Commissioned

Q3. (16:13-14) What is the significance of Hagar's name for God -- El Roi, the God Who Sees? Hagar is convinced that God sees and knows everything. He knows what is going on and is concerned about her plight. What does it mean to a person who is discouraged and losing hope? To a person who is discouraged and losing hope, knowing that God sees all things and is concerned about you this helps you to reestablish your hope in God's power to keep you in the midst of a trying situation. What does it mean to you personally? For me this means that I can be at peace and rest in the knowledge that God is watching everything that concerns me.

Q2. (16:7-9) Why does the angel ask Hagar something that the angel already knows? ("Where have you come from, and where are you going?") Perhaps, the Angel of the Lord is asking Hagar the question to engender an atmosphere of trust and relaxation. In getting her to talk about her situation it gives her an opportunity to reharsh the events that took place and see the error of her disposition towards her mistress. God sometimes calls us to account in our wanderings from his perfect will and He does it gently. Why does the Angel of the Lord send her back to Sarah? In order for God's will to be successfully accomplished in a person's life they have to walk in obedience. Hagar is sent back to Sarah to complete God's purpose for her, at this point she is being asked to go back and submit to her mistress. God is a just God and does not condone disrespect in the order of authority. Even though God has a plan for Hagar and her offspring, God requires her to make things right with her mistress by submitting to her and if it means that she endures abuse, so be it; God will protect her. Have you ever reacted and got yourself out of the place God wanted you? I'm sure I have, as so many of us, but God is faithful and with the Holy Spirit to instruct us we can realign and get back to where God called us to be.

Q1. (16:1-6) Why does Sarah take her anger out on Abraham? I believe that Sarah took her anger out on Abraham because she realized the error of her ways and now needed someone to share her guilt. Since Abraham shared the promise with her he was the logical person to share this moment with. Why does she take her anger out on Hagar? Sarah turned her anger on Hagar because Hagar was capable of bearing a child and she could not. This was an anger of jealousy. Is she trying to get rid of Hagar or the baby? Having realized that she was the child bearer for her master and that her mistress was unable to bear children, Hagar devloped a sense of pride. Sarah saw this pride rising and began to dispise Hagar. Thus she planned to get rid of Hagar. In what sense is Hagar's pride Abraham's fault? Hagar's pride is partly Abraham's fault because he did nothing to keep her submitted to her mistress, inspite of the fact that she was carring his child. In what sense is Hagar's affliction Abraham's fault? Abraham did nothing to alleviate the pressure from Hagar because he did not want to offend Sarah. What situation in your family does this reminds you of? When not confronting a situation head-on, you leave the door open for sin to step in.

Q3. (15:16) Have you ever been frustrated with God for not fulfilling his promise to you immediately? Why does God sometimes delay the fulfillment of his promises to a future time? I have been frustrated when God's promise to me were not immediately answered. But I've come to trust God's timing is not always my timing. God sometimes delay the fulfillment of his promises to a future time to test our faith.

Q2. (15:6) What is so amazing about this verse? What's so amazing about this verse is that the promise previously given is now believed and Abraham looks forward to its fulfillment. On what basis does God declare Abraham a righteous person? Abraham is declared a righteous person on the basis of his faith in believing God's promise. What significance does this have to our New Testament understanding of justification by faith? For us, we can completely believe that we are justified, all it takes is our faith to believe.

Q1. (15:1) What does it mean to you personally to call God your "Shield"? To personally call God my shield is to remove myself from fear, from lack, from poverty; because Our Sovereign God shields me from all that and will protect me. What does it mean to you that he promises to you (as heir of the promises to Abraham) "an exceedingly great reward"? God's exceeding great reward for me as heir of the promises to Abraham means that the richest of the promise land is also mine and I can live in this promise. What does it mean to you to call God your Suzerain or Sovereign? As my Suzerain or Sovereign, God has a great reward for me here on earth and awaiting me in heaven. God is no respector of person, as He did it for Abraham He will do the same for me.

Q4. (14:21-24) Why does Abraham refuse to take the spoils of war that the King of Sodom offers him? Abraham's reasoning was that he would continue to look to God for his blessing so that no man may say that he gave him to increase. Also, the king od Sodom was an idolater and Abraham wanted no part in that. What does this tell us about Abraham's character? Abraham's actions tells us that he is a man of God who is concerned that all of his actions were in line with his living a life of worship to the Living God. What is the lesson here for us to learn? We should be careful to live holy and to wait on God to bless us, because he will do just that only if we are obedient.

