ALL IN-2: CHARGE!

Don Parmely

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January 11, 2023 WED All In-Lesson 2

Introduction

From handout:

Many people play it safe, retreat when things get tough, and slip into predictable and familiar patterns. Christians who are all in:

take risks,

charge forward even when it is tough,

and are willing to try new things if there is a chance it will forward the cause of Jesus.

Jesus knew that the only way to extend grace and forgiveness to broken people was to offer His own life on a cross as a substitution for all of our sins.

He committed to do this and nothing in heaven (the spiritual realms — the devil) or on earth (people, circumstances) would stop Him.

When one of His closest friends, Peter, heard Jesus talking about how He was going to willingly suffer and give up His life, Peter tried to stop Him: “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” The response of Jesus was shocking and strong. He said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:22 – 23).

It was as if Jesus cried out, “Charge!” and pressed forward with no thought of turning back. He could do this because the direction He was heading was in perfect sync with the will of the Father.

Having a tenacious, unyielding, relentless spirit is a glorious gift if you are heading in the right direction and following the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, as Jesus was doing. But if you are heading in the wrong direction, it is just sad!

Have you ever watched people charge into situations that were clearly not honoring to God?

Such actions can ruin not only their own lives but the lives of those around them.

Sometimes it is best not to press forward, but to step back, evaluate, and hit the brakes.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus gave the command to charge! And He’s never sounded the retreat!

So, before you yell, “Charge!” the next time, first pause to answer one vital question: Is this the will of God for my life?

If the answer is no, hit the brakes. If the answer is yes, move forward in confidence.

Talk About It

Tell about a time you felt God call you to take a bold stand or enter into a surprising action for Him. What happened as you pursued this goal?

Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It is an all-out assault on the forces of darkness.

Discussion

1. Our battles don’t look like the ones that Colonel Joshua Chamberlain fought, but we have them nonetheless. Tell about a time you felt outnumbered, shot at, or knocked down. How did you respond in that difficult life situation? How did you experience God’s presence with you?

I prayed more and depended more on God’s strength.

I didn’t have what it would take — I still don’t.

2. Colonel Chamberlain’s date with destiny defined his life and future. His decisive action had a much bigger impact than he could have ever imagined in the middle of the battle. What is a battle or challenge you are facing today?

Would we be talking about Colonel Chamberlain if he had died leading the charge? If the Rebs had rallied and held off his puny charge? Nope.

Though the outcome was unknown (he could have more easily died than won) he charged forward.

My challenge is to:

Be an excellent leader of this church.

Lead the children forward.

Establish a youth group.

Get a men’s ministry off the ground.

Raise up more ministry leaders.

The other “stuff” I do.

While not going to pieces over the manifold stresses in my life.

What is one bold and decisive action you feel God is calling you to take, and what is keeping you from charging forward and taking action?

Take youth to camp — I am old and tired.

If we do the little things like they are big things, then God will do big things like they are little things. That is how the kingdom of God advances.

3. Read: Matthew 21:12 – 13; Matthew 15:1 – 9; and Luke 4:31 – 37. What do you notice and learn about the character, boldness, and strength of Jesus in these accounts?

Matthew 21:12–13 (LSB) And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

Matthew 15:1–9 (LSB) Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 “For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever you might benefit from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDS OF MEN.’”

Luke 4:31–37 (LSB) And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What do we have to do with You, Jesus the Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked it, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, it came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they were talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every place in the surrounding district.

Jesus didn’t hesitate because He KNEW the will of His Father in EVERY circumstance.

John 4:34 (LSB) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.

John 5:30 (LSB) “I can do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 6:38 (LSB) “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

How did He KNOW God’s will?

Luke 5:16 (LSB) But He Himself would often slip away to the desolate regions and pray.

Luke 5:16 (The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language) As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.

Luke 5:16 (NET) Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 5:16 (CJB) However, he made a practice of withdrawing to remote places in order to pray.

Through prayer, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, He could tell the disciples:

John 10:30 (LSB) “I and the Father are one.”

To me, THAT is why Jesus can charge forward and many of us (I!) cannot. UNCERTAINTY! OVERTHINKING?

How do these biblical depictions of Jesus paint a different picture than many of the “tender” and “soft” portraits of Him that are often presented?

He was not afraid to confront: wrong, hypocrites, impossible situations — the devil himself.

4. Mark teaches about how Jesus was never passive but passionate. As you look at Christians today, what are some signs and indicators that we are becoming passive? What are signs and indicators that we are growing more passionate?

How would you describe your heart and lifestyle when it comes to living for Jesus and following Him no matter what the cost? How are you passive and how are you passionate?

5. Respond to this statement: “Indecision is a decision and inaction is action!”

How many people are “on the fence” about Jesus.

If Jesus comes or they die — they will find out their indecision was a decision AGAINST Jesus.

How many Christians are hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit telling them a direction or task and saying: “Later.” or “When it’s convenient.”

How does Jesus view those decisions of inaction? Disobedience?

James 4:17 (LSB) Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin.

What is one decision and action you have been avoiding, and how can your group members pray for you as you seek to charge forward, following God’s will in this area of your life?

Take a step of faith in the direction of your dreams.

6. Read: Matthew 16:17 – 18.

Matthew 16:17–18 (LSB) And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

God’s people are the church.

We are called not to keep the world out, but to attack the very gates of hell and charge forward with the love, truth, and message of Jesus. What are ways you see the church charging forward and making a difference for Jesus in this world?

I’m not really seeing it. Are you?

