Spiritual Fire, God’s Will, and The Three Pots

Lesson Overview: Spiritual Fire, God’s Will, and The Three Pots

Main Lesson Summary

  • Ultimate Purpose: The goal of studying the Bible is to actively live out its teachings and focus on heavenly aspirations rather than merely improving earthly life.
    • Aim to become a "heavenly person" by living God's will on earth as in heaven, as guided by the deeper meaning of the Lord’s Prayer.
    • Distinction between correct teachings is key to cultivating the "correct fire," defined as God's word of truth and prophecy, which enables living a sincere faith acknowledged by God.
  • Conclusion: This lesson concludes a series on "spiritual fire" focusing on the censer, incense, and the pot, and introduces the parable of the "Boiling Pot" as a representation of a church or gathering of believers.

Recap: Spiritual Fire and Incense

  • Spiritual Fire: The Word of God, powerful enough to:
    • Cleanse those who accept it.
    • Judge and consume those who reject it.
  • Preparation for Spiritual Fire: Understand Jesus’ use of the Word during His first coming to prepare for the spiritual fire of the Second Coming.
  • Parable of Incense:
    • Concept: For prayers (incense) to ascend to God, the heart (censer) must contain God's fire (the Word).
    • Requirement: Engaging daily with scripture is essential for a genuine relationship with God.

The Biblical Pattern: Rebellion, Desolation, and Salvation

  • Recurring Pattern: Found throughout the Bible, applicable to both the Old Testament and prophesied for the Second Coming stages:
    1. Rebellion (Isaiah 1:2-4): God’s chosen people turn away from Him.
    2. Desolation (Isaiah 1:5-8): Results in destruction as punishment for disobedience.
    3. Salvation (Isaiah 1:9, 18-20): God preserves a remnant and offers redemption to the willing and obedient.

The Parable of the Three Pots (Churches)

  1. The Pot of Rebellion (Ezekiel 24, Micah 3):

    • Corrupt church, known as a "city of bloodshed."
    • False Leaders: Represented as wood, using Satan’s word (fire) to mislead believers (meat).
    • Proclaims a message of "peace and safety" simplifying faith without action or learning.

  2. The Pot of Desolation (Jeremiah 1:13-16):

    • Church symbolizing destruction as a result of rebellion.
    • Represented by a boiling pot from which disaster is poured out.

  3. The Pot of Salvation (Zechariah 14 & 8):

    • Ideal church described as "cooking pots in the Lord’s house" that are "holy to the Lord."
    • Known as "City of Truth" or "Mount Zion," which serves as the barn for gathering the wheat (true believers) to be taught the truth.

Distinguishing True and False Teaching

Two Kinds of Teachers (John 3:31-33):

  • Teachers from the Earth:
    • Approach teaching from a worldly perspective, concerned with earthly matters such as finances, relationships, or retirement.
  • Teachers from Above:
    • Testify to heavenly insights, teaching kingdom secrets and prophecy as exemplified by Jesus.
  • Call to Action:
    • Believers should use the Word of God as a "scale" to discern teachings and move from knowledge to action.
    • A change of even 1% in oneself signifies that God’s word is actively influencing life.

Examples of Specific Prayers

  • For Purpose: Seek to understand God’s will and become a noble vessel for His glory.
  • For Purity: Aim to become a wheat-like believer and abstain from Satan’s lies.
  • For Cleansing: Reflect on past learnings and seek to be filled with correct teachings.
  • For Habit: Cultivate a desire within the heart to pray more regularly.
  • For Mindfulness: Strive to be more aware of God and His Word in everyday life.
  • For Determination: Depend on God’s strength to fulfill commitments made.

Personal Application

  1. Engage with specific prayer examples provided.
  2. Move from comprehending commandments in the parables to actively implementing them in daily life.
  3. Distinguish between teachings that come from above (heaven-focused) versus those from the earth (world-focused).

Prayer and Reflection

  • Self-Reflection Question: “Have you noticed a change in yourself?”
    • Reflect on personal faith growth since May.
  • Discernment:
    • Consistent prayer for discernment is essential to identify one's church alignment, aiming to belong to the “Pot of Salvation.”
    • This practice should be integrated into daily life.
  • Commitment:
    • Maintain ongoing fellowship with God beyond scheduled meetings to enrich faith and growth.

The Kingdom Race: Weekly Challenge

  • A “Kingdom Race” event is in progress where teams can earn points through various activities:
    • 3 Points: Send quiet time reflection questions to the fellowship leader.
    • 5 Points: Pray with a mother or sister within the fellowship.
    • 5 Points: Be on camera with the team virtual background (requires full participation).
    • 5 Points: Attend both lesson and fellowship sessions.
    • 10 Points: Schedule a one-on-one meeting with the fellowship leader proactively.
  • Objective: Encourage consistent participation to win the inter-group competition, with the reward of coffee or boba for the winning team.

Technical Support and Group Dynamics

  • A member experiencing technical difficulties with their Zoom background is recommended to try using their mobile phone or seek assistance for setup.

Community Highlights

  • Taco Recommendations:
    • Taconazo (La Habra)
    • Senior Baja (Norwalk)
    • Lupe’s (South County, Costa Mesa)
    • Tacos Los Primos (Anaheim, Fullerton).
    • Future Outing Suggestion: The Fullerton location for a group outing.
  • Family and Daily Life Updates: Discussion included tips for enhancing rice flavor with chicken broth instead of water and an update on a child, Johnny, who is undergoing potty training and acquiring a new car seat.

Future Lessons & Follow-up Actions

  • Upcoming Series: Trini will lead a new series on parables starting this Friday.
  • In-Depth Lesson: A more detailed lesson on the deeper meaning of the Lord’s Prayer is planned for approximately three months later.
  • Lesson Follow-up:
    • Reflection questions from this lesson will be shared with participants.
    • Clarify any concepts with Isaiah, Trini, May, or Amos if needed.
    • Read Zechariah 8:3 to comprehend the connection among the “pot of salvation,” “City of Truth,” and “Mount Zion.”
    • Review past notes and scripture for deeper understanding.

Group Logistics and Participation

  • Team Competition: Regular submission of prompts is required to earn team points.
  • Virtual Background: Download and utilize the assigned team background with the camera on, ensuring all team members do the same.
  • Personal Application: Practice prayer examples (for purpose, purity, etc.) actively, moving from theoretical knowledge to practical application of commandments in parables.
  • Lessons in Discernment: Ensure teachings are genuinely from above (heaven-focused) rather than from the earth (world-focused).
  • Logistics Note: The group leader will send the new virtual background to participants missing it.
  • Next Group Fellowship: Consider Tacos Los Primos (Fullerton location) for the upcoming gathering.
  • Family Update: A member plans to request a school transfer for their daughter, Johnny.