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Q3. (Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:6) Jesus' apostles were given spiritual authority from Jesus to carry out their ministries. What is the basis of your spiritual authority? Why do you think we believers neglect to exercise our God-given Kingdom authority? Following Christ's resurrection and ascension, God seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. To be seated at the right hand of God signifies a position of privilege, unlimited power, and the highest honour. And then, God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, giving us a place beside Christ in heaven! This is our glorious position as a result of our union with Him. If only we would realise this, and claim this by faith, it will change our whole outlook on things, and the quality of our lives as well. Our focus would now be on the things above, and we would no longer be concerned with the things of this earth. I’m guilty of neglecting to exercise this God-given authority. I have never thought of this before. I feel we are experiencing a diminishing influence in our world around us as our lives often reflect the world’s values. I need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to turn this around. With His help I can move past my weaknesses and fears to a position of strength.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 4:5-12) Why does a believer's suffering make his or her witness more credible to the world? Why do you think Paul contrasts "jars of clay" with "all-surpassing power"? What is the "treasure" that is contained within us? How does this differ from the New Age truism of "believe in yourself"? If we manage, during our suffering, still to let our light shine, people will view our witnessing as the genuine article. It shows the world that despite our suffering we remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul contrasts a mere mortal person, jars of clay, with treasure, all-surpassing power, contained in the earthen vessel. The jars of clay are the frail human body, and the contrast between this and the all-surpassing power of God is obviously tremendous. This was done so that we can know the actual source of the power comes from God and not us. He commits the Word to weak human beings, ensuring that all praise and glory must go to the Creator and not the creature. The treasure is the Holy Spirit and absolute truth – His Word found in the Bible. It is not about us, but all about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are to surrender all to Him, acknowledging Him in everything we do.

Q1. (Matthew 5:14-16) In what sense are we the "light of the world"? What does it mean to let your light shine? What kinds of character and actions in a believer's life bring glory to the Father? Why were we created to do good works? (Ephesians 2:10) Jesus said “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and when we reflect this light we become the “light of the world” – we allow the light of Christ within us to shine out from us, so that people may see it. Jesus is the source of light and we, as believers, are the reflection of His light, and we are to point others to our Father. He not only gives us the opportunity to shine but also equips us with the strength and gifts to work for the kingdom and bring glory to Him. The darkness of the world has never been more evident than it is now - people are lost and stumbling in the darkness of sin and despair. And we are to show that we are indeed the light of the world by exposing the darkness and the things that belong to darkness. Often people are not truly aware of darkness until the light appears. As a Christian we show a different type of life, it is like a light being put on, and people can see the error of their ways. People will see us and our good works, and inevitably recognise that it is by the grace of God we are what we are, that our light is His light, and that our works are His works done in us and through us. From within us glows the truth of Jesus Christ, giving others a glimpse of hope of salvation through forgiveness of sins. Our righteous behaviour grabs their attention because it is completely contrary to the selfish, unsatisfying lifestyle typical of the world. Many who see the light will want Jesus for themselves. We must remember, as bright as we may seem, we are actually nothing apart from the Lord, and also the purpose of letting our light shine and reveal our good works is not to bring attention or praise to ourselves but to God. A Christian’s character is described in the beatitudes, and our influence depends whether we have this character. When we attract people to us rather than to God, they will observe our human character rather than His divine character, we can be sure that what they see is not His light. We were created to do good works so that we can enhance the reputational glory of our Lord. Belonging to Christ we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. Our good works are to magnify God's grace and power. This is the supreme calling of life: glorifying God.

