Uncle Dave

Q2. (Ezra 8:24-30, 33-34) Why does Ezra weigh out the gold and silver vessels when he entrusts them to individuals, and weigh them again when they are delivered to the temple? Is this an act of distrust? If not, why are steps to prevent embezzlement good for Christian organizations? The answer to the first question is simply to make sure everything arrives safe and sound, but as far as being an act of distrust, I don’t think so because Ezra told them (the high priests) before they left that they were holy to the Lord, and that the vessels were also and I think it might have been a device used to help prevent them from falling into temptation. Steps to prevent embezzlement are good because if one person ran into a financial difficulty and had easy access to funds not his/hers, they could easily fall and if caught later on the situation could have gotten much worse for the person and at the same time cause funding problems for things people paid into.

Q1. (Ezra 8:21-23) Why does Ezra call the people to fast? Does fasting compel God to answer our prayers? What does fasting accomplish in us? Ezra called for the fast so that the people would humble themselves before God. They were asking God for safety for all the people and all the possessions they would be traveling with unaccompanied by any of the king’s soldiers. There is nothing we can do, fasting included to make God do as we would like to see take place. Fasting, however, helps us to humble ourselves before God because when you are hungry you quickly find out that without God, who created food, we are nothing.

Q4. (Zechariah 12-13) Paul was broken-hearted for his countrymen the Jews, who had rejected the Messiah. We should be too. When do you think the prophecy will be fulfilled that says, "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn...?" (Zechariah 12:10). Concerning the fountain that cleanses from sin and impurity (Zechariah 13:1), has that been fulfilled, or will it be future? Why will it please God so much when all the Jews finally believe in Jesus? I can’t help but think that this has been an on-going event since the day Jesus was sacrificed. So often, it goes through my mind that it was actions such as I myself have either thought of, or carried out, and it really saddens me knowing Jesus took the penalty for me. I’m not implying that I was a big-time bad guy or anything like that, but even the small wrongs (according to how we, as people classify big/small wrongs) that do not glorify God is sin. True, I have never actually seen him in the sense as we know seeing, but in a kind of way I see how He has exposed me for what I am. I’m sure that in the final day the wicked will be exposed and there will be lots of crying at that time. This second question so much brings to mind the Samaritan woman Jesus talked to (John chapter 4). When Jesus tells her in verses 13-14: 13"Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." It simply strikes me as the cleansing having been made available the moment you trust Jesus to cleanse you from sin. The Jews are God’s chosen people, and they profess to believe in the scriptures but if they don’t believe in Jesus then they don’t really believe in God’s word. Like most of the questions here, I’m not good enough with words to say what I really want to say and I apologize for that but I’m doing my best. Maybe it could be worded in a way such as how would you feel if you had a son and because of his qualifications you sent him to oversee something and he came home beat up, bloody & black and blue, or the telephone rings and you are informed that he was killed doing what you sent him to do….well, that would be comparable. According to the story of the prodigal son God will be very forgiving to them for their wrong choice of actions. http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/topic/1736-q4-messiah/

Q3. (Zechariah 11:4-17) Why is God so condemnatory towards shepherds or leaders who take advantage of their office and exploit the people? What is Jesus' standard for leaders (Mark 10:42-45). What would it look like in government if we followed Jesus' standard? What would it look like in your workplace? In your church? In your home? What good is a shepherd that poisons its own herd? Easy to understand why God would be mad when people He entrusted to take care of His children are selling them short. Imagine if they were your own kids. Jesus’ standard for leaders is to be servants. He said that to be a leader one must first serve the people he is leading. If Jesus was in charge of our government the people would be taken care of, of course there would be plenty to go around when it came to contributing also and each would be expected to do his/her part. There would be justice at every level, along with mercy, compassion, etc.,. Things would be very different. In the workplace it would be the same and all would be busy, yet all would prosper as a result. In the church, I’m sure there would be a certain amount of shakeup as there would be in any but I feel somewhat confident that those in attendance for the most part have their hearts invested. In the home, the same as in the church. I know for a fact that I myself would be making lots of quick changes, but the encouragement would be great and many questions would be answered that I think only Jesus could answer.

