October 27 | Overcoming Rebellion

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”

Lesson 27 | Rebellious, “Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong”

The most difficult people to deal with in the church are those who are rebellious.  Rebellious people tend to think they can “teach the teacher” and are other people’s “speck inspector.”  However, they fail to see the “log” in their own eye and neglect to truly love and serve God’s appointed leaders, Matthew 7:3-5 & Acts 14:23.

Rebellion was the greatest challenge of my spiritual life because it convinced me that I was right and everyone else was wrong.  I believed that I knew better than those who were in leadership over me because of my own personal convictions.  I had failed to follow the command God said in Hebrews 13:17, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

Certainly, there are times we shouldn’t submit to leaders- like if they try to harm us, willingly sin against us, break the law, or teach false doctrines.  However, like in the time of Korah’s rebellion in Numbers, most rebellion in the Body of Christ is based on people trying to arrogantly make themselves equal or above the leadership God has set up.  The Lord punished Korah for rebelling against Moses by opening the earth and swallowing him and 250 of his followers (because rebellious people never work alone)!  Jude also warned of these “Korah-like” people in his letter to the churches in Jude 1:11.  Thus, rebellion and rebellious people should always be avoided within biblical based churches.

Paul said in Titus 3:10-11, “10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”  Therefore, we should not be in relationship with people that are considered rebellious and divisive because godly leadership is appointed by God to serve as our protective shepherds, 1 Peter 5:1-8.

Here are some signs of rebellion, (1) Cannot receive correction without being bitter, Proverbs 12:1; (2) A pattern of trying to teach the teachers, Hebrews 13:7; (3) Judging other people based on your own personal convictions, Romans 14:10; and (4) Being divisive and slanderous in the local church because of “self-righteousness,” 2 Corinthians 12:19-20.

The solution to rebellion is humility.  Those who desire to avoid rebellion should joyfully submit and serve the godly leadership God has placed over them, Romans 16:17-19.  And if for whatever reason they feel the leadership is no longer biblically based they should bring their issues respectfully before the leadership and only leave the church because it has no longer follows the pattern of the New Testament.  But for everything else- “the day-to-day operations and leadership functions of the church;” the disciple should be a joy to the community and not a burden.

Do you struggle with being rebellious?  If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for being rebellious and prideful.  Help me to love as much of the church as you do and to humbly serve alongside my leadership as Timothy served with Paul, Philippians 2:20-23. Amen.”      

Reflection | Are you rebellious?

Action | (1) Repent if you have been rebellious towards godly leadership in the church.  (2) Pray for the leadership in your church.  (3) Lastly, humbly serve God by submitting to the godly leadership He has placed over you to teach and serve you, 1 Corinthians 16:15-16.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2:1-15, Psalm 99:1-9, & Proverbs 26:17. Click here to read online.

October 26 | Overcoming Being Lukewarm

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Lesson 26 | Lukewarm, “I’m Fine Just the Way I Am”

Some things are best served either hot or cold like coffee and milk, but when they are lukewarm they taste disgusting.  Imagine forgetting that you had left the milk out and then drank it at room temperature- you’d probably spit it out.  The same is true with lukewarm coffee. 

As a result, Jesus is not saying I wish you either lived for me (hot) or served the devil (cold), but rather Jesus is saying I wish you would serve me as either being a cool refreshing drink or a blazing fire.  Thus, if you are neither hot nor cold Jesus is basically saying, “You make me puke!”  Remember, Jesus always wants us to be effective for His Kingdom and pleasing to His Father, Matthew 5:48.   

Here is a short list of the things that cause people to become lukewarm, (1) Unrepentant Sin: All sin should be repented of immediately and not willfully repeated, Hebrews 10:26-27.  (2) Neglect of Spiritual Growth: If you’re not growing you’re dying so keep growing in the things of God, 2 Peter 2:5-9.   (3) Lack of Prayer, Worship, Church Ministry/Fellowship, and Study of God’s Word: Spiritual practices are a must for every believer to please God.  They should be done often and consistently, therefore, if you stop doing them you will become lukewarm, Revelation 2:5.

The deceitfulness of being lukewarm is that most people in this state think they are fine.  The reason is because the very nature of becoming lukewarm is gradual- it happens very slowly.  First comes the neglect of God’s commands, then second, the commands are replaced with man’s opinions, and lastly, the heart is deceived into believing it is in a similar place as it was before. 

However, what has actually happened is that the lukewarm person has traded the precious things of God for the defiled things of this world.  Therefore, don't let your heart be deceived and hardened by sin’s deceitfulness- stay in love with God’s commands, Psalm 119:14.

Are you lukewarm? If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for being lukewarm.  Please remove all the sin and compromise from my life and make me pleasing to you.  Amen.” 

