Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

God’s Will

and Your Life

V

a n c o u v e r

W

o r l d

’

s

F

a i r

W h e n t h e W o r l d s F a i r w a s c o m i n g t o V a n c o u v e r , o u r a s s o c i a t i o n o f c h u r c h e s w a s c o n v i n c e d G o d w a n t e d u s t o t r y t o r e a c h t h e 2 2 m i l l i o n p e o p l e w h o w o u l d c o m e t o o u r c i t y . W e h a d a b o u t 2 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r s i n o u r c h u r c h e s . H o w i n t h e w o r l d c o u l d o u r l i t d e g r o u p m a k e m u c h i m p a c t o n s u c h a m a s s o f t o u r i s t s f r o m a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d ? T w o y e a r s b e f o r e t h e f a i r , w e b e g a n t o s e t o u r p l a n s i n m o t i o n . T h e t o t a l i n c o m e f o r o u r a s s o c i a t i o n w a s $ 9 , 0 0 0 . T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r i t g r e w t o $ 1 6 , 0 0 0 . T h e y e a r o f t h e W o r l d ’ s F a i r , w e s e t a b u d g e t f o r $ 2 0 2 , 0 0 0 . ' W e h a d c o m m i t m e n t s t h a t w o u l d p r o v i d e 3 5 p e r c e n t o f t h a t b u d g e t . S i x t y - f i v e p e r c e n t o f i t d e p e n d e d o n p r a y e r . C a n y o u o p e r ­ a t e a b u d g e t o n p r a y e r ? Y e s . B u t w h e n y o u d o t h a t , y o u a r e a t t e m p t i n g s o m e t h i n g o n l y G o d c a n d o . W h a t d o m o s t o f u s d o ? W e s e t t h e p r a c t i c a l b u d g e t , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s w h a t w e c a n d o . T h e n w e m i g h t s e t a s e c o n d h o p e o r f a i t h b u d g e t . T h e b u d g e t w e r e a l l y t r u s t a n d u s e , h o w e v e r , i s t h e o n e w e c a n r e a c h b y o u r s e l v e s . W e d o n o t r e a l l y t r u s t G o d t o m a k e a p r a c t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e i n w h a t w e d o . A s a n a s s o c i a t i o n o f c h u r c h e s , w e d e c i d e d G o d h a d d e f i n i t e l y l e d u s t o t h e w o r k t h a t w o u l d c o s t $ 2 0 2 , 0 0 0 . T h a t b e c a m e o u r o p e r a t i n g b u d g e t . A l l o f o u r p e o p l e b e g a n p r a y i n g f o r G o d t o p r o v i d e f o r e v e r y t h i n g w e b e l i e v e d F i e h a d l e d u s t o d o d u r i n g t h e W o r l d ’ s F a i r . A t t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r , I a s k e d o u r t r e a s u r e r h o w m u c h m o n e y w e h a d r e c e i v e d . F r o m C a n a d a , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d w e h a d r e c e i v e d $ 2 6 4 , 0 0 0 . P e o p l e f r o m a l l o v e r N o r t h A m e r i c a a s s i s t e d u s . D u r i n g t h e f a i r w e b e c a m e a c a t a l y s t t o s e e a l m o s t 2 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a c c e p t J e s u s C h r i s t . Y o u c a n n o t e x p l a i n t h a t e x c e p t i n t e r m s o f G o d ’ s i n t e r v e n t i o n . O n l y G o d c o u l d h a v e d o n e t h a t . H e a c c o m p l i s h e d i t w i t h a p e o p l e w h o h a d d e t e r m i n e d t o b e s e r v a n t s a n d w e r e m o l d a b l e a n d a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e i r M a s t e r ’ s u s e .

1. Throughout this book I will give illustrations that sometimes mention amounts of money. Don't get caught up in the amounts, since they are relative to the year when the event took place. Some amounts may seem small by current standards, while other amounts may seem inconceivably large in other cultures or economies. Focus instead on the faith required or the miraculous timing and provision of the Lord in regard to the need. In the case above, the amounts merely indicate the size of the faith required when the people compared the proposed budget to their previous experience.

D a y A S YOU FOLLOW Je s u s o n e d a y a t a t i m e, He w i l l k e e p Y O U I N T H E C E N T E R o f Go d’s w i l l.

Real

Christianity

is not merely

a religion; it is

a relationship

with a Person.

1 C o rin th ia n s 2 :1 4

“ The m an w ith o u t the S p irit does not accept the th in g s th a t come from the S p irit of God, fo r they are foolishness to him , and he cannot understand them , because they are s p iritu a lly disce rn ed .”

Jesus Is Your Way

J e s u s s a i d , “ T h i s i s e t e r n a l l i f e : t h a t t h e y m a y k n o w y o u , t h e o n l y t r u e G o d , a n d J e s u s C h r i s t , w h o m y o u h a v e s e n t ” ( J o h n 1 7 : 3 ) . T h e e s s e n c e o f e t e r n a l l i f e a n d o f t h i s s t u d y i s f o r y o u t o k n o w G o d a n d t o k n o w J e s u s C h r i s t , w h o m H e h a s s e n t . K n o w i n g G o d d o e s n o t c o m e t h r o u g h a p r o g r a m o r a m e t h o d . R e a l C h r i s t i a n i t y i s n o t m e r e l y a r e l i g i o n ; i t i s a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h a P e r s o n . I t i s a n i n t i m a t e l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d . T h r o u g h t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p G o d r e v e a l s H i s w i l l a n d i n v i t e s y o u t o j o i n H i m w h e r e H e i s a t w o r k . W h e n y o u o b e y , G o d a c c o m p l i s h e s t h r o u g h y o u s o m e t h i n g o n l y H e c a n d o . T h e n y o u c o m e t o k n o w G o d i n a m o r e i n t i m a t e w a y b y e x p e r i e n c i n g H i m a t w o r k t h r o u g h y o u r l i f e . I w a n t t o h e l p y o u m o v e i n t o t h e k i n d o f r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d t h r o u g h w h i c h y o u w i l l e x p e r i e n c e e t e r n a l l i f e t o t h e f u l l e s t d e g r e e p o s s i b l e . J e s u s s a i d , “ I h a v e c o m e t h a t t h e y m a y h a v e l i f e , a n d h a v e i t t o t h e f u l l ” ( J o h n 1 0 : 1 0 ) . W o u l d y o u l i k e t o e x p e r i ­ e n c e l i f e i n i t s f u l l e s t m e a s u r e ? Y o u c a n i f y o u a r e w i l l i n g t o r e s p o n d t o G o d ’ s i n v i t a t i o n t o a n i n t i m a t e l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h H i m .

A Prerequisite— A R elationsh ip w ith Jesus

I n t h i s c o u r s e I a s s u m e y o u h a v e a l r e a d y t r u s t e d J e s u s C h r i s t a s y o u r S a v i o r a n d h a v e a c k n o w l e d g e d H i m a s t h e L o r d o f y o u r l i f e . I f y o u h a v e n o t m a d e t h i s i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n , t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u r s e w i l l h a v e l i t t l e m e a n i n g f o r y o u b e c a u s e s p i r i t u a l m a t t e r s c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d o n l y b y t h o s e w h o h a v e t h e S p i r i t o f C h r i s t d w e l l i n g i n t h e m ( s e e 1 Cor. 2 : 1 4 ) . I I f y o u sense a n e e d to a c c e p t Jesu s as y o u r S av io r an d L o rd , n o w is th e tim e to settle this m a tte r w ith G o d . A sk G od to sp eak to y o u as y o u re a d th e fo llo w in g S c rip tu re s.

Q R o m a n s 3 : 2 3 : A l l h a v e s i n n e d . □ R o m a n s 6 : 2 3 : E t e r n a l l i f e i s a f r e e g i f t o f G o d . □ R o m a n s 5 :8 : B e c a u s e o f H i s l o v e f o r y o u , J e s u s p a i d t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y f o r y o u r s i n s . □ R o m a n s 1 0 : 9 - 1 0 : C o n f e s s J e s u s a s L o r d a n d b e l i e v e t h a t G o d r a i s e d H i m f r o m t h e d e a d . □ R o m a n s 1 0 : 1 3 : A s k G o d t o s a v e y o u , a n d H e w i l l . T o p l a c e y o u r f a i t h i n J e s u s a n d r e c e i v e H i s g i f t o f e t e r n a l l i f e , y o u m u s t — • r e c o g n i z e y o u a r e a s i n n e r w h o n e e d s a s a v i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s C h r i s t ; • c o n f e s s ( a g r e e w i t h G o d a b o u t ) y o u r s i n s ; • r e p e n t o f y o u r s i n s ( t u r n f r o m s i n t o G o d ) ; • a s k J e s u s t o s a v e y o u b y H i s g r a c e ; • t u r n o v e r t h e r u l e o f y o u r l i f e t o J e s u s , l e t t i n g H i m b e y o u r L o r d .

