Notes From Sunday, September 4th- Spiritual Balance

Introduction- We have been examining the maturation process of Jesus, as it is outlined in Luke 2:52, which says Jesus increased (or grew) in wisdom, stature, favor with God and favor with men. This provides a blueprint for our own maturity. If we are studying the Bible properly we should expect our lives and our church to become more balanced and healthy mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. We have looked at the area of wisdom, as we examine the effectiveness and creativity of our decision-making. Last week we looked at the implications of the fact that our physical bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Today we will turn our attention to spiritual health, and what it means to grow in favor with God.

I. Some preliminary questions-

A. What does “favor” mean? (Greek word “charis”)

B. How could Jesus possibly increase in favor with God? (Experiential, relational)

C. How did Jesus describe His relationship with God? (Father/Son)

1. Mt. 3:17, Mt. 17:5 (Bookends of ministry)
2. Jn. 3:16- heart of the Gospel

D. Challenges to seeing God as our Father (Father issues)

II. What does Jesus want us to know about the Father?

A. He is perfect. Mt. 5:48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

B. He forgives. Mt. 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

C. He gives good gifts. Mt. 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

D. He is merciful. Lk. 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

E. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. Mt. 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

F. Everything is possible with Him. Mark 14:36 “And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

G. He knows what you need before you ask. Mt. 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

H. He sees in secret and rewards openly. Mt. 6:4 “that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

I. He takes care of birds, and you. Mt. 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

J. He is compassionate to lost children. Lk. 15:20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

K. He raises the dead. Jn. 5:21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.”

L. He loves you. Jn. 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

M. He gives bread from heaven. Jn. 6:32 “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

N. He wants to live with you. Jn. 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “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.”

O. He won’t leave you alone. Jn. 8:29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

P. He draws you to Jesus. Jn. 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Q. He answers prayers. Jn. 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”

R. You are safe in His hand. Jn. 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

S. He is a teacher. Jn. 8:28 “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.”

T. He is a vinedresser. Jn. 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”

U. He qualifies us for an inheritance. Colossians 1:12 “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

V. Gives everlasting hope and comfort. 2 Thes. 2:16 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,”

W. Gives grace, mercy and peace. 2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, a beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

X. He makes us His children. 1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!* Therefore the world does not know us,* because it did not know Him.”

Y. He is the Father of mercies and God of comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”

Z. He doesn’t change. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

III. How did Jesus grow in closeness to God?
P

A. Obedience- Jn. 8:29 “I always do those things that please Him.”

B. Submission- Lk. 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Lk. 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”

C. Spent time with Him. (Like any relationship.)

Mt. 14:23 “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”

Mt. 26:36 “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”

Mark 6:46 “And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.”

Mark 14:32 “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

Luke 6:12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Luke 9:28 “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”

Luke 11:1 “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Turn to Mark 1:35- Read.

IV. Jesus desires for us to grow in favor with God.

A. Don’t settle for distance with God just because you are used to distance.

B. The Father wants to be your daddy. Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

C. Requires obedience, submission and time.

V. Self assessment questions.

A. How have your “father issues” affected your closeness to God?

B. Do you really want to be close to God?

C. Is there anything in the way that keeps you from being closer to God?

D. Are you spending quality time with God?