DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
Romans 12:1-2 are very important to the life of every believer. Paul beseeches us as Christians to commit our will to God. This word “beseeches” has the idea of encouraging or begging. He is encouraging us to commit ourselves, our bodies, to God for Him to do His will in us and through us. Why would we hesitate when we understand the love God has for us and the ability He has to build our lives? It is only reasonable to make this commitment. At this stage of growth we come to the point where we understand and accept this principle. We give ourselves to God for Him to do what He wants. We come to a point of commitment; we trust Him and then we commit ourselves to Him.
Verse 2 starts with our need to refuse to be like the world. Now we are new creations in God. Why would we want to go back to the old things? God warns us that the nature of sin, the world’s philosophies and values are contrary to His way. If we do not refuse those things completely, we will find ourselves accepting them gradually. It is the nature of world system to make us like itself if we do not refuse it.
The second part tells us to be renewed in our minds. This will transform us, from what we were to what God wants. The Holy Spirit shows through God’s Word the right way to think about life, renewing our minds. He shows how to act and walk with Him. Now we can do right. We can build correctly upon the foundation as God leads and changes us from day to day. We live a life of transforming growth as we commit our way to God. It is a life of anticipation each new day, as God works in us and through us to accomplish His will on earth.
The last part of verse 2 describes God’s will. It is good, meaning there is no evil in God’s will. He will never lead us to do wrong. It is good for us and good for God. The next word used to describe the will of God is acceptable. This has the idea of being well pleasing. We will be pleased with God’s will and we already know God is pleased with it. Because it is acceptable, we can embrace it with our lives. God’s will is not something we will find hard to accept in our daily experience.
God’s will is also perfect. It is complete. God’s will comes with everything we need to accomplish it. God provides all we need to do His will. Read that sentence again, it is an important point.
Many people have a fearful attitude about walking with the Lord. They are afraid that they cannot do it. In one sense this is true, because they cannot do it in their own strength or by their own will. God will give us all we need to do His will. He will give the ability and strength necessary in order to accomplish what He wants in us and through us. This removes the pressure to be good enough or have strength enough or the abilities we feel necessary. God will give us all we need. The key then is to depend upon Him for His enablement. He gives all we need to do His will throughout our lives.
Commitment leads to dependence upon God, showing us the value of prayer.
READ – John 15:1-6
In this passage, we have a description of a vine and the branches and the ability to bear fruit. The emphasis is the need for a branch to abide in the vine in order to bear fruit. There are many lessons taught in this short passage.
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
___________________________________________________________
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
____________________________________________________________
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
____________________________________________________________
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
Romans 12:1-2 are very important to the life of every believer. Paul beseeches us as Christians to commit our will to God. This word “beseeches” has the idea of encouraging or begging. He is encouraging us to commit ourselves, our bodies, to God for Him to do His will in us and through us. Why would we hesitate when we understand the love God has for us and the ability He has to build our lives? It is only reasonable to make this commitment. At this stage of growth we come to the point where we understand and accept this principle. We give ourselves to God for Him to do what He wants. We come to a point of commitment; we trust Him and then we commit ourselves to Him.
Verse 2 starts with our need to refuse to be like the world. Now we are new creations in God. Why would we want to go back to the old things? God warns us that the nature of sin, the world’s philosophies and values are contrary to His way. If we do not refuse those things completely, we will find ourselves accepting them gradually. It is the nature of world system to make us like itself if we do not refuse it.
The second part tells us to be renewed in our minds. This will transform us, from what we were to what God wants. The Holy Spirit shows through God’s Word the right way to think about life, renewing our minds. He shows how to act and walk with Him. Now we can do right. We can build correctly upon the foundation as God leads and changes us from day to day. We live a life of transforming growth as we commit our way to God. It is a life of anticipation each new day, as God works in us and through us to accomplish His will on earth.
The last part of verse 2 describes God’s will. It is good, meaning there is no evil in God’s will. He will never lead us to do wrong. It is good for us and good for God. The next word used to describe the will of God is acceptable. This has the idea of being well pleasing. We will be pleased with God’s will and we already know God is pleased with it. Because it is acceptable, we can embrace it with our lives. God’s will is not something we will find hard to accept in our daily experience.
God’s will is also perfect. It is complete. God’s will comes with everything we need to accomplish it. God provides all we need to do His will. Read that sentence again, it is an important point.
Many people have a fearful attitude about walking with the Lord. They are afraid that they cannot do it. In one sense this is true, because they cannot do it in their own strength or by their own will. God will give us all we need to do His will. He will give the ability and strength necessary in order to accomplish what He wants in us and through us. This removes the pressure to be good enough or have strength enough or the abilities we feel necessary. God will give us all we need. The key then is to depend upon Him for His enablement. He gives all we need to do His will throughout our lives.
Commitment leads to dependence upon God, showing us the value of prayer.
READ – John 15:1-6
In this passage, we have a description of a vine and the branches and the ability to bear fruit. The emphasis is the need for a branch to abide in the vine in order to bear fruit. There are many lessons taught in this short passage.
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
___________________________________________________________
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
____________________________________________________________
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
____________________________________________________________
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
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