I went on a men’s retreat this week for the fourth year in a row. I took some decent notes and took many photos of the sermon slides. I am not a Bible teacher, per se, but am planning to share about the lessons with you readers, in case you find them edifying; I sure did.
I didn’t catch all the notes, but most of them; I hope it is as clear and precise as possible:
Session 1 – Intentional Decisions of the Undivided Man
A divided heart will compromise/A devoted heart releases God-given POWER.
(I thought of the verse where the religious leaders told Jesus he was performing miracles by the power of Satan, to which Jesus replied words indicating that did not make sense:
A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand
(I said, “You got me, Jesus, ALL of me!”)
Then they said that:
Where there is no vision, the people perish
A Godly Legacy is not a prize for the lucky/It is a territory won by the intentional
The pastor said he once trained to become a commercial pilot, and that pilots in training were told to try and fly straight ahead in the clouds without veering or dipping or rising.
They were to grip the yoke/control column, and tended to think flying straight ahead would be easy, but they were up in the clouds, and were subject to spatial disorientation.
They’d take the yoke and think they were doing everything correctly, but the instructor would tell them, for example, that they were veering to left and sharply downward; they had no idea they were off course.
When they used their instrument panel correctly, they would hold to the prescribed directions.
The Bible is our instrument panel, and by close adherence to its precepts, through regular reading and study, we can steer our lives correctly.
(of course we might also need training, Godly counsel and more, but with regular Bible study, God’s Spirit can train and correct us, while the world is usually far off the mark)
There are three decisions that will help you to steer your life correctly:
- RESIST THE NOISE OF THE WORLD
- RESOLVE TO STAY FAITHFUL IN THE GRIND (in your daily work, etc.)
- RUN TO THE FIGHT OF YOUR CALLING
(I wrote a verse I thought of regarding the lesson; I’m not sure how it ties in as I couldn’t write down the entire teaching, but it is a good one)
For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked fall into calamity.
If you have not resolved to be faithful to God, you are at risk.
Also, REST is the result of the fight, NOT the avoidance of it.
The only way to the promise is through the fight.
I don’t have children, so I figure this is for me to win territory for my wife and my other family, friends, others.
What I got out of this teaching is that I can choose to focus my energy on things that make me closer to God, and on my family and priorities, and that that will result in my being more successful in leading people to Christ, and in living the way God intended.
I got a LOT out of the teaching, and I realize my notes are a bit spotty, but feel someone might benefit from this teaching, so I’m planning to post all of the sessions in the coming days/weeks.
God bless you
Positive Press 
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