Q4. (Psalm 63; Philippians 3:7-19) What increases one's hunger for God? What tends to deplete this hunger? What would it take for your hunger for God to be renewed to great intensity? How might fasting help in this process? The more we stay focused on our Lord and His Word, the more intimate the relationship, resulting in an increased hunger for Him. We were created with a yearning that God alone is able to satisfy, and this will only increase when we experience His transforming and unconditional love. Even the desire to seek God is a gift from Him (John 6:44). We read in Psalm 73:25: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you”. No one can be compared to the Lord and no one but the Lord can meet and satisfy the needs of our soul. All our happiness is in Him and nothing on earth can take His place. He is all-sufficient! It is the desire for other things that tend to deplete our hunger for God. The opposite of hunger is satisfaction, it is being full, complacent and lukewarm. We are too easily satisfied by worldly things. Jesus warned us that about our hunger being choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of this life (Luke 8:14). In another place Jesus said, “the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19). The desire for other things and the pleasures of this life are not evil in themselves, they are gifts from God but they can become deadly substitutes for God. We can renew our hunger to greater intensity by mixing with the right kind of believers, believers who are hungry for God. Fresh worship music, or even listening again to the old worship hymns, can stir our soul to worship and spend more time with our Lord. Spiritual hunger is contagious, and hopefully it will arouse a sense of hunger in us. Christian fasting becomes a test to see what desire controls us. Do I really hunger for God? Or have I begun to be content with His gifts? To fast is to abstain from gratifying any physical appetite, and it can take on any (eating, watching TV, etc., etc.). It gives us time to pray, teaches us self-discipline, reminds us that we can live with a lot less, and helps us appreciate God's gifts. It is of great value in promoting self-discipline. However, it must be a matter between us and God and we must only do it if we want to please Him.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) In what way do our "light, momentary afflictions" achieve for us an "eternal weight of glory"? Suffering can make a person bitter or better. How can suffering work God's character in your life? Our light, momentary afflictions may not be so light to us here on earth, but when compared to the eternal glory that lies ahead, they are light indeed. This is the comparison Paul is making in these verses, and he means that the lessons we learn through our afflictions will yield us an eternal weight of glory. It is when we view troubles through the eyes of eternity, our faith in the Lord is increased and we can trust Him fully. Suffering changes our perspective on the hardships we endure. We mostly think of Christianity as something we do. We pray, read the Word, go to church, sing hymns, tithe, etc., when in reality the life of faith that God designed for us is all about receiving our Lord Jesus into our heart and allowing Him to change our habits, mind-sets, beliefs, interests, and concerns so we become more and more like Him. To achieve this, He strips away all obstacles to our spiritual growth. Suffering makes us fit, strengthening us to cope with hardships, and also supplies the needed parts to make us spiritually mature. Our Lord wants to be Lord of all of our life, not just a part of it, so He removes everything that relies on our self – our self-will and self-sufficiency. We cannot serve two masters – there must be a full dependence on Him.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:18) What is the effect on a believer from continued exposure to God's presence? Why do many believers remain spiritual infants? Why does deep exposure to God transform a person? As a believer, continued exposure to God’s presence changes us to become more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ, and we find that by the grace of God, we can now live under the power of the Holy Spirit instead of under our sinful human nature. Before we were self-sufficient and proud, and we thought we could achieve everything by our own effort, but as we mature, we begin to understand that we are incapable of living the Christian life in our own strength. Why do many believers remain spiritual infants? I think that instead of focusing on Christ we focus on our self, and we seem to have an arrogance or even an over-estimation of our own self. To explain why some believers do not spiritually mature, I’m reminded of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. The seeds that fell along the road – are people who hear the message about the kingdom, but do not understand it, and Satan snatches the message from their hearts. The seeds that fell on rocky ground - are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away, but they don't have deep roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or they get into trouble, they give up. The seeds that fell among the thorn-bushes - are also people who hear the message, but they start worrying about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. However, the seeds that fell on good ground - are the people who hear and understand the message, and they are the ones that produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted. Deep exposure to God transforms us into His image. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. He is absolutely holy, absolutely righteous, and absolutely pure. Light and darkness cannot coexist, so in order for us to walk day by day in fellowship with God, there can be no hiding of sin. With deep exposure His inherited glory shines onto us transforming us into the likeness of His Son our Lord Jesus, and it is through His redeeming work on the cross that we have victory over sin and death. It is no longer sin that dominates our lives. Exposure to His Word by continued study and meditation, results in spiritual maturity. Since we also abide in Christ and He abides in us, it is His life-giving power that is expressed through us that enables us to a live a life that glorifies Him.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 3:18) In your own words, how do you describe what it means to "behold His glory"? Have you ever experienced this? What do you think would be necessary for you to experience this on a regular basis? What keeps you from experiencing this? The more time I spend with my Lord and Saviour, the more I’m in awe of Him, and the more I “behold His glory”. It is then that I get a glimpse of His infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. As a believer I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and can begin to have some insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts, and actions. All of this is only made possible through the power and control of the Holy Spirit. I constantly experience His glory, as I’m surrounded by it. All I have to do is look around me, and up into the skies to behold His glory, and to realise how infinitely great He is, and how my finite mind finds it difficult to comprehend all of this. Then I come to think of my salvation - that an all-powerful God should have chosen a sinner like me to be saved. I think about His love and the sacrifice of His Son on the Cross – all of this is truly mind-boggling! I would think that to experience this on a regular basis, one must acknowledge and trust our Lord and Saviour in everything we do, and not lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-60. What keeps us from experiencing this? Our hearts are susceptible to the influence of our sin-nature and as soon as we get out of step spiritually with the Holy Spirit, and our fellowship with Jesus is broken, our evil desires take over (Galatians 5:19-21). Spiritually, our hearts and minds are hardened and we no longer can behold His glory.

