12 Foundation Stones - Study Notes for Class 11B --------------------------------- Three Steps to Victory - Part 2 --------------------------------- Overcoming Problems, Part 2 -> Target: Keep the victory! ------------------------------------- Key Verses ------------------------------------- Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 2 Corinthians 1:4 - Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ------------------------------------- Suggested Bible Reading ------------------------------------- <> Look up and study the Scriptures listed on the next page. Other Recommended Reading <> Finish reading Obstacles Are for Overcoming. ------------------------------------- Prayer and Praise: For Help Against Spiritual Problems ------------------------------------- Dear Jesus, I ask You to help me win the victory over these besetting sins that have been such a problem for me. I don't feel worthy of Your forgiveness, but I ask You to forgive me for my sins and to reach down and touch me with Your miracle-working power and deliver me. It seems this battle has gone on so long. I've made some progress now and then, and sometimes I've done better for a little while, but then I've slipped back into my same old problems again, to the point that it often just seems hopeless, that there's nothing I can do. Then I feel the horrible weight of the condemnation of the Enemy, because I know that my ___________ is not of You. [Note: You can fill in the blank above as applies to you, such as: bitterness, negative thinking, unloving behavior and interaction with others, envy, selfishness, criticalness, fear, lack of patience and understanding with others, laziness, angry spirit, etc.] In spite of my sins and shortcomings, I know that You are my constant Friend, Companion, and that You are always there for me; that You love me with an everlasting love. You never let me go or forsake me or turn Your back on me no matter how undeserving or horrible and sinful I feel. As I pray this prayer I claim the verse that it's not because of or through any works of righteousness which I have done that You save me or deliver me, but it's by Your mercy (Titus 3:5). I need Your help! I can't do it, and if there's any hope for me, Lord, I know it has to be You! I thank You by faith for answering! I love and praise You! ------------------------------------- Meditation: "Be Like Samuel"--A message from Jesus ------------------------------------- I need you to be like Samuel, who lived and worked in the tabernacle. He heard My voice and loved Me above all else. Even though things didn't always turn out the way that he expected, and he was faced with many battles, still I kept him and trained him and made him into the man that I needed him to be. Because of his faithfulness to My Word, and because he faithfully sought Me, I was able to make his life a wonderful blessing to many through the words he passed on from Me and the things he did for Me. He was at the right place at the right time to anoint My chosen kings, and he helped to bring the people closer to Me. These things were possible because of dear Samuel's faithfulness to hear My whispers. Be like Samuel. Follow My whispers and dedicate your heart to Me. You may not see everything clearly now, just as My men and women of the Bible didn't always know what I had for them up ahead. But they followed, and I did My part to keep them and bless them through each hardship and challenge. Keep desiring to give your all to Me, and I will bless you. You won't be able to see all that I'm doing and working on from behind the scenes, but when you follow My voice and keep your heart right with Me, then I'm able to work out good things on your behalf. Even if things don't go as smoothly as you wish they would, and even if there are more battles and difficulties along the way, please remember that I'm right by your side. You just have to look up to Me, call out My name, and I'll help you with all that you need. ---------------------------- Putting the Word into action: Three Steps to Victory! - summary <> Step 1: Identify the Problem a. Ask the Lord about your problem: Psalm 143:10; Matthew 6:10. b. Read the Word: Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105. c. Recognize the spiritual warfare: Revelation 20:10a; 12:10; Ephesians 6:11-12; Isaiah 59:19b; Luke 10:19; Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8-9a; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:4; Philippians 2:10. d. Accept your responsibility: Matthew 7:3-5; Genesis 3:12-13; 1 John 1:9. e. Seek Godly counsel: Ask others to pray with you: Proverbs 11:14; 19:20; 17:17; 27:9b; Romans 15:1a. <> Step 2: Find the Solution a. Pray and ask the Lord for help: 2 Samuel 22:7; Psalm 34:4; 50:15; Hebrews 4:16. b. Confess your sins to the Lord and if necessary to others: Psalm 97:10a; Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16. c. Take a stand against your problems. Don't give up: Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:22-24; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:10-11; Galatians 6:9; Proverbs 24:16; 4:18. d. Be positive: Philippians 4:8; 1 John 4:1; Romans 12:9b; Isaiah 26:3. e. Praise the Lord. Keep cheerful: Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6; Jonah 2:9-10; Psalm 150:6; 71:8; 34:1. <> Step 3: Move On! a. Recognize the lessons and grow: John 15:1-7. b. