janspiljard

a. All these things have been created, therefore, all these things are subordinate to Jesus, who is the Creator. Their power will never exceed, nor even come close to the power of our Lord Jesus. b. If Jesus is the Creator of these and therefore he is in control of them as well, then we do not need to fear especially the demonic side of the powers and principalities, how ever it comes to us, when we are followers of Jesus, when we proclaim Jesus our Savior and our Lord/Master. Our Master is stronger than all of these powers and principalities combined. We may not always see it in our lives, but one day this will become visible. We just need in faith to trust Jesus with all our hearts and minds and souls. c. Jesus, being Lord and Creator of all, should make us think about prayer in a much more free and powerful way. We pray in the name of Jesus, the greatest power on earth and in heaven. Let our prayers mirror that power and let's have faith that our prayers, prayed in his name, are very very powerful by themselves. Let's stand in the power of Jesus and pray boldly.

a. Jesus is not a created being. "Firstborn" here means the special status that a firstborn son had and probably still has especially within Judaism. Jesus is preeminent over all created beings. b. "Everything was created in him, through him, and for him". As it says here that everything was created through him, Jesus must have been there, so he must have existed before creation. c. "Everything was created by him and for him". So Jesus is the Creator of everything and everything was created for Jesus. This makes all of creation subordinate to Jesus. We have been created for Jesus. Therefore for his pleasure and to serve him with everything we have and we are. d. Jesus existed before creation. He was, as can be read in Colossians 1:16, the Creator of everything. The second part of this verse is even more interesting: "and in him all things hold together". This means that if Jesus were not there, everything, all of creation would simply fall apart. So, basically, Jesus holds it all together. He is in control! I sometimes say these very comforting words to myself, especially when I am stressed or insecure, "It ain't over until God says it's over". But you could also say, "It ain't over until Jesus says it is over". Again, Jesus holds everything together. He IS in control!

a. The significance of this statement can hardly be overestimated or even put in words. To put it simple: "Jesus is the invisible God made visible to us". The Life Application Study Bible says it as follows: ...He not only reflects God, but he reveals God to us (Joh 1:18; Joh 14:9); as supreme over all creation, he has all the priority and authority. He came from heaven, not from the dust of the earth (1Co 15:47), and he is Lord of all (Rom 9:5; Rom 10:11-13; Rev 1:5; Rev 17:14). He is completely holy (Heb 7:26-28; 1Pe 1:19; 1Pe 2:22; 1Jn 3:5), and he has authority to judge the world (Rom 2:16; 2Co 5:10; 2Ti 4:1). b. Here is Colossians 1:19 from the Amplified Bible. I like the way the AMP states it very much: For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. So, no hologram, no meager manifestation of God. Everything God is and has, Jesus is and has. Jesus is God very real! God having come in the flesh. I think it is John who says in his letters that if we do not believe that God has come in the flesh in Jesus, we are not Christians. Strong words!

a. 1) Qualified 2) Rescued 3) Brought us into the kingdom 4) Redeemed 5) Forgiven Al these actions start in Colossians 1:12 with the subject, the Father. So it is God who is doing the actions. The object of God's action is "us", meaning all believers. So Go did all the action and we were not required to do anything. We are on the receiving end and that is all for us. b. God, and God alone, has allowed us to approach him. We have no standing on our own to come before God. God therefore had to make sure the circumstances were right for us to approach God. And he has done so through the sacrifical love of Jesus (His own sacrificial love). He died for us to pave the way for us to be able to approach God again. Not one bit of this was our own effort. God qualified us, rescued us, brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, redeemed/delivered us, forgave us.

