JanMary

Q3. (Psalm 68:5) Since our God is the Helper of the Fatherless and the Protector of Widows -- that is, the poorest and weakest of society -- what does this say about a Christian's commitment to social justice in our communities? The local church is an awesome place to serve in this capacity...and I believe it is the church's responsibility, not the government's, to meet the needs of the widows and orphans. How should it affect our actions? I believe we're to stand in the gap in prayer and in material provision where we see needs.

Q2. (19:15) How do the first two sentences of Hezekiah's prayer (verse 15) correspond to the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer? Hezekiah, as Jesus did, begins by addressing and acknowledging the Lord, by his title and position of God/Father, enthroned in Heaven....declaring Who He Is. Sovereign over all creation. How are they important to faith? Addressing the Lord this way, puts whatever I'm praying about in the proper perspective in light of Who He is....sometimes I begin by saying, especially if I'm feeling overwhelmed..."Heavenly Father, You created the Universe by simply speaking a Word and bringing it forth out of nothing.." after that, my issues are tiny and easily handled by my Mighty Warrior God and Father. It's not just throwing a "hey you" out into the Heavenlies....it's a respectful address by one of His children. How are they important to God answering the prayer? He responds to faith...the way I address Him demonstrates faith...that I know and love Whom I'm praying to and that I believe He hears and answers prayer, as well as has the power and authority to answer in the way that is best.

Q2. If we believe that truth and morality are all relative to one's culture, how can we know and understand the Righteous and Upright God? The Word of God is the "plumb line" for truth and morality...Jesus is the Word, and He is the Truth. Like Isaiah when he saw God's holiness and recognized his own sinfulness, we must keep looking into the Word to know and learn about and understand our Holy and Upright God. We know Him through first knowing about Him then desiring to have a relationship with Him and to become holy and righteous ourselves through His work on the cross. The Bible describes the Word, as looking into a mirror...and that we are cleansed by the washing of the water with the Word. I love the "picture" of the laver in the tabernacle, as the men leaned over the water in the highly polished bronze laver to wash their hands, they saw the reflection of their faces, needing to be "washed". That's how I think about the Word of God....I'm gradually being transformed into His image....still with my personality, but more and more like Him...from glory to glory! He's the RELATIVE I'm beginning to look like. Extra credit for present-day evangelists: How can we declare God and his Son Jesus Christ in a relativistic world? What is an effective approach? (There is no simple answer here. What is an effective communication strategy in your community?) I always begin with a short testimony of how He has changed my life...the reality of His Truth in action. Then declare that the Bible is Truth, though all around us is relativity, and His Truth never changes. For me that settles it....His Word never compromises no matter what the world says. If one doesn't believe the Bible is the Truth, there is no foundation from which to declare the Gospel. The world around us is shifting sand, but He is the Rock we stand on. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Q1. (19:14) What is the significance of Hezekiah spreading out the enemy's message before the Lord? He was in faith that God "saw" and "heard" his prayers, and let Him read the letter for Himself. I love this!!! I've done the same thing a few times with letter which were troubling and needed His intervention. What is the underlying principle illustrated here? The battle is the Lord's. He was giving God's problem to God to solve, rather than trying to do the impossible himself. How can we apply this principle to our own lives? When the enemy comes in like a flood, we can ask the Lord to raise up a standard against him...Ask Him to fight the battle....on His own or through us if need be. Or, when Satan knocks at the door, send Jesus to answer.... What happens when we don't apply this principle? We back ourselves into a corner...trying to fight in our flesh, those things which are a spiritual battle and need God's mighty power and intervention. A recipe for failure every time!

Q1. (Isaiah 6:1-8) How does a realization of God's holiness affect Isaiah? He was undone and said he was ruined...he recognized his own sinful condition and the sinful condition of those around him, particularly his lips and words. Why is Isaiah afraid? The foundations and door posts shook and the temple was filled with smoke. He saw the seraphim and heard them crying to one another about the Lord's holiness. He saw the Lord! He was afraid he would die. How does God make Isaiah holy? He had a seraphim with a live coal from the altar touch his mouth..then told him "Your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven." What is the symbolism of the coal from the altar? Fire is a purifier, and coming from the altar where sacrifices were made, it symbolized the future shedding of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Now made holy -- dedicated to God -- how does Isaiah respond to God? He immediately responded in obedience to the Lord's saying "Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?", by saying "here am I; send me."