Q4. According to Daniel 7:14, what is the extent of the Son of Man's authority? Of His glory? How is the use of Jesus' name in prayer and command a form of delegating His power? How much power do we have in Jesus' name? What limits the exercise of this power? The Son of Man is given authority over all, the Father has placed everything in His hands (John 3:35). And as a result of His work of redemption God gave Jesus authority over all mankind (John 17:2). This authority existed even while our Lord was here on earth. In Matthew 9:6 we read that Jesus had the power and authority to forgive sins, proving that He was God. Through His Miracles His glory was made known. Jesus had delegated His power to His disciples, He gave them the authority to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all kinds of diseases (Matthew 10:1). Later He sent out another 72 to heal the sick (Luke 10). We read they returned with joy as they had found miraculous powers given to them. Not only did they heal the sick but they found that they had the power to cast out demons; not in their own name and strength, but in the name, and through the power, and by the authority of Christ. They were astonished at the powers they had received. As true believers I feel confident that there are no limits to this power, as long as we are in a true relationship with our Lord, and that it is used to glorify our Heavenly Father.

Q3. How is Jesus' glory displayed in His trial and crucifixion? In His resurrection? How do you think the thief on the cross and the centurion supervising the crucifixion could see His glory? Why is God's glory often seen in the midst of suffering? Jesus’ trial and crucifixion brought Him glory as He bore all the sins of the world, earning our redemption with the price of His own blood, and as a result of this God gave His Son authority over all mankind. At the same time, Jesus glorifies the Father by giving eternal life to those who believe on Him, since God delights in ungodly persons being saved. How is Jesus’ glory displayed in His resurrection? If Jesus remained in the grave it would prove that He was just another man. However, if God glorified Him by raising Him from the dead, this would be proof that He was God’s Son and the world’s Saviour. Jesus’ glory comes directly from the Father, and we know from Scripture that Jesus was raised on the third day and later taken back to heaven to be crowned with glory and honour. Both the thief on the Cross and the centurion got a glimpse of Jesus’ glory. Before Christ came into the world, He dwelt in heaven with the Father and all could see His glory, but when He came among us His glory was veiled. Though He was still God, it was not apparent to most who saw Him merely as a carpenter’s son, but when Jesus asked the Father, glorify Your Son, He was asking that the eternal plan of redemption be accomplished as it had been planned in eternity past. This our Heavenly Father did and He was granted glory. At the same time, the cross displayed God's glory like no other event in history. It dramatically demonstrated His grace, mercy, and love in the sending of His One and only Son to die for the sins of the world. God’s glory is often seen in the midst of suffering since all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour are seen here as incurring the hostility of the world, with all its shame and rebuke. All those who suffer for Jesus Christ, will be glorified with Christ.

Q2. How is Jesus' glory displayed through His transfiguration and miracles? The radiance that was displayed through His transfiguration was a visible manifestation of His deity; His face and His garments became as white as light. This reminds us of the glory cloud we read about in the OT which symbolised the presence of God. Before Jesus had performed any miracles the people and disciples had no idea of His inherent glory. These miracles brought reputation glory to our Lord, and at the same time gave an indication of His inherent glory. They were designed to show all that Jesus was indeed God – manifest in the flesh.

