Search The Scriptures — Study 37 — Luke 14:1-24

Study 37 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 14:1-24

    1.     Verses 7-14.  How does Jesus’ teaching in these verses run counter to the ways of the world? How did His own life exemplify this teaching?

    2.     Verses 15-24.  How is Jesus’ parables related to the remark of verse 15?  What is it that keeps people out of the kingdom, and who will in fact get there? 

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STUDY 36

Search The Scriptures — Study 36 — Luke 13:18-35

Study 36 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 13:18-35

     1.     Verses 23-30. What is Jesus’ answer to the question of verse 23? What determines whether a person is saved or not? What inadequate ground of confidence are here exposed?

     2.     Verses 31:35. With what attitude and emotions does Jesus meet the opposition and unbelief of men?  What may we learn from Him in this?

     3.     Verses 18:21. What do these similes teach about the expansion of the kingdom of God? Cf. Mk. 14:9. What is the relevance of this evangelism?

Note.  Verses 32, 33. ‘Today and tomorrow and the day following’: and idiomatic expression for a short period

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STUDY 35

Abiding Is Sometimes Hard!

A few days ago God showed me, the time that I spent moping through the waiting process, I did not grow an iota in Him, spiritually speaking of course. This revelation happened after I wrote my post to come clean about my failure. Of course, I have been doing what needs to be done in order to bring myself to a place where I fulfill my part of the abiding process.  After 3 hours of sleep last night, I awoke in the middle of the night. I knew I should use the time to pray and talk to God, but it felt as if my mind had a mind of its own. It took extra efforts on my part after wasting at least an hour, to stop my mind from running away from me (this is what it felt like.)

I could see how easy it is for us human being, not to want to do what Christ wants to do. Honestly, this had nothing to do with Satan, but everything to do with me. My mind kept wandering off on its own. Finally, I got hold of it and stopped this nonsense. I stopped it because when you are a spiritual Christian, you know that is not the way He wants you to spend time. God’s goal is for us to want to do what Christ likes doing.

My point is, in John 15, God made it clear to us that the abiding process is to be reciprocated.  The Bible also tells us that those who abide in Him will cherish His words, meditate on them, believe in Him, obey His words and depends on Him.  If when I was sulking for a few weeks I did not grow spiritually, obviously I failed to fulfill those things, hence I did not avail myself to share His sap in order to get the spiritual nutrition that I needed to grow stronger as a branch.

The spirit showed me this morning, another part of abiding that I was not thinking of at all because I have been taking things for granted.  He showed me, if I want to reciprocate to Him, perhaps I might want to stop that runaway train mode that my mind is on, grab the bull by the horn and make every effort on my part to start bringing my mind to a level where I know that I am doing what Christ likes doing.

 Anyway, I interrupted my reading to share this tiny bit with you.  Have a great day, as for me, I am going back to my time with God.

Search The Scriptures — Study 35 — Luke 13:1-17

Study 35 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 13:1-17

     1.     Trace the connection of thought between verse 1-5 and the parable of verses 6-9.  In the light of the parable, what is meant by ‘repent’ (verses 3,5)? Cf. 3:8a.

     2.     Verses 10-17.  What, in Jesus’ view, was wrong with the attitude of the ruler of the synagogue? Compare his reaction to Jesus’ miracle with that of the woman and the crowd.  What made the difference?

Note.  Verse 1.  The reference is to some massacre in the Temple, typical of Pilate’s brutality.

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STUDY 34

Search The Scriptures — Study 34 — Luke 12:35-59

Study 34 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 12:35-59

     1.     Verses 35-48. What reasons do these verses give us for being alert? In what ways can we be ready for our Master’s return? Against what dangers are we here warned?

     2.     Verses 49-59. Jesus addresses first His disciples (verse 49-53), and then the crowds (verses 54-59); what warnings does He give to each group about the effects of His coming?

Notes

     1.     Verse 50. The ‘baptism’ is His coming suffering.  The agony of Gethsemane was already felt.

2.     Verses 58, 59.  A parable of the need to be reconciled with God before the day of judgement. 

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STUDY 33

Search The Scriptures — Study 33 — Luke 12:13-34

Study 33 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 12:13-34

    1.     Was the rich man wrong to make provision for the future? Where did he go wrong? In what does a man’s life consist (verse-15)

  

    2.     What should be the central motive in the life of a Christian? If this is taken seriously, what does Jesus here promise with regard to material needs? How could this apply practically in your own situation?

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STUDY 32

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked A man reaps what he sows

This morning God taught me how prevalent it is in this day and age that Satan has a counterfeit of everything that He does. This lesson happened after I read Jeremiah 20:7-9 and I was meditating, God showed me my heart and some people on the internet that are passionate about Him. It felt good to know that some of them are part of what I consider my close circle and spiritual friends on Facebook.  The joy evaporated quickly when He showed me one website where there is equal passion operating through this site’s owner.  While he calls many pastors by name and write about them so passionately, in the name of Christ, he smears their names and denounce them as false Christians. In God’s book this guy is no better than Pashur the false prophets who persecuted Jeremiah. What God wanted me to see was the passion behind this website’s owner posts and goals, on the surface looks similar to Jeremiah’s passion for the truth that was burning his heart like fire.  I have to say that it felt disconcerting and discouraging to see how Satan can imitate God’s works so closely, that is until you look deeper into it.  

