The Life—DVD SERIES WITH BILL AND ANABEL GILLHAM

In 1987, Dr. Bill Gillham wrote a book called Lifetime Guarantee: Making Your Christian Life Work and What to Do When It Doesn’t. In 1993, the book was published by a new publisher, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon. (ISBN: 978-1-56507-075-2). For the next few months, we will be sharing a DVD study based on this book in which Dr. Gillham and his precious wife Anabel share the scripture with us in a simple, down-home style that speaks to our soul helps us learn how to live the Christian life more abundantly and what we can do when we realize that we are not living the spiritual life that God expects from each of us. Many of us in this class benefitted from the series when we used it in Sunday School in 2010. After consultation with our Sunday School Coordinator, Dr. Scasta and I have agreed that a re-visit to the Gillham study could be a great blessing to our Sunday School class. That is our prayer. If you did not buy the book referenced above, I strongly encourage you to buy a copy for yourself and your spouse and to read through the book as we study the weekly lessons. The book will reinforce concepts discussed in the weekly lesson and the weekly lesson will provide clarity and detail to issues addressed in the book.

Since our original study of this series, both Anabel and Bill have gone to be with the Lord. Anabel left her “earthsuit” on November 7, 2010 at the age of 82 and Bill graduated into his heavenly home on June 23, 2011 at the age of 84. Even so, thanks to God and to modern technology, we can continue to learn from the wisdom and discernment of these two dedicated Christian teachers just as if they were sitting in the classroom with us. I hope and pray that you will be moved and inspired by the teachings of the Gillhams as we re-visit a “Lifetime Guarantee” in the coming weeks. I welcome your comments and thoughts on this blog and in our class as we study the teachings of Bill and Anabel Gillham. To God be the glory! Amen.
WEEK ONE: SUMMARY

The basic problem in our lives is the programming of our flesh. Christians have only two ways to walk in this world: in the flesh or in the spirit. Walking in the flesh is not just doing bad things. Walking in the flesh is depending on one’s self and one’s own abilities to get one’s needs met apart from Christ. Bill says that the cardinal sin for man is “Independence.” Would you agree?

Walking in the spirit is NOT religious activity. It is allowing Jesus to live His life through you. A key concept voiced by Bill: “The Christian life is not difficult to live; it is impossible. Jesus Christ is the only one who has ever really lived the Christian life. He is the only one who can live it today, and that is exactly what He wants to do—through you (See John 15:5 and Gal. 2:20).

Three Basic Points:

1. God is love. You were created by God to be loved unconditionally. Only God loves unconditionally, therefore, you need God.

2. God created laws (ways) to govern the universe. All of his ways are good.

3. Each of us showed up on earth with the need to be loved. Instead of getting our need met God’s way, we developed our own way of getting needs met. This is what the Bible calls “flesh.”

We are a spirit being in an earth suit. We are not a physical being on earth. The human design includes a body, soul, and spirit. The spirit is that dimension of your being through which you relate to God. At the time of your physical birth, your spirit is dead to God. This condition is inherited from Adam and this is why you need to be “born again.” (SEE John 3:1-15)

The Soul is your unique personality and is comprised of three parts: your mind (thinker), your emotions (feeler), and your will (decision-maker). The will works like a light switch. It is either on or off. Your body (earthsuit) houses your soul and spirit while you are on earth. It is the vehicle through which you relate to people and the environment. Remember, you are a spiritual being with a soul in a body, not a physical being with a spirit.

Both the mind and the emotions are programmed for quick response to stimuli. The emotions are much slower to recover after stimulation than the mind. When one is chronically exposed to harmful stimuli (e.g. unhealthy relationships), your emotions can become “stuck.” As the brain repeatedly receives the same type of information and interacts with the mind and emotions in the same ways, those programs become deeply ingrained. Bill refers to these programs as “green highways.” After you are born again, these “green highways” become your unique version of the flesh.

Key Concepts: Walking in the Spirit most often requires you to choose to walk by what God’s Word says rather than by what you feel.

Bill’s working definition of the flesh: “Your old ways which you developed through independent living.”

Bill provided a “Flesh Inventory” for Personal Reflection at the very end of today’s presentation. I have a PDF Copy of  the Flesh Inventory.  However, as of this time, I have been unable to find a way to attach it to this blog.  If you can give me directions for attaching a PDF file or if you would just like me to send you a copy of the PDF via e-mail, just shoot me a message.  Have a blessed week.

Jimmy