Deacon Justin Schaeffer led our devotional this morning from A. W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God on resigning the possessions of our hearts, the things we think we can hold onto and giving them to God where they are truly safe. See below for the notes from Justin’s devotional and Shoreline’s weekly prayer requests.

Our Purpose (Romans 15:30 paraphrased): I urge you brothers, by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayer to God the Father for the glory of the name of Jesus.

The Discipline of Renunciation

Genesis 21:5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

• Can you imagine what Abraham’s relationship with Isaac must’ve been like after waiting so long for his birth?

Genesis 22:1-1 1After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

• What do you think it was like for Abraham the night before he was to sacrifice Isaac?
• Has God ever asked you to give up something that was dear to your heart? What did it take?

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife or slaughter his son.

• What do you suppose was God’s motivation to ask Abraham to sacrifice his son??

A. W. Tozer says of Abraham after this experience…

Abraham possessed nothing. Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was his still to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. There is the spiritual secret. After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words my and mine never again had the same meaning for Abraham. The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart. Things had been cast ourt forever. They had now become external to the man. His inner heart was free of them. The world said, “Abraham is rich”, but the aged patriarch only smiled. He could not explain it, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and eternal.

There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harful habits in the lifer. Because it is natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But is ourworkings are tragic.

We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to HIm, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed.

Luke 9:23-25 23 And he said to all, :If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Father, I want to know Thee, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and i do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of They feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shin it it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer Requests for our Campus:

1. Joyful, Spirit-filled, missionaries dwelling in unity, loving people as an expression of the gospel
2. Peasant Princess – This series is exposing idolatry in the hearts of many, young and old, single and married, and the number of people coming forward for prayer and/ or seeking counseling is going way up. The fruit is very encouraging. Pray for our pastors and prayer team that they would be filled with Holy Spirit and equipped to minister to those who seek their help. Pray for fruit in the lives of many at our campus through this series.
3. Praxis
   1. Rhythm of equipping, community and mission
   2. Classes: Bible, Disciplines, Compassion, Parenting
   3. Matt – kids ministry plus new 4-5 grade ministry
   4. Reagan – Jr. Proxy and Proxy
   5. Jeff – Production
   6. Missional expression
4. JD – Redemption Groups and counseling
5. Al and July Hielscher teaching “Pre-Marriage class”
6. Justin – Prep for class, fall administration, Amy pregnant
7. Matt – PRAISE!! new baby, heavy fall schedule, volunteers needed
8. Mark Bergin – teaching class, elder candidate
9. Tim Quiring – Community Group re-vision toward mission
10. Tyler Powell – teaching a class, putting together new Sunday service prayer team, and entering into a busy season of Acts 29 boot camps
11. Steve – Class prep, focus, priorities, energy, health, wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit to connect the sermon back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ each Sunday.
12. Facility for the campus!!