Lesson 1: Week 3: Becoming Spiritually Whole Through God’s Word
Week 3: God’s Blessing of Spiritual
Wholeness for
Grandparents
Scripture for the week:
Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Today’s Scripture Focus: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation. . . 2
Corinthians 5: 17 NIV
*Remember to pause and ask the Holy Spirit to teach
you as you read God’s Word and seek His meaning.
No matter what age we are when we
come to the Lord, most of us have seen and heard things that we wish we
hadn’t. Our minds are filled with
individual graffiti; those memories that are etched deeply and refuse to be
forgotten. Today’s Scripture tells us
that we are made new, but how can that be?
Are our minds chalkboards that can be erased? Are they computers that have delete keys?
We choose to accept Christ as our Savior, and it is by choice that we follow His precepts for
the renewal of our minds. John 5: 1-9
tell of Jesus healing the invalid at the pool of Bethesda .
One of the questions Jesus asked the invalid is, “Do you want to get
well?” The fact that he had laid by
the pool for years was evidence that he did.
No doubt he had lost heart in the waiting and the disappointments. But Jesus’ question quickened his faith and
he knew that he desired not only physical wholeness, but spiritual wholeness as
well. Perhaps, that is where you are
today—desiring spiritual wholeness, but not quite sure how to be healed. Today, the Lord is asking you the question, “Do
you want to get well?” If your
answer is yes, then choose to begin your journey by letting God’s Word renew
your mind.
Think on
These Things
Paul writes in his letter to the
Philippians, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV) Why did he admonish them to fix their
thoughts on such a high plane?
I believe it is because the Holy
Spirit had revealed His truth to Paul.
Our thoughts produce the words we speak and our actions follow
suit. If we think as the world thinks,
then we will act accordingly. In
addition, if our thoughts are fixed on God, we cannot be focusing on bad
memories or worldly things.
And be not conformed to this
world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 NIV
Filling our minds with God’s Word
and thinking on noble things will enable our minds to be renewed.
As children of the Living God we
are advised to Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of
truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
We, the ALIVE generation enjoy
fellowshipping with one another. At long
last, we finally have time to get together with family and friends. We may choose to get together for a cookout
where we prepare the meat and everyone brings a covered dish, making it easier
on everyone. In preparation for this
meal, we may marinate the meat we plan to grill, letting the herbs and spices
flavor and tenderize it.
Our minds need to marinate in the
Scriptures. We need to let God’s
teachings flavor our attitude and tenderize our hearts. Jesus, in His beautiful prayer for believers
(John 17:14 ) tell His
Father that He has given us His Word. He
also petitions the Father on the believer’s behalf, asking Sanctify (make
pure and holy) them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17 NIV)
Take a few moments and read aloud
Psalm 119. Let your mind soak in these
Scriptures.
What Did I
Learn?
What eight things are Christians
to think about? (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. 8.
Highlighting Psalm 119
Verse 1—Who are the blameless?
Verse 11—What can keep us from
sin?
Verse 25—What counsels us?
Verse 37—Turning our eyes from
worthless things will do what to our lives?
Verse 45—When we seek God’s laws,
we will find __________.
Verse 71—What can difficult times
do for us?
Verse 89—God’s Word is
____________.
Verse 90—God’s faithfulness
endures how long?
Verse 93—God’s laws will
___________ _________ __________.
Verse 98-100—God’s laws
(commands) make us _________, give us__________ and ____________.
Verse 105—What lights our way?
Verse 111—God’s statues are our
______________.
Verse 114—God is our
__________and __________.
Verse 130—What gives us
understanding and light?
What particular verse in Psalm
119 spoke to your heart?
Truly, God renews our minds and
leads us into spiritual wholeness by His Word.
All of us who have lived to be 50+ have encountered things which have
damaged our thinking or emotions. Paul
encourages us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:14 ).
One of the things he mentions is the girdle of truth. Let us choose to live by God’s truth (His
Word) and not by our damaged emotions.
I Will
Apply What I’ve Learned
- I will guard what I put in my mind—TV shows, movies,
reading material, and conversations.
- I will make Bible Study and quiet time a priority in
my life and renew my mind with God’s Word.
(Hint:
Select the same time and place each day to read and meditate on God’s
Word.)
- I will encourage my family by being a living witness
of how God renews us through His Word.
I am not ashamed of the
gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jews, then for
the Gentiles. (Romans 1:16
NIV)
Gracious Father,
Thank you for Your
Word and the power of Your Word. I pray
that I may be disciplined in study and that I will allow my mind to soak in
your Word. May Your Word permeate my
every thought, and may I become more like You with each passing day. Lead me into spiritual wholeness through Your
Holy Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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