Q1. (John 1:1-5, 14) When did Jesus glory and kingly authority have their origins? In what sense were they hidden while He was on earth? In what sense were they still present? Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did not have a beginning because He existed from all eternity. He was never created - He always existed. While He was here on earth He veiled His glory in a body of flesh. When He became flesh, it did not mean that He ceased to be God – He was still Divine. However, in coming to earth as a man, He became subject to all the conditions of our human existence. He was subject to temptation, and He could have sinned. We see this in the gospels where both His human weakness and His divine majesty are showed. Nevertheless, while here on earth His glory was still present, and visible. There was no flaw or blemish in Him – He was perfect in everything. His reputation glory was shown to all by all the amazing things He did. Through His perfection and excellence His glory radiated onto those while they remained in fellowship with Him. There was also the visible outshining of His glory which took place on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2). Being God, He still possessed His inherent glory - the glory that belongs to Him alone. Ultimately, the glory the disciples saw told them that He was truly the Son of God.

Q2. What did the term "Messiah" mean to the Jews? How does Daniel's Son of Man exceed this understanding? Why does Jesus primarily use the title Son of Man rather than Messiah or Son of God? The Jews understood the Messiah (the Anointed One) to be as the son of David, a warrior-prince who would expel the hated Romans from Israel and establish a kingdom in which they would have dominion over the world. Daniel’s Son of Man exceeds the Jewish understanding in all ways, since we know that Jesus is the One to establish a universal dominion. Daniel sees the Son of Man very much as He is described in Revelation - as the One possessing all power in heaven and on earth and who takes the seven-sealed book from the hands of the One seated upon the throne. He is also acknowledged there as the only one in the history of mankind who is worthy to open the book and to unfold the seals. Daniel sees Him coming with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days, and this can only be our Lord Jesus that he is speaking about. He was crowned king and given power and glory, so that all people of every nation and race would serve Him. He will rule forever, and His kingdom is eternal, never to be destroyed. Although He is The Messiah and the Son of God, Jesus uses the title Son of Man, since this title, as used in Daniel 7:13-14, also perfectly describes who He is. Besides it has more than one possible meaning, and unlike Messiah or Son of God, will not antagonize the Jews to accuse Jesus of blasphemy, and thereby cut short His ministry on earth.

Q3. (Luke 17:20-21) How do you understand Jesus' saying, "The Kingdom is within you" or "in your midst"? What does this teach us about Jesus? Jesus was talking about a Kingdom that was not a worldly kingdom, nor was it a visible kingdom which could be pointed out as being here or there. He had also mentioned that His Kingdom is not of this world. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom so often, so eventually people would begin to question Him about it. The Pharisees were most probably mocking Jesus when they asked questions about the kingdom. As the Jews thought the kingdom would be preceded and introduced with great power and glory. So they were looking for outward signs and great political upheavals. Meanwhile, the Kingdom is the sphere where Jesus, who is the Messiah, is acknowledged as the King – the Supreme Ruler. In its widest sense, it includes all who have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and is distinct from the secular world. It is different in that it is characterised by lives of practical righteousness and attitudes of peace and harmony controlled by the Holy Spirit. Being invisible to unbelievers; we as Christians have had our blindness removed and know it is real and tangible and expanding. Jesus is the King and with His Second Coming will rule forever and ever!!

