Commissioned

Q4. (Isaiah 42:18-25) According to this passage, in what ways is God’s “servant” blind? Why? Who is the “servant” in this passage? How would you assess your own degree of spiritual blindness in the last 5 or 10 years? How effective is a blind servant in accomplishing his master’s purposes? How effective have you been? According to this passage, God’s “servant” is blind because they do not see what God is showing them. They see in the natural and not with spiritual eyes, using their spiritual senses because they are not walking in the Spirit, not being led by the Spirit. The “servant” in this passage are God's chosen children. Those whom He has chosen to speak to, to reveal visions and dreams. In the last 5 or 10 years I fall short, big time, of being alert when God was speaking to me, showing me things; because of not always allowing the Holy Spirit to completely control my walk. As a blind servant you can never be effective in accomplishing your master’s purposes. I pray that I yield completely to the Spirit of God so that I am effective and successful in accomplishing my Master's bidding.

Q4. (2:17) You have gone through struggles and obstacles to your faith. If you were to look at your sufferings as a "drink offering" poured out before God, how does that honor God? How does that bring value to your struggles? The struggles and obstacles to our faith is a sacrifice to be lived in the power of His Holy Spirit. It is a struggle that the world will never understand because they are still unregenerated and knows not the things of the Kingdom of God. If I were to look at my sufferings as a "drink offering" poured out before God, it will bring honor to God because He calls me to as heirs of God, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17). It brings value to my struggles as I would be in the company of the apostles who in the throes of a struggle and being persecuted. “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer for His name.” (Acts 5:41)

Q3. (2:16) In what sense are we Christians to "hold fast" the Word of Life? In what sense are we to "hold forth" this Word of Life? How does this relate to the purpose of the church? As Christians to "hold fast" the Word of Life when we allow our life to be one of being Spirit led. We “hold fast” when we are walking in obedience to the word of life. The purpose of the church is to reflect the life of the “born again”, no longer conformed to the world but walking in accordance to the new life, which is develop in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Q2. (2:14-15) How does ceasing complaining and arguing enable a church to shine as stars in a dark sky? What does this shining as stars signify? Have complaining and arguing compromised your church's witness as a God-place? If so, what can you do to change this? Ceasing complaining and arguing enable a church to shine as stars in a dark sky because the light of Christ in them will exude light in the dark. The shining as stars signifies, being a light to the world in your testimony, your walk, reflecting the work of the Lord. In the past twenty plus years worshipping and fellowshipping with my congregation I have not encountered a situation where complaining and arguing compromised the church's witness as a God-place.

Q1. (2:12-13). In this passage, what does it mean to "work out your own salvation"? Is this referring to salvation from sin? If not, what kind of salvation is it referring to? When Apostle Paul calls on the Philippians "to work out your own salvation;" He is calling the church to work on its witness, as the bride of Christ, to the world for the glory of God the Father and to do so with an awe of God in their conscience. ​

We know that God will exalt us as we humble ourselves like Jesus did because humility and grace brings us into the presence of God. These verses give us God’s promises for the humble: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (MATT. 5:8) “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.…” (Psalms 24:3-5) We know that God that we are exalted when we experience the manifestation of the promises to the humble. Those who get impatient with God exalting them, do so because they want it done and shown in material possessions. Impatience my lead to the person being overtaken by sin.

Jesus was really a human being not pretending to be one. He emptied Himself, divested himself of his prestige or any privilege of being divine. In these verses we see that the Jesus who walked among man, lived as a man and lived sinless; an example to us that though temptations will come we need not yield to them. The fact that Jesus was indeed human and not divine give us confidence in that fact that God’s love for the world is shown in His embrace of us as human created in His likeness.

Q1. (2:1-4). To achieve unity in your congregation, why is humility necessary? Can you give an example of how lack of humility caused a division in your church? What are you doing to bring unity in your church?​ To achieve unity in your congregation, humility is necessary to accept others and to allow everyone to be and become what God has ordained that they would become. The lack of humility has caused a division in the church when the new pastor was not accepted by some. To bring unity in the church, stay humble and love as Christ taught us to love.

Q2. (2:6) In your own words, what does it mean that Christ didn't cling to his equality with God? How specifically does this passage teach that Jesus is divine? Jesus did not cling to his equality with God instead He presented Himself, identifying with those around him as a human being. The passage teaches us that Jesus is divine by stating that He who is the very nature God, in other words He is God Himself and therefore divine. ​

Fear can keep us from being a bold witness by our refusing to speak out when the Holy Spirit inspires us; also, when we feel insignificant, inconsequential or unlearned in a conversation that is telling others about the love of God. Fear of people binds our tongue because we lack the confidence that comes through the knowledge of Christ through the reading of His Word. Peter tells us: “…be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory…” (2 Peter 3:17-19). "losing our life" for Christ's sake actually give us an abundant life because Christ is exalted.

