My Exhortations:
2019: “Debts: Letting Go”
2021: “Following Through”
2022: “A New And Glorious Morn'”
2023: “Deliverance From Self”
Notes from 2023-“Deliverance”
Kurt R-“Delivered From”
Deliverance is a large subject in Scripture (used about 600 times).
Four parts to Deliverance:
- Object
- Original spot (control at beginning)
- Final position (control at end)
- Delivery/Deliverer (switches control)
Deliverance gets more personal in the Psalms; all of these speak of present strife and trouble; we find ourselves under the dominance of something, and God is delivering us into his control.
Another type of deliverance: from death, transgressions, and the grave; more eternal. We need to be delivered from our own mortal natures and into the power of God; we wish to seek deliverance from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4-5).
The deliverance we seek: Romans 7:24
If we want to be delivered from this body of death and this evil age, we have to give control over to God.
Jonathan M-What Does Deliverance Look Like?
God sees even the sparrow that falls; who care how many hairs are on your head? It’s trivial, but God has the number.
Moses was a runaway murderer who was slow of speech, yet that’s who led Israel out of Egypt. God could have given Joshua “laser beams;” instead, he gave him trumpets.
Deliverance does not look like Marvel; it looks like backhanded afterthought. For God, deliverance is effortless; he is in total control.
Normal, little, and weak is the place to be; that’s where God extends to you deliverance.
Salvation is so easy it can come out of any quarter, even a manger in a stable in Bethlehem.
The littlest things (mustard seed) are the most important.
The weak, the meek, and the humble are the ones we should want to emulate.
Jacob L-“Waiting For Deliverance”
So often, we focus on the grand moments of deliverance in Scripture; there is a moment of waiting where all these people have is their faith that God will deliver them.
“God heard, remembered, and saw;” he was deeply moved by the suffering of his people. The burning bush reminds us that his people, while suffering, were not consumed.
We may not have all the answers, but we can trust God’s deliverance.
Jason L-“What If God Doesn’t Deliver?”
“What if” is usually followed by something bad.
When we say, “what if God won’t do this or that?” we worry that we won’t get what we want.
When God doesn’t deliver, it is not always a bad thing.
The list of times when God has delivered us is long for a reason; to give us assurance.
Do we think God owes us deliverance? If so, then that relationship is purely transactional.
We ask, “what if God doesn’t deliver?” from our own perspective. What if my expectation of God’s deliverance is different than God’s view of my momentary trouble?
“My greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”
God often has a different perspective on suffering than you do; can you accept that? God has promised something better for you and me; can you see it from where you’re sitting now?
Bruce P-“Jesus: Delivered, Deliverer, Delivering”
If anyone deserved deliverance, it was Jesus; he was faithful, obedient, and submissive. Perhaps he was imagining an alternative to the cross; all the good he could do with an extended like.
Instead of comfort, what the angel said provided extra stress; God wanted Jesus to make the cross his own will, not just submit to the Father. His desire to make it a 100 percent commitment increased his agony.
God and Jesus are giving us the opportunity to not be lukewarm, passive followers; Jesus was all-in.
Jesus invites us to join him, to be delivered from our own “Egypt,” and to be gathered together; we look forward to working in the Millennium to bring more people to faith.
“Thank you [Jesus] for submitting your whole self and body to the Father; help me to do the same.”
Jose B-“Song Of Deliverance”
Communicate faith through music; share in song how God has delivered us.
Be inspired by personal experiences of suffering, joy, and hope.
Song of deliverance is a testimony to how God has worked in our lives.
Our songs might be more about our needs to be delivered instead of remembering the deliverance.
Jesus is the composer of our faith; he has written our song of deliverance.
Adam W-“Can We Be Deliverers?”
YES.
Delivering people implies that there is a problem that needs to be faced.
What are you delivering people from?
If we’re going to be deliverers, we have to determine is we’re the best person for the job.
The answer requires experience and forethought.
How might your actions impact others? If it’s not an emergency, take time to think.
We can’t deliver people from death, but we can guide and teach them.
Bryan L-“Our Response”
In Exodus 3, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law; in Exodus 19, he was shepherding the flock of his Father in heaven.
