What is the difference between a reaction and a response?
Have you ever dated anybody from a dopamine reaction and later when you have more of a clear-headed response WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!
When we are attracted to someone, three chemicals are released in our bodies: phenylethylamine (PEA), which speeds up the communication between nerve cells and triggers the release of dopamine; dopamine, which gives us the feeling of bliss; and norepinephrine, which stimulates adrenaline production. The combined effect of this trilogy is something similar to amphetamines--amazingly high energy levels, euphoria, a racing heart and sweaty palms. This brings on those 5 hour phone conversations and marathon dates where you spend an entire day together and are still ready for more.
The effect of these thrilling infatuation chemicals usually lasts anywhere from 6 months to 3 years (when our bodies build up a tolerance), and after that comes the true relationship test: Is there real love and friendship in the air? Many people lose interest once the infatuation high is gone.
Maturity understands that reactions produce shallow conclusions. Just because you have chemistry doesn’t mean its destiny. Get over your reaction and listen to God for his direction!
Reaction is the way of the world. If you hit me my natural reaction is to hit you back. The Bible says to turn the other cheek. Have you ever actually turned the other cheek? They hit. You turn. They hit you again and you turn again. At times I’ve been like, “Come on Lord! I only have 4 cheeks and they slapped them all!”
You will never turn the other cheek unless you learn how to elevate your perspective from a human reaction to a spiritual response.
We are designed to live in the deeper reality of God. This gives you a resource from which to respond to circumstances & situations the world will not understand.
The Gospels speak many times of how Jesus looked up into heaven when he prayed as if he was looking directly into the eyes of the Father. Looking a person in the eye indicates confidence and honesty.
This posture demonstrates that we know where our help comes from.
Psalm 121:1–2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth ESV
This is a posture of faith and confidence in the greater power of our Heavenly Father.
John 11:41–43 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me… Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” NIV
This is an expression of intimate relationship with God. Jesus prayed on the night before he was crucified:
John 17:1 Jesus…looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. NIV
Jesus himself said he didn’t speak from his own initiative but from His Father’s eternal perspective.
John 8:28-29 “…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” NIV
John 12:49-50 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.” NIV
Even the Holy Spirit does not speak on his own.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV
We can live from a place of inferior information or superior information. God is drawing our attention up! Our mission as a church family is to bring God’s presence to REAL LIFE. If the idea of sharing Jesus with others makes you nervous you don’t understand what it really means. Relax and be you filled with love and compassion for people around you. Put that love into action with no strings attached.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day wake up and reflect on 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 reading it aloud asking God to help you live from God’s perspective that day.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 “…no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him— 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? ”But we have the mind of Christ. NIV
Discussion Guide for Community Leaders
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DEEPER: REACTION/RESPONSE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: We are designed to live in the deeper reality of God. This is the more certain reality of eternity which gave birth to the temporal realm that will one day pass away.
Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. NIV
The eternal reality of God’s Word and God’s Truth will remain. Building our lives on this reality is what will last and must be our priority. Let’s go deeper together.
Isa 33:5-6 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. 6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. NIV
We want to start our group meetings making room for conversation that brings confirmation that God is speaking to us all as we discuss what we are hearing from the Lord as a family:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Please be sure you are in the loop. Put (405) 584-5767 in your phone as Destiny Text.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. What is the difference between a reaction and a response, and can you share an experience to demonstrate?
3. What is the difference between inferior information and superior information according to Sunday’s message?
The disciples were processing the storm as their primary source of input and the storm told them they were about to die.
Jesus was processing another source of information and he clearly communicates faith is the key to accessing that realm of information. We are all capable of having a human reaction. When you are born again you become capable of having a spiritual response.
Jesus didn’t speak from his own initiative but from His Father’s eternal perspective.
John 8:28-29 “…I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” NIV
John 12:49-50 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.” NIV
Even the Holy Spirit does not speak on his own.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. What are some ways we can grow in an ability to express a spiritual response instead of temporal reactions to various situations and circumstances?
Our mission as a church family is to bring God’s presence to real life.
Jesus came from heaven to earth to unlock God’s Kingdom in the earth by unlocking God’s Kingdom in our hearts. Experiencing God’s presence will transform any person. In an effort to experience God’s presence today in a very intentional way read the following verses slowly and out loud as the Holy Spirit breaths fresh inspiration on his Word in our hearts.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 “…no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? ”But we have the mind of Christ. NIV
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day wake up and reflect on 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 reading it aloud asking God to help you live from God’s perspective that day.