JanMary

Q6. (Judges 7:13-14) What does the rolling barley loaf mean in the Midianite's dream? The Midianite interprets the barley loaf to mean the sword of Gideon gaining the victory over them and their defeat. For me it's a beautiful "picture" of the pre-incarnate Christ...the Bread of Life bringing victory over our enemy. Why does the Lord show Gideon this dream? Though God called him a mighty man of valor while he was still threshing wheat hiding in a wine press, he was still afraid. He had to believe that this battle was the Lord's to win, and his part was to "show up" and trust in God. His band of now only 300 men was facing 135,000 strong enemy invaders, with God's promise of victory. Gideon still had to act in faith to bring about the defeat, and in God's gracious way of teaching, training, and resassuring his frightened child, He allowed Gideon to hear as encourement to believe the promise and act on it in faith.

Q5. (Judges 7:5-6) What significance, if any, do you see in selecting the "lappers" from the "kneelers"? This is just a thought, but this was a war situation requiring stealth. The Midianites were nearby and known for their ruthless and surprise attacks, which could come at any minute. Those who lapped were able to drink while looking around them, and still able to hold a weapon in one hand, and displayed more alertness, perhaps. Those who knelt were more vulnerable to attack with their eyes focused on the stream requiring both hands for balance totally absorbed in the task of drinking, their backs exposed and defenseless. It may have been neither of those, and just God's way of eliminating men since He knows the future and knew which men would lap and which would kneel, to arrive at the 300 number He wished for the battle to insure that the Israelites knew it was He who gave the victory/deliverance....not the strength of their army nor the skill of their leader, Gideon.

Q4. Why do we demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them? Because we're foolish and arrogant! We forget that His ways are not our ways, and that His ways are higher than our ways, and that we only see a small fragment of the situation, while He knows everything there is to know about everything there is to know! In the flesh we look to circumstances to determine our actions, and it takes time and trust in the Lord to follow Him no matter how contrary the circumstances seem. We also may want to have a measure of control, so we try to figure out the outcome with the little knowledge we have, forgetting that we don't usually have a say in how things turn out......we are just to follow and obey. What's the spiritual danger here? We're afraid of being -- or being perceived as -- religious kooks. How can we balance blind obedience with getting confirmation through spiritual people whose discernment we trust? I think getting confirmation from trusted others is important if there is confusion. In Gideon's case, I doubt that there was anyone who would be on board with the directions God gave him though. In situations where direction didn't make sense, He has been faithful to restate and restate guidance until I was certain about what I was to do. He's a loving Father, who is interested in training and teaching us, as we teach and train small children. I think the danger Dr. Wilson is speaking of, is "going over a cliff" from hearing the wrong voice, and being led astray. There have been several times in my life where the Lord asked me to obey quickly in life or death situations and there was no time to seek counsel. I'm learning to know His voice, but I learned through foot dragging and questioning whether "this is You Lord", in past circumstances. It's interesting to me that as I'm learning to live more thankfully, that I've been thankful for an overly strict set of parents, who demanded obedience or there were severe punishments. I'm not thankful for the abuse, but that I learned to obey quickly.

Q3. (Judges 7:1-3) Why did God feel Gideon's army was too large? The Lord said Israel may boast and believe that their own strength in their vast numbers had saved them. Why was shrinking the army's size to a tiny band essential in restoring Israel's faith and allegiance? Israel needed to see that it was God and God alone who had saved them from the enemy, rather than taking credit for the victory and falling back into idol worship and self reliance, or in believing it was Gideon's leadership skill which delivered them. What kinds of pressures would Gideon be feeling not to obey God in shrinking his army? The old pressure of "what will people think? What will people say? "What kind of leader would send 2/3 of his army home because they are afraid!...maybe they won't follow me into battle if I look weak and foolish." How was Gideon able to obey God fully in this? Gideon was humble and therefore fully obeyed God. The wet fleece, then the dry one assured him that God was indeed the ONE speaking to him, and he was not alone or making this up....he was then able to trust and obey.

