EASTER RETREAT 2017

EASTER RETREAT 2017(14 to 16^th April, 2017)

CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH

#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI

THEME: SHARING IN THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS

TOPIC:          THE PRICE OF POSSESSING GOD

INTRODUCTION:

There are many things that people run after and possess in this life. Some possess money, other possess power. Yet there are others who diligently seek to possess academic excellence, fame etc. In this study, we shall focus our hearts on gaining or winning Christ and possessing Him in our lives as our inheritance. We shall seek to understand what such pursuit of the most high entails and what it Implies for us in this life, what we must necessarily give up or do in order to possess that which looks invisible to the human eye and yet so real.

In considering this matter, we shall again look intently into the lives of some Bible characters who experienced God in some discernable ways, saints of old who sought to possess something (above all else) beyond what the eyes of canal men could see. It was this propelling force that kept them all through their pilgrimage.

May the Lord open the eyes of your heart to see (in the course of this study) the real portion being offered you in the land of the living. May He cause you to pursue Him with all your heart and mind and strength till He becomes your possession in Jesus name Amen.

We discovered so far, that no man gained and won this exceedingly great reward the Almighty God Himself, who did not pay the price. In this our Easter Retreat, we shall be examining in details, the cost of gaining Christ as our own portion in life. May the Lord grant you understanding and grant you grace to pay the price.

1.      THE PRICE OF THE RICH YOUNG RULER IN POSSESSING GOD; Mk. 10:17-24; Lk. 14:25-33

Let us consider and contribute based on this scriptures read above.

a)      Analyze the story carefully. What are the ‘good but insufficient’ qualities in his life for possessing God?

What does this imply for us today?

Note that the man was zealous. He ran to meet Jesus. He had reverence for the Lord, though he had a high position in the society. He had a good language of worship and was inquisitive about the matter of eternal life. All these are good qualities. Moreover, he was obedient to God consistently in keeping the commandments. He was eager to hear the Lord. He asked the Lord what he must do to inherit eternal life (indicating prayerfulness).

Jesus loved him but that did not make Him to wave that single condition for eternal life for that man. Though he did the best he knew, he lacked one thing. He had good qualities in his life but they are not sufficient to bring anyone into possessing God and having eternal life.

b)      “One thing thou lackest” – which is enough to disqualify a man from possessing God (Vs. 21).

Discuss this one thing along with the conditions for discipleship in Lk. 14:26-33; 9:23-27; 57-62; Matt. 10:34-38.

There are specific issues of self life in specific persons apart from the general issues. Let God deal with your own. Some may say salvation is by grace and that God will overlook the issues of self and whatever they hold tightly to and save them. This is wrong because grace teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness, it does not pamper or accept sin.

The conditions for inheriting eternal life are the same as the conditions for discipleship. The man was rich physically and self-righteous. He was rich by name, age, social status etc. He possessed these riches. The truth however is that it is what a man possess that possesses him. If God must possess him and he would possess God, he must dispossess himself of all he possesses.

c)      What is self? How can it rob us of our divine heritage? Discuss. Jer. 17:5-8; Gal. 5:17, 19-21

Self is a close imitator of the Spirit. It is the ‘I’ in you; it is your SELF. It could be good or bad; It could be positive or negative. Self protects and defends itself. It is the greatest hindrance to submission, faith and obedience. Self loves to be independent. It loves to instruct but not to be instructed. It will always miss any good thing coming from God because it does not ‘see’ it. To deny SELF is one price that we must pay to possess God.

d)     Verse 22 “…he was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possession.”

How do you also want to respond all this juncture? To follow on with your cross, releasing self-life to possess eternal life or go away? The possession he had, hindered him from possessing God. Look at the misery of possessing any other thing but God: “…he was sad…” and went away from life, from the source of all good things, from the creator. He went away into outer darkness and gloom; went away into perdition “…Grieved” and joyless, embittered, restless and unsure of the future.

The question Jesus is asking you also now is “will you also go away” Jn. 6:67

e)      What are your great possessions that will rob you of possessing the Possessor of heaven and earth?

Mention them. Such possessions could be: your family name, title, education, husband, wife, children, circle of friends, materials possession, anything that makes you bleed and feel pain when it is touched in your life etc. If you are possessed by any of these, you cannot possess God.

f)       Discuss Mk. 10:23-27. What is Jesus’ stand on this matter? Did He run after that man?

