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Refuel Your Faith is a Weekly Study Guide for building a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Use this as a guide in helping you or your study group.

Date

Overveiw

Documents

5/23 - 5/29

Falling Away

Hebrews 5:11 – 6:12

William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean. They wanted to go farther north to continue their chartings. So they calculated their location by the stars and then started a very difficult and treacherous march north. They walked the whole day. And then totally exhausted, they finally stopped for the night. They took their bearings again from the stars. And they were shocked to discover that they were farther south than when they had started. They then discovered that they had been walking on an ice floe that was moving south faster than they were moving north! They were drifting in the opposite direction.

The same can be true of us spiritually. If we neglect to listen carefully to what Christ said, we will begin to drift away from Him. And our drifting will lead to disobedience. And if we don’t repent, that disobedience will lead to punishment - that would be tragic! Keep your eyes on Him constantly!!!

6/16 - 5/22

Encouragement To Be Faithful

2 Timothy 1:1-2:13

Several years ago, a Christian was riding in a railway car when 2 men entered the car and took the seat in front of him. One of them took a bottle out of his pocket, drank of its contents, and then passed it over to his companion. This was repeated a number of times. By and by the men began to swear - a stream of profanity issued from their mouths. Meanwhile the Christian held a little conversation with himself.

‘Henry, that man belongs to the devil. There is no doubt of that. He is not ashamed of it. Not a bit ashamed.’
‘Whom do you belong to?
‘I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.’
‘Are you glad or sorry?’
‘I am glad - very glad.’
‘Who in this car knows that man belongs to the devil?’
‘Why, everybody knows that for he has not kept it a secret.’
‘Who in this car knows you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ?’
‘Why, no one knows it, for you see I am a stranger around here.’
‘Are you willing they should know whom you belong to?’
‘Yes, I am willing.’
‘Very well. Will you let them know it?’
 

‘The Christian took a deep breath and began to sing. “There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains.”

 

The singer had not concluded with the verse when the blasphemer turned around and looked at him with a face resembling a thunder cloud.

The following conversation ensued:
‘What are you doing?’ ‘I am singing.’
‘Well, any fool can understand that.’ ‘I am glad you understand it.’
‘What are you singing?’ ‘I am singing the religion of the Lord Jesus.’
‘Well, quit.’ ‘Quit what?’
‘Quit singing your religion in the cars.’

‘I guess not,’ said the Christian, ‘I don’t belong to the quit family; my name is Mead. For the last half hour you have been standing by your master; now for the next half hour I am going to stand up for my Master.’”

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” – Romans 1:16a

5/9 - 5/15

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

A group of Christians gathered in a church auditorium for an evening Bible Study. Some were talking while waiting for the study to begin. One man began to share with the leader about a church breakfast he’d attended. A well known Bible scholar had been invited to speak at the breakfast. During the course of his remarks the scholar stated that he had recently gained new insight into a verse of Scripture that had puzzled him for years. “When I heard this,” the man said to the Bible Study leader, “I thought to myself, ‘If this scholar who has written commentaries and books and who has studied the Bible for years is just now understanding a verse of Scripture, how can I, an ordinary church member, understand the truth?”’

“You know,” replied the leader, “rather than being discouraged by the scholar’s remarks, I’m encouraged. It just goes to show that understanding God’s truth doesn’t depend on our intellectual ability or number of theological degrees earned. Rather, God’s truth is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.”

Vs. 10 of our scripture says, “God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” If we are close to the Father, He is close to us and desires to reveal things to us on a daily basis that will guide us and help us grow on our spiritual journey. The key is that WE must take the time to be close to Him.

5/2 - 5/8

Stand Firm

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

F.B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing.

When MUST hold our ground, standing firm on the gospel of Jesus Christ, lest we fall!

Richard W. Wafford is quoted as saying: “We need to persevere, persist, keep on, and never give up as believers in Jesus Christ. We need to stand firm to the end. When our faith is challenged and opposed we need to persevere and sheer determination. The severe trials we will face will sift true Christians from fair weather Christians. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world.”
 

4/25 - 5/1

Jesus Returns Home

Acts 1:1-11

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The story is told of an elderly woman named Norena, who lived in southern Florida. When a hurricane hit that area, her home was one of many that was severely damaged. Norena received an insurance settlement, and the repair work began. However, when the money ran out, so did the contractor, leaving an unfinished home with no electricity. Norena lived in her dark, unfinished home - without power - for fifteen (15) years.

You see, my brothers and sisters, the astonishing part of this story is that the hurricane was not Katrina but Andrew - a hurricane which struck in 1992. She had no heat in her home when the winter chills settled over southern Florida. She had no air conditioning when the mercury climbed into the 90’s and the humidity clung to 100 percent. She did not have one hot shower. Without money to finish the repairs, Norena just got by with a small lamp and a single burner.