Q2. (Judges 6:36-39) Why does Gideon put out a fleece before the Lord -- twice? He wanted to be certain he had "heard correctly" and had the message and mission right. Is this a sign of unbelief or of belief? A sign of belief in God, but uncertainty in his ability to "hear" God. This is a "testing" of God? Not technically, because he was acting on faith rather than presumption or unbelief in God....just needed clarification. How does it differ from the sinful testings of God the scripture warns against? The other examples given were attempts to manipulate God into doing miracles to prove Himself. When, if ever, should we ask God to confirm his direction with a sigh? When we're uncertain about whether we've understood Him correctly. I've done this several times when needing reassurance about guidance. God has been gracious to restate the direction, so that I could obey without fear of going off in my own "strength". What is the danger of demanding a sign? The impudence of trying to manipulate God into violating His will. This He will not do anyway!

Q1. (Judges 6:33-35) What inspires Gideon to blow the battle horn and summon an army against the Midianites? "The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him....and he blew the trumpet." How encouraging for those of us who cower in fear when threatened....that "clothed with God's Spirit", we can become mighty warriors! God's power overrode the fear and timid spirit of Gideon and he rose up to be a military leader of the tribes against the adversary and his potential was maximized! What does Gideon have in common with other judges and leaders of his era? (Hint: see Deuteronomy 34:9; Judges 3:10; 11:9; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6.) Moses had laid hands on Joshua and so he was full of the spirit of wisdom....the Israelites listened to him and did as the Lord commanded Moses. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel and he judged Israel. He went out to war and the the Lord delivered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand and his hand prevailed over Chushan-rishathaim. Jephthah, in the Lord's power and strength became a military leader of the people and defeated the Ammonites. Manoah, moved by the spirit of the Lord in Mahaneh-dan. Samson, with the spirit of the Lord mightily upon him, tore the lion with his hands, and slew 30 men, taking their clothes as spoil. Again, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson and he broke the ropes on his arms and the bonds melted off his hands. The Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul..... When the Spirit of God came mightily upon these men, they became powerful in might and strength and courage to defeat their enemies.

Q5. (Judges 6:25-31) What kind of leader has Gideon's father Joash been up to this point? He has not been a leader to his son, but rather a follower of the townspeople and the Baal and Asherah worship...even having the idol altar on his land. How does Gideon's action affect his father? Gideon's obedience to God places his father between a Rock and a hard place....he's forced to make a choice finally instead of the dual worship of God and the idols he's been doing. He makes the decision to defend his son and to defy Baal, saying if he had any power he would have defended himself from Gideon's destruction. Shouldn't Gideon have considered the impact on his father? No. Gideon placed obedience to God above the fear of man/father, as we are called to do. God is always first. How should this have affected Gideon's action? (See Matthew 10:34-38) Gideon honored God above his father's potential wrath...he took the first step of being a "courageous warrior" for God. In what sense is Joash a follower of Yahweh now? When Joash took a stand in favor of Yahweh, in the face of an angry mob, he declared publicly that Baal was "dead" to him and Yahweh was his God.

Q4. (Judges 6:25-27) What is the strategic significance of God's command for Gideon to tear down the Baal altar and Asherah pole? Gideon was to destroy the idols which had replaced God in their worship...to dethrone them so to speak and to demonstrate to them when the victory came that Baal and Asherah were powerless...that it was God who delivered them through Gideon. What positive thing is he to erect in their place? He was to build an altar to the Lord on the stronghold of the former altar of Baal, and the Asherah pole. What risks are involved in this action. They would have killed Gideon if they'd seen him do it....or they may have stopped him by overpowering him. In the morning when they found out it was Gideon who had torn down their idols, they told his Father to bring him outside so they could kill him. He was to sacrifice his father's bull, which would have infuriated his father and endangered his mission...maybe his father would have taken his life. Why does Gideon do this at night? He was afraid of his father and his household and the men of the city, afraid he'd be seen. Is this night mission a sign of weakness or of faith? He obeyed God which demonstated his faith even though he was afraid. I think it was wisdom to do it at night unhindered.