Q2. (Zechariah 7:9-10; 8:16-17) What does it look like to operate from a policy of mercy and compassion? God commands justice for the poor and oppressed in our culture. How can we be sure that the poor are treated justly in our courts? How do you treat aliens in your country, sojourners from another land? Why is speaking truthfully with others so important to God? Operating with mercy means to be a forgiving person. Too many people today have a “depends on the crime (as well as who committed it) way of thinking. Just as Jesus is willing to show mercy on us, we are required to show it also if we ourselves are to be forgiven. Compassion comes under a slightly different heading in that given a leadership role, punishment for wrongs is required. No revenge, but punishment. That doesn’t mean first offense for stealing an apple gets your hand chopped off, but at the same time right from wrong must be established. Perhaps the best way of describing the compassion aspect of the equation would be akin to Matthew_18:32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Making sure the poor are treated fairly in courts can be done by electing fair judges (take the time to find out just what they represent) and by not being afraid to stand up for justice if on a jury. By not being conned into testifying against someone wrongly knowing they can’t even afford to defend themselves (don’t do it to anybody, btw). By not being afraid to come forward when in knowledge of information of oppression. I try to treat people the same and find most people are receptive to that and by nature most people are friendly. It brings to light the old saying “treat others as you would have them treat you”, and for me it is especially true because being Caucasian, I appreciate being treated in a kind manner when I travel to the Philippines to visit family. It is important to God because it is His nature to act that way, and if for any other reason the simple fact that He requires us to act that way.

Q1. (Zechariah 7:4-6) In what ways have we Christians tended to make worship about us, rather than about God? How should we evaluate our churches and our worship patterns? What can we do to make our personal worship a matter of the heart, and not just rote readings and prayer? So often we see the “look at me” facet of entertainment during worship services. I’ve seen dancers, dressed in black who should have been confined to an “almost adult” club, which I say almost because at least they had the decency to not reveal themselves. I see the soloists with all their sparkling jewelry, the wannabe rock and rollers hoping for any recognition possible, and, well I could go on and I’m sure everybody knows the story. I would be lying to say there are not times when I think I have the most striking voice in the crowd (lucky for me I’m usually drowned out). When I am in the process of evaluating (never really used that word but I guess it is what it boils down to) a church, I find myself looking for a place where the worship leader’s voice doesn’t come booming out through the speakers and drowning everyone out, but where it’s just loud enough to follow and same with the band, regardless of how many instruments in the makeup. Maybe it’s just my personal opinion, but I take worship at a personal level because I am of the opinion that worship should glorify Christ and nobody else. I think we need to connect with God while self-examining ourselves, asking forgiveness for the wrongs done and singing out with a voice of thanksgiving. I see people who are always writing down in their notebooks while a pastor is speaking never to be opened again for another week, the previous week appended but never to be seen again. I know I have spent much time here speaking out against things I see and that I have no right to judge but I also have the right to be thankful for having found a place which, is a population of imperfect people but the worship team is like I thought it should be, the message is well planned and comes full circle pointing to Christ, etc.,.

Q4. (Zechariah 4:1-10) Why do we so easily fall into the trap of trying to do God's work with our own strength? What does it mean, "Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit"? How might you apply this truth to your life? It is possible to get so caught up in doing God’s work that, I think we fail to remember why we’re even doing the task at hand and slip into becoming prideful of what we’re doing, accepting all the glory for what is getting done. Possibly this comes about because of human nature which tells us that we can do anything we put our minds to (building the Tower of Babel?). But by my spirit, now that is taking the proper attitude, letting God handle the details, that is, consulting God every step of the, constantly in prayer (even while working), being in His word when something comes to question and listening to what He has to say at such times. I could apply this to my life simply by looking back at all the incomplete things I have done, things left incomplete for no good reason, and ask God if any of those things are important, can any of them be used for His glory and if so, lead the way for me. Sometimes I wonder at a couple of things I did half way and stopped, if it just wasn’t Satan who somehow meddled into what I was doing and brought the tent down on me, or were they just things I need to forget about.

