As most of you know, a group of bloggers recently decided to move through Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself study. Thirty of us embarked on this journey on March 27th. You'll find links to the other participants below.
"That which is spiritual, can also be practical"
Again, the video was fabulous! The main points regarding what a "Life in the Spirit demands" (Pouring Out, Pouring In, Pouring Forth) were all great! I especially loved the segment on "Confessions" providing instant purification. When she said...
"Nothing that sin gives us is worth what it takes from us."
I was hit square between the eyes. How many times have I justified something in my own eyes? Often. Does it give me anything? Satan/the world/my flesh would have me believe it does but in reality, sin robs me! I do think the way I most commonly hold on to my sin is by not accepting God's forgiveness. It's as though I continue to beat myself up over it. I need to work on releasing myself from the guilt once I've confessed it.
The area of my life I could most relate to horme (impulse or sudden urge) is in over eating. That's probably why when Beth began to speak about asking God to change our desires - I listened! I want that, I want my desires changed in a big way. To hunger and thirst after righteousness? Wouldn't that be freeing?
"You can't feed the flesh and live in the Spirit."
"Pouring in" isn't something that I've given much thought to in the past but it makes perfect sense. I mean we're all hungry for something right? I like when she said that "any craving we have for an over abundance of anything is an area we are lacking something." I would say that is so so true! Usually over-indulging is done because "we want to feel differently". It can be anything really. Whatever our "sinful craving", it's tied to an emptiness - does that make anyone else sad? Of course, probably my favorite quote of hers from this week's video went something like this...
"The fruit of the Holy Spirit is one thing you can totally binge on."
I need to learn how to do that! I'm hoping that this study is going to show me how to "binge" in such a way. I really liked how this week's homework began with the trinity. This is a concept from the Bible that is really tough for most people to wrap their brains around. I know I struggle with it especially when talking to my kids about such things. I did like what she said about assumptions as I see things in this way more and more these days. It's not enough for me to assume I was told something about God, I like to see it in God's word for myself. To this Beth said, "but remember, assumptions are not facts until you find them in God's Word." I think a lot of people walk around saying this or that about God, His character and who He is but they've never sought out the facts from the Source. I remember being told that the Holy Spirit was a "lesser" part of the trinity. The scriptures that we studied in week one point to an equality within the trinity, each with His own purpose, but divine all the same. Beth put it this way: "That one Lord accomplished all of creation through the Father's will, the Son's Word, and the Spirit's way. The Father willed it, the Son spoke it, and the Holy Spirit energized it into being."
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
"The seven ministries of the Holy Spirit" were just... well....cool! I felt like I was finally getting to know someone I should have known for a very long time! When I was in High School I wasn't overly concerned with "having a boyfriend". Sure, there were guys I thought were cute but I wasn't exactly "homecoming queen" so I didn't get noticed very often (at least I didn't think I did). I was just the "nice girl" in class who would help you with your homework if you got stuck. I dressed rather ordinary, wasn't one to say "hey look at me!" However, when I showed up at prom, I felt like the nerdy girl in those "ugly duckling turns swan" movies. Heads were turning. I got a lot of attention that night but when it came right down to it, I was still the same girl. The body, the hair, the nails, the personality, the faith, they were all mine, they just hadn't been noticed. The guys in my class had been too busy placing their attention on the girls who seemed to demand it.
I wonder if the Holy Spirit felt like He was taken to prom all dressed up with His powers accentuated when I went through day two. It was as though He walked through the door and I exclaimed, "who is that? He's familiar to me but I've never seen Him look like that before!" My mouth is gaping open in stunned surprise. It is quite clear to me that I've been distracted by my flesh demanding attention and I've often missed the Spirit standing there just waiting to be noticed. He's been "functional" to me in the past but now I see Him in a whole new light.
"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Galatians 5:17
The part about "quenching the spirit" had me considering the Tea & Testimony from Tuesday when Beth said,
"Very simply, to quench the Spirit is to say "no" to God."
I wanted to say "no" very badly and at first did! I did not want to do it. Can you imagine the guilt I would have felt doing day three after not being obedient? Man, that's some heavy stuff! Not only would I have "said no to God", I then would have "grieved the Holy Spirit" on top of that! I liked how we moved into confession. This is an area of prayer that I do not "do right". I'm typically in a hurry to get to the "other stuff" and miss out on being daily purified - such a shame too. "We cannot confess what we will not face. We must be specific." Does that hit anyone else right in the gut? Not only can we not confess what we won't face, we can't very well overcome it can we? Un-confessed sin takes up space, space that the Spirit can't fill while the sin is still there.
Was anyone else somewhat amused by the question about the world teaching us to "follow our heart"? I laughed aloud when I read Jeremiah 17:9 - God is just too cool, He's thought of everything! Of course the next verse just makes you want to "hoot 'n holler" for joy!
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
"My precious sister, if you are born again, you possess everything you need to be victorious." I liked this quote a lot and the verse that went with it! I'm utterly floored at the "foundation" we've built here - what an incredible two weeks so far. The three "types of person" in day five was a fantastic way to wrap up the week. I especially enjoyed the "fax machine" analogy for "The Natural Man". Since I am a believer I either fall in the Carnal or Spiritual categories. I'd say I'm no where near as spiritually mature as I should be, I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I felt Beth was speaking directly to me in day five's conclusion. I can't even tell you what has been going on around here the last two weeks. Beth said, "the striving is exhausting", and this week I felt that with every fiber of my being. I know we have some things coming that are going to force me to "live beyond myself". The timing of going through this study could not have been more perfectly planned for me. God is most assuredly in control!