Question 3 a. Darkness and light portrays the existing contrast between two spiritual powers/realms. It also portrays the contrast between being lost (darkness) and being saved (light). In more general spiritual terms the darkness stands for Satan's realm (John the Evangelist calls it "the world", "the flesh", or even "the world of the flesh"). Light stands for God's realm (kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, paradise). The reminder Paul gives is, in my opinion, meant to make us see even more clearly where the Colossian believers, or for that matter we, now stand. What we have won/gained. The great blessing and grace of it. It also reminds us that that world of darkness is no fairy tale. It is very very real! b. The NIV says "inheritance in the kingdom of light". It means God's realm, God's wonderful kingdom, with all its love, forgiveness, grace, light, redemption, peace, power, etc. Everything God wants to give us included. We inherited this "kingdom of light" when we said "Yes" to God through Jesus. c. On the one hand we have the "dominion of darkness". The Amplified Bible says it even better: Colossians 1:13a (AMP): "(The Father) has delivered us and drawn us to Himself out of the control and dominion of darkness... The "dominion of darkness" is what it says it is, dark. The way of ruling is through controlling, threatening, forcing. The "kingdom of light" or "the kingdom of the Son he loves..." on the other hand, is in everything the complete contrast to the "dominion of darkness". The way of ruling is through sacrifial love (Christ's) and grace. There is light (God's light, which is so bright that we no longer need the sun (Revelation)), there is peace, love, forgiveness, redemption, grace, mercy. We are not forced in anything, but lovingly guided with God smiling at us. We are close to God, so close to God, intimate with him at a level that we have never achieved and could never reach in our earthly lives. God is close to us, always, every moment of the day. We can go to him, come to him, talk with him and will never find the door locked. And we always find open arms to receive us, whether we are happy, deeply moved, or terribly sad or depressed. God will put his arms around us and hold us so close to him. The contrast between the two realms is an infinite contrast.

Question 2 a. Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers: - He asks God to fill them with the knowledge of his will. - He asks God for all spiritual wisdom and understanding for them. - He asks that the Colossian believers may live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing to him in every way. - He asks that they will bear fruit in every good work. - He asks that they will grow in the knowledge of God. - He asks that they be strengthened with all power according to God's glorious might. - He asks that they may have great endurance and patience. - He asks that the Colossians believers will joyfully give thanks to the Father. b. - Knowledge of God and growing in that knowledge. - All spiritual wisdom and understanding. - A life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way. - Strengthened with all power to the glorious might of God. - Endurance - Patience - Thanksgiving - Qualification to share the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. c. I do not think any of these are least important or most important for that matter. They are all all important, of life giving importance. If I have to pick one for being the best, then I would (reluctantly) pick "Knowledge of God and growing in the knowledge of God". Intimacy with God is what we have been created for. The least important? No, am not going there, I could not! d. When some or even just one of the things mentioned in "b" is missing in our lives, then we are not "complete" and we might miss out on the full grace and blessing of God. We might miss oout on what God wants to give to us. He wants to give us everything.

a. - The gospel is the hope that is stored up in heaven. A hope from which faith and love spring forth. - The gospel is the word of truth. - The gospel is bearing fruit and growing rapidly. - The gospel gives us an understanding of God's grace. b. The Colossians might have felt they were an isolated minority, not a part of a movement that is rapidly growing and bearing fruit. Paul wanted to encourage the Colossians and show them they are most definitely not alone. They were part of something really big. c. When a church in our time becomes embarassed with or is unimpressed by the gospel message, that church loses its saltiness and is useful for nothing but to be thrown away. This church will turn away from the central focus, Jesus. Ir eventually will not preach the gospel at all anymore. So, it loses its most important reason of existence, preaching the gospel.

a) Justice Easton: Rendering to everyone that which is his due. Webster: 1) The virtue which consists in giving to everyone what is his due. 2) Impartiality. 3) Equity 4) Vindictive retribution 5) Right Merriam-Webster: a) The quality of being just, impartial, or fair. Conforming to truth, fact, or reason. Vengeance Webster: The infliction of pain on another in return for an injury or offense. Merriam-Webster: Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense. Mercy Easton: Compassion for the miserable. Webster: The benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves. Merriam-Webster: Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power. b ) The Holy and Righteous God, especially because He is also sovereign, could, I guess, justly forgive sins without punishment. But that would go against his character, so God does not do that. Therefore because He is holy and righteous He cannot stand sin and "has to" punish. It was because of man's disobedience that the first animals were killed. That was to make clothes for Adam and Eve. Ever since sacrifices of animals have been needed to be able to get in touch with God or stand before God. The blood had to flow for the atonement of people. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, once for all. He was punished for our liberation. The punishment we should have had and absolutely deserved, He took upon himself. The consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve was a punishment. They were chased out of the Garden of Eden. Sin does have consequences. Our free will is respected by God, but our choices do have consequences, not just for us, but even for others. Punishment is one of the consequences. But Jesus took the punishment for us, in our stead. c) The Cross, and especially the moment that Jesus, while on the Cross, said, "It is finished", was the ultimate righteousness of God. Jesus died on the cross without having sinned, thus fulfilling the Law and freeing all who believe from the power of sin. He became our Mediator before God. God looks at everyone who believes through the blood of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice. The punishment we all deserved because of our sinfulness, was willingly and lovingly received by Jesus, to the point of his Father turning his back on him ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me") The Cross was also the ultimate mercy (grace) of God. It was He who took upon himself our punishment. It was God himself!