Q4. Why is a person's attitude with regard to giving related to that person's attitude towards praise? Both reflect a generosity of spirit, a desire to share with another, or a stinginess and not wanting to share because of the belief that it's all "mine", and I want more... It reflects greed to not want to give. Stinginess also reflects a lack of faith or trust in God...."there isn't enough to go around, so I need to hang onto what I have...I may not get my own needs met", kind of thinking. Why does an attitude of possessiveness with regards to giving get in the way of worship? Stinginess is a "Me first" attitude....I want it all for myself. Not wanting to share anything, including giving praise and worship...which is giving God what He desires. In what sense do all your possessions belong to God? All that I have came from Him....if it's bread, He created the wheat seeds, made them grow by creating the soil and the water...then providing the means to make the bread or earn the living to buy it....and on down the line for all that I "possess"...It's all His. What then should be your relationship to your possessions? How will these truths re-energize your giving? Your praise? It should be one of holding them in an open hand...ready to share or give because they belong first to Him. When we lost everything, it became very easy to give and to share even from the little we had, because it was so clear that even then there were others who had less and needed what we had more than we did. The result was in a greater gratitude and praise...giving and praising from the knowledge that even breath is a gift. We're stewards of what He's given us....and must remember that He gives through His children to others, and through others to us at different times. He says "Give and it will be given to you"....

Q3. Verses 11 and 12 both attribute various characteristics to God, such as glory, honor, and might. How might you begin to mention God's greatness in your own prayers? In addition to honoring His glory, honor and might, His is the wealth, the power, the majesty. His faithfulness and holiness...His perfection and love. His generosity in sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit. His glorious creation is something I praise Him for....I feel His presence in nature and love to tell Him about that. Where is this kind of praise found by example in the Lord's Prayer? Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name...Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. What are your favorite songs that point to God's greatness? I love "Holy, Holy Holy, Lord God almighty", Great is thy faithfulness...I love the worship songs at church that focus on His greatness and majesty. He is exalted....so many more

Q2. In what way does praise exalt God? It lifts Him up and acknowledges Him as Supreme above all else. Why should we exalt God? We are being obedient when we praise and exalt Him. We are acknowledging that we are His creatures and He is our Abba Father, Creator and that we love and adore Him. What does this exaltation do in us? When I exalt God, I place myself in humility and subjection to His Divine Authority and Power. I'm reminded that He's God and I'm not! It brings intimacy and fellowship with Him...the connection with His Presence that "dwells in the praises of His people". What does it say about us? It says that I know Him, I love Him, and I enthrone Him in my heart and publicly in worship.

Q1. In what way do our prayers of praise "bless" God? When we praise and worship we are doing what we were created to do! We were created to be in intimate fellowship with our Abba Father, and to enjoy Him. Praise and worship light up a portion of our brain (according to scientists who've studied this) that only lights up when we are praying, which says to me that this should be a huge place in our lives since there is a place reserved only for this purpose. Our prayers of praise acknowledge Him and reflect back to Him who He is. Hebrews 2:12 express that when I praise, Jesus is worshipping the Father through my voice and hands. That blesses Him. What do we mere humans have that God desires in a blessing? The Bible says let everything that has breath praise the Lord....We have intelligence and voices and hearts that have been transformed (If we're in Christ) to express love and adoration to our Creator. When I express praise and worship I honor Him and express faith that He is there and hears me. What are prayers like, that don't include blessing God? They would be all about me and what I want or want Him to do for me or for others....like He's a genie to be commanded to obey my wish list. An ungrateful attitude for what He has already done. Unrepentant hearts are hardened and brittle, and displeasing to Him.

Q4. (Isaiah 40:21-31). In this passage on the "Creator of the ends of the earth," which words are repeated in verses 28-31? Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? (The Amplified version says at this point: These things ought to convince you of God's Omnipotence and of the folly of bowing down to idols) What application are we disciples to derive from this passage so that we might understand God's might as Creator? This chapter is pointing out to those (v27) who were saying that, in essence, God had forgotten them and they were invisible to Him and without help, so they'd turned to idols for assistance, that He is the Omnipotent Creator God, who raises one up and brings down another, Who created the stars and named each one. He is Sovereign over it ALL, and never tires and this is no searching His Wisdom and understanding. These verses remind me that although I'm made of clay and I grow weary and faint, He does not. I can rely on His strength and renewal to empower me to carry on when I look to Him and wait for Him and Hope in Him. I shall mount up close to God, as eagles mount up to the sun. He will give my weary limbs, wings to fly!!!

