JanMary

Q4. (3:8-10) What does it mean to "know" Christ? I like the amplified explanation in V.8 & 9: to know Jesus is to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, of perceiving and recoginizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly, and to be known as in Him, to be found in Him. Does this mean to have faith? It requires faith to begin the relationship and to grow in it...to believe that He is and to continually seek Him. Or to have a personal relationship? I believe some have faith that Jesus exists, as in the cults, and many in Christian churches, but don't "know" Him in terms of having a personal and intimate relationship with Him, which is what He longs for. That would be like being married to someone who lives on another continent, and never consumating the marriage, or sharing life together, except through the occasional letter. YUK! Is it possible to have a personal relationship with Christ without faith? No, I don't believe it is possible. My walk with Him has been and is, all about faith. Following Him has led to great losses, of business, home, friends, and much suffering. But though painful, it's a privilege to know Him in His suffering. When in the moment of shock that my obedience led to the loss of our home, I cried out "Lord, we're homeless!!!!" (like He was surpriesed!), and I heard "Foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son Of Man had no place to lay His head"....I replied "oh. I hadn't put that together that YOU were HOMELESS!!! so You understand!" He's shown me over the years that in all things He has gone before. Is it possible to have faith without a personal relationship? Well, the thief on the cross had enough faith to ask to be with Jesus in Paradise, but died without much of a relationship. So I guess it is possible in the "death bed" type of conversions. Where are you on your quest to know Christ? I'm in a comfortable place with Jesus. I know He loves me and that I love Him, endeavor to obey Him, to seek Him. I read His Word every day (but there was a time I did this just to get a "check mark in the box", and that wasn't satisfying...more like speed reading the dictionary just to say I read the Bible). I overcame the fear that blocked my relationship, as I did 12 step work and recognized that I "put the face" of my violent Dad on His face, and kept my distance for a number of years. I learned to be gut level honest with Him, and my relationship with Him grew more intimate and trusting. I learned that "I am dust", and stopped "dancing the jig" to try to please Him, and know that He is pleased with me, just "because I am", not for what I do. I long to see His blessed face. I yearn for Him to come for us. I've walked with Him for 36 years, but feel like I've only touched the surface of Who He Is.....don't think I'll ever REALLY know Him completely "until that day".

Q3. (3:9) How does righteousness obtained through faith differ from righteousness obtained through law observance? Righteousness obtained through faith, is totally dependent upon faith in the shed blood of Jesus and His Resurrection, to cleanse me from all sin and unrighteousness, while righteousness through law observance is totally dependent upon ones will power to observe and keep the law. The Bible says that is impossible to achieve, a waste of time and energy, and that Jesus came to fulfill the law and to set us free from that school master, which was only meant to show us our sin and need for a Savior. How seriously does righteousness by law observance infect your congregation? I'm unaware of much of this at all. I hear an occasional comment from a new believer who is still trying to get all the "check marks in the box", but for the most part it's not a problem. Society's view of Christianity in general? It seems that many see Christianity as a crutch for the weak who can't make it through life in their own strength. They question why or how anyone would "take the sins of the world and die for others" as silly. Society is all about having control, controlling one's destiny, having the most toys, etc. To give up control to "religion" is absurd to those who are not seekers after righteousness. Why is this concept of justification or righteousness by faith so difficult to grasp? I think it's because it goes against everything the world teaches...that we are to be strong, to depend on yourself and no one else, be good, etc. To admit sin and weakness, and the need to be cleansed from sin, goes against the grain of the world, the flesh and the devil. It has to do with pride and the fallen nature....since we're cut off from God until we acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, we try to please Him and others by "being good"....instead of allowing Him to make us good....conform us into the image of Jesus.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:11-12) According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? We were created, destined, appointed to live for the praise of His Glory, in intimate relationship with Him. What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? We need to live in Him surrendered to His Will and purposes which were appointed for us beforehand. How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? These verses tell us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world....as we walk this out daily, those around us will see the goodness of God in us, and will honor and praise and glorify our Father in Heaven.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:9-10) What is the significance that all things will be brought under one head -- Christ himself? Finally after all the ages of God's plan being unfolded and revealed in the earth since creation, He will wrap it all up in the climax of the ages to bring everything under headship of Christ, to whom everything belongs. How does this relate to the Creator? Jesus is Creator God..."For it was in Him that 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 thrrough Him by His service, intervention, and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist and are held together. Col 1:16,17 What does it say about unity? He will unify all things....which until that time have been in disaray and disunity...even in the Body of Christ. Much of His creation has been at war with Him and opposed to Him through the fall of man. Extra Credit: How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28? Wow! How I look forward to that day! The unity spoken of in Ephesians, which will come under His Headship will be consumated at the end or completion when Jesus delivers over the Kingdom to God the Father after abolishing every other rule and authority and power. Jesus will reign with all of His enemies under His feet, including death which He abolished. With all things completed, Jesus will subject Himself to His Father Who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all...the unity of the Godhead. (I was just overwhelmed with the understanding of the PEACE which will exist!!!! Peace and harmony on every front at last, all things flowing in unison as God intended before war broke out in Heaven, and then the fall of man which brought war between humanity and God and man against man and nation against nation....Wonderful to look forward to perfect peace and to experience life as God planned for us.

