Lesson 16 Growth Must be Intentional<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been said that experience is the best teacher. But, I agree with John Maxwell when he says, “Experience in itself is not the best teacher, evaluated experience is.\u201d I am a runner. In my younger years I loved to compete. But, after each race, my coach would talk through how I did. As we evaluated each race, and we evaluated my competition, he would point out how I could become better. He would say that racing is 90% mental and 10% ability. You could beat out guys who were better by running smart and strong mentally. So he would coach me to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As John\u2019s fame began to spread, there were 2 kinds of people who came to listen. The first group to note were the religious. Matthew notes (Matt 3:7) \u201cMany of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism.\u201d As news of his ministry reached the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious counsel, a delegation was sent to investigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John was proclaiming the coming of a king and a kingdom, and his preaching had obvious messianic overtones. It seems that the Sanhedrin had a policy to investigate any potential messianic movement. (Fruchenbaum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew notes that the Pharisees and Sadducees came TO HIS baptism (Matt 3:7), they did not come to be baptized by John. When John saw them coming he confronts them and calls them snakes. He knew they weren\u2019t coming to repent, but to investigate with a critical eye. But he calls them to repent anyway! These were very bold words!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John reminds them that the Messiah would come as a Judge to remove the sinful from the kingdom. \u201cThe axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!\u201d (Matt 3:10) In light of the coming judgement John exhorts them to repent! (Matt 3:8) \u201cBear fruit in keeping with repentance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second group that heard John’s ministry, came in genuine repentance, desiring to be baptized. Pentacost comments the following: \u201cIn his audience there were many publicans and sinners, with Gentiles, Samaritans, soldiers, and people of all classes. His message was democratic and deep; conviction gripped the hearts of many through this earnest preaching with the result that multitudes were asking earnestly and repeatedly: “What then are we to do?” (Luke 3:10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the crowds pressed forward for confession and baptism, John put his finger on the besetting sin of each. He also laid down a few broad principles of reformed conduct.\u201d (Pentacost)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John called for true repentance. True repentance always results in change. The very nature of repentance is that of turning away from one thing, and toward another. The religious leaders didn\u2019t want to turn away from their position or authority, but tax collectors, soldiers, Gentiles and Samaritans heard John\u2019s message and genuinely sought change!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was God doing? Why did He have this written down?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John exhorted the religious leaders to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. While they didn\u2019t listen and heed his exhortation, publicans and sinners did!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they heard John\u2019s message, they began asking, \u201cWhat then shall I do?\u201d John answered by pointing out specific things in each of their lives that needed to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we stop and evaluate our lives by scripture, and ask \u201cwhat shall I do?\u201d the Holy Spirit will be faithful to show those areas in our lives that are hindering others from seeing Him through us. Truth should lead to repentance, and repentance leads to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who genuinely sought forgiveness, John put his finger on the besetting sin of each one who asked. What would God say if I genuinely asked God that question? What would he put his finger on in my life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In many ways this is the foundation of a personal growth plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is what I have been doing with this study. But, it should be something we are doing every day. Asking God,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Maxwell says, \u201cYou won\u2019t grow until you change something you do everyday.\u201d What daily habit do I need to change in order to be a better picture of you to those who witness my life? What new habit do I need start doing everyday?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, just like I learned in high school, a good coach can help you identify those things and be intentional to work toward change. John was used by the Holy Spirit to point those things out in those people\u2019s lives. Coaching is an intentional conversation, partnering with the Holy Spirit in your life, to implement what He reveals to you. If that sounds like something that would beneficial to you, I would be very happy to coach you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do I need to declare to myself, what steps do I need to make, in order to implement and integrate what God is telling me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lesson 16 Growth Must be Intentional The Preface: It\u2019s been said that experience is the best teacher. But, I agree with John Maxwell when he says, “Experience in itself is not the best teacher, evaluated experience is.\u201d I am a runner. In my younger years I loved to compete. But, after each race, my coach […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[130602],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1460","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-life-of-christ","7":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/david-watters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}