Q3. (Zechariah 3:1-7) What do Joshua's filthy clothes represent? How does God deal with this? What message is this prophecy intended to convey to Joshua the High Priest? How might this message apply to Christian leaders who have sinned? The dirty clothe represent sin. They represent what needs to be removed from our lives. What we need to repent of. God deals with this by making us white as snow and gives us a fresh start. This message is telling Joshua that as God has cleansed him, so he will to all Joshua brings to God. This should serve as a reminder to Christian leaders who have “soiled their garments” that God is not only willing to forgive them, but that He will also promote their mission.

Q2. (Zechariah 2:13) Why, in this passage, do you think the prophet calls all mankind to be still before him? In the context of God aroused to protect his people from attack, why is silence appropriate? For the enemy of God, what does silence represent? For the believer, what does silence before God represent? The silence is to let God fight the fight for you. When God says He is going to do something, it is guaranteed He will do it. You have a choice, you can either let God fight the battle or you can attempt to undertake the task yourself. When I think of what does the silence represent, I think of Jesus with Pontius Pilate. Pilate, curious about what truth was, seems to have gone into a silent state also when he washed his hands because he seems to have known God was about to do something exceedingly powerful. Remaining silent could also mean being put to the sword as has happened to many martyrs for Christ over the centuries, but letting God fight the battle always ends up in being rewarded, even as the exiles were in Jerusalem. I realize that many would wonder what the reward was for being put to death, but one must also remember that no matter how you look at it, your days are already numbered by God. You can either be a brave sheep on the way to the slaughter and receive your reward from God or you could save your life (for a short time, at best), and still have a meeting with destiny and get thrown in the “goat cooker”. Silence before God represents submission. How total that submission is depends on to what degree you would submit to God.

Q1. (Zechariah 1:3) Why is a message of repentance from sin such an important part of the Gospel? What happens when we remove repentance from the core message of Jesus? Why do you think God wants you to repent of all known sin? Jesus’s comment in Luke 13:3 explains it best: “… but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Without repentance what changes? For the unrepentant sinner, nothing so why should God, who demands we be holy offer eternal life to someone who has no intention of conforming to God’s will? The promise of eternal life is the driving force in man which would bring one to Christ and if Jesus Himself says “you will all likewise perish,” then what is the sense in preaching, or sharing the gospel with others if such an important aspect of salvation? When you remove repentance from the core message of Jesus, you are apparently trying to teach a new version of salvation which does not now, nor ever has existed. God wants us to repent from all known sin because Jesus said, “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 How can we be perfect if we have not repented of all known sin? Are we not supposed to search ourselves? We cannot completely conform to God’s image, in an unrepentant state because it means there is something we don’t want to let go of which stops us from attaining that perfection.

Q5. (Haggai 2:20-23) In what way is Haggai's image of Zerubbabel being God's signet intended to encourage Zerubbabel? What is the power of a leader's signet? How does listening to God's Spirit make you effective as his agent? In what ways are you authorized to speak and act for Jesus? Being God’s signet is a very powerful position. Zerubbabel was given the position of a king. Being sent out as God’s ambassador is one thing but being handed the power of an actual king would be very humbling to most, to say the least. The power of a leader’s signet meant something to the effect of “I mean exactly what I say, and what I say is the way it will be, no ands, ifs, or buts about it” with the power to back those words up. Jesus said that whatever we ask for in His name you will receive, in other words He is sharing His power. We are authorized to speak and act for Jesus in love and truth.

Q4. (Haggai 2:10-14) What kinds of things defile a disciple today? What is the danger of acting as if doing church work somehow makes us holy by association? How does a believer deal with spiritual defilement and sin? A current day disciple can become defiled by backtracking into territory from which God has removed him. When God cleanses a person, they should go to all extremes to stay that way. I say extremes because when you are cleansed, Jesus said that the same spirit will return with 7 more and upon finding the house clean, will attempt to move in(given the opportunity). Rather than a return to that from which we were removed, we should concentrate on any other areas of our life that may need cleaned up(seems like there is no end to those areas). The danger of thinking that church work alone makes us holy is that it doesn’t. Being involved in church work should be encouraged, but even more important is having a pure heart. An unrepentant sinner doing church work is headed down the same path of destruction as an unrepentant sinner who isn’t doing church work. Like Jesus said, they would be receiving their reward then instead of later, when it really counts. Repentance is the only way of dealing with defilement and sin. Trusting in the fact that Jesus will cleanse & forgive you upon true repentance will remove the stains from you “spiritual rap sheet.”

