THE CAR WON'T START WITHOUT THE GAS
Adapted from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Bro. A. Madonio
Lesson Introduction
What this lesson teaches:
* This lesson stresses the "basics" of Christianity, the foundations. Without them, all other teaching is like a house built on sand.
* The "basics" are the "gas" in your spiritual gas tank, and the "keys" are a whole host of other scriptural teachings.
* The most important thing to always remember is to "seek Him first."
Scripture references used:
* Matthew 6:33; 22:36-38, Luke 10:17-20, Acts 16:22-26, 1 Peter 1:8-9, Jeremiah 31:33
Other scripture that may be helpful:
* 2 Corinthians 3:3, 12:7-8, Job 1 and 2
Discussion questions for study:
1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion?
2. Do you understand the phrases used in this lesson - the "basics" and "keys" of Christianity?
3. As Christians, can you see the importance of believing the whole Bible, that it is true, without error, and God's actual words to us? Can you also see however, that certain elements in scripture are fundamental and MUST be understood and dealt with before moving on to other elements of scripture? The Corinthian church knew some things Paul taught them, but they didn't learn what they should have - consequently, they were called "carnal", or "worldly". They were only "infants" spiritually.
4. Might the reasons given above explain why some Christians who forget or neglect obedience, Lordship, holiness, faith and prayer also fail at practicing other Biblical doctrines?
5. Do you see people today striving, at all costs, to get to the "bottom line" - Christians and non-Christians? Can that fact that "SANCTIFICATION", as a long, slow process is delaying some people's idea of reaching the "bottom line"? The only real "bottom line" that matters is found in Luke 10:20. Can you find it there?
6. Can you see how Matthew 6:33 worked for Paul and Silas when they were imprisoned? Were they fiddling around by saying the proper spiritual warfare verses, or rebuking this and that? Or did they passionately seek their savior?
7. Can you see why Christianity is SIMPLE but not EASY? Does "Seek first His Kingdom . . . ." mean more to you now than it did prior to this lesson? Then just do it!
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul
and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."
Matthew 22:36-38
A car with no "gas" will gonowhere; the proper "key" is useless without "gas."
The "gas" includes the main concepts of relationship, obedience, lordship, holiness, faith and prayer.
The minor points of these major concepts embrace such practices as: reading the Word regularly, being pure and humble, fasting, diligently seeking after God, knowing your life is not your own, maintaining a clean heart and pure thought life.
The "keys" are important Christian, Biblical doctrines that are fully documented in the Word of God.
Some of the"Keys" that are often utilized are "claiming" the promises that are in the Word, being specific in your praying, taking authority over those things that the Word shows we have authority over, believing we have received and knowing it is ours.
Are these concepts wrong? NO! They are wonderful! Are they Biblical? YES! So what's the problem?
When the time comes to take your spiritual "car" and go, if you have been keeping the gas tank full, you will find that your engine is already running and warmed up. You see, if you don't have any gas in your car, the keys you have sought so diligently for are not going to work anyway.
Please try and sit tight for the remainder of this lesson and don't get upset or offended. I realize that there is a great potential for debate regarding what I am declaring here, but I also realize that eternity is at stake. There is a war raging that involves deception, distraction, and people's souls, and to risk an offense is preferred over the alternatives.
WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE WE IN EVANGELICAL AMERICA SEEM TO HAVE MORE TROUBLE PUTTING "GAS" INTO OUR SPIRITUAL TANKS THAN WE DO TRYING OUT BIBLICAL "KEY" AFTER "KEY" AFTER "KEY" AFTER "KEY"?
Let's ask another question in order to sneak up on the answer. What do we in America strive for, live for, and attain to above all else from the day we learn to walk?
THE BOTTOM LINE - RESULTS!
O.K. So how do we usually try to get to this beloved and worshipped "bottom line" anyway?
AS QUICKLY AND EASILY AS POSSIBLE!
Choose the best answer to the following: It is easier to . . .
1) . . . get to the bottom line with a sure-fire biblically proven method,
. . . or . . .
2) . . . revamp your entire spiritual, social and psychological makeup.
The Answer: Our flesh will always choose the path of least resistance, therefore it chooses number one above. A "secret method" is much preferred over a complete lifestyle change.
The insidious and devisive nature of looking first for just the right "key" in order to lay hold of the promises set forth in scripture, promises that speak of what we define as success and happiness, is that in and of themselves, these promises or "keys" are beautiful and powerful living Words of God. So again I ask -- what's the problem then? Let's listen to Jesus after speaking to the 72 who had just returned from beating up on Satan's minions:
And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." Luke 10:17-20
If these "keys" or hidden secret powers and promises are truly from God, then they ought to work exceptionally well, right? Would God lie to us? Would He deceive us? No and No! But the truth is, sometimes they don't work. What does that imply? Could it have something to do with us -- heaven forbid! Oswald Chambers has some input that is helpful for us to learn.
"If you go off on this idea od personal holiness, the (true aim) of your life will not be for God, but for what you call the manifestation of God in your life. 'It can never be God's will that I should be sick.' If it was God's will to bruise His Son, why should He not bruise you? The thing that tells for God is not your relevent consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your real vital relation to Jesus Christ, and your abandonment to Him whether you are well or ill. Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship to God."
Tragically, many people see that the "key" they discovered didn't work as well as they had hoped. If they don't become discouraged and give up, they ofetn try to find another "key" -- the right "key" this time. But what they most often need instead is to find their
"first love."
"first love."
THEY ARE NEGLECTING THEIR GAS GAGE!
THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY EMPTY!
Does it ever seem to you that sometimes the Bible is so unfair? Look at the apostle Paul for example. He was allowed to have a thorn in his flesh that God would not remove (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). Job literally lst everything: home, wealth, children and health; and this with God's approval (Job 1-2). There is also the time David and his most trusted men were bringing back the ark of God to Israel from enemy hands. At one point, the cart carrying it began to tip over and Uzzah reached out to steady it. God considered that an act of irreverence and Uzzah died instantly. King David didn't know what to do! Did he, or those with him look for a scriptual "key" as to why God did what He did? Or did they fill, and keep filling, their spiritual gas tanks?
I think we can realize that these individuals just mentioned, and many more like them in the Bible, had huge spiritual gas tanks that literally overflowed on a regular basis with the power and grace of the Lord Jesus! Read on . . .
And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened. Acts 16:22-26
Christianity is basically simple, after all. What did Jesus say?
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
You must remember however, that 'simple' does not imply 'easy.'
Golf is simple -- Hit the little white ball into the hole. But is it easy? NO!
Atomic energy theory is simple -- Just split a few Plutonium atoms in half. But is it easy? NO!
An internal combustion engine is simple to understand -- Make spark, burn fuel, push piston. But is the harnessing of that power easy? NO!
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PERSONALLY KNOWING
GOD, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT?
And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
Our faith has a purpose -- to secure our salvation. I contend that it is infinently more important to first know God, than to know of Him. If you truly know Him and love Him and trust Him and obey Him first and foremost, then all His rules will be found written on your heart!
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 31:33
And when this happens, when God's Word is truly inscribed on your hearts, you will climb into your "spiritual automobile" that is already gassed up and you will discover . . .
. . . that it is already running!
Let's close with a final word from Oswald Chambers:
"God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His showroom;
He is getting me to the place where He can use me.
Let Him do what He likes."
What God wants most is loving obedience. "Seek Him first, and all these things . . ."