Q3. (14:20) What is the significance of Abraham giving one tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek? Abraham recognized Melchizedek as a priest, a man of God, and as was his custom he gave the man of God the tithe due to God. Does tithing today represent the same kind of worship? [/d] Yes, today the tithing still represents the same kind of worship. Why should we tithe to God first (like Abraham did) before dividing up our paychecks to pay our bills? We should tithe to God as Abraham did before paying our bills because God's command to us is that we tithe on our increase. Our increase represents the gross not the net of our salary.

Q2. (14:13-16) What does Abraham's military expedition to rescue Lot from the Mesopotamian kings tell us about his character? [/b] Abraham's military expedition to rescue Lot from the Mesopotamian kings tell us that he was courageous and a man who knew what was required and was not afraid to do it. About his abilities? It tells us that he is a leader, one capable of gathering the resources needed for the rescue with the respect and support of his neighbours. About the way he deals with neighbors? Abraham had good relations with his neighbors. They trusted his judgment and willingly supported him in the attack. What is here for us to emulate? We should live peacefully with our neighbors and in time of need they will be there to assist us.

Q1. (13:2) Does Abraham's material wealth reflect God's blessing on him? Most certainly. Abraham's material wealth does reflect God's blessing on him. God made a promise to Abraham that He will bless him and He did. Abraham was blessed with livestock, with silver and gold. Does material wealth always reflect God's blessing? No, material wealth does not always reflect God

Q5. (12:2-3) What relationship does God's promise to Abraham in 12:2-3 have to do with the incident of Sarah's abduction in 20:10-20? God had given to Abraham a promise of an heir. As far as Abraham was concerned the mother of this heir was to be Sarah. After Sarah's abduction God removed the threat to the fulfillment of His promise to this couple.

Q4. What do you think about Abraham's and Sarah's ethics and faith? Are they ethically and morally wrong? For the times in which they lived and the expectations of the Pharoahs and Kings, which was to have any woman they desire, Abraham's and Sarai's deceit was to protect Abraham's live. Ethically and morally what they did was wrong. Their actions almost in one case and possibly in another case caused a man to commit adultery, a sin that was punishable by death. Does the Scripture intend to show that their actions as a lack of faith? I had always said that Abraham showed no faith, having been given a promise from God, he should have trusted God and not ask Sarai to say that she was his sister. Now, as I consider the points given in this study I can see that the purpose of these stories in the Bible are to show us that God is faithful to his promises regardless of our actions. What lessons should we disciples learn from these stories? Regardless of the apparent circumstances, God will be faithfull. If He said it He will keep His word. We must trust Him implicitly.

Q3. (20:3-6) What does this story teach us about God's view of adultery? God view's adultery as a sin punishable by death and a sin against God. Because He is just, God will give the parties to adultery opportunities to avert sinning. Can God forgive a person who has committed adultery? Yes, He can. Jesus has already paid the price for our sins, now anyone who repents of a sin has received God's forgiveness.

Q2. (12:17-20) Why did Pharaoh and his household get sick? Pharaoh and his household got sick because he had taken Sarai into his harem. What effect did this have? Pharaoh immediately realized what precipitated this sickness and raced to correct the error of his ways. What was God seeking to accomplish through this affliction? Did it have the desired effect? God sought to have Pharoah release Sarai to her husband. And yes, the desired effect was met. Pharaoh afraid that he was being judged release Sarai to Abraham.

Q1. (12:10) What dangers faced Abraham and his family as aliens and sojourners in Egypt and elsewhere? Who might oppress them? As aliens, Abraham and his family faced being attacked, raped and ostracized by the local warlords. And oppressed by citizens who might swindle them for much needed goods. What "aliens and sojourners" live in your community? Why did they come? In this community there are aliens from numerous countries. Because of this country's location and natural resources many aliens and sojourners come here to take up permanent residence or are transient until they can flee to their desired destination. How are they being oppressed or discriminated against by employers and others in the community? The aliens in this country is far from being oppressed as their standard of living far surpass that of families in their homeland. What can you and your church do to "love those who are aliens"? We can treat them as God's children who He loves and who we should love.

Q4. (12:9) What was the significance of Abraham "calling on the name of Yahweh"? Abraham "calling on the name of Yahweh" signifies his dependency of God. Abraham finds himself moving to a new place, a place he has never been before and calls on Yahweh to give guidance and direction for his journey. What does it mean for you to "call on the name of the Lord"? For us, our lives should be one of continuous calling on the name of the Lord as we seek Him to guide us along our Christian journey.