Q3. (Haggai 2:1-5) Discouragement is a common experience. What command does God give Joshua the high priest? What assurance does he give? To deal with your own times of discouragement, what would God's command and assurance be for you? How would you implement them? God told Joshua to be strong, that He would always be with him. God does not change. God’s command & assurance would be the same today as it was 2,000+ years ago. We are still commanded to be bold in carrying out the work He gives us to do. Discouragement, however, rears its ugly head every chance it gets and it is good to know verses of encouragement and also to lean on strengthening verses such as those by David, who was a brave, bold individual.

Q2. (Haggai 1:6, 9-11) God sometimes disciplines us through hardships and circumstances (Hebrews 12:7-11). Sometimes through us not having all that we need. What is such discipline intended to do in our lives? Are you experiencing hardship? What is God trying to say to you in the midst of it? Things are going good for me at the moment and currently no qualms with the way things are. I have, however gone through times where things were so bad that I would wonder how could people prosper the way they do and I always seemed to be at the bottom looking up. It wasn’t until I met Jesus and began to know Him on a one-on-one basis that my eyes were opened to the fact that I was the problem all along. I’m not saying that things changed from rags to riches overnight, although it might have been such a success story had I not looked away from Jesus and tried to see exactly what He had in mind for me. It wasn’t until I was at the point of having to move “under the bridge” with a winter freeze breathing on me and I re-located and given a roof over my head and after a couple of years, I cried out to God begging for another chance, asking Him if He would employ me doing whatever, just let me know. In less than a year I re-located once again, this time ½ way around the world and informed that I would be starting a youth Bible based ministry. I guess that is what you could call my rags to riches story. All of a sudden having more than enough, though not to the point I could actually call myself rich, which that doesn’t matter anymore as we are now able to help others and that, to me is worth more than money anyway. What would God be saying amid such a hardship? I would say He is calling for obedience among His people and not to be wasteful with any type of resource what-so-ever, be it material goods, time, energy, etc.,. God will prosper His people if they seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and start doing as they should.

Q1. (Haggai 1:8) God wishes to "take pleasure" in the temple, but the people have stopped working on the project. When is God displeased with you? When does he "take pleasure" in you? What is keeping you from serving him deliberately and joyfully? God is displeased with me, when I squander time away due to distractions that need not be, and as a result, that which could easily have been accomplished gets thrown to the wayside and an attempt made to forget about it. Also, when I get in the bickering mood which creates a state of tension among others keeping someone on edge needlessly, when the atmosphere should be cheery and bright. When does he “take pleasure” in me? Maybe if I made some changes like getting rid of things I can live without, like television, with a possible exception such as the news. Avoiding social media on the internet would also be a good place to recover time carelessly lost by using it in way such as connecting/staying in touch with people and for the promotion of the gospel. If I were to act as I ought to, and quit causing disruptions where I shouldn’t I’m sure God would be more pleased with me. Things like TV, and not digging to the root of the problem of acting as I do are the greatest threats to me serving God deliberately and joyfully.

Q5. (Ezra 6:20-21) What do repentance and separation from the sins of our culture look like for a disciple today? How should we prepare ourselves to worship Jesus in the Lord's Supper? How should we prepare to serve him with purity day by day? Q5. (Ezra 6:20-21) What do repentance and separation from the sins of our culture look like for a disciple today? How should we prepare ourselves to worship Jesus in the Lord's Supper? How should we prepare to serve him with purity day by day? Repentance and separation from the sins of our culture today is no different than at any other time in history because even though the temptations or pressures might be different per situation, the fact that doesn’t change is that sin still boils down to sin regardless of whether in violation of the 1st, 4th, or 10th commandment or not doing as we should sin is sin and the only way to accomplish this is to, regardless of what others might think, resist temptation right on to death if necessary. I know it doesn’t always work out that way, and we often need to recommit and ask God’s forgiveness again but He knows our hearts and that is most important. We need to really look deeply into ourselves like a review board in preparation for the Lord’s Supper and ask forgiveness for any offenses afresh we might have against us and with a meaningful, remorseful heart, repent anew. We should do this daily as well. What better way to start a day than time in communication with God(mostly listening to what He has to say). An excellent example, from a Biblical point of view is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.), but, once you begin to spend as time as possible with God you quickly find that no matter what takes place in a day you can face it because you always know there is one there who will hold you up.

