The Study

January 30, 2022

Randy Hageman

Jesus didn’t come simply to save us for heaven but to transform us more and more into being like him

we’re still here on earth.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. —Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

John Wesley’s “house” analogy for salvation:

• porch –
  Reveal Answer
  of sin
  

Jesus: … ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ —Mark 1:15 (ESV)

• door – committing to
  Reveal Answer
  in God through Jesus Christ
  

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. —1 John 1:9 (NLT)

• house –
  Reveal Answer
  the Christian faith itself
  

We can’t live in the house on our own – we need God’s help by inviting Jesus into our hearts and letting him

.

I pray that out of his glorious riches [God] may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.… —Ephesians 3:16-17 (NIV)

and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith.… —Ephesians 3:17 (TEV)

Jesus Christ himself, through his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, will come to live

us and make our heart his home.

Jesus: … ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’ —John 14:23 (ESV)

Jesus is with the Christian

the time.

Jesus: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.’ —Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

Jesus wants to make our lives better and better right

, right

Reveal Answer

, and not just when we get to heaven.

Jesus: ‘… I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.’ —John 10:10 (Message)

Our study “Forever Home,” is based on My Heart – Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger. (click on the link to go to the page on our website)

The first room we’re going to look at is called The Study, and by that we mean the study of our

, the things we allow in there, the control room of our whole house.

What have I let into my Study, my mind, that I might be ashamed about Jesus seeing?

Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, ‘You must not covet.’ But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. —Romans 7:7-8 (NLT)

Sometimes when we become aware of things, especially things we shouldn’t do, Satan uses that to

us all the more.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. —Romans 12:2 (NLT)

“Changing the way [we] think,” though, isn’t simply saying

and believing that somehow, we’ll have the willpower to stop.

Jesus: ‘When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, “I will return to the person I came from.” So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.’” —Luke 11:24-26 (NLT)

Nature abhors a

.

Instead of telling ourselves to stop thinking about something, we need to turn our focus elsewhere, fill our mind with something else, and Jesus tells us it is to turn to

.

Jesus: ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ —Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. —Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

to God what you’re struggling with and turn your attention to

Reveal Answer

– think on him and his ways, read His Word, pray to him, seek the wise counsel of other believers, and focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

Christian

is so incredibly important and necessary for our faith journeys.

Next Week: The Dining Room