I started the lesson on Sunday by talking about two incredible creatures in nature. The first was the chameleon. The chameleon is incredible because of its ability to mimic its surroundings. The chameleon can change colors and blend in to its environment. In the picture above there is a chameleon but it camouflages itself so well that you can’t see it. It’s in the middle to the left. If you still can’t see it the picture at the bottom may help. The second incredible creature I mentioned was the caterpillar. The caterpillar is incredible because it transforms into a butterfly. After eating for a while, the caterpillar will get into a cocoon and emerge a completely different thing: a butterfly.

            Believe it or not, both these creatures are found in the text we looked at on Sunday: Romans 12:1-2. In verse 2 it says, “Do not be conformed (chameleon)…but be transformed (caterpillar).” The word used for transform is where we get our word metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is the process that a caterpillar goes through to transform into a butterfly. What this verse says is that there are two kinds of Christians: chameleons and caterpillars.

            Some Christians blend in to their surroundings like a chameleon. If it were a crime to be a Christian these people would never be convicted. They are so much like the world that no one even knows about their faith. Other Christians are like the caterpillar. They are being transformed into a new creature and everyone sees the difference in their lives. The verse says that we should not be a chameleon but a caterpillar. I spent the rest of the time teaching students the importance of being a caterpillar Christian and how they can become one.

            First, I discussed why we should be caterpillars in a world of chameleons. The main reason is that God demands it. There are two imperatives in verse 2. The first is negative and the second is positive. They are, don’t be conformed and do be transformed. I explained to the students that “imperative” means it is a command. That means this verse is in the same category as the 10 commandments. Simply put, God says so.

            The second reason why we should be a caterpillar is because of what Paul has taught us so far. The first word in the Greek in verse 1 is the word “therefore.” This word refers back to everything that Paul has said from chapters 1-11. He is referring back to chapters 1-3 when he talked about Sin. He said we are evil, wicked, filthy, putrid people deserving punishment from God. He is referring back to chapter 3-5 when he talked about Salvation. He taught us how that Jesus died for us in spite of our sin. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved. Paul is referring back to chapter 6-8 when he talked about Sanctification. He showed us how God made a way for us to overcome sin after salvation. He is also referring back to chapters 9-11 when he talked about God’s Sovereignty. He showed how God elected us by grace before the foundation of the world. Now Paul is saying based on all these things we must do something. So in chapters 12-16 Paul talks about Service. He talks about our duties in light of doctrine.

            Thirdly, we must be a caterpillar because of the compassions of God. Last time we met, we talked about God’s compassion as revealed in election. But Paul is also referring here to God’s compassion as revealed in salvation and sanctification.

            The fourth reason Paul gives us for being a caterpillar is that it is our “reasonable service.” The word for reasonable is where we get our word logical. The hymn writer said it this way, Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. It just follows that if God saved us we owe Him our lives.

            Second, I discussed how we can become caterpillars in a world of chameleons. Paul says that we must first present our bodies as a sacrifice. We should be acceptable to God. Too many Christians try to be acceptable to the world and that’s what makes them a chameleon. Sacrificing ourselves involves our time, treasure, and talent. All these things should be directed first and foremost to God. Secondly, Paul says we must renew our minds to become caterpillars. The problem with living in this world is that we are constantly indoctrinated by it. Our minds are polluted by this worlds thinking so we must renew them. We renew them through the Word of God. Renewing our minds is like refinishing furniture. First, you’ve got to strip the old stain and varnish from the wood. Then you’ve got to put on the new stain and new varnish. It’s a long process. We’ve got to remove the evil things of this world from our minds and replace it with the pure Word.  

            Lastly, we looked at the results of becoming a caterpillar in a world of chameleons. First, It gives us discernment. This year we’ve been trying to build discernment into the students by studying Proverbs. This is also known as wisdom. It’s being able to make the right choice. Many students ask for help in this area but they need to realize that discernment is a direct result of presenting themselves as a sacrifice and renewing their mind.

            Becoming a caterpillar also results in a knowledge of God’s will. Many people think that knowing God’s will means finding out what He wants them to do for a living or who He wants them to marry. Studying the Word will not give you the name of the person you should marry but it will tell you their characteristics. Christians often ignore God’s will as specifically revealed in the Bible and then expect to find His will in unrevealed areas. It just doesn’t work that way. We’ve got to first follow His will as revealed in the Bible. Renewing your mind will help you know exactly what God wants you to do in everyday situations.

            Becoming a caterpillar Christian helps us pass the tests. Verse 2 says, “That by testing you may discern.” Every day we are tested. Every choice we encounter is a test to see if we will obey God or an idol. If we have a renewed mind we will easily be able to pass the tests. This means success. It means coming to the end of your life happy with the job you’ve done. It means getting a good review from God.

            I challenged the students to spend this summer renewing their minds by studying the Word. Most students spend the summer failing in their Christian walk. I warned them not to fall into the same rut. I handed each student a 30 day devotional in Romans to help them get into the habit of renewing their minds right away. Please encourage your child to stay in the Word all summer long.