Forgetting who is in control of the situation & not trusting the One who Is in control of the situation. Some people seem to just naturally go to pieces when feeling threatened and lose sight of the task at hand, forgetting that things are happening somewhere else at the same time, the throne of God. Many things can come to the mind of one who becomes scared or forgets who is running the show and the fact that He is running it for His glory. All to often it is through this method that one finds out that what they are doing is not actually what they should be doing, although that is different case apart from the question. A disciple of Christ in retaining a robust faith will first seek God when trouble comes. The problem with that statement is "when trouble comes", which can often be avoided by maintaining constant contact (praying always) with the God of amazing breakthroughs and impossible solutions. That is not to say troubles will not come because one way or another should be expected since Jesus told us troubles would come. It is throught these times God gives us His best. How could one expect a breakthrough or impossible solution if everything was perfect? This requires such a disciple to always be in God's Word and in constant communication with Him and putting Him first in everything throwing ands, ifs, or buts to the ocean to be forever drowned.

Q3. (Ezra 4:1-3) Sometimes uncommitted people try to co-opt true worship for their own ends, as did the enemies of the Jews. What is the danger of letting people without a deep heart commitment and close walk with God redesign the church's image in the community? Redesign worship? Redesign the preaching? How can we be innovative and still be faithful to God's heart? This is something John talked much about. In 2 John 11 when he clearly stated that “Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work”. John talked much about association with evil and it all points to the downward spiral we need to avoid. The church should be about love more than anything and anyone who doesn’t preach that is not of God. Innovation is okay if the gospel message doesn’t change. Love and the Cross are what it’s all about. I hear innovation all the time when preachers use real -time examples and still sum it up with what Jesus did for us. You can’t innovate the truth though. It must remain. If any innovation is to take place, perhaps going into a place where the truth is mixed with worldliness and innovating with the truth is okay but not the other way around.

Q2. (Ezra 3) Rebuilding the temple in order to restore worship is the point of all this work. Is your personal worship what it should be? What foundations do you need to lay again in your personal restoration and revival of faith? I think that personal worship will always have room for improvement. Seems like I don’t have that “perfect balance”, but then it’s not a perfect world either so we make the best of everything. I really like my quiet time with God in the early morning, hours before anybody is moving and sometimes something happens to distract me, but, I know the whole day can’t be early morning. Returning to more time studying in the Word, which I have recently picked up on a bit. I have trouble with my eyes and even with good glasses have trouble focusing due to a vision defect, but I just received a large print Bible and have returned to more time per day. I can access many versions on my pc but that isn’t the same as having that book in front of me, probably the old-fashioned thing in me but I find it much easier to go back and forth through different parts using pages. This is a question that will be answered in upcoming days and weeks now that it has been put to me and I appreciate this class for having done that.

Q1. (Ezra 1:5-6) Why did only some return to Jerusalem when given the opportunity? What are the likely characteristics of those who return vs. those who stay behind in Babylon? Why do only some answer Jesus' call to follow him on his journey to a radically different kind of lifestyle and mission? What are the characteristics of true disciples? Since many had been prospering who were born in confinement, it can be hard to give it all up when things are going well for you. Especially if you had a family of your own to take care of. Another thing that would come to question would be one's faith at the time. When you look around today at how many people claim to know Jesus and use the words "praying, prayers sent," etc., on social media sites when someone asks for prayer and even when it comes down to those requesting, there is sure to be a certain volume of people who will request it, however, only when things turn sour in their life but when things are going good its party time. Not having been around at the time it would be unfair to use that category for people I never even knew, but it seems like a pattern thing. The same when it comes to answering Jesus to follow Jesus through a new type of life. I hear things like "i do my own Bible study(when they're not loaded, perhaps), or maybe things are going okay for them and they think they have no use for Jesus. It seems like the further people get from God as a whole, the numbers increase until something really bad happens that affects many and even then only a certain amount will change. A true disciple, in my eyes is one who is in regular communication with God, start the morning off with dedicated personal time in praise, thanks, apologizing(not because you got caught), reading the Bible and mostly just listening to what He has to say to you. Personally, I believe God will talk to His people on an individual basis.

