Let the Wicked Forsake His Way

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Let the Wicked Forsake His Way
Topic Started: Jul 12 2007, 04:56 PM (17 Views)
oceanweed	Jul 12 2007, 04:56 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 52 Group: Members Member #85 Joined: February 10, 2007	This is a bible study published by ERJ Publications LESSON #204 Let the Wicked Forsake His Way and the Unrighteous Man His Thoughts BIBLE TEXT “7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55.7 OBJECTIVES • To recognize the need for total internal and external change. • To understand that the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus at the cross is powerful enough to completely change our old lifestyle. INTRODUCTION Many Christians believe it is enough to be saved and there is no further need to change. However, the Word teaches that when we give our lives to Jesus, the greatest miracle takes place: the salvation of our soul and the beginning of a transformation in our lives. “17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5.17 The Fruit Begins to Develop When we begin our new life, the invisible things that used to affect us also begin to change; for instance: if we liked cigarettes, we give up smoking; if we liked to drink, we give up drinking; if we used to steal little things from our jobs, we stop doing it; if we used to love night clubs and partying, as a child of God and with the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, that old lifestyle makes us uncomfortable and becomes undesirable, and so on. Little by little, we let go of bad habits that displeased the Lord and that are out of line with our new lives in Christ. These are the first fruits of our new lives. These changes have a lot to do with what we read: “Let the wicked forsake his way”, but, this is only the first part for the second part reads: “…and the unrighteous man his thoughts”. It is commendable that we stop living the way we used to and give up the addictions, adultery, fornication, stealing, or whatever, but what about our most intimate thoughts? “18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15.18, 19 We entered a new world in the body of Christ, His church, and we begin to serve and relate with people who believe the same as we do. However, we continue to bring our own criteria into the church and try to focus and solve Kingdom matters in the same way we used to resolve situations in the world: without God, His wisdom, or His methods. FAMILY GROUP JULY 2007 6 The Fruit that is Pleasing to God “21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7.21 “…and the unrighteous man his thoughts.” What is unrighteousness? It is wickedness, evil, or sinful. Let us look at a few examples that involve unrighteous thoughts: 1. I want to buy property, but for the bank to finance the loan, I must create false information regarding my salary. This is how I see it: if everyone is doing it, why not me? 2. When something goes wrong in my marriage, I blame my spouse believing it is he/she who must change instead of assuming responsibility for my actions and allowing change to come through me. If the redeeming work of our Lord is complete and covers every area of our lives: body, soul, and spirit, it means He expects us to surrender to His lordship in body, soul, and spirit. “1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12.1, 2 We are not Alone—He is Our Helper Knowing He is there to help us gives us the strength to keep going with the assurance that we will succeed. Jesus promised to be with us every day of our lives. While He intercedes for us, before the Father, He sent us His Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth. This Should be the Way We Think “8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4.8, 9 F INAL QUESTIONS 􀂙 In addition to our ways, what else should we give up when we come to the Lord? 􀂙 What should we think about now that we are God’s children? 􀂙 Who promised to be with us every day of our lives?



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