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not yourself: Romans 7:18a; Galatians 2:20; Isaiah 26:3; Hebrews 12: 1-3. c. Trust the Lord that He knows best: Romans 8:28. d. Forget yourself and help others. Use lessons to help others: 2 Corinthians 1:4. e. Patiently wait on the Lord: Psalm 40:1; Lamentations 3:26; Hebrews 10:36; Isaiah 40:31; James 5:10-11. ----------------------- Supplementary Reading ----------------------- ---------------------------------- Reflections: Lean on Him - Trust in Him ---------------------------------- While in India I was on my way to a convention. With several of the national brethren I arrived at the bank of a stream which seemed to be fairly deep. There was a plank over which I might cross to the other side, but I hesitated. "Why do you hesitate?" they asked. "You simply have to walk across the plank and in a few seconds you will be on the other side. This is the only stream that has to be crossed to get to the convention." Still I hesitated and replied, "Yes, but I do not think the plank is strong enough to bear my weight." "No need for any fears on that score," said they. "Hundreds have already crossed in safety before you came." "Yes," I replied, "that may be so, but I'm taller and heavier than those I have seen going across, and what is sufficient for them might not bear my weight." To prove the strength of the plank, two well-built, hefty fellows walked across together. "Look," they said, "two of us are heavier than you, and the plank took us both together." "All right," said I, "I'll venture." So, very slowly and hesitantly, I made my way across as they stood watching me with amused smiles. When I reached the other side, they said, "Didn't we tell you that you would be quite safe? Why didn't you take our word for it and trust the plank in the first place?" "Yes," I explained to them, "you see it was not the strength of my faith that took me safely across, for my faith, as you know, was very weak. But it was the strength of the plank, the object in which you advised me to put my trust." - John 4:42; Acts 16:31; 2 Timothy 1:12. ---------------------------- Have patience for the answer "Have you, perchance, found a diamond pendant? I feel sure I lost it last night in your theater," asked a woman who did not identify herself to the manager of the theater. "Not yet, madam," said the manager, "but we will search diligently for it. Please hold the line for a minute while I make inquiry." Returning a few moments later to the telephone, the manager said, "I have good news for you! The diamond pendant has been found!" There was no reply, however. "Hello! Hello! Hello!" said the manager, but the woman who made the inquiry about the lost diamond pendant had failed to wait. The manager endeavored to trace the call, but without success. Many of God's children are like that woman. They fail to wait on the Lord. His answer to our prayers will come in His good time. The promise is sure: "Call to Me, and I will answer you" (Jeremiah 33:3). --------------------------------------------- Trials are meant to cause us to cling closer! The vine clings to the oak during the fiercest of storms. Although the violence of nature may uproot the oak, twining tendrils still cling to it. If the vine is on the side of the tree opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection; if it is on the exposed side, the tempest only presses it closer to the trunk. In some of the storms of life, God intervenes and shelters us; while in others He allows us to be exposed, so that we will be pressed more closely to Him. ------------------------------------------- Keep yourself above the cares of this world If you go to the banks of a little stream and watch the swallows that come and bathe in it, you will notice that, while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away with their wings unwet. Now, that is the lesson for us. Here we are, immersed in the cares and business of the world, but let us keep the wings of our faith and love out of the world so that, with these unclogged, we may be ready to take our flight to heaven. The Christian is not ruined by living in the world, but by the world living in him. (John 17:16-19; Galatians 6:14; 1John 2:15-17) ---------------- You can have Him Dr. S. D. Gordon tells of an old Christian woman whose age began to tell on her memory. She had once known much of the Bible by heart. Eventually only one precious bit stayed with her. "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). By