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We are servants of God called to be obedient in proclaiming God`s word to be used for his Kingdom sake. Paul was converted to do the will of God and willing to adjust his personal practices and preferences in order to influence others to consider Christ`s claims and to find a personal relationship with God. He actually says more about a willingness to restrict our freedoms and become more moderate in our standards than a need to gain knowledge. Willingly to set aside our own personal rights in order not to hinder the message of God. As Christians, we must be just as willing to restrict our rights as we expand our rights when it comes to loving consideration for others. The opposite of faithfulness is unfaithfulness, rebellion and disobedience.

By prayer and fasting, the church leaders endeavors to discern and align itself with the Spirit`s plans and intentions. They are especially sensitive to the communication of the Holy Spirit during the time of prayer and fasting. People now a days tend to rely more on their own strength than to depend and seek God for help. The church sent out missionaries who show its commitment to support and encourage those who go out to work together for truth.. The church`s responsibility includes sending missionaries to their places of ministry with love and in a manner worthy of God. They must be willing to risk their lives for the cause of JC. The Holy Spirit will empower and and establish them in local churches. By the Power of the HS living in and through them , the new Christians received and used Spiritual gifts like God-given abilities for the purpose of honoring him and benefiting the church. The Ministry of the Spirit allowed them, to carry out God`s life transforming work in their communities.

Those who belonged to the circumcision group were Jewish Christians, especially in Jerusalem Church, who believed that the OT sign of circumcision was still necessary for all new covenant Christians. They taught that Jewish believers should not eat with uncircumcised Gentiles. Peter knew that God accepted the Gentile believers without bias or prejudice, yet he denied his own principles out of fear of criticism and the possibility of losing authority with some in the Jerusalem church. His separation from Gentile believers at meal time encouraged the false notion that there were two bodies of Christ - the Jewish and the Gentile.Peter did not want to be condemned by the Jewish believers because he knows Gentile needs to be circumcised. They want to please men than God. Paul is not saying that the law is not holy , righteous and good. But he argues against using the law as a bass for trying to gain favor or acceptance with God. Salvation by faith because of God`s grace is the essence of the true message of Christ.

We need to be still and know that God has His plans for us in His own perfect timing. We need to rest and, seek Him, to lean and trust on Him, in order to be able to do His will. Paul was sent to a direct commission from Christ to deliver his original message and to lead the effort of establishing His church. Each believer has been set apart by God to accomplish His purpose to spread His message and reflect His character of His Son, Jesus Christ. As Christians, we have been saved and separated from sin and evil so that we might experience a close personal relationship with God and effectively communicate to others the message of hope and life through Christ. God is the one working in us both to will and to work according to is good pleasure. So we need to be patience for He knows what is best for us. Spiritual separation means living in faith and obedience for God`s honor and for the purpose of revealing His truth to the world. God`s people should hold fast to the way of righteousness through Christ and grow in his spiritual salvation, his faith, his personal purity and holiness, , his service and devotion to God as His Father and Lord. He will be our counselor and guide and He will love and cherish us as His own children.

Abraham just trusted and believed God by faith ... obeying what He wants him to do in the land he was asked to go. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Our Lord and Savior, and believe with our heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. We can only rely upon the righteousness of Christ and not our own strength. Matt. 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven”. Obeying God`s will and follow His footsteps .... Have a close sincere relationship with Him by studying His word, praying and seeking Him in whatever we do to honor Him with all our heart, mind and soul.

Q2. (Acts 9:10-18) Why do you think God sends Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly? Why does Ananias argue with God? Why does it take courage to obey? What does Ananias do and say? Have you ever had God guide you to talk with someone and minister to him or her? Have you followed through? Ananias thinks he knows better than God about other people and about what is possible so his first response is to tell God that the Almighty must be lacking in information regarding who Saul is and what he’s doing because if he knew who Saul was Ananias wouldn’t be asked to go to him and pray for him. The story of Paul is that of a man who saw the light and was blinded in order that he might truly see. It just might be that whatever our issue, problem, past or the way we messed up our life or were hurt, may become the way God uses us. It feels more natural to many of us to rant, demean, insult, and dehumanize enemies rather than to pray for them much less in person! Saul’s spiritual condition. He was listening and not comprehending, his eyes were shut and he couldn’t see. His blindness is symbolic of his spiritual condition, he knows a great deal about religion, but he doesn’t have a personal faith. He is driven, but if we’re lost, driving faster simply gets us further away from where we need to be at a faster rate. Saul didn’t know Jesus personally; he certainly didn’t expect to meet the risen Lord Jesus on the road and to be blinded.