I I f y o u n e e d h e lp , call o n y o u r m in is te r o r a C h ristian frien d for help. I f y o u h av e j u s t m a d e this im p o r ta n t d e c isio n , tell so m e o n e the go o d new s o f w h a t G o d has d o n e in y o u r life. T h e n notify y o u r church abou t

U N I T I

y o u r d ecisio n so th e y can c e le b ra te w ith y o u a n d h e lp y o u g ro w in y o u r rela tio n sh ip w ith C h rist.

L ook in g for M ore in Your

E xp erien ce o f God?

Y o u m a y h a v e b e e n f r u s t r a t e d i n y o u r C h r i s t i a n e x p e r i e n c e b e c a u s e y o u k n o w G o d h a s a m o r e a b u n d a n t l i f e f o r y o u t h a n y o u h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d s o f a r . P e r h a p s y o u h a v e b e e n a b e l i e v e r f o r m a n y y e a r s , b u t y o u r C h r i s t i a n l i f e h a s b e c o m e d r y a n d m o n o t o ­ n o u s . M a y b e y o u h a v e h e a r d o t h e r s e x c i t e d l y t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t G o d i s d o i n g i n t h e i r l i v e s , a n d y o u l o n g t o h a v e a d y n a m i c w a l k w i t h G o d t o o . O r y o u m a y e a r n e s t l y d e s i r e G o d ’ s d i r e c t i o n s f o r y o u r l i f e a n d m i n i s t r y . Y o u m a y h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d t r a g e d y i n y o u r l i f e . S t a n d i n g b e w i l d e r e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f a b r o k e n l i f e , y o u d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t t o d o . W h a t e v e r y o u r p r e s e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a y b e , m y e a r n e s t p r a y e r i s t h a t d u r i n g t h i s s t u d y y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o — • h e a r w h e n G o d i s s p e a k i n g t o y o u ; • c l e a r l y i d e n t i f y H i s a c t i v i t y i n y o u r l i f e ; • b e l i e v e H i m t o b e a n d d o e v e r y t h i n g H e h a s p r o m i s e d ; • a d j u s t y o u r b e l i e f s , c h a r a c t e r , a n d b e h a v i o r t o H i m a n d H i s w a y s ; • r e c o g n i z e a d i r e c t i o n H e i s t a k i n g i n y o u r l i f e a n d i d e n t i f y w h a t H e w a n t s t o d o t h r o u g h y o u r l i f e ; • c l e a r l y k n o w w h a t y o u n e e d t o d o i n r e s p o n s e t o H i s a c t i v i t y i n y o u r l i f e ; • e x p e r i e n c e G o d d o i n g t h r o u g h y o u w h a t o n l y H e c a n d o ! I t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h i s c o u r s e t o a c h i e v e t h e s e g o a l s i n y o u r l i f e . T h e s e a r e t h i n g s o n l y G o d c a n d o . I w i l l s e r v e a s y o u r g u i d e , e n c o u r a g e r , a n d c a t a l y s t ( s o m e o n e w h o a s s i s t s i n b r i n g i n g a b o u t a n a c t i o n o r a r e a c t i o n ) f o r a d e e p e r w a l k w i t h G o d . I w i l l s h a r e w i t h y o u t h e b i b l i c a l t r u t h s b y w h i c h G o d g u i d e s m y l i f e a n d m i n i s t r y . I w i l l t e l l y o u a b o u t s o m e w o n d e r f u l w o r k s t h e L o r d h a s d o n e a s G o d ’ s p e o p l e h a v e a p p l i e d b i b l i c a l t r u t h s t o f o l l o w i n g H i m . I n t h e l e a r n i n g a c t i v i t i e s I w i l l i n v i t e y o u t o i n t e r a c t w i t h G o d s o H e c a n r e v e a l t o y o u t h e w a y s H e w a n t s y o u t o a p p l y t h e s e t r u t h s i n y o u r l i f e , m i n i s t r y , a n d c h u r c h . T h e H o l y S p i r i t w i l l b e y o u r p e r s o n a l T e a c h e r ( s e e John 1 4 :2 6 ) d u r i n g t h i s s t u d y . H e w i l l g u i d e y o u t o a p p l y t h e s e t r u t h s a c c o r d i n g t o G o d ’ s w i l l . H e w i l l w o r k t o r e v e a l G o d , H i s p u r p o s e s , a n d H i s w a y s t o y o u . J e s u s s a i d , “ I f a n y o n e c h o o s e s t o d o G o d ’ s w i l l , h e w i l l f i n d o u t w h e t h e r m y t e a c h i n g c o m e s f r o m G o d o r w h e t h e r I s p e a k o n m y o w n ” ( J o h n 7 : 1 7 ) . T h i s w i l l b e t r u e o f t h i s c o u r s e a s w e l l . T h e H o l y S p i r i t w o r k i n g i n y o u w i l l c o n f i r m i n y o u r h e a r t t h e t r u t h o f S c r i p t u r e . W h e n I p r e s e n t w h a t I s e e a s a b i b l i c a l t r u t h , y o u c a n d e p e n d o n t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o c o n f i r m w h e t h e r t h a t t e a c h i n g c o m e s f r o m G o d . T h e r e f o r e , y o u r i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , c u l t i v a t e d t h r o u g h p r a y e r , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d B i b l e s t u d y , w i l l b e a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e p a r t o f t h i s c o u r s e . T h e B i b l e i s G o d ’ s W o r d t o y o u . T h e H o l y S p i r i t h o n o r s a n d u s e s G o d ’ s W o r d i n s p e a k i n g t o y o u . T h e S c r i p t u r e s a r e y o u r s o u r c e o f a u t h o r i t y f o r y o u r f a i t h a n d p r a c t i c e . Y o u c a n n o t d e p e n d o n t r a d i t i o n s , y o u r e x p e r i e n c e , o r o t h e r s ’ e x p e r i e n c e s t o b e a c c u ­ r a t e a u t h o r i t i e s o n G o d ’ s w i l l a n d w a y s . A s y o u s t u d y t h i s r e s o u r c e , u s e t h e s u g g e s t e d S c r i p t u r e s t o e x a m i n e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d t r a d i t i o n a g a i n s t G o d ’ s W o r d o f t r u t h . A n y t h i n g s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t h a p p e n s i n y o u r l i f e d u r i n g t h i s s t u d y w i l l b e t h e r e s u l t o f G o d ’ s a c t i v i t y i n y o u r l i f e . L e t t h e S p i r i t o f G o d l e a d y o u i n t o a n i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n ­ s h i p w i t h t h e G o d o f t h e u n i v e r s e , “ w h o i s a b l e t o d o i m m e a s u r a b l y m o r e t h a n a l l w e a s k o r i m a g i n e , a c c o r d i n g t o h i s p o w e r t h a t i s a t w o r k w i t h i n u s ” ( E p h . 3 : 2 0 ) .

T he Holy Spirit

will be your

personal Teacher.

J o h n 1 4 : 2 6 “ The Counselor, the Holy

S p irit, whom the Father w ill send in my nam e, w ill teach you a ll th in g s ."

T h e Scriptures

are your Source

o f Authority.

T h e goal is

not to finish

this course but

to have a life-

transforming

encounter

with God.