Q2. (3:2-6) Why isn't Paul merely neutral about his religious pedigree? The issue of the day revolved around "Salavation by Faith" versus the Judaizers teaching that non-Jews must be circumcised...become Jews first, in order to be saved. Paul qualified on every level if the Judaizers were to be believed, so Paul dismantled their argument by stating his Jewish "qualifications", then spoke the truth about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Why does he consider it loss, dung, an obstacle? His Jewish background and impeccable legalism were totally at odds with the true Gospel of Jesus. All of that had zero relevance to his conversion to Christianity and the privilege of serving Christ in spirit and in truth. All of his past was a waste in terms of Christianity. In what way could your religious background be an impediment to your faith? Actually my background was a good foundation for being born again. I grew up in the Episcopal church, loved God, heard the Word of God preached every Sunday, but without understanding. I was taught that my parents made the decision for me to become a believer when they had me baptized as an infant, and that I was filled with the Holy Spirit when I was confirmed at age 11. I didn't become a born again believer until I was 30, but the church was not an impediment to my becoming a believer...the Biblical difference is that an individual must make the choice to believe, since God has no Grandchildren. However, if my allegiance had been to the church, I might never have sought relationship with Christ elsewhere. Also, with the liberal movement in the church toward ordaining homosexual priests, and other unbiblical doctrines creeping in, there is a split in the church, which is causing Episcopalians (and other denominations) to choose whether to be loyal to the church, or to split and go where the true Word of God is being preached as I have done. My prayer is that this issue will cause true seeking of our Lord, and that Salvation and Eternal life will be the result of the turmoil.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:7) In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? I have been bought back from the control of Satan, sin, my flesh, the world, into newness of life and freedom, a new birth and eternal life with my Lord and Savior, as a result of His precious shed blood to atone for me. What do you think your life up to now would have been like if you hadn't been redeemed? The Lord only knows! I was sexually, physically, verbally, emotionally abused as a child. I marvel that He protected me from a life of trying to kill the pain in alcohol, drugs etc. I was offered a job as a dancer at the Tropicana in Las Vegas when I was 17, while there on a trip I won on the radio, and took my Mom as my guest. That may have led to a life of prostitution or sexual enslavement....instead I married and had a family, was born again, and have served the Lord. My life has been painful, but it's been in the sense of becoming whole and free from the past, as I've faced all of it with loving support through 12 step work, therapy, prayer, deliverance, journaling....the Great Physician at work, instead of Satan at the controls. What would your future be like without redemption, do you think? I can only imagine it would be an endless stretch of meaningless days, fearing old age and death. No joy, no hope, nothing but a self centered existence going nowhere but to hell and eternal separation from God.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Interestingly enough this is the only church of which we've been members, where I don't see this. Before individuals may serve, they must become members, and serve in training roles as a test of where the heart is. The "microphone grabbers, and limelight servers" are quickly weeded out. Amazing church filled with true humility, love and servants hearts. Have you ever struggled with it? As a new believer I struggled with the concept of allowing God to serve/ operate through me, and I felt a great deal of pressure to perform...even nausea when leading groups because of my inadequacy....which served me well! That's how I learned that I must rely on Him for everything. I'm writing a book that He's called me to write, and I have moments where I say to Him "I can't do this!" Then He reminds me that is true and to surrender to Him and He'll write through me so it has the impact He desires!