Jesus is the head of the Church and the people are His body. We are all one in Him, so when we persecute His people, we are persecuting Jesus Himself also. God is Holy, pure, and righteous by nature , so He requires His people to be set apart from evil as Holy to the Lord. Sin and rebellion against Him were exposed in an effort to turn the people toward holy living for complete dedicatiion to God`s purposes. .

Adam was was the first born of humankind who has the same image, right and nature as we do. Jesus, by His death and resurrection has the same right as first born of the dead and the Head of all disciples. That why we must pattern our lives after Jeus Christ . Because Jesus gave His life for us by blood sacrifice on the cross for us, He became the once-and-for-all sacrifice for mankind. He gave it all up for us, so that we could be redeemed. We didn't do anything to deserve this. God wanted us to be redeemed, and this was the only way it could be done. Jesus' obedience to God The Father paved the way for us to be one with The Father. Jesus came from above and lived as a human to show us that we can have victorious life when we are born again and will be led by the Holy Spirit. The born again believers are identified with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. If we refuse to accept the grace and salvation that Christ gave us, then Jesus' death for sins cannot be effective for us. The only way to The Father is through Jesus by accepting what He did for us, and believing in Him would have eternal life.

Paul is saying that sin blocked our relationship with God but it was not clearly understood until the law was given. Death separate us from God since the time of Adam until God had revealed His law to Moses to made known of our sin be more visible. Yes, there was sin before the law was given and death came when Adam sinned. Sin and its consequence of death were definitely in the world prior to the Law of God given. The law was against sin but sin will never be forgiveness until we received salvation thru the grace of God. Jesus Christ overcame our death.

The Father, being the head of the family, is ultimately responsible for decision and action that impact on the financial needs, social and spiritual development of the children. The whole family members are tied to Jesus Christ who will act for an entire group of believers, showing and setting the godly example on how to live righteously by faith in God.

Reconcilation is to restore a close and peaceful relationship with our enemies. Reconciliation with God is necessary because we are being saved by the blood of Christ and His resurrection life. We are forgiven and are reconciled to God. God sent His Son for our sins, that we may know Him as our Father. We are being saved by His life now because we have free access into God's awesome presence. Now there is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by His life, our salvation from sin has been settled by Jesus death on the cross

We are assured that God loves us inspite of our sin. The devil always try to fear us with the wrong doing that we have done against Him. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Satan wants us to feel that we have sinned so bad that we can't be forgiven. But when we come before God with a repentant heart, He will forgive us. Christ died for us that we might be washed clean of our sins through repentence, and acceptance of Christ's love and salvation. The truth and His redemption work on the Cross has set us free from sin and condemnation. We should not fear that we human being are too bad to forgive.

1) Because God uses suffering to shape us and mould us to develop his character in us. It helps us to cling and depend on HIm who can strengthen us. It illuminate our mind, moral and spiritual reinforcement that He is always with us and will not allow the suffering that we could not bear it. He is the God of love and mercy. 2) A. Perserverence: "it is the art of trying again after the series of failures until you get what you are aiming for". Self motivation and perseverance are our success secrets. The promises of God and our hope of glory in Christ are our "prize". It gives us the endurance to hold out in circumstances of difficulty. B. Tried character: willl help us to develop qualities like graciousness, purity, wisdom and patience. Will show us how to extend yourself to others so that Christ can be glorified. C. Hope: Enables us to know why we are who we are and we know where we are going. It is where we can see the fulfillment of God`s promises for our eternal destiny.

Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness

Q4. (Psalm 24) How do verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King? They speak of His sovereignty. The King of heaven and earth and they are His own. What do verses 3-6 tell us about the requirements of the King? It describes that God requires ethical and moral purity-loyality to the King. Strict allegience without idoltry. What do verses 7-10 tell us about the glory of the King? He is Yahweh and God of Magnificent and Almighty. He is the victorious warrior King, mighty in battle, worthy of respect and honor. He deserves all our praises and all Glory. He is the highly exalted , the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. How does this psalm speak to you in your situation? He is my Sovereign God and I must come in full surrender to Him as Lord of my life. I must come to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. He is Awesome and Great in Power to save us.