It is God’s intention to have intimacy with his people.
When you believe and trust and hold onto the fact that our God is God, it changes everything.
Why would you have other gods when you have the Almighty, powerful God who is with you?
God has given us a new life to be his children; we do not want to bear that name in vain; he is moved by the suffering of his people, and he led them, and he does the same for us.
“I love God because of what he as done for me;” that’s our response.
Daniel B-“The Value of Perseverance”
The pain and struggles we go through are not pointless; it’s not a surprise, it’s a purpose.
Even though things may look dark, “my grace is sufficient for you;” it’s not about us, it’s about God.
Keep on rejoicing in suffering because it glorifies God.
What we go through may not be just for us, but for others as well.
Persevering through trials brings patience, which brings experience.
Trials also may be to protect us; thank God for giving us these trials.
God will never push us to the point that we can’t take care of it, especially knowing that he is there for us. All it takes is a “knee-mail.”
Discussion Group
Because God cares, our small issues are not a bother to him at all.
God has promised that he will find a way for us to endure.
Does this concern or worry that I have right now affect my walk to the Kingdom?
“Deliver me from evil”-“help me to make the right choices;” also potentially a confession.
A regret is a worry that keeps on coming back.
When do we know we need to stand and wait?
-Be active and wait expectantly
In times of waiting, God is working to encourage us.
The more we pray, the more in-tune we are with what God is doing.
You might not know what’s best for you, but God does, and there’s peace in that (Philippians 4:6-7).
Our needs can go the way of “if God doesn’t give me what I want, I’ll go a different route.”
We need to be more circumspect; sometimes God gives us what we want in spite of ourselves.
Take an eternal perspective on whatever event it was that you were not delivered from; or take someone else’s perspective.
Some people face a struggle and are destroyed by it; others face a struggle and are hardened by it.
Whatever state you find yourself in, do what you can for God.
Glorify God who did it.
Pray for God to direct us to where we can help.
“We aren’t aware because we don’t share;” we need to be aware of the issue so we can seek help.
“Higher rock”-a higher vantage point.
Notes from 2022-“O Holy Night”
Bruce P-“The Dear Savior’s Birth”
The most anticipated birth in the history of the world was foretold to Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and David (among others).
When we are baptized into Christ, we inherit the promises to Abraham; Jesus becomes our Savior.
This baby was welcomed into the world by old and young, male and female, Jew and Gentile, you and me.
No one knows how many Jesus would be Savior of; it depends on you. Do I want him to be my Savior?
The greatest invitation ever: Revelation 3:20. Don’t let this moment pass.
Casey O-“Pining”
Salvation wasn’t there yet, but seeing the baby was enough for Simeon to die in peace.
What’s your greatest reason for wanting the Messiah to appear?
The world is full of “gray;” it’s so hard so often to now know what to do.
When we see Jesus, our longing will be fulfilled.
Jesus has come; he is our teacher, Priest, and King, and he walks beside us.
God has prepared a city; we have obtained an inheritance (past tense): what can we see today that is enough? We can see him today; we can only imagine how much more fulfilled we will be on that day when all the world will see him as he is.
Jonathan M-“A Thrill Of Hope”
Existence has to entail action; God has a plan for the earth.
Want to be on God’s team? Be ready for action; you can’t just sit there, you have to be doing something.
“Hope is your mind doing this calculus of steps to achieve a goal.” When you think you can get there, that’s a thrill of hope.
Hope is a thrill, a charge, because it helps us to achieve that goal.
This hope is an eternal hope that encompasses all your desires.
God wants to give us a thrill to keep us going to get us through to eternity.
Daniel C-“The Weary World”
Do we feel as if we are waiting for an answer from God, but we don’t hear that answer?
Weariness can come in different forms.
Even a man after God’s own heart such as David felt exhaustion sometimes.
Jesus gave every ounce of energy to God and to us.
Ask God to do whatever will make us love him more.
Daniel G-“Fall On Your Knees”
When we communicate with God, are we just using words, or are we using everything?
Darkness and light: in hope, we experience both.
Falling on your knees is intentional; you’re not going anywhere or being distracted.
The wise men didn’t just say “I’m so excited you’re here” then leave; they fell on their knees and worshipped him.