Q4. (Ephesians 1:5-6) Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? We were born into an earthly family, with it's blood lines and fallen nature, though the Bible tells us that God planned every aspect of us, and even to which family we'd belong to and where and at what time in history we'd be born. Adoption indicates a special chosen relationship, into a family with a different bloodline, a pure bloodline untainted by sin, and we even receive His nature and Holy spirit when we are "bought back' or redeemed. We become members of an entirely new Kingdom, a Holy race, made up of brothers and sisters from different historical eras, different races and languages, yet we are one in Him. Praise God for our new family!!!!! (I can't wait to meet my brothers Paul, Peter, Stephen, Abe Lincoln, Charles spurgeon, and my sisters Mary, and Martha, Madame Guyon and on down the ages those who have been adopted. Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? Because we aren't a happenstance. When a baby is born, the parents may not be happy with the sex of the infant, or other variables. But we are specifically chosen by God, sought after, desired (as some are not at birth), and become His children, and joint heirs of Jesus Christ, as though we were the first born! He chose us KNOWING all about us beforehand...who we are, what sins we would commit, what rebellion, and yet "He planned in love for us to be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it PLEASED Him and was His kind intent so that we might be to the praise and commendation of His glorious grace and mercy which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." Eph 1:5,6

Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? It means that when I received Jesus and Salvation, there was a Divine exhange...He took every sin I've ever committed and will ever commit, washed me in His spotless Holy blood, and gave me His Holiness. It means when God looks at me, He looks at me through His Holy Son, and my sins, and former shame are blotted out. I've been bought with His Blood and am therefore set apart for His use and pleasure and purposes. In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? I stand blameless for the sins and mistakes I've made and committed, because I've confessed, repented and been washed In the blood of the Lamb. His Word says "He knows that I am dust", and "All that you have done, I've accomplished for you"....so even the good things I do (in Him), He gets the glory for. It means also that I am above reproach in His sight...He sees me as spotless, because I am in Him.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? I can't think of anything that is scary about His amazing power and knowledge and wisdom... What is comforting? It comforts me to know that He has it all covered. Nothing ever surprises Him or worries Him. He knows the future and I love that. If I start to fret, like I was this morning about our son who's been told he has to move in a month because his landlord has defaulted on the place he's renting, and his job is coming to an end....I meditated on how God already knows where he's going to live and work, and that the rebellion he's been expressing toward God, will be lovingly dealt with because I'm a praying Mom and His Heavenly Father adores him. Why does Paul bring up predestination? Before I understood this concept, I used to say "I found Christ"...silly me. He chased me down having chosen me before the foundation of the world, and I just "chose to be chosen", when I responded to Him. I had the choice, but He already had a call on my life. Why do you think he's praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians? I believe it's so they would know they weren't an afterthought of God's. That because they are not Jews, the first chosen, they are no less valuable and no less a part of His plan, His Church, His Body. Like you and me, they were hand picked, which demonstrates His great love for each of us.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? It means that He chose me and I "chose to be chosen", invited Him to be my Lord and Savior and He now lives in me, and therefore I am hidden in Him...we are one, and I'm a joint heir with Christ. I will rule and reign one day with Him when He returns to earth for a thousand years.....What a Savior!!! I'm no longer the broken down, abused, rejected, and neglected individual that I was when He picked me up! It's too amazing and wonderful to grasp! But His Word tells me so, so it is! What are the implications of this for your life? I'm born again, forgiven, have eternal life, all the blessings of God, I have been adopted into the family of God, and I am no longer mine but His. I'm His friend and His bond slave. He's my Savior, brother, friend, comforter, Father, my soon coming King... my all. I live for Him. I am loved totally and unconditionally, which includes discipline when needed. I have been crucified with Him, and now He lives through my life as I surrender my will to His, and as we walk together, He is transforming me into His image....what a marvelous gift and life! How I praise and worship my Lord and my God!!!!!