On Sunday we finished the fourth section of Romans by studying chapter 11. In this chapter Paul looks at God’s Sovereign Plan of Redemption in Time. I told the students that Paul switches back and forth from the past to the present to the future in this chapter. In verse 1 he uses the present tense when he says “I am.” He then moves to the past when referring to Elijah in verse 2. He fast-forwards back to the present in verses 5-8 when he says, “at the present time,” and, “down to this very day.” In verse 26 he uses the future tense when he says, “will be.” I told the students that studying this chapter is almost like stepping into a time machine with Paul. It’s like a Biblical Back to the Future.  This time machine gives us an understanding of God’s redemptive plan in time.

We read the chapter and charted how God worked, is working, and will work to redeem people. Instead of ruining the fun for you, I’ll let you chart it out on your own. After we completed the chart I asked the students what was similar in all three eras. We noticed that there was a common thread in time. In each age, we see God electing or choosing some for salvation, bestowing grace and mercy upon them, and hardening the hearts of others. What we found in this passage is that God’s plan of redemption is the same in the past, present, and future. He elects, shows mercy to some, and hardens others.

Lastly, we talked about the applications. What does this mean for me today? Paul has two things to say. First, he says that we should never boast about salvation. (vv. 16b-25) Boasting is out of place for us because we obtained salvation by grace. Saved Gentiles, of all people should never be arrogant that they are saved. The reason why is because they are wild, unnatural branches that God, in His grace, grafted into the tree of redemption. Secondly, Paul says that we should boast in God. (vv. 33-36) When we look at how God worked things out in history so that Gentiles might be saved we stand amazed. We say with Paul, what a wise God we serve. He is so far beyond our puny little minds.

I told the students that the majority of the people that they come into contact with who are unsaved fall into the right side of the chart. Like Israel, they think they can work their way into heaven. They ignore God’s provision of righteousness through His Son Jesus and try to do it on their own. But in 10:1 Paul says that this way does not lead to salvation. After comparing these two groups Paul asks a line of questions to tell us that our job is to evangelize these people. We need to lead them from column B to column A.

How do help people get from column B to column A? First, if someone thinks like a column B person we must help them see their Sin. The problem with column B people is that they don’t think they are sinners. They think they are good. They think their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. Unfortunately they are wrong. So we must help them see their sin. We reviewed the way of the master questions together in class. With these questions we can help self-righteous people see that they are sinful. The Romans Road is another great tool to help people see their sinfulness. Paul leads people through certain points in Romans to make them aware of their sin. (Romans 1:18, 3:23, 6:23)

The second thing that we can do to help move people from column B to A is that we must help them see the Savior. You’ll notice in this passage that Paul constantly points to Jesus. He says those who believe in Him won’t be put to shame. He says that Jesus is the end of obeying the law to achieve righteousness. He says if we call on His name we’ll be saved. The Romans Road does the same thing it moves from sin to the Savior (5:8-9, 10:9-10, and 5:1).

I told the students that since the majority of the unsaved that they come into contact with are column Bers then they need to use the methods that Paul uses to help lead them to the Savior.

Because of the recent suicides in our community, I decided to spend this week talking about the subject of suicide and why some choose it. We started by considering a quote from philosopher Blaise Pascal. 

“All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end…. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.” 

What does he mean when he says that those who commit suicide do so to achieve happiness? How can this be? First, we have to understand the concept of treasure. Every person has a treasure and everyone seeks for happiness in that treasure. Their treasure could be anything: careers, cars, money, family, boyfriends, girlfriends, fame, entertainment, music, possessions, sports, good feelings… 

Everyone has a treasure. Everyone gets mad when someone messes with or something happens to their treasure. When our treasure is tampered with we do something about it. This explains many people’s strange behavior. It explains why people have fits of rage or outbursts. Someone messed with their treasure and they are going to do something about it. When I was in High School my treasure was my girlfriend. One evening I planned to go on a date with her but my parents said that I had to stay home and spend time with my relatives who were visiting from out of town. I pitched a big fit and finally got my way and was able to go on my date. Why did I act that way? Because someone was messing with my treasure. 

In Matthew 6:21 Jesus said, “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” If we have our heart set on something then we will do a lot of things for that treasure. If we are seeking for happiness in that treasure we will spend our time, talent, and money on it. If someone’s treasure is their car then they will spend all their spare time fixing their car. They will spend their extra cash on their car. And they will use their talents to work on their car. 

It’s important for us to discover our treasure. We must go treasure hunting to uncover what our treasure really is. There are several questions you can ask to find out what your treasure is. 