T h i s b o o k i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m m o s t m a t e r i a l w i t h w h i c h y o u m a y b e f a m i l i a r . I t i s n o t d e s i g n e d f o r y o u t o s i t d o w n a n d r e a d f r o m c o v e r t o c o v e r . I w a n t y o u t o s t u d y , u n d e r s t a n d , a n d a p p l y b i b l i c a l t r u t h s t o y o u r l i f e . T h i s c h a l l e n g i n g e x e r c i s e t a k e s t i m e . T o g e t t h e m o s t f r o m t h i s c o u r s e , y o u m u s t t a k e y o u r t i m e b y s t u d y i n g o n l y o n e d a y ’ s l e s s o n a t a t i m e . D o n o t t r y t o s t u d y s e v e r a l l e s s o n s i n a s i n g l e d a y . Y o u n e e d t i m e t o l e t t h e s e t r u t h s s i n k i n t o y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d p r a c t i c e . T h e g o a l i s n o t t o f i n i s h t h i s c o u r s e b u t t o h a v e a l i f e - t r a n s f o r m i n g e n c o u n t e r w i t h G o d a s y o u s t u d y t h e s e m a t e ­ r i a l s . Y o u w a n t t o e x p e r i e n c e a P e r s o n — - J e s u s C h r i s t . T i m e , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d p e r s o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n a r e n e c e s s a r y t o a l l o w t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o m a k e C h r i s t r e a l i n y o u r l i f e . D o n o t s k i p a n y l e a r n i n g a c t i v i t i e s . T h e y a r e d e s i g n e d t o h e l p y o u l e a r n a n d a p p l y t h e t r u t h s t o y o u r l i f e . T h e y w i l l h e l p y o u e s t a b l i s h a p e r s o n a l , d a i l y w a l k w i t h G o d . M a n y a c t i v i t i e s w i l l l e a d y o u t o i n t e r a c t w i t h G o d t h r o u g h p r a y e r , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d B i b l e s t u d y . I f y o u l e a v e o u t t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s , y o u m a y m i s s a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h G o d t h a t c o u l d r a d i c a l l y c h a n g e y o u r l i f e . Y o u w i l l l e a r n t h a t y o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f k n o w i n g a n d d o i n g G o d ’ s w i l l . W i t h o u t a n i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n ­ s h i p w i t h H i m , y o u w i l l m i s s w h a t H e w a n t s t o d o i n a n d t h r o u g h y o u r l i f e .

i T h e le a rn in g activ ities a re in d ic a te d b y th e sy m b o l th a t appears b e sid e this p a ra g ra p h . F o llo w th e in stru c tio n s giv en . A fter yo u h av e c o m p le te d th e a c tiv ity , c o n tin u e re a d in g .

N o r m a l l y , y o u w i l l b e g i v e n a n s w e r s f o l l o w i n g t h e a c t i v i t y s o y o u c a n c h e c k y o u r w o r k . W r i t e y o u r o w n a n s w e r b e f o r e r e a d i n g m i n e . S o m e t i m e s y o u r r e s p o n s e t o t h e a c t i v i t y w i l l b e y o u r o w n o p i n i o n , a n d n o r i g h t o r w r o n g a n s w e r c a n b e g i v e n . I f y o u h a v e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h a n a c t i v i t y o r i f y o u q u e s t i o n t h e a n s w e r s g i v e n , w r i t e a n o t e i n t h e m a r g i n . D i s c u s s y o u r c o n c e r n w i t h y o u r l e a d e r o r s m a l l g r o u p . O n c e e a c h w e e k y o u s h o u l d a t t e n d a s m a l l - g r o u p s e s s i o n d e s i g n e d t o h e l p y o u d i s c u s s t h e c o n t e n t y o u s t u d i e d t h e p r e v i o u s w e e k , s h a r e i n s i g h t s a n d t e s t i m o n i e s , e n c o u r a g e o n e a n o t h e r , a n d p r a y t o g e t h e r . S m a l l g r o u p s s h o u l d n o t h a v e m o r e t h a n 1 0 m e m b e r s f o r m a x i m a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s . L a r g e r g r o u p s w i l l e x p e r i e n c e l e s s c l o s e n e s s , l e s s i n t i m a t e s h a r i n g , m o r e a b s e n t e e i s m , a n d m o r e d r o p o u t s . I f m o r e t h a n 1 0 p e r s o n s w a n t t o s t u d y t h e c o u r s e , e n l i s t a d d i t i o n a l l e a d e r s f o r e a c h g r o u p o f 6 t o 1 0 . I f y o u h a v e s t a r t e d s t u d y i n g Experiencing God b u t a r e n o t i n v o l v e d i n a s m a l l g r o u p , e n l i s t s o m e f r i e n d s o r f a m i l y t o s t u d y t h e c o u r s e w i t h y o u . O t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e b o d y o f C h r i s t c a n h e l p y o u m o r e f u l l y k n o w a n d u n d e r s t a n d G o d ’ s w i l l . A p a r t f r o m a s m a l l - g r o u p e x p e r i e n c e , y o u w i l l m i s s m u c h o f t h e i n t e n d e d l e a r n i n g f r o m t h i s c o u r s e .

Jesus Is Your “ Map

55

F o r 1 2 y e a r s I p a s t o r e d a c h u r c h i n a c i t y s u r r o u n d e d b y f a r m i n g c o m m u n i t i e s . O n e d a y a f a r m e r i n v i t e d m e t o v i s i t h i m a t h i s f a r m . H i s d i r e c t i o n s w e n t s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : “ G o a q u a r t e r m i l e p a s t t h e e d g e o f t h e c i t y , a n d y o u w i l l s e e a b i g , r e d b a r n o n y o u r l e f t . G o t o t h e n e x t r o a d a n d t u r n t o y o u r l e f t . T a k e t h a t r o a d f o r % o f a m i l e . Y o u ’ l l s e e a l a r g e p o p l a r t r e e . G o r i g h t f o r a b o u t 4 m i l e s , a n d t h e n y o u w i l l s e e a b i g r o c k . . . ” I w r o t e a l l o f t h i s d o w n , a n d o n l y b y G o d ’ s g r a c e d i d I e v e n t u a l l y m a n a g e t o f i n d t h e f a r m ! T h e n e x t t i m e I w e n t t o t h e m a n ’ s h o u s e , h e w a s w i t h m e i n t h e v e h i c l e . B e c a u s e t h e r e w a s m o r e t h a n o n e w a y t o g e t t o h i s h o u s e , h e c o u l d h a v e t a k e n m e a n y w a y h e w a n t e d t o . Y o u s e e , h e w a s m y m a p . W h a t d i d I h a v e t o d o ? I s i m p l y h a d t o l i s t e n t o h i m a n d d o w h a t h e s a i d . E v e r y t i m e h e s a i d , “ T u r n , ” I d i d w h a t h e s a i d . H e t o o k m e a 10

U N I T I

w a y I h a d n e v e r b e e n a n d c o u l d n o t h a v e d i s c o v e r e d o n m y o w n . I c o u l d n e v e r r e t r a c e t h a t r o u t e b y m y s e l f . T h e f a r m e r w a s m y m a p ; h e k n e w t h e w a y .

W h e n y o u c o m e to th e L o rd Jesu s to seek H is w ill fo r y o u r life, w h ic h o f th e fo llo w in g req u e sts m o re closely rese m b le s th e w ay y o u g enerally ask? C h e c k y o u r resp o n se.

□ a . L o r d , w h a t d o Y o u w a n t m e t o d o ? W h e n d o Y o u w a n t m e t o d o i t ? H o w s h a l l I d o i t ? W h e r e s h a l l I d o i t ? W h o m d o Y o u w a n t m e t o i n v o l v e a l o n g t h e w a y ? A n d p l e a s e t e l l m e w h a t t h e o u t c o m e w i l l b e . □ b . L o r d , a s Y o u g o w i t h m e , t e l l m e w h a t t o d o o n e s t e p a t a t i m e . I w i l l d o i t . I s n ’ t t h e f i r s t r e s p o n s e t y p i c a l ? W e a l w a y s a s k G o d f o r a d e t a i l e d r o a d m a p . W e s a y , “ L o r d , i f Y o u c o u l d j u s t t e l l m e w h e r e I a m h e a d i n g , t h e n I w i l l b e a b l e t o s e t m y c o u r s e a n d g o . ” H e s a y s , “ Y o u d o n ’ t n e e d t o . Y o u n e e d t o f o l l o w M e o n e d a y a t a t i m e . ” T h i s r e s p o n s e c o m e s o n l y f r o m t h o s e w h o h a v e l e a r n e d t o w a l k c l o s e l y w i t h G o d a n d t o t r u s t H i m t o c a r e f o r t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e i r l i v e s . W e n e e d t o c o m e t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e s e c o n d r e s p o n s e i s o u r s . W h o r e a l l y k n o w s t h e w a y f o r y o u t o g o t o f u l f i l l G o d ’ s p u r p o s e f o r y o u r l i f e ? W h o k n o w s h o w y o u c a n e x p e r i e n c e a b u n d a n t l i f e ? G o d . J e s u s s a i d , “ I a m t h e w a y ” ( J o h n 1 4 : 6 ) . • H e d i d n o t s a y , “ I w i l l s h o w y o u t h e w a y . ” • H e d i d n o t s a y , “ I w i l l g i v e y o u a r o a d m a p . ” • H e d i d n o t s a y , “ I w i l l t e l l y o u w h i c h d i r e c t i o n t o g o . ” • H e s a i d , “ I a m t h e w a y . ” J e s u s k n o w s t h e w a y ; H e i s y o u r w a y .

