The Power of His Resurrection

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 10

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study – (IBS)

The Power of His Resurrection

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” – Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)

The power of His resurrection…The majesty and glory of the Lord…

Sitting here trying to write this IBS, the Lord again reminded me that I can do nothing in my own strength.  Right now I am overcome with awe, an awe of just trying to begin comprehend God and His all-knowing power.   With that awe, I suddenly have much deeper gratitude and appreciation of having God’s Word sitting open in front of me.  That He would have compassion enough to give me His record, in a sense, to explain to my simple mind His love for all of His creation, and give me a glimpse of what He is truly like is far beyond anything of my understanding!  Job 42:3 is the closest thing in words to what my heart feels right now – “You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’  Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”  I feel like could take it one step further and say “which I do not know.”  I hear the Lord’s voice speaking through Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  God let it be Your words that flow out of my mouth…the praise of the heavenly hosts in Revelation 5:12-13 come to mind, “…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! ...Blessing and honor and glory and power and be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”  Romans 6 - resurrection

Application:  Today I will read in one of the Gospels more about Christ’s life leading up to His death and resurrection, “that I may know Him.”

Be Found in Him

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 10

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study – (IBS)

Be Found in Him

“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” – Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)

As a human being, and as a descendant of Adam and Eve whose disobedience disconnected the human race from God’s perfect design, my natural desire is to try to fill the gap between myself and the Lord.  Because of my sinful blindness, what I usually try to fill that gap with mostly are not the things of Christ.  One of those things is identity…and I am not the only one who struggles with this.  Since the Fall of man, all of humanity has battled this because we are not naturally apart of Christ body, and sin has separated us from His perfection.  But why this is such a fight for we as humans, is that we are still ultimately made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).  The deepest part of the soul knows this, and also that true peace and perfection can only “be found in Him,” our Creator.  Thankfully though, the God who creates everything, who created me, has a compassion and a desire so great that He sent His One and only Son – Jesus Christ – to this earth in flesh, to die and rise again, so that I and all the rest of humanity now has the chance return to perfection through His precious cleansing blood.  My identity and, as the apostle Paul says, “my own righteousness, which is from the law,” is no longer of this world, “but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”  Who am I, to think that I am anything without Him, that my own righteousness carries any weight or meaning?  By releasing my self, the Lord then takes me captive and back to Himself, so that if anyone is looking for me, I can “be found in Him.”

Application:  Today, I will find passages on being in Christ.

Gain Your Brother

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 9

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study – (IBS)

Gain Your Brother

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” – Matthew 18:15

Brothers…gotta love ‘em...

Growing up as the oldest of four boys, I have definitely had my fair share of fights and quarrels with them, and also witnessed many more contentions between them.  Needless to say, Matthew 18:15 is a verse that is very much alive in my life.  It also hits me in an area of my life that I am still very much weak in: anger with my brothers.  Anyone with brothers can identify with this in some way, as brothers can always somehow find those certain buttons of aggravation.  That being said, it must also be brought to light that for me, it wasn’t very hard for my brothers to get at my buttons because the littlest things used to set me off.  I love my brothers to death, but I won’t deny that they also were/are very good at pushing my buttons if they so desire!!  With that taken into consideration, the first sentence of Matthew 18:15 – “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone,” has been a tremendous struggle for me in the past.  The whole “go and tell him his fault between you and him alone” thing was something that I very rarely did correctly.  If there was any sort of fault, you could bet your bottom dollar I’d be the first one to make a commotion about it, it didn’t matter whether it was publicly or privately.  It shames me to say that most times it wasn’t even an issue worth being discussed, let alone flying of the handle about.  I am a prime example of Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and Proverbs 14:29 – “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.”  Often I would answer some smart remark from them impulsively with a harsh reply that would stir up piles of anger, and make myself look very foolish in the end.  This brings to life Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.”  I have been on both sides of this road, though it usually has been on the side of offending rather than offended, unfortunately.  This verse is so true, speaking from the times I have been offended by something my brothers have done, it is so easy to pack a grudge for any amount of time.  That grudge can sit there and fester and become like an infected sore, which takes time to heal.  But if resolved or taken care of quickly, in the love of Christ, that sore heals faster, rebuilding the relationship quicker.  Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  This is something I know the Lord has been changing in my life.  It is interesting that when you step away from someone for a while that you begin to realize the qualities of that person.  During my time here at IGNITE God has peeled off any contradictory feelings or thoughts about my brothers, and He has cultivated a genuine kind of love for my brothers that I haven’t had before.  For them, I not only need to be a friend that loves at all times, but a brother that loves at all times, so that I can be a brother for adversity.