Treasure finding questions
What would you do if you won $1,000,000?
What is the one thing that you desperately want to have?
What really ruins your day?
What picks you up in the middle of a bad day?
What do you think about the most?
Finish this sentence “I just wish that …” 

All of these questions reveal what you treasure the most. The answer that you give tells you what you truly treasure. What you treasure tells you where you are seeking for happiness. If your primary treasure is not God, there is a problem. In Matthew 6:19ff Jesus tells us that the problem with earthly treasures is that they are temporary. If your treasure is your girlfriend, she can dump you. If your treasure is your car, it will rust and become obsolete. If your treasure is popularity, it will end someday. The problem occurs when we realize that our treasure is worthless. When people discover that the thing they are seeking happiness in does not give them happiness they do crazy things. Jim Berg says it this way, 

“The emptiness of life without God at the center pushes itself to the consciousness once again when the music stops, the drugs wear off, the accomplishments fade, and the thrills subside. They are left to themselves, and the emptiness for most people is too much. Instead of crying out to God for light, however, they dive back into their activities…” 

When people discover that happiness is not found in their treasure they do one of two things. They either find a new treasure or they give up and decide to end their lives. Some conclude that if they cannot find happiness in anything then life is not worth living and they would be happier dead than alive. When we search for happiness in temporal things, we end up with emptiness. What Blaise Pascal said is important to consider at this point.

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?

This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” 

The fact is that the only thing that can give us true happiness is immutable, infinite, and eternal. But nothing on this earth meets those standards. We all have a God shaped hole within us that only God can fill. My son Jack has a plastic toy at home that he likes to play with. It has holes cutout in it with accompanying plastic blocks. The point of the toy is to put the blocks in the corresponding holes. Jack isn’t smart enough to realize that the pentagon block doesn’t go in the square hole. But he tries to cram it in there anyway. People are a lot like Jack. They try to fill the void within them with things that do not fit. They search for happiness in all the wrong places. In the end they realize that the void is not being filled and get frustrated. Life just does not work without God at the center. 

As an illustration, we considered the lyrics from some secular songs. The artists who wrote these songs are unbelievers. Just like every other man they tried to find satisfaction in temporal things. The songs they wrote reveal their frustration when they discovered that they could not find satisfaction in these things. I told the students that considering these lyrics is not an endorsement of their music. It’s important however, to see the heart condition of unbelievers and the best way to see it is to read their words. I pity these people because they are so empty.

The first song we considered is called Something’s Missing by John Mayer.

I’m dizzy from the shopping malls
I searched for joy, but I bought it all
It doesn’t help the hunger pains
and a thirst I’d have to drown first to ever satiate

Something’s missing
And I don’t know how to fix it
something’s missing
And I don’t know what it is at all

I can’t be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness like this

Friends -check- Money -check-
Well slept -check- Opposite sex -check-
Guitar -check- Microphone -check-
Messages waiting for me, when i come home -check-

How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries
What do you think it means?

The second song we looked at was Paranoid by Ozzy Osbourne. 

Finished with my woman
cause she couldn’t help me with my mind!
people think i’m insane
because I am frowning all the time!

All day long I think of things
but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I’ll lose my mind
if I don’t find something to pacify

Can you help me, occupy my brain?

I need someone to show me
the things in life that I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make true
happiness, I must be blind

Make a joke and I will sigh
and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
and love to me is so unreal

The last song we looked at was Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. 

I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no. No no no.

All of these lyrics show that satisfaction is not found in earthly things. John couldn’t find it in friends, money, popularity, possessions, or anything else. Ozzy couldn’t find it in women. He kept searching but still concluded that “nothing seems to satisfy.” When I read the heart’s cry of these men I feel sorry for them. They want happiness but they are looking for it in all the wrong places. The interesting thing about these artists is that they ask for help. Mayer asks, “what do you think it means?” Ozzy asks, “can you help me?” He says he needs someone to show him where to find true happiness. I told the students that all of their unsaved friends have the same heart’s cry. The unsaved are asking for help and we have the answer. 

The answer is God. We have to exchange our treasure for God. In Isaiah 55 God invites all who are thirsty to quench their thirst in Him. Jesus told the woman at the well that He could give her living water that would eternally quench her inner thirst. God is the gospel. He’s the only one that can fulfill our hearts desires. I challenged the students to share the gospel with their friends in the same way. In Isaiah 55 God invites people to find their satisfaction in Him. He asks them why they try to find satisfaction in things that do not satisfy. In verses 2-3 He says they must listen. In verse 6 He says they must seek for true satisfaction in Him. In verse 7 He says they must forsake their old ways. 

I ended by challenging the students to make God the center of their lives and to point others to the only One Who can truly satisfy.

Last week we saw in Romans 9 that God’s plan for His children involved election. This week we learned in Romans 10 that God’s plan for His children involves evangelism. Unfortunately, history shows that many who believed in election did not evangelize. They thought that if God were in control then He would bring the elect to salvation without their help. They shirked their responsibility to preach the gospel. I find it interesting that immediately after Paul teaches the Roman church about election he tells them that they are still responsible to evangelize. He asks, “How are they to hear without someone preaching?”