I f y o u d o e v e ry th in g Jesu s tells y o u o n e day a t a tim e , w ill y o u

alw ays b e in th e c e n te r o f w h e re G o d w a n ts y o u to be? C h e c k y o u r resp on se. □ N o , J e s u s d o e s n o t g u i d e p e o p l e s p e c i f i c a l l y . □ N o , b y s e e k i n g t o f o l l o w J e s u s , I c o u l d e n d u p g o i n g t h e w r o n g w a y . □ I t i s m u c h w i s e r t o w a i t u n t i l G o d t e l l s m e a l l t h e d e t a i l s b e f o r e I b e g i n m o v i n g m y l i f e i n a p a r t i c u l a r d i r e c t i o n . □ Y e s , i f I f o l l o w J e s u s o n e d a y a t a t i m e , I w i l l b e r i g h t i n t h e c e n t e r o f G o d ’ s w i l l f o r m y l i f e . J o h n 1 4 : 6

“ I am the way and th e tru th and the life ."

W h e n y o u g e t t o t h e p l a c e i n y o u r l i f e w h e r e y o u t r u s t J e s u s t o g u i d e y o u o n e s t e p a t a t i m e , y o u e x p e r i e n c e t r e m e n d o u s f r e e d o m . I f y o u d o n ’ t t r u s t H i m t o g u i d e y o u t h i s w a y , w h a t h a p p e n s i f y o u d o n ’ t k n o w t h e w a y y o u s h o u l d g o w i t h y o u r l i f e ? Y o u w o r r y e v e r y t i m e y o u m a k e a d e c i s i o n . Y o u m a y b e c o m e i m m o b i l i z e d w i t h w o r r y . T h i s i s n o t t h e w a y G o d i n t e n d s f o r y o u t o l i v e . I h a v e f o u n d t h a t w h e n I r e l e a s e m y w a y t o G o d , t h e n I i m m e d i a t e l y r e s p o n d t o e v e r y t h i n g H e t e l l s m e e a c h d a y . H e g i v e s m e p l e n t y t o d o t o f i l l e v e r y d a y w i t h m e a n ­ i n g a n d p u r p o s e . I f I d o w h a t H e s a y s , I a m i n t h e c e n t e r o f H i s w i l l w h e n H e w a n t s t o u s e m e f o r a s p e c i a l a s s i g n m e n t . M y p r i m a r y c o n c e r n s h o u l d n o t b e , W h a t s h o u l d I d o w i t h m y l i f e t o m o r r o w ? b u t , W h a t d o e s G o d w a n t m e t o d o t o d a y ? A s y o u f o l l o w J e s u s o n e d a y a t a t i m e , H e w i l l k e e p y o u i n t h e c e n t e r o f G o d ’ s w i l l .

F ollow in g O n e D ay at a T im e

Abram ( l a t e r G o d c h a n g e d h i s n a m e t o A b r a h a m ) i s a g o o d e x a m p l e o f t h i s a p p r o a c h t o f o l l o w i n g G o d . H e w a l k e d b y f a i t h a n d n o t b y s i g h t . 1

M a tth e w 6 :3 3 - 3 4

“ Seek firs t his kingdom and his righteousness, and a ll these th in g s w ill be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tom orrow , for tom orrow w ill worry about its e lf. Each day has enough tro u ble of its ow n.”

0

R e a d a b o u t A b ra m ’s call to d o G o d ’s w ill. N o tic e h o w m u c h detail

h e w as g iv en b e fo re G o d asked h im to follo w H im . U n d e rlin e w h ere h e w as to go a n d w h a t he w as to d o . “ T h e Lo r d h a d s a i d t o A b r a m , ‘ L e a v e y o u r c o u n t r y , y o u r p e o p l e a n d y o u r f a t h e r ’ s h o u s e h o l d a n d g o t o t h e l a n d I w i l l s h o w y o u . ‘ I w i l l m a k e y o u i n t o a g r e a t n a t i o n a n d I w i l l b l e s s y o u ; I w i l l m a k e y o u r n a m e g r e a t , A n d y o u w i l l b e a b l e s s i n g . I w i l l b l e s s t h o s e w h o b l e s s y o u , a n d w h o e v e r c u r s e s y o u I w i l l c u r s e ; a n d a l l p e o p l e s o n e a r t h w i l l b e b l e s s e d t h r o u g h y o u . ’ “ S o A b r a m l e f t , a s t h e Lo r d h a d t o l d h i m ; a n d L o t w e n t w i t h h i m . A b r a m w a s s e v e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o l d w h e n h e s e t o u t f r o m H a r a n . H e t o o k h i s w i f e S a r a i , h i s n e p h e w L o t , a l l t h e p o s s e s s i o n s t h e y h a d a c c u m u l a t e d a n d t h e p e o p l e t h e y h a d a c q u i r e d i n H a r a n , a n d t h e y s e t o u t f o r t h e l a n d o f C a n a a n , a n d t h e y a r r i v e d t h e r e ” ( G e n . 1 2 : 1 - 5 ) . W h a t d i d G o d s a y ? H o w s p e c i f i c w a s H e ? “ L e a v e ” a n d “ g o . ” G o w h e r e ? “ T o a l a n d I w i l l s h o w y o u . ”

i A re y o u re a d y to fo llow G o d ’s w ill th a t way? C h e c k y o u r respo nse.

□ N o , I d o n ’ t t h i n k G o d w i l l a s k m e t o g o a n y w h e r e w i t h o u t s h o w i n g m e a h e a d o f t i m e w h e r e I a m g o i n g . □ I ’ m n o t s u r e . □ Y e s , I a m w i l l i n g t o f o l l o w H i m b y f a i t h a n d n o t b y s i g h t . □ O t h e r : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M a n y t i m e s , a s w i t h A b r a m , G o d c a l l e d p e o p l e t o s i m p l y f o l l o w H i m . ( T o m o r r o w y o u w i l l r e a d a b o u t s e v e r a l . ) H e i s m u c h m o r e l i k e l y t o a s k y o u t o f o l l o w H i m o n e d a y a t a t i m e t h a n H e i s t o s p e l l o u t a l l t h e d e t a i l s b e f o r e y o u b e g i n t o o b e y H i m . A s w e c o n t i n u e o u r s t u d y t o g e t h e r , y o u w i l l s e e t h i s t r u t h i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h e l i v e s o f m a n y p e o p l e i n t h e B i b l e . R e a d M a tth e w 6:33-34 in th e m a rg in ; th e n pau se a n d pray. • A g r e e t h a t G o d i s a b s o l u t e l y t r u s t w o r t h y . • A g r e e w i t h G o d t h a t y o u w i l l f o l l o w H i m o n e d a y a t a t i m e . • A g r e e t o f o l l o w H i m e v e n w h e n H e d o e s n o t s p e l l o u t a l l t h e d e t a i l s . • A g r e e t h a t y o u w i l l l e t H i m b e y o u r W a y .

I f y o u c a n n o t a g ree to these n o w , o p e n ly confess y o u r struggles to H im . A sk H im to h e lp y o u w a n t to d o H is w ill in H is w ay. C laim th e p ro m is e “ It is G o d w h o w o rk s in y o u to w ill a n d to a c t ac co rd in g to his g o o d p u rp o s e ” (P hil. 2:13).

U N I T i

D aily R ev iew

A t t h e e n d o f e a c h d a y ’ s l e s s o n , I w i l l a s k y o u t o r e v i e w t h e l e s s o n a n d p r a y . A s k G o d t o i d e n t i f y f o r y o u o n e o r m o r e s t a t e m e n t s o r S c r i p t u r e s f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l t h a t H e w a n t s y o u t o u n d e r s t a n d , l e a r n , o r p r a c t i c e . T h i s i s a p e r s o n a l - a p p l i c a t i o n q u e s t i o n t h a t h a s n o w r o n g a n s w e r . I f G o d m a k e s a s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e m e a n i n g f u l t o y o u , t h a t i s t h e c o r r e c t r e s p o n s e . I w i l l a l s o a s k y o u t o r e w o r d t h a t s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e i n t o a p r a y e r o f r e s p o n s e f o r y o u r l i f e . P r a y a b o u t w h a t G o d w a n t s y o u t o d o i n r e s p o n s e t o t h a t t r u t h . T h i s s h o u l d b e c o m e a t i m e o f p r a y e r a n d m e d i t a t i o n e a c h d a y a s y o u a s k G o d w h a t H e w a n t s y o u t o d o i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e t r u t h s y o u e n c o u n t e r e d i n t h e l e s s o n . Y o u m a y w a n t t o t a k e n o t e s i n t h e m a r g i n e a c h d a y a s y o u s t u d y . G o d m a y r e v e a l s e v e r a l r e s p o n s e s H e w a n t s y o u t o m a k e t o a p a r t i c u l a r l e s s o n . D o n ’ t l e t t h o s e t h o u g h t s g e t a w a y f r o m y o u . W r i t e t h e m d o w n s o y o u c a n r e v i e w t h e m . W h e n G o d s p e a k s , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o w r i t e d o w n w h a t H e s a y s . Y o u m a y w a n t t o k e e p a n o t e b o o k f o r r e c o r d ­ i n g y o u r s p i r i t u a l j o u r n e y I w i l l t a l k t o y o u m o r e a b o u t j o u r n a l i n g i n a l a t e r u n i t . A f t e r t o d a y ’ s l e s s o n a p e r s o n m i g h t h a v e r e s p o n d e d l i k e t h i s : • W h a t w a s t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e y o u r e a d t o d a y ? “ J e s u s i s m y W a y . I d o n ’ t n e e d a c o m p l e t e r o a d m a p t o s t a y i n t h e c e n t e r o f G o d ’ s w i l l . ” • R e w o r d t h e s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e i n t o a p r a y e r o f r e s p o n s e t o G o d . “ L o r d , I w i l l f o l l o w Y o u e v e n i f I d o n ’ t k n o w w h e r e Y o u a r e l e a d i n g . ” • W h a t d o e s G o d w a n t y o u t o d o i n r e s p o n s e t o t o d a y ’ s s t u d y ? “ I n e e d t o q u i t w o r r y i n g a b o u t t o m o r r o w a n d t r u s t J e s u s t o g u i d e m e o n e d a y a t a t i m e . ”

