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God's word is living and active and will not return to Him empty. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. His words do a work in us that nothing else can do. His Holy Spirit will remind us of the truth, if we don't read we have nothing to bring to remembrance. If we read, the Holy Spirit will teach us, guide us and convict us. To read His word is to come to know Him who inspired it. To know Him is to love Him. The Holy Spirit takes you through the process of transformation that the word brings. It is necessary that the Spirit reveal God's truth in His words because our fleshly minds cannot comprehend Spiritual truths.

(2 Peter 1:20-21) How can a person be speaking and God be speaking, too? How does the image of a ship being moved by the wind help you understand this? (Greek pneuma means "spirit" and "wind.") God is using the persons lips to speak His words thus both are speaking God's words. If we raise our sails (have faith and walk in obedience) we can be directed by the wind (Holy Spirit). It is essential that the Holy Spirit empower us so we can serve God and go wherever He takes us.

The Scripture in Old and New Testaments are Truth. Truth is light & light is truth. Darkness means not knowing the truth. The truth lights our path to freedom in Christ. Darkness makes us stumble on paths that lead to bondage.

I'm sure satan has something to do with this one. If everyone thought hard about death they might seek the truth, the truth being heaven or hell, then they would take steps to avoid hell which is not what satan wants. satan has done his job to busy our minds with too many other things like live in the here and now, satisfy yourself today. Also many don't know what to believe about the afterlife, and if there even is one. That I don't have to take all my aches and pains, etc.. with me after I die is very freeing. The significance is he is shedding off his old dwelling for a new one, just as the Isrealites shed their old dwelling of Egypt to go to the promised land. We are also slaves to our flesh in that we have to eat and sleep and do things to maintain a healthy body just as they were slaves to the Egyptians.

If we act as the world does what difference has Christ made? We are then deceiving ourselves. If a believer is fruitless they will be in danger of God's correction and or chastening and then scourging. They need to read and pray so the Holy Spirit can make known to them what their problem is if they don't know. I think of the scripture that where the gardener says, "let me agitate the soil this year and if it still doesn't produce, you can cut it down".

I think loving undconditionally is the hardest and requires the work of the Holy Spirit. We need to address all hurts in the church by prayer and by communicating with those responsible. If we can't get along in the body of Christ something is really wrong. For God is a God of peace not of chaos and the Holy Spirit brings unity, satan brings division. If we allow satan to divide us, separation occurs not growth and separation eventually leads to death.

I have been reading the bible daily for the past two years. If I miss an evening, I feel really awful. I am addicted to Scripture. This is one addiction I can feel good about. I pray before I read however, I need to pray harder and meditate more before and after reading. I need God to break the soil of my heart so His word can permeate my mind, body, soul and spirit.

Since I've been a Christian for only 2 years, all of the virtues are difficult and a conscous effort as my old nature keeps popping up. The amount of guilt or conviction is increasing and I ask forgiveness and press on toward the crown. However, of all the virtues I would say Self Control is the most problematic. I still have old addictions I am consciously trying to quit but am having much difficulty. Smoking is the major one. I quit for 1.5 days and the withdrawals were too much. I will try again.

If the desire is stronger than our desire for Him it is idolatry. This is a sin and sin separates us from God eroding our faith and lives. The strong desire to know and do His will daily will bring us closer to Him. If we seek Him we will find Him, for He is not far from anyone of us. His Holy Spirit will bring to rememberence all that we have read in Holy Scripture, guiding us to His truth. Our fleshly desires oppose God's desires because His spirit is to help others whereas our flesh desires to help us, ourselves. If we seek to satisfy ourselves (flesh) we are not doing/seeking God's will and eventually evil desires give birth to sin and we can become hardened and be totally separated from God. If we choose to serve others according to His will, we look to Him to satisfy our needs, this dependence builds faith and helps us overcome our flesh.

That the creator of all things should be mindful of man is mind blowing and that He should be mindful of me is even more so. I seek to grow in knowledge of Him through His word, prayer and application of His word in my life. To serve Him and glorify His name daily is my desire. I know that in time, my knowledge and my love will grow so that I think of Him always and therefore always try to live as He wills. When I try to grasp His Presence it puts me in awe. His goodness makes me realize how filthy I am and how unworthy I am and that it is only through His mercy, compassion, grace and love that I am saved.

There is no scope, extent or boundaries when it comes to His provision for us. As long as we seek to fullfill the greatest commandment of loving Him with all of our hearts, minds, spirits & bodies, He will provide for us in every situation, every second. Nothing is impossible for Him. However, we must remain in Him so He remains in us. If we don't know God we are not doing what He commanded us and we miss out on all the abundance He wants to give us both spiritually and physically. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.

