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Everything posted by haar
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Q3. Blaming the Leader
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Passover and Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 12-15)
The people blamed Moses because fear of the pursuing Egyptians armmy made them to see only danger and they forgot the promises of God to deliver them and take them to the land flowing with milk and honey. Danger can easily cause us to fear and our faith in the Lord then dims. By blaming Moses they actually were blaming God who commissioned Moses. Moses responded to their grumbling by reassurig that God would deliver them. They probably calmed down and He did deliver them miraculously. -
Q3. Obedience and Deliverance
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Passover and Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 12-15)
God requires His children to obey His instructions before He delivered them from the Egyptians. He requires us to obey Him by putting our faith on the Lord Jesus Christ as a pre- requiste for our deliverance salavation from sin/ devil or any situation. Obedience is necessary in a teacher disciple relationship. As we put our faith on the Lord, obedience is the comfirmation of that faith- talk about faith and works which work togather or else the faith is dead. -
Q1. Christ Our Passover Lamb
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Passover and Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 12-15)
Christ is our passover lamb in the sence that by his sacrificial death on the cross, the penalty for our (my) sin has been born by him and I am free from death- eternal death. By his shed blood on the cross we have forgiveness of sin and and we are thereby covered by the blood like the blood on the door post of the Israelites saved them from the messenger of death. God's judment passes over us becauses Jesus has taken our place and therefore taken over the judgement that would have been otherrwise on us. -
John's reference about the lamb of God pointed to the sacrifice that Jesus will submit himself to do for mankind. The Jews used lambs for sacrifice for the forgivenes of sin in John's days. The statement "sin of the world" was so radical becacause it implied that every body's sin would be forgiven automatically. The truth is that only those who respond to the call for repentace and acceptance of the Lamb of God as their saviour will be saved.
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Q4. Letting God Fight the Battle
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. Finding Courage to Stand (Exodus 5-11)
We tend to fight our battles in the flesh rather than with spiritual weapons because we fail to realise that we are fighting with spiritual forces. Ignorance makes us to fail to see that our real enemy is satan and his demons and not the individual we have the issues with. God will fight the battles He has commisioned us and those we have sought His divine will before embarking on. Other than these, we will be left to fight failed battles by ourselves. -
Moses did not accept a compromise from Pharaoh because he was determined to obey the most high God. I do not think christianleaders shoud compromise in the church.
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Q2. The Courage to Confront
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. Finding Courage to Stand (Exodus 5-11)
Some Church leaders find it difficult to confront people because they do not want to hurt them (especially the big and rich members of the church), they do not want such people to leave the church. Leaders should however be ready to rebuke and confront people who indulge in sinful behavours so as to build a people prepared for the Lord. Failure to do this will result in waywardness and disoder in the church. -
Q1. Blaming and Resisting God
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 2. Finding Courage to Stand (Exodus 5-11)
Moses blamed God because he believed that if God had not given him the assignment, he would not have received the bashing he got from both Pharaoh and his people. Moses and Aaron's disobedience could have been due to both fear and lack of certainty that God will surely be faithful to do as He has promised. God had to command (make) Moses and Aaron to comply because His plans must be accomplished. -
Q4. Fear and Courage
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4)
We afraid to what God tells us to do to lack of sufficient faith that He will stand by us and enpower us. I feel also that because God has given us options to obey or not, we tend to choose to disobey as we aways fail to see the consequences for disobedience- death. (Deu 28:1) "If you obey the LORD your God and faithfully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on earth..." (Deu 28:15) "But if you disobey the LORD your God and do not faithfully keep all his commands and laws that I am giving you today, all these evil things will happen to you----" The answer to fear is to turn to God in prayer and to read His writen Word as this will boost our faith. (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Leaders need courage to lead victoriusly and disciples need it to follow. -
Q3. God is Angry with Moses
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4)
God was angry with Moses because despite all He (God) has said and done to assure him that He (God) would be with him to make the assignment succesful, Moses still looked for one excuse or another to give as reasons for not going. Moses sin became clear- it was a sin of disobedience, not wanting to go. I believe there are times I have failed to carry out some tasks given by God through Church leaders or failure to obey wht He says in His written Word, the Bible. But I cannot remember when God has been angry with me, such amazing love, grace and mercy!!!!!!!!!!! -
Q2. Moses Responds to God's Call
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4)
Moses response to God's directive showed that Moses exhibitted both humility and some aspects of lack of faith. God however assured him that He would be with Him. And He was with Moses as we know from the story. The assurance that the Omnipresent God is with us and will always be with us(Emmanuel= God with us; Jehover Shamer= I will be there[with you]) gives me confidence whenever I am afraid or whem my faith is wavering. -
Q1. Moses the Murderer