Q3. (Judges 6:12-16) How did God see Gideon? God saw Gideon as a mighty man of fearless courage...of valor, because "The Lord is with you"....He saw him as he was going to be with God's help and courage. How did Gideon see himself? As a blameless victim, terrified and cowering in the winepress from the Midianites. Whose self-perception is most accurate? God is always accurate, because He's in the future and sees how we will be. How can our own self-perception prevent us from becoming what God has made us to be? We limit God by seeing only our fleshly capacity. He sees us fulfilling our destiny empowered by His Holy Spirit. What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? He told Gideon I have sent you to save Israel..."go in this your might." (not in your own strength but Mine) What might be an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage? Lord I'm like Gideon when I see my flaws and limits, but You have called me to serve You in the power of Your might. I ask You to renew my mind so that I see myself as You see me, for You have promised to "complete the work in me" and to conform me to Your image. Forgive me when I doubt Your power and might on my behalf! Help me to have more awareness of your constant presence in my life....and that "I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me".

Q2. (Judges 6:13) In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in verse 13? He implied that God had forsaken them and turned them over to the Midianites as the reason for "all that had befallen" them.....It's interesting to me that The Angel of the Lord was speaking to Gideon and telling him his destiny as deliverer for his people, calling him a mighty man of fearless courage, while Gideon was hiding in fear from the Midianites. Gideon ignored this and kept asking about "us".... Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? In that God had stepped back and removed His protection and blessing, Gideon was right, but the reason for that was Israel's fall into idolatry and forsaking God. Why do we blame God? We're not very good at accepting responsibility for our actions....we know He's all powerful and can do anything, so He often gets the blame for our sin, error, mistakes, etc., or for not protecting us from the consequences of our behavior. What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? Being quick to blame God is to not know God's character. He's not a punitive, contrary, unpredictable Father. When we blame Him for our "stuff", we're insulting Him....slandering Him. We are to examine our hearts, and ask Him to examine our hearts to expose sin, wrong motives, evil thoughts, then acknowledge our sin and confess it to him, and repent....not falsely accuse Him.

Q2. (Judges 6:13) In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in verse 13? He implied that God had forsaken them and turned them over to the Midianites as the reason for "all that had befallen" them.....It's interesting to me that The Angel of the Lord was speaking to Gideon and telling him his destiny as deliverer for his people, calling him a mighty man of fearless courage, while Gideon was hiding in fear from the Midianites. Gideon ignored this and kept asking about "us".... Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? In that God had stepped back and removed His protection and blessing, Gideon was right, but the reason for that was Israel's fall into idolatry and forsaking God. Why do we blame God? We're not very good at accepting responsibility for our actions....we know He's all powerful and can do anything, so He often gets the blame for our sin, error, mistakes, etc., or for not protecting us from the consequences of our behavior. What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? Being quick to blame God is to not know God's character. He's not a punitive, contrary, unpredictable Father. When we blame Him for our "stuff", we're insulting Him....slandering Him. We are to examine our hearts, and ask Him to examine our hearts to expose sin, wrong motives, evil thoughts, then acknowledge our sin and confess it to him, and repent....not falsely accuse Him.

Q1. (Judges 6:7-10) According to the prophet, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? They had forsaken their God, and intermingled their religion with that of the Amorites false gods, ignoring God's commands to the contrary. What commandment did they break? The first commandment: You shall have no other gods before me. In what way hadn't they "listened"? They directly and rebelliously disobeyed God. In what way does this same sin affect Christians today? Today we may prefer "idols" of money, house, car, sports, t.v., even church work He hasn't asked us to do...... any number of things, relegating God to a lesser position in our lives than Number ONE. We may mingle other things into our faith in God, as they did.....one foot in the Kingdom of God, and the other in the world, pursuing it's "pleasures"....