Her neighbors did not seem to notice the absence of power in her home. Acting on a tip, one day, the mayor of the Miami-Dade area got involved. It only took a few hours of work by electrical contractor, Kent Crook, to return power to Norena’s house. CBS News reported that Norena planned to let the water get really hot, and then take her first "bubble bath" in a decade and a half. "It’s hard to describe having [the electricity]...to switch on," Norena told reporters, "It’s overwhelming."

How many Christian true believers have been living their entire lives without ever knowing what it is like to have the overwhelming Power of the Holy Spirit operating within them? Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit and that we would receive power (not ours but His) when we allow Him to have complete control of our lives. When that happens, He does things through us that we could never do, or imagine we could do on our own.

4/18 - 4/24

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:16-20

Great preacher C.H. Spurgeon one wrote: “Etiquette nowadays often demands of a Christian that he should not ’intrude’ his religion on company. Out with such etiquette! It is the etiquette of hell! True courtesy to my fellow’s soul makes me speak to him, if I believe that his soul is in danger. How many, my dear friend, were you ever the means of bringing to Jesus? You believe that they must eternally perish unless they have faith in Christ. How many have you prayed for? How many did you ever break your heart about? You believe that they must love Christ or be damned. How many have you ever talked to concerning him who is the only Savior? Are you satisfied to remain silent? Are you content to let those around you sink to hell? What! Never tell of Christ’s love? What! Never tell of salvation? Can this be right? In God’s name wake up!”

Too often we are afraid to tell those around us, even those that are closer to us, about our faith. The Great Commission is not a command that we can’t reach. On the contrary, it is something we fulfill everyday with our thoughts, words and action. Remember: If you profess you are a Christian, you are under the watchful eyes of those who don’t!

"If I had my choice, I wouldn’t send you to school, I’d send you to Hell

for five minutes, and you’d come back real soul winners."

- General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

4/11 - 4/17

THE RISEN LORD

John 20:10-18

Recently I read the story of a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given three month to live. Her doctor told her to start making preparations to die -- something we all should be doing all of the time.

So she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what she wanted to be wearing.

The woman also told her pastor that she wanted to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There’s one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What’s that?" came the pastor’s reply.

"This is very important." The woman continued,

"I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The pastor stood looking at the woman not knowing quite what to say.

"That shocks you, doesn’t it?" the woman asked.

Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and functions where food was involved, and let’s be honest, food is an important part of any church event, spiritual or otherwise, my favorite part was when whoever was clearing away the dishes of the main course would lean over and say ’you can keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming. When they told me to keep my fork, I knew that something great was about to be given to me. It wasn’t Jell-O or pudding. It was cake or pie - something with substance. So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, ’What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them, ’Something better is coming, so keep your fork too."

1 Peter 1:3-4 says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…”

God’s living son is our living hope !

4/4 - 4/10

The Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:1-10

In the early part of this century, a group of lawyers met in England to discuss the biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. They wanted to see if sufficient information was available to make a case that would hold up in an English court of law. When their study was completed, they published the results of their investigation. They concluded that Christ’s resurrection was one of the most well-established facts of history.

In his book, Countdown, G. B. Hardy has given us some thought-provoking questions about the resurrection. “There are but two essential requirements:

1. Has anyone cheated death and
proved it?

2. Is it available to me?

Here is the complete record:
Confucius’ tomb—occupied.
Buddha’s tomb—occupied.
Mohammad's’s tomb—occupied.
Jesus’ tomb—empty.

Argue as you will, there is no point in
following a loser.”

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reality. Countless changed lives testify that it’s a fact—not a fable

3/29 - 4/3

DEATH

Mark 15:33-41

The story is told of a doubleheader train that was bucking a heavy snowstorm as its steam engines pulled it west. A woman with a baby wanted to leave the train at one of the little stations along the route. She repeatedly called, “Don’t forget me!” to the brakeman responsible to call out the stations they approached. Her husband was to meet her.

The train slowed to a stop, and a fellow traveler said, “Here’s your station.” She hopped from the train into the storm. The train moved on again. 45 minutes later, the brakeman came in. “Where’s the woman?” “She got off at the last stop,” the traveler said. “Then she got off to her death,” the brakeman responded. “We stopped only because there was something the matter with the engine.”

They called for volunteers to go back and search for the woman and child. When they found her hours later, not far from the track where they stopped, she was covered with ice and snow. The little boy was protected close to her chest. She had followed the man’s directions, but they were wrong—dead wrong.

Author Ron Carlson commented on the story saying: "Paul declares Christ is the one Mediator between man and God. Peter emphasizes there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ is our only Authority.

