servant4life

Q1: What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? How does it relate to God's character? Because Abraham was both the friend of God and the servant of God, he shared God's sercrets. Psalm 25:14, "The secret of the Lord is with those that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant". John 15:15, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his Master is doing; but I have called you friends...and James 2:23, And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness".And he was called the friend of God. Lot had been rescued by Abraham's intervention, now he would be rescued by Abraham's intercession. Abraham prayed for the city on the basis of the justice of God, but God saved Lot on the basis of His mercy and grace. Interceding for the needy saints is a high and holy privilege that we must not neglect. servant4life

When we pray "Thy Kingdom Come", we are putting God first. We are asking God for His presence in us and around us. Lord allow us to decrease that You may get the increase, let "Thy Will Be Done" on earth as it is in heaven. Let Your Holy Spirit come forth and direct our lives Lord as You see fit. And now we should be living with expectation. Our thoughts, the way we live is in expectation of Jesus' return. What a glorious day that will be. AMEN

Praise the Lord everyone. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through whom all things are made possible. My name is Ronnie Leaks and I have been a member for over a year now. I thank God for this Bible study and Pastor Ralph. I am from South Carolina and I'm a member of Unity COGIC where i teach and preach the Word of God. I am so thankful that so many of us are interested on learning more of God's Word. Hosea 4:6 says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... God bless each and everyone of you and I look forward in growing together in the Lord. Ronnie L. Leaks A Servant For Life

Praise the Lord everyone!!! Hallowed be thy name addresses the attention of the prayer toward God and reverence for His name and His person. Hallowed (Gr. hagiazo) means to be held in reverence and awe of holiness. God's name was so sacred to the Old Testament Jew that it was never pronounced by human lips. Thus His name is the expression of His very essence. The biblical usage of the concept of a name is a characteristic description of the basic character of the person whom the name is applied. Since the prayer is directed to our Spiritual Father, only a child of God who has been born again can rightly pray this prayer.

This is all God ask of us, to believe. I thank God for Abram (Abraham). Because of his faith and obedience we have the perfect example. We all should develope "Abraham Faith", if God tells us that a duck can pull a truck we need to hook him up and expect to go on a ride. That's how it has to be, waiting in expectation. The fact that Abram 'believed in the Lord', not in just words but in actions. He not only talk it but walk it as well, and that's what we have to do. Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This to me ties in with Genesis 15:6.

Q1. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 24:4. That's what it means to me to call God my Shield. If God is my Shield, then I am under His protection. If I stay under His protection, I'm under His laws. If I abide in His laws and He abide in me then I will receive God. my Great Reward. I must resist temptation; I must keep my focus on God to receive the Promise. When I call God Suzerain or Sovereign I am saying that He has all power; all control in my life. No matter what I may go through I know that God is there with me, fighting my fights. And that's a wonderful thing to know.

No matter how you look at it, God is true to His Word. God said it, I believe it and that settles it.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My answers to this three part question is one answer, my testimony. When I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, of my life that is, I called on the name of the Lord to come in and take control. I didn't know how or when but I knew that He would. In July of 1999 I was living my worldly life, living in sin. I was on my way home this particular night and it was late. I saw this policeman walking around and I was trying to avoid him because I had a warrant out against me, nothing serious, but I just didn't want to chance going to jail. So he called me and I ran. He chased me but I lost him. I had ran in this back yard and when I thought it was safe to come out I did. When I got back on the street, a police car came around the corner and he jumped out of his car came at me and put me face first on the ground. And then it happened, I will never forget this for as long as I live. As I was on the ground and before the policeman could handcuff me, the policeman got up and left me there on the ground. I looked up and he was chasing his squad car. Apparently the either came out of park or the officer never put it in park. I saw my chance to get away but as I tried to get up it felt as though some one was sitting on me, not letting me get up. At least 2 minutes went by and I still could not get up. And then I remembered what I had asked of the Lord only three days before, to take control of my life. So I submitted, I stopped fighting myself and trusted God. The next morning in court, they told that I had a warrant in Greenville, SC from 1989 but they wasn't going to bother with coming to get me. All I had to do was spend the night in jail and take care of a failure to appear, this was in Connecticut. So as I sat in that cell waiting to go to court the next day an officer came to get me to finger print me again. He told me that South Carolina changed their mind and was coming to get me. For a misdemeanor from ten years earlier. Anyway they came and got me, sentenced me to a three year sentence. I was in a state of shock, I could not believe it. But I realized that God was in control, and when I realized that I knew that everything was going to be all right. I only had to serve a year and a half, but after serving nine months I was granted parole. I had to turn that down because of the conditions of my being released. There was no way since I was from Connecticut. But a couple of months later something else came up, early supervised release. I am originally from South Carolina, but I spent all but four years in Connecticut. I was writing this woman that was into prison ministry. I was telling her what was going on with me. I had put in addresses of my aunts and uncles so that I could be released to them, but I was turned down three times and I was suppose to have only two chances, but not when you have found favor with God. She told me to try her address, this woman didn't know me only from poems and a few letters. But it happened, I was released to Rock Hill, SC. That was September 2000, five months early. And I have been blessed ever since that day. I had a job the first day I got here and I am still working. Two years ago God blessed me with an Executive Chef position, I'm still there, three and a half years ago I got married, to the same woman that told me put in her address, GOD IS GOOD, GOOD IS GOD!! I have attend Bible College, I am the president of the Men's Choir and the Hospitality Dept. I am a son to my mother, a father to my children and Big Daddy to my grandchildren. Abraham story is my all time favorite. I have studied it taught it and lived it. But its to God be the glory, He saves to the utmost. I welcome your prayers, and I'll do the same for you all. In Jesus' name.

