Video Sessions: 2
Total Time: 4.5 hours
How many of us have struggled with seasons of development? We know that as believers we are in a continual state of development and growth. The Bible tells us that God's word is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness so that we may be equipped and competent to carry out our God given purposes (reference 2 Timothy 3:16-17). However, it can be difficult to maintain contentment and to not grow weary in our seasons of development. The Overcoming Discontentment While Under Development Bible Study provides the knowledge and strategy needed to not only survive but to thrive while under development.
Session 1: Understanding Divine Development
Focal Text: James 1:2-4 (MSG)
Consider it a sheer gift [other translations say all joy], friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Biblical Figure Focus: Jesus
Biblical Figure Focal Scriptures:
Luke 2:51-52; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1-2; Luke 4:14
Objective:
To provide understanding of the importance of divine development through a survey of the life and ministry of Jesus. Throughout our lesson we will discuss the purpose of and response believers should adopt in a season of divine development while closely examining the 33 year development season of Jesus Christ.
Keywords
Divine
- Derived from the Greek word theios (thi'-os).
- Definition: God's essence to His self-manifestation, permitting all people to know Him by observing His attributes; revelation
Development
- Derived from the Greek word trepho (tref'-o).
- Definition: properly, enlarge, fully develop because adequately nourished (fed)
Test
- Derived from the Greek word peirazo (pi-rad'-zo).
- Definition: to make proof of
What Is A Rhema Word?
A rhema word is a word from the Lord given to us by the Holy Spirit. An example of a rhema word would be when God gives you revelation or instruction that is specific to you and your situation. A rhema word from God always aligns with His word and should reflect the fruit of the Spirit.
Get To The Root Of It: Root Cause Analysis
We often become weary in the season of divine development because of feelings of loneliness, fear, and confusion. Those emotions then disrupt our discernment and we cannot properly assess what is truly taking place. Failure to discern seasons of divine development often leads to discontentment, overwhelm, and rebellion among believers. It is when you are in this position that the enemy comes in for the kill.
Questions For Reflection
Are you or have you ever been wavering in your faith? Use the space below to complete a root cause analysis to identify the area of issue. Then seek God to develop an appropriate and practical solution to uproot anything contradicting what He has said to you.
What discernment from God, details of God’s plans, and decrees from God have been missed because we accounted the trials as a device of the enemy instead of a season of divine development from the Lord?
Review: Principles of Development
Principle #1: Divine Development Is Void Of Personal Preference (Count It All Joy When...)
Attempting to forego the processes of divine development will lead to premature birth of things that were meant to be bountiful blessings. If you remember King Herod already attempted to have Jesus killed when he was a baby (ref. Matthew 2:16-18). The decree went out to kill every child under the age of 2. He was out here having toddlers slaughtered in an attempt to keep God’s divine destiny being in Jesus’s life. Prematurity produces vulnerability that then births risk of defect and even death.
Questions To Consider
What is at risk when we attempt to forego the processes of development and enter into new territories without the covering of God?
What changes can we make in our heart posture to ensure we are receiving revelation from God and not reacting to the pressures of our development seasons?
Principle #2: Divine Development Examines & Produces Fruit
Divine development is uncomfortable because the pressure results in situations that put us to fire to be sanctified and purified. This purification process examines the quality of the fruit we currently have and cultivates the production of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Questions To Consider + Dive Deeper
In our foundation text we are told to ‘count it all joy’. What is the importance of pursuing joy no matter our circumstances? What practical steps can we take to maintain our pursuit of joy during our development seasons?
Read Galatians 5:16-26 [Living By The Power Of The Holy Spirit + Fruits Of The Spirit], how does divine development prepare us for the ‘constant fight’ we face mentioned in verse 17?
Solitude With The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our guide, will speak for us, is our advocate, and intercessor. Often in seasons of divine development there is an appearance of loneliness and isolation. However, this is truly a place of solitude. In the Bible, Jesus chooses to remove himself from the company of people to seek the Father (solitude). It is in this place where he is restored, refilled, and most importantly He is able to cancel out the ‘noise’ to draw closer to God’s Spirit. Likewise we must seek solitude in God’s presence during our times of development.
Principle #3: Divine Development Prepares
The pilot run is uncomfortable, requires stretching, but is VERY necessary while under development. The pilot prepares your endurance, produces patience, and facilitates your ability to walk in wholeness (James 1:2-4).
Questions To Consider + Dive Deeper
Read the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness in Luke 4. What can we learn from His example on how to successfully endure the schemes of the enemy during our season of development?
Bonus Principle: Being Under Development Is A Position NOT A Place
Be Encouraged: The reason that Jesus did not fall for the counterfeit kingdom offer that Satan tried to entice Him with (Luke 4:4-7) was because He fully understood that the divine positioning of God superseded the environment he could see in the wilderness. The enemy is trying so hard to knock us out, to get us to quit before we are fully prepared because he knows the consequences when a child of God is about their father’s business.
Questions To Consider
Why is it important to understand that you were divinely positioned by God despite what the environment [place] looks like?
Conclusion: Understand + Embrace
Divine discipline involves our capacity being tested, increased, and perfected through the work of the Holy Spirit. This often looks like trials and tribulations and because of this we are tempted to quit before we can be perfected.
Session 2: How To Thrive While Under Development
Study Topic: How To Thrive While Under Development
Focal Text: 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Biblical Figure Focus: King David
Biblical Figure Focal Scriptures:
1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 16:19, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Samuel 19-25
Objective:
To provide understanding of the importance of divine development through a survey of the life of King David. Throughout our lesson we will discuss practical
Key Words
Humble
- Derived from the Greek word tapeinoó.
