Steps to Spiritual Health
A.
Introduction
1.
Witnessing Rev
12:11b
2.
“Sanctification is the progressive work of
a lifetime.” (3SM
202.3)
3.
The devils believe and tremble James
2:19
4.
Living without the Mediator EW 70-71
B.
Overarching
Principles
1.
Humble
Honesty
i. Honest
with our selves – no denial Romans
12:3
ii. Honest
with God 1John
1:9
iii. Honest
with others James
5:16
2.
Trust
i. Not trusting
self 2Cor1:9;
Lk18:9; Pr3:5; Pr28:26
ii. Trusting
God 2Cor1:9;
Pr3:5; Ps9:10; Ps20:7;31:14;56:3;84:12
iii. Trusting
others when it is safe
3.
Consecration
to Father God through His Son in us
i. Full
denial of self Mt16:24;
Gal2:20; Rom12:1
ii. Commitment
to trust and obey jn14:15;15:14;14:23;
Rom12:2
C.
Practical
Steps
1.
Step 1
"We admitted we were powerless over our problems, that our lives had
become unmanageable."
i. Jesus
can’t… Jn5:19,30;8:28
ii. I can’t…
Jn15:5
iii. Proud
vs. Humble Prov3:34;
Jam4:6; 1pet5:5
2.
Step 2
"Came to believe that the Almighty Father, through His Son, could restore us to sanity."
i. God
supplies all our need Philippians
4:19
ii. Thoughts
of Peace Jeremiah
29:11-12
iii. Jesus
never leaves us – ever Hebrews
13:5; Matthew 28:20
iv. Prodigal
son Luke
15:10-24
v. Forgiveness
1John
1:9
vi. Father
& Son live with us John
14:23
vii. “… ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if…” Romans
8:9
viii.
The Lord is the Spirit and liberty 2Corinthians
3:17
ix. Hope
of Glory Colossians
1:26
x. One
God, Saviour, Spirit 9T 189.3
3.
Step 3
"Made
a decision to turn our will and our lives over to Father God & His Son."
i. “The Power of the Will” MH
176 (See: The True Force of the Will handout)
ii. Resistance
steps James
4:6-10
iii. Thoughts
from Gethsemane Mt26:38;
Mk14:36; Lk22:43-44
iv. Lord,
what would you have me to do? –Saul, Acts9:1-6
D. Closing thoughts: Gal2:20;
Deut8:3; Mt4:4; Lk4:4
E. Resources:
Linked outline & transcript online at sidnash.org/u/ssh
The True Force of the Will
“The
tempted one needs to understand the true force of the will. This is the
governing power in the nature of man the power of decision, of choice.
Everything depends on the right action of the will. Desires for goodness and
purity are right, so far as they go; but if we stop here, they avail nothing.
Many will go down to ruin while hoping and desiring to overcome their evil
propensities. They do not yield the will to God. They do not choose to serve
Him.
God
has given us the power of choice; it is ours to exercise. We cannot change our hearts;
we cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, or our
affections. We cannot make ourselves pure, fit for God's service. But we can choose to serve God, we can give Him our will;
then He will work in us to will and to do according
to His good pleasure. Thus our whole nature
will be brought under the control of Christ.
Through
the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in the life. By yielding up the will to Christ, we ally ourselves with
divine power. We receive strength from above to hold us steadfast. A pure and noble life, a life of victory over
appetite and lust, is possible to everyone
who will unite his weak, wavering human will to the omnipotent, unwavering will
of God.” (Ministry of Healing, page 176)
The heavenly
intelligences will work with the human agent… Christ says, I am at your right
hand to help you. As the will of man
co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be
done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. (Christ’s
Object Lessons 332-333)
♥ We cannot control our thoughts, our impulses, or our affections
Romans
7:21-23; Matthew 26:41; John 5:19, 30; John 15:5; Romans 9:16
♥ We can choose to serve God
Joshua
24:15; Deuteronomy 30:19
♥ We can give Him our will
♥ We can let God work in us to will and to do according to His good
pleasure
♥ Our whole nature can be brought under the control of Christ
Ezekiel
36:26-27; 2 Corinthians 10:5; John 15:4
♥ By yielding up our will to Christ, we ally ourselves with divine
power
Revelation
3:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 11; Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 3:5;
Ephesians 3:16-21
♥ A pure and noble life, a life of victory ... is possible to
everyone…
♥ The Secret of Death
Interactive
version: sidnash.org/willpower (includes Sid’s testimony)
Understanding
Jesus as our Perfect Example: sidnash.org/crucified
Recovery
musings: sidsrecovery.org
Email: sid@sidnash.org