REALLIFE STUDY GROUP
"Soak Up!"
ICEBREAKER: Studying is a form of soaking, as in
soaking up information. What is/was your favorite subject to study in school?
Why?
CONFESSION: When I soak up God's principles,
God's practices, God's promises, God's prophecies and God's proclamations I
become filled to overflowing with God's life, His love and His laughter. My
spirit is like a sponge. It is constantly absorbing and drinking in something.
Therefore to the best of my ability I choose to only absorb what is good, just,
pure, lovely, virtuous and of a good report. A sponge's absorption level is
directly related to whether it has been immersed in water and is no longer dry
and hard. I choose to be immersed in God and increase my capacity to soak up
more of God! I want to be a receiver and not a repeller of the corrections and
the disciplines of God. I was created to soak up God's presence, His anointing
and His glory, so that when the pressures of life put the squeeze on me the
only thing that flows out of me is the "zoe" life of God!
DEFINITION: Soak
up:
To become
immersed, baptized, to drink deeply of something, to absorb both internally and
externally, intellectually and spiritually, empirically and experientially,
naturally and supernaturally, metaphorically and genuinely, physically and
metaphysically.
OUTLINE: 12
Super Soakers
What are believers called to soak up?
I was created with the desire, the capacity and the ability
to...
·
Soak
up the overflowing, outpouring, indwelling anointing oil of God's
Spirit
·
Soak
up the saturating, ground breaking, heart softening rain of the Holy
Spirit of God
·
Soak
up the penetrating, permeating, soul stirring presence of God
·
Soak
up the irradiating, glistening, phosphorescent sunlight of God's
truth
·
Soak
up the world changing, status quo challenging, thought provoking wisdom
of God
·
Soak
up the soul settling, fear calming, mind boggling, incomprehensible peace
of God
·
Soak
up the fountain bubbling, artesian well erupting, spirit energizing wine
of God's Spirit
·
Soak
up the life giving, love lifting, kingdom gifting, never ending river
of God's grace
·
Soak
up the glorious, victorious, uplifting sound of heaven
·
Soak
up the soul cleansing, mind purifying, heart transforming Word of God
·
Soak
up the burden removing, yoke destroying, sin canceling power of God
·
Soak
up the resource releasing, wealth creating, brainstorming provision of God
9 Total Immersion Principles in
Christ...
1. Total
immersion requires complete surrender (Floating in water requires complete inactivity and total
surrender) Be still & know...
2. Total
immersion absolutely, entirely changes the atmosphere and the environment (Just before the thunderstorm the
temperature drops, barometric pressure shifts, and increased wind velocity
produce extreme atmospheric change...)
3. Total
immersion symbolizes death, burial and resurrection. (Baptism)
4. Total
immersion silences every other voice, sound or noise. (ocean)Your voice & the enemy's
voice. You can't speak under water.
5. Total
immersion encompasses, envelopes and isolates you like a cocoon while you are
undergoing the transformation process (Metamorphosis)
6. Total
immersion is a cleansing, purifying, toxin removing process (bath)
7. Total
immersion is followed by recognition, affirmation and promotion (When John baptized Jesus, a voice from heaven
declared, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased")
8. Total
immersion brings unity (For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye
be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(Galatians 3:27-29 KJV))
9. Total
immersion brings complete deliverance. (Like pharaoh and his army, what saves you now swallows up
your enemy.)
TEXT: Matthew 3:16, 17 KJV, Romans 6:1-16 KJV, 1
Corinthians:10:1-17
STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:
1.
Soaking
Up means to be immersed or baptized. It was a term that was used in the Greek
language to describe what happens when a fabric is completely dipped in a color
dye. Not only was the fabric enveloped by the liquid color of the dye but the
dye permeated the fabric so that when it dried, the dye changed the color of
the fabric permanently. How does being baptized in Christ change your perceptions,
your reactions and your dreams?
2.
Have
you been water baptized? If so how did you feel afterwards and if not what is
stopping you?
3.
Today
which of the 12 super Soakers listed above would you like or do you need to
soak up a little more?
4.
When
Moses soaked up the presence of God on the mountain, it so illuminated his
countenance that the people could not even look upon his face. What does it
feel like to be in God' presence?
5.
1
Corinthians 10:1-4 explains how the Hebrew people with Moses were baptized in
the cloud and in the sea. I believe the cloud represents the Kingdom of Heaven
and the sea represents the world or the cosmos system. It's interesting that
while they were baptized in the sea as they walked through on dry land the sea
actually never touched them. I believe this is a picture of how we are in this
world but not of this world as our source. Name one thing or way of thinking
this world has tried to baptize or immerse us in that you are fed up with.
6.
Which
one of the the 9 total immersion principles in Christ listed above impressed
you most?
PRAISE REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS:
ACTION POINT: This week I will set aside some time
to simply turn on some praise and worship music and soak up God's presence
while focusing on nothing but the goodness of God!