Notes from CR 2/13/06

Notes from CR 2/13/06

What leads to sin is the HALT method…

H.A.L.T.:

• Hungry

I am hungry and don’t feel well, which can lead to misled feelings in other areas… a short temper and exhaustion.

• Angry

Resentment of someone or something… leads to sin out of hurt feelings, maybe even revenge.

• Lonely

Despair and feelings of nobody caring… another form of resentment, which can lash out in the form of “nobody cares anyway, so I might as well…”

• Tired

It is more of a simple “not thinking things through.” Being tired can lead to anger, due to lack of sleep. Sometimes when people are tired, hunger is normally associated… and when we eat, normally more exhaustion follows from a full stomach, complicating the matter further.

Homework:

• Stop 1 Thing:

I need to stop my criticalness. I feel in a lot of ways that I need to be catered to from others. I am certain that I encourage others, but I have felt that I need to be encouraged from others. And when I don’t feel encouraged, I become critical of the lack of special treatment. It’s not the right attitude to have an attitude of my heart… it affects me toward God, toward my friends and family, and toward myself.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIRV)
12 The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate joints from bones. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. 13 Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us accountable for everything we do.

It’s not as if I haven’t been aware of this in my character, but I am not at all sure that I have exactly open about it before everyone. And I like the NIRV where it says “his eyes see everything.” And here is the kicker… I want to change this within my character. But how do I change bitterness of heart? How do I stop being upset with someone who isn’t doing something I think they should be doing? I know I am selfish to want love from other people… but it’s not like I deserve it. I don’t deserve it. So – the one thing I am to stop is criticalness towards others. Not an easy task, but with the help of my God, it can be attained.

• Start 1 Thing:

In response to the stopping one thing, I would pray to start this: viewing things differently. A friend talked about the Matrix and how Neo viewed things differently… instead of seeing people and walls, he saw the Matrix. Instead of seeing an angry person in a store, I should see opportunity. Instead of seeing a broken down car and a stranded fellow, I need to see opportunity.

Ephesians 5:15-20
15 Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s like I need to seize the chances that are given me… and I am not at all sure if I am doing that. Jesus blessed those around him, everywhere he went. And I am so self-focused that I can see past my own nose. I need to view things in a heavenly aspect and not a Johnny aspect.

The Matrix – viewing things differently than everyone else

Solid Food vs. Milk: The difference in spiritual maturity

“The Train Trip” – Asking for blessings on others whom we don’t even know…

Matthew 3:8
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

In 1906, 100 people converted 100,000 people. A decision they made was taking out everything that was questionable in their lives and became beyond reproach.

Acts 5:31
31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Revelation 2:21
21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

God grants forgiveness and repentance.

A mourners’ bench is a bench for mourners or repentant sinners placed at the front in a revival meeting.

God mediates with repentance…

Mediate (verb):

• To settle or reconcile differences.


• To have a relation to two differing persons or things.

Immediate (adj.):

• Occurring at once; instant.

Repent (verb):

• To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite.


• To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it.


• To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.

Contrition (noun):

• Sincere remorse for wrongdoing; repentance.


• Sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation.

David writes a letter…

2nd Samuel 11:14-15
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."

The next thing that David writes is this:

Psalm 51:1-9
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

God did this in a mediating fashion… And how did he do it?

2nd Samuel 12:1-7a
1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.”

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

I am that man… I have to see my sin in this way.

John 16:6-11
6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Revelation 3:19
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.