Fri/Sat/Sun—October 13–15•Spiritual Power I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but From the very beginning of our Bible, we see a partnership between God and man in producing fruitfulness. Genesis 2 tells us, “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground...” (verses 8-9). God tasked Adam to tend the garden. But the Bible clearly reminds us that God’s the one making everything grow. Adam was responsible for cultivating in a way that encouraged fruitfulness, but ultimately God’s power produced the fruit. I can’t give you a formula, like, “Do A, B, C, and D, and you’ll have a perfect marriage and perfect children, or a great career.” Life just doesn’t work that way. Fruitfulness requires God’s power. This affects all of life. I’ve learned to pray for spiritual power, for instance, when I must deal with a conflict at work. “God, would you give me the power to step into this? Would you help me bring resolution, because this is going to be very unfruitful if somebody doesn’t figure out how to bring fruitfulness from it. I’m willing to be Your man in making that happen.” A fruitful life doesn’t just come from repentance, or from personal discipline and determination, or even from correct priorities. Those things are all important, but without God’s power, they don’t bring true fruitfulness. WEEK Week 1 The passage from 1 Corinthians 3 quoted above uses the same concepts of fruitfulness revealed in Genesis 2 and applies them to the spiritual actions that grow God’s Kingdom. In what areas has God given you responsibility? In your own words, describe the potential partnership in that area between you and God. How are you “planting and watering” in that situation? And how are you seeking God’s power to bring lasting change? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 22:1–27:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:1–3:18, Psalm 83:1–85:13, Proverbs 25:11–16 FOR YOUR SMALL GROUP October 9–15 Name one area of your life that could increase in fruitfulness if you applied more discipline. ■ What only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6–7) disciplines are needed? ■ How will you apply them? ■ What result do you anticipate? 21
20514 Man in Mirror
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