7. As God’s people gathered, the church, we are called to put a full-court press on certain things. What are practical ways your group can press forward and pursue God’s will in one of the following areas?

• Seeking justice for the oppressed in your community

• Reaching out with the message and grace of Jesus to the lost in your community

• Showing compassion for the hurting and broken in your community

• Strengthening families in your community

• Meeting some other need in your community

The church was never meant to be a noun. It was meant to be a verb, an action verb.

8. Read: Philippians 3:12 – 14.

Philippians 3:12–14 (LSB) Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Part of charging forward is leaving things behind. What are some of the things Christians need to forget, leave behind, and give up as we press forward toward the high calling of Jesus?

The old ways of doing things.

The old morality of the 50s (it’s LONG gone).

9. What is one thing in your own life that God is presently calling you to leave behind as you charge forward, and how can your group members encourage and cheer you on in this specific area of your life?

God wants to reconcile your past by redeeming it. God is in the recycling business. He wants to recycle the pain, the mistakes, and the suffering and use it for His purposes.

10. We can all be tempted to give up on something that we know God wants us to pursue. His will can be hard, and we can simply wear down and throw in the towel. Checkmark one area of your life in which you believe God wants you to charge forward, and then in the space provided write one practical step you might take to move ahead.

o Your marriage

o Your finances

o Your health

o An addiction you deal with

o How you relate to one of your children

o A goal you need to set

o A kingdom cause you need to enter into

o Another area:

How can your group members pray, support, and encourage you in this area of growth?

Don’t sound the retreat. Charge!

Closing Prayer

Take time as a group to pray in any of the following directions:

• Thank God for the people in your lifewho have followed Him boldly and given you an example of what it means to charge after God, even when it is difficult or scary.

• Pray for eyes to see where you have become complacent and lazy in your faith and lifestyle. Ask God to wake you up, convict you, and move you to fresh action.

• Praise Jesus for counting the cost and taking the cross for you. Thank Him that He never gave up on you.

• Invite the Holy Spirit to help youturn your eyes away from the past and to help you focus on the new things God wants to do in and through you.

To be fully alive is to be fully present. It mandates leaving the past in the past.

BETWEEN SESSIONS

Take time in personal reflection to think about any of the following questions:

• How can I begin my day by asking God to help me take up my cross, deny myself, and follow Jesus? If I do this at the start of each day, how might this shape and direct my choices and actions?

• How do I picture Jesus? Do I see Him as soft and weak, or bold and strong? What can I do to get a more accurate picture of Jesus as powerful, courageous, sometimes confrontational, and always seeking the will of the Father?

• How can I engage in the ministry of my local church in a way that will forward the powerful work of Jesus in our community?

• How can I keep my heart and mind on God’s “Plan A” for my life and avoid settling for anything less?

• What ruts do I tend to fall into? How can I identify these and avoid them?

Personal Actions

Offensive Game Plan

Mark tells about how he and his wife take time each year to set a game plan in two specific and important areas of their lives: their calendar and their budget. In each area, they set aggressive goals to serve and honor God. Then as the year goes on, they evaluate and check in on a weekly basis.

If you are married, consider doing this as a couple. If you are single, begin doing this now. If you get married some day, make this a natural part of your lifestyle in that new season of life.

Calendar Goals (Things that will honor God in our/my schedule, such as worship with God’s people, personal spiritual growth, serving in the church, serving in the community, time with family, time to invest in friendships, etc.)

Ideas:

Budget Goals (Things that will honor God through our/my use of resources, such as controlling spending, eliminating debt, giving to the church, giving in the community, growing in generosity, etc.)

Ideas:

The only way to predict the future is to create it. You don’t let it happen. You make it happen.

Learning from the Best

The Bible is filled with powerful examples of people who have gone all out for God and charged forward into His will for their lives. During the coming week, study the life of one or two of these great people of faith and learn from their example. Choose from this list:

Noah (Genesis 6 – 9; Hebrews 11:7)

Abraham (Genesis 12 – 18; Hebrews 11:8 – 19)

Joseph (Genesis 37 – 45, 50; Hebrews 11:22)

Joshua (Joshua 1 – 6; Hebrews 11:30)

David (1 Samuel 16 – 21, 26 – 27; 2 Samuel 6 – 7)

Esther (Book of Esther)

Paul (Acts 9, 13 – 28; 2 Corinthians 11 – 12)

Name of the person(s) I chose to study:

What I learned from this great person of faith:

Actions I will take because of what I learned from this person’s example:

A person I will tell about what I learned and ask to pray for me and keep me accountable as I charge forward in a new area of following God:

Remembering the Past and Pressing Forward

God often called people to set up memorials to remember the great things He had done for them and in them. These reminders (often a pile of stones) would cause them to look back, remember God’s goodness, tell stories of His faithfulness to the next generation, and press on into the future.

List a few ways you can set up memorials to help you and those you love remember God’s past presence and power as you press into the future:

God loves when we look back and remember, but He does not want us to dwell in the past. His great works in the past should inspire us to charge boldly into the future. His name is not “I WAS” but “I AM!”

Thank God for the past, but set one or more goals for the future and make a short list of actions you need to take to accomplish these goals in partnership with God. Be sure you don’t fall into the old ruts and try to do new things the same old way. You just might need to do new things in a new way. Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire you with original thoughts, ideas, and ways of following His will for your life.

Going all in is the unwillingness to give up.

No matter how many times you get knocked down, you get back up. No matter how tough it gets, you don’t give up the fight.