Q3. (Psalm 95:1-7) How many names, titles, and metaphors of God can you find in this passage, both explicit and implicit? Lord, Rock of our Salvation, His presence...Omnipotent, Him...I AM, Lord, great God, great King above all gods, His Hand, heights and strength of hills are His, sea is His, He made it, His hands formed the dry land, Lord our maker, He is our God, we're the sheep of His Hand..Shepherd, His voice. What does the Psalmist call on us to do in response to God revealed in his Names? Let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord or Maker in reverent praise and supplication. If you will hear His voice, TODAY, harden not your hearts. Why are these actions appropriate? He is our God and King, and our Maker....all praise and honor and worship belong to Him and to Him alone.

Q2. What inherent rights does a Potter, Creator, or Maker have over what he has created? He has total ownership and rights over His creation. How should that effect our lives, our self-image, our sense of purpose? It certainly puts everything in perspective! My life is His to do with as He wishes. My self-image is shaped and has great value because I am His creation and child. My sense of purpose is one of desiring to follow Him to fulfill the destiny He has planned for me. As I was typing my answer, I felt a great relief....which indicates I've been feeling responsible on some level for those things...Whew....He's in charge, I'm off duty....can just relax and be a pliable, available lump of clay!

Q1. (Isaiah 45:9-12) Why is it ridiculous for a pot to second-guess the Potter? The clay is a product of the Creator/Potter and has no ability to be anything but a lump of clay on its own. It's inconceivable for the clay to try to assume the role of the potter! How do we Christians do this? In our pride and arrogance we can forget that we are a lump of clay and try to assume the position of God....as Lucifer did and got thrown out of Heaven. We second guess God's will and wisdom at times when it doesn't suit us, as though we have more wisdom than He. What is a better attitude and behavior before our Creator? That of being a "pliable" lump of clay, willing to be shaped, molded, pounded, if needed to get rid of "bubbles" that will spoil the finished product when fired. That of humble submission to our Creator. It's kind of funny now, but as a new believer in Christ I knew I was deeply flawed, so I sat down one day and told Him how to fix me...I took portions of different people's personalities that I admired and said I'd like to be like that. As I sat there He showed me in a vision, a little child on the floor with paste, scissors and paper, trying to form just the right paper doll from scraps. It was a precious and gentle correction for His new child...and one I've never forgotten....He's the "Architect and Builder"...not me. His plan is for me to be unique In Him, not a composite of other's qualities.

Q4. (1 Samuel 17:26, 36; Hebrews 10:31) How do you think David's understanding of the Living God enabled him to challenge Goliath? David had experienced God's Presence and help in the sheepfold, when he killed the lion and the bear. How much more would God intervene when His people were being humiliated by the taunts of an enemy. He recognized that the Living God, lives AMONG us and was Present to assist him in his battle with Goliath and a victorious outcome. I love that he spurned the armor of Saul, and relied only on God and the slingshot he used to kill the lion and the bear! Read Hebrews 10:31 in context. Why should the Living God inspire fear and dread? Those who spurn and reject the living God will have to face judgement without the covering and cleansing of the blood of His Son Jesus, whom they've trampled underfoot. The lake of fire for eternity is indeed a frightening and dreadful end (though God doesn't send anyone there....they choose it through their rejection of His Way of escaping the second death). It is the divine penalty for their choice. Thank God, for the believer, "Perfect love casts out fear".

Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? It means that I feel great sadness and sorrow over my sin against the Lord who loves me....accompanied by the desire for true repentance and forgiveness. My willfull desire to sin is "broken with grief." Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? Without true repentance and sorrow, I'm just wanting the "check mark in the box of forgiveness"...just going through the motions so I can move on without really desiring to live a holy life. In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? True repentance requires humility...a giving over of my will to the Lord for genuine change and regeneration. Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? Because our fallen nature is prideful...resists admitting we're wrong, or have done wrong. We're steeped in the desire to "put our best foot forward"..to look good on the outside, while wanting to hide the inner sinful "self". Admitting brokenness causes me to look at my true condition which is deplorable....but then I am able to fully embrace the cross and Jesus' shed blood with deep gratitude and thanksgiving....He has become so much more precious to me since facing my deep need of His cleansing and forgiveness.