This week I was reminded of the great importance of sharing the gospel after hearing of the death of a Rockford Senior student. Stephen May died on Wednesday April 28^th at 7:33PM. The thing that deeply affected people about Stephen’s death is that it was so unexpected. He went to school that day just like any other day. He went to Track practice and hung out with his friends. He celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday and went home. It was a day just like any other day. But that evening he died. I asked the students if they had any Stephen’s in their lives. Is there anyone that they come into contact with that they don’t know for sure if they know the gospel? Do they have any friends who if they died unexpectedly they don’t know if they would go to heaven?

I told the students that now is the time to share the gospel. While people are thinking about death and what lies beyond it now is the time to tell them about Jesus. Sometimes students are scared to share the way of salvation because they don’t know how to start the conversation. I showed clips in Big Group from two videos to give students practical ideas on how to share the gospel. The videos are from Ray Comfort’s and Kirk Cameron’s organization called The Way of The Master. If you’d like to watch them they are entitled The Firefighter and What Did Jesus Do. You can watch them at this website http://www.wayofthemaster.com/watchepisodes.shtml.

Election: Part of God’s Amazing Plan (Romans 9)

I began on Sunday by reminding the students that the book of Romans is all about the gospel. In 1:16-17 Paul says this letter is about the gospel and everything he has said so far has been about it. This chapter is no different from the others. It is also about the gospel. But it gives us more insight into the inner workings of the gospel. I told the students that the gospel is like an onion. It has layers. In chapter 3:21ff Paul talks about the first layer. It’s the layer we see the most. This is the decision layer. It’s when a person decides to place their faith in Jesus or not. In 5:12 Paul reveals the second layer. This layer shows us that our sin problem was inherited from Adam. We were dead in sin even before we could do wrong. Chapter 9 reveals the core of the onion. It shows us that God elected certain individuals to be saved. It shows that a person’s decision to accept the gospel is contingent on what God decided before the foundation of the world.

I reminded the students of the context of Romans 9. In Romans 8 we learned that we can never be separated from God’s love. (8:35–39) Paul now is going to anticipate a question. So what about Israel? If God’s children can never be separated from His love then why does it seem like He has abandoned His people Israel. Why is it that more Gentiles accept the gospel than Jews do? Why do the majority of Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah? Paul begins addressing these questions by looking at God’s plan for Israel in history. He lists 8 privileges that God gave to Israel.

1. God’s plan for Israel in history (vv. 4–5)

A. Eight privileges God gave to Israel

o Adoption

o Glory

o Covenants

o Law

o Worship

o Promises (of Messiah)

o Patriarchs

o From their race came Jesus

GOD’S PLAN HAS NOT FAILED!

Paul concludes the list by saying that God’s plan has not failed. It continues today the same that it always has. Paul explains what he means in the following verses.

2. God’s plan for Israel defended (vv. 6–23)

A. Paul’s point: Just because you are Abraham’s descendent does not mean you are God’s child (vv. 6–7).

• Example of Isaac (vv. 7–9)

o “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Abe had other sons (Gen 25:1–2)

• Ishmael

• Zimram

• Jokshan

• Medan

• Midian

• Ishbak

• Shuah

o “Sarah shall have a son.”

Abe had children by other wives

• Hagar

• Keturah

Paul uses these examples to show how God chose one of many of Abraham’s sons. Not all of Abe’s sons were chosen by God, only one of them was.

• Example of Jacob (vv. 10–13): God chose Jacob over Esau.

o even though they were twins

o even though they had the same mom and dad (unlike Isaac and his bros.)

o before they were even born

o before they could do good or bad

Paul uses an even better example in this case. Some may have rejected the first example Paul gave because it included half brothers. They may have said that it was a poor example because Ishmael was born of a concubine while Isaac from Abraham’s wife. So Paul goes one step further and uses the illustration of twins to show that God chose one over the other.

B. God is doing today the same thing He has always done: calling/electing certain individuals regardless of human works (v. 11), will (v. 16), or exertion. (v. 16)

Paul anticipates that some may not like his statements about election so he defends election in the following verses.

3. God’s plan of election defended

A. Argument One: That seems unjust (v. 14).

• Answer: Well it is not. God is in charge and can do what He wants.

o Example of Moses (vv. 14–16), Exodus 33:19– Mercy of God

Paul refers to the time when God showed His glory to Moses. God told Moses that He was being merciful in showing him His glory.

o Example of Pharaoh (vv. 17–18), Exodus 9:16– Hardening of God

Paul refers to the 10 plagues and how God used them to reveal Himself to Pharaoh. But God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that He did not respond positively to the revelation.

Paul said in Romans 2:4 that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. It’s not something we choose. It’s done by God.