It means they have the same faith as Paul. Everyone who has faith, no matter how small, is precious because Jesus' blood is precious. We all share in the same blessings because of our faith. Our faith is porportioned to us by Him. God gives some more faith than others according to His good will.

Hi, my name is Karen. I've been a Christian for 2 years and I find Pastor Ralph's on-line bible study very insightful. I thank God for Pastor Ralph's on-line study.

The act of humility is being a servant-deeming others more important than yourself. To observe a person over a period of time will reveal their true character. Praying for God's will in appointing that leadership role is the key. If we don't seek God's will and we may put a wolf in the shepherds position and put the flock at risk. The accountability for this is worth consideration.

First pray about it maybe fast too. Scripture tells us to confront the person, if they don't listen, take a witness and another witness and if they still don't behave, tell the head of the church. If all that fails, find another church. The danger lies in trying to penetrate the ego of a power hungry person. They'll deny it and look at you like you're the problem.

When your arm is twisted there's no joy in doing it. It promotes a grudging spirit. I am currently being manipulated by guilt and a sense of duty by my pastor to teach the children while he preaches. These children are too young to teach. It would be babysitting. If God called me to teach it's to teach, not babysit. I almost broke down and did it but I realized that if I did do it, I would not be happy and the kids would sense it. No one would benefit and I would probably end up looking for another church. If a church was filled with grudging doers the morale would prevent growth and probably result in a dead church. The leader would have no flock to lead.

That they are shepherds and shepherds were exhorted by Christ to feed and tend the lambs and sheep. That means feed them the word of God and tend to them. Being servents of the truth they should keep His flock from going astray - into sinful lifestyles - basically.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (5:10-11 When you're experiencing suffering it's like being caught up in a dark storm and you can't see the calm and peace that will follow it. The faith necessary to take you thru is what we're being taught. It is very consoling and hopeful to know that it won't last forever and that you will be even stronger afterwards. We can then look back and realize He was with us during our affliction. Right now it is very encouraging to know this because I've been undergoing a trial that's lasted over two years now. I am still in the storm but am hopeful and encouraged. Not only is God with me but I am growing by leaps and bounds as a result of this storm. I am much closer to God and would not be otherwise had the storm not blown my way. I'm thankful for the storm, knowing it is seasoning me to be a more effective vessel for Christ.

To put on the full armor of God, stand your ground and keep standing. It's the same instruction as Paul's except Paul's details the armor; belt of truth, breastplate of integrity & moral rectitude and right standing with God, feet shod with the firm-footed stability and readiness produced by the Gospel of Peace, the shield of saving faith that quenches all the flaming missiles of the evil one, the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, the Word of God.

He is the enemy and we must be always alert and praying lest we fall into temptation and submit to it and sin, thus separating ourselves from God. The devil is alive and aggressive, seeking to devour. He is roaming and looking to attack. We must therefore be on the alert and in prayer and in God's word and will at all time. He attacks us in our weaknesses.

I should put them on God. Entrust God with my cares because He cares for me, He died for me. When I encounter anxiety, I must pray and cast them on Him and trust Him to deal with them, and consider them dealt with and move on.

Because if we don't willingly die for Christ, we're being selfish not selfless. Selfishness is not the message of His gospel. When we don't take up our cross daily, I believe we're rejecting obedience to God's will. We won't grow and we'll continually be on milk and possibly lose our salvation if we resist Him long enough. If we commit ourselves, that means we are willing to live in obedience to His will. Although the flesh is weak and the spirit is willing we must overcome the flesh and die to it. It's hard. I know I give in to the flesh. I'm not as obedient as I would like to think I am. I pray daily for strength to die to sin.

We must be viewed as one of them--worldly. That means Christ is not in us and we're fooling ourselves. Persecution is an opportunity to grow and be closer to Jesus. We also know we're on the right narrow road if we're persecuted for Christ's sake.

That I'm not the only suffering (although I'm not glad others are either) but it's a consolation of sorts. To also know that suffering makes us better. As Christ was made perfect through suffering, I know that our Lord, who controls all things, is allowing this for my benefit.

The danger lies in being disobedient and possibly falling from grace. As Jesus said "they hated me, they will hate you also", which prepares us for what lies ahead for every Christian. If there's no trials then you have to examine yourself. I have been distracted and sought my will, not God's will, to escape. This is dangerous because I'm not learning and growing when I do this. I should have accepted it and remained obedient to God's will. Yes I have observed other Christians sinning as a result of their trials.