His blood has made atonement for our sin. Only He can tell us how to reach our final destination. Depend on the One who has experienced death and provided redemption for you, the One who will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death."

As we gather to worship the risen Lord this Easter Sunday, may we never forget that He died for each of us and would have done it if only 1 of us needed it.

3/21 - 3/27

Follow Me

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” - Matthew 16:24b-26

I recently read the true story about a preacher who was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. He grabbed one man by the hand and pulled him aside. The preacher said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" The man replied, "I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Preacher." The preacher questioned, "How come I don’t see you except for Christmas and Easter?" He whispered back, "I’m in the secret service."

God’s word is clear that we are not to be in the Secret Service but on the front lines. The way we do that is to daily take up our cross (our faith) and follow Him, showing Him in everything we do. The cross is the focal point of our faith because it is where Jesus took our sins upon Himself and gave His life for us.

If He gave His life for us, the least we can do is to give our time, our efforts, our lives to Him.

3/14 - 3/20

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

In the late 4th century a woman named Monica lived in a small North African village with her family. On Nov. 13, 354 she gave birth to a son who was very bright & intelligent, She tried hard to raise him as a Christian, but it was difficult.

Her husband was not a Christian and had no respect for Christian faith, as well as he was unfaithful to Monica

The boy was surrounded by pagan influences and despite Monica's best efforts, her son did not become a Christian.

Instead he followed in his father’s footsteps.

• He lived a life of sexual permissiveness;
• Left his small village of his birth and moved to Carthage, then Rome;
• Sampled pagan philosophies and was seemingly lost to the Christian faith.

That young man was AUGUSTINE--one of greatest & most influential Christians of all
time!

What turned him around?
In his writings he said it was the faith & constant love of his mother, Monica, who agonized for a long time about her son coming to faith.

Many parents have felt their situation as hopeless as Monica's. Not every child of Christian parents turns out like Augustine. In fact some studies have shown that only around 50% of church children remain faithful.

WHY? How do we as Christian parents/grandparents/guardians instill genuine faith in our children?

Our scripture this week says: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We MUST live a genuine, committed Christian life ourselves because genuine faith begets genuine faith! A sure way to lose your child is to be uncommitted yourself. The results of a recent survey bear this out:
 

If both parents faithful & active
........ 93% of children will be faithful & active.
If one parent faithful & active
|....... 73% of children will be faithful & active.
If both parents semi-active
........ 53% of children will be faithful & active.
If both parents attend infrequently
........ 6% of children will be faithful & active!

THINK ABOUT THIS: We must, as Christian parents, bee open and ready to talk about our faith and be FAITHFUL & ACTIVE! Is it easy? No, just worth it. We all say that there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our children, but does that apply in the area of faith?

3/7 - 3/13

Baptism

Matthew 3:13-17

Today we define baptism aas an outward sing of an inward work in the Christian’s life. In the early days of the church it was not only that, it was much more.

Dr. M.R. DeHaan, pastor and former editor and publisher of the monthly devotional guide, "Our Daily Bread, stated, “… baptism was a declaration that the believer was definitely identifying himself with that group of people who were called Christians and were despised and hated. To be a Christian meant something. To identify yourself with those who were called Christians meant persecution, maybe death; it meant being ostracized from your family, shunned by friends. And the one act which was the final declaration of this identification was BAPTISM. As long as a man gathered with Christians, he was tolerated, but when once he submitted to baptism, he declared to all the world, I BELONG TO THIS DESPISED GROUP, and immediately he was persecuted, hated, and despised. In baptism, therefore, the believer entered into the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. A person might be a believer and keep it strictly a secret and thus avoid unpleasantness and suffering, but once he submitted to public baptism he had burned his bridges behind him. . .”

Too often we take for granted what our Christian forefathers had to go through to be called Christian. Let us not live in fear, but be thankful of what God has done in our lives today and not ashamed of what He will continue to do if we will proclaim His name to the world.

2/28 - 3/6

Sincere Love

Romans 12:9-21

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves." - v. 10

The story is told of two goats that met each other on a narrow ledge just wide enough for one goat to pass. The two goats faced each other and wondered, What shall we do?

They could not back up that would be too dangerous. They could not go around because the ledge was too narrow. Now, if the goats had no more sense than humans they would have began butting each other until one fell over the ledge.

However, goats have a lot of sense, more than some people. What they did: one goat laid down and let the other walk over him.

There must be a willingness to lay down for the other to walk over. Humans would have been arguing "Who was to lie down."

How hard it is for us humans to Humble Ourselves for the good of others. To be least in the eyes of others, for their good. Someone says, "Yes, but it is the principle of the thing." The principle of living together is ’love’.

- In what ways can you honor someone above yourself?

- Whom do you need to love and bless this week?