God ViewsGod ViewsLesson 5Lesson 5

fearing God’s fearing God’s rejectionrejection

http://www.pjteaches.com/GodViews.htm

Connecting: Healing for Connecting: Healing for Ourselves and Our Ourselves and Our

Relationships Relationships by Larry Crabbby Larry Crabb

““I have come to believe that I have come to believe that the root of all our personal the root of all our personal and emotional difficulties is a and emotional difficulties is a lack of togetherness, a failure lack of togetherness, a failure to connect that keeps us from to connect that keeps us from receiving life …receiving life …

Connecting: Healing for Connecting: Healing for Ourselves and Our Ourselves and Our

Relationships Relationships by Larry Crabbby Larry Crabb

Nothing is more fundamental Nothing is more fundamental to appreciating the essence of to appreciating the essence of Christian living than to ponder Christian living than to ponder the implications of a central the implications of a central but often neglected truth: We but often neglected truth: We have all been created by an have all been created by an Eternal community of three Eternal community of three fully connected persons.fully connected persons.

Connecting: Healing for Connecting: Healing for Ourselves and Our Ourselves and Our

Relationships Relationships by Larry Crabbby Larry Crabb

To bear God’s image To bear God’s image consequently means … we consequently means … we are designed to connect with are designed to connect with others (to live in a others (to live in a community of love).”community of love).”

John Bradshaw said …John Bradshaw said …The best way to come out of The best way to come out of hiding is to find a nonshaming hiding is to find a nonshaming intimate social network. Toxic intimate social network. Toxic shame masks our deepest shame masks our deepest secrets about ourselves; it secrets about ourselves; it embodies our belief that we embodies our belief that we are essentially defective. The are essentially defective. The only way we can find out that only way we can find out that we were wrong about we were wrong about ourselves is to risk exposingourselves is to risk exposing

John Bradshaw said …John Bradshaw said …ourselves to someone else’s ourselves to someone else’s scrutiny. When we trust someone scrutiny. When we trust someone else and experience their love else and experience their love and acceptance, we begin to and acceptance, we begin to change our beliefs about change our beliefs about ourselves. We learn that we are ourselves. We learn that we are not bad; we learn that we are not bad; we learn that we are lovable and acceptable. True love lovable and acceptable. True love heals and affects spiritual heals and affects spiritual growth.”growth.”

Bible Study 2-Bible Study 2-DD

The Bible’s Uniting ThemesThe Bible’s Uniting Themes(1) God longs to spend time with (1) God longs to spend time with you.you.(2) God has prepared a rich (2) God has prepared a rich inheritance for you to enjoy.inheritance for you to enjoy.(3) We often reject both the (3) We often reject both the relationship and the inheritance.relationship and the inheritance.(4) God continues to pursue you (4) God continues to pursue you with His offer of love.with His offer of love.

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24(1) Do you think this passage (1) Do you think this passage is a reflection of any of the is a reflection of any of the four “uniting themes” of four “uniting themes” of Scripture?Scripture?

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24(2) In what ways did the (2) In what ways did the Samaritan woman have “bony Samaritan woman have “bony shoulders”?shoulders”?

(2) In what ways did the Samaritan woman have “bony shoulders”?She was a Samaritan. She was a Samaritan. Considered a half-breed and a Considered a half-breed and a threat to the purity of the threat to the purity of the Jewish race. A good Jew Jewish race. A good Jew wouldn’t be caught dead wouldn’t be caught dead talking to a Samaritan. But talking to a Samaritan. But Jesus not only talked with her, Jesus not only talked with her, He drank from her “polluted” He drank from her “polluted” pitcher.pitcher.

(2) In what ways did the Samaritan woman have “bony shoulders”?She was a woman. At that She was a woman. At that time and place in history, she time and place in history, she was not viewed as being on was not viewed as being on the same playing field with the same playing field with Jewish men.Jewish men.

(2) In what ways did the Samaritan woman have “bony shoulders”?She was at the well at She was at the well at midday. Only a social outcast midday. Only a social outcast would be at the well in the would be at the well in the heat of the day. Early in the heat of the day. Early in the morning, while it was still morning, while it was still cool, was the time to be at the cool, was the time to be at the well. Going there at noon was well. Going there at noon was a sure way to avoid the a sure way to avoid the wagging tongues of the wagging tongues of the upright citizens.upright citizens.

(2) In what ways did the Samaritan woman have “bony shoulders”?Perhaps it was her marital Perhaps it was her marital history that make her a social history that make her a social leper. But Jesus initiated a leper. But Jesus initiated a conversation with her and conversation with her and immediately began to offer immediately began to offer her a rich inheritance – the her a rich inheritance – the living water of eternal life.living water of eternal life.