Applications:

1.       Today, I will visit with two of my Christian brothers about their lives, and how I can support them in any way possible.

2.       Next time I have phone access, I will call and visit with my brothers at home and ask for their forgiveness on past quarrels we have been in.

Live in Peace

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 9

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Live in Peace

“Finally, brethren, farewell.  Become complete.  Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

In writing 2 Corinthians 13:11, the apostle Paul is coming to the end of closing out his second letter to the church he had planted in Corinth.  Here he concisely summarizes what he had been discussing in earlier in both the book and chapter 13 as a whole.  Throughout it Paul continually encourages the church to live with total devotion to Christ, and shows how there is completeness, good comfort, one mind/unity, and a life of peace through that daily surrendering.  He talks directly about becoming complete in verses 7-9, saying, “⁷Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. ⁸For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.”  Verse 8 made me stop and re-read it, as I had never really thought about truth in that aspect.  You might say it is very “true!”  By having the mindset of doing everything for the truth, Christ’s glory and majesty will then show in everything I do, and in turn I will be made complete because of the peace He bestows.  Along with that comes comfort; I can also have comfort in what the Lord has done for me, as said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  I can live in peace with this promise, no matter what chaos and turmoil may surround me.  With this peace from the Almighty, I don’t have to worry about tomorrow, and in a sense I don’t have to worry about what others think about me.  By loving as Christ loves, I can then function with those around me with the one mind that Paul commands.

Application:  Today I will find three verses, one – being complete, two – finding comfort in the Lord, and three – living in peace and write them in my journal.

With the Humble

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 9

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

With the Humble

“Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Do not be wise in your own opinion.” – Romans 12:16

I love the apostle Paul.  I very much wish I could have met him, because from his writings he seems to have been a man who not only believed and walked very closely with God, but also a man who believed in a straightforward message - Short, simple, and to the point.  I think I could take some lessons from him on keeping a message concise a message.  As I stepped back and get more of the context for this IBS, the Lord spoke to me a great deal through Romans 12:9-18, and turned into a prayer I need for my life.  Lord Jesus Christ, here I am, take me, teach me, break and remake me into a vessel for Your glory. 

God, let my love be without hypocrisy, that I would abhor what is evil, and cling to what is good.  Help me to be kindly affectionate to others with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving You, the Lord.  I want to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distribute to the needs of the saints, and be given to hospitality.  Heavenly, All-Mighty Father, I ask for self-control to bless those who persecute me; bless and not curse.  Let me rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Jesus I need to be of the same mind towards others, not setting my mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  God I beg that I would not be wise in my own opinion.  Help me pay no one evil for evil and have good regard for good things in the sight of all men.  In Your name for all possible, as much as depends on me, that I would live peaceably with all men.

Once again the words of David come from my heart:

Psalm 119:9-16 – “How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.  ¹⁰With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  ¹²Blessed are You, O Lord!  Teach me Your statutes.  ¹³With my lips I have all the judgment of Your mouth.  ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.  ¹⁵I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.  ¹⁶I will delight myself in Your Statutes; I will not forget Your word.”

Application:  Today I will ask my roommates to tell me three things in my life that they see that I am often “wise in my own opinion” about and then find a verse for each of those as an antidote. 

Walk in the Light

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 9

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Walk in the Light

“⁵This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do no practice the truth.  ⁷But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:5-7 (NKJV)

It’s funny how sometimes when you read a something in some book and it feels like the author is standing right in front of you, talking right to you as if you are the only one in the world receiving what he is saying.  After going through this passage this is exactly the feeling I got; I feel like I’m standing in front of the apostle John, and he is speaking to me face to face.  This, obviously, was the command that Jesus gave His personal disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, saying “¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  The Lord uses John to do just that in 1 John 1:5, penning a message that not only taught that generation, but all generations since – “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  Praise Him that He is Lord, and the Light of the world!!  By being in fellowship with Him in the Light, I am also able to fellowship in a closer, more meaningful manner in the relationships that I have.  Christ lived every aspect of what He taught during His walk here on earth, one of those teachings being, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Jesus Christ’s example is mine to follow, living the life the He has given me as one not of my own, but His, and by being in constant fellowship and communion with the Lord, I am then His tool to use in bringing light to the darkness.