Q3. Is it possible to have a pure heart? Yes, when we've been reborn and forgiven and cleansed....His blood washes and purifies us. How does God bring about a pure heart? Through the righteousness of Jesus being imparted to me. What is our part in this? At salvation I was cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness through my repentance and confession of sin and trusting in the righteousness of Christ to save me and give me eternal life. Daily confession and repentance is the "foot washing" to maintain the pure heart He promises, for any sins of comission or omission I may commit.

Q3. (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8) What does the idea of "first" and "last" tell you about God? When you're the first...there has been no one before you.....and when you are the last...there will never be another....this tells me that God is eternal, self existent, has always been and will always be. No one created Him....He is the creator of all that exists. He is all powerful...sovereign. How does Revelation 1:8 relate to God's revelation to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM"? He IS the Beginning and the End, He Who was, and Is and Is to come, the Almighty (the ruler of all) I Am that I Am...."I Am all that you need..ever."

Q2. In his prayer does David seek to minimize his sins? No, once confronted by Nathan the prophet, he pours out his confession of sin to his God, repenting and asking to be cleansed and washed clean. To maximize them? He is clear that he has sinned against God and man...he doesn't pull any punches about "death and bloodguiltiness" in the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband or his sin with Bathsheba. Why does an authentic prayer for pardon require clear, unvarnished acknowledgement of sin to be effective? God desire's truth in our "inward parts"....He already knows the truth...He was there, saw what we did, said or thought....He requires us to be clear about our sin, to eliminate guilt...If I only confess part of the sin and try to hide something...that "something" will stay on my conscience and will be a barrier between the Lord and I, blocking intimacy with Him. If I've done something I believe is too sinful to confess to God, it shows some denial about my true fallen condition, wanting to "hide" from Him, like Adam and Eve did in the garden. Best to bring it into the light and to expose it, so I don't repeat it again. Several months after I became a Christian, I noticed my family teased me about exaggerating when I recounted a story...instead of 2 geese, I'd say a flock of geese or some such thing....When I got tired of the teasing, I talked to the Lord about the exaggerating.....He spoke to my heart and said "I will cleanse you from this when you call it what it is"... it only took me a few minutes to "get it"....I called it LYING and confessed it.....that broke the pattern.

Q1. In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? It requires the belief in and faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross...in God's Word it tells us that this is the only way to be pardoned for sin. What is that faith based on? It's based completely on the Word of God and my faith in Him as my Lord and Savior. His Word tells me that when I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Faith emboldens me to ask and to receive what He freely gives. (I've learned I also must forgive myself or I deny that He has forgiven me) How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? Through entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...by making Him one's Lord and Savior. Faith is the gift He gives to each of His children when we enter into convenant with Him.

Q2. (Isaiah 57:15) What do you think it is like to "inhabit eternity"? It's beyond my imagining.....everything in our world has a beginnning and an end...So much of my life has been sadness, abuse and trauma that I've spent much time wanting it to end. But on my very best days, when I sense and feel the Lord's Presence, I can imagine that sense of joy, peace and awe as being what it may be like. All the best and most glorious moments, magnified then never ending. No sin, or sadness to dampen or darken. His Holiness the only light needed. Love permeating everyone. Our fallen nature's transformed into His image... to live in eternity will be more than we can imagine here, I believe. What will it be like when you inhabit eternity with the Eternal God, seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places? So lovely to try to imagine....victory at last and freedom forever from the devil's evil presence and influence..His Word says "No more death, loss, or tears...forever with the One who loves me perfectly, in a perfect unspoiled environment...to finally be fulfilling my ultimate destiny is staggering to think about. Perfected, accepted, free to worship without the hindrance of the flesh or any bondages....WOW! To know Him as He is....to see Him face to face....no veil between us. Perfect intimacy. What emotions does this inspire in you? Joy unspeakable! Excitement! Hope! Anticipation! Eagerness to be there! Gratitude that He chose me and wired me up to want to respond to His choosing me...Love for Him and thanksgiving.Ecstacy!

