These notes are to accompany Grace Rules, by Steve McVey, published by
Harvest House Publishers, 1998
Notes for "The Nectar of Heaven"
Introduction:
Understanding the mystery of the indwelling Christ is not essential to
salvation, but it is essential to living the "abundant life" Jesus promised as
recorded in John 10:10 where He described the "Good Shepherd" and gave Himself
that title. Without this knowledge, Christians are bound for heaven, but live
defeated and frustrating lives while they remain here on earth.
Recently, I read "Secrets of the Vine" by Bruce Wilkinson. I had already read
his first book in The Breakthrough Series entitled "The Prayer of Jabez." I
really didn’t want to read "Secrets of the Vine" because, although he said some
wonderful things in "The Prayer of Jabez," I left that book feeling that
Wilkinson had written just one more "Christian self-help" book to encourage
greater commitment and personal effort to live for God and expand His Kingdom
and that the focus of the book was predominately egocentric. But because a
friend gave it to me, I decided to read "Secrets of the Vine," and I’m glad I
did. Toward the end of the book, Wilkinson tells about his "burnout" while
working harder than ever to serve God and reveals that what brought him back
from exhaustion and depression, was the counsel of a respected Christian who
reminded him that all God has ever wanted from any of us is just to be friends
and that Jesus has come to live inside us so that we can experience that
friendship by abiding in Him just like the branch abides in the vine.
McVey’s illustration of this "abiding" experience is called "Sweet Tea" and
offers some interesting concepts to consider as we try to comprehend the
mystical union of Christ and the believer. Explain how "sweet tea" is made.
I hope what is said here this morning will awaken in you the reality that
Jesus actually lives inside of every person who accepts Him as their Redeemer.
What benefit is to be derived from problems in the life of a Christian?
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among
you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were
happening to you;13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ,
keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may
rejoice with exultation.
What does this passage mean when it talks about "the revelation of His
glory"? McVey believes that Peter is referring to the glory of Christ that
is revealed in the lives of believers.
Just like with "sweet tea," the sugar and tea won’t "become one" without
the heat…the tea is me…the sugar and water is Jesus…the heat is the problem.
Have you ever noticed how much more receptive you are to God when the heat
is turned up in your life? Charles: "God likes scared people, cause they talk
to Him a lot more!"
His desire is to bring us to the end of our self-confidence so He can bring
about "the revelation of His glory" as we experience the sweet truth of our
union with Christ! No hot water…no sweet tea!
1Corninthians 6:17 says that believers have been joined together with
Christ and made one spirit with Him ("But the one who joins himself to
the Lord, is one spirit with Him."). What does this mean? It is no
longer "my life" and "Christ’s life," because when I joined myself to Him,
Jesus gave me His Spirit and quite literally, Christ is now my life!
Illustrate with the circles…
What does that mean to be filled with the Spirit? Ephesians 5:18
Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit.
It means nothing less than Jesus Christ consuming our total being and
expressing His life through us…we now have the nature of God!
What would you say to a person who says, "I’m trying to be righteous"?
If a person has received Christ, they are righteous already because they have
received righteousness as a gift. Romans 5:17 One man sinned, and so
death ruled all people because of that one man. But now those people who
accept God’s full grace and the great gift of being made right with him will
surely have true life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Trying to become righteous is living the "self life" and focuses on what we
do instead of what Jesus did at Calvary and does through us today. Paul says
in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and
that God’s Spirit lives in you?17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will
destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.
Again, in Ephesians 4:23-24 But you were taught to be made new in
your hearts,24 to become a new person. That new person is made to be like
God—made to be truly good and holy.
What is the difference between positional righteousness and literal
righteousness?
Positional righteousness: We aren’t literally righteous, God only
counts us that way even though our condition is actually unrighteous.
Literal righteousness: We are actually righteous because God has
supernaturally taken away our unrighteousness and replaced it with His own
perfect righteousness.
Which viewpoint do you believe? "The truest thing about you is what God
says about you." Martin Luther
How does Romans 5:19 apply? One man disobeyed God, and many became
sinners. In the same way, one man obeyed God, and many will be made right.
Just as there are many flavors of tea, so there are churches with diverse
types of personality and style. Which one is the best? There is no "best
flavor." It’s not the flavor that matters, it’s the "water" (Jesus) that
satisfies the thirst!
Describe the flavor of the church that you prefer.
List three positive aspects of a flavor that you don’t particularly like:
A) It appeals to others
B) I can be encouraged by seeing others benefit
C) Diversity is not boring and it increases the number who respond.
It improves the chances that those who are different from me will be
saved.