Q4. From what you've read in Philippians so far, what seems to be the Philippian church's chief problem? Paul exhorted this beloved church to humility and unity...they were operating in "the flesh", rather than "allowing Christ to work in them both to will and to work for His good pleasure and delight." v. 13. Perhaps judgemental and lacking in love and compassion. In v.14 Paul urges them to do all things without grumbling, faultfinding and complaining against God and questioning and doubting among themselves. How does Paul's description of Timothy's character speak to this problem? Paul calls Timothy a kindred spirit, genuinely interested in their welfare and devoted to their interests. (Rather than selfish and advancing self interests). He said Timothy was tested, and toiled with paul zealously to advance the Gospel. (Rather than apathetic and whining, and complaining.) Timothy was a servant and a trusted leader they could look to for mentoring. How does Paul's call to honor men like Epaphroditus speak to this problem? He was careful to point out the virtuous service of Epaphroditus, rather than allow them to think that his coming home was due to failure or faithlessness. Paul seems to sense that otherwise, Epaphroditus might be judged and criticized. (Another symptom of pridefulness).

Q3. (2:22) What is the significance of serving Jesus as a "slave" as opposed to serving him as a preference? A slave knows who is the master, and serves as a submitted vocation, not as a choice to dabble with when he/she finds it convenient . What does it say about the quality of our service? Of our commitment? The commitment is total, and the quality is whole hearted devotion to my master with pure motives, rather that for recognition or for selfish gain, etc. What is wrong with leaders who serve out of preference? The service is luke warm, ususally carried out in their flesh, rather than through the power of the Holy Spirit, and is lacking in zeal and the love for the Lord that shines through the service of a true servant of Christ.

Q2. (2:22) Who has come alongside you to teach you? What potential leader in your church needs someone to come alongside them? Do you have a person or two that you are mentoring "as a son with a father" or "a daughter with a mother"? What a fun question to think about and one which brings such gratitude for all who have come alongside me to mentor me! First, Anne who prayed me into the kingdom and shared Christ with me, then invited me to Bible Study. Then Hazel, who was a spiritual Mother in the Lord, who taught me how to pray, and who prayed with me and for me. Then the leaders at our first church, who trained me to first lead Bible studies, then trained me to train and mentor other leaders, then to write Bible study lessons. The women in my Christian 12 step group who came alongside me as the Lord healed me from the traumas and violence from my growing up years, and who mentored me in loving acceptance for others, and compassion for the wounded. My Pastor of our church now, is an example and a mentor. I've mentored our children and still do. I'm mentoring a sister in Christ who is floundering, encouraging her with the encouragement I've received in the past for the same issues. The book I'm writing is a mentoring book.

Q1. (2:19-21) Why was Timothy's selfless concern so rare among church leaders? Timothy had been mentored well by Paul later on and by his mother and grandmother. Many of the other church leaders were new believers and were motivated by self interest, due to psychological needs, as Pastor Wilson points out. Rather than pointing the finger at others in your church, consider yourself. What things has Jesus had to deal with in your life that has helped you to become genuinely selfless and focused on the concerns of others? My life was out of balance in my early Christian walk, being overly concerned with others...which is codependency, resulting in total burnout and fatigue! The Lord wasn't leading in that, I was serving in the flesh. After a number of years of 12 step work, and of spiritual deliverance several years ago, I feel more sound and balanced. I can pray now for others out of healthy concern, but without taking on every burden and heartache. There was a lady who has since passed away who had severe arthritis, and my body ached when I prayed for her...not good and not necessary. So in my case, he's had to minimize my over concern to a more healthy place. This has helped me to check in with Him first and to allow Him to lead me in all things. How has he refined you? (Of course, he is still at work in us!) Through years of marital struggles, losses, such as our business, home, and car. Two corrupt pastors/churches which severely tried and tested our family, homelessness, and being stripped to the bone financially. He's refined me to be generous, by having learned what it's like to have nothing to eat or money to spend, no car and having to depend on others transportation. He's been refining me emotionally, as mentioned above. He's been refining me spiritually through tests of faith and perserverence and long years of waiting in the wilderness. He's still at work and I thank Him that I'm not what I used to be, but I'm not yet what I'm going to be! I've learned that He's in control of all things, and I'm not and so don't try to run the universe any longer. He's got it all covered and He's responsible for things, so I can respond as He leads but am not responsible for others.

