This can be used for house groups or individuals. No one must teach, but only ask the Holy Spirit to teach them and then have a sharing together based on John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Is it possible to be Holy and perfect in this world? Would Jesus Christ command us to do something if it wasn’t possible? See 1 John 1:5-2:11, and Matthew 5: 48 (KJV) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 1 Peter 16 (KJV) 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Doesn’t the passage show that although we are sinners, we have to move on and strive for perfection and become imitators of Christ rather than stay in the rut of sin? What do we have to do to obey Jesus and become Holy and perfect, don’t we have to repent and make Jesus Lord, Saviour, and Master of our life and be our only Teacher?
Shouldn’t we make our thoughts captive, and also immediately ask Jesus to help us to resist temptation, for we are a product of what we believe?
See Proverbs 23:7King James Version (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Luke 22:40 (KJV) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
We can only resist temptation when we are united to Jesus Christ who is the vine. See James 4:7-8King James Version (KJV)7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. and 2 Peter 2:9 (KJV) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
What happens when we repent of our sins? Don’t we become righteous before God?
After repenting shouldn’t we have the desire not to hurt Jesus again and co-operate with the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and not deliberately sin?
What happens if someone deliberately sins? Isn’t that abusing Jesus’ Passion, and doesn’t that person need to repent of that attitude to be forgiven?
When you are in a difficult situation and are confronted with people who try to put you under pressure to follow the world and its ways, what do you do? Do you give in and compromise and go along with them, or do you stand your ground for the Lord and go through the narrow gate, and refuse to be led astray even if it means you become unpopular and ridiculed? See Matthew 7: 13-14 King (KJV) 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Don’t limit God and put any obstacles before God by saying that God can’t make you perfect in this world, for God is the almighty powerful invincible God and He can do all things. If God wants you to become perfect and Holy in this world, then all you have to do is to have a desire to become Holy and perfect and co-operate with the Holy Spirit and the rest is up to God.
Written by Marie-Helene and Dominic Bradshaw
e-mail [email protected]
