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Everything posted by haar
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Q1. (1 Samuel 22:2) Why were David's men attracted to him? What did they have in common? Why kind of men were these? What difficulties do you think David probably had in leading them? David's men were of different categories namely, members of his family like his nephews and men who had a price on heir heads and were wanted by the law. The second group (apart from his relatives) were all people who were on the other side of the law. David's major difficulty was probably that of making these wanted men to be subjected to an authority- David's authority.
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Q1. (1 Samuel 22:2) Why were David's men attracted to him? What did they have in common? Why kind of men were these? What difficulties do you think David probably had in leading them? David's men were of different categories namely, members of his family like his nephews and men who had a price on heir heads and were wanted by the law. The second group (apart from his relatives) were all people who were on the other side of the law. David's major difficulty was probably that of making these wanted men to be subjected to an authority- David's authority.
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Q4. Covenant
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Jonathan's Friendship, Saul's Jealousy (1 Samuel 18-20)
Q4. (1 Samuel 20:35-42) What is the nature of the covenant between David and Jonathan? What does David receive? What does Jonathan receive? Who benefits the most from this covenant? Is it self-serving -- or not? What is the significance that God is witness to the covenant? The covenant between David and Jonathan was taken with an oath before the Lord God as a witness to the two. This was thus to be a lasting covenant that was to be kept by both. David received Jonathan's rob, tunic, sword, bow and belt and Jonathan's assurance that he would not betray David. Jonathan received David's undertaking to protect him and his family when he (David) ascended the throne. I think Jonathan benefited the most because God had already made David king and no threat from Saul or any other person would swart God's plan. Given this position, David could take the throne and eliminate Jonathan and all his household as was the practice by kings whenever they take over a throne. By having God as a witness, both parties would endeavour to keep the oath. -
Q3. Spirit and Prophecy
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Jonathan's Friendship, Saul's Jealousy (1 Samuel 18-20)
Q3. (1 Samuel 19:18-24) What does it tell us about Saul's faith that he pursues David even when he has sought the sanctuary of the prophet Samuel? Why do people prophesy when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? What is the relationship between this incident and the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)? Saul's fear that David would soon take his throne away drove him out of his mind as is seen in his madness when he pursued David up to the Lord's sanctuary even though he knew God was with David. People prophesy when the Holy Spirit come upon them because at that time, the people are under the influence/ control of the Spirit. The influence of the Holy Spirit upon people like Saul was just for a while. The influence of the Holy spirit at Pentacost was permanent. It came to stay and is available to us today. -
Q2. Marrying Michal
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Jonathan's Friendship, Saul's Jealousy (1 Samuel 18-20)
Q2. (1 Samuel 18:18-22) Which of the following is David's chief motive for marrying Michal, in your opinion? Argue for the motivation that makes the most sense to you: (1) pride in his military prowess, (2) obedience to Saul's desires, (3) love or desire for Michal, or (4) enjoyment in killing Philistines. David accepted Saul's challenge to fight and bring the foreskin of 100 Philistines so as to marry Michal because he probably was in love with her. After all he rejected a free offer to marry Saul's eldest daughter probably because he was not in love with her. There could have also been some elements of pride in David because of the history his past military victories. -
Q1. Military Success
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Jonathan's Friendship, Saul's Jealousy (1 Samuel 18-20)
Q1. (1 Samuel 18:13-16). Why does Saul send David into battle? What is the result? To what does the narrator attribute David's success? Saul sent David into battle for two reasons: To get him out of his palace as he was so jealous of him for his rising popularity which caused him (Saul) to think that he woulld soon loose his kindom to David; and also, he feard him beacuse the Lord was with him. Secondly, he wanted David to be killed in battle. God- David success in everything he did was beacuse God was with him. -
Q3. The Battle Is the Lord's
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. David and Goliath: Bold Faith (1 Samuel 17)
Q3. (1 Samuel 17:47) Why do we so often forget that "the battle is the Lord's"? What does that phrase actually mean? How can we avoid the arrogance of pulling God into our battles ("God is on my side"), rather than engaging in His battles ("I am on God's side")? We do ofeten forget that the battle is the Lord's when we are are dazed by the enormity of the challenge before us. We spend time looking at the problem instead of looking up to God. The phrase "the battle is the Lord's" means that when we turn the battle to God by trusting Him to be the source of our success/ victory, He does fights and wins the battle for us. We should however avoid the tendency of pulling God into our battles especially if the battles are self induced for our selfish reasons. Instead, when the enemy challenges us, we should call on God to deliver us. We are His children and should remain with Him on His side always. -
Q2. Experience and Faith
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. David and Goliath: Bold Faith (1 Samuel 17)
Q2. (1 Samuel 17:34-37) What does David's explanation to Saul of his combat experience say about David's faith? How lethal is David as a warrior? Why do you think Saul allows him to go out to battle Goliath? Does Saul have faith? If so, what is the source of it? David stories about his combats and victory over wild animals proved to Saul that he (David ) was a youth with tremedous amount of faith in God. He certainly was a giant killer since he had killed lions and bears, strong and vicious animals. Saul allowed him to go and face Goliath because he had the courage to face wild beasts that none of his soldiers could face, hence there were chances that he could succeed in killing Goliath. The effect of this would be devastating to the Philistines. Saul had a small amount of faith but David's story fanned the tiny faith into a bigger one. -