a) We are created in the image of God. We messed up, however, and became selfish people. God wanted us to be like him, so indeed, also be a "Father to the fatherless" and a "Protector of the widows". That was not the way we went. Jesus therefore came and showed us what being created in the image of God really means. We called him, "A friend of sinners and tax collectors", and kept our distance. Christians are the hands and feet and mouth of God in this world. It is through us that God wishes to be the "Father to the fatherless" and the "Protector of the widows". He wants to use us to show his compassion and love for each and everyone. This means that Christians should be very strong on social justice. It should be the way of life for Christians. b ) For me it means to become aware of the social injustice around me and where I can do something about it. This is not easy because I do confess that my thoughts are normally, "This is not my concern". And I do keep my distance.

a) The answer to this question is actually fairly simple. If we believe that truth and morality are relative to one's culture, we CANNOT understand the Righteous One. Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." This indicates clearly there is absolute truth, Jesus. The morality is of course linked to this absolute truth. To Jesus. Jesus is "The Truth" wherever, whenever, whatever and however. This is totally culturally independent. However, I do not fully score out relativism as such. But we need to determine what (in our faith) is absolute truth and what is more relative. In theology a kind of quadrant is used. It looks kinda like this: There is True relative and True objective. True relative can be sub-divided into Situational relativism and Autonomous relativism. True objective can be sub-divided into "What is important, but not essential for salvation" and "What is essential for salvation". Examples of the various categories: True relative - Situational relative - Going to the movies - Drinking (not drunkeness) - Wearing a head covering True relative - Autonomous relative - Coke or Pepsi - Church music - Best kind of food Basically everything labeled "best of", because this is always based on opinions. - Best song True objective - Not essential for salvation (Many things go in here. Many things that are usually put in "Essential" by Christians. - Views of predestination (Arminianism/Calvinism) - Date of Christ's returning - Young earth/old earth - Canon of Scripture (protestant: 66 books, Catholic: 72 books) True objective - Essential for salvation - God exists - Christ's deity and humanity - Faith alone (Catholics would not put this in this category) - The atonement (man's sinfulness and God's work of salvation) So it is definitely not all black and white as some Christians (especially fundamentalists) sometimes seem to think. It is much more complex than "If it is not white it is black". I am not an evangelist, so this question I will pass, except for this: Unlike in the Modern age, postmodernism believes that everything is relative. Could you defend your faith by winning arguments in the Modern Age, in the postmodern world we live in now, this does not work anymore. The keyword (much more than in the Modern Age) for postmodernism is authenticity. Basically this means "live what you are saying and say what you are living". But of course that is exactly what Jesus already did when he was on earth, . And all of that from a spirit of love (1 Corinthians 13).

a- Isaiah panicked! He knew the Law in which it was said that if a sinner sees God face-to-face he will die. He realized how holy God is and howe sinful he himself was. Isaiah knew that if a sinner sees the "more holy than the holiest holiness" (CJB) God face-to-face is doomed. And there he is, seeing God face-to-face himself. His only thought was probably, "OK, I am dead!!!" c) One of the seraphim took a live coal from the altar and came to Isaiah. He touched Isaiah's lips with the live coal and said: "Here! This has touched your lips. Your iniquity is gone, your sin atoned for." (CJB) d) The live coal came from an altar (altar of incense or altar for the burned offerings). A fire was burning, as the coal was live (glowing hot). Fire is a almost always a symbol of purification. McGee states that the coal also symbolizes the death of Christ, because it is Christ's death that cleanses and saves us ("Thru the Bible Commentary, J. Vernon McGee, 1981). Isaiah had pointed out a specific sin, "unclean lips". The seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with the live coal and so Isaiah was cleansed of this sin. e) Isaiah, after having been cleansed, heard God speak: Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying, "Whom should I send? Who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8a) His immediate response was devotion and dedication. He said, "Here I am! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8b)

a) "Do you not know? Have you not heard?" (compare vs. 21) This indicates that we should listen very carefully to what comes. A question asked twice usually means something like, "Pay extra attention now. This is important!!!" A bit like "Verily, verily, I say to you" or "I tell you the truth" which Jesus often used to get the attention of the listeners. For us, his disciples, this basically means that we sit up and listen very carefully, because what follows needs to be remembered. Then God goes on to explain his being Almighty in more detail. He is so powerful, He created everything that exists. So we can count on God in everything. He won't become weary or tired. The Creator of the universe looks after us. So we can give ourselves over to him. Trust him with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds and all our strength. Isaiah 40:29-31 (Complete Jerusalem Bible) He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles' wings; when they are running they won't grow weary, when they are walking they won't get tired.

