1. Servants Preparation Class 04.17.17
What is Resurrection?
Servants Preparation Class

2. “Christ is Risen!” (Luke 24:34)
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

3. What is death?
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

4. What is death?
Living in Exile: When we disobeyed Your commandment by the guile of the serpent, we fell from eternal life, and were exiled from the Paradise of joy. (Liturgy of St. Basil)

5. Consequences of sin and death (Corruption)
Hunger
Fatigue
Weakness
Sickness
Sadness
Fear

6. Consequences of sin and death (Corruption)
Hunger
Fatigue
Weakness
Sickness
Sadness
Fear
Pride
Anger
Bitterness
Idolatry
Greed
Jealousy
Sexual immorality

7. What is life? Eternal life is not a place:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)
The Resurrection is not an event:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

8. What is resurrection? Resurrection = Life overcoming Death
Practical meaning = overcoming sin and its consequences (death) so I can know God more (life)
I turn my pride into humility
I turn my anxiety into peace
I turn my stress into joy
I turn my anger into love
I turn my bitterness into forgiveness
Examples:
My boss at work is giving me a hard time
Someone who struggles with an addiction – cant just put the filter on the computer
David and his struggles – led to sin with Bathsheba. Look at the repercussions it had with his family. His son Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Where did he learn that from? That is what you call DEATH.

9. Victory over Sin
6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)
Every day you go to work, you have a choice. Everyday you deal with your family you have a choice.

10. Resurrection is a CHOICE
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Every day you go to work, you have a choice. Everyday you deal with your family you have a choice.

11. How does sin start?
Where does temptation come from? Read James 1:13-15 Development of Sin: Temptation has 2 Elements Temptation = Sinful Desire + Opportunity

12. Desires How do desires become sinful? Through my senses:
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1)
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.” (Psalm 141:3-4)

13. Desires How are sinful desires conceived?
 through acting on those desires
Sin = Temptation + Action
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

14. Sin and Death
“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
full grown sin = sin without repentance
Death = Sin + No Repentance
Death = (Desires + Opportunity + Action) + No repentance

15. Ways to Victory (Resurrection)
Resurrection is life (knowing God) overcoming death (sin)
The way of victory is to control these 4 things:
Desire
Opportunity
Action
Repentance

16. Desires Garbage in  Garbage out Holy in  Holy out
Must consecrate and sanctify my desires
Guard your senses: 1 Cor. 6:18-20
Evaluate the following: music, television, social media, internet, friends, conversations

17. Desires Consecrate my desires: Partake of Holy Communion regularly
Spiritually edifying materials (books, sermons, spiritual media, hymns, Christian music, shows, bible studies, etc)
Read and meditate on the word of God

18. Consecrating My Desires
Our weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)
“Ignorance of the holy books is the cause of all evil; if we enter into the battle with no weapon how can we expect to conquer?” (St. John Chrysostom)
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

19. Opportunity Evaluate my opportunities: Places I go
Friends I hang out with, etc
Idle time
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

20. Actions Must develop self-control: FASTING!
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)
FASTING!
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit

21. Actions Must continue to strive (fight) – how?
Be faithful to my spiritual disciplines
Just ASK! (be a disciple)
Serve others and GIVE instead of taking
“You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)

22. Repentance Do not allow the sin to become full-grown
Confess regularly even if you don’t “feel” like it
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

23. “If impure thoughts trouble you, do not hide them, but tell them at once to your spiritual father and condemn them. The more a person conceals his thoughts, the more they multiply and gain strength. But an evil thought, when revealed, is immediately destroyed. If you hide things, they have great power over you, but if you could only speak of them before God, in the presence of another, then they will often wither away, and lose their power.” Sayings of Desert Fathers

24. Long-term Spiritual Growth

25. Unhealthy Spiritual Growth

26. Conclusion
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
There will be many battles in the Promised Land but God wants to give us victory

27. Conclusion
17 “If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’— 18 you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: 19 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. 22 And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 23 But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. Deuteronomy 7:17-23

28. Conclusion
“Don’t try to be extremely disciplined right away. Above everything beware of your own confidence, lest you fall from a height of discipline because of lack of training. It is better to move ahead a little at a time. So then, withdraw from the pleasures of life little by little. Gradually destroy all your evil habits, lest you bring on yourself a mass of temptation by stirring up all your passions at once. When you have mastered one passion, then begin waging war against another. And before long you will get the better of them all.” (St. Basil the Great)