© By Danna Shirley
#25 - CHECKLIST
“Examine
yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves . . .” (2 Cor 13:5)
After working
at a Fire Department for five years, I’ve seen the morning routine the oncoming
shift goes through as it prepares for the day. Every item on the pumper is examined to make sure it is all in good
working order . . .
Lights
& Sirens Radios
Air
Packs Gauges
Jaws
of Life Tires
Brakes Ladders/Axes
Water
level Toolbox
In an emergency
it is ready to pull out of the station without delay and with confidence that it will do the job it is meant to do. If
not, think of the loss to life and property that might occur?
What kind of
checklist should you examine in your life? Do you read, study, and meditate on
the Word of God? Are you praying? Are you
fasting? Are you tithing?
Are
you accomplishing God’s checklist?
OUCH!
Examine
for yourself whether you are in the faith!
Props: A toy fire truck or anything related to a
fire department.
#26 - ILLUSIONS
What is an
optical illusion? The dictionary describes it as an optical phenomenon that results in a false or deceptive visual
impression.
The Bible
warns us over and over that we are not to be deceived . . .
. . . following
after false messiahs.(Luke 21:8)
. . . the unrighteous
will not inherit the kingdom
of God
. . . evil
company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33)
. . . God is
not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap (Galatians 6:7)
. . . evil men
and impostors will grow worse and worse (2
Timothy 3:13)
. . . we
ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and
pleasures, living in
malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (Titus
3:3)
It might not
cost us much to be deceived about a little thing but it could cost us eternity in
heaven to be deceived about salvation through Jesus Christ.
The truth is:
“For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever (that’s
YOU) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Props: Enlarge a picture of an optical illusion.
#27 - GOD’S
MEDICINE CABINET
How many of
us tend to go to our medicine cabinets seeking cures for our headaches, stomach
aches, indigestion, depression, and any other maladies that afflict our mind
and body? We pore over health magazines and catalogs looking for that cure-all
or preventative pill to keep us healthy . . . and happy? I realize we can have legitimate physical problems but
may I suggest an internal examination as well? Let God be your Physician and
Jesus Christ your Pharmacist.
A
merry (glad, joyful) heart is good medicine . . .
I know we’ve
all heard words like . . .
. . . have a positive attitude
. . . look on the bright side
. . . snap out of it
We can take a
pill for anything and everything, and we may get some relief for a period of
time, but do we want that “false” cure that only lasts until we take the next
pill or the next dose of medicine? We want a merry heart and God wants to give
us a merry heart. So how do we achieve this on a daily basis? Take inventory!
. . . Do I
harbor unforgiveness in my heart toward anyone?
. . . Do I resent
someone for the good life they are living?
. . . Am I bitter
about some past wrong done to me?
. . . Am I angry
and hateful
toward those around me?
God, our
Physician, tells us . . .
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
without which no one will see the Lord:
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root
of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become
defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15)
Consider how easily
our friends and loved ones can take up our
“cause” against another. Our “root of
bitterness” springs up and causes trouble in their lives as well, just by association. When they take up our offense and join us, they too become
defiled from the overflow of our
unforgiving heart.
A
broken (afflicted, wounded) spirit dries up the bones . . .
Spiritual problems
can manifest themselves in physical ways.
Jesus Christ, our Pharmacist, does not want us to remain wounded. His prescription is to . . .
Forgive:
“For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:4-15)
Restore:
“Brethren, if a man is
overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit
of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Be Joyful:
“These things I have spoken to
you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)
Be Loving:
“This is My commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you.”
(John 15:12)
So how
do we let go of something that has been a part of us for years?
Go
to God’s Medicine Cabinet…Fill
Jesus Christ’s Prescription!
First confess
unforgiveness as our sin
in the equation.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in
us.” (1 John 1:8-10)
It is humanly
impossible to forgive under our own strength . . . but in Jesus Christ we have
the ability to do all things . . .even forgive . . . as He strengthens us
(Philippians 4:13).
Next, write
down every offense on a separate piece of paper. Be as complete as possible. This may take a
few days and it may be painful to recall and relive all the hurt but don’t be
discouraged and don’t move on to the next until you feel you’ve resolved each
one.
Now pray over
each one as you willingly turn the hurt and unforgiveness over to Jesus and
with the strength that ONLY comes from Him, He will help you . . .
. . . forgive
.
. . let go of the hurt
. . . and set you free!
Now burn each
piece of paper in turn and in your spirit know
that the unforgiveness, and all the hurts, wounds, and offenses have gone up in
smoke . . .
. . . don’t
dwell on them or rehearse them again in your mind!
. . . don’t recall them from your memory banks
. . . don’t pick them up again!
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
renew a right spirit within me . . . restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me by thy free Spirit.” (Psalm
51:10, 12 KJV)
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
We
all must walk in forgiveness on a daily basis.
Props: Pill bottles.
Describe each
bottle as a short-term fix for what ails us. Point out that there are legitimate
illnesses; however, unforgiveness, if left untreated, can definitely cause
physical and mental pain and problems.