(a) Abraham was blessed in many ways. But the most important blessing he received was that he was chosen by God. And we all are. ( Jesus died on the cross for each and every one of us. Now we all have the chance to be reconciled to God. Salvation is for everyone that will receive it or accept it. David said, "O taste and see that the Lord is good..." © I love the stories of Abraham, they teach me to have faith in God in all matters of my life. I try to show my faith in God by telling others where God has brought me from.

(a) Yes. And of course I had regrets afterward. ( No. The flesh didn't want me to. There is no good thing found in the flesh. © Yes it is time for me to renew my obedience and begin again. Especially if I want to receive the blessings God has for me.

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ. My name is Ronnie (servant4life). I was born in Greenville, SC; raised in New Haven, CT; and now I reside in Rock Hill, SC. I am an active member of Unity COGIC where I am a Bible Study teacher, President of the Hospitality Dept. and Men's Choir. I am an aspiring Minister and one day an Elder. I just want the Lord to shape and mold me into what He wants me to be so that I can do His will. I thank God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon me and for saving a sinner like me. I ask for your prayers that I continue to grow in the Lord.

Why are reminders so important for Christians? When I teach the Word of God or speak the Word, first of all I know that it is for me first. And then there is someone else that God wants to speak to, that He wants to "stir up". One thing Jesus said that when He left He would send the Comforter. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV). Jesus knew that we would go through things so He left us special instructions. He knew that false prophets would arise to misguide His people. How do you remind yourself of God's promises? Fasting and praying, staying in the presence of God. In order for you to hear from God you must have a special relationship with Him. Then His Holy Spirit will remind you of His promises. You begin to remind God of His promises. "Lord You said that if I abide in You and Your Word abide in me, that I can ask what I will and it shall be done unto me. Father I ask You in the name of Jesus that You would bless me indeed. Lord I ask that You would enlarge my coast, keep Your hand upon me and keep evil away from me. Amen". So that's how I remind myself of God's promises, by talking to God. God Bless You All! And please continue to pray for me as I will pray for you. servant4life

(Q4) If open sin is so spiritually dangerous, why have we churches stopped talking about it so much? We the chuch have to be very careful, especially the leaders of the church. We have to stand on God's Word no matter what, no matter who may be offended. God's Word is right by itself. If the leaders of the church don't understand that the blood of their sheep are on their hands, they do not need to be leaders of the church. We have to be about our Father's business at all times. We must preach and teach what thus saith the Lord without hestitation. If you are openly gay, you should not be in the choir or hold in position in the church. We might as well tell them that it's okay for same sex marriages. The church must realize that it is not about the money, it's about saving souls, and that's the main reason why the churches have stopped talking about it. But what they don't realize is that God is not pleased with their looking the other way. But if we don't do His bidding, He will get someone else that will. God do not want any of us to perish so He will put someone that is not ashamed of the Gospel. To God be the glory, He saves to the utmost. God Bless You All! servant4life

(3a) In what way can flagrant, defiant sin enslave a person? First let me say that sin is sin, there is no big or little sin. And if a person thinks that they can hold on to worldly ways and still serve God they are sadly mistaken. We must understand that the devil will always attempt to misguide us, and have us thinking that it's alright to have a drink, or it's alright to smoke a cigerette. And before you know it it's now an every day thing. It is written, be ye holy for I am holy. (3b) Is there any way out of these sins? Jesus is the only answer.

(1a) Why must we contend for the faith? For a number of reasons we must contend or defend our faith. Jesus said,But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:9. Paul said in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. I stand on God's Word. I know where it has brought me from. Of course we will run into doubters, non-believers, and different sects or religions, that is a part of the race we must run. (1b) What is the danger of not challenging the doctrine of false teachers? I have a friend, a brother in Christ. One thing that he always say is, "For God I live, for God I will die". And that's what our attitude must be. If someone teaches any other doctrine we must speak out, in love of course. Pray my strength in the Lord. God Bless You All!!