Q4. (3 John 9-10) What character flaws does Diotrephes exhibit? Diotrephes was an ego maniac who liked to lead, put himself first, did not acknowledge John's authority as an Elder Apostle in the church, refused to listen and to take suggestions. He "boiled over"....rage?, cast malicious accusations about others, refused to welcome missionaries, and forbade those who did, even to excommunicating them from the church. He had a controlling, manipulative spirit, which is the spirit of witchcraft, rather than the Holy Spirit operating in him. Can a person be a strong pastoral leader without developing these traits? Yes, of course, if he/she seeks to remain humble and pliable in God's Hand... The only way a person CAN be a strong pastoral leader is to NOT develop these traits. This question gave me chills! As I was getting ready to answer this question, a friend called to ask me to pray, as their pastor is exhibiting every trait listed about Diotrephes, and as an Elder in that church, he and the others are having to deal with the mess created by this self centered, egotistical pastor who said "I cannot change....I will not change", and shows no remorse over slandering others, and forcing people out of the church who disagree with him...one was fired for asking if they could pray as a church before making huge decisions about a building project. If you have tendencies in yourself towards pride and a controlling spirit, how can you fight against them? Through confession, and repentance and prayer...submission to the Holy Spirit's control and surrender to Christ. (1 John 1:9)

Q3. (3 John 5-8) What are the reasons given in these verses for supporting Christian workers in their ministry? It is a fine and faithful work, (especially when they are strangers...amplified), honored by God, and it forwards them on their journey. We are fellow workers in the Truth cooperating with its teachers, and this support indicates that we are living in the Truth. What reward comes with becoming a "co-worker," by assisting Christian workers? As fellow workers, we receive the same reward as they who do the work. How effective can Christian workers be without those who support them? Having little or no support greatly limits effectiveness. When we provide financial support it frees them to do their ministry work, instead of trying to earn a living. Prayer support is like the "wind beneath their wings", and bouys them up emotionally and spiritually against attacks from the enemy who works against them.

Q2. (2 John 10-11) Why does the Apostle John tell his readers to refuse hospitality to the false teachers? I understand that John is telling his readers not to invite false teachers into their churches, but this verse helped me immensely as a naive new baby Christian. I was home alone when 2 women from a cult which goes door to door came to call, I invited them in, wanting to tell them about Jesus, and what He was doing in my life. After about 10 min. I knew I was in over my head, as they "double teamed" me, not wanting to hear what I had to say, but rather to show me where I was wrong according to their Bible translation (which only they use). I sent up an arrow prayer for help, and a few minutes later an older Christian mentor and her two daughters knocked on my door. They were driving down the freeway and "felt an urgent need to come to see me".....the two cult members were then outnumbered, we lovingly shared our testimonies and I was rescued. Later when I read this verse in 2 John, I decided to literally keep false teachers on the porch! But the issue is the same....hospitality encourages them and gives them a platform for their false teaching. V.11 says to wish them success is to be a partaker in his evil doings. What would refusing hospitality mean for a congregation (as opposed to an individual)? For the congregation, it would mean not allowing them into the church. Martin Luther said "You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair".....you can't keep false teachers from spreading their lies, but you can prevent them from contaminating the congregation. What is the border between tolerance and stupidity, when it comes to false teachers? Not much difference...they're both dangerous, and would allow the ravening wolves into the sheepfold. As new Christians in an Anglican church, the Reverend asked us if we'd be willing to host a young seminarian for dinner on Sunday afternoons to show him hospitality so that he didn't have to drive back and forth to San Francisco to the Seminary twice in one day. We happily agreed. After the second Sunday he stopped pretending to have good manners and controlled the conversation, which consisted of trying to convince us that Mary and Joseph were married and that Jesus was their natural child, and that the virgin birth was a misunderstanding of scripture as well as other nonsense. We tolerated him for a few more Sundays.....then decided it would be stupidity to continue to listen to his false teaching and rescinded our hospitality. We left that denomination shortly afterward. Do the divisions of denominationalism find justification in this verse? Why or why not? I'm not sure I understand the question....I'll look forward to other's answers on this. Perhaps the denominations use this verse to justify any difference in belief for worshipping separately, such as immersion or sprinkling for Baptism, or wine and bread versus wafers and grape juice...that type of thing, while John is speaking of separating from heretical, anti Christ teaching, not differences in walking out the Word in minor issues.