Application:  This evening I will share with my roommates something that I read in my devotions, and discuss what they think about it.

Agreement

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 9

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Agreement

 “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” – Amos 3:3 (NKJV)

God is so good…He is not only the awesome Creator and mighty Ruler of this universe and my life, but He also asks very good questions.  Speaking through the Old Testament prophet Amos, the Lord asks a question that spans the ages, not just being one that pertained to the situation then.  This is still a very valid question today.  I had to stop and ask myself the question – “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  The answer is no.  In the ESV it says “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” When you think about it, this is absolutely true: One, two people will not walk together obviously, unless they, obviously, are in agreement on matters they have in common.  Two, these people are not going to get very far in their walk together if there is any contention between them.  It needs to be a brotherhood like of David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1,3, 4 – “¹Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul…³Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.  ⁴And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.” This kind of a relationship is that of Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Application:  Today I will fast with Kazden to support him as he fasts to come closer to God.

Vigilance

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 8

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Vigilance

“³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  ³⁸And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.  ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known the hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – Luke 12:37-40 (NKJV)

Being vigilant…one of the biggest struggles I battle every day in my walk with Christ.  Vigilant, as defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary means “alertly watchful, especially to avoid danger.”   As much as I dislike admitting it, I am constantly running into danger – be it physically, mentally, or spiritually.  Most of the time it is distractions in the earthly realm that become my primary focus and I find myself neglecting my communication with Christ.  On my own I knew this is not a good thing, but after reading through Luke 12:37-40, the Lord gave me a wake-up call about it.  This passage proved to be very good tool for self-evaluation, as showed the danger that I am not as in love with Christ as I thought I was…in other words not fully devoted.  A true servant is one that is not only loyal to his master, but one that also loves his master, and, as this passage in Luke indicates, does not cease watching for his master’s safe return.  This really humbles me because it unearthed the lack of love I still have for Christ.  Am I constantly looking for Christ’s return?  No…

This also brought to mind a passage that a family friend shared with me a while back – Ezekiel 33:2-7  “²Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchmen, ³when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.  ⁵He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself.  But he who takes warning will save his life.  ⁶But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person form among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.  ⁷So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.”

Again, alertness is vital.  Christ is always there and ready to help me, but I have to meet Him part way and daily surrender my life and continue to chase further after His presence and majesty.

Application: Today I will find a passage on Christ’s return and share it with my roommates.

No Longer a Servant, but a Friend

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 8

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

No Longer a Servant, but a Friend

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15 (NKJV)

Hebrew 4:11 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  I love how the author of Hebrews uses the vivid description of God’s word being a two-edged sword, and reading John 15:15 really drove the point of that sword into me.  I’ve been pondering this verse for a little while now.  Normally when doing IBS, I come out feeling very convicted and needing to allow the Lord to change something in my life.  I don’t know why, but when digesting this passage of John, I got a very warm, assuring feeling rather than that of conviction.  This also brought me to think about the two-edged blade analogy.  The sword, dagger, and knife are tools designed for cutting and slashing.  In war these are very versatile weapons, used in both attack and defense; in either stance the edge can damage and harm to the opponent.  Interestingly, a knight in Medieval times would carry all three into war with him, with each weapon designed with a certain purpose in mind.   In combat, the sword was the first line of attack, obviously because it had the longest blade and provided the best chance of doing the enemy harm without getting harmed personally.  If the fighting became intense and the knight either lost his sword or the space became too confined for it to be useful, he would then switch to the dagger.  This was much more effective when in a hand to hand situation where only a few feet separated opponents.  The last resort was knife; if everything had failed, the situation was desperate, or things were so close contact that the knife could have been the difference between life and death. 

