Bridge the Gap Practical Ways to Build Your Spirit

Farmer Joes Accident

Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court the trucking companies fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?" said the lawyer. Farmer Joe responded, "Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the......." "I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine!'" Farmer Joe said, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..." The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question." By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie." Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her - how are you feeling?"

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To Bridge the Gap

Overcome the Religious Spirit

Have and Open Heart

Ask God to give you eyes to see heaven

Today: Spend time everyday with Building Up Your Spirit

Practical Ways to Spend time with God

Ask Gloria, Jim, Steven, Vanessa to come up and share how they spend time alone with God.

Success Leave Clues

Luke 5:15–16 NLT

15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke

Luke 5:16 NLT

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

As you can see that Jesus preached and healed, but he withdrew “often” into the wilderness for prayer.

When we pray we are not just talking to God, but we are attuning our ears to God’s voice.

Humble YOURSELF

1 Peter 5:5–7 NLT

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

I Peter 5:5-

Stay in a constant place of humility with God!

It feels to me that this is is something that we need to make a priority in our relationship with Him.

Pride keeps us at a distance from Him, Humility draws us closer to Him.

Marriages end because of Pride, because Pride is a killer to relationships. Humility however can bring intimacy.

Submit to Him

When we submit to God we are telling our flesh to do something different than it wants.

Jesus showed us how to submit in the garden when he said

Mark 14:35–36 NLT

35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Mark 14:35-37

How much time does God have in your life?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

17 Never stop praying.

I Thessalonians