Consistently submitting to God’s desires is such an interesting part of the central ideas that shape who we are as a church family. In our pursuit to become all God desires for us to become we are discovering that God is doing a deep work within us. This has become our prayer for each other:
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
Don’t just try to be a loving expression of Christ to your world. Train to be a loving expression of Christ to your world. We are learning how to convert principles into practices as we look to the lifestyle of Jesus as the goal for our lives.
The two practices that are connected to this idea of consistently submitting to God’s desires involve solitude and community. Solitude is where we simply purpose to be alone with God and free from all other sources of input.
If I’m in the constant presence of people, I am overstimulated and underdeveloped. Solitude awakens the non-anxious disposition to love others well.
Community involves a deeper connection with God as you connect with others focusing on spiritual growth. This releases something powerful within you that you cannot discover alone.
This idea of pairing the practices of solitude and community is a little like breathing in and breathing out. Jesus modeled a healthy balance for us to put into practice ourselves. Don’t just always be giving out to others. You not only have permission to take care of yourself it is essential! Any flight you ever take will remind you that you must put your oxygen mask on first before helping others or you’ll slip into unconsciousness yourself.
The practices of look different in every stage and season of your life but do whatever it takes to discover a healthy rhythm of these breath-like life-sustaining behaviors no matter what season of life you’re in!
There is a strong relationship in the life of Jesus between his devotion to solitude and his connection to power
Luke 4:1 Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. AMP
Jesus modeled purposeful solitude that produced powerful community.
Luke 5:15 But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. AMP
Everyone everywhere was screaming for his attention. What did Jesus do?
Luke 5:16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. AMP
In our day, it is completely possible to banish solitude altogether. Even when we are alone, we don’t have to be alone and this robs us of this beautiful practice of solitude.
The Father won’t compete with your busy, noisy life. He’s patiently waiting in the quiet for your attention.
Luke 4:1 Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. AMP
Mark 1:28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee. AMP
Mark 1:35-37 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” AMP
The more we interact with strangers, the more we present ourselves, rather than being authentically known and at rest with who we are. This is why true community is so vital in your life.
You can be with people, but not actually in community if you never move beyond surface relationships where you know and are known.
The practices we see modeled in the life of Jesus are the practices we should embrace in our own lives today. In doing so we find ourselves on a similar journey of training to become more like Him. This is our mandate in Scripture and the results are clearly revealed.
1 John 2:6 Anyone who claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. NIV
2 Corinthians 13:14 …may the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. NIV
We were designed by God to be in deep fellowship with God and in deep fellowship with God’s family. It is so interesting that the number one thing people love to hear in every nation of the world is, “I love you.” We were designed by God to first and foremost know his love. The second more common phrase people love to hear is, “You’re forgiven.” We are designed by God to live our lives with a clear conscience.
What really fascinated me about this study I read about the most common phrases people love to hear is the third phrase, “Let’s eat!” For God so loved the world (I love you) that he sent his only Son Jesus to forgive us (you’re forgiven). Then in Revelation 3:20 we read, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” NIV
I love you. You’re forgiven. Let’s eat! What a beautiful expression of God’s loving ways in our lives.
GP2RL: Explore purposeful solitude this week and engage in authentic community.
Consistently Submitting Practices
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Every year we devote the first 40 days to focusing on foundational truths that speak to our identity, as a church family. We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
2 Peter 1:12-15 endorses the idea of rehearsing foundational things with the intention of leaving them firmly planted in the heart of the next generation.
As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices. Our practices reveal our priorities.
It is God’s plan for us to develop the rhythm of drawing close to His heart and hearing His voice together as a spiritual family. This explains the first question we start with in our groups:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: to help develop a context for a greater understanding of the verses for today.
2. What does solitude mean to you, and can you share a positive experience from practicing solitude in your life?
3. What does community mean to you, and what has been a positive experience from be ing involved in meaningful community?
Mark 1:28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee. AMP
Mark 1:35-37 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” AMP
Luke 5:15-16 But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. AMP
4. What stands out to you about these verses and what are your observations about the way Jesus modeled solitude and community.
5. How specifically will you purpose to practice solitude and community this week?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Explore the idea of true solitude this week and engage in authentic community.