Rescue Me Chapter 1 Questions and Answers

1. What's the only way for a "chamber pot" to be cleansed and transformed? What Scripture verses has God used in your life that speak of the work He has done in cleaning up your filthy character traits?

According to the author, the only way for a "chamber pot" to be cleansed and transformed is through what he calls "divine grace." In other words, God is all powerful and can do what he wills, and that includes transforming "chamber pots" into cookie jars. This is what makes it divine. What makes it grace is that there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to affect this transformation.

[Col 3:1-10 KJV] 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

[Psa 51:10-12 KJV] 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.

[Psa 1:1-5 KJV] 1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

2. What are some of your  "chamber pot" character traits? What "chamber pot" character traits would others say you have? Consider going to someone that you can be accountable to and ask them what "chamber pot" character traits they see in you. Now don't be easily offended when they answer you.

See Colosians 3. Others might see me as lazy, a glutton, impatient, rude, inconsiderate, unreliable, and a whole host more of things. One of my biggest "chamber pot" characteristics is that I don't handle criticism well. I'm not about to ask someone "What flaws do you see in me" because it will take me weeks to get over feeling hurt. I TRY not to get offended, I really do. BUT I have always been extremely sensitive. I have a thin skin.

3. In what ways have your "chamber pot" character traits affected those closest to you? What "chamber pot" character traits have changed?

My children suffer from my impatience. I'm certain they see me as the mama who always yells. My husband hides things from me for fear that I will have a nervous break down. My selfishness has hurt my mother to a point where, while our relationship is fairly good, it's been damaged in ways that will never fully heal.

I know that God is working in me, but it's not easy to list traits that have changed as I haven't been keeping track. God has humbled me and freed me from a pride I didn't know I had.

Group Questions

1. Can non-Christians have a Godly character? Discuss various verses that relate to the question. 

[Job 15:14-16 KJV] 14 What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16 How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

[Isa 64:5-7 KJV] 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

[Jhn 8:44 KJV] 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

[Rom 8:6-8 KJV] 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

[Gal 5:19-21 KJV] 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

[Eph 2:1-3 KJV] 1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

[1Pe 1:14-16 KJV] 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Non-Christians can not have Godly character.

2. What is the difference between a Godly character and a noble character that non-Christians can have?  

Godly character lasts, but noble character is temporary or only on the surface.

3. Discuss why "positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching" is powerless to change the spiritual condition of a person. Discuss some of the verses in God's word that address how we are saved and how our character is transformed.

Positive thinking, self-help teaching and motivational preaching only treat the symptoms, not the disease. Unless sin is addressed and routed up, the things that kill joy, peace, and the other fruits of the spirit will spring up in other forms to kill spirit fruit full force.

[Act 18:27 KJV] 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

[Rom 11:5-6 KJV] 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[Eph 2:4-10 KJV] 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[2Pe 1:2, 4-11 KJV] 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ... 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Bible Study

I was invited to participate in a Bible study at my church. As usually happens with these sorts of things, I was hesitant because I know I get a really bad attitude when it comes to curricular Bible studies. Inevitably I find something wrong with the author's spelling or grammar or logic and it makes me want to argue. I agreed to this Bible study and I've been trying to keep a good attitude, but I'm finding it very difficult.

For one thing, I find the author extremely condescending. There are questions at the end of each chapter, which is important for a Bible study. But these seem written for middle school students, not adults.

Then there's the grammatical mistake in his acknowledgements sections. It's just so hard to read something written by someone who doesn't know which "there/their/they're" to use.

And then there's Judas.  I really resent the way the author assumes he knows exactly what was going on in Judas's mind and heart after he betrayed Jesus. I particularly resent the statement "He refused to accept responsibility for his crimes against a holy God." Excuse me? I don't think this is a statement you can make. [Mat 27:3-5 KJV] 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that]. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Rant over for now....

Tempting Jesus

So, we are coming to the end of lent. A co-worker and I were talking about lent the other evening. I was telling him about how lent is loosely based off of Jesus 40 days in the desert being tempted by Satan. He hadn't heard about it before and trying to explain how Jesus could be tempted and what happened without having my bible at hand made me realize how little I've actually studied these particular passages in scripture.  Mom and I have been studying Matthew, so I'm going to start there and then look at Jesus temptation in other Gospels.

