Tuesday's Bible Study, April 20, 2021 - It's Built on the Work: Learning to Rest in His Grace

 Greetings Believers,  

Tuesday's Bible Study was a closer look at the tension between work and resting in God's grace.  A little consistency goes a long way.  Check out the outline below.

God Bless!

Scripture References & Highlights

Prayer for 2021:  This year will be a year of Light; that Light will shine and darkness will not dispel it. 

In Jesus' Name

Message Scriptures

• Psalm 90:14-17
• Resting allows us to do...
1. Work well, Jeremiah 29:11, receiving direction and guidance
2. Lean into Him for total dependency, Zechariah 4:6, trusting God and His strength
3. Rightly hear, see, receive, and prepare to carry out His work rightly, Jeremiah 33:3, come closer to hear Me rightly; focus on His mouth and what He is saying
4. Refreshed for the work ahead, Isaiah 40:31
• Galatians 5:16-18 & Romans 7
• soul lusts against the spirit
• resting in the grace of God
• Philippians 2:13
• 1 Thess 5:24
• obedience and commitment
• Matthew 6:6
• Jesus modeled a lifestyle of prayer in secret was able to do miracles openly
• John 1:4-5
• Light shining in the darkness
• 1 Corinthians 15:10
• Paul worked harder than all to do much for Christ
• Genesis 1:1
• God introduces man to work; be fruitful and multiply
• Exodus 34:9
• Moses renewed his covenant with God
• vs. 27, God begins to set order or times of rest
• vs. 21, work 6 days; rest

 Nuggets for the Week

• The dichotomy of God's timing of work and rest; a harmony of sitting at His feet and getting up and moving
• Get your reps up - amp up the spiritual workout, maximizing your reps with consistency, getting proper form and focus
• Once the form is down then more weight is added
• It doesn't always take what we think
• Developing good habits...
• takes consistency (intentionality)
• bad habits don't require much effort or focused attention
• it's a work of grace in developing good habits; there is a partnership with God's grace
• God can work with our shaky commitments; acknowledging His faithfulness and our weakness
• God does so much in the darkness
• Practice Presence
• just practice being in God's Presence
• learn how to move with the Lord
• practice listening, seeking, drawing near or allowing Me to draw you near
• God works on behalf of all creation
• 
  

Reflections

• Do we believe in God's Word when faced with our own shortcomings?
• What do we practice in secret? Give our time and attention o when no one is looking?
• How you work and how you rest?
• partnering with a God that works
• rest because you can't do it all (humbly; not lazily)
• God examined His work daily.  Is it acceptable?

 Key Takeaway for the Body

• God is disciplined and consistent in what He does but again His grace requires our partnership
• It is good for us to practice, put in the discipline in pursuing God
• What's done in secret (reps) is revealed publicly
• The behind the scenes practice is what is sometimes missed
• God does His work in us secretly in those dark places
• You can have limited or no impact if you're not willing to work
• A misguided plan can lead to fruitlessness (sowing leads to reaping)
• Jesus invested all of Himself into us.  He encourages us to value the investment in us.

Prayer Time

In your times of prayer this week (9am,12noon, and 6pm) we encourage you to include the following scriptures located below and in the article 7 Verses and 7 Prayers for your Pastor/

Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:16-17

Philippians 1:9-11

Colossians 1:10-12

Worship Highlight