E ach w eek I h av e given y o u a v erse o f S c rip tu re to m e m o r iz e . Y o u will find m e m o ry c ard s fo r th ese S c rip tu re s in th e b a c k o f th e b o o k . C ut o u t th e c a rd fo r u n it 1 (John 15:5). I f y o u p re fe r, y o u m a y use a d ifferent tra n sla tio n fo r th e m e m o r y verses in this stu d y . T h e verses on th e card s are fro m th e N e w In te rn a tio n a l V e rsio n . R e a d th ro u g h Jo h n 15:5 several tim e s. T h e n b e g in m e m o r iz in g it o n e p h rase at a

tim e. W rite y o u r m e m o ry verse fo r th is u n it. P ra c tic e y o u r m e m o r y verses daily. _______________________________________________________

SUMMARY STATEMENTS

As I fo llo w Jesus one day a t a tim e , He w ill keep me in the center of God's w ill. Jesus is my Way. I don’t need any other road map.

R eview to d a y ’s lesson. P ra y a n d ask G o d to id en tify o n e o r m o re sta te m e n ts o r S crip tu res H e w ants y o u to u n d e rsta n d , lea rn , o r p ra c tic e . U n d e rlin e th e m . T h e n re sp o n d to th e follow ing.

W h a t w a s t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l s t a t e - R e w o r d t h e s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e W h a t d o e s G o d w a n t y o u t o d o m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e y o u r e a d t o d a y ? i n t o a p r a y e r o f r e s p o n s e t o G o d . i n r e s p o n s e t o t o d a y ’ s s t u d y ?

D a y

2

Je s u s w a t c h e d t o

SEE WHERE THE FA­ THER WAS AT WORK AND JO INED Hi m.

L o o k to see

what G od

says and how

H e works in

the Scriptures.

Make your

decisions and

evaluate your

experiences

based on bibli­

cal truths.

M a la c h i 3 : 6 “ I the Lord do not change."

Jesus Is Your Model

D u r i n g t h i s c o u r s e a n d t h r o u g h o u t y o u r l i f e , y o u w i l l h a v e t i m e s w h e n y o u w a n t t o r e s p o n d t o s i t u a t i o n s b a s e d o n y o u r o w n e x p e r i e n c e s o r y o u r o w n w i s d o m . S u c h a n a p p r o a c h w i l l g e t y o u i n t r o u b l e . T h i s s h o u l d b e y o u r g u i d e l i n e : a l w a y s g o t o t h e B i b l e a n d a s k t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o r e v e a l t h e t r u t h o f y o u r s i t u a t i o n t o y o u . L o o k t o s e e w h a t G o d s a y s a n d h o w H e w o r k s i n t h e S c r i p t u r e s . M a k e y o u r d e c i s i o n s a n d e v a l u a t e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e s b a s e d o n b i b l i c a l t r u t h s . W h e n y o u s t u d y t h e S c r i p t u r e s , d o n o t b a s e y o u r d e c i s i o n o n o n e i s o l a t e d v e r s e o r s t o r y . L o o k t o s e e h o w G o d g e n e r a l l y w o r k s t h r o u g h o u t t h e S c r i p t u r e s . W h e n y o u l e a r n h o w G o d h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y r e l a t e d t o p e o p l e t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y , y o u c a n e x p e c t H i m t o w o r k i n a s i m i l a r w a y w i t h y o u . Y o u r e x p e r i e n c e i s v a l i d o n l y a s i t i s c o n f i r m e d i n t h e S c r i p t u r e s . I n e v e r d e n y a n y o n e ’ s p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . I a l w a y s r e s e r v e t h e r i g h t , h o w e v e r , t o i n t e r p r e t i t a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t I u n d e r s t a n d f r o m S c r i p t u r e . A t t i m e s i n d i ­ v i d u a l s g e t u p s e t w i t h m e a n d s a y , “ I d o n ’ t c a r e w h a t y o u s a y . I ’ v e e x p e r i e n c e d t h i s . ” I k i n d l y r e s p o n d , “ I d o n o t d e n y y o u r e x p e r i e n c e , b u t I q u e s t i o n y o u r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f w h a t h a p p e n e d b e c a u s e i t i s c o n t r a r y t o w h a t I s e e i n G o d ’ s W o r d . ” O u r e x p e r i e n c e s c a n n o t b e o u r g u i d e . E v e r y e v e n t i n y o u r l i f e m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d i n t e r p r e t e d b y t h e S c r i p t u r e s , f o r t h e G o d r e v e a l e d i n S c r i p t u r e d o e s n o t c h a n g e ( s e e Mai. 3:6).

M ark th e fo llo w in g s ta te m e n ts T (tru e ) o r F (false).

_ _ _ _ _ a . I c a n t r u s t m y e x p e r i e n c e s a s a n e f f e c t i v e w a y t o k n o w a n d f o l l o w G o d . _ _ _ _ _ b . I s h o u l d a l w a y s e v a l u a t e m y e x p e r i e n c e s b a s e d o n t h e t r u t h s I f i n d i n G o d ’ s W o r d . _ _ _ _ _ c . I m a y g e t a d i s t o r t e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f G o d i f I d o n o t c h e c k m y e x p e r i e n c e s a g a i n s t t h e t r u t h s o f S c r i p t u r e . _ _ _ _ _ d . I c a n t r u s t G o d t o w o r k i n m y l i f e s i m i l a r l y t o w a y s I s e e H i m w o r k i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e S c r i p t u r e s . S t a t e m e n t s b , c , a n d d a r e t r u e . T h e f i r s t s t a t e m e n t i s f a l s e b e c a u s e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e s m u s t b e i n t e r p r e t e d i n l i g h t o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s . E x p e r i e n c e a l o n e i s n o t a t r u s t w o r t h y g u i d e . Y o u m u s t b e c a u t i o u s a b o u t i s o l a t i n g a s i n g l e e v e n t f r o m t h e c o n t e x t o f S c r i p ­ t u r e . I n s t e a d , o b s e r v e t h e w a y G o d w o r k s t h r o u g h o u t t h e B i b l e . Y o u w i l l n e v e r g o w r o n g i f , u n d e r t h e H o l y S p i r i t ’ s i n s t r u c t i o n , y o u l e t t h e B i b l e b e y o u r g u i d e .

T h e B ib le Is Your G uide

C h r i s t i a n s a r e b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e u n f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e B i b l e a s a g u i d e f o r t h e i r d a i l y l i v i n g . C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e y t u r n t o w o r l d l y s o l u t i o n s , p r o g r a m s , a n d m e t h o d s t h a t a p p e a r t o b e a n s w e r s t o s p i r i t u a l p r o b l e m s . I u s e G o d ’ s W o r d a s a g u i d e t o w h a t I s h o u l d d o . S o m e p e o p l e s a y , “ H e n r y , t h a t i s n o t p r a c t i c a l . ” T h e y w a n t m e t o d i s r e g a r d t h e B i b l e a n d t o r e l y o n t h e w o r l d ’ s w a y s o r o n p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . B u t a s a C h r i s t i a n d i s c i p l e , I c a n n o t a b a n d o n t h e g u i d a n c e I f i n d i n t h e B i b l e . T h e B i b l e i s m y g u i d e f o r h o w t o r e l a t e t o G o d a n d h o w t o l i v e m y l i f e . 14

U N I T i

H o w d o y o u l e t G o d ’ s W o r d b e c o m e y o u r g u i d e ? W h e n I s e e k G o d ’ s d i r e c t i o n , I i n s i s t o n f o l l o w i n g t h e d i r e c t i v e s I s e e i n H i s W o r d . Y e s t e r d a y ’ s l e s s o n i s a n e x a m p l e . D o e s G o d c a l l p e o p l e t o f o l l o w H i m w i t h o u t g i v i n g t h e m a l l t h e d e t a i l s i n a d v a n c e ? W e k n o w H e c a l l e d A b r a m t o f o l l o w t h a t w a y . I s t h a t p a t t e r n c o n s i s t e n t i n t h e S c r i p t u r e s ?