Q1. (2 John 9) What is the danger of "running ahead" of Christ's teachings to "deeper truths"? The Holy Spirit is our teacher, who will LEAD us into all truth, as we are able to grasp it, absorb it, understand it, then live it. To run ahead to "deeper truth's" is to no longer be following our Lord, but willfully running to and fro seeking knowledge to puff up our prideful ego, and "tickle our ears" looking for "new truth". other "than the doctrine of Christ." What is the danger of "running ahead" of Christ's guidance for our lives? Jesus is our Shepherd, and the shepherd always goes in front of or ahead of the flock, in order to seek the best places for grazing, the most clean, still water, to avoid dangerous cliffs or poisonous weeds among the grass, etc. He is not bound by time as we are, and is already in the future. He knows where to lead us and where we are to stop and rest, and how to avoid danger too great for us. We can "run off a cliff" emotionally by running ahead, we can make foolish decisions, investments, purchases, relationships, which can lead us down harmful paths He never intended for us, with painful consequences, and delays in fulfilling our destiny. What does it mean to "abide" or "continue" in Christ and his teachings? Why is this so important? To abide also means to live, to stay, to dwell....this says to me to let Him lead, and to stay close behind so I don't make wrong turns. He has a method for teaching and training us according to our development and maturity levels, and since He created us, He knows when to teach us what He wants us to understand and know, next. Proverbs says He is a lamp for our feet and a light unto our path.... In June He spoke to me in several parables in nature about His timing, and to rest and abide in Him....I was like a car with the engine racing, due to anxiety and stress over many things, and wasn't turning to Him for the wisdom and strength to deal with all of it....I was just pushing through each day in my own strength. I loved the parables, but neglected to act upon what He was telling me...I outran His light and stumbled along the dark path He wasn't illuminating, and I ended up completely depleted and exhausted, then sick. That was a valuable lesson for me to slow down and literally REST when He isn't moving forward. I nearly mowed Him down in my rush to "fix" everything.

Q4. (1 John 5:21) Why does John exhort his "children" to "keep yourselves from idols"? God longs to be first in our hearts and lives, because He knows that anything or anyone who takes His place will lead us away from Him and His best for us. What idols distract us from the true God? Anything or anyone which is a substitute for our love and affection for our Lord. It may even be "service" for the Lord, which glorify ourselves, and are not what He has designed for us to do. It can be T.V., our kids, hobbies, home, car, possessions, the internet, friends, sports, ....whatever we invest our time and affections in, which takes precedence over Him and time spent with Him. What idols compete with God for attention in your life? It used to be my children, as I "over mothered" them in an attempt to prevent them from ever feeling abandoned or neglected as I did growing up in an abusive, violent home.....Thank God He showed me what I was doing, while there was still time to "undo" it while they were still at home!