Q4. (2:17) You have gone through struggles and obstacles to your faith. If you were to look at your sufferings as a "drink offering" poured out before God, how does that honor God? It honors Him as I surrender all of my life to Him and His will for me. It moves the struggles, into the realm of positive growth, and the suffering, into the realm of following in His footsteps..."The servant is not above her Master." It demonstrates trust in His Wisdom, and His role as the Father who loves me completely, enough to allow hard things to come into my life, for my good and His glory. He's changing me from a weak "Much Afraid", into a strong warrior through the trials and struggles, and each victory builds my faith and my character, from "glory to glory"....all HIS. How does that bring value to your struggles? Rather than thinking of them as random attacks, and myself as a victim of circumstances, I see them as having passed through His permission before they reach me. It demonstrates that He is aware of how much I can bear, and will not give me beyond that measure. I think of when I had to take my babies to the Doctor for baby shots, and as they smiled at me, trusting me and feeling safe, suddenly they were stuck with the needle and screaming from the shock and the unexpected pain. I knew it was necessary for their good, and quickly comforted them and held them. I think that's how my Father in Heaven sees the trials and struggles in my life...necessary in order to continue the work of conforming me into His image. Romans 8:28, and 29. I was told by a wonderful mentor when I was a new believer that you can't claim v.28, without also v.29. The "that" which precedes v.29, is the reason for v.28.

Q3. (2:16) In what sense are we Christians to "hold fast" the Word of Life? To literally hold onto to it...to read it, memorize it, trust it, regard it as our plumline for life, seek Him in it. Yesterday's headlines of our Pres. speaking at Notre Dame said "Obama uges openness to compromise on Abortion". More and more the world is pressing Christians to abandon the Word of God and to compromise with their fallen mores, so that they can feel comfortable in sin. We are to hold fast to His Word and to not compromise it's truth. We love the sinners but hate the sin. Todays headline is "Obama puts onus on Israel" . We are to stand in the gap for Israel and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, while the Arab nations want to destroy Israel, Now our President has taken a stand for America on the side of Israel's enemies. God help us! Each day the world gets darker, but His Word says to look for His soon coming! In what sense are we to "hold forth" this Word of Life? We are to hold it out to others...share it with others, as a life raft or life jacket...the only hope of their salvation. When situations arise as in yesterday's headlines, we can offer what God says about sacrificing the lives of our infants on the altars of Molech, Baal or Planned Parenthood. How does this relate to the purpose of the church? As stated in yesterdays questions, we are the be the light of the world. We are to shine like stars in a darkening world. His word is a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet...we are to be the lamp to others in leading them to the truth of Jesus Christ unto salvation.