Q4. Is the Kingdom of God present now? In what sense? What are the present limitations of this Kingdom's power, if any? When will the Kingdom of God be fully manifest to all? Yes, the Kingdom of God is present now, but not visible to unbelievers. Only those who belong to our Lord Jesus are part of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God will be fully manifest at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Q1. (Daniel 7:13-14) What are the elements of Daniel's prophecy of "one like a son of man"? What is He given by the Ancient of Days? What clues do you have to the divinity of "one like a son of man" in Daniel's prophecy? In this vision Daniel saw the Son of Man approaching the Ancient of Days and given authority to establish a Kingdom. The first element of this prophecy is that the Son of Man is Jesus Christ - Jesus often used this to refer to Himself. Next, Jesus is brought into the presence of the Ancient of Days, our Heavenly Father, and is given all authority, glory, and sovereign power over all peoples, and nations. Finally, Jesus Christ establishes an everlasting Kingdom that will not pass away, and will never be destroyed. The Ancient of Days (our LORD) confers on Christ all authority, glory, and sovereign power over all peoples and nations, and men of every language. This is in keeping with the Father’s promise to the Son in Psalm 2:6-9: “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre; You will dash them to pieces like pottery" Psalm 2:7-9. The Son of Man will establish an everlasting dominion or kingdom – a Kingdom will never be conquered by another. And will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Advent: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory” Matt 25:31. We know that “one like a son of man” refers to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Son of Man is the One who is able to stand in the presence of God. This is the One who is worthy to receive authority, glory, and power. This is the One who came to earth and reflected the glory of God in His obedience to the Father. This is the One who just before He was taken up in the clouds said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). All this leaves in no doubt as to the identity of this “Son of Man”. We must also remember that Jesus uses this title almost exclusively in referring to Himself.

Q4. What is the relationship between the tabernacle in the wilderness and the Kingdom of God? How do God's Kingdom and glory come together in the wilderness tabernacle? In the wilderness God had instructed the Israelites to build a tabernacle, and inside was the ark which served as a throne which represented the very presence of God. It was a wooden chest, covered inside and out with pure gold, and it contained the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. In this way the tabernacle came to represent the Kingdom of God in the wilderness as He dwelt among His people in this tent-like structure – very similar to the way a desert monarch might. God’s Kingdom and glory came together on completion of the tabernacle. God’s promise of dwelling amongst His people was fulfilled as the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. “Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God (Exodus 29:45).” The glory cloud descended on and filled the tabernacle so that Moses was not able to enter, and it was this cloud that would accompany the people on their journeys. Our sovereign LORD would take His people out of slavery, lead them into the Promised Land, make a covenant with them, and establish them as His own people, a nation under His reign.

Q3. Why does Moses hunger to see God's glory? Why does Paul press on? What spiritual hunger do you see in yourself? How might you increase this hunger? How might you satisfy this hunger? Moses had experienced an intimate fellowship with God, and had learned about God’s ways and about God’s grace. Having tasted God’s glory, He hungered for more, he needed to know more of what God was like, especially if he was going to continue to lead these stubborn people. Moses therefore asks to see the glory of God. He was allowed to see part of God’s character - God’s goodness. This request was granted only in a limited way, for no one can look upon the unveiled glory of God and live. Paul presses on knowing that the Christian life is a journey. He has this burning desire of getting to know Jesus better as well as becoming more and more like Jesus Himself. To be able to accomplish this he rejects everything else as less worthy when compared to the knowledge of Christ Jesus. In Philippians 1:21 Paul states: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Paul tells us that the object of his life is to love, worship, and serve the Lord Jesus, and not to live for money, fame, or pleasure. Even stating that to die is gain – that is to be with Christ and to be like Him forever. In myself, I see this same spiritual hunger, to get closer to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As Christians we are new creations in Christ, but we live in a sinful world, still as sinners. And this is the problem – we have been reckoned by God as righteous and He has accepted us by our faith in Christ, yet we are in fact still sinners, living in a fallen world. To increase this hunger, like Paul I need to get rid of all encumbrances that draw my attention away from the Lord. I must truly surrender all to Christ and I must trust Him in all I do and not lean on my own understanding. On top of this I must acknowledge Him in all I do. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I know that the closer fellowship with the LORD is transforming and reviving, and the more grace we discover, the more we want. However, I am also aware that I can never satisfy this hunger here on earth. It is a continuing spiritual growth that can only be satisfied in heaven were we will see His glory more clearly and in full. There we will be able to see His permanent and everlasting glory in His own infinite perfection.