Q3. (1 John 5:14-15) What are the two conditions to answered prayer in 1 John? (See also 3:22) Our obedience and God's will. How do we determine God's will so that we can pray boldly, confidently? We ask Him what His will is, which most of the time is revealed in Scripture.... Last week this is what happened to me in prayer.....my sister in law is in a cult in Utah. She believes that people at the Temple in SLC are the only ones who can pray effectively. We visited her in Aug. and she had just taken sick while we were there. She was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing extensive tests to determine how far it had progressed. I've been praying for her salvation for many years, and when this diagnosis came, I prayed there would be no cancer, because the scripture tells us to pray for healing, and it tells us that God's goodness leads us to repentance....Last week, I said Lord, what's wrong in her body? What does she have?....and l heard in my spirit "pernicious anemia"....what???? I Googled it to see what in the world it is, and saw that every symptom she has is caused by that illness. I waited a couple of days to be sure I'd heard from God and not some other source...then called and told them what I'd heard and encouraged her to ask for tests for this condition. Yesterday my brother called to say the tests came back, and even the bone marrow biopsy show "no cancer", but she's anemic! They're going to ask for tests to be done for pernicious anemia. Now I'm praying the Lord will use this to draw her to Him, because of His goodness and to demonstrate to her that a personal relationship with Christ is what saves us, and that He answers prayer...not faith in a religion. Several years ago, while at the gym I noticed an elderly lady who spoke broken English, in a panicky dither....I asked someone nearby why she was pacing and so frightened, and was told she just got back from Italy and hadn't been here for awhile. She locked her purse in the locker, but can't remember her combination (we use our own locks), and she has an important appointment and she's going to be late. They've called a locksmith to come and cut the lock off, but they can't come for another half hour. I don't usually think to pray in this way, but as I did about my sister in law, I prayed, Lord, what is her locker combination? I heard "10-32-4"...I nearly fell off of the machine I was using. I started to tell her but then thought what If that wasn't the the Lord....I'll go try it first. In the locker room there are dozens of lockers, in two levels, and I had no idea which locker she was using, but prayed again and the Lord pointed to one in the corner on the second level. I tried the combination and it popped open!. I locked it again and went to find her, and explained that the Lord loves her and knows her predicament and that I'd seen her worrying and asked Him to tell me her combination....we went into the locker room and I opened it for her. She started to cry and said "I want to know your God, like you do...I've been reading new age books to try to find him"....We went into the empty shower room and I had the privilege of leading her to Him in the salvation prayer....Awesome, isn't He??? How often will our prayers be answered when our main motive is to achieve our will? Never, if our will violates the will of God.

Q2. (1 John 5:11-12) What is the difference between saying "this life is in the Christian Church" and "this life is in his Son"? The Son of God is the great I AM...the way the truth and the LIFE. Since He is life, and is the creator of all life, and the restorer of life to those dead in their sins, there is no other source in which to find or receive life. Period. The Christian church is a mixture of Biblical truth, traditions of men, personality....a little of this and a little of that, but basically the different denominations are the expression of Religion, rather than relationship with the Son. Christians are to be in relationship with other believers (Heb. 10:24,25), and may be stimulated and encouraged in the Church, but that life flows from the Son through one believer to another. What should we be doing differently so that we teach a faith relationship rather than a religion? The teaching and evangelizing must focus on the Word of God....the true Gospel, rather than on denomination and traditions. We need to teach relationship with Jesus, rather than religion. What is the difference between "faith" and "faith in Jesus"? People have faith in cult leaders, ideologies, false religions, and are even willing to die for those things, such as Jim Jones or Muslim Jihad, but none of these bring life...only death. Walking dead here on earth, and eternal death in the hereafter. In one huge cult, of which my husband was a member until he left and received Christ as his Lord and Savior, members are asked to stand in the congregation and give testimony that "this church is the true church".....these people serve, are industrious "good" people, good citizens, patriotic, but they "honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from me", because their faith is in their church and their church founder and prophets. They speak about Jesus, and His name is even in their church name, but they have no personal relationship with Him, and therefore are a religion of death.