- Definition: to make low, to humble
- Commentary: Happens by being fully dependent on the Lord – dismissing reliance upon self and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us.
Under
- Derived from the Greek word hupo
- Definition: by, under
- Commentary: under, often meaning "under authority" of someone working directly as a subordinate
Exalt
- Derived from the Greek word hupsoó.
- Definition: to lift or raise up, to exalt, uplift
- Commentary: properly, raise high (elevate)
Text Background: 1 Peter 5:6-7
1 Peter was authored by Peter, formerly Simon, a disciple of Jesus Christ. These letters were written to encourage Christians who were facing persecution by the Roman government for refusing to bow to Cesar. Particularly in Chapter 5, Peter provides great insight on how to shepherd the people of God while enduring suffering and persecution. Throughout his writings, Peter provides wisdom on the expectation of ridicule, rejection, and persecution for believers encouraging us to focus on the gift of eternal life that is offered to us as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ. This Kingdom mindset allows us to maintain peace in seasons of persecution and to not be terrified while facing trials and tribulation.
In our focal passage we are admonished to humble ourselves and yield to the power of God. Doing so will result in God elevating us up in honor in due season. Furthermore, we are to give God all of our cares, some translations call for us to cast our cares to God.
1 Samuel 16:1-31:13
The book of Samuel records the life of Samuel who served as the last judge of Israel. Furthermore, it outlines the transition from a system of judges to one of a monarchy with the appointment of King Saul, who served as the first king of Israel. Throughout the book the rise and rejection of King Saul is outlined in 1 Samuel 8:1-15:35. Lastly, the book of 1 Samuel discusses the appointment of King David, a man after God’s own heart and the greatest king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-31:13). The book 1 Samuel was authored by Samuel until chapter 25, where Samuel’s death is recorded. The remainder of 1 Samuel and the book of 2 Samuel were authored by the prophets Nathan and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29). The book of Samuel provides great insight and wisdom into heeding to God’s control, leadership, obedience, and God’s faithfulness.
Questions To Consider + Dive Deeper
In what areas are you asking God to help you thrive in? This is beyond material possessions but the possession of true wealth, which is the possession of Godly wisdom and reflecting the character of God. (Read, Study, & Reference Deuteronomy 8:18)
Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. ~ Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT
Reflection, Revelation, and Refocus Exercise
In our foundational scripture for this study we discussed the importance of casting your care or releasing your worries and cares to God. It is critical to note though that there is an exchange that occurs that makes casting your care more than just a ‘casual’ encounter. In fact, the ability to cast your cares results in a divine exchange. In fishing, casts are sent out and fishers often are rewarded with a catch of a large fish. Similar to fisherman, we do not return empty handed from when we cast our cares to the feet of the Father.
We can cast our worry and anxiety and receive peace in return (Philippians 4:7). We can cast doubt and confusion and receive grace in return (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can cast fear and receive a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). God is Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). He will always provide and care for us as His children. There is a level of freedom in our ability to cast or throw our cares as far away from us as possible to reap the reward of receiving bigger from God. No more running back and picking up things that we have previously casted. In fact, our ability to retrieve the care is an indicator that we have casted it properly.
Cast from the Greek word epiriptó means to throw. In fishing, the further or deeper you cast, the less likely you are to scare off the fish and you are able to reap the reward of a big catch. Likewise, casting our cares so deep into the hands of God removes us from interference and allows us to have room to readily receive God’s divine exchange in the midst of development, trial, and tribulation.
What things do you need to cast to the Lord? This may be something recurring as you previously laid it down instead of casting. Write those examples in your journal. Then utilize Bible study tools (concordance, index, Google search, etc.) to find out what God is offering in exchange. Spend the next several days meditating on these scriptures.
Questions To Consider
- What are your current roles in this season? Sit with God and ask Him to reveal the significance of your role here. Write down any revelation that is imparted (shared).
- With your new found revelation on the significance of your role, how do you plan to show up more intentionally?
- What course of action have you taken in the past when others have discounted your value? Did this help or hinder your development in God?
Identity vs. Circumstance
Understand that there is a difference between identity and circumstance. Identity is established by God long before we get here. The struggle is that we often allow circumstances to superimpose our identities and find ourselves making decisions from a place of deficit instead of through God’s divine calling on our lives.
What are some circumstances that you may have misplaced as identity in your life? Write these down and ask God to reveal to you in greater detail your divine identity in Him.
A great example of this is the use of horoscopes to define personality traits. Most importantly, the use of horoscopes is divination (witchcraft) and unbiblical. When God first dealt with me on this personally He first dealt with the fact that I would say that I was ‘bossy’ because “I’m a leo.” It was a simple question of, “Are you saying that I can’t have that part of your heart or change that trait simply because you were born in August?” I was immediately convicted, and went on to study further to learn that horoscopes were divination. My identity in Christ supersedes the circumstance of me being born on a certain date. I had to repent, renounce, and release that to God. Then, God shifted my ‘bossy’ personality into an ability to be able to lead in His kingdom! He will use every aspect of us if we allow Him and come into alignment with His identity.
Jesse identified David by his age and occupation instead of by his name. What attributes have people attempted to identify you with? What circumstances in your life have you superimposed over your true identity?
One of the greatest commitments I have to God is authenticity. I refuse to be someone who appears to show up well for the people of God, for the clout, or the applause but not showing up well in my walk with Christ, my marriage, or in my family. Where are areas where God is calling you to improve in you working as unto Him? I heard it posed once like this, does your family enjoy living with you? Does your husband enjoy being married to you? Our homes are our first ministries. Ask God to show you areas where you may be falling short in your relationship with Him, with others close to you, your job, and taking care of yourself. Work with God to receive wisdom on how to repent and refocus so that you are in alignment with His desires for your life.