Staying connected

We are all in search for peace and satisfaction, often we look in the wrong places. For the next 8 weeks will be learning how the ONLY source of satisfaction and peace is found in Jesus. Over the next few weeks we are challenging everyone to a reading plan which will cover areas in our lives that if uncontested/unchallenged even though we love God and we love being part of a church and we want the best for our family the result can be a constant emptiness and dissatisfaction in our lives. This is why Jesus said  “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)

Here are the nuts and bolts to the 8 Week Reading Plan

When:  We will start this Monday, July 18^th,  Concluding on Saturday, September 3^rd.

— You will read from the Bible and a short devotion designed to help us go deeper.

Where:  You can access to the content right here on the blog

— Heights Church app.  Download the APP from the app store search for Heights FC.

— The reading plan can also be found at bible.com

You can discover the plan by searching for ‘Jesus, I want to love you Part 1’

Paper versions of the app can also be found at the info counter Sunday mornings or evenings.

What:  We will read from many different places in Scripture. These readings will be topical, allowing us to learn more about Jesus and areas in our lives we hold back from God.

Who:  Everyone, whether you are new to reading the bible or you have your own reading plans you are currently reading, this is a great supplement to your reading. Excellent for opening dialog and sharing about what God is speaking to you as individuals.

Why:  Those who Grow together, Go together.  We exist to Help People Follow Jesus and how we do this is by Growing in our maturity, then Going where God shows us to go serve others and share the Gospel.

Part 1: True Righteousness TRUE

What does Jesus say about righteousness? We’re going to listen to His own words in the Sermon on the Mount, our first focus being His fulfillment of the law.

7-18:  Matthew 5:17-18

7-19: Matthew 5:1-16

7-20:  Matt. 5:17-20, Isa. 61:10, 2 Pet. 1:1, I Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 5:21, Eph. 4:24, Matt. 23

7-21:  Philip. 1:9-11, Eph. 3:14-19, Romans 6:4-23

7-22:  James 2:8-12, Matt. 6:1-8, Isa. 5:20-21

7-23:  Rom. 3:9-11, Rom. 6:23, 2 Thess. 1:9-12, 2 Cor. 5:21, I Cor. 15:3-4, Rom. 5:6-8, Rom. 10:9, Gal. 2:20

7-24:  Revelation 2:7

Part 2 – Lord, am I angry?

7-25    Matthew 5:21-22, I Peter 3:3-6

7-26    Matt. 5:21-22, Gen. 4:1-15, Gen. 4:25-26

7-27    Matt. 5:21-26, Luke 6:37-38, Gal. 5:19-26

7-28    Eph. 4:26-27, 2 Sam. 13:1-36, Eph. 4:20-32

7-29    Mark 3:5

7-30    Revelation 2:7

 

[Day 1] July 18th 

HIS HOLY PERSPECTIVE  Read Matthew 5:17-18.

In this plan we will be looking to Jesus to teach us about righteousness from His holy perspective so that we might come to love Him more. We’re going to listen to His own words in the Sermon on the Mount, our first focus being His fulfillment of the law.

God gave the law to lovingly guide and instruct His people. But it wasn’t long before the people took the law and twisted it into something that only brought death and destruction. The law given in the Old Testament became so contorted and twisted by the religious leaders that what was taught choked the truth and life right out of it. The “religious” took God’s law and added a list of man-made rules and regulations, something which resembled more of a straight jacket than real righteousness.

But Jesus came for the express purpose of fulfilling the true intent of the Law so that true righteousness would be available to all. This ultimately would entail the end of the Mosaic Code—the Old Testament law—once everything was accomplished by Christ, but also the establishment of God’s righteousness for all those who believe in Jesus (Rom. 10:4). Jesus fulfilled the law.

PRAISE HIM

Being first by praising God for sending His Son, the Living Word. It is always best to begin our time with Him by focusing our heart and mind upon Him. Let us take our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and fix them on Him. Praise Him for who He is and for His Word. Use Psalm 119:97, 113, 142, 153, 163, 165, 174 as inspiration.

ADMIT TO HIM

Now open your heart up before the Lord. What are some of the things you crave more than Him or that keep you from fully surrendering everything to Him? O Lord, I admit that I . . .

THANK HIM

Now thank Him for always being ready to hear your cry, come to your aid, and forgive your sin. Thank you, Lord, for . . .