#28 - TEFLON
CHRISTIAN
When the Lord
desires to transform us into the image of Christ, do we want to be like a
Teflon pan needing only a soft cloth to clean our surface . . .
OR . . .
Are we going to be
like an iron skillet needing a wire brush or a Brillo pad to be scrubbed and
scrubbed and scrubbed . . . because we
won’t let go of the crust on our surface?
Desire to be
willing to change when God shows you where and when to change.
Desire to be
teachable and not obstinate when He has something for you to learn.
Desire to be
renewed in your mind and thinking to be acceptable and perfectly in the will of
God.
Will
we be teachable or stubborn?
Props: A Teflon pan and an iron skillet. Compare how
a soft cloth cleans a Teflon surface and how it takes a wire brush to clean a
crusted skillet.
#29 - ROLAIDS
While driving home after a trip, I stopped at a little “family
restaurant” for dinner and ordered roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy. With
my first bite I could tell something was wrong but I kept giving it another
try. I tried a bite without the gravy—no good. I tried a bite with the mashed
potatoes to disguise the meat—still no good. With each bite I kept thinking,
“This isn’t very good!”
Finally I said, “No more, I’m through.” It was brought to the
waitress’s attention and the cook came out and apologized and said that it was
indeed bad. For several hours afterward I was eating Rolaids to soothe the
upset stomach I was experiencing. I
thought to myself, “Why did I keep eating when I knew with the first bite that
it was tainted?”
Paul also
warned the Galatians about “bad food” or “another gospel” that was not the
gospel he preached. We must be careful of the kind of food (teaching) we take
into our spirits as well. A twisted interpretation of a scripture, a teaching
that is disguised as truth and we may need an antacid to soothe our upset
spirit.
If Paul
needed to caution Christians about false teaching in his day, how much more
should we be aware of false teaching in our day? Don’t keep eating bad doctrine
thinking it won’t harm you!
Props: Bottle of Rolaids.
#30 - BALANCE
“You shall have honest scales, honest
weights…” (Lev 19:36)
As someone who doesn’t
like to cook, I’ve been dishonest a
few times in accurately following a recipe. If I didn’t have whole milk, then
skim milk would have to do; if I had margarine and it called for butter . . .
guess what? Measurements have always been a problem as well . . .a serving
spoon instead of a measuring spoon; a coffee cup instead of a measuring
cup…whatever was close. I found out more than once how much it matters to honestly follow a recipe! That’s why
they are written with specific directions . . . so they can be followed to the
letter.
Now consider if we
approached our spiritual lives as I do a recipe. How would we measure up? Are
we…
Too “heavy” in: Too “light” in:
Unforgiveness Prayer
Selfishness Tithing
Apathy Bible Study
Greed Fellowship
Bitterness Meditation
Anger Sunday School and
Church
Pride Fruit of the Spirit
(love, joy, peace patience kindness, goodness,
Resentment faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)
Don’t neglect any
area of your walk with the Lord. One can never have too much of God but one can
choose to have too little!
Props: A stand of
weights. Place pebbles on one side and cotton on the other indicating the
heaviness of unforgiveness, etc., and the lightness of prayer, etc.
#31 - RUBBER
DUCKIE
“.
. . Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He
might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians
5:25-27)
Christ
loved the church . . . that’s us!
Christ
gave Himself for the church . . . that’s us!
So
that Christ might sanctify (purify) the church . . . that’s us!
And
Christ might cleanse the church . . . that’s
us!
WHY?
So
that Christ might present us to Himself as a glorious church!
HOW?
By
the Washing of Water by the Word!
THEN
As
we are washed by the Word of God, we (the church) will have our . . .
. . . spots washed away
. . . wrinkles washed away
. . . blemishes washed away
. . . any and all other
imperfections washed away!
Being
washed by the Word requires us to get into the Word every day. Would we
consider not bathing on a regular basis?
Never! But how often do we get into the bathtub of God’s Word and allow
Him to scrub us and deodorize our smelly parts? As we read the Word, the Holy
Spirit is our soap and water. Allow God to cleanse your spots, wrinkles, and
blemishes. End result: the church, THAT’S US, will be holy!
Props: Rubber duckie and a washcloth.
#32 - MEASUREMENT
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
God wants us to be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work that He assigns to us. He
shows us how to become equipped through scripture.
Scripture is
profitable . . .
. . . for doctrine (learning, teaching,
instruction)
. . . for reproof (conviction)
. . . for correction (to straighten us up)
. . . for instruction in righteousness
(character)
God encourages us
to read and study the scriptures; then submit and obey His instructions. As
Christians, how do we measure up in these areas? Some of us might walk pretty
crooked paths at times; some of us might walk the straight and narrow path at
times. Isn’t it good to know that God judges our efforts by looking on our
heart and not at our failures?
To be profitable in
all we do, study the scriptures. Let them teach us, convict us, straighten us
up, and develop our character . . . Why?. . . So that we will not be crooked, winding,
twisting, and turning aimlessly . . . but walking in the right direction,
straight, not deviating from our assignment.
Props: Compare a collapsible ruler (crooked,
twisting, etc.) to a yardstick (straight).
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