10/18/2009

I learned SO MUCH this week!!! Oh my goodness! I don’t think I’ve ever taken so many notes in my life!
It is awesome how God uses Michael Berg in this week of teaching about the Father Heart God has for each of us. He gave his testimony and he did some crazy things in his past, but he is totally forgiven by God and that old man is dead. All week was pretty convicting for most people. It made me realize how crappy I’ve been to my earthly dad, and mom for that matter. I’m going to pick some points out of my notes that might seem like they should be obvious, and some of them I’ve known, yet haven’t known but God has given me a knew revelation about them to make them more than head knowledge:
10/13/09
Hurt people hurt other people; healed people heal other people. Christianity is a process; you are immediately in the family when you ask Jesus into your heart, but you change over time, the same way a baby changes after it is born into a family. Do not use your body as a tool of manipulation – EVER!!! Serving yourself and being “free” is actually bondage. Isaiah 61:3 talks about us being “Oaks of Righteousness” An oak tree is strong because the roots go deep and make a sturdy foundation. It gets affected by the storm, but stands firm through it.
A. To know God
Original language for “to know” means that to know God is not merely knowing about Him but rather to know Him more intimately than a husband and wife know each other. We have been taking Christianity too lightly!! We should be filled with wonder of who God is!! When you see the Grand Canyon or mountains or the ocean for the first time, you are filled with awe and wonder. When you grow up around those things, they become the norm and you get used to them. So if you grew up in the Grand Canyon, maybe it’s time to go see the ocean. God doesn’t want to give you information about Himself, He wants to give you revelation! The Bible should not just be a textbook for us but the longest love letter ever!!! He wants me to know Him more than I want to know Him.
B. To Trust God
Webster’s definition of “trust”: a firm belief or confidence in the honestly, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person. Trust is earned and learned. The more we get to know God, the more we’ll trust Him. When God tells us to be like children, it’s so we’ll trust him. Did you ever jump off of something into your daddy’s arms? It’s like having the faith in your dad that he’s going to catch you every time.
C. To Love God
As we develop trust, we develop love. W.A. Pratney said, “Love is an unselfish choice for the highest good of God and His universe according to their real value. The opposite of love is a selfish choice, putting yourself first. In Matthew 22:37-40 we are told to love God with our whole being. And Philippians 2 says when we love God, we should do the things that please Him and avoid the things that displease Him, which is obedience. Obedience is a loving response to a loving relationship.
D. To Serve God (Obedience)
We should not be obedient on the basis of fear and not on the basis of duty. Ministry should be natural because of our loving relationship with Jesus.
False Concepts of God affect how we pray, how we read the Bible, how we live our Christian lives and our relationships with God. Anything we think is true we need to hold before the Lord to see if it’s true or not, so that we can have a better understanding; that we might have and expanded understanding of God.
A. Right Concept of God
The Nature of God
Uncreated = He has always been
Triune God = 3 in 1
The Father
The Son
The Holy Spirit
John 14-16 talks about the role that the Holy Spirit plays
When we pray we are talking and relating to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is so involved in our lives, we have just scratched the surface. He is always with us, we are never alone!! Henry Blackaby said, “Every Christian needs to have the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives”
Omnipotent = all powerful
Jeremiah 32:27, Job 42:2, Jeremiah 6:1-12, Psalm 89:6-8, 66:7
Don’t get impressed with yourself, it’s the power of God in you that should impress.
Omniscient = all knowing
Romans 11:33-34, Psalm 147:5, Job 37:16, 1 John 3:20
We can never say, “Nobody knows and no one understands me.”
Omnipresent = everywhere at the same time
1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:6, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:24, Psalm 139:7-10
B. The Character of God
1. The Names of God
El Roi – the God who sees me/God of vision
El Shaddai – God Almighty in His ability to provide
We should never make a decision based on what’s in our wallet or bank account, but based on the Word of the Lord.
Jealous – Exodus 34:14
Human jealousy is selfish and God’s jealousy is selfless. Jealousy is the fear of being replaced.
Jehovah-Rohi – The Lord is my Shepherd – Psalm 23

Oh man, this is all notes from ONE DAY!!! Crazyness!! I'll try to share more later!