Stepping Up - Session 5

Session 5 - My Hope is in the Lord

This session was about travelling and being on a journey with your fellow pilgrims.  The Israelites were frequently journeying to Jerusalem and they travelled together, helping and encouraging each other to get to their destination.

We too are on a journey, and our destination is heaven.  Our fellow pilgrims are our brothers and sisters in Christ. The session discussed 4 ways we can be effective travellers to our fellow Christians.

1. Wise up concerning the enemy's schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11  If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

• if there is any unforgiveness or offense not resolved within the body of Christ, between fellow believers the the enemy is winning his war against Christians.
• Any fighting or harsh words that happen within the Church are the result of the enemy, he is the author of the scheme and his plan is to get us away from the church.
• We need to stop fighting within the church and start winning against the enemy.

2. Encourage one another
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

• The enemy widely uses discouragement.  Any little bit of discouragement allows him to get us away from church, away from fellow believers, and away from God.  When we are discouraged we are focused on ourselves - woe is me, rather than worshipping God.
• As we get closer to the Day of the Lord, we will see discouragement continue to grow.
• Find every possible opportunity to encourage others and focus on positives, you never know when your words will be a source of encouragement to someone else.

3. Love each other deeply
1Peter 4:7-8 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

• God created us to be able to connect to Him and to other people.  We require deep meaningful relationships. 
• The age of social networking and texting does not promote the kind of relationships we need and even though we may have hundreds of contacts we can be incredibly lonely.
• Developing deep meaningful friendships with fellow Christians takes effort, but produces results - we will love each other deeply and that is what God intends for us.

4. How to respond to opposition
Nehemiah 4: 16-18 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

• they were armed as they worked.  They did not put down their weapons while they worked.
• our opposition is Satan and we carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17)
• in all that we do we should have the Word of God right there with us!