How is Jesus' glory displayed through his transfiguration and miracles? The display at the transfiguration needs no explaining. His face glowed like the sun and His clothes began to display such a brilliant white and suddenly there was Moses and Elijah—many years past at that point (how did they even recognize who they were?). More than enough to make a believer out of me. As for miracles, Jesus did things which reflected the light of God. He healed people, mended broken hearts when He raised up Lazarus (how many people would love for that one to come upon them?), always giving God the glory.

When did Jesus glory and kingly authority have their origins? In the “beginning” was the Word but I don’t think there was hardly a beginning when He was with God from the beginning but God has always been. The only other explanation for that would be that Jesus was with God since His beginning, as He is the first-born but that is going into some deep, heavy ground which I can’t answer so no further comment on that one. In what sense were they hidden while he was on earth? They were hidden, so to speak as Jesus came to earth as one born of man, or, “Son of Man”, as He always referred to Himself and He didn’t come as the King who would sit on David’s throne in the manner that Saul, David, or Solomon, etc., did. In what sense were they still present? They were still present though through the miracles He did and the wisdom and especially the humility shown by Jesus.

According to 1 Peter 1:8-9, what is the basis of Christian joy that is "inexpressible and glorious"? Joy. The joy of knowing we have a secure future. The joy of knowing that anything that might come our way in this life is just God’s way of strengthening us, perhaps for something we are being prepared for in this life, or, perhaps the next one. How does this joy interplay with human emotions? Well of course it interplays with human emotions because the joy of the Lord makes us feel good. Is it essentially emotional? Basically, though it can lead to emotional stability, it is not essentially emotional. This joy comes from the faith that Jesus died for us and rose again, just like we have been promised. How does it differ from what is generally regarded as the pursuit of "happiness"? The pursuit of happiness??? I look at that as no more than the short lived good feeling one gets from success or gain. Extra Credit: How can you tell the genuine article of joy from the counterfeit? The real thing will never rust, tarnish, the moths won’t eat it, etc.,. Jesus is the real thing, the world and its dazzling lights are a short-lived counterfeit.

Can you remember any instances in which God used difficult circumstances to refine and purify your faith? More than once, such circumstances have been invoked against me. Perhaps its just my hard-headed nature that brings on the difficult aspect. What did God accomplish in your life? best. There were times when I thought I found what I was looking for, and I probably did, but, it wasn’t what God wanted for me. This was so much more true than I could have imagined because not only has God given me the best for the future when my time arrives, but also while I am here awaiting that day. ndSo many things. I learned that God wants the best for us, not 2 How, exactly, does genuine, tested faith bring glory to Jesus? Because true faith causes humility in that we learn dependence of a childlike manner---belief and these are things Jesus talked about while He was here. Just knowing about that guy name Jesus in the Bible is one thing but knowing (through faith) our King who is talked about in the Bible is quite another story.

According to 1 Peter 1:5, what is God's part in securing your salvation? According to the verse God’s end is providing the salvation. Matthew 23:11 tells the story when Jesus said the greatest among you shall be your servant. Nobody or nothing is greater than our King Jesus and who is the greatest servant of all? Who provides life, food, shelter, both to the just and the un-just? None other than God Himself. For me to say I am serving Him is the understatement of the time. There is nothing we can do for God that He can’t do for Himself but there is nothing we can do for ourselves apart from him. Getting back to my pre-rant statement, all He asks for is that we believe He did it for us. What is your part? Our part is easy, actually. True, things like obedience, etc., all fit into the grand scheme of things but salvation comes to us through faith in what Jesus did for us at Calvary.