Q1. (Exodus 3:1-15) What does God's name Yahweh reveal about his person and his power? It reveals that He's God, the Lord, all powerful, Creator, Eternal and personal. (I'm the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and God of Jacob.) I AM: Self existent..He has always been...no one created Him...rather He created all that exists and He holds all of creation together. He will always exist...no beginning and no end "This is My Name forever" He's alive and hears the cries of His people. He knows the future, as He tells Moses what the future holds. In v.8 He tells Moses "I have come down to deliver My people out of the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them into a good land"....He's a shepherd over His people. How would an understanding of Yahweh's name contrast him with the idols worshipped by the Egyptians? The gods the Egyptians worshipped were carved or fomed by their own hands...their power was imaginary or given to them by Satan, if they seemed to have power. They could be smashed or broken or tipped over...The Egyptian's seemed to know they'd been created, but not by Whom, so they filled in the blanks from their own imagination and made their own gods.

Q5. How should the knowledge that the battle is the Lord's affect the way we approach life? Such a timely question for me this morning! I'm in a battle right now, discouraged, feeling great stress which is affecting my body, under personal attack. I've been toughing it out unsuccessfully. Last night during a fresh assault, and on the verge of despair, I remembered the names of God. At 3:00 am. I called on the Lord, the Mighty Warrior, to come and fight this battle for me, & to call the host of Heaven if needed because I was surrounded! His peace settled immediately, and I realized He'd been waiting for me to ask Him to battle for me! How I pray that I'll remember this, and ask Him to fight the battles in the future! This morning I experienced a miracle in the situation, and it has turned around. I love the Ex.14:14 reference in the lesson: "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest". Praise His mighty name...He did this for me last night! In what way do both timidity and brashness get it wrong? Timidity is unbelief in God's willingness/ability to fight for me. Brashness is presumption and arrogance and lacks the humility of a child trusting in God to fight. Brashness reminds me a a kid saying "My Dad can whip your Dad"...just for the sake of show. God doesn't "perform" just to prove a point. We are called to fight the good fight of faith...to have courage..not be timid in battle. Brashness, I believe, is thinking I can handle things and not ask God to fight through me. Neither will get the job done. Are there any instances in which the Lord will not fight our battles? There have been some battles I've had to fight...those are the times He's trying to strenghthen my warrior skills. He won't fight a battle for me if it's not His will for my life. A closed door sometimes is to remain closed.

Q4. In what way does Abraham show persistence? I love this account of God working with Abraham to draw out his faith (v17-19). As He told Abraham what He intended to do with Sodom, Abraham "still stood before the Lord" after the 2 angels departed for Sodom. Then abraham "came close" and asked if God intended to destroy the righteous along with the wicked. He continued to negotiate out of love and duty for nephew Lot until he felt assured that God would spare even the 10 which would cover Lot's family. His stance, his coming close and his persistence are admirable! Why is persistence necessary in prayer? Perseverance is a fruit of the Spirit, Christ's character being birthed in us, and involves persistence in prayer. We're in training to be mighty prayer warriors, and to rule and reign with Christ during the 1,000 year millennium here on earth, which will require persistence and perseverance. Persisting in prayer is obedience to God's Word where He tells us we must pray this way, because it requires faith, rather than a "whatever" attitude, and draws us into whole hearted union with the Lord. Have you ever experienced "praying through"? What was it like? Yes, many times. It's a struggle...a wrestling with God for what I believe is His will and purpose over sometimes horrendous circumstances. Over the years I've learned to ask Him for confirmation in His Word...a promise to hold onto and when it comes, the peace which passes all understanding accompanies it. The praying through I believe, is His way of teaching us to persist and persevere as He builds our faith during the wilderness of waiting...with which I'm very familiar. Two of these situations have been 30 year and 20 year periods and I'm still waiting and persisting and holding onto the promises He's given and reconfirmed. It's in this wilderness He's been teaching me to praise and worship Him by leading us to a church where we worship for an hour or more...until His Presence comes. The circumstances dim as worship is becoming more and more a part of my life, and I now understand is His weapon against discouragement and opposition which I'm battling at the moment.

Q4. (Exodus 17:9-16) In what sense was Moses' rod like a signal pole in this battle? Moses up on the hill was visible to the troops in battle below him, and his rod/staff held up in the air was a sign of encouragement to fight on, because his rod was an instrument used of God to perform miracles in Egypt and in the wilderness. As they looked at the rod, the focal point, they remembered that God was present, fighting on their behalf to bring victory. In what sense is the LORD our banner in the battles we face? The Lord is whom I look to in battle...He is the Mighty Warrior who fights for me, who has won victory for me over the enemy. "I am weak but He is strong". "Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world." "His banner over me is love." God in me is always a majority.