Q1. Goliath's Taunt
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. David and Goliath: Bold Faith (1 Samuel 17)
Q1. (1 Samuel 17:26-30) Why is David so upset about Goliath's taunt? Why is Eliab, David's brother, so upset with David? What does this teach us about David's faith? What does it teach us about Eliab's character? David is so upset about Goliath's taunt because his comments are defiling to the God of Israel. Eliab, David's brother is so upset with David because David was asking questions about the giant and about the price the king has in place for any one who kills the giant. He felt David was just poke nosing into a subject he did not have the right to. The whole issue tells us that David is a bold young man who is not afraid of the giant nor his brother's bluff. Eliab while trying to show his big- brother protective intention for David might have been jealous of David'd boldness given that he was one of the Israelite's soldiers who were afraid to confront the giant. -
Q4. God's Purposes
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. Samuel Anoints David as King (1 Samuel 15-16)
From Saul's perspective, David was summoned to court to provide music that soothes and brings healing to him. From God's perspective, God wanted David to go through training as apprentice in government affairs as he would soon be the one to replace Saul as the next king of Israel. We may not learn from God in the midst of circumstances if we only want God to tell us why He allowed such things to happen to us. We should be more interested in finding out what God wants us to learn from the circumstances that befall us. To become more teachable, we should accept the fact that God allows certain things to happen to us in order to teach us something and then ask Him to tell us whatever He wants us to learn. -
Q3. Anointing and Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. Samuel Anoints David as King (1 Samuel 15-16)
Q3. (1 Samuel 1:13) What is the significance of Samuel anointing David? What is the significance of the Holy Spirit coming upon David? How does this explain his success? How is the Holy Spirit upon us vital for our own success as disciples? The significance of Samuel anointing David king is to show publicly that God has chosen him as the next king after Saul. The significance of the Holy Spirit upon David is the empowerment it provided for him to work more effectively and efficiently by the power of of God. In the same vein, the power of the Holy spirit enables us to work better, be more productive, and to do things that are pleasing to God because we are able to take good decisions. -
Q2. Listening to the Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. Samuel Anoints David as King (1 Samuel 15-16)
Q2. (1 Samuel 16:3-12) How does this story teach us the importance of listening carefully to God's voice? What is our instinctive way of discerning? How is God teaching us to discern? How do we learn to listen to the Spirit? It is important to listen to God in all our decisions, action etc. But in practice, we rarely do and usuall take our actions/ decisions based on the physical facts available. God is teaching us in this study to be guided by the spiritual consideration and not only the physical aspects in our decisions. We will do this by the promppting of a small voice of God who directs us in the hour of decision making. -
Q1. Rebellion
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. Samuel Anoints David as King (1 Samuel 15-16)
Rebellion is dong what we want instead of doing God's will. Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft because both are sin and a rebellious heart tends to set the authority of God aside and places self in place of God. Rebellion is doing our own the things our own way and arrogance assumes that we know better than God hence we do it our way. When we find rebellion in our heart against God we, should repent otherwise God will abandon us. -
Q2. Sowing to the Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Sowing to the Spirit (Galatians 6:1-18)
Q2. (Galatians 6:7-8) What does it mean to "sow to the flesh"? What does this look like? What synonyms does Paul use for "sow to the Spirit" in Galatians? (Hint: see 5:16, 18, 25). What does sowing to the Spirit look like in a congregation? What are the results in a congregation of sowing to the flesh? To "sow to the flesh"is to live and yield to the cravings of our sinful nature, committing sin with inpunity. Sowing to the spirit in a congregation will result in committed children of God who work by the power of the Holy Spirit to hear and obey the word of God. On the contrary, a congrgation whose members sow to the flesh will live sinful and destructive live tha will destroy the congregation. -
Q1. Restoring a Fallen Brother or Sister
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Sowing to the Spirit (Galatians 6:1-18)
Q1. (Galatians 6:1-5) What does Paul mean, "caught in a sin"? What would restoration of a such brother or sister look like in his or her life? Who should restore this person? In what spirit should it be done? What is the result of trying to restore a person without humility? To be "caught in sin" according to Paul means somebody has been found to have sinned. The restoration of the brother/ sister is aimed at helping him/ her in carrying a burden. The more matured members of the congrgation should be responsible for restoring the brethren who has sinnd. This should be done in the spirit of love. If the restoration is not done in love, more damages may be done. Instead of bringing the fallen brethren back to the repented state, he/she may get deeper in sin. -
Q4. Crucifying the Flesh
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 8. The Spirit and Character (Galatians 5:22-26)
Q4. (Galatians 5:24-25) What does it mean to "crucify the flesh with its passions and desires"? Can a person be a Christian without "crucifying the flesh"? How have we produced such a crop of lukewarm Christians? To "crucify the flesh and its passions" means to submit oneselves to the control of the Holy spirit so that all works of the flesh are put to death. That is, we should no longer respond to the temptations and/ or the cravings of the flesh. A Christiran is commanded to put to death, all the works of the flesh and we cannot be said to be true Chriistians if we fail to obey the command. I think our failure to totally put to death the flesh is responsible for the production of lukewarm Christians. -