Q3. (12:1 with Hebrews 11:8-10) Why does it take special faith to begin to do something in obedience to God before we see how it will turn out? It take special faith to begin to do something in obedience to God before we see how it will turn out because the human tendancy is wanting to know what is going to happen before launching into the venture. It is a special leap of faith, however, when you obediently go on the premises that the outcome will be as God desires and I will be in His will. Just do it. Have you had any of these "opportunities"? I have had opportunities when I fully trusted in God to take me through situations and came out on the other side thanking Him for His grace and mercies in being with me as He promised. Are you in the midst of this adventure now? Yes. I consider my walk with Christ a walk of faith. Every moment my faith takes me where the flesh would say don't, but I press on anyway.

Q2. (12:2-3) In what ways was Abraham blessed. Abraham was blessed in many ways. Abraham was blessed with wealth. He was blessed being the lineage of the Messiah. He was and continues to be famous as his name has never gone into obscurity. His part in the blessings of all of God's Children will always be remembered as we are also blessed when we bless Abraham. How have all the peoples of the earth been blessed? All the peoples of the earth are blessed becaused through Abraham's linage we have salvation. Salvation apart from anything else is sufficient for us to thank God for our blessings. In what way does Abraham continue bless people through your life? Abraham continues to bless people through my life as I lead them to know the saving power of Christ Jesus, in whom to know is eternal life.

Q1. (11:32) Have you ever begun something in response to God's urging and then stopped? Did God want you to stop? Is it time now to renew your obedience and begin again? (Don't take this question lightly. Sometimes circumstances prevent us from doing what we once felt God wanted us to do. However, he is able to redirect you into his will for you now. Seek him diligently to learn his will.) Yes, right now as I am reading this question I am reminded that there was a time early in my walk with Christ that I knew I was called to do certain ministries but have allowed them to fall by the way. I repent, Lord, help me to take up again the mantle and pursue your Will. In Jesus name and for Your glory, Amen.

Q6. (Ephesians 5:28-30) In what sense should we love the Church because it is our own body? Because we are part of it? We should love the Church because it is our own body because as we are a part of it we love and care for it as we love and care for our own body. What will that kind of love produce in our actions? That kind of love will produce a church that is in revival, a body of unselfish Believers, growing in grace and awaiting the return of our Lord. Why do we need to repent of despising the Church and begin to love her aright? We need to repent because the Church of Jesus Christ and ourselves are one. We do love ourselves.

Q5. (Ephesians 5:27) In what sense is the Church "glorious" or "resplendent"? The Church is "glorious" or "resplendent" in the sense that it has already been cleansed spot-free and wrinkle-free. Christ has already forgiven and cleansed us. He has already made us holy and without blemish in his sight. He has washed away our sins. Is Paul talking about the present era or when Christ comes? How do you determine this? Paul is talking about the present era. The Church universal has already been santified and set aside for God's use.

Q4. (Ephesians 5:26) How does the word of God work in the cleansing, purifying process? We are cleanse by the Word of God that saves us through faith to repentence. How should the word of God be implemented in a congregation to achieve these purposes? The Word of God must be taught to the congregants, so that their faith may grow. How can we use the word for purification without relying upon threats of hellfire to scare people into repentance? Hearing the Word of God itself causes people to come to repentence and a transformation takes place.

Q3. (Ephesians 5:26) What constitutes "holiness" of a church? "Holiness" is being separated and set aside for God. Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, or because of her own actions, or both? The church is holy only because of the work of Christ to cleanse and redeem her, setting her aside for God's use thus making her holy. How can we be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another? We can be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another by living out the commandment to love each other as we love ourself.

Q2. (Ephesians 5:25) What does it mean that Christ "gave himself up" for the Church? It means that Christ came to earth, leaving His divine position in Heaven to live among men as a human divorced of His divine powers. He was beaten, he suffered, bled and was crucified for the Church. What does this teach us about God's commitment to us? It says that He has done everything there is to be done for the Church. Was this sacrifice altruistic or self-serving or both? Christ "gave Himself up" because He loves us and gave his life so that we might have eternal life.

Q1. (Ephesians 5:21-24) What does "submission" mean in regards to the Church's relationship to Christ? In regards to Church's relationship to Christ, "submission" means to voluntarily come under the headship of Christ. What does your own submission to Christ mean in practical experience? It means that I voluntarily submit to Christ as my Head and that I do only that which He has instructed that I should do, no more, no less. What would a congregation look like that actually took seriously submitting its corporate life to Christ? Such a congregation would live consistently according to the Word of God. It would be blameless, spotless and wrinkle free as a bride adorn and awaiting to be presented to her husband. We talk about Christ being the Head of the Church. What does this mean in actual practice, if anything? It means that Christ is who we worship, submit to and He will soon return to take His Church and present her to His Father.