Having Had a Spiritual Awakening

In one paragraph

This message wrapped up Pastor Ray's series walking through the twelve steps of recovery as a biblical framework for discipleship. Step twelve, having had a spiritual awakening and carrying that message to others, was the focus, and a guest speaker, Stoney Vance, joined to share his own story and lead the congregation through a live step four and five exercise. Pastor Ray opened by recapping the...

Read together

1. Revelation 22:17 opening invitation: 'let anyone who is thirsty come and drink freely from the water of life'
2. Ephesians 2:4-6 read aloud during worship: God rich in mercy, raised us with Christ, seated us in heavenly realms
3. John 15 introduced before the offering song: Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, abide in him to bear fruit
4. 1 John 1:9 cited for step five: confess to God and he is faithful and just to forgive and purify
5. James 5:16 cited for step five: confess sins to one another and pray so you may be healed
6. John 3 referenced for step seven: Nicodemus conversation with Jesus about being born again
7. Acts 1:8 cited after step twelve: 'you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses'
8. Acts 4:31-33 read aloud: after prayer the place shook, all filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with boldness, great power and grace
9. Romans 12:1-2 cited after step twelve: present your bodies as a living sacrifice, be transformed by renewing of your mind
10. 2 Corinthians 5:17 cited after step twelve: if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation
11. Ephesians 3:20 cited after step twelve: God able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think
12. James 2:20 cited when urging witnesses to act: faith without works is useless
13. 2 Corinthians 5:20 cited on carrying the message: we are ambassadors for Christ, God making appeal through us
14. Colossians 1 Stoney cited: walk worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit, strengthened with all power, giving thanks to the Father
15. Psalm 51:17 Stoney cited: the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and contrite heart God will not despise
16. Psalm 23 Stoney cited: walking through the valley of the shadow of death, rod and staff comfort, goodness and mercy follow
17. Joshua 1 Stoney cited: God tells Joshua everywhere the sole of his feet treads he will give, and nine times be strong and courageous
18. Colossians 3:17 closing benediction: whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray read through the combined vice lists from the New Testament and said it is easy to see five big sins all around you and assume those are what is wrong with the world, while missing your own. What makes it so hard to turn that same searching look on ourselves?
2. Step six is being entirely ready to have God remove all defects of character, and Pastor Ray noted that some of us want to hold on to a particular one and tell God it is really not that bad. Have you ever found yourself protecting something you already knew was a problem? What made it hard to let go?
3. Stoney described trying to quiet fear and shame with alcohol, and said that when you try to kill one set of emotions you end up quieting the fruits of the Spirit along with them. How have you seen that play out, either in your own life or in someone close to you?
4. Stoney said he lives in steps ten, eleven, and twelve because he does not let things pile up anymore, and that one through nine are about cleaning up the past while ten through twelve are about walking in victory going forward. What would it look like practically for you to make that kind of daily inventory a habit?
5. Step twelve calls for carrying the message to others after having had a spiritual awakening. Pastor Ray put it simply: if you found bread of heaven, you tell other beggars who have not found it yet. Is there someone in your life right now who is struggling, and what is one concrete step you could take toward them this week?