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24(3) Jesus offers “living water.” (3) Jesus offers “living water.” How would you explain what How would you explain what he meant by that?he meant by that?

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24(4) Jesus accepts this woman (4) Jesus accepts this woman who is an outcast from both who is an outcast from both the Jews (she is a Samaritan) the Jews (she is a Samaritan) and the Samaritans (she is a and the Samaritans (she is a social leper – going to the well social leper – going to the well in the heat of the day when, in the heat of the day when, typically, no one else would typically, no one else would be there). And He offers her be there). And He offers her eternal life. He does, eternal life. He does,

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24however, expect her to however, expect her to change her life. Discuss the change her life. Discuss the significance of this significance of this combination of acceptance combination of acceptance and expectations.and expectations.

““When Living When Living Hurts”Hurts”

by Dr. Rick Petronellaby Dr. Rick Petronella2/20/19982/20/1998

Women of Well-Being Women of Well-Being ConferenceConference

Atlanta VineyardAtlanta Vineyard

Matt 13:14-15 NIVMatt 13:14-15 NIV““Though seeing, they do not see; Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing they do not hear though hearing they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving, For seeing but never perceiving, For this people’s heart has become this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their ears, and they have closed their eyes …”their eyes …”

Callused HeartsCallused HeartsWhen we talk about the callused When we talk about the callused heart that the lord is referring to, heart that the lord is referring to, most people don’t have a most people don’t have a callused heart because they are callused heart because they are mean and horrible and just angry. mean and horrible and just angry. But I function from the premise But I function from the premise that I don’t look at anger as a that I don’t look at anger as a primary emotion. I look at it as a primary emotion. I look at it as a secondary emotion. I often look secondary emotion. I often look at hurt first. The steam coming at hurt first. The steam coming off of hurt produces anger. If off of hurt produces anger. If someone issomeone is

Callused HeartsCallused Heartstreating just the anger, you’re treating just the anger, you’re missing the hurt, you’re missing missing the hurt, you’re missing the wound, the injury. When the the wound, the injury. When the injury is unattended to, you injury is unattended to, you cannot do anything but mask the cannot do anything but mask the hurt temporarily which will cause hurt temporarily which will cause those roots to reconnect. And as those roots to reconnect. And as they do it produces bad fruit, they do it produces bad fruit, which then of course keeps the which then of course keeps the anger going. So the callousness anger going. So the callousness that the Lord is referring to isn’t that the Lord is referring to isn’t judgment. Itjudgment. It

Callused HeartsCallused Heartsisn’t a disapproval of the Lord. isn’t a disapproval of the Lord. The Lord is really declaring here - The Lord is really declaring here - callus becomes pain; callus callus becomes pain; callus becomes a form of protection of becomes a form of protection of the heart - of keeping you from the heart - of keeping you from hurting. Callus becomes a way of hurting. Callus becomes a way of avoiding pain in the context of avoiding pain in the context of abandonment and future hurt abandonment and future hurt and pain. Declarations or vows and pain. Declarations or vows are often made whereby one are often made whereby one would declare, “I will never again would declare, “I will never again letlet

Callused HeartsCallused Heartsanybody hurt me like this EVER!” anybody hurt me like this EVER!” And the essence of that becomes And the essence of that becomes imputed in your subconscious imputed in your subconscious state whereby a typical situation state whereby a typical situation may cause emotion on a sadness, may cause emotion on a sadness, or whatever, you become so or whatever, you become so callused you can’t access that callused you can’t access that part of you. And that often part of you. And that often becomes self preservation.becomes self preservation.

Matthew 13:20-23Matthew 13:20-23

Parable of the SowerParable of the Sower

The “soils” of our hearts.The “soils” of our hearts.

Dr. Petronella goes on to say Dr. Petronella goes on to say ……

heart “soils”heart “soils”Matthew 13:20-23 have to do Matthew 13:20-23 have to do with the rocky places of the with the rocky places of the heart, the thorns, or the good heart, the thorns, or the good soil. We often associate this soil. We often associate this with salvation. In my opinion, with salvation. In my opinion, it has to do with the heart in it has to do with the heart in regards to the preparation of regards to the preparation of where you’re at with the where you’re at with the ability to emotionally ability to emotionally connect.connect.

