Lesson #6. OBEDIENCE + THE WHEEL ILLUSTRATION.
KEY TRUTH: This explains the four key Christian disciplines that help believers keep Christ in the centre of their lives so they can obey Him and bring glory to Him.
The Wheel illustration was created by Navigator founder Dawson Trotman in the 1930s. It is a simple and effective way to visually explain how the believer can live a life that brings glory to God. It is easy for people to relate to and it is easy to draw on a piece of paper or whiteboard. It illustrates how to live a balanced Christian life that is pleasing to God.
- THE CENTRE HUB OF THE WHEEL = CHRIST …
Just as the driving force of a wheel comes from the hub, so the power to live the Christian life comes from staying connected to Jesus Christ who declared – All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me (Mt.28:18).
WE MUST STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS: I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (Jn.15:5).
WE NOW LIVE FOR CHRIST BY HIS POWER: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal.2:20).
WE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE INDWELLING CHRIST: To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27).
For Christ to be central in our lives we must surrender to Christ’s authority and lordship each day. The old life has gone and a brand-new life has begun (2 Cor.5:17). The Holy Spirit within us creates the desire to do what Jesus wants us to do and to express His Lordship in our lives. - THE OUTER RIM OF THE WHEEL = THE OBEDIENT CHRISTIAN IN ACTION …
The Holy Spirit within will help us to bring glory to God (see Jn.16:13-14). The rim represents the Christian living a life that obeys the promptings of the Spirit and aligns to Christ and His Word.
TRUE BELIEVERS ARE COMMITTED TO OBEYING JESUS: Jesus told the crowds – Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Lk.6:46).
OBEDIENCE IS THE MARK OF ALL WHO LOVE THE LORD: Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (Jn.14:21).
BELIEVERS PRESENT THEIR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Rom.12:1).
Some acts of obedience to God are inner, such as our attitudes, habits, values, and our thoughts. These inevitably surface in our relationships with other people. Keeping His commands is an outward indication of our inward love for the Lord Jesus.
- THE VERTICAL SPOKES CONNECT US TO JESUS …
A wheel cannot functioning properly with damaged or missing spokes. Similarly, when the spokes of the Wheel are stunted or missing, believers cannot live effectively for the Lord.
(i) THE FOUNDATIONAL SPOKE = THE WORD: The Bible is the foundational spoke. It is the only reliable way that the Lord can speak to you in your relationship with Him. When a person has a vital intake of the Word of God, they are usually spiritually healthy and growing. In practice, this spoke is crucial to a balanced Christian life. As God speaks to you through the Scriptures, you will be sensitized to important issues He wants you to deal with and so put God’s Word into practice.
SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON HEARING AND HEEDING THE BIBLE: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).
THE BIBLE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT IS GOD-BREATHED OBJECTIVE TRUTH:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim.3:16-17).
THE BIBLE IS YOUR DAILY FOOD THAT HELPS YOU GROW HEALTHY: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation (1 Pet.2:2).
As God speaks to us through the Scriptures, we learn how to obey Him and apply the truth to every part of our lives. It is also the way we get to know Jesus personally.
(ii) THE RELATIONAL SPOKE = PRAYER: Prayer is the natural overflow of meaningful time in the Scriptures. Praying to God completes the two-way part of your relationship with Him. It enables you to respond back to God in prayer whenever He speaks to you through His Word. It allows you to share your heart with the One who longs for your companionship. Battles are won in prayer for others and yourself and it is in this way that the cause of Christ is advanced.
JESUS INVITES HIS CHILDREN TO BRING THEIR PETITIONS BEFORE HIM: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Mt.7:7).
YOU MUST BE MINDFUL OF CHRIST’S WORD TO PREVAIL IN PRAYER: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (Jn.15:7).
YOU MUST LEARN TO PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD INSTEAD OF YOURSELF: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7).
Prayer is the natural response to God as we hear Him speak through His Word. It is sharing your heart with the One who longs for your companionship and who cares about our concerns. Prayer not only trains your heart to know the power of God, but also turns His ear to act in our lives.
- THE HORIZONTAL SPOKES CONNECT US TO OTHERS …
(iii) THE SUPPORT SPOKE = FELLOWSHIP: All Christians have the wonderful privilege of being a member of God’s family. We are to learn from each other and to encourage one another. This is only possible as we choose to stay connected in fellowship with other Christians. We are called to contribute toward others and also to be built up by the gifted preaching, teaching, counsel, and encouragement of others.
JESUS PROMISED TO DWELL AMONG ALL WHO GATHER IN HIS NAME: For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them (Mt.18:20).
FELLOWSHIP ENABLES US TO BOTH GIVE AND RECEIVE FROM OTHERS: 24 Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb.10:24-25).
FELLOWSHIP IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT CONNECTS US TO OTHERS AND THE LORD: 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete (1 Jn.1:3-4).
God has directed Christians to build each other up through interdependent and loving relationships with each other. Gathering together as the Body of Christ draws God close around us as we praise Him and encourage one another.
(iv) THE SHARING SPOKE = WITNESSING: The natural outflow of a two-way relationship with Christ is expressed by sharing with others how they can be saved and experience this new life. Effective sharing requires skills that can be learned and sharpened. Witnessing is enhanced when we make use of the spiritual gifts God has given us (see 1 Pet.4:10-11).
CHRIST CALLS US TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH A LOST WORLD: And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mt.4:19).
THE ONLY HOPE OF THE WORLD IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom.1:16).
GENUINE BELIEVERS WILL DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS: but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Pet.3:15).
God has given believers the joy and responsibility of telling the world about the good news of Christ’s work on earth to call people to be part of God’s forever family (see Mt.28:19-20; Acts 1:8).
GROUP DISCUSSION:
Q.1. How balanced and effective is the life of a believer when a spoke is missing or ineffective?
Q.2. Which spokes are stunted or missing in your daily life? How much progress will you make in your relationship with Jesus without changing your habits?
HOMEWORK:
1. Practice the Wheel illustration until you can share it with others.
2. Learn to draw and explain what happens when a spoke is short or missing.
