Fresh Wind Fresh Fire Chapter 7 The Lure of Novelty

Pastor Cymbala writes, "In the church today, we are falling prey to the appeal of 'New!' The old truths of the gospel don't seem spectacular enough. We're restless for the latest, greatest, newest teaching or technique."

Have you seen novelty or innovation or methodology supplant calling out to the Lord as the means to spiritual and numerical growth of the church? If so, in what ways?

Has the pursuit of the “new” in place of the enduring truths of the gospel affected Shalom in some way that you see? If so, how? Where do we need to be the most guarded?

Why do you think people are attracted to things other than the "plain gospel" Jesus proclaimed?

The New International Version Chapter 4

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

There was no confusion in the minds of the first Christians about what to proclaim. The plain gospel that they heard from Jesus their Lord was considered entirely adequate.

What makes us detour from this thought?

Why do you think people are attracted to things other than the "plain gospel" Jesus proclaimed?

The bible speaks about resisting in the bible than it down about binding him.

The New International Version Chapter 5

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

How does one go about successfully resisting the devil? Read and before discussing the answer to this question.

The New International Version Chapter 4

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The New International Version Chapter 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

How does a community of Christians together resist the devil and his attacks against an entire church?

How does a community of Christians together resist the devil and his attacks against an entire church?

Story of Diana---

As you look back on your life, what impact has the basic gospel message had on you?

If we prevail in prayer, God will do what only he can do. How he does things, when he does them, and in what manner are up to him. The name of Jesus, the power of his blood, and the prayer of faith have not lost their power over the centuries.

The New International Version Chapter 4

9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

The New International Version Chapter 5

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time

Some people in the church blame the devil instead of facing the sin in their lives and repenting of their own wrongdoing. What is the result when people tend to focus on how they have been victimized rather than focusing on their personal responsibility and the transforming

Jim Cymbala declares, “God is more powerful than anybody’s past, no matter how wretched. He can make us forget—not by erasing the memory but by taking the sting and paralyzing effect out of it.” (p. 119) Have you personally experienced this truth in your own life? If you feel comfortable, share how God has done this great work in your life.

DEEPER, Not Wider

The things of God have a circumference. They are preserved in a written body of truth. It is like a well - and no one has ever fathomed the depth of God’s truth. To go into the power of the gospel, or prayer, or the Holy Spirit, or divine love is to plunge ever deeper and deeper into God’s well. Every man or woman used by God has gone down into this vast reservoir.

The tendency today, however , is merely to splash around in truth for a while… and then jump outside the well to the surrounding soil. “Look at this - God is doing a new thing! people proclaim. In six months or so, of course, the novelty wears off, and they jump again to a new patch of grass. They spend their whole lives hopscotching from one side of God’s well to another, never really probing the depth of the living waters inside.

We as God’s people have all the equipment we need. It has been around for two thousand years. He has given us everything necessary to put points on the scoreboard and own victories in his name. So let’s put points on the scoreboard and win victories in his name. So lets us move forward with full confidence in what we have received. Nothing about God will change. Tomorrow he will be no more anxious to help our lives, our families, and our churches then than he is right now. If we simply avail our selves of his promises, we will see him do things we could never ask or think, just as he did in the new testament. It is time to press on.

Has the pursuit of the “new” in place of the enduring truths of the gospel affected Shalom in some way that you see? If so, how? Where do we need to be the most guarded?