Q1. (1 John 5:4-5) How does a defeatist mentality differ from a belief that in Christ we have overcome the world? It starts with the attitude, which affects our motivation and then our actions....or how we live our lives. A defeatist is passive, depressed, impotent, sees him/herself as a victim of hopeless circumstances, and barely survives life, impacting few if any. He/she may look to people to "rescue" them, rather than relying on the Lord to deliver and rescue them. They live with a heaviness of spirit and a negative, gloomy outlook...the glass is always half empty. They may or may not believe that God is real and impacting their lives. Some believe He's "out there" but is not involved in their world. They may have received Christ as Savior but not Lord, and therefore are stunted in their growth. They may be bound with bondages and need deliverance to be set free. I walked here for quite awhile, due to a violent, abusive childhood, and was afraid of God, as I'd been of my parents....but praise God, when I sought Him, He pulled me out of that slimy pit of despair and defeat!!!! An overcomer, lives a life of faith, with a "can do" belief that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" attitude of faith, and the expectation that no matter what difficulties are encountered or what the enemy throws at him/her, there will ultimately be a good outcome, because God promised for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, He causes all things to work together for good....that he/she is being conformed to the image of Christ....Rom. 8:28,29 He/she believes that God's "eye" is always upon them, seeking to bless and draw them into closer relationship. I praise God that now for years I have been an overcomer, and by His mercy and grace and persistent, unconditional love, I'm not only a new creature in Christ....I KNOW I'm a new creature in Christ....I BELIEVE God, not my circumstances.. What part does faith have in this overcoming? What part does unbelief have in a defeatist mentality? The defeatist may indeed believe IN God....while the overcomer not only believes In God, but BELIEVES God...believes that God's Word is alive and active and working on his/her behalf...believes God is the Victor and has overcome the world...and therefore secured that victory for him/her. Believes that God is Abba Father, Jesus is Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is ever-present and lives in them because they have been born again. Believes that Christians WIN in the end... no matter what the "meantime" looks like. However, I have to be vigilant...Satan is always lurking, looking for a foothold to drag me back into the pit...but God has given us His Word....our sword, to speak into each situation and to send him and his minions back to the foot of the Cross where they belong! The Blood of the Lamb overcomes the evil one...It's Satan who has been defeated.

Q4. (1 John 4:11-18) What kind of fear should we have towards God? For the Christian, our "fear" is reverent awe and respect for His power and might. We rejoice and look for His coming with joy and delightful anticipation! What kind of fear is extinguished by his love perfected in us? The fear of punishment, abandonment, or as some unbelievers say: "That He will squash us like a bug".... For the unbeliever, their fear of punishment is justified and real, because apart from Jesus being their Lord and Savior, they do face punishment/ judgment for rejecting His substitutionary death and atonement for them. What kind of attitude should we have towards future judgment? It is real. This motivates me to share Christ with as many as possible who will face that judgment unless they are drawn to Jesus as Savior. Judgment is coming. BUT.... for the believer in Christ, He already faced judgment in our place on the cross, and took our sins and punishment upon His body to the grave, and we are now alive in Him in His resurrection. He now lives in us.....Thanks be to God, we will appear at the Bema seat to receive our rewards and to join our Lord at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Q3. (1 John 4:7-8) Why is the statement, "God is love," so important? God is the source of love, which flows from Him and is visible in creation. It's the love of God which transforms us, draws us to Him in relationship, and draws us and keeps us in relationship with others. What does it say about God's nature? Love is Who God is...divine love is His character and essence. It says He is trustworthy, unchanging...the same yesterday, today and tomorrow....Safe. Love and truth go together. How does love being the essence of God's nature affect us? He loves us perfectly, completely, unconditionally, and when needed, with tough love enough to correct, teach and train us. His love flowing through us affects those around us. If we were created in God's image of love, but fell, what does this say about the road to healing in our lives? We are broken, born in dysfunction without the ability to love perfectly as we were created. God is our source of pure, restorative love. We love Him because He first loved us. His perfect love casts out fear. (We can't love that which we're afraid of.) He is the Great physician of all things broken in our lives, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Why does love demand a willingness to forgive? To love purely, means to release any grudges and to not hold others offenses against them....as God does with us. Forgiveness is the the ultimate gift He gives us and we give to one another.

Q2. (1 John 4:4) What in us is greater than false prophets and even Satan? It's Who is in us that is greater than any force which comes against us....the Spirit of Almighty God resides in every believer. In what sense have we overcome them? "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us".....He has promised us victory, since He has already overcome them. Since God lives in us and is all powerful, they cannot harm us, as they have to go through Him to get to us! In what way will we overcome them in the future? The final victory will come as told in the Book of Revelation. How should this truth affect fear in our lives? Jesus has given us authority and power in Him to bind them...they are under our feet. This has been hard for me to grasp, having been terrified of most things for much of my life due to abuse, death threats as a child, etc. But I've learned that Satan/ demons have only the power over me I allow them to have. The Name of Jesus can vanquish them. Spiritual warfare prayers and worshipping the Lord sends them running. They are defeated but don't want us to know this. They are like fly specks but they have a huge megaphone to intimidate God's children.