B. Argument Two: Then God is to blame for the unsaved (v. 19).

• Answer: Shut your mouth and know your role. Without God no one would be saved.

o Illustration of the Potter (vv. 19–24)

God is the creator and has the right to do with His creation what He wills. Just like a potter can choose to make a pot for a good use or a gross use. It’s up to the potter to decide the job for the pot.

o Example of Gentiles from Hosea (vv. 25–26)

God has been merciful in saving Gentiles from their sin. This shows His great mercy and love.

o Example of Israel from Isaiah (vv. 27–29)

Paul was Jewish and was glad that God drew him to Himself. Even today God is drawing Jewish people to the truth of the gospel. Just like He has done throughout history. Paul brings his argument full circle in these verses. God is doing the same thing today that He has always done. He is drawing to Himself those whom He elected before the foundation of the world.

I concluded by telling the students that election teaches us how thankful we should be for our salvation. Without God we would have had no hope of salvation.

                  In the Late 90’s the Fox channel debuted a show called Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed. The show featured a masked magician who gave away the secrets behind many common illusions. After seeing the explanation behind the illusion, you end up feeling kind of stupid for having been tricked so easily. Last Sunday I wanted the lesson to act like the masked magician. The title of the lesson was “Satan’s biggest tricks as revealed in Proverbs.” I wanted to share with the students how Satan tricks us as we struggle in sanctification. My prayer is that after the students see the inner workings of Satan’s tricks they will be less likely to fall for them.

            The first of Satan’s tricks that Proverbs reveals is what I call “The no consequences trick.” It is found in Proverbs 1:10-14. A young man is approached by a group of friends and is told that he should join them. They tell him that they will get rich together by overpowering and killing people and taking their money. The key part of their spin is when they say “like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit.” They think that they will overtake these people in such a way that not a shred of evidence will be left behind. They think that there will be no way that they will get caught. They think there will be no consequences. This line of thinking is prevalent in society today. It shows up in the slogan “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” This is exactly what Satan wants us to believe.

            Proverbs tells us that we should avoid being snookered by looking at the final destination. Every action in Proverbs is said to be a step in a certain direction. Proverbs compares two paths: the path of wisdom and the path of folly. Proverbs constantly says that each path has a destination. In Proverbs 1:25-32 Solomon lists the consequences of the above thinking. He says it leads to terror, calamity, anguish, distress, and destruction. It’s just like getting on a bus. At the front of the bus it tells you the destination. In the same way before you make a decision the Bible tells you the destination. Students must ask themselves if the destination listed is where they want to go.

            Another one of Satan’s tricks that Proverbs reveals is called “the sin is so much more fun trick.” It’s found in Proverbs 7 and in 9:17. These passages use the illustration of a seductress who tempts simple-minded young men to sin with her. In chapter 7 she spends a lot of time convincing him that they will have a great time sinning together. In 9:17 she says that sexual immorality is sweet and pleasant. (Much like what Eve thought of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3:6) I believe Solomon uses the illustration of sexual temptation to teach that all temptation is provocative. Satan wants us to think that living a life of sin is better than God’s way.

            To avoid this trick we have to remember that fun now doesn’t necessarily mean fun later. Joseph, Jesus, and Moses were offered fun from Satan but they all knew this fun was only temporal. In Hebrews 11:24-25 Moses set aside the fleeting pleasures of sin for greater wealth. Moses knew that living in the pleasure of sin would not be pleasurable in the end so he chose something better.

That is the second thing we must do to avoid this trick of Satan: compare the two. In Proverbs 9 Solomon compares the way of wisdom with the way of folly. He does this by writing about two parties: the woman wisdom’s party and the woman folly’s party. In all points of comparison wisdom is always best. The location of wisdoms party is better. The invitation method of her party is better. Wisdoms preparations for her party are better. The food and drink offered at wisdoms party are better. Most importantly the results of attending wisdoms party is better. I told the students that they must compare things honestly and accurately. Solomon says in Proverbs 5:20 “Why should you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore?” (the message)

            I told the students to know what they are trading. Esau was a fool because he traded his birthright for a bowl of soup. But how many students are just as foolish as Esau today? They trade priceless things like purity for cheap thrills. They trade beautiful things like love for lust. They trade integrity and honesty for lies and deceit. Those are bad trades. Satan is just a shyster who wants to rip them off and give them junk for their precious treasures.

            Another trick of Satan that Proverbs reveals is “the no one will ever know trick.” In Proverbs 7:19-20 the seductress tries to convince the simple minded youth that her husband will never find out. “He’s gone on a long journey and won’t be back for a long time,” she says. “What goes on between us will remain between us.” In 9:17 she says that it will all be done in secret. This is exactly what Satan tries to convince students today. Students believe the lie that they have a private or personal life. They think they have confidentiality or can plead the 5^th. The truth is nothing is a secret. That is how students can avoid this trick by understanding that nothing is secret. In Proverbs 5:21 Solomon tells his son the reason he should not take part in sexual sin is because God sees and ponders all that he does. Unfortunately, people forget this and believe that what they are doing is confidential. Then their sin snowballs until it comes out in the open and becomes a huge scandal.

