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Everything posted by haar
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Q3. Foundational Forgiveness
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. Forgiveness in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:21-35; 6:9-15)
Jesus does not intend to cause fear to us by saying that His heavenly Father will do likewise to us if we do not forgive those who offend us from our heart. On the contrary, He sends the message powerfully that forgiveness is very important in the kingdom and failure to do it attracts serious consequencies (punishment). Forgiveness restores relationship and relationship is a kingdom requirement. -
Q2. The Unmerciful Servant
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. Forgiveness in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:21-35; 6:9-15)
The purpose of comparing the huge debt and the small one was to demonste the degree of mercy shown to the servant by the king. Nevertheless, this servant could not forgive the small debt owed by another servant. This is typical to our situation whereby God has forgiven us so much but we find it difficult to forgive small debts (offences) committed agaisnt us by our brothers and sisters. May God continue to have mercy on us and to help us to learn how to forgive, and to forgive even repeatedly. -
Q1. Forgiving 7 Times
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 7. Forgiveness in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:21-35; 6:9-15)
Jesus teaching about forgiveness whether or 490 times means that we should continue to forgive our brother repeatedly without end. It therefore follows that he will forgive us over over each time we sin. What extravagant love and amazing grace!!!! Thank you Jesus, thank you Father. -
John 3.16 is very famous because it is here that God's intnse/ great love is revealed. This love was so great that God gave His only son to die so that we could get into the Kingdom, His Kingdom. The verse further proves that God is love and His nuture is love. Accepting this love and believing leads to salvation that also leads to the Kingdom. Rejection leads to hell and destustion. We have a choice here to believe and go to heaven or reject the offer to believe in the son and go to hell. God leaves the choice to us.
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Q3. Born of Water and Spirit
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. The Spirit and the Kingdom (John 3:1-21)
To be born of the sprit and water means a change brought abut by the spirit of God and the repentance of sin brought about through humility. By 'water' it means repentance through humility as was in the case water batism which requires humity to go through the process of dipping into water as a sign of submission to God. -
Q2. Entering the Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. The Spirit and the Kingdom (John 3:1-21)
The Kingdom of God is where the Holy One rules and only transformed ones who have been born anew can enter it. They must have received the Holy spirit who perfect their transformation. Those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour Born anew or from above are the better translation because the other, born again implies that one will repeat the process of the physical birth. This is not correct. -
Jesus taught that the Kingdom is spiritually discerned. It can only be revealed by God Himself. Further more, entering into it requires spiritual transformation. Nicodimus did not initially understand the Lord Jesus that was why he wondered how one could go back into his mother womb to be be born again. But Jesus did not mean physical rebirth but spiritual birth or trnsformation of the heart, soul and spirit.
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God is love means that His nature is love, He does every thing with love. Being His children, we also need to demonstrate love in our conduct, relationship with God and with one another. As His children, with His nature, we are to love and be able to forgive.
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The Spirit of God that is in us is more powerful than any other power of darkness. This is what makes us to overcome now and to overcome permanently when jesus returns to gather us in power and victory for the kingdom of the most high God. This encourages me and gives me boldness to go about without fear of the evil one.
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Q1. Jesus Is God in the Flesh
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. God Is Love (1 John 4:1-21)
It is important to believe that Jesus came in the flesh because that is the cornerstone of our faith. God couldnot die but the shedding of blood was necessary for the cleansing of sin. That was why in the old testament time animals blood was shed for the forgiveness of sin. God sent his son in the form of man so that he could shed his blood for the salvation of mankind. Satan does not want anyone to believe this as the act of believing leads to salvation and this depopulates Satan's kingdom.This why he does not any one to believe the incarnation. That Jesus lived in a human body like us meant that he could feel whatever we do feel- compassion, love, pain, hunger, temptation etc. His death showed his humantiy while his resurrection confirmed his divine nature -
Q4. Valuing the Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 5. The Costliness of the Kingdom (Mt 13:44-46; Mk 10:17-24)
Jesus teaching is that the Kingdom of God is of great value and is worth so much that we can forego other less vauable things here on earth so as to get it (Kingdom) We are probably tempted to value the Kingdom less beacuse we have not been able to appreciate (visualise) its true value. We may be able to appreciate the Kingdom's value better by the help of the Holy Spirit. -
Q3. Follow Me!
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 5. The Costliness of the Kingdom (Mt 13:44-46; Mk 10:17-24)
Jesus asked the rich young man to follow him because He loved him and wanted him to be saved and not to loose his life. This was a previledge because Jesus came down from His Heavenly Kingdom so that poor sinners could be saved and become children of the Heavenly God too. The young man rejected the invitation because he did not want to part with or loose his great wealth. This is also true today where men and women would rather enjoy orldly pleasures instead of taking their cross to follow Jesus. -
Q2. Sell What You Have
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 5. The Costliness of the Kingdom (Mt 13:44-46; Mk 10:17-24)
Jesus required the young man to sell his riches (possession) and follow him becaus wealth could distract him from entering the kingdome of God. This was just of great concern to the young richman but also to us. We are burdened by the quest for wealth that we can derail from our goal of getting to heaven. -
The parable of the hiddedn treasure and the pearl of great price both demonstrated that when something of very high value is found, people bear the cost of getting it. In both parables, the two people had to sell their possesion to acquire the greater value asset. Salvation cost the Lord Jesus his life. We have to pay the cost by being ready to go through every trial and temptation by carrying our cross daily (Luke 9:23= "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me").
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Q4. Separation in the Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 4. The Present and Future Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)
Jesus taught that when the day of the Lord comes, two may be togather when one will be taken and one will be left. This means that the righteous will be taken for the Kingdom while the one left will be left to face judgement. We therefore have to live righteous life according to the Word of God so that we will be ever ready when the day of the Lord comes suddenly. -
Q3. Sudden Coming of the Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 4. The Present and Future Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)
Jesus told his listeners that his kingdom will come suddenly and unexpectedly just as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah when every one was going on his/her busines and the day sadely came took every one unawares. We should thus live our lives watching and praying so that we will be raedy whenever the day come. -
When lightening appears, it is seen far and near by many. Jesus told his hearers that the coming of the kingdom of God's Son will be like lightening that is visible to all. It will not be a secret known only by a few. There is therefore no need to be searching out for him or asking others. All will see him.
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Q1. Present Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 4. The Present and Future Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37)
The Kingdom of God was present in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ in the sense that the son of God who is God himself represented the kingdom wherever he was. Similarly, the omnipresent Jesus is God who is with us because that is his name- Emmanuel (God with us). His presence in our hearts signifies his kingdom with us. -
Q2. Seeking the Kingdom
haar replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 3. Pressing into the Kingdom (Matthew 6:24, 33; 7:7-8; 11:12)
By seeking the kingdom of God Jesus meant that we seek to serve and worship God with all our hearts. It means that he is first and the center of lives. Seekig his righteousnes means that our hearts are clean and we seek to know him, serve him and to have faith in him, It also means that faith in God and dependence on the power of the holy spirit to lead and guid us and to enable us live a rigteous life. -
God created wealth for mankind to use. Seeking wealth is therefore not bad. Jesus said that the love of money is bad and not that money is bad. Christians can seek weath as long as the wealth does not become their god which take all thier time, energy and resources. I have seen wealthy Christians who serve God with their wealth.
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Jesus meant that if any one spends most of his time and resources in persuit of wealth then he will have no time for God. Consequently, such a person may miss the kingdom of God I believe however that one can be rich and still enter the kingdom of God if such a person is well balanced by using his wealth to serve God amd humanity.