God has freed us from the power of darkness and He brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son. —Colossians 1:13
New birth is a supernatural transformation of our spiritual condition. The ongoing struggle with sin is our living condition.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” —Mark 12:30
LOVING GOD WITH OUR ALL
Heart Emotions
Mind Thoughts
Strength Resources
Soul Attitudes
Fasted Lifestyle – Loving God with all our strength is voluntary weakness to experience more of His presence.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6
ALL OUR STRENGTH
1. Serving people: fasting time, energy
2. Fasting food: fasting physical, mental strength
3. Praying: fasting time, emotions
4. Blessing our enemies: fasting words, action
5. Giving money: fasting financial strength
“Don’t lay up treasure on earth…lay it up in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19-21
Generosity is supernatural; it comes by pushing into God’s grace and asking.
He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” —Luke 21:1-4
When I give money sacrificially, I resist greed and fear, and exercise my spiritual muscle.
Read how God feels about half-hearted giving in Malachi 1:6-14.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” —Matthew 5:3
ALL OUR SOUL
Surrendering our personality to God’s will: attitudes, humility, speech
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. He made Himself of no reputation. He became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. God highly exalted Him…Therefore…work out your own salvation…Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless…without fault…holding fast the word of life… —Philippians 2:3-9,12,14-16
Humility – Strength under control
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Book
The Tyranny of Big Tech by Josh Hawley
Videos
Gracestl.org/resources/rons-resources
Discussion Questions
1. How does loving & honoring mean people translate to us loving God?
2. Jesus said it is impossible for anyone to enter heaven on their own. So why is it especially hard for the rich?
3. How did Jesus humble Himself as the original “Undercover Boss”? In what ways might humility challenge you?