The eye of a needle is small, fixed and rigid. Whatever must pass through must be soft and ready to adjust and change shape. You cannot pass through to enter into the kingdom of God and possess God unless you change your rigidity and lose your hold over your possession. You cannot pass through with your irregular shape caused by earthly stores and possession stored up for the future. As that man found it difficult to change and release your possessions, Jesus did not run after him. He lost the great Possessor of heaven and earth. Consider this and be wise.

g)      Discuss Mk. 10:28-31. Discover the Lord’s answer to Peter:… “there is no man that has left…”

What is the definite assurance here for everyone who has left all to possess God?

The Lord is faithful. He did not disappoint men of old who took this step. He will not disappoint you. According to His word, you shall receive a hundred of whatever you have left, in this world (with persecutions), and in the world to come, eternal life.

2.      THE EXAMPLE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 12:2-3

Analyze in these scriptures how Jesus Christ Himself fulfilled the same conditions and paid the full price of possessing God.

Note that Jesus never asked us to do what He Himself has never done. He teaches and trains men by His own life example. He was equal with God, yet He did not grab that status. He let it go. His self in this case was even good, yet He let it go. Sometimes even our God given status or ability has to be given up if we must possess Him more. When riches increase (even as God blesses us), set not your heart on it. Whenever God gives you something, you may use it for that time but you must be willing to drop it in order to be able to possess God, the Giver more and more.

3.      HOW DID OTHER SAINTS HANDLE THIS SAME PRICE OF POSSESSING HIM, WHO IS INVISIBLE?

a). Moses: Heb. 11:24-27

Moses had the privilege of being called Pharoah’s daughter’s son.

He had riches and honour. However in order to possess God and fulfill His call, he refused to be called Pharoah’s daughter’s son. He preferred to suffer afflictions with God’s people and gain God, rather than enjoy the riches of Egypt and lose God, his great possession. He forsook Egypt (the visible) because he saw Him who is invisible. He became a great vessel in God’s hand.

What are the pleasures and riches that could rob people of possessing God? What are the riches and pleasures that may likely rob you of possessing God?

b). Abraham: Gen. 12:1-4; Heb. 11:8-18

Abraham left all without questioning to go to where he did not know.

He endangered his life and the future security of his children. He had opportunity to return. So also are we going to have such. We must daily make up our mind not to return. As Abraham offered up Isaac, we must be willing to give up whatever we have even though we received it from God. Possessing God is not a one-time decision. We must continue to give up all in order to possess God.

Abraham died before he received the promise. What God promise may not come when you are alive. You must be so consecrated to God whether in living or in dying. Only this way will you possess Him.

c). Ruth: Ruth 1:8-19; 2:10-12; 4:13, 17-22

Ruth forsook her people and her gods to possess the God of Naomi. She preferred to remain a widow and a poor woman cleaving to God and His people than to cling to worthless idols. God eventually provided a husband for her and she became part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Those who cling to worthless idols forsake the grace that could have been theirs. ”(Jonah 2:8)

d). Elisha: 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2Kings 2:11-15

Elisha forsook all to pursue God. He left his big agricultural company to follow the Lord. He eventually possessed God and inherited the double portion of Elijah’s anointing.

e). Paul the Apostle: Phil. 3:3-9, 12-15

Paul also forsook all. He forsook his great tradition, position and certificates as a lawyer, his self-righteousness, and everything that was gain to him in order to possess Christ. He became a great vessel in God’s hand and a blessing to the whole world today.

CONCLUSION

What is it that would hinder you from paying the price of possessing the Possessor of heaven and earth? Over comers abound beyond the Gilgal shore, singing and cheering us to labour on and not to give up. What do you choose? David declared;

“As the deer pants for the water brooks so pant my soul for you, O God…”Psa. 42:1

What do you pant after? What is your own pursuit?

The rich young ruler could not possess eternal life because he had great possessions.

·         What are your great possessions that could rob you of possessing God? List them:

·         Jesus left His glory and honour. Moses forsook all and left Egypt despite what Egypt meant to him. Abraham left all in order to possess God. What is God asking you to leave to have the Lord as your possession? Explain in details.

·         What do you think may likely be your fear in obeying this important instructions? How will you handle it?