Reflection | Are you hot or cold for Jesus- or are you lukewarm?

Action | (1) Repent if you have allowed yourself to become lukewarm.  (2) Change the things you do in life so you are no longer lukewarm but obedient to Jesus.  (3) Lastly, ask Jesus to make you effective and pleasing to the Father everyday of your life!  

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus 1:1-16, Psalm 97:1-98:9, & Proverbs 26:13-16. Click here to read online.

October 25 | Overcoming Dishonesty

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Colossians 3:9, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”

Lesson 25 | Dishonesty, “I Struggle With Being Honest”

Current studies show that the average person lies between 1-2x a day (and who actually knows if these numbers are true because people might have been lying).  Some people lie to make themselves look better than they actually do, “I make around $100k a year,” (when they only make $65k).  I even know certain pastors and evangelists that do this too, “We’re running 5,000 people,” (when really only 2,500 come every Sunday).

Some people lie to avoid conflict; “I didn’t say that about you- whoever said that was lying,” (when its true they gossiped).  Other times lies are told in business to take advantage of people, “Trust me, this engine will last another 100,000 miles,” (when the used car dealer knows it probably wont last more than 25,000 miles).  Politicians have a bad reputation in the US of lying to the voters and even breaking the laws they were sworn to uphold, “I swear I never took a bribe,” (when they know they did).     

People can lie in everyday life when they say they will call somebody and don’t, “Great seeing you- I’ll call you later this week,” (when they have no intention of doing so).  Or on the job when people call in sick but really just want a day off.  Sometimes people even lie in church- even some pastors have stolen money, cheated on their wives, and pretended as if everything was okay. 

What is the solution to the “lying epidemic?”  Being honest!  If you have been born again Jesus has changed you on the inside and taken away your old self with its sinful practices.  Therefore, there is no excuse to lie.  Every time you are tempted to lie make the conscious decision to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth- so help you God!

Do you struggle with being honest?  If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for the lies I have told and the people I have affected.  Please give me the strength to be honest and always tell the truth. Amen.” 

Reflection | Do you live a life of honesty?

Action | (1) Repent to God for the lies you have told.  (2) Confess your lies to the people you have lied to (ask for their forgiveness and commit to not lying moving forward).  (3) Lastly, be led of the Holy Spirit to live a life of honesty in all you say and do.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalm 95:1-96:13, & Proverbs 26:9-12. Click here to read online.

October 24 | Overcoming Lack of Trust

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | 1 Corinthians 13:6-7, “6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Lesson 24 | Lack of Trust, “I Don’t Trust You”

Many of us can relate to being hurt and disappointed in life because the people we trusted let us down.  Often times I as a pastor suffer the reproach of what past leaders did to people and thus I have to work extra hard at showing myself trust worthy.  Other times when I’ve counseled couples through their past hurts the hardest thing for them to restore and get back is their trust for each other.

It's a fact of life that people will let us down- and even some people will break our hearts because we trusted them so much.  However, God does not want us to go through life with a bitter heart towards people.  We shouldn’t allow the mistakes of others to effect our new relationships and we must be willing to forgive those who truly repent and desire to still be in our lives, Matthew 18:21-22.

On the other hand, this doesn't mean that we should become people’s doormats by allowing them to hurt us in the same ways.  There are two sides to the coin of trust.  The first side is to be forgiving and willing to trust people.  And the other side of the coin is to find the right people to trust in the right places in our lives.

I would never marry a woman that I couldn’t trust.  However, when my wife lets me down and truly repents I need to forgive her and not hold it against her.  At the same time, if she stopped loving me and continually cheated on me it would be okay for me to divorce her and not have her in that place in my life anymore, Matthew 19:9. 

The same is true on the job.  You may have an employee that messes up sometimes but they apologize and do his or her best to do better.  However, if they steal or keep breaking their word its good to fire them so they will learn a lesson and hopefully do better on their next job.

Therefore, we should learn how to forgive those who let us down and know when the right time is to give someone the gift of good-bye, 1 Corinthians 15:33.  In both situations, we should still love everyone and be willing to trust the good people in our lives.  In other words, don’t let what others have done make you give up on finding trust worthy people in life.  They’re out there- you just need to be patient and find them. 

Do you struggle with trusting people?  If so, pray this out loud, “Father, I ask you to forgive me for not loving people like you do.  Help me to trust the right people in the right places in my life.  Amen.”   

Reflection | Is it hard for you to trust people? Why?

Action | (1) Repent if you have allowed past hurt to scar your heart and make you bitter.  (2) Ask the Holy Spirit to give you trust for others and heal your heart.  (3) Lastly, be led of the Holy Spirit to trust people in the right way and in the right places of your life. 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 44:24-47:7, 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17, Psalm 94:1-23, & Proverbs 26:6-8. Click here to read online.