a) Verse 1: - Lord (Y'hovah) - Rock of our salvation (tsur tsur yeshua) Verse 3: - Lord (Y'hovah) - Great God ('El gadol gadol) - Great King (melek gadol gadol) Verses 4-5: - Creator (indirect) - Almighty (indirect) - Maker ('asah) Verse 6: - Lord (Y'hovah) - Maker ('asah) Verse 7: - God ('Elohim) - Shepherd (indirect) Psalm 95:6-7a (Complete Jewish Bible): Come, let's bow down and worship; let's kneel before Adonai who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people in his pasture, the sheep in his care. We fall to our knees in worship, when we acknowledge Who God is: The Lord, the Rock of our Salvation, the great God and King, our Creator, the Almighty, the One Who made us. He, our God and our Shepherd. We, his creation and his sheep. :-)

a) - The potter, Creator, or Maker can make what he wants to make. - He can make what he makes, how he wants to make it. - He can do what he wants with what he has made, even to the point of breaking or destroying it again. Knowing the answers of (a), this should humble me, and it does. The above tells me that God can really do whatever He wants to do with me. And I do not have a say in it. I have no choice, but to trust God. The above also tells methat God knows where and how I function best. He has made me in a certain way. And He has made me who He wants me to be. I guess this should cause me to maybe grumble and complain less to God. Accept who I am and why I was made the way I was made. But there is more, . God has not only (just) made me. He also loves me and wants the best for me. And because He is my Maker, He knows what is best for me. This makes accepting trusting God and accepting who I am and why I was made so much easier. Going the way of accepting this, makes that I will live the best life I could ever imagine to live, .

Literally, a pot does not even have a mouth, so how can it talk back at the potter, :-). The potter is in full control and he makes whatever he wants to make. The pot has no influence whatsoever on the making. The potter is almighty, in total control, even to the point where he throws away or breaks or pounds the pot again, because he does not like what he has made. As Christians, we are pots in the hands of the potter, God our Creator. He has created the universe according to his will. We have had no influence in the making of ourselves. God made us the way He wanted to make us. God could even throw us away because He does not like what He has made. But we know that God when He made man said, "It is very good!" He really liked what He had made, :-). Sometimes we Christians are not very happy with how we have been made and we start grumbling and complaining to God, "Why have You made me like this?" We even come up with suggestions to God on how to reshape us. But God's answer is, "What I have made, I have made!" God creating us and the way He has done this makes predestination in this sense true. We did not have a vote or a choice in the creation process. However, God DID create us with a free will. A free will with which we are able to choose him or not to choose him. Adam and Eve chose. Joshua chose. In all dispensations of time, past, presence and future, mankind has free will. Mankind can choose to serve God or to serve whatever other god or gods. But as far as creation is concerned, how God created us, fashioned us in the womb, there is no choice for us. We just know that God has created us the way HE wanted to create us. But we also know that God said, after creating/forming/fashioning us, "It is very good!" The better attitude is to trust and obey God.He know why He has made us the way we have been made by him. And again, He said: "It is very good!" If God says it is very good, who is going to argue with him? Trust and obedience are the way to go. And being content: Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. P.S. This part has nothing to do with the actual question, but I just had to put it here. I am sorry if this offends anyone reading this. I took the liberty to change something in the text of this Bible Study. Ralph Wilson speaks of Palestine. That was the name the Romans gave to Israel to wipe the memory of it and of the Jews (the people of God!!!) off the face of the earth. God called the land "Israel", not "Palestine"! The Romans did not succeed in wiping the memory of the land Israel and the Jews off the face of the earth. They tried hard, but the Jews have lived on and still exist, as they have survived many sufferings, the holocaust being the worst of them. In 1948, as a fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies, the Jews came back to Israel (and still more are coming back, e.g. from Russia) and the state of Israel was proclaimed. The land again got the name God had given to it. In the 50 or so years after this declaration, God has fought for Israel, on Israel's side in several wars, preserving the land Israel from being wiped off the earth again. In the 1,000 year Kingdom, when Jesus will rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem (the present day, physical city of Jerusalem) all believers will be living with Jesus, as his bride.....yes indeed, in Jerusalem, in Israel. That is what I believe. Let us call Israel by its God-given proper name, ISRAEL!!!! Not by its Romans-given name Palestine. God bless you all and keep you :-)