R e a d th e fo llo w in g S c rip tu re s a b o u t Je su s’ call fo r p e o p le to fo llo w H im . W rite w h a t Jesus to ld th ese p e o p le to d o .

M a t t h e w 4 : 1 8 - 2 0 : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M a t t h e w 4 : 2 1 - 2 2 : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M a t t h e w 9 : 9 : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A c t s 9 : 1 - 2 0 : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n s o m e c a s e s G o d g a v e m o r e d e t a i l s t h a n i n o t h e r s . W e w i l l l o o k a t M o s e s ’ c a l l a n d d i s c o v e r G o d g a v e h i m a b i g g e r p i c t u r e o f t h e a s s i g n m e n t t h a n H e u s u a l l y r e v e a l e d . I n e v e r y c a s e , h o w e v e r , t h e i n d i v i d u a l h a d t o s t a y c l o s e t o G o d f o r H i s d a i l y g u i d a n c e . F o r M o s e s a n d t h e c h i l d r e n o f I s r a e l , G o d l e d t h r o u g h a c l o u d b y d a y a n d f i r e b y n i g h t . F o r P e t e r , A n d r e w , J a m e s , J o h n , M a t t h e w , a n d S a u l , G o d d i s c l o s e d l i t t l e d e t a i l a b o u t t h e i r a s s i g n m e n t s . H e b a s i c a l l y s a i d , “ F o l l o w M e , a n d I w i l l s h o w y o u . ”

W hat Is G o d ’s Will?

W h e n p e o p l e s e e k t o k n o w a n d d o G o d ’ s w i l l , m a n y a s k t h e q u e s t i o n , W h a t i s G o d ’ s w i l l f o r m y l i f e ? O n e o f m y s e m i n a r y p r o f e s s o r s , G a i n e s S . D o b b i n s , u s e d t o s a y , “ I f y o u a s k t h e w r o n g q u e s t i o n , y o u w i l l g e t t h e w r o n g a n s w e r . ” S o m e t i m e s w e a s s u m e e v e r y q u e s t i o n i s l e g i t i m a t e . H o w e v e r , w h e n w e a s k t h e w r o n g q u e s t i o n , w e m a y f i n d a n a n s w e r b u t r e m a i n d i s o r i e n t e d t o G o d a n d H i s a c t i v i t y . A l w a y s c h e c k t o s e e w h e t h e r y o u h a v e a s k e d t h e r i g h t q u e s t i o n b e f o r e y o u p u r s u e t h e a n s w e r . W h a t i s G o d ’ s w i l l f o r m y l i f e ? i s not t h e r i g h t q u e s t i o n . I t h i n k t h e p r o p e r q u e s t i o n i s , W h a t i s G o d ’ s w i l l ? O n c e I k n o w G o d ’ s w i l l , t h e n I c a n a d j u s t m y l i f e t o H i m . I n o t h e r w o r d s , w h a t i s i t G o d i s p u r p o s i n g t o a c c o m p l i s h w h e r e I a m ? O n c e I k n o w w h a t G o d i s d o i n g , t h e n I k n o w w h a t I n e e d t o d o . T h e f o c u s n e e d s t o b e o n God, n o t o n my life! W h e n I w a n t t o l e a r n h o w t o k n o w a n d d o G o d ’ s w i l l , I c a n f i n d n o b e t t e r m o d e l t h a n J e s u s ’ l i f e . D u r i n g H i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 3 y e a r s o n e a r t h , H e p e r f e c t l y c o m p l e t e d e v e r y a s s i g n m e n t t h e F a t h e r g a v e H i m . H e n e v e r f a i l e d t o d o t h e w i l l o f t h e F a t h e r . H e n e v e r s i n n e d . W o u l d y o u l i k e t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w J e s u s c a m e t o k n o w a n d d o H i s F a t h e r ’ s w i l l ? R e a d J o h n 5:17,19-20 in th e m a rg in a n d an sw er th e q u estio n s. a . W h o i s a l w a y s a t w o r k ? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ b . H o w m u c h c a n t h e S o n d o b y H i m s e l f ? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ c . W h a t d o e s t h e S o n d o ? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d . W h y d o e s t h e F a t h e r s h o w t h e S o n w h a t H e i s d o i n g ? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S o m e p e o p l e r e a d t h e s e v e r s e s a n d h a v e d i f f i c u l t y u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t J e s u s C h r i s t w a s f u l l y G o d a n d f u l l y h u m a n . O u r m i n d s c a n ’ t f u l l y g r a s p t h e t r u t h t h a t J e s u s a n d t h e F a t h e r a r e o n e ( J o h n 1 5 : 9 ) . W e w i l l l o o k a t t h e i r o n e n e s s m o r e l a t e r . B u t m a k e n o m i s t a k e . J e s u s i s G o d a n d H e l i v e d o n e a r t h i n h u m a n f l e s h . I n t h e s e v e r s e s J e s u s c l e a r l y s t a t e s h o w H e k n e w w h a t t o d o . J e s u s w a t c h e d t o s e e w h e r e H i s F a t h e r w a s a t w o r k a n d j o i n e d H i m . J e s u s ’ a p p r o a c h t o k n o w i n g a n d d o i n g H i s F a t h e r ’ s w i l l c a n b e o u t l i n e d l i k e t h i s :

T he proper

question is,

What is

G o d ’s will?

J o h n 5 : 1 7 , 1 9 - 2 0 17“ My Father is always at his work to th is very day, and I, too, am working. 19l te ll you the tru th , the Son can do nothing by him self; he can do only w h a t he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. “ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your am azem ent he w ill show him even greater th in g s th a n these."

Watch to see

where G o d is

working and

jo in Him!

RE A LITY 1 SUMMARY STATEMENTS

The B ible is my guide fo r fa ith and practice. The rig h t question is, W hat is God’s w ill? W atch to see where God is w o rking and jo in Him. God is alw ays a t work around me. Jesus’ Example 1 . T h e F a t h e r h a s b e e n w o r k i n g r i g h t u p u n t i l n o w . 2 . N o w t h e F a t h e r h a s M e w o r k i n g . 3 . I d o n o t h i n g o n M y o w n i n i t i a t i v e . 4 . I w a t c h t o s e e w h a t t h e F a t h e r i s d o i n g . 5 . I d o w h a t I s e e t h e F a t h e r d o i n g . 6 . T h e F a t h e r l o v e s M e . 7 . H e s h o w s M e e v e r y t h i n g H e i s d o i n g . T h i s m o d e l a p p l i e s t o y o u r l i f e p e r s o n a l l y a n d a l s o t o y o u r c h u r c h . I t i s n o t a s t e p - b y - s t e p a p p r o a c h f o r k n o w i n g a n d d o i n g G o d ’ s w i l l . I t d e s c r i b e s a l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p t h r o u g h w h i c h G o d a c c o m p l i s h e s H i s p u r p o s e s . I s u m i t u p t h i s w a y : w a t c h t o s e e w h e r e G o d i s w o r k i n g a n d j o i n H i m !

