Ernie's Son

A. He certainly could have no good. I think he would want to completely rob me of any good that would come from trials: he would want to completely break me and that any trial would have a negative outcome for me--all bad. B. I think all good is what He desires for me. From the following Scripture a list is given: patience, experience, and hope. Rom. 5:3-4 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" C. Yes, many. D. Yes, many.

A. The list would certainly be longer than the following: in government, people are elected in order to make decisions for the people; in cooperation's, the heads/executives make decisions that governs not only for the cooperation, but the people that are employed; as to the law of the land, I must follow governing laws; a church council makes ruling that the church (members) must follow; fathers/mothers make decisions for the family group; even a person makes decision that he/she must follow, not only for their personal health, but for their spiritual health. B. "We see this in our own day. A king declares war, thus committing all the young men in his country and those of allied nations to risk their lives as soldiers. A president breaks the terms of a treaty, thereby plunging his nation into war" (Lesson).

A. "The exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship, to reconcile someone to someone" (Lesson). B. Since we have been reconciled by Christ's blood, there is the possibility of a relationship and access into His presence. Now there is peace. Reconciliation is necessary for access. "There is an enmity in the heart of man against sacred things: that grace of Christ alone can remove this enmity" (Clarke). C. The power of the Holy Spirit working in us sanctification - "The character of Christ." D. He is interceding for us. "God has embraced us with His love and favor far beyond any measure" (Lesson).

A. Rom. 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" In case that I think of myself as being just "too sinful" that God will not except me, Paul addresses that "fear" in (Rom. 5:6, 8). "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (5:8). "The bloody, scarred cross is proof of God's love for you/me" (Lesson). B. Christ died for us while we were at our worst. Isa. 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." "He didn't die for us because we were either righteous or even relatively good. Rather we are 'sinners' pure and simple - sinners who are lost. We had missed the mark - even the best of us" (Lesson). C. "There is no sin you/me can commit that the Son of God did not atone for on the cross" (Lesson). John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

A. I are assured that suffering will not separate me from the love of God (Rom. 8:35). I understand that just because I suffer doesn't mean that I am out of fellowship with the Lord. Probably, suffering has the opportunity of bringing me closer to the Lord if only I will allow it. When I suffer, it seems that I study, read the Bible, and pray more. When I suffer, my whole life has a turn-to the right, I hope. In this case of Scripture, suffering according to Paul brings other byproducts: perseverance, character, and hope. Therefore, I rejoice in suffering that I have the opportunity in my own life of what perseverance, character, and hope will do—for a better character. B. For me holding on in suffering is one of the hard things to do, but it is necessary for the outcome. “As we brag on God in spite of our troubles, God produces in us the fruit of the Spirit of patience or long-suffering” (Lesson). For me, it gets down to will I hold up in a positive way under my sufferings? Will I be patience that the suffering will work a work in me as a fit follower of the Lord? Perseverance for me is holding on/up during suffering. What is character? For me, character is hard to explain other than the influence that the Spirit has on my life in regards to the outcome or result of my suffering. “God works in us that tried character that is a distinguishing trait of Jesus' disciples” (Lesson). My mother use to tell me when I thought my world was falling apart, “Why, there is always hope” (my mother). For me, it's just like there is this reserve that is being drawn from that is sure, solid, and can always be depended on. “We find our hope solid and we see fulfillments of his promises along the way” (Lesson). For me, there is one verse that has been one of my favorites for a long time: it is found in Romans 4:17-21. Romans 4:18 “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.” Is this not the faith of Abraham relaying/explaining Gospel faith? Yes, Abraham just believed God!

A. For me, this is a really big for what he had been asked: He was asked to leave his home and friends; the people he was kin too; and how he made his living. It doesn't stop there. He was asked to go to a place where he did not even know (Heb. 11:80). Abraham could have done a lot of things he didn't: He could have made a big fuss of what he was asked to do—he didn't; He could have found all sorts of reasons he was the wrong man for the job—he didn't. He could have slid his feet all the way—he didn't. Probably there are many other factors he could have found that he was the wrong man for the job, but he didn't. He just believed God! Barclay reads: “ . . . It was his complete trust in God and his complete willingness to abandon his life to him. That for Paul was faith, and it was Abraham's faith which made God regard him as a good man.” B. From the NIV Study Bible, I found several things: I have a new relationship with God; now I am a friend, not an enemy; I now have access to God through Jesus; I confide in the fact that what God has created me for will be carried out. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. C. Christ takes what I have and gives me what He has: my sin/guilt for His righteousness by faith in His blood.

How does the realization that God is E-Olam, the Eternal God, effect you? As God was in the past, in the now, and in the future, He will be the same (Heb. 13:8). Ps. 119:89, For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in Heaven. Mt. 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. The Eternal God leaves me in awe that He could love even me. God offers this love to the "whosoever will." Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For me it's hard to understand, but His "love" is eternal, and it includes not only me but "whosoever will." How does it alter the way you live your life? In my life, probably not as it should be. He loved me so much that He died on the Cross for me; now what will I do with that "love"? Mat. 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

In what ways has God blessed Abraham in this difficult chapter 21? Sarah bore Abraham a son (21:2); God was with him in all that he did (21:22); the covenant at Beersheba (21:32)?; the tamarisk tree--called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God (21:33). Given what we know about Ishmael's character (16:12; 25:18), how has Abraham been blessed that he sent him away? " . . . for through Isaac shall your offspring be named" (21:12). "Abraham is assured that Ishmael will also be blessed." "God consoles him with clear direction as well as insight into what God is doing." How has Isaac been blessed? "I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him" (17:19). " . . . For through Isaac shall your offspring be named" (21:12). What might have happened if Ishmael hadn't been sent away? Would he not have been the first-born-heir? Have you ever been rejected or sent away? Yes. Where is God in all of this? God is staying faithful of His promises to Abraham and Sarah.