            The fourth and final trick of Satan that Proverbs reveals is “The read a book by it’s cover only trick.” In Proverbs 5:3 and 11:22 Solomon says that sin can look very appealing. He says that an adulteress’ lips drip with honey and that she is like a beautiful gold ring. Satan is an Angel of light and he is very good at making things look attractive. His goal is for us to focus solely on the surface level. If we do we will soon learn that looks are deceiving. Solomon says that we should avoid being bamboozled by looking beyond the surface to the reality within. In Proverbs 5:4ff he says that while in the beginning her lips may drip with honey in the end an adulteress is bitter as wormwood. In Proverbs 11:22 he says that while a wayward woman may be beautiful like a gold ring in reality she is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. All throughout Proverbs Solomon tells his son to look beyond the façade to reality. (Proverbs 7:22-27, 9:18)

            I hope that as Satan tries these tricks on your children that they will see them for what they really are and avoid them. Talk with your teenager about the varying ways they see these tricks and how they can avoid being scammed by them.

            The first thing that Paul says in this passage that is true of us if we are children of God is that we can now call God Daddy (v. 15). In verse 15 Paul says we can call God Abba, which interpreted means Papa or Daddy. This is a big deal because God is such an awesome, transcendent, holy, unique, and majestic Being. In spite of His transcendence God has chosen to make us His children and we can now come to Him as a child would go to his Father. We are adopted into the family of God and can now partake in the blessings of the family. 

             Secondly, Paul says that if you are a child of God you receive assurance from the Spirit that you are His child (v. 16). When I was little my sister played a trick on me and told me that I was not really her brother. I was just being cared for by the people that I thought were my parents and that one day they were going to drop me off at my real parents house. I doubted that I was my parents’ child. When I talked to my Mom about it she assured me that I truly was her son. In the same way when God’s children doubt their sonship the Spirit, Who lives within each believer, assures them of their sonship. 

            Thirdly, Paul says that if you are a child of God you are an heir of an inheritance (vv. 17-25). Some fairy tales tell the story of an heir to the throne growing up in poverty not knowing about his true identity. Then one day this pauper finds out that he is a prince and discovers that he is heir to a fortune and a kingdom. In the same way, we are heirs to an inheritance. According to verse 17b part of that inheritance involves being glorified with Jesus. It also involves receiving redeemed bodies (v. 23). These bodies will be perfected and be similar to the kind of body that Jesus had after His resurrection. But, like all inheritances we have to wait to receive it. In fact, verse 17 says that we must suffer a little bit before we receive it. 

            The Apostle Paul viewed suffering in a very different way than most Americans. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 he called it momentary and light. In this passage he says it’s nothing in comparison with the glory that will be revealed to us in heaven. I told the students that they must suffer a little bit now to receive a huge inheritance later. I told them that this might mean some horrific things. When I was in High School, I read Haralan Popov’s account of the momentary suffering that he went through. Haralan was a pastor of a church in Bulgaria. In 1948 he was arrested by the Communist Secret Police and spent the next 13 years of his life being tortured for his faith in Jesus Christ. He was falsely accused, sentenced to forced labor, beaten, and practically starved to death. The thing that got me about Haralan’s story is that after many years of suffering he felt like he was about to give up. One day when the guards gave him his small daily portion of broth he found a single bean in it. He was so thankful to God for the bean and this lifted his spirits. I told the students that they may see this kind of suffering come to America. Just for believing in Jesus many people have experienced much worse. Nevertheless, it is part of the Christian life.

             Fourthly, Paul says that if you are a child of God you receive help in your weaknesses (vv. 26-27). The Holy Spirit, who lives within each believer, prays for us when we don’t know what to say. Maybe we face a difficult situation like Haralan and don’t know how to ask God for help. The Spirit, Who can read our thoughts, offers prayer for us in spite of our weakness. 

            Fifthly, Paul says that if you are a child of God all things work together for good for you (v. 28). This seems weird to say after Paul just got done talking about suffering. How can things be working together for good for a Christian who is being tortured? Paul says that we know this is true by looking at the satellite image of the Christian’s life. Too many people focus on the here and now and refuse to look at the big picture. Paul says the big picture looks like this. 

                      Whom God Foreknew He –> Predestined –> Called –> Justified –> Glorified

When we see the big picture we understand that God may use bad things to accomplish His good purpose. Just like Joseph we may not understand why God is allowing pain in our lives until the end. When we see the end of it all we understand that it was all part of God’s wise plan. 

            Sixthly, Paul says that if you are a child of God then you have God on your side (vv. 31-34). Paul asks the rhetorical question, “if God is on your side then who can be against you?” The answer is no one. God is almighty. He is the creator of all things. Nothing can stand in His way. Therefore, we can take comfort that we are on the winning side.

             Seventhly, Paul says that if you are a child of God you can never be separated from His love (vv. 35-39). Some students may say, “But God allowed Haralan Popov to be wrongly imprisoned and tortured for years. Somehow he got separated from God’s love.” That’s not true. Even if suffering comes, it does not mean that God doesn’t love us any more. Paul makes a list of all the things that can never separate us from God’s love. His conclusion is that he is ‘sure’ that nothing can separate us from God’s love. 