Mat 4:1 KJV - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 KJV - And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 KJV - And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 KJV - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Mat 4:5 KJV - Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 KJV - And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 KJV - Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:8 KJV - Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 KJV - And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 KJV - Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 KJV - Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

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Mar 1:13 KJV - And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

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Luk 4:1 KJV - And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luk 4:2 KJV - Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Luk 4:3 KJV - And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

Luk 4:4 KJV - And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luk 4:5 KJV - And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Luk 4:6 KJV - And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Luk 4:7 KJV - If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Luk 4:8 KJV - And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luk 4:9 KJV - And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

Luk 4:10 KJV - For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

Luk 4:11 KJV - And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Luk 4:12 KJV - And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Luk 4:13 KJV - And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Luk 4:14 KJV - And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

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Each of these accounts is slightly different. When I was talking with my co-worker I remembered the account from Luke the best. I suppose the order of the temptations doesn't really matter much. What is important is that the devil zeros in on things that people are particularly weak about. He takes aim at a need. Jesus was hungry, so the devil tempts him to make food. I've always been curious about why the devil tempts Jesus to do this and why it would have been wrong for Jesus to turn the rocks into bread. The devil also takes aim at the desire for glory. I can understand why it would be wrong to throw yourself off of the temple. And the devil takes aim at the desire for power, particularly political power. I can definitely understand why this would have been a bad deal.

All three of these gospels state that Jesus was in the desert for 40 days. Mark and Luke seem to imply that he was tempted the entire duration of his time in the desert. Matthew seems to imply the tempter came to him after he had fasted for 40 days. Perhaps Jesus was tempted the entire time he was in the desert and only these specific temptations are recorded because they are applicable to us as Christians as well. 

Fasting is interesting as well. I suppose Jesus could be using this as a period of cleansing before he starts his ministry. 

Any comments or insights on these passages are welcome!

The Valley of Blessings

Pastor Jack finished of his series on 2 Chronicles 20 today. He talked about the Valley of Blessings that the people of Judah found and how because Jehoshaphat praised God, sought God, and Obeyed God, his land was left in peace because the surrounding countries feared God who gave Judah the victory.


He again emphasized putting our trust in God.


This is something I really have difficulty with. Once something has happened to shake your trust, it's hard to trust anyone again, particularly God. When God allows horrible things to happen to his people, how is it possible to trust him?  I think the answer lies in what we trust him to do. It seems to me that God is not as concerned with how life is for us in the here and now as eternity.


But how can I trust God for eternity when the here and now is so painful? The truth of the matter is I don't trust him anymore. I don't find him to be trustworthy. The pain far outweighs the blessings in my eyes and God has proven that given a situation where I need him and can't do it on my own, he'll let me down.


I want to know how God can claim to be a God of love with all that he allows. I see the poverty in this area around me, and I wonder how God can allow life to be like this. I meet the many incredible women who have lost little ones and I wonder how God can allow their lives to be shattered. Is this, then, the love of God for us? Seems like we'd be better off without it.

September 11 Sermon Notes

Our text this week was again the same passage in 2 Chronicles. Pastor Jack was struck with Jehoshaphat's reaction to the news that armies were conspiring against Judah. After being terrified, Jehoshaphat "set himself up to see the Lord." In response, God tells him not to be afraid because this is God's fight, not Jehoshaphat's.  


Pastor Jack stressed that no matter what you face, God can get you through it and in doing so, he draws you closer to him. I certainly believe in the power of God. I believe he CAN do anything. But he doesn't always take action, and often when I've been pleading for something, I feel that God is ignoring me. It's really hard to have faith that God will take care of the troubles you face when you feel ignored. So being drawn closer to God? Hard to imagine for me.  Pastor Jack praised Jehoshaphat's response to the threat to Judah. His reward can be found in 2 Chronicles 20:30 - So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.


Pastor Jack cautioned, though, that trusting God to solve our problems doesn't me we can ignore them. He says that God wants to give us victory in the presence of our enemies. He makes us face our problems square on. Jack went on to say that 80% of success is just showing up. Many problems can be solved by just being present. He says we need to confront problems face to face and take action right away. God told Jehoshaphat "fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them." We were told not to wait to face problems. Jack quoted "Where there is a hill to climb, don't think that waiting will make it any smaller." The hill might not get any smaller, but sometimes waiting allows you to recover the strength to go up the hill. If you've been running a long race, you may not have the stamina to manage the hill, but a little nap revives you enough to get up to the top, and then downhill is smooth sailing.


Pastor Jack said that no one has to wait to experience the power of God in their lives. I beg to differ, here. God doesn't come on command. He's God, not dog. He has his own sense of timing, and often defers displaying his power until a later date, sometimes refusing to show it at all.  Pastor Jack says to avoid the "What's the use?" attitude. He says it prevents acting right away and can push it off forever so that the problems are never solved. 


The pastor's final instruction was to chart our own course with praise. Upon hearing what God had to say, Jehoshaphat immediately "consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever." And as soon as they began to praise, the enemy self-destructed. Praise, Jack says, is crucial to experiencing victory.


