This study was first taught on June 16, 2010

Topic: To Be or To Do

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week, we went to emphasize the need for us to know how to conduct ourselves in relating with the enemy. We established from the outset that the key to relating with the enemy (human, spiritual, the flesh) is to be sober and vigilant! As we searched the scriptures, we saw how relentless the enemy is in seeing to the downfall of Christians, hence the need for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to be alert and watchful at every turn.

Since the devil, our archenemy, is on the prowl looking for whom he may devour, we noted that Christians must never for one moment go to sleep in the hope that all is calm. The enemy, we said attacks at all times, especially when we least expect: when we are weak, when we are celebrating, when all seems to be going well with us, after we have just defeated him in battle, etc. The enemy’s goal is to cause a separation between God and the Christian, and he uses any and every means: people, animals, the weather, your own mind, etc.

As such, we said that we must ensure that we pay careful attention to the word of God, and keep it in our hearts at all times, and must be ready to strike back at the devil with the undiluted word of God! We noted also that we must ensure that our love for God is unrivaled and unsurpassed by any other! We noted further that we must be aware that the devil is not going to stop trying to trip us, just because we attend church services, can memorize scriptures, pray always, etc. Indeed, we saw that the devil tempts everyone, including the Lord Jesus!

We then concluded that our attitude must be to: (a) trust God and His word absolutely; (b) act wisely in every circumstance; (c)be constant and prevailing in prayer; (d) be mindful of counsel that you are receiving, even from pastors; (e) don’t follow God afar off, let everyone know that you are for God no matter what; (f) take heed to His every word (no retaliation, no hatred, forgive those who offend you, pray for those who hate you, etc.); (g) keep still in the midst of turbulence; and (h) “let him that thinketh he stand take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12; KJV), remembering that many have been tempted, and have fallen at one time or another.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 5:43- 48
v.48 is our focus tonight and the Lord Jesus is essentially telling us to grow into who God wants us to be: like Him! It is important to note that the Lord did not ask us to do perfectly, but to be perfect. May the Holy Spirit help us to attain to the perfection that God desires for us all, in Jesus name, Amen.
In specific terms the Lord wants us to keep growing in our acts of kindness and goodness until we are like our Father. But to grow in acts, must first begin with being mature as a believer. There is a difference between being and doing. For the most part we pay much attention to doing, rather than to being; yet it is in being that we are able to do as we ought to. A man with a bad leg, must first get his leg healed before he can walk normally again. To make walking his focus, rather than healing is foolhardy. Unfortunately, many want to do without being, and they end up frustrated. We cannot show acts of kindness without being kind in our being!
1 Peter 1:15-16; Genesis 17:1-14; Romans 2:28-29; Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 1:11-13; 3:5-8; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18; Colossians 2:11; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 5:13-14; 1 Peter 2:1-2; Luke 6:40 (AMP); 2 Peter 1:2-11; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-4; 1 John 2:6-14; John 15:4-8; Galatians 5:24-26; Philippians 2:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:16.

Conclusion
Our Father’s ultimate desire is that we be like Him. To be like God is something that happens in degrees, after a person has been born again and circumcised in his heart. Being born again, is not an end in itself, but a means to becoming like the Son of God; and circumcision is not the mere physical cutting off of the foreskin, but the preparation of the heart of the believer in Christ to be able to receive from God! Becoming like Jesus enables us to do like He did. ‘WWJD’ (What Would Jesus Do?) is not a question we ask, rather, it is something that we know because we have an ongoing relationship with Him.

To be perfect or complete, as God is, we must steadily grow from new born babes in Christ to maturity. The process of growing into maturity is helped through teachings from the word of God, which sets us apart for holy use, makes us distinct from people of the world, and enables us to be integrated into the fullness of the Body of Christ. The growth process must of necessity involve Christ being formed more and more in us, as we are more and more in Him!

We must therefore focus on building a solid ongoing relationship with God by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and thus make Christ at home in our hearts and lives. Then our motives and deeds will be pure, and in accordance with God’s standard. By reason of use, or the application, of the word of God in our daily lives, we will indeed become more and more like God (Ephesians 3:8-19; Colossians 3:18-17).

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