David understood that you cannot defy God or God's chosen people and get away with it. He knew God had helped him fighting lions and bears for the protections of his sheep as shepherd. So he believed that God would deal with the Philistines defying God and his people. 1 Samuel 17:26b: "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" David emphasized LIVING God here as opposed to the dead pagan gods. In this he was expressing that the pagan gods do not stand a chance against the Living God of Israel. Hebrews 10:31 The Living God inspires fear and dread because: - He is the living God, not a man made idol. - He says, "I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, "The LORD will judge His own people." - He is all powerful. Nothing and no one equals him. - For the unbeliever/sinner it is terrible to fall in the hands of God.We can read why in the Book of Revelation. Read about all the punishments/suffering/plagues coming their way. And after that there is the "Lake of Fire" for eternity. I have heard this said: Everyone lives forever. Every single one is resurrected at some point. It is just a matter of location. We can be either with God (those resurrected with Jesus, who visited Jerusalem for a time; those resurrected at the rapture...). Or we are away from the presence of God for eternity (those resurrected after the 1,000 year kingdom of Jesus on earth who have to appear before the Great White Throne). At the moment the choice is still ours. But if we put it off for too long, then the choice will be made for us. And "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." .

The first thing that springs out, especially when you see the context is that God, in saying "I am the first and the last", puts himself above and opposite, yes, even against any idols. Isaiah 44:7 (NIV): Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come - yes, let him foretell what will come. (NLT): Who is like Me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. (I think the New Living Translation puts it even better than the NIV, :-)) And everything remained quiet and silent, because no one is like God. not even close! "The first and the last" also shows eternity. God was in the beginning. And He will be in the end. God is! "Yahweh", I AM WHO I AM. I AM! No one else can say this, only God, the Creator of the universe. "The first and the last" also speaks to me of God's sovereignty. God is in control. Whatever happens in my life, God is the first and the last. Nothing comes between. Nothing can take me out of his protecting hands. God rules over everything. He is in control. Revelation 1:8 (NIV): "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (NLT): "I am the Alpha and the Omega

On the question "What do you think it is like to "inhabit eternity"?": My first reaction would be: a blank. I fall short of even being able to express "inhabit eternity" in my wildest fantasies. I am here on earth, bound in time. Bound by time. I really have no idea what it will be like to "inhabit eternity", except that it will be infinitely different from where/what/how I am now. The only logical thing that I can think of is that to "inhabit eternity" is to be liberated from time. Time has no influence on me anymore then. That should make "inhabiting eternity" one loooooooong Sabbath, :-). On the question "What will it be like when you inhabit eternity with Eternal God, seated with Jesus Christ in heavenly places? What emotions does this inspire in you?": To be forever in the presence of the Lord is also something that I have difficulties expressing myself about. It will be wonderful, very very very wonderful. I imagine to literally be walking with God there. It will be bliss!!!!!!! The emotions coming up when I think about this: joy, love, great expectation, happiness, a feeling of "I cannot wait till I am there". And yes, :-), I guess impatience as well. In the sense of, "I am 47 years old. I could still live till I am about 80-100 years old. Oh no, do I have to wait so long to be with my Lord in paradise", . Well, maybe not, , maybe my Lord comes back to get me before that time, . Being forever with the One Who loves me so much that He died a horrible death for me, so I CAN be with him. Being forever with the One Who created me and said, "It is very good!" Living out the purpose of my life, what I was created for, to be with God and walk with him. Forever!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yahweh stands for "I AM WHO I AM" or even more beautiful I think "I WLL BE WHO I WILL BE". The first thing that springs to mind when hearing the name Yahweh is "unchanging". Both "I AM WHO I AM" and "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" clearly show that God does not change. God's character does not change. "HE IS!" This implies something very comforting. Something to rejoice about. It implies that God's promises do not change. "God is not a man that He should lie". What God has promised God will do. And God has promised so much! The next thing that comes to mindis that God has always been. He has always existed. This makes him stand outside of our time and dimensions. For God there is no time. HE IS, always. This also shows that God is so powerful. Because the fact that God has always been "I AM" means that He has made everything as well. We can read this in Genesis as well, but it is refreshing to have this come to mind from other passages of the Bible, or even from just one of the names of God. A third thing is that the name Yahweh shows that God is eternal. He does not die, nor can He be destroyed or defeated. He is "I AM" forever. The idols worshipped in Egypt were gods made by human hands. Made from earthly material. This indicates that these idols are not more than things made by material God created. So, taking this as it is, this means that these idols are even less than God's own creators, because they have been made by humans, who have been created by God, :-). The Egyptian idols are totally within our time and dimensions and they can therefore easily be destroyed. The Egyptian idols are basically no more than idolized persons (Pharao) and animals (most Egyptian idols) Yahweh is "I AM WHO I AM". He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Not impersonal, but personal. Not distant, but close. Not dead images made of earthly material, but the Living God. Not Ra, Amon, Isis, Osiris, etc. But the "I AM". No wonder the Egyptian gods did not stand a chance against Yahweh when He acted on behalf of his people in Egypt. Praise Yahweh, the eternal, powerful, living, and personal God. Hosannah!!!