Q2. (2:14-15) How does ceasing complaining and arguing enable a church to shine as stars in a dark sky? The world is dark and getting darker every day. The Church when living and walking in the unity of Christ's Spirit, will be more visibly seen, and the difference will draw unbelievers eyes to her even as our eyes are drawn to the stars when it's dark outside. What does this shining as stars signify? The life and light of Christ shining through the believers. I remember a demonstration in an auditorium where all the lights were extinguished. With no windows, it was pitch black darkness. A match was lit, and every eye in the huge room was drawn to the tiny pin point of light. That's how we are to live individually and corporately...His reflected light through us drawing unbelievers to Jesus, because they see Him in our lives. Have complaining and arguing compromised your church's witness as a God-place? No, thank the Lord. Our Pasor is amazing in how he handles disunity, but in this wonderful church, if any springs up, it's quickly dealt with and there is none that I can see. He's very spiritually discerning. He mentioned in a message that he had noticed a group of new ladies at church, so he introduced himself and chatted. The Spirit showed him they were a witches coven sent to infiltrate and corrupt the church. He gently but firmly asked them to leave, but didn't mention the witchcraft, just that he felt they should leave. A week later one of the women came to see him and told him that his asking them to leave had so shocked her that she wanted to tell him it "woke her up"....She told him that they were a witches coven from a nearby town, and that lesbianism was a part of their initiation rite. She said she came to repent and wanted to get right with the Lord". Our church is one of the most loving and caring churches I've been a member of. We are a church with a black pastor, and about 60% of the church is black, and the rest of us are caucasian, Japanese, East Indian, Hispanic and others. As I worshipped on Sunday I thought, "This is how Heaven will be...every tribe and tongue and kindred and nation living in unity. I praise God for this amazing pastor and church!!!! If so, what can you do to change this? We visited a former church in December to attend a memorial service of a friend. Walking in from the parking lot, the first person we met, and hadn't seen in years, began to gossip about what so and so was doing, and why the Pastor was leaving, etc. I was shocked! It was such a potent reminder of the need to guard our tongues, to take murmuring or complaints to God in prayer and not pass any of it along to others. I felt like I'd been slapped, and asked the Lord to remind me of this if I ever feel tempted to murmur to others.

Q1. (2:12-13). In this passage, what does it mean to "work out your own salvation"? I had missed the "church" context of this verse in all the times I've read it. I always thought it was just for me as an individual, and since I was saved, am being saved and will be saved "At that day", that I was to remember a healthy balance between God's goodness and His severity, as stated in Romans 11:13-22, and continue to live in His Grace, surrendered, allowing Him to complete His work in me. Dr. Wilson points out that it's to the Philippian church Paul is speaking, and the verse means for the church to work out their disunity and infighting and maintain harmonious relationships within the church. Is this referring to salvation from sin? No, that was taken care of when we received Christ as our Savior. We live in a state of grace, in which we are continually forgiven when sins are confessed and repented of. If not, what kind of salvation is it referring to? The walking out of all that we as Christians have been called to live out, individually and as a Church, corporately. I think Paul is reminding the readers that while God is love and grace and mercy, He also doesn't "play around" with our lives, and neither should we. We are to live in union with Christ as our first priority, and to walk humbly before our God, and to be as serious about our faith, as He is in growing us up into His image.

Q1. (2:12-13). In this passage, what does it mean to "work out your own salvation"? I had missed the "church" context of this verse in all the times I've read it. I always thought it was just for me as an individual, and since I was saved, am being saved and will be saved "At that day", that I was to remember a healthy balance between God's goodness and His severity, as stated in Romans 11:13-22, and continue to live in His Grace, surrendered, allowing Him to complete His work in me. Dr. Wilson points out that it's to the Philippian church Paul is speaking, and the verse means for the church to work out their disunity and infighting and maintain harmonious relationships within the church. Is this referring to salvation from sin? No, that was taken care of when we received Christ as our Savior. We live in a state of grace, in which we are continually forgiven when sins are confessed and repented of. If not, what kind of salvation is it referring to? The walking out of all that we as Christians have been called to live out, individually and as a Church, corporately. I think Paul is reminding the readers that while God is love and grace and mercy, He also doesn't "play around" with our lives, and neither should we. We are to live in union with Christ as our first priority, and to walk humbly before our God, and to be as serious about our faith, as He is in growing us up into His image.