Q2. Why do you think God's glory is associated with judgment and consuming fire? What happens when people willfully disobey God and His laws? Why can't God's Holiness coexist with sin? We read in Deuteronomy 4:24: “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God”. As a consuming fire, God purifies what is precious and destroys what is worthless. It is because of His holiness, that God is a consuming fire, and it will be in our interest to serve Him with reverence and godly fear. Initially we might be terrified to read this, but we must also remember God is Light, God is Love, and God is Life. However, God is a consuming fire only to those who refuse to listen and obey Him, and especially if we continue and persist in disobeying His law despite His love. We need to remember that God takes sin seriously, and being a just God, He is forced to react to our inequity, and He will pass judgment. We also read that He is a jealous God – teaching us that He demands righteousness and obedience from His people. When we, as Believers, willfully disobey God and His laws, we become separated and alienated from our Heavenly Father. We no longer have fellowship with Him, and because of this separation we no longer radiate His glory. We read in Psalm 99:9b: “… for the LORD our God is holy”. This holiness of God is God’s infinite perfect goodness, a goodness which is the exact opposite of all evil. So much so that His light and any evil darkness cannot be seen at the same time. In other words, His Holiness and sin cannot coexist. He is totally against sin because of who He is, and this reaction against sin is compared to a consuming fire. God, being Holiness itself cannot put up with anything that is unholy.

Q1. Describe the difference between (1) reputation glory, (2) derived glory, and (3) inherent glory. Which glory is involved when you praise God? Which glory is within you? Reputation glory is obtained by notable achievements. We acknowledge and praise Him for the great deeds He has done in the past, and is still doing all the time. By doing this we bring God’s glorious reputation for all to see, and we become part of the light that God gives the world. So, by speaking truly of our Lord and at the same time obeying His Word, we enhance His reputation on earth. Derived glory is seen on people who come into contact with God’s radiant presence. We read about this in Exodus 34:33-35 where Moses experiences God’s derived glory. It is His Glory that radiates onto us while we remain in fellowship with Him. This glory radiates in splendour and majesty through His perfect character. Inherent glory is the glory our LORD possesses because He is God. It is the glory that belongs to Him and only Him. His creation, His moral perfection, His Omnipotence, and all His works declare His glory. We read in Psalms 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands”. His presence is so full of glory that it can only be observed indirectly, as Moses found out in Exodus 33:18-23. By praising God, we enhance His reputation glory. In Revelation 4:11 we read: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." All things are said to be not only of God and through Him, but for Him. He is the beginning and the end. As His creatures we are to recognize His glory, honour His glory, declare His glory, praise His glory, reflect His glory, and live for His glory. As Christian believers we should be radiating His glory, the derived glory we received from our Heavenly Father. When others see the attributes of God in us, we are actually reflecting His glory, and they are then able to see God’s presence in us. To glorify God, is simply, to obey Him, and therefore display His greatness by our words and deeds.

Q5. (Joshua 24:15-27) What was Joshua's challenge to the Israelites? How God seem to challenge you? What is He saying to you? What do you plan to do about it? To remain faithful to the one and only true God. They are to love Him with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their strength. Keep themselves separate from the pagan nations; not to intermarry or worship their false gods. I have committed my life to the Lord about 34 years ago. I love to do a periodic spiritual checkup – to see if I’m showing the work of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:19-23). If the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work in my life, I should be producing the kind of character traits that Paul calls the Fruit of the Spirit. Is there more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in my life? These are the character traits that are found in the nature of Jesus Christ. I know that if I want to grow spiritually I must join my life to His (John 15:4-5). He must control my life – I must know Him, love Him, remember Him, imitate Him, and acknowledge Him in everything I do. I know I can never perfectly exemplify these fruits, but I have noticed a chipping away of my old self. A change of attitude in my heart. Thankfully, a definite growing of them over all these years. But, of course, much work still to be done.

Q4. (Joshua 23:7) What was Jesus' example of "associating" with sinners? Who were the "buddies" with whom He spent most of His time? How can we balance our lives so we can enjoy friendship with non-Christians while not becoming like them? What is the strategic effect of having no friendship with non-Christians? Like Jesus, we should not separate ourselves from any contact with unbelievers. We are definitely more comfortable associating with our Christians “buddies” – almost like being in a comfort zone. As long as we are in the world, we cannot live a life of complete isolation from sinners. We will be mixing with all types; besides we have no way of knowing their standing before the Lord. So we do not shun them but when we do mix with them it is an opportunity to show them the love of Jesus. We must make sure we do not do anything that these people might interpret as condoning their sin. However, we live in an extremely dark world and we are to most cautious in getting involved in any known immoral people. This includes in not going into partnership with one who does not know the Lord.