I think we should learn to look up to God first in every situation. Maybe even wait for a nod from the Lord. The fact that the battle is the Lord's means that however difficult a situation gets, we are not alone. God is there, right there with us, fighting for us. That is a great comfort! Very often, however, when we are in a bad situation we do not see God. We struggle through the situation and think we are on our own. But when we look back later, we suddenly see that the Lord was there, fighting with us, fighting for us. He took all the major blows and we only got hit by what we can handle. We need to learn to focus much more on God. So much that we automatically FIRST go the the Lord when a bad situation hits us. We need learn not just to say that we are totally dependent on God, but to BE totally dependent in God. Whatever happens in our lives, we are never alone. God has promised that He is with us. And God is not a man that He should lie. He keeps his promises. Every single one of them. Timidity makes us freeze up. We become paralyzed. We hide in our shell and do not even dare to ask God for help. For why would God help someone like me? I am just....... (fill in whatever fits you) Brashness is the opposite to timidity in a way . Merriam-Webster defines it as "lacking restraint and discernment", and "tactless" and "aggressively assertive". With brashness there is a high risk that we start running ahead of ourselves, and, more importantly, ahead of God. It is acting, without thinking/contemplating. We do not take time to bring things to God, but we go! Numbers 14:40-45 (New Living Translation): 40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. "Let's go," they said. "We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us." 41 But Moses said, "Why are you now disobeying the LORD's orders to return to the wilderness? It won't work. 42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD is not with you. 43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD." 44 But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD's Covenant left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah. This is a good example of God not fighting for us (Israel in this case). The twelve spies that went into Canaan to check out the land, came back with many confirmations of what God had said about the land. But ten of them said it was too dangerous to enter. Only Caleb and Joshua: "God is with us, He will fight for us. Let's go and take the land as God commands". The other 10 spies, however, spread all kinds of rumours and so the people were convinced and wanted to appoint other leaders to lead them back to Egypt. God was furious and punished Israel. They were to spend 40 years in the desert, until every single first generation Exodus Israelite (accept Caleb and Joshua) would be dead. The next morning Israel stood ready to go and take the land. But this was too late and so again they went against the will of God. And God warned them: "I will NOT go with you". Israel, however was stubborn, and went anyhow. They were accordingly thrashed by the Amalekites and the Canaanites. So God does not always fight for us. Sometimes our battle is not his. Other examples are: The Assyrian captivity of Israel (God fought on the Assyrian side) and the Babylonian captivity of Juda and Benjamin (God fought on the Babylonian side). Sin, going against God's will and command, will cause God to withdraw. In worst cases He might fight on the other side. When we remain sinful God cannot join us in our battles.