Q4. (2:9-11) We know we're supposed to humble ourselves like Jesus did. But how can we know whether or not God will exalt us? He has promised to exalt us : "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.......and after you have suffered a little while, the God of grace Who imparts all blessing and favor, Who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, WILL HIMSELF COMPLETE and make you what you ought to be...." I Peter 5:6, 10. Why do we get impatient with this? Because we're human....because we still have our fallen nature to contend with, and life is a battlefield between the flesh which seeks to reign, and the Holy Spirit. What does our impatience sometimes lead to? Self exaltation...forgetting that only He can lift us up. When we become impatient and try to do so, we end up walking in a prideful, puffed up condition, which is not exaltation at all, but is sin.

Q3. (2:7-8) Was Jesus really a human being or only pretending to be one? Scripture teaches that He was fully human and fully God. He was born of a woman, conceived by the Holy Spirit, with the capacity to sin, yet without the fallen nature. What do these verses teach? They teach that He lived life as God intended Adam and Eve to live, before they fell. Jesus redeemed fallen humanity, by relying on the Holy Spirit to live a perfect, sinless life in the choices and decisions He made and in His thought life as a man. He demonstrated how we can live as we rely on His Holy Spirit instead of on our fallen nature to overcome temptation, while embracing our humanity. He ate, drank, was tired, slept, had human emotions, including righteous anger, love, frustration at people's slowness to recognize truth....He possessed all the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When He was crucified, He felt the full impact of pain, just as those with Him were experiencing, including separation from His Father for the first time, so that we would never have to experience that separation. What difference does it really make whether or not Jesus was human? To be less than human would make the Bible a liar...and it is the Holy Word of God. It would make the whole Redemption process a hoax. Scripture teaches that He was fully tempted in every way that we are...if He was not human, He would not have been tempted...God cannot be tempted. But He was also fully God, and resisted temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Q2. (2:6) In your own words, what does it mean that Christ didn't cling to his equality with God? Though He is creator God and holds the Universe together by the power of His might, He humbled Himself and came to earth as a man, to live life here totally dependent upon His Father, allowing Himself to be born in a stable, live a homeless life with His only possession, a cloak, and to die on the cross as a criminal,to fulfill His destiny to redeem mankind from hell. How specifically does this passage teach that Jesus is divine? It's implied, in that He didn't cling to equality with God....If He wasn't Divine, it would not have been reiterated as a fact of Who He is. He laid down His Deity, Power and Might, to become a humble servant, completely obedient to His Father's will.

Q1. (2:1-4). To achieve unity in your congregation, why is humility necessary? Humility is about loving others rather than selfishness, so humility is the Oil of the Holy Spirit "greasing" the function of the congregation, and unity results because of like minds cooperating. Can you give an example of how lack of humility caused a division in your church? A former Pastor became corrupt with selfish ambition to become wealthy, and in his hunger for power he bypassed the church bylaws and the Deacon board. Then deacon concocted a lie, and the whole church "blew apart", and scattered. What are you doing to bring unity in your church? I'm seeking to not judge, not criticize, pray, cooperate, serve in humility, and in all things to seek to renew my mind in the Word.

Q4. (1:23) What do Philippians 1:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 teach about the state of Christians immediately after death? These verses teach that when we leave this body we enter into the presence of Christ immediately. We left a "soul sleep" church which taught, as one of the main leaders said "You die and may float around in space for a million years waiting for the resurrection". I'd learned these verses and knew this was in error and could not abide the false teaching. How does this comfort you? Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you, no not ever! To believe in soul sleep would contradict Jesus' promise.....He told the repentant thief on the cross that "TODAY you shall be with me in Paradise"....not "in a million years when you wake up from the dead sleep". It comforts me because I lived for 30 years without knowing Jesus. Now that I've felt His presence and experienced His love and forgiveness, I don't want to be separated from Him for even 5 minutes. I can't live without Him. Also, it comforts me to know that my Dad who lived a heinous tortured life here, is rejoicing with jesus NOW! How does this energize you? I takes the dread and sting out of death. He won't even leave me in the death process, but will usher me into Heaven at my last breath. I can live here freely by His Spirit, and when my destiny here has been fulfilled, we will continue on into Eternity together. It gives me "wings" to live in the now!