G od Is Always at Work A round You

R i g h t n o w G o d i s w o r k i n g a l l a r o u n d y o u , a s w e l l a s i n y o u r l i f e . O n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t t r a g e d i e s a m o n g G o d ’ s p e o p l e i s t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e y d e e p l y l o n g t o e x p e r i e n c e G o d , t h e y a r e e n c o u n t e r i n g H i m d a y a f t e r d a y b u t d o n o t r e c o g n i z e H i m . B y t h e e n d o f t h i s c o u r s e , y o u w i l l h a v e l e a r n e d m a n y w a y s t o c l e a r l y i d e n t i f y G o d ’ s a c t i v i t y i n a n d a r o u n d y o u r l i f e . T h e H o l y S p i r i t a n d G o d ’ s W o r d w i l l i n s t r u c t y o u a n d w i l l h e l p y o u k n o w w h e n a n d w h e r e G o d i s w o r k i n g . O n c e y o u k n o w w h e r e H e i s a c t i v e , y o u w i l l a d j u s t y o u r l i f e t o j o i n H i m i n H i s a c t i v i t y . Y o u w i l l e x p e r i e n c e G o d a c c o m p l i s h i n g H i s p u r p o s e s t h r o u g h y o u r l i f e . W h e n y o u e n t e r t h i s k i n d o f i n t i m a t e l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , y o u w i l l k n o w a n d d o H i s w i l l a n d e x p e r i e n c e H i m i n w a y s y o u h a v e n e v e r k n o w n b e f o r e . Y o u c a n n o t a c h i e v e t h i s b y f o l l o w i n g a s p i r i t u a l f o r m u l a . O n l y G o d c a n b r i n g y o u i n t o t h i s k i n d o f r e l a t i o n s h i p .

o

T u r n to th e d ia g ra m inside th e b a c k c o v e r o f th is b o o k . R e a d

all seven o f th e realities o f e x p e rie n c in g G o d . P e rso n a liz e the

first s ta te m e n t a n d w rite it b e lo w , u sin g me in ste a d o f you.

L a t e r t h i s w e e k w e w i l l t a k e a c l o s e r l o o k a t t h e s e s e v e n t r u t h s .

R ev iew to d a y ’s lesson. P ra y a n d ask G o d to id en tify o n e o r m o re s ta te m e n ts o r S criptu res H e w an ts y o u to u n d e rs ta n d , lea rn , o r p ra c tic e . U n d e rlin e th e m . T h e n re s p o n d to th e follow ing.

W h a t w a s t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l s t a t e - R e w o r d t h e s t a t e m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e W h a t d o e s G o d w a n t y o u t o d o m e n t o r S c r i p t u r e y o u r e a d t o d a y ? i n t o a p r a y e r o f r e s p o n s e t o G o d . i n r e s p o n s e t o t o d a y ’ s s t u d y ?

Learning to Be

a Servant of God.

| M a n y S c r i p t u r e p a s s a g e s d e s c r i b e J e s u s a s G o d ’ s S e r v a n t . H e c a m e a s a S e r v a n t t o | a c c o m p l i s h G o d ’ s w i l l t o r e d e e m h u m a n i t y . H e r e i s w h a t P a u l s a i d a b o u t J e s u s : “ Y o u r a t t i t u d e s h o u l d b e t h e s a m e a s t h a t o f C h r i s t J e s u s : W h o , b e i n g i n v e r y n a t u r e G o d , d i d n o t c o n s i d e r e q u a l i t y w i t h G o d s o m e t h i n g t o b e g r a s p e d , b u t m a d e h i m s e l f n o t h i n g , t a k i n g t h e v e r y n a t u r e o f a servant, b e i n g m a d e i n h u m a n l i k e n e s s . A n d b e i n g f o u n d i n a p p e a r a n c e a s a m a n , h e h u m b l e d h i m s e l f a n d b e c a m e o b e d i e n t t o d e a t h — e v e n d e a t h i o n a c r o s s ! ” ( P h i l . 2 : 5 - 8 , e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . ! I n H i s i n s t r u c t i o n s t o H i s d i s c i p l e s a b o u t s e r v a n t h o o d , J e s u s ( t h e S o n o f m a n ) d e s c r i b e d H i s o w n r o l e o f s e r v i c e t h i s w a y : “ W h o e v e r w a n t s t o b e c o m e g r e a t a m o n g i y o u m u s t b e y o u r s e r v a n t , a n d w h o e v e r w a n t s t o b e f i r s t m u s t b e y o u r s l a v e — - j u s t a s t h e S o n o f M a n d i d n o t c o m e t o b e s e r v e d , b u t to serve, a n d t o g i v e h i s l i f e a s a r a n s o m f o r m a n y ” ( M a t t . 2 0 : 2 6 - 2 8 , e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . J e s u s a l s o i d e n t i f i e d w h a t o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h H i m s h o u l d b e l i k e : “ A s t h e F a t h e r h a s s e n t m e , I a m s e n d i n g y o u ” ( J o h n 2 0 : 2 1 ) .

^ Based on these Scriptures and others you m ay be familiar with, do you believe you should be God’s servant? □ Yes □ N o |

^ Have you ever given your best effort to serve God and felt frustrated when nothing lasting resulted from your work? □ Yes □ N o ■C9 What is a servant? Define servant in your ow n words. ______________

D i d y o u r d e f i n i t i o n s o u n d s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h i s : “ A s e r v a n t i s o n e w h o f i n d s o u t w h a t ' h i s m a s t e r w a n t s h i m t o d o a n d t h e n d o e s i t ” ? T h e w o r l d ’ s c o n c e p t o f a s e r v a n t i s t h a t a s e r v a n t g o e s t o t h e m a s t e r a n d s a y s , “ M a s t e r , w h a t d o y o u w a n t m e t o d o ? ” T h e m a s t e r t e l l s h i m , a n d t h e s e r v a n t g o e s o f f by him self a n d d o e s i t . T h a t i s n o t t h e b i b l i c a l c o n c e p t o f b e i n g a s e r v a n t o f G o d . B e i n g a s e r v a n t o f G o d i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m b e i n g a s e r v a n t o f a h u m a n m a s t e r . A s e r v a n t o f a h u m a n m a s t e r w o r k s fo r h i s m a s t e r . G o d , h o w e v e r , w o r k s through H i s s e r v a n t s .

Potter and Clay

M y u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a s e r v a n t i s d e p i c t e d b y t h e p o t t e r a n d t h e c l a y ( s e e J e r . 1 8 : 1 - 6 ) . ' T h e c l a y m u s t d o t w o t h i n g s : 1 . T h e c l a y h a s t o b e m o l d e d . I t h a s t o b e r e s p o n s i v e t o t h e p o t t e r s o h e c a n m a k e i t i n t o a n i n s t r u m e n t o f h i s c h o o s i n g . 2 . T h e c l a y h a s t o r e m a i n i n t h e p o t t e r ’ s h a n d . W h e n t h e p o t t e r h a s f i n i s h e d m a k i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f h i s c h o o s i n g , t h a t i n s t r u m e n t h a s n o a b i l i t y t o d o w h a t i t w a n t s . | I t h a s t o r e m a i n i n t h e p o t t e r ’ s h a n d t o b e e f f e c t i v e . S u p p o s e t h e p o t t e r m o l d s t h e | c l a y i n t o a c u p . T h e c u p h a s t o r e m a i n i n t h e p o t t e r ’ s h a n d s s o h e c a n u s e t h a t c u p t h e w a y h e c h o o s e s .

D

a y

3

TO BE A SERVANT OF Go d, y o u m u s t b e

MOLDABLE AND RE­ MAIN IN THE HAND

o f t h e Ma s t e r.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

“ This is the word th a t came to Jerem iah from the Lord: 'Go down to the potter's

house, and there I w ill give you my m essage.' So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him w orking at the wheel But the pot he was shaping from the clay was m arred in his hands; so the po tte r form ed it into another pot, sha ping it as seemed best to him . Then the word of the Lord cam e to me: ‘0 house of Israel, can I not do w ith you as th is potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘ Like clay in the hand of the

potter, so are you in my hand, 0 house of Israel.' ”

--tv;

I

To be G o d s

;

servant,

y o u

must be mold

j able and remain

! in the hand of

the Master.

These characteristics are quite different from the world’s view o f a servant. W hen you come to G od as His servant, He first wants you to allow H im to mold and shape you into the instrum ent o f His choosing. Then H e takes your life where H e wills and works through it to accomplish His purposes. Just as a cup cannot do anything on its own, you do not have the ability to carry out the Lord’s command except to be where H e wants you to be.

Answer the follow ing questions about being a servant o f God.

a. H ow m uch can a servant do by himself or herself? _____________________ b.W hen God works through a servant, how m uch can that servant do?

c. W hat are two things a servant must do to be used by God?

To be G od’s servant, you must be moldable and remain in the hand o f the Master. Then the Master will use you, the instrument, as H e chooses. The servant can do noth­

ing o f Kingdom value alone, just as Jesus said, “T he Son can do nothing by himself” (John 5:19) and “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).W ith God working through a servant, however, he or she can do anything G od can do. Wow! Unlimited potential! Servanthood requires obedience. Servants must do what they are instructed but must remember it’s G od w ho is accomplishing all the work.

If you have been working from the human approach to being a servant, this concept should change your approach to serving God.You do not get your orders and then go out to accomplish them on your own.You relate to God, respond to Him, and adjust your life to H im so that from your relationship with Him, H e does what H e wants to do through your life. Let’s look at how God worked through His servant Elijah.

