more than the future hope on which your heart is set. The hope you set your heart upon will determine the course of your life and you have a choice.
     
    Key points:
     
    The one biblical text that was helpful as much as anything in Wilbourne’s struggle to understand ambition was the one in John 12.   John is making the point that each of us is ambitious; we are all glory-seekers.  We are hardwired to hunger for glory. Vs. 37:   Many leaders believed in Jesus, but they were afraid to acknowledge Him because they would lose their positions if they crossed the establishment.  It’s the same tension as when a college professor says, “How can anyone intelligent believe in Christianity?”       Vs. 43: John allows you insight into the real motivation behind their reluctance to acknowledge Jesus publicly: “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”   
     
    Ambition is not a vile thing. John Stott says “Ambition concerns our goals in life and our incentives for pursuing them.” A person’s ambition is what makes them tick, the mainspring of your actions. We all pursue what you value.   So you hunger for glory.   The question is “Which Glory?” from God or from man. 
     
    Your own ambition must be crucified. God’s glory must be more important (must weigh for, have more glory) than the words and thoughts of others. We must seek God’s glory not our own. It takes a long time to do this.
     
    My comments:
     
    This sermon hits between the eyes. It is both very humbling and very encouraging. We all have ambitions whether we acknowledge it or not. We all seek our own glory. That ambition must be killed. Usually that death is traumatic. But only then can we seek what matters infinitely more – God’s glory. This reminds me of the verses that God is trying to pound into my head. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23,24)
     

    1. Diane–I agree–excellent sermon! Here is a link (my links don’t work in Chrome–you may have to cut & paste it) to more from that RUF conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8-EgmP1UX8

  9. 6. Read John 12:36-43
        A. Why did many of the authorities, though they believed, refused to confess it?
    They did not want to lose the praise of man and be taken out of the synagogue.
        B. Ask the Lord to show you where you are seeking man’s glory. What does He show you?
    My accomplishments whether it be at school or in ministry. This is such a fine line to walk and the enemy’s ploy is so subtle just as he was at the garden of Eden. This week, a colleague and I led a workshop at school. Both were 2 hours each. After I read the first workshop evaluation, I was challenged to change a few things to accommodate the suggestions. As I was talking to the coordinator of the  workshop, I told her about the changes I am making for the second workshop because there were some who marked “ good” only instead of “excellent”. Smile. She jokingly told me that good was enough for her and I countered her that I want to see “Excellent” on those areas-that is why we have evaluation and we should read them! We laughed at that. Later on hindsight, I thought that could have been a golden opportunity for me to share why I want to improve things and that is because I want to reflect my Christian faith in what I do. But would I have been glorifying myself and my faith rather than Christ? Such a need for balance and awareness of the subtlety of the works of the enemy. Oh, wretched woman I am! Thankful Christ is working in me.
        C. Pray for yourself here.
     
    Lord, that you would incline my heart towards your glory and not mine. That I would be discerning of your voice, have a never-ending awareness of your great love for me, that you would increase and I, decrease. And in the perceived pain of humbling myself, I will see my life hidden in Christ and be willing to die to self and to experience your resurrection power daily.

  10. 3. Read John 12:9-19 and find passages that show whose glory the chief priests were seeking. Explain why you think that is true.
     
    “So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well…”
    “….for on account of him, many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him.”
     
    The chief priests could not tolerate that they were losing their followers to another. Jesus’ glory had been magnified by HIs raising Lazarus, and they couldn’t stand it. Their solution was to bury them both.
     
    “Look at how the whole world has gone after Him!”   The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus. They weren’t happy to see people adoring and trusting in Him. It frustrated them and angered them. This is a good test of whether or not I am seeking my own glory: how do I react at the success of another when it brings that person attention? Do I feel jealous, or nobody’s paying attention to me? That would show that I am seeking my own glory.
     
    4. Read John 12:20-26
     
    A. What hour does Jesus say has come, and what does He mean?
     
    Jesus says that the hour has come for Him to be glorified. I believe He means the time for Him to finish the work He came to do has come – He came to die for us.
     
    B. How does Jesus explain and illustrate “the broken way” and how it leads to fruitfulness?
     
    He uses an example from nature/farming. He sais that a kernel of wheat must fall to the ground and “die” in order to produce many seeds (be fruitful). If it does not, it remains a single seed. He then goes on to say that if a man loves his life (remains a single seed through selfish living for himself) he will lose his life in the end, but if he “hates his life” in this world (I take this to mean that he pours himself out for others, unselfish living) he will keep it to eternal life.
     
    C. Through this illustration, how can you see how the truths of dying with Christ and glorifying God are linked?
     
    Jesus glorified His Father by obeying Him and through His death. I just thought of this: that by dying, Jesus allowed His Father to demonstrate His power to raise Him from the dead, which really magnifies the power and glory of God. I really don’t have it in myself to “die with Christ”, or to “take up my Cross daily”. If I do anything in which I die to my own wishes, need for attention, selfishness, desire to retaliate, the glory and credit goes to God for helping me, enabling me to do so. By laying myself on His altar, I am giving Him control to use me and my life to do things I could never do on my own. It glorifies God to bear much fruit. I have to choose to be a single seed clinging stubbornly to the stalk, or to let myself fall to the ground, where I may get trampled upon and broken, but that is the way my life will bear fruit.
     
    D. “Losing your life” sounds frightening – it is the upside down way of the Kingdom. Share a recent time when you faced this trauma and either failed or succeeded in obeying and what happened.
     
    I need to think on this one. I am sure that I fail much more often than I succeed.

    1. Susan, it sounds like u are very hard on yourself! I’m sure the Lord is delighted with each step you take towards Him. I love ; “By laying myself on His altar, I am giving Him control to use me & my life to do things I could never do on my own”. So hard but so fruitful  🙂

    2. Susan, again I am awed by your responses and they resonate with my feelings. Thanks for your honesty.
       It is so hard for me to look at my own selfishness.

    1. So glad your time went well, Dee. Yay, Rebecca. “Intriguing” comment about Methodists.

    2. So glad to learn that all went well!    From what I can tell, you seem to have wonderful people working with  you (beginning with Rebecca)!

      1. Deanna, thank you for your notes from Rankin. I listened and was blessed by it. Dee, glad it went well and Rebecca was there for you.
        Many lessons learned this week but would like to comment on Rankin’s sermon. 
        a. Displace yourself from the center. The world does not revolve around you. Orbit around the true center, that is Christ. There is no room for self when I am seeking the glory of God.
        b. Renounce badges of distinction. Like Paul, I can count my accomplishments as rubbish compared to the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ.
        c. It is OK to be second. This hits home for me because although I am not very competitive, I often try to aim for excellence in what I do. I am learning not to stew over imperfections, aim for excellence but temper my disappointments if I don’t get the top spot. Which leads me to the question Rankin posed, “Whose glory are you seeking?”
        LOrd, I want to live for your praise!

    3. So glad it went well Dee. You have a busy schedule & are such a humble servant! Yay Rebecca! May hearts continue to be touched & drawn to the Lord 🙂

  11. Diane,  there wasn’t a reply button available so I could answer your question in an earlier post.    My name is pronounced in three syllables:  De-an-na.

  12. Loved the sermon! To think that God loves me just as I am….will listen again; it was that good!

  13. Thank you!!