Worship is seeing afresh the tremendous worth of God, and in response, giving him everything that we have.
Legion was all-in; his words, how he said them, and his body: “Lord Jesus, I need you; can you help me?”
None of what Jairus had worked for his whole life mattered; he was about to lose his only daughter, and Jesus was his only hope.
The woman with the issue of blood had tried everything the world had to offer, and it only left her worse.
Jesus knew what was coming, he didn’t want it to happen, but for the joy set before him: “Thy will be done.”
Russ-“Rejoices”
Jesus washed away our sins, giving us new birth and life through the Holy Spirit.
God works through Jesus; this is what gives us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
The power of the Holy Spirit helps us abound in hope.
Let us pursue peace and what makes mutual upbuilding.
One Fruit of the Spirit—Love: Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Four dimensions of God’s love; something that takes us deeper than the three dimensions.
Do we look for those endless treasures available in Christ?
Because of Jesus, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Colton W-“Yonder”
“Yonder:” a place we can look toward, but we don’t know how far.
Two thousand years later, the weary world lays in sin and error pining for when the soul will feel its worth, somewhere yonder.
It’s tough not knowing how long we have to go; run the race with endurance. How long? Where are we headed? Where do we go from here? We don’t have control over a future Kingdom date, but we do have control over how people around us experience the Kingdom of God in our lifetime. Choose to bring the Kingdom a little closer to someone now. Keep doing the little things, keep doing the big things; you are choosing to improve the life of another person, and it’s working.
God is stalling for us, giving us more time to change the heart of the person we met last week. Spend that time for the person next to you, giving them glimpses of our destination.
Discussion Group
Hope fills a void in our day-to-day life.
People are only known if they share their story.
When things happen in our lives, they happen FOR us, not TO us (also maybe THROUGH us).
God understands darkness even though he doesn’t have it in him.
People are imperfect and God uses them to carry his message.
“Let there be light” is the first command in the Bible, and we’re here to channel it.
Even the Moon waxes and wanes; very telling of us.
It’s crazy to think of Jesus as a baby.
Can we humble ourselves enough to be led by those who are younger?
“Keep on paddling;” it’s going to be ok.
Don’t rob yourself of happiness for fear of grief.
The sentence “you are not alone” changes everything.
There’s a purpose in the process; sometimes the process is the fruit.
“Despair” means “lack of hope.”
We focus on the negative in the present but the positive in the past.
“Here you go; try again.”
Part of the cycle of hope is to acknowledge that we need change.
Someone can’t bring you lack. It’s always your own.
“I’m really not that ‘here’ right now, Lord, but I’m just gonna spend some time with you.”
CBA: Christ-centered, Bible-based, Active in love
Notes from 2021-“Following”
Russ B-“Follow Me”
Who is this that is asking so many, from so many different walks of life and circumstances, to follow him? It is Jesus of Nazareth, who is asking us to follow, to love, and to know.
Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, then told him what the cost would be to follow him.
Jesus asks us to love him and promises to love us, demonstrated by his sacrifice for us.
We’re not asked to “know about Jesus;” we’re asked to know Jesus.
How could Jesus, who talked with and comforted his followers face to face, but now sits with his Father in glory, be someone we know in the fullest sense, personally, intimately, and experientially? “Take my yoke upon you:” he wants to walk beside us, share our burdens, and deal with our temptations to help us overcome our sins; he understands our frame.
The leper knew that Jesus would not only accept him, but would make him clean; we can all relate to that leper in the same way. As one who is walking right along beside us, he can make us clean, and heal, and restore.
Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.
When we serve the Lord Jesus, we serve a living, dynamic, and active Jesus who wants us to be conquerors. This is the same Jesus to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given, and he has given us these words: “I am with you always.”
Daniel B-“The Way”
If we cling to God and his principles, they will be a guiding force on our path.
We don’t need to go deeper into the darkness; we need to push our way out. Take stock and see where we’re going, and trust God to make the best plans for us and don’t fight for control of our lives.
It is essential that we work together and keep each other motivated.
The people in Hebrews 11 persevered because they had faith in a great reward.