Q3. Sanctification
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 8. The Spirit and Character (Galatians 5:22-26)
Q3. (Galatians 5:22-23) How does the Holy Spirit produce this fruit in our lives? What theological term would you use to identify this process? How can it be that a person who has been a "Christian" for years displays few or none of these fruits? Are they saved, but just immature? What does James 2:17-19 say about this? Is that too harsh? As we surrender to Jesus and to walk in the Spirit (by the power of the Holy Spirit) we are enpowered by God to be changed gradually through a process of sanctification to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace...self control. We (most of us Christians do not exhibit selfcontrol hense we live without the other fruit of the spirit. We need to be disciplined, exercise restrain and with the help of the Holy Spirit Power, we can grow to be like Christ. -
Q2. Patience as Forbearance
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 8. The Spirit and Character (Galatians 5:22-26)
Q2. (Galatians 5:22) The fruit of patience should be understood as forbearance, that is, putting up with people around us without exploding. Why is this patient forbearance such an important personal character element? Why is it so important for peace in the family and in the Christian community? Patience forebearance is an important personal charcter because when we are willing to put up with people especially those who offend us, there will be peace, harmony and unity in the family and the Church. -
Q1. Fruit of the Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 8. The Spirit and Character (Galatians 5:22-26)
Q1. (Galatians 5:22a) Love is the first and primary fruit of the Holy Spirit, but joy and peace are inseparable from love. Why can't joy and peace exist apart from love -- love for God and love for our neighbors? When we love God, we will obey Him and live in peace with Him and also experiencing His joy which is our strength. to them what we want to be done to us. We will then treat them as Christ would. This wil result in peaceful co- existence and we will be full of joy that comes from the holy Spirit. -
Q4. Warning about Carnal Living
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. The Spirit and the Flesh (Galatians 5:13-21)
Q4. (5:21) Why do some Christians resist accepting Paul's warning in 5:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? What statement might these Christians desire to substitute for Paul's warning if they could reword the Scripture? Why some Christians resist accepting the warning in Galatians 5:21 which says that any one who indulges in the works of the flesh such as sexual immorality and the others will not inherit the kingdom of God is because they missunderstand the principle of grace and mercy. However, we should note that our freedom that is as result of our faith in Christ and the grace associated with it is not a licence to continue to indulge in in willful sin. Our faith should lead us to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit to live righteous lives. -
Q3. Works of the Flesh
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. The Spirit and the Flesh (Galatians 5:13-21)
Q3. (Galatians 5:19-21) If you were to divide the works of the flesh into several groups, what would those groups be? I will group the works of the flesh into: 1. Sexual sins 2. Idolatry 3. Sins against one another such as hatred, jeaoussy, anger/ rage 4. Social indugence as orgies -
Q2. Spirit-Led Living
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. The Spirit and the Flesh (Galatians 5:13-21)
Q2. (Galatians 5:16-18) We are told that it's impossible for a Christian to live a sinless life. What do these verses teach about that? In what way does yielding to the Spirit suppress the power of the old nature (the flesh)? If Spirit-led living ispossible, why do people claim that it's impossible not to sin? Gal 5:16-18 is telling us that if we walk in the power of the holy spirit, we will not yield to the temptations brought by the cravings of the flesh. Thus it is possible to live a sinless live. By the way, living a sinless life does not mean we may never fall into sin. If we do, we should confess immediatelly. -
Q1. Lawlessness vs. the Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. The Spirit and the Flesh (Galatians 5:13-21)
Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)? Yes. The Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law as they are led by the power of the Spirit unto righteounses and holines as prescribed the law. Attitide such as backbiting, rudeness etc are the manifestation of the "flesh" nature of those who have not yielded to the power of the Spirit. A congregation engaged in these is pointer of the spiritual decay of such a congregation. -
Q5. (Galatians 5:11) What is "the offense of the cross" that offended the Jews? How does the cross offend people in our day? Have you noticed Christians softening their proclamation of the cross? Does this help them communicate more clearly to our age or does it compromise the true message? The "offebce of the cross"that offended the Jews is that the the crucified the prophesied messaiah when they crucified Jesus. Furthermore, faith in the crucified Lord leads to salvation not circumcision. Both these do not go well with the Jews. Salvation by faith in the crucified Lord is not being emphasised while prosperity messages take more attention in some of our churches today.
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Q4. (Galatians 5:5-6) Circumcision had been the primary "mark of identity" for a believer in God. In what way has the Spirit become the new "mark of identity" for the believer? What is the evidence of the Spirit's presence in a believer's life according to verse 6? Faith in Christ is now the identity not circumcision and the Holy Spirit of God is the one that energise us to hope and put our faith in Christ. This way, the spirit has become our new identity. The Spirit help us to make us walk in love for one another and also to have faith in the Lord. The evidence of Spirit presence in us is faith that works through the Holy Spirit.