and by part of that slipped its hold, and she would quietly repeat, "That which I have committed unto Him." At last, as she hovered on the borderline between this and the spirit world, her loved ones noticed her lips moving. They bent down to see if she needed anything. She was repeating over and over again to herself the one word of the text, "Him, Him, Him." She had lost the whole Bible, but one word. But she had the whole Bible in that one word. -------------------------------- Stay in Contact with the Source! (A message from Jesus) Spiritual strength comes from Me - from abiding in Me, abiding in My Spirit. It is Mine to give, and I give it to those who feed heartily upon My Word, who cherish it, who draw their nourishment from it. For these are My true followers - those who desire true strength, those who have the faith to put other things aside and to feast upon My strengthening Spirit that comes from My Word. It takes faith to put things aside and to come to Me. This step in itself causes strength of spirit, because it is trusting in Me. Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will direct your paths. - It's so easy to get busy with a little here and a little there, for there's always so much to do. But remember to take that time with Me, to make that contact with Me, to keep that contact with Me, for in so doing, then My Spirit is able to flow. When it's needed, it will be available, it will be there for you, it will help you with the solutions. Stay in contact with the Source! - Let Me constantly replenish your reservoirs of spiritual strength. Take time to come to the fountain, to open your vessel and let it be filled. Cherish that which is most needful. Absorb it, and let it become a part of the very fiber of your being. Let it be such that you can do nothing without it. Be so dependant on it that you will be afraid to move without it, to make any decision without it, without knowing that you're on My channel, abiding in the flow of My channel and letting it lead you, guide you, strengthen you, refresh you, and keep you sane, happy and fulfilled. True inspiration comes from the fountain of My light, and I give abundantly. I would that it flow freely upon everyone that comes to it, desires it, and knows that they need it. It will flow from you onto others. So be happy to be immersed in the flow of My Spirit. I have oceans to swim in that you know not of! The only way you can find them is to launch out, swim with all your might, and then coast and rest upon Me. Let Me fill you! Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit (John 15). You know the importance of staying close to Me, and I want to encourage you to strive to continue to do that. I'm there for you and I'll help you. Continue to look to Me, continue to lean on Me, continue to put your hand in My hand, to let Me guide you. Your faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. You have an abundance of Word. Use that weapon. Use that tool. Perfect your use of it. Develop your skills in using it, and it will profit you much! Continue to trust in Me, and I will continue to use you and help you. Continue to cast your burdens upon Me, and I will carry them. I will sustain you. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you. I will be your help in time of trouble. I will be your Counselor, your Comforter. I will help you to mend the broken hearts, to bind up the wounds, to pour out the soothing, healing balm of My love and My Spirit. Continue to let go and let Me have My perfect way. Continue to yield. Continue to give your all, and I will continue to strengthen you. I will keep you and I will help you. Continue to wait upon Me and trust in Me. --------------------- Setting Goals --------------------- Life is full of decisions, lessons, experiences, challenges and ups-and-downs, but that's what makes it so rewarding and fun! You love to learn and experience new things, and the Lord likes to see you set goals for yourself. But remember, there are many things to learn, and you can't learn them all at once. So don't get discouraged or set your goals so high that you can't reach them. The best way to set goals is to break them down into small, attainable goals. Once you achieve one, then right away strive for more, and on and on. It takes many trials and errors and tests and battles to learn all the things you need to know. So don't get discouraged that it takes time. You have your whole life ahead of you - and eternity too! Just because you have to struggle, it doesn't mean you're not progressing. In fact, that's how you learn and grow - by struggling and fighting on. Just keep fighting and keep your eyes on the goal, and you'll be going forward. One thing that would help you reach your goals is to spend more time with the Lord. You can do that by reading His Word and by hearing His voice in prophecy, and then doing the things He asks you to do. (END)