That all being said, there are also other purposes a two-edged blade can also be used for.  I am referring to healthy purposes, in particular the medical field, where a double-edged blade at times used to cut away bad or infected pieces of flesh so that healthy flesh grows.  Lately I think God has had to use all three weapons on me: His sword to first split me wide open, then a dagger to do some closer work, but finally a knife for some intricate removal of some unnecessary tissues (a.k.a “issues”).  At the moment, I think the surgery is over, and I am in a short healing period and I am at peace.  Christ is my comfort and Rock to anchor on.  In His loving mercy He has cleaned up my faith by removing all the extra things I had added on to it.  In John 15:15 He tells me what I am - “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  Jesus wants a relationship with me!  He doesn’t just want me to serve Him, He wants be my friend, and me His!  He shared the communion that He had with His Father, inviting His disciples into His life so that they could become a part of Him. Christ wants to do the same thing with me today – become a part of His body.  Because I am a part of His glorious love, I am to share it with those around me, devoting myself to ministering to each individual the love that the Lord has shared with me.  Lord, let me abide by Your word in John 15:12-17 and invest Your love into Your people:

“¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  ¹⁷The things I command you, that you love one another.”

Application:  Today I will visit with Christian about my life more and get to know him more as a friend. 

A Ransom for Many

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 8

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

A Ransom for Many

“²⁶Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  ²⁷And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – ²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28 (NKJV)

“…But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  ²⁷And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave…”  Oh the numerous times I find myself guilty of this mindset…How often do I think I am something big and great?  How many times do I take pride in “my” accomplishments and seek praise for “my” ambitions and aspirations?  In reality, I am microscopic small…I think it is safe to say the human mind is not physically capable of even beginning to comprehend the weight of what Jesus has done for us.  I know I can’t.  It is a constant struggle with my flesh, as this is the nature in which it manifests itself – overconfidence in my capabilities, and yet the truth of the matter is, is that the Lord created me and blessed me with such gifts and abilities.  The magnitude of it is like that of God, unfathomable in depth and immense in breadth, too great to measure.  The Lord Jesus Christ, “the Son of Man,” displayed that love to me and the rest of the world by coming to this earth and “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” If He, not being of this world, came down here to serve and make Himself low, how much more must I lay down myself and serve with humility?  Thank you Lord for becoming not only “a ransom for many,” but paying the ransom for me!!

Application:  Today I will be the last one through all the meal lines.

We Are Unprofitable Servants

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 8

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

We Are Unprofitable Servants

“⁷And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? ⁸But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? ⁹Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded of him? I think not.  ¹⁰So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.’” ­ – Luke 17:7-10 (NKJV)

Putting others before yourself is one of the hardest things to do.  Ever since the sinful of Adam and Eve, it our nature has become very self-centered, and learning to be considerate and serve others with genuine Godly love is something that has become opposite our nature. For me personally this has been something I have had to work on a lot.  This was much more of a problem when I was younger, as I wasn’t really one to go out of my way to help someone, especially if it was a family member.  Thankfully though, my parents were very good about instructing me in that, not just by telling me how, why, and when to do it, but also by living what they spoke.  I learned a lot by watching and listening to them in how they operated in the household and in public.  Numerous examples come to mind of my dad being that servant, where he would many times come home from a long stressful day at work, and then help get the dinner on the table, making sure we boys and mom had our food first before he’d eat.  Then to top it off, after dinner he is always the first one to be outside finishing any chores or projects that need done.  My mother is very much the same way.  I’m fortunate to have seen this example of a servant’s attitude from Luke 17 brought to life through both of my parents.

Application: Today I will strive to be the first to change out all the water jugs when needed.

Liberty to Serve One Another

J.J. Stark

February 2016

Week 7

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Liberty to Serve One Another

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save the lost.  So many are lost because they don’t realize their ignorance.  By ignorance I mean that most people today do not realize that they are in bondage, bondage to their sinful flesh.  Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, we are now separated from God because we are no longer holy, and because God is holy, and sin cannot be in His presence we now suffer the consequences of the law that the Lord operates by.  For centuries, God enforced a sacrificial law system, where people had to present a blood offering in order to pay for the sins they committed.  However, God has the ultimate love for us as His people.  John 3:16-17 says, “¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  Jesus, the Son of God, who also is God, loved every person in this world (myself included) so much that He willingly came down to this earth to live a perfect life so that I could once again have perfection and be united with Him.  I am free from my selfish bondage!  However, this is what the apostle Paul is saying in Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” I am no longer under the law, but am free from my fleshly desires and now have the freedom to serve others in the love of Christ.  No longer is it a matter of “I have to serve,” but rather it is now, “I get to serve.”  Christ served those around Him with prayer, and both spiritual and physical nourishment.  It is now for me to do the same.

Application:  Tonight I will pray for one of my fellow brothers, whose family is struggling spiritually.