From the standpoint of witness to others, we are much more credible when undergoing personal struggles, stress, and problems because those around witnessing what we are going through, also see that our faith is grounded in the Lord our Savior and will encourage them to seek to know Him as we do. Paul's witness was so powerful because his persecution was great and yet his testimony gave hope. The personal struggle that I going through that could enhance my testimony if handled right is that of living celibate as a single Christian woman.

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives? Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment so that they can serve Him through better knowledge of Him. As our knowledge of God grows or matures we can operate in ministry that touches the lives of others, bringing glory to God. Selfishness cloud discernment by not sharing the gift to bring God's grace into the lives of others. The good is the enemy of the best in our lives when we are comfortable with "just good" and do not strive for "best". God's will for us is always "best" not just "good". When we settle for "good" we are robbed of God's best for us; and that is always the plan of the enemy to keep God's best from us. ​

Q3. (1:6) What does Paul expect God to do for the Philippian believers? Why does he expect God to do this? What is the basis of Paul's confidence? On what basis can we expect God to do this for us? Paul expects that God will be with the Philippian believer as he journeys through life. He expects that God will do the same for us too because God has adopted us as His very own sons and daughters and He has called us "saints". We can expect that God will do this for us because he has given us that promise and that can never be rescinded; if we follow Him He will surely bring us to Him as the Bride of Christ.

Q2. (1:6) When we become financial "partners" with a Christian missionary, minister, ministry, or church, what do we receive out of the partnership? What other kinds of support might we offer beyond financial? When we become financial "partners" with a Christian missionary, minister, ministry, or church, out of the partnership we receive spiritual and material blessings as we support their ministry in the kingdom of God. Beyond financial support there are other kinds of support that we can offer, some of them being prayers for their ministry, their health, family members, opening of doors for ministry, material resources, introductions and networking; etc. to name a few.

Q1. (1:1) What is the basic idea of "slave"? What is the root idea of "saint"? In what way are these words saying the same thing about a Christian's relationship to God? The basic idea of a "slave" is one who is subject to another in compulsory service. A "saint" is one who is dedicated or consecrated to the service of God. A Christian is both a "slave" and a "saint" in the service of God as we service Him with complete devotion and obedience to every line upon line as He has called us to serve. Our service is not on our term but solely His. This gives Him honor as we do so with a loving and a cheerful heart.

When people think of spending an eternity in heaven, I think that they will mostly look forward to being with Jesus. Jesus reigning forever and ever means that He alone will be Lord, Ruler, Redeemer, King of the Universe and will never be overthrown or replaced. This is the Lord and King who directs and sustains my life. I bow my knees to the King of Kings!

Jesus purifies and refines his church by the washing with water through the word of God. Jesus purifies and refines us through the baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire. On the Day that fire will test our deeds; I pray that by the grace of God I will not have anything that remains, besides my salvation.

For us to be presented to Christ as a pure virgin bride we must be completely belonging to Him, careful that we are not stained with sin. “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:4) We are faithful to Christ when we are obedient to His commandments and live a righteous and holy life. We veer away from the path that God has for us, living as He desires for us; then we partake with the adulterous and sinful generation that Jesus decried. The marriage relationship say that love, communication, and intimacy with Christ is unbroken if we are to reign with Him for eternity.

Jesus as the Son of God is “Heir of All Things.” We as adopted into the family of God are co-heirs with him. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance and because we are co-heirs we also possess all things.

The titles First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End teaches us that Jesus’ is everpresent; from eternity to eternity, He is. Knowing that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith help build our trust in him because He founded our salvation and is with us to complete it here on earth.

Jesus show the Father’s glory in his ministry by doing the things that His Father sent Him to do. "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (John 6:38). Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John to see his Transfiguration becaus He wanted them to be witnessed to His Sovereignty. Jesus will appear in heaven in a manner that will be like none other. Jesus' appearance will draw all eyes to Him; He will come in his Father's glory with his angels.

To be presented to Christ as a pure virgin bride we must daily live in total obedience to His word. We are only as faithful as we live in His will. When we are outside the will of God we partake in the sinful acts of the world. The analogy of the marriage relationship shows us that love, communication, and intimacy with Christ keeps the relationship intact just as they do to keep a marriage intact. When one is lacking in a marriage there will be faults to find and if it persists there will be a breakdown in the relationship that could be catastrophic.

Christ the center, the focus of my life to the degree that it began and will eternally remain the life He lives through me. To prove to another person that Christ is the center of my life, I must show them that my life is controlled by His will as I obey His commandments. This will be contradicted when I’m not walking in love. A humble life with daily repentance is necessary to keep prioritizing my life for Christ.