What motivates Sarah to demand Ishmael's expulsion from Abraham's family encampment? Gen. 21:10 So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." Is she righteous in this? No. Have you ever tried to force your spouse to act against his or her principles? Probably so. Have you ever been forced yourself? Probably so.

Sarah was listening at the tent door when Abraham was told Sarah would have a son (18:10). They both were old and Sarah was past child bearing (18:11). Sarah laughed at her having a child in her old age. The thought must have been overwhelming; yet, God had promised made the difference. "God as Sarah's divine overseer and suzerain has watched out for her and blessed her with a child" (Lesson). I think Sarah makes the point in her words in 21:6 " . . . God hath made me to laugh. . . . " Sarah was scolded when she first laughed, yet Abraham wasn't when he laughed? Why wasn't Abraham scolded as Sarah? Abraham's laughter must not have been in doubt, but that this only comes through God: Mar 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." As to God's sense of humor, I've never thought in terms of God having a sense of humor, but naming the child Isaac/laughter seems that way.

What does the call to the Great Banquet sound like when we extend the invitation to those around us? The servants who "compel them to come in" for the "householder" is a message of "grace" has to be "Good News" to all those who " . . . labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat. 11:28). In what sense are we the servants told to "compel them to come in"? The "compilers" are the "servants" of the "householder." Also, the call is "urgent and cannot be put off" (Lesson Material). In what sense are we those who have been called to the feast in the Kingdom of God? "And until the final call comes to take our seats around the table, we are still inviters to yet others to come" (Lesson Material).

Why did Lot's daughters turn to incest? Through their father, they would preserve their family line. What does this tell us about their values? Their values was on the low end of the scale. Did they pick up their values from the people that lived around them? "When Christians give into the pressures of culture and adopt the values of the culture in contrast to the values of the Bible, we lose any chance we have of being lights to the world" (Lesson Material). About their faith? They must have had little faith, in that, God could have provided their family line. Why does Lot turn to intoxication? He had lost it all: flocks and herds; he had no friends; no dowry/status; the valley was depopulated; the land was barren; and he was alone except his daughters. What does this incident tell us about his faith? At one time, he had shared in Abraham's faith in Yahweh; now, it was different. Now his faith was on the low end of the scale. His hope? He must have had little hope as he tried to go to sleep at night without the wine. His influence? He must have had little or no influence, in that, in Sodom his future son-in-laws showed no respect. Nor in case at hand, his daughters. His choice of residence? Lot went from Sodom to the small city of Zoar to a cave? What lessons should we learn from this story? In this case, Lot moving to Sodom was reaping what he had sown; no respect from his future son-in-laws; his wife did not believe that Sodom would be destroyed; and the deeds of his daughters. What was Lot really after, wealth or the blessings of God?

After being nearly delivered, why did Lot's wife stop and gaze rather than escaping? It could have been a number of things: it was the place of her birth; she didn't want to move to another place; she didn't want a change in her life; she felt safe there, although didn't realize the danger she was in; she may not have really believed that Sodom would be destroyed; or just unbelief. What was in her heart? The past. Have you ever struggled with this in your heart? Yes. What lesson does Jesus draw from Lot's wife in Luke 17:31-33? She was right on the edge of deliverance, but just could not disconnect herself from the past. "The importance of readiness to meet him, and the tragedy of those who seek to preserve their old way of life and suffer the utter lost of any life whatsoever" (Lesson Material).

Why was Jesus so harsh with those who made excuses when called to follow him? The three that came to Jesus were thinking of following Him on their terms. They had to be set straight of what it really meant to follow a homeless, sojourner who was on His way to Golgotha. Why is the call so urgent? Christ journey is today and immediate. " . . . repent for the Kingdom is at hand" (Mt. 4:17). Rom. 13:11 "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Why do our excuses seem so trivial when offered to Jesus? "He isn't offering to follow you. You are offering to follow him and put up with the hardships and self-denial that come on his path." "No excuse you can offer is adequate to put on hold his compelling summons" (Lesson Material). Mat. 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Why did Lot and his family hesitate? Did Lot have too many "attachments" there that he could have been moving in the direction of "looking back"? Lot probably didn't want to go through all that was involved in moving/leaving Sodom. Did Lot really know the danger he/family were in? Probably not, to some degree. Lot may have just wanted to stay and take his chance? Was Lot dragging his feet while "the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them" (19:16)? Have you ever hesitated when you should have been fleeing a danger? Probably, many times. What is the lesson for us? For me, it comes down to either accepting or not accepting wrong cultural values that go against the values of the Bible: there are implications.