““rocky soil”rocky soil”Rocky soil becomes issues of Rocky soil becomes issues of unresolve (almost a type of unresolve (almost a type of calcium deposit) that disallows calcium deposit) that disallows roots to take place and grow very roots to take place and grow very deep. And the rocks minimize deep. And the rocks minimize the inability to produce the the inability to produce the depth of roots that would cause depth of roots that would cause the sweetest, fragrant, most the sweetest, fragrant, most delicious fruit. Those rocks are delicious fruit. Those rocks are identified not as someone who identified not as someone who wants to live just the ways of the wants to live just the ways of the world, but it has an awful lot to world, but it has an awful lot to dodo

““rocky soil”rocky soil”

with unresolved issues of pain, of with unresolved issues of pain, of woundedness, of agony, either of woundedness, of agony, either of yesterday or in the present. But yesterday or in the present. But it becomes our issue. Your heart it becomes our issue. Your heart must be evaluated.must be evaluated.

““thorny soil”thorny soil”When we look at the type of When we look at the type of issues associated with thorns, we issues associated with thorns, we talk about human weakness. talk about human weakness. What is human weakness in What is human weakness in thorns? It’s the inability to trust. thorns? It’s the inability to trust. There is not one person here There is not one person here who has not been violated at who has not been violated at some level or another. There’s some level or another. There’s not one in this room who has not not one in this room who has not been disappointed. There’s not been disappointed. There’s not one in this room who has not had one in this room who has not had issues ofissues of

““thorny soil”thorny soil”abandonment, minimization, or abandonment, minimization, or shame thrown at them at some shame thrown at them at some level or another by parent or level or another by parent or someone or even spouse or someone or even spouse or friend. The fact is, when those friend. The fact is, when those seeds become planted they seeds become planted they produce thorns that choke out produce thorns that choke out trust. Often times it’s a trust. Often times it’s a subconscious process that subconscious process that disallows us the ability to even disallows us the ability to even recognize it’s happening. You recognize it’s happening. You can come forward and receive can come forward and receive prayer andprayer and

““thorny soil”thorny soil”be ministered to and filled with be ministered to and filled with God’s love and grace and no God’s love and grace and no sooner get to the parking lot and sooner get to the parking lot and on your way home and to where on your way home and to where you’re headed and it starts to you’re headed and it starts to very quickly wilt and die by very quickly wilt and die by nature of subconscious vows, nature of subconscious vows, subconscious injury that has subconscious injury that has never been treated or dealt with never been treated or dealt with - roots associated with - roots associated with depression, anxiety, depression, anxiety, disqualification, shame. All thedisqualification, shame. All the

““thorny soil”thorny soil”kingdom of God, reality that He kingdom of God, reality that He has for us, we somehow reduce it has for us, we somehow reduce it to humanness and then we blame to humanness and then we blame God - if He’s real, why isn’t it God - if He’s real, why isn’t it lasting? So much of this comes lasting? So much of this comes from our past. So much of this from our past. So much of this comes from the environmental comes from the environmental circumstances we’re living in circumstances we’re living in now. And yet we fail to now. And yet we fail to recognize it.recognize it.

Psalms 139Psalms 139Psalms 139 says, “Search my Psalms 139 says, “Search my heart, Oh God. And show me if heart, Oh God. And show me if there’s any wicked thought in there’s any wicked thought in me. And lead me in the way of me. And lead me in the way of everlasting.” The beauty of everlasting.” The beauty of the Hebrew there with David, the Hebrew there with David, we miss it in the English we miss it in the English translation. What he’s talking translation. What he’s talking about is this. David was a about is this. David was a psalmist; he played the harp. psalmist; he played the harp.

Psalms 139Psalms 139He says, “Lord, show me the He says, “Lord, show me the parts of me where You and I parts of me where You and I have become disconnected.” have become disconnected.” There is a visualization of a There is a visualization of a harp. Then he says, “As You harp. Then he says, “As You identify the parts of me that identify the parts of me that have become disconnected, let have become disconnected, let You and I reconnect them You and I reconnect them again together so that we can again together so that we can make beautiful music again.” make beautiful music again.” We missWe miss

Psalms 139Psalms 139that. Harmony. Melody. that. Harmony. Melody. Celebration. Intimacy. Celebration. Intimacy. Uniqueness -- all come in Uniqueness -- all come in orchestration with what the orchestration with what the Holy Spirit wants to do in the Holy Spirit wants to do in the woundedness of a man after woundedness of a man after God’s own heart who did not God’s own heart who did not know where his anxiety was know where his anxiety was coming from.coming from.

John 4:5-24John 4:5-24(5) In chapter 3 of John’s (5) In chapter 3 of John’s Gospel is a parallel story. Gospel is a parallel story. Nicodemus, a religious leader, Nicodemus, a religious leader, walks away from Jesus’ offer walks away from Jesus’ offer to be born again. Which to be born again. Which biblical character do you biblical character do you identify with most, Nicodemus identify with most, Nicodemus or the Samaritan woman?or the Samaritan woman?

““Soften My Heart”Soften My Heart”

Vineyard PsalmsVineyard Psalms

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