Historically, armies always went to battle carrying banners. Usually the flag of the country, of the bataljon, etc. Soldiers would be encouraged greatly and fight all the braver and harder when they saw the banner/flag was still flying high. When the person carrying the banner/flag fell, someone else would instantly pick it up again, even leave his weapon behind to carry the banner/flag onwards. The banner HAD TO BE FLYING AND VISIBLE. So also Moses' rod. He held it up for all Israelites to see. And the "amateur army" of Israel would be greatly encouraged and fight bravely. They won the vicitory over the professional army of Amalek. Moses of course also held the rod up to God. He was interceding for the people fighting. Joshua was fighting, Moses was praying. Furthermore, the Israelites obviously knew what great miracles Moses had done with the rod. This was an extra encouragement for them. In any battle we face we can look up to God. He has promised that He is always with us. And the Lord has already fought the battle and won through Jesus Christ. We look up and see God standing, like Moses, on the hill, his arms spread out over us. We see that and we may rejoice and gain much courage from seeing "God our Banner". We still have to go through the battle. And it may take a long time (Joshua had to fight the Amalekites all day), but God our Banner lets us know that the victory is won. God our Banner flies high and keeps flying high. Because unlike Moses, God does not get tired. What a picture! What great encouragement!

If Jesus had called to his Father to rescue him, the legions of angels would surely have come. And they would have wiped out every enemy Jesus had. But one thing would not have happened then. We would still be lost. A blood sacrifice was needed to save. And Jesus was that blood sacrifice. If He had called on the legions to rescue him, He would not have fulfilled the Law, which was needed to save us. But Jesus did not call on the legions. He knew that there was only one way to save us and that was for him to go all the way. And He went all the way. For us. Compare this verse to the temptation of Jesus by the devil in Matthew 4. When Jesus call on the legions of angels (and according to many commentators in Rev. 19:11-16 also all the saved one that are with Jesus), it is to "strikedown the nations" and "rule them with an iron rod". The fierce wrath of God will then be released. So when Jesus calls on the legions, this means war!

Hi Kaitlin... I take it you mean that Elisha's servant could not see the spiritual realm, regards, jan

Elisha's servant was afraid, because he did not see the army of the Lord. He only saw the army of the king of Aram surrounding the city. He probably understood they were coming for Elisha, which made him panick even more. Elisha's calmed him down by saying that those who are with Elisha and the servant are more than the soldiers of the army of the king of Aram. Elisha's servant looked at the situation with human eyes. Elisha looked at it with the eyes of God. Elisha prayed for the eyes of the servant to be opened and they were and he could see what Elisha saw from the start. For our eyes to be opened and remain opened, we have to focus on God and stay very close to him, knowing and accepting that we are totally dependent on God and we need his guidance. We have to give him our hand, so He can lead us by the hand. Then we will learn to listen to the "still small voice" as the voice of the Lord is sometimes called. And then we will learn to hear and see things, not with our human eyes, but with the eyes of the Lord. 1 John 4:4 confirms that God's Spirit lives in us and that He is stronger than the spirit of the world. So if we get into a difficult situation in our lives and it seems we are surrounded, we need to know or remind ourselves that He who lives in us is far greater than he who is in the world. Again, this becomes possible when we focus on God and live in dependence on him.

There is discussion among the scholars as to why the Commander of God's army declares himself neutral. There is even doubt about if he really is declaring himself neutral. There are also different interpretations on who this Commander was. Some scholars say an angel of the Lord, some say Jesus. Only very few state that He is God himself. Assuming it is God himself, it is logical that He answered "Neither" (many translation have "No" here). Because the Commander of the Army of the Lord, is not for or against any human army. God is the Creator of everything and all. The significance of the neutrality of the Commander has to do wit the level of his army. It is God's army, not a human army. God's army does not enlist in a human army. That should be the other way around. The human army is the "lower" of the armies and should therefore enlist in God's army and serve. The Commander of God's army fought on the side of Israel, God's chosen people, in this situation. God's army was doing most of the work. The Israelites participated in the war (enlisted in God's armyfor this battle) to finish things off. Joshua at first reacted to the appearing of the Commander with suspicion, with the logical question, "Are you friend or foe?" The Commander answers "neither" (or "No") and then tells Joshua that He is the commander of God's armies. Joshua's immediate and logical reaction is to fall down prostrate and worship. And asking the Commander, "How can I serve You?" This worship by Joshua is accepted. This could indicate that the Commander of God's army is not an angel of the Lord. Angels of the Lord woulds not accept human worship, but point to Who should be worshipped, God himself. After the encounter Joshua is confident about the upcoming Battle of Jericho. God's army would fight that Battle, while Israel's army watched. And God confirmed to Joshua that He had given Jericho to Joshua (Joshua 6:2) jan spiljard