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 1. The Birth and Call of Moses (Exodus 1-4)
Moses had a strong feeling for his fellow Jews and was not happy that they were being maltreated by the Egyptians. He was also a leader who wanted to take charge and to protect his fellow Jews. He was physically strong. However he had no leadership authority. Furthermore, he murdered in his effort to ensure justice. -
Q4. Call to the Great Banquet
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. The Call to the Kingdom (Luke 14:12-24; 9:57-62)
It is good and wonderful to extend the great invitation to the great banquet around us. The reaction to the call/ invitation varies from cold response to warm and hearty reception and aceptance. We (all Christians) are like the servants given the resposibility to go and make disciples, that is, make/ urge them to come to accept the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time we too are also invited to the great feast. It will be suicidal for us to gain all the converts but missed the great banquete. -
Q3. Trivial Excuses
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. The Call to the Kingdom (Luke 14:12-24; 9:57-62)
Jesus was harsh to the people he called to follow Him because each one gave a flimsy excuse for not following immediately. The Kingdom business however, is for now, not a "later" affairs; therefore we have to take it serious. The excuse given by the invitees to follow Jesus (and our excuses too) seemed trivial because they were not significant enough as reasons that justify the failure not to follow Jesus. We should seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness first and all other things (which are secondary) will be added to us. -
The parable of the Great Banquet is about grace in the sense that the final invitation was exteded to those considered to be lowly and the downcast in the society(unworthy under normal circumstances).Salvation is by grace because while we were yet siners, Christ died to reconcile us to our Father God (whom we have rebelled agaist). The parable is also about judgement because those who reject the invitation will not have a part in the kindom of God while those that accept it will sit with the Lord in heaven. It also about evengelism because the messengers had to go out to tell the outcst about the great feast, make/ urge them to come. We have a responsibility too to tell those who have not heard of the Good news so that they would have the opportunity to be part of the great banquet ( the Kingdome of God).
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Q1. Compel Them to Come In
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. The Call to the Kingdom (Luke 14:12-24; 9:57-62)
In the parableble of the feast, the invitation was originally to the Jews. But when they rejected the invitation, it was extended to the Gentiles including me. Praise God. "To compel them to come to the feast" means to press, persistently call and urge believers to accept the Gospel invitation to believe in and accept the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. It means every Christian has the responsibility to to carrry out the great commission. This is a command and we must obey it. So help me God -
Q4. Accountability and Judgment
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Serving in the Kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30)
Jesus will require every one of us to account for what he or she has done with our different talents. He will reward those who have put their talents to optimum use (service to God and man). If I begin to be more faithful, God will give me more responsibilties. He will also reward me the crowns for my good service at the last day. -
Personally, when I succeed, I attribute the success to the Almighty God and then to any other contributor to the success. We are independent intrepreneurs because God has given us his resources eg talents but expects us to work hard, committed and with the right conduct and attitude to achieve the expected results. We are however stewards because everything including our drive, effort, character etc that help us to succeed, all come from God.
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Q2. Ability to Carry Out
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Serving in the Kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30)
According to the lesson we have just covered, the factors that make up a persons ability are: raw talent, drive, faithfulness, moral charcter, willingness to focus on task and time etc. I think raw talent is less than 15%. What will make one sucessful will depend his drive, faithfulness, willingness to focus on task and time and and a strong moral character to succeed -
Talents here represent gifts or abilities given to every child of God for service to Him and to man. My identified gifts or abilities are: 1. teaching 2. giving to God and needy 3. wisdom for counselling In the society of the Church of God, I am by the grace of God,an Elder and Church Secretary. I consider my abilities, possessions, work etc as belonging the Lord God Almighty.
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The guests at the feast in the Kingdom are those who responded to the invitation to accept the Lord Jesus and lived lives according to their new status- children of the Most High God. These guests are from all over the whole earth- Jews and Gentiles who accepted the lord Jesus Christ. Those outside are those who rejected the invitation- both Jews and Gentiles.
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Q2. The Narrow Door
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 8. The Narrowness and Breadth of the Kingdom (Lk 13:18-30)
Entrance into the Kingdome of God requires an effort. It is thus as if many people are trying to enter a room through a narrow door but find it very hard to have acces. Those who may try to enter but will not be allowed into the kingdom of God are those who have not been serious in their commitment and their service to the Lord. -
Praying the Lord's prayer may become a curse when we are still holding grudges against pepople but at the same time ask God to forgive us "as we forgive...". We are simply saying God continue to hold gruges against me as I am holding agaist others!!! I never saw this side of the prayer before!! However, how I mostly pray is "teach/ help me to forgive those who trespass against me.."