ASK HIM

Ask Him now, in faith, without holding back. If you need to ask Him for the faith to believe, do so. Ask Him to change your desires and to love Him more than life itself.

[Day 2]  KNOW HIS CALL FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read Matthew 5:13-16.  What does the Lord say you are? What phrases does He use to describe you? Now, boldly and bravely ask Him to accomplish these in your life, trusting in His loving ways. Now note the statements of warning or caution He expresses. What do these warnings mean, in your own words? He ends this passage with a command. What is it? Personalize this statement in a prayer. Be alert today to think of at least one way you can set your light on the lampstand.

As we continue, I would like all of us to read from the beginning of Matthew 5 for context and to lay a foundation for our study. Please pray before you begin and ask the Lord to shed His light on these verses and to speak to your heart personally today. Ask Him how these verses specifically apply to you. How wonderful and special it is that God’s Word, all of it, is meant for each of us, each day, wherever we are. He has a special and very specific calling on you. Be encouraged to know that He sees all of your circumstances, all of your strengths, and all of your weaknesses. He is working even now to bless you and to bring about His glory in you to exalt His name. As you follow His path of righteousness, excellent and praiseworthy things will unfold. You are doing a great work!

Read Matthew 5:1-16.  Think about the eight Beatitudes. What do you understand each one to mean? It will be very helpful in your spiritual growth and understanding to give it a try. Don’t be concerned if you are unsure or don’t think you understand.

Blessed are…

Blessed are…

Blessed are…

Blessed are…

To review, what does Jesus say we are in Matthew 5:13-16? What did He say we are to be? What is our purpose? The Lord appreciates your earnestness and your diligence. Take a few minutes to close your time with Him in prayer.

[Day 3] HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read Matthew 5:17-20.  After Jesus lays out the Beatitudes – the path of righteousness – He then goes on to explain that although He is establishing something new, He is not just discarding the old but fulfilling it. His teaching is revolutionary, but not as man would think!

The law pointed to Jesus; He is the fulfillment of it. The law pointed to the way of life, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the king of righteousness! He is our righteousness, our very provision, the righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. He is the way. Read the Scriptures below and note where our righteousness comes from.

Isaiah 61:10, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 4:24

Now read Matthew 5:18-20. Prayerfully meditate upon each word and listen carefully, knowing that these are Jesus’ words to you. Please take them to heart.

Now read Matthew 23—Jesus’ own words as He nears the end of His ministry. Pay attention to each warning that pierces your heart. Remember that these aren’t the opinions of a great theologian, the musings of a renowned scholar, or the orations of famous presidents. Cling to each word and listen carefully, knowing that these are Jesus’ words and His perspective. Please take them to heart.

Jesus spoke very plainly to the scribes and the Pharisees before His ministry was completed on earth. It serves as a warning to us. I am sure they did not see themselves as He saw them. I pray that we don’t fall into the trap of being so “religious” or “rigid” in our thinking that we lose our relationship with Christ and our effectiveness with those the Lord has put in our lives. Our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees—we must be credited with Christ’s righteousness in God’s sight. Any other “righteousness” falls short.

How can we respond now to Christ’s righteousness given to us? Don’t be afraid to preach the gospel to yourself (see Day 6) or to ask the Lord to shine light into your heart so that you can burn more brightly. He loves you and wants to gently show you where you can line yourself up more with His Word. Ask Him to help you see and obey the things He shows you.

[Day 4]  INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

When we have been given the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus, how should we respond in our lives?

We say that we love you, Lord. We really do want to love you as you would want us to love you. We want to see how our love for you relates to our walking out your righteousness and vice versa.

Read Philippians 1:9-11 and Ephesians 3:14-19. Take a moment right now and pray right along with Paul: “Lord, may my love abound still more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that I may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ; filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” What does Philippians 1:11 say we are filled with?

Let’s take a look at a passage from one of Paul’s epistles to help prepare our minds and our hearts as we seek to walk out the Lord’s righteousness. We need to listen carefully because we, who call ourselves Christian, are looking so much like the world around us. We look at sin from man’s perspective, but we want to see it from Jesus’ perspective. Let us be instruments of righteousness; let the Sermon on the Mount be lived out in our hearts! Let us offer ourselves, our lives!