            When we look at all the things that we have received from God in our salvation how can we not praise Him?

This week we completed the second half of our focus on progressive sanctification in Romans 8:9-14. We began by reviewing what sanctification means. Some of the basic definitions given are ‘to be set apart’ or ‘to be holy’. I told the students that it means we are set apart from sin unto God. Since I am married I am holy to my wife. That means I am set apart from all others (forsaking all others) unto her. I told the students that the definition for progressive sanctification is growth towards greater godliness or becoming more like Jesus. That means that it is a process. I Pet 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” This verse likens sanctification to the growth of a baby. My son Jack is 7 months old now. When we first brought him home from the hospital he was tiny and weighed less than 8 pounds. Now he weighs over 16 pounds. He grew but it didn’t happen over night. Over 7 months he ate, exercised, and slept to double his weight.

            I told the students that many of them have an incorrect view of how progressive sanctification works. They think that they are sanctified like the Hulk. In a quick moment, they grow from a puny Christian to a huge, ripped beast of a Christian. They walk an aisle at camp and shazaam they’re sanctified. They make a decision at TLC and shazaam they’re sanctified. Then they come home from the spiritual high of camp and their passion fades. After a couple of weeks, they’re back at the same old things. They need to understand that spiritual growth is not a shazaam. It’s slow and long. It requires daily work. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) I reminded them that this is why it’s so important for them to do daily devotions and to come to church regularly. These tools will help them progress in their sanctification.

            After defining progressive sanctification, I then told the students how they can progress in their sanctification. Last week we learned that the first step is to use our heads. (Set our minds on the things of the Spirit) Verses 9-14 say that the second step is to use His power. (Put to death the deeds of the body through the power of the Holy Spirit)

            I told the students that in order to walk they must have power. They have to use their energy to put one foot in front of the other. We need energy to progress in the Christian walk too. Verse 9 tells us the source of that power. It teaches us that at the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit indwells each believer. Some teach that the Holy Spirit indwells believers after a period of time. They say some time after one is saved the Holy Spirit indwells believers and they then can do miraculous things like speak in tongues or heal diseases. The Bible does not teach that. It says that anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. Every Christian is indwelt by the Spirit.

            Since the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer we have the power necessary to grow in sanctification. The Bible says all that we have to do is plug into that power. According to verse 11 this power is a supernatural one. It’s the same power that rose Jesus from the dead. It’s the same power that was at work in creation. This same power was behind the ten plagues. It’s the same power that parted the Red Sea. This is supernatural power that every Christian has within him. So me must plug into that power and defeat the flesh. The passage says several times that we are sanctified by the Spirit. We are not alone in the fight. We have help. John MacArthur says, “Every true Christian has both the desire and the divinely imparted ability to live righteously while here on earth.”

            Since we have this power within us we must use it to mortify our flesh. In Colossians Paul says, “put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” (Col 3:5) This is a morbid term. It means we must become like an executioner. We must kill every sin within us. The reason why we must do this is found in verse 13. “If you live according to the flesh you will die.” It is a guarantee that sin always ends in death. If we do not kill sin, it will kill us. This was illustrated recently in the news when a trainer at Sea World by the name of Dawn Brancheau was killed by a killer whale. You would think that Dawn would have realized how dangerous whale was by it’s name. By definition it is a KILLER. But she ignored the warnings, she got too friendly with a killer, and she was killed. Sin is the same thing. Like Shamu it is a killer. If we ignore the warnings and befriend sin it will kill us every time. It’s kill or be killed. We must kill Shamu.

            I concluded by reminding the students of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:29-30. He said we must get serious about mortifying sin by amputating those things that cause us to sin. I told the students that means that if they struggle with gossiping on facebook then they should cancel their facebook account. If they struggle with looking at pornography on the internet then they should cut the internet out of their life. If they struggle with gluttony then they should not eat at buffets. I told them that they have to get serious about defeating the flesh by cutting it out of their lives.

This week we studied Romans 8:5-8 and learned more about Sanctification. I started by showing a video of confessions from people who struggle with sin. Some of the people struggled with gluttony, others with drunkenness, and others with sexual immorality and pornography. I told the students that not everyone struggles with the same sin. We all struggle with sin, but each one of us has a different sin that gets the best of us. I reminded them that we feel like Paul described himself in 7:15-24. We know what is right but we seem to do the wrong thing. We want to do the right thing but we find ourselves doing the wrong thing. In disgust, we say we are wretched and cry out to God to help us win this fight with the flesh. All believers want to win against the flesh and so we must find out how we can defeat the flesh in the great tug of war. Fortunately, God has told us how to do that. These verses give us the next step in defeating the flesh in the great tug of war.