Q3. (Joshua 24:23) Why did the Israelites have to throw out their foreign gods? What was the effect of keeping these images in their houses? What "foreign gods" contaminate our homes, our lives? What would be involved in "throwing them out"? The Israelites, with time, started to integrate with the Canaanites, forgetting their covenant with God. And many adopted the Canaanite pagan culture, intermarrying, and even worshipping their false gods. James sums it up well in 4:4: “You, adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” To be a friend of the pagan culture is to be an enemy of God. To disobey is ultimately to run the risk of losing God's help. Joshua warns them of the dire consequences of their disobedience and idolatry – defeat, discomfort, and disgrace. It is the same today when we contaminate our homes and our lives. We read in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 about the godlessness in the Last Days, but I feel it could just as well apply to our world today. In our world today the emphasis is on money, more money, sport, sex, and power. “People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be real. Don't have anything to do with such people.” (CEV). People don't live holy lives separate from the world and they are more and more involved in their own pleasures. In this world system there is no room for God or His Son. More and more we see the name of Christ is unwelcome, or even forbidden. We need to shift our priorities - is Jesus Christ really first? We need to throw out everything that interferes with this relationship.

Q2. (Joshua 23:11-13) How would you define "holiness"? What makes us holy? How should our holiness affect our lifestyles? Holiness is the separation from the penalty of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Also, set apart from the world to belong to the Lord. We become holy when we put our trust in Jesus, after having repented of our sins. We have a right relationship with God and for the rest of our life we try to become more and more like Jesus. It will initially be difficult but with the help of the Holy Spirit it will be done. In theology they speak of the “Order of Salvation”. After being elected we hear the gospel call, then we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (born again), we accept in faith and repentance; God now forgives us and gives us membership in His family (making us holy - justification), as well as granting us growth in the Christian life (sanctification) and keeping us faithful to Himself throughout life (perseverance). At the end of our life we die and go into His presence, then when Christ returns we receive resurrection bodies (glorification), and the process of acquiring salvation is complete.

Q1. (Joshua 23-24) Why are we tempted to think that we have accomplished so much by our own strength? Why are we tempted to do nothing and expect God to do all the work? What is the balance? Which side of the balance have you been on personally? How about your church? Perhaps it gives us a sense of satisfaction that there is something we can do in our own strength to impress God. Or a sense of pride in that we have the strength to do it ourselves, and therefore do not need God. Sometimes the task ahead of us might be so daunting that we just give up on it, expecting our Lord to take over and help us. We need to realize that when we act solely in our own power we are like spinning wheels getting nowhere, and that it is only when we bring God into our lives that everything is possible. This reminds me of the mustard seed Jesus spoke about in Matt 17:20 - nothing is impossible to those who believe. When I was younger I was proud of my accomplishments. But as I matured as a Christian I saw that without God it all would not have been possible. Thinking back on my life now I see His hand in most of the decisions I had taken. I worked hard but He made it possible. This has taught me to acknowledge Him in everything I do. And I soon realized that in life, it is only the power of Jesus, living in us, that can change bitterness into sweetness; weakness into strength; tragedy into triumph; and sorrow into blessing. It has taken me a long time, but now I know that my relationship with Jesus is more important to me than any of my accomplishments. It is the same in my church, we first bring everything to the Lord in prayer.

Q4. (Joshua 15:17-19) What do we learn about Acsah's character from this passage? Name some examples of strong women of faith in the Bible. Name some strong women of faith you have known personally. Definitely knows what she wants – very much like her father. There are so many good examples of strong women of faith. My favourites would be: Abigail (David’s wife), Deborah (prophetess and judge), Esther (became queen of Persia), Hannah (Samuel’s mother). In our local church I met a true woman of faith. Her name was Gill. She suffered from a brain tumor, and despite several operations and treatments which adversely affected her, she never complained and was always rejoicing in the Lord. Both my wife and I would look at her and compare our small problems with what she was going through, and realize how trivial our troubles were in comparison. She was truly a shining light in this troubled world; a true believer who has gone to be with our Saviour. What a woman!