Read Paul’s appeal to us, in Romans 6:4-23, to put our human ways aside and to put to death our way of doing things and our deeds of the flesh. What instructions does he give? All of these words might sound so familiar, but we need to ask the Holy Spirit to bring them to life for us.

Let us, with God’s help, offer ourselves and our lives as instruments of righteousness. Take a few moments and ask the Lord what it would look like in your life if you were to live out His righteousness every day. What would need to change in your thinking, in your heart, in your actions, and in your relationships with:

Your Lord

Your spouse

Your children

Go to prayer and ask the Lord for His grace to hear the truth, receive it, not run from it, and believe that Jesus is as able as ever to make the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear! Believe in Him.

[Day 5]  GENUINE RIGHTEOUSNESS

For another perspective on love and righteousness, let’s take a quick look at James 2:8-12.

The Word of God is such a high standard. Who can keep it? The Bible teaches us that apart from Jesus we have no ability to keep His Word (John 15:4-5). But we can be comforted. He has given us the grace to live according to His standard. Remember, He looks at the heart. He is focusing on the intent of your heart. The Beatitudes tell us that we must be poor in spirit – to willingly acknowledge and confess our inability – but not to stop there. We have to look to Him to cleanse us from unrighteousness and to provide His power and grace to make us adequate. We are so prone to hypocrisy if we do not face our sinfulness and inadequacy.

Hypocrisy is doing things for the eyes of men to see or forming a righteousness of our own by cleaning ourselves up on the outside and ignoring the inside. Read the passage below and ask the Lord to prick your conscience if necessary. We want to live the real deal. People are so desperately looking for someone to be the real deal, particularly when so much of the world around them is built on superficiality, facades, and lies. The people in your life need to know that you love them right where they are with all their frailties, sins, and bad habits. They need to see Jesus.

Read Matthew 6:1-8 and Isaiah 5:20-21.

Take time today to share your concerns and struggles with the Lord. You could write it as a letter if you would like. Let Him know where you feel overwhelmed, apathetic, or concerned. Lay it all at His feet. Let Him know if you think that He is asking too much. Talk openly with Him about the areas in your life that you know are not what they should be. But remember, He is your friend, your number one advocate, your defense, and your strong right hand. Be ready, open, and vulnerable. Be real. Really real. Depend on Jesus to be your protector and your defense. Ask the Lord to grow you in righteousness and to give you the grace to be genuine with Him and with others. Take time to pray the same also for your family.

[Day 6]  THE GOSPEL: REMEMBER IT AND PREACH IT TO YOURSELF DAILY!

Man was created to glorify God and enjoy and delight in Him forever. Read the passages that follow each section.

Genesis 1:27

Isaiah 45:12

Revelation 4:11

“Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord. Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God, for thou canst sing with David, ‘God, my exceeding joy.’ Be glad that the Lord reigneth, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that He sits upon the throne, and ruleth all things! Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness. That He is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness. That He is mighty, should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness.”

—Charles Spurgeon

Man disobeyed and rebelled against God and received the due penalty for His actions. He is now spiritually dead, separated from God, and in great debt due to his manifold transgressions.

Romans 3:9-11

Romans 6:23

2 Thessalonians 1:9-12

Jesus Christ lived, died for our sins, and rose from the dead conquering sin. He who knew no sin became sin on your behalf so that He could give you His righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Romans 5:6-8

Whoever, by the power of God, are quickened and turn to Jesus in humble, trusting, faith are forgiven of their sin and given eternal life in Christ Jesus. If you cry out to God, confessing that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness, then God Himself has done a mighty, powerful, merciful work in you.

Romans 10:9

Our response to the gospel: Go forward in faith remembering what Christ has done and daily die to yourself that He might live in and through you.

Galatians 2:20

Colossians 3:5-17

[Day 7]

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART

Read Revelation 2:7.

Reflect on the study this week.  Ask yourself the following questions.

1. Did I listen carefully? Did I have a teachable heart? What did the Lord want me to hear this week?

2. What do I need to get on my knees about and take to the Lord?

3. What do I need to do?

4. What do I need to stop doing?

5. What do I need to ask the Lord for His grace to help me live out in the power of His Spirit and not in my own strength? Apart from God, we are unable to do anything, but He says that if we ask anything in His name He will do it. What should I ask?

Close in prayer before the Lord.

 

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