Jesus was in no way spared of any difficulties; if we are going to be made like Christ, we can expect to be taken through what he was taken through: Jesus is more interested in our character than our comfort.
We can always do better and keep growing.
The angel in Mark 16:7 singled out Peter; God knew Peter needed to revamp his faith.
Jason L-“Jesus As A Follower”
How do we see Jesus as a follower when his call is to “Follow Me?”
It should be the desire of every great leader to follow first.
“Jesus leads at Following.”
Follow, Obey, Replicate.
We follow Christ because he shows us how to follow.
Jesus’ response was always in line with God’s timing.
Mike K-“Guides”
You do it your way, you stay in the ground and don’t come out.
Jesus was very tight with his words; he doesn’t say there’s any other way.
The Bible is a guide for mankind; you either say “this is true” or “this is false;” there is no middle ground.
To follow Jesus means to walk as he walked.
“Keep the train on the tracks (Acts 2:42).”
The Law of Moses was a guide to “keep the train on the tracks.”
If you want to be a guide to someone, first be a friend to them.
Jonathan M-“Followers In A Group”
When you’re in a team together, you can do a lot more than you can do by yourself.
By yourself, you can be easily broken, but together you can be strong.
You don’t want everybody to have the same skill set.
People in groups can talk forever about the best way to do something, but at the end of the day, sometimes you just need to get it done.
Everybody should be included and have a part on the team; Jesus thinks that everybody has something to offer. Comparisons have to end: fix your eyes on Jesus.
Love is the most excellent way to follow; when you bring love into it, all sorts of problems disappear.
Steve C-“Following Clues”
You would think Israel would have remembered the miracles, but they complained.
All they had to do was look at the bronze snake; maybe God thought that was all they could do.
It will be a wonderful thing to help Christ heal the world.
A shepherd has to be motivated, even when it’s cold, damp, and rainy.
We see in the news people demanding justice; perhaps God is doing that to prepare them for when the Master returns and we’re sent to preach the Word.
Jesus willingly gave his life; how many would give their life for their friends? Not many.
Jesus is our Brother; he knows and understands what we’re going through; when you pray, you don’t have to explain what you’re going through.
Casey O-“Being Followed”
“Surely”—absolutely, without doubt—goodness and mercy shall follow me (Psalm 23:6).
We are not just being followed by goodness and mercy; we are surrounded by it and protected.
There is an “echo” of Psalm 23 in the last two verses of Psalm 138.
Who are my enemies? Thoughts, laziness, self-justification, and so on.
We are God’s handiwork, his poetry, created to do good works in Christ Jesus. How could he forsake his handiwork? He is extraordinarily active in our lives.
Whether we’re worried, repentant, thankful, or joyful, all we need to know is Psalm 139:1, but the Psalmist expands on this thought.
The Syrian army didn’t stand a chance against the LORD’s, and neither do the forces that come against us.
When the world is spinning out of control, God is encircling me.
Welcome that searching an invite God to search even more and ask him to lead you in the way everlasting.
Jonathan M-“Following Bad Leaders”
Not all bad leaders are evil; some are incompetent.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and it can lead to evil decisions.
There are ways to lead from behind.
We’re susceptible to having a bad leader in our brains; we have to have a humble spirit that says “I don’t know everything, I can’t know everything, and I want to learn.”
Discussion Group
It’s easy to justify following when it’s comfortable.
We’re doing it wrong if we ever think, “Lord, I’m worn out because you’re here” like Martha did.
Glory: “the huge magnification of things God deserves praise for.”
The “first” Peter said, “you’re not going to suffer;” the “second” Peter says to rejoice in your sufferings.
Jesus says “you don’t have to carry that yoke anymore; come with me and we’re doing something different;” if you take his yoke, you have a different sense of priorities.
It’s not our responsibility to fix everyone else’s problems; trust that God will work in their lives.
You can find inspiration and God’s guidance in some of the most oddball ways.
No two stones are alike until they’re shaped to fit into the house God is building. Don’t be afraid to believe God has an individual plan for you.
Offer sincere prayer and trust that God will reveal the answer to you.
Are you going to follow somebody who’s dead, or who is still alive?
The crux of discipleship: “stay with us (Luke 24:29).”
Dan Gaitanis 