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Extreme Makeover: Life Edition Message #8

Spiritual Makeover (Part 2)

August 6-7, 2005 Dr Larry Osborne

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Food for Thought for the week of August 7, 2005
(Questions and Scriptures for further study)

1. This week we looked at some key traits to have ahead of time and steps to take in the midst of the spiritual battle.  As we encounter these attacks and challenges, we can at times think or feel that God isn’t there, or coming through as He promised.  How does 2 Kings 6:8-17 encourage you to remember that God is active beyond what you know in these kinds of situations?

2 Kings 6:8-17
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, "I will set up my camp in such and such a place."
[9] The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: "Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there." [10] So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
[11] This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, "Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?"
[12] "None of us, my lord the king," said one of his officers, "but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."
[13] "Go, find out where he is," the king ordered, "so I can send men and capture him." The report came back: "He is in Dothan." [14] Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
[15] When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
[16] "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
[17] And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [NIV]

2. We saw this week that in the midst of the battle we need to trust God enough to do what He says even if it doesn’t make sense.  Read Joshua 6:1-21, taking special note of the steps of faith God told Joshua and his troops to take.  If you were there with Joshua and the troops what points or comments from this weekend’s message would help you take the same steps of faith?

Joshua 6:1-21
Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
[2] Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. [3] March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. [4] Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. [5] When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."
[6] So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it." [7] And he ordered the people, "Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord."
[8] When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord's covenant followed them. [9] The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. [10] But Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" [11] So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.
[12] Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. [13] The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. [14] So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
[15] On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. [16] The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! [17] The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. [18] But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. [19] All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury."
[20] When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. [21] They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it--men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. [NIV]

Below are a number of actions God calls us to take as we encounter various events in our lives.  For each one, write down a reason why someone may not want to act on, or have faith in, what God has clearly called them to do. 

>    Affirming a person in their strengths and abilities.

>   Owning up to a wrong-doing.

>    Forgiving of a wrong-doing.

>    Having a clarifying conversation.

>    Showing respect to those you lead or report to.

Now go back and jot down a potential problem that could result by not following through on what God says to do in that specific situation.  Are there any you need to take action on and trust God for the result?

3. An important habit in the spiritual battle is regular prayer and interaction with God.  How is this truth revealed in Mark 9:25-29?  Just as accurate and powerful communication takes consistency and various amounts of time in any relationship, so does our prayer and communication with God.  How is your prayer time with God?  Do you need to free yourself up to have more frequent, shorter times to talk with Him?  Or do you need to find some time to get away and focus more?

Mark 9:25-29
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
[26] The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
[28] After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
[29] He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." [NIV]