            Last time we talked about our stand. I reminded the students that we must remember where we stand if we want to grow in sanctification. Paul said that we stand holy and blameless in Christ Jesus. But Paul doesn’t say that we should just stay there. Too many Christians are content with just having their fire insurance. They don’t want to move forward in their Christian walk. Paul doesn’t stop at verse 4, he continues to teach us about moving forward. Last time Paul talked about Positional Sanctification (stand) but this time Paul teaches us about Progressive Sanctification (walk). God wants us to move forward, progress, advance, and grow as Christians. How do we do that?

            Paul says that the first thing that we must do to grow in Sanctification is to use our head. I told the students that walking in the spiritual sense is similar to walking in the physical sense. The first thing they must do before they physically walk is think. They must engage their mind to stand, put one foot in front of the other, and continue the process to move forward. It’s the same in the spiritual sphere. We must first use our heads. Paul says that we must set our minds on the things of the Spirit.

            It’s funny how Paul says it. He says, “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” He says it in the same way that advertisers do. Wheaties have been around for years. On the front of their boxes of cereal they put a picture of an athletic champion and say “Wheaties, the breakfast of champions.” They are saying if you want to be like Michael Jordan then you have to do what he does. Eat Wheaties. Paul says the same kind of thing. If you want to be a spiritual champion then you have to do what they do. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit. I told the students to think about their spiritual hero. Who is it that they aspire to be like as a Christian? Some say Spurgeon, Jim Elliot, or Jonathan Edwards. Whoever it is, we must do something to get from where we are to where they are. Paul says that the thing we must do is set our mind on the things of the spirit.

            I asked the students, “where is your head?” The mind is so important in the battle against the flesh. Satan knows that and he is constantly trying to distract Christians and stop them from using their minds. Satan’s goal is for us to be amused. I told the students that the word amuse means to not think. In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman warns us about the dangers of disengaged minds in our society today. He says that in the early history of America the city of Boston came to symbolize our country. The Boston Tea Parties caused all Americans to claim Boston as their home city. Later New York City became the symbol of America. The immigrants who came from Europe saw the Statue of Liberty and became American citizens on Ellis Island in New York City. The city that symbolizes America today is Las Vegas Nevada. We are all about entertainment. Americans don’t want to think they just want to be amused.

            I told the students that Satan has got many of them distracted with entertainment and technology. Many young Christians today spend the majority of their time distracted by technology. They text, watch tv, play video games, search the web, go to movies, update their facebook, listen to their iPod, and text some more. They don’t use their brains. Satan’s got them all wrapped up in empty things. He has pulled them away from the more important things of life. I asked the students who is going to care if they had the latest iPhone two years from now. Who is going to care if they beat the latest video game 4 years from now? These things will be obsolete in a short period of time and yet they are what some students live for.

            Instead of this Paul tells us that we should set our minds on the things of the Spirit. This means that we should be preoccupied, engrossed, all wrapped up in, enthralled with, and mesmerized by the things of the Spirit. It means we should be meditating on the Word. It’s not just reading our Bible. It involves thinking about what we’re reading. Asking questions about the text and getting them answered. It means going to church, small group, or big group and paying attention. It means listening to Jesus music. It means fellowshipping with other believers. It means spending time with God in prayer.

            I told the students that setting their minds on the things of the Spirit is similar to what they do when they become part of a sports team. They have to go to practice and pay attention. If they don’t pay attention they won’t know what to do in the game. They will be standing on the field wondering what’s going on and looking like a fool. They will mess things up on the field because they weren’t paying attention in practice. They are supposed to memorize the playbook. If they don’t, they won’t know what to do in the game. We spend so little time in the Bible it’s no wonder why we are so weak in the fight against sin. We ignore what’s being said at Church. We would rather pass notes and joke around than hear the speaker. Then we end up weak and defeated. No wonder.

            In this passage, Paul lists two ways to live. I charted these two ways out like this. 

Too many young people think that if they are in the flesh, their mind is set on the things of the flesh, and they constantly walk in the flesh then it will end in life. It never works that way. I told them that they can bank on one thing. The way of the flesh always leads to death. Proverbs says that those who go the way of folly sexually (live in the flesh) have their bodies consumed. AID’s consumes ones body until they die. AID’s sufferers get so weak that they can’t even hold in their own waste. They become like zombies. They are alive yet they are dead. They become living dead. I told the students that no matter what area it is, if they decide to go the way of the flesh, it will end in death.

In verse 7 Paul says that if one is hostile towards the things of God, if they are un-submissive to God’s law, and if they are displeasing to God, then they are dead. I told the students that these things describe some of them. They are hostile towards the things of God. They don’t want to hear what God has to say. They have to be dragged to church and then they sit in church angry and upset because they’d rather be anywhere else. I told them not to deceive themselves into believing that they are on their way to heaven. Those who act in such a way are dead and need salvation.

I told the students that this is just part of the process to defeating the flesh. Next week we’ll learn about the Divine power that resides within every Christian which can enable them to conquer the flesh.