W hen Elijah challenged the prophets o f Baal (a Canaanite fertility idol) to prove once and for all whose God was the true God, he took a big risk as God’s servant.

Read 1 Kings 18:15-39 and answer the follow ing questions.

a. Elijah was G od’s servant. H ow many false prophets did he face at M ount C a rm e l? __________________________________________________________ b. W hat test did Elijah propose to prove whose God was the one true God?

c. W hat did Elijah do to the altar o f the Lord? ________ d. At whose initiative did Elijah offer this challenge? __ e. W hat did he intend to prove through this experience? f. H ow did the people respond? ____________________ g. W hat was G od’s work in this event?_______________ h. W hat was Elijah’s work in this event? _____________

U N I T i

Elijah was outnumbered 850 to 1. If God had not displayed His power by coming in fire and consuming the sacrifice (and altar) as Elijah had proposed, Elijah would have utterly failed. That would have cost him his life. Elijah repaired the altar o f the Lord. He had to stay with God and do everything God commanded him to do. He was acting in obedience to God’s command, not on his own initiative. He went where God guided him when God told him and did what God instructed him. Then God accomplished His purposes through him. God wanted the people to identify the Lord as the true God. As God worked through His prophet Eli jah, that is exactly how the people responded.

Did Elijah or God bring down the fire from heaven? God did. W hat was Elijah doing? Being obedient. Elijah had no ability to preform the miraculous. W hen God did something only H e could do, all the people knew H e was the true God. God convinced people o f His powerful presence through His obedient servant.

As your study tim e permits, read the follow ing questions. Try to answer each one before m oving to the next one. You may want to jo t down som e notes on the response lines.

a. W hat will be the difference between the quality o f service and the quantity o f lasting results w hen God is working and w hen you are working?

b. W hat are you doing in your life personally and in your church that you know cannot be accomplished unless God intervenes?

c. W hat are we doing in our lives and in our churches that could be done w ithout reference to God at all? _________________________________

d. W hy do you think we often experience meager lasting fruit from our efforts?

D on ’t Ju st D o Som ething

We are a doing people. We always want to be doing something. Every now and then someone will exclaim, “D o n ’t just stand there; do something!”

In contrast, I think G od is crying out to us, “D o n ’t just do something. Stand there! Enter a love relationship w ith Me. Get to know Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me love you and reveal Myself through you to a watching world.” A time will come when doing will be called for, but we cannot skip the relationship. T he relationship with God must come first.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear m uch fruit; apart from m e you can do nothing” (John 15:5). D o you believe Him? W ithout H im you can do nothing. H e means that.

1 Turn to the diagram inside the back cover. Read again all seven realities listed there. Personalize the last (seventh) reality and write it below , using I and me instead o f you. ___________________________

“ D o n ’t just do

something.

Stand there!

SUMMARY S T A T E M E N T S To be a servant of God, I m u st be m oldable and rem ain in the M aster's hand. A part from God i can do nothing.

God can do a n y th in g th ro u g h me.

When i tin d out where th e M aster >s working, then I know t h a t is where I need to be,

I come to know Goc by experience as I obey Him. and He a c c o m p lis h e s His w ork th ro u g h me

G od wants you to come to a greater knowledge o f H im by experience. H e wants to develop a growing, deepening love relationship w ith you. H e wants to involve you in His Kingdom purposes. H e wants to accomplish His will through you.

D o you want to be a servant o f God? Find out what is on the Master’s heart. Discover where the Master is working; that is where you need to be. Find out what the Master is doing; that is what you need to do. Jesus said, “W hoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one w ho serves m e” (John 12:26).

Practice quoting your Scripture-memory verse aloud an d /or write it on a separate sheet o f paper.

R eview today’s lesson. Pray and ask God to identify one or m ore statements or Scriptures He wants you to understand, learn, or practice. Underline them . Then respond to the following.

W hat was the most meaningful state- Rew ord the statement or Scripture W hat does God want you to do

m ent or Scripture you read today? into a prayer o f response to God. in response to today s study?

Disbanding Church Revitalized

A church in an inner city had suffered years of decline as its neighborhood transitioned and church members moved to the suburbs. When only a rem nant was left, they concluded they should disband their church. As a final activity the members decided to study Experiencing God. At the conclusion of the study, they would close the church doors for the last tim e. At the begin- j ning of the course, the people learned th a t God is always at work around them. They chuckled at the thought, since nothing unusual had happened in their church for years. Nevertheless, they decided to watch during the week to see where God m ight be working.

That week an apartm ent manager approached a church member and asked if her church could do anything about all the kids in the apartm ent block with nothing to do. He offered the free ' use of the apartm ent’s common room if the church would provide activities. The church decided to offer a children’s program during the final few months of its existence. This soon brought several unwed mothers to their attention. Then some drug addicts were attracted to the church, as well as some gang members. Before this little group of people realized what was happening, they had launched several new ministries and were seeing people come to faith in Christ almost every week. At the close of the 13-week study, instead of disbanding, the church, now revitalized, began to minister powerfully to its community. R atherthan rem aining discouraged, the people realized they were in the center of God’s activity. He had been working in their community all along.

U N I T I

God Works Through

His Servants, Part I

W e o f t e n a c t a s t h o u g h G o d t e l l s u s w h a t H e w a n t s u s t o d o a n d t h e n s e n d s u s o f f b y o u r s e l v e s t o t r y a n d d o i t . T h e n a n y t i m e w e n e e d H i m , w e c a n c a l l o n H i m , a n d H e c o m e s t o h e l p u s . T h a t i s n o t t h e b i b l i c a l p i c t u r e . W h e n G o d i s a b o u t t o d o s o m e t h i n g , H e r e v e a l s i t t o H i s p e o p l e . H e w a n t s t o a c c o m p l i s h H i s w o r k t h r o u g h H i s p e o p l e o r H i s s e r v a n t . W h e n G o d i s a b o u t t o d o s o m e t h i n g t h r o u g h y o u , H e h a s t o g e t y o u f r o m w h e r e y o u a r e t o w h e r e H e i s , s o H e t e l l s y o u w h a t H e i s d o i n g . ( L a t e r , I w i l l h e l p y o u u n d e r s t a n d h o w y o u c a n c l e a r l y k n o w w h e n G o d i s s p e a k i n g t o y o u . ) W h e n y o u k n o w w h a t G o d i s d o i n g , t h e n y o u k n o w w h a t y o u n e e d t o d o : y o u n e e d t o j o i n H i m . T h e m o m e n t y o u k n o w G o d i s d o i n g s o m e t h i n g w h e r e y o u a r e , y o u r l i f e a n d i t s a c t i v i t y w i l l b e t h r o w n i n c o n t r a s t t o G o d a n d H i s a c t i v i t y . Y o u c a n n o t s t a y t h e w a y y o u a r e a n d g o w i t h G o d .

Seven Realities o f Experiencing God

T h e i l l u s t r a t i o n b e l o w ( a n d i n s i d e t h e b a c k c o v e r ) s u m m a r i z e s t h e w a y y o u s h o u l d r e s p o n d t o G o d s i n i t i a t i v e i n y o u r l i f e . T h e t e x t o f t h e r e a l i t i e s i s i n t h e m a r g i n .

God'?

Work

(7) Ota,

Exp grtenci

® Reldtion$ki

( D Uvitati

(§) Adjust

©Crisis of

Belief

© &od Speaks

YOU CANNOT STAY THE WAY YOU ARE AND GO W ITH GOD.

1 . G o d i s a l w a y s a t w o r k a r o u n d y o u . 2 . G o d p u r s u e s a c o n t i n u i n g l o v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h y o u t h a t i s r e a l a n d p e r s o n a l . 3 . G o d i n v i t e s y o u t o b e c o m e i n v o l v e d w i t h H i m i n H i s w o r k . 4 . G o d s p e a k s b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t t h r o u g h t h e B i b l e , p r a y e r , c i r c u m ­ s t a n c e s , a n d t h e c h u r c h t o r e v e a l H i m s e l f , H i s p u r p o s e s , a n d H i s w a y s . 5 . G o d ’ s i n v i t a t i o n f o r y o u t o w o r k w i t h H i m a l w a y s l e a d s y o u t o a c r i s i s o f b e l i e f t h a t r e q u i r e s f a i t h a n d a c t i o n . 6 . Y o u m u s t m a k e m a j o r a d j u s t m e n t s i n y o u r l i f e t o j o i n G o d i n w h a t H e i s d o i n g . 7 Y o u c o m e t o k n o w G o d b y e x p e r i e n c e a s y o u o b e y H i m , a n d H e a c c o m ­ p l i s h e s H i s w o r k t h r o u g h y o u . 21