Q2. (1 John 4:4) What in us is greater than false prophets and even Satan? It's Who is in us that is greater than any force which comes against us....the Spirit of Almighty God resides in every believer. In what sense have we overcome them? "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us".....He has promised us victory, since He has already overcome them. Since God lives in us and is all powerful, they cannot harm us, as they have to go through Him to get to us! In what way will we overcome them in the future? The final victory will come as told in the Book of Revelation. How should this truth affect fear in our lives? Jesus has given us authority and power in Him to bind them...they are under our feet. This has been hard for me to grasp, having been terrified of most things for much of my life due to abuse, death threats as a child, etc. But I've learned that Satan/ demons have only the power over me I allow them to have. The Name of Jesus can vanquish them. Spiritual warfare prayers and worshipping the Lord sends them running. They are defeated but don't want us to know this. They are like fly specks but they have a huge megaphone to intimidate God's children.

Q1. (1 John 4:1-3) Why is believing that Jesus was God in the flesh so important? To deny that Jesus is God in the flesh, is to deny that Scripture is the inspired Word of God, our foundation.... In Gen. 1:1 the word for God is Elohim: Triune God...Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In V. 26, God said, Let US (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness," etc. Col. 1:15-19, He (Jesus) Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist, cohere, are held together. He is the exact likeness of the unseen God (the visible representation of the invisible) In Him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him and in and for Him. It pleased the Father that all the divine fullness, the sum total of the divine perfection, powers and attributes, should dwell in Him, (Jesus) permanently." It was this Jesus who was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit and was born in a manger...who lived, was crucified, buried and was resurrected from the dead. Jesus fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law, of prophecy which foretold of His coming, his death, burial and resurrection. Why doesn't Satan want us to believe that? Satan wants us to believe that Jesus is a mere man, who was a good person, but is no different from us...therefore has no power to save us from Satan's grasp and a future of eternity in hell. He has been successful in every cult and false religion to promote this, even though some try to sound like the Gospel, by changing the meaning of words. (My Father in Law's cult Bible, an "official" church KJV publication given to missionaries, has a large section in the middle which "explains" what verses like these "actually" mean, as well as John 3:16, etc. revised through the doctrine of the Church in Utah. For cults, Salvation is achieved through works, not through the shed blood of Jesus, because they have believed Satan's lies. What are the implications of the fact that Jesus could live out his divine life in a human body like ours? It means that though I am flesh and blood with a fallen nature, in Him, I'm a new creature in Christ, and as I rely on His strength, I have the ability to choose not to sin, where before salvation, I was a hopeless sinner with no way out of my dilemma apart from Jesus. What significance does it bring to the crucifixion and to the resurrection? It means that God Himself, in the second person of the Trinity, came to earth in the body of a baby, lived a perfect, sinless life, laid it down as the only sacrifice worthy to atone for my sins and the sins of the world, past, present and future, then rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, from whence He came, securing eternal life for all who believe in Him. I was taught early on to follow Jesus example when He asked people "Who do you say that I am?" It's a good question to ask churches, religious groups etc. "Who do you say Jesus is?" If the answer is other than who He says He is....God in the flesh......run. What is the significance for your Christian life? In Him I also died, and now He lives in me, giving me power to overcome sin, never leaving me alone for even a moment. Because He fulfilled the law, I am set free from self effort to try to please Him. I no longer have to fear death, because He overcame the sting of death. His Word says I am even now seated with Him in heavenly places. Though I don't understand this, I believe it, because He cannot lie. Because He lives in me, I can face tomorrow and what is coming upon the world. Because He rose from the dead, I too will rise (if not raptured first!), and will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years during the millennium when He returns....and after that, eternity with Him. What a glorious future He has secured for His Bride.....Come Lord Jesus!!!!