Part of this is that without praise for God, we give the enemy more credit than he deserves. When we complain, we are boasting in the power of our enemy. We need to be aware of what we face, but we need to realize that God is bigger. Confronting and complaining are two different things. Confronting has a heart full of faith and a mouth full of praise for God. What Jack said reminded me of the Veggie Tales song "God is bigger than the boogieman."  Jack says that if you precede your steps with praise, you won't have to fight. He says that when we praise God, fear melts and is replaced with confidence and joy.


It's really hard to praise when you don't trust. It's really hard to trust when experience has been negative.

Thoughts from today's sermon

Today's Text -  "After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat." - 2Ch 20:1 NLT
"Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.)" - 2Ch 20:2 NLT
"Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting." - 2Ch 20:3 NLT
"So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD's help." - 2Ch 20:4 NLT
"Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD." - 2Ch 20:5 NLT
"He prayed, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!" - 2Ch 20:6 NLT
"O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?" - 2Ch 20:7 NLT
"Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name." - 2Ch 20:8 NLT
"They said, 'Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'" - 2Ch 20:9 NLT
""And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them." - 2Ch 20:10 NLT
"Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance." - 2Ch 20:11 NLT
"O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help."" - 2Ch 20:12 NLT
"As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children," - 2Ch 20:13 NLT
"the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph." - 2Ch 20:14 NLT
"He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's." - 2Ch 20:15 NLT
"Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel." - 2Ch 20:16 NLT
"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"" - 2Ch 20:17 NLT
"Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD." - 2Ch 20:18 NLT

I'm afraid that my mind wandered off on tangents this morning during Pastor Jack's sermon. I finally got out a piece of paper to jot down what he was saying and the direction my thoughts were taking. 

Pastor Jack started by pointing out that Jehoshaphat's reaction to the news of armies marching on Judah was terror. He talked about how when we face difficulties in life, our reaction is often the same. I know that whenever I learn that we are behind on yet another bill, when relational difficulties come my way, when things occur to make me doubt my husband's love for me, when I am faced with my daughter's death, I am filled with dread and terror. 

Despite his terror, Jehoshaphat knew what to do. He turned to God with what Pastor Jack called "A Prayer of Despair." This, Pastor Jack said, is where seeking God usually begins, in despair. I believe that despair is a turning point. We can choose to lean on God or we can choose to give up all together or we can choose to continue plodding on in a state of despair. Me, I'm pretty sure I'm at this state of despair and I can't tell you how many times I have come close to giving up. Pastor Jack says that seeking God involves transparency. Here my thoughts wandered. Why should seeking God involve transparency? Since God is not transparent with us, why should we "be transparent" with him? Also, God knows all things anyway. So what good does it do to "drop the mask" when we can't have a mask with God anyway? God's obtuseness frustrates me. It does not seem reasonable to me to be asked to do something for God that God is not willing, or possibly not able to do for me.

Pastor Jack got my attention back when he mentioned the need for an attitude of getting into God's presence. He said that this gets us closer to God's power. Again, my mind walked off on a tangent. When someone hurts you or allows you to be hurt over and over again, why would you want to spend time in his presence? Our natural reaction is to draw away from the things that cause us pain. And I know that my reaction of late is to want to curl up in a ball as far away from the people who cause me pain as I can. It's my position, too, that if God is in control, and I believe he is, then the things that occur to hurt us are his fault. Trust must be earned. Experiencing bad things over and over again does not engender trust. Also, sometimes the promised reward does not seem worth the pain. 

My attention returned to the sermon when Pastor Jack addressed fasting. To catch God's attention, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah fasted and prayed. Pastor Jack says that fasting draws God's attention because it shows commitment and steadfastness of purpose. He says that we can fast from more than food. It is possible to fast from TV shows, movies, individual foods, anything that can capture our attention and desire.

He then went on to say that seeking God involves listening. I was reminded of the Calorman saying (from the Chronicles of Narnia)  "To hear is to obey" and one of my father's lectures discussing the meanings of the word "hear" used in the new testament. From what I understand, when the Bible says "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." (Rev. 2:17) The term "listen" can also be translated "Anyone with ears to hear must obey the Spirit..." Hearing and obeying are directly connected. 

Pastor Jack also said that the battle is not ours, but God's. If we are listening to God, he will speak to us through everything around us. We should pay attention and listen for God's voice from other people and from his word. He said to listen, be attentive to God's voice. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit has to say to the churches.  

Pastor Jack says that seeking God involves making a decision to trust. There is an unbreakable connection between trust and obedience. Seeking God involves a commitment to praise and worship many times a day, and not just on Sunday morning.