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

There are several tests that can show us if we are being deceived by empty words. But, for the sake of today’s digital age, let’s assume the following: once you read something about true Christianity there are two ways to react to it.  The Godly way will cause you to be upset because that is the effect of the gospel of God, it contrasts with your own unholiness. However, if indeed you are in Him and He is in you, there will be some sort of yearning in your heart to be like this person or to obtain knowledge of God and intimacy with Him, in the same way. This is INEVITABLE because He lives in you and it is the Spirit’s job. If this yearning, however small, is not there, then what does that say about Him, if indeed He is in you?

The other way to react, is that this person is truly getting on your nerves to the point where he or she is  not only intolerable with his or her truth of Christianity, but something about this person’s writing just plainly P**sed you off. (Pardon my French.) Yet, the writing of someone teaching, preaching or spreading a half truth and making you feel really comfortable and invite you to sit passively in a lukewarm kind of Christianity where the beliefs that you are ready to accept are welcomed and justifiable, you can be sure, you are dealing with a counterfeit. The truth and the love of God are missing.

Romans 1:18 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Search The Scriptures — Study 32 — Luke 11:53—12:12

Study 32 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:53-12:12

   1.     In a context of growing opposition and publicity, what does Jesus teach of the security of His people, and of the help God gives in time of need?

   2.     What, then, should be the disciple’s reaction to persecution, both in his outward response and in his inner attitude?

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STUDY 31

Search The Scriptures — Study 31 — Luke 11:37-52

Study 31 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:37-52

    1.     Verses 37-44. How would you summarize the faults of the Pharisees? Translate them into terms of modern life.  What attitude and action does Jesus recommend?

    2.     Verses 45-52. What three charges does Jesus level against the lawyers? Translate these, too, into modern terms. Who may still be guilty in this way? How may such sins be avoided?

Notes

1.     Verse 44.  Contact with a grave caused defilement (Nu.19:16).

2.     Verse 51. For Abel, see Gn. 4:8; for Zechariah, see 2 Ch. 24:20-22. As Chronicle was the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament, the whole range of Old Testament history is thus indicated. 

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STUDY 30

Search The Scriptures — Study 30 — Luke 11:14-36

Study 30 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:14-36

In verses 15 and 16 are recorded two attacks on Jesus: a charge of collusion with Satan, and demand for a sign to authenticate His mission. The first is answered in verses 17-26, the second in verses 29-32.

    1.     How does Jesus show the falsity of the charge that He cast out demons by demonic power? What, on the contrary, do His exorcisms prove about Him?

    2.     What is the sign of Jonah? Cf. Mt. 12:40. Why should the generation to whom Jesus preached stand condemned at the judgment? What was their sin?

Notes

1.       Verse 19. ‘Your sons’: Jewish exorcists. Verses 20-22 show Jesus’ complete mastery over Satan in comparison with the imperfect cures of the exorcists. (Verses 24-26).  

2.       Verses 34-36. The function of the eye, as the organ by which the body makes use of the light which shines on it, is taken as an analogy for the faculty of spiritual perception, which must be in good order to receive the lights of revelation.  The allusion is to the spiritual blindness of ‘its generation’. 

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STUDY 29

Search The Scriptures — Study 29 — Luke 11:1-13

Study 29 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:1-13

     1.     Verses 2-4.  This abbreviated version of the Lord’s Prayer gives, as it were, the ‘iron rations’ of prayer.  Consider what aspects and theme of prayer are selected as the most essential. How does your prayer measure up to this pattern?

     2.     Verses 5-13. What attitude in prayer is commended in these verses?  What results may such prayer expect? What reasons are we given for confidence in prayer?

Note: Verse 8. ‘Importunity’: what this describes is a persistence in solicitation that is literally ‘shameless’ or ‘impudent.’

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  STUDY 28

I Need To Come Clean! ( I Messed Up In How I Wait For Him)

I read this today during my devotional time

Is your place a small place?
Tend it with care!
He set you there.

IS your place a large place?
Guard it with care!
He sets you there.

Whate’er your place, it is 
Not yours alone, but His.
He set you there.
                          By John Oxenham

One of the reasons I used to experience God so much was that I learned to cultivate a heart where through His grace, I could live out the pain of my life in His presence, knowing that “He set me there”.  During the biggest trial in my life when I was so sure I was going to be homeless, I learned to accept it so much that I knew in my heart that whatever corner of the street that I found myself, whether dirty, or cold, my heart embraced it all, knowing that it was going to be my little corner with Him and for Him and that “He set me there.” He was delighted in me!

 I have no idea what happened, but for months now, I realized this way of living was no longer a priority for me at all.  I even forgot to glorify Him in this way. This morning, sobbed, when I realized that I abandoned my first love too. As I examined myself, I can see that I failed Him miserably. I failed to abandon myself and abide like a branch.  I have been busy thinking about the length of my waiting process and how even my soul is tired.  As I cultivated this attitude and this frame of mind, my thoughts were about the care of this world and about me. I failed to live like the birds of the air in Matthew 6. It is truly for our own good that God wants us to abide and not care for tomorrow.

I failed to live every moment in His presence! Yet, I am grateful that this morning, He allowed me to

examine myself through His eyes. I am grateful that I could see my sins.  As I am writing this post, I realized how relieved I am and I feel much better as if this heavy cloud that was looming over my head, on my shoulders and in my heart has been lifted up.  Our sins can truly keep us down.
It is not for nothing that He says in Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Search The Scriptures — Study 28 — Luke 10:25-42

Study 28 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 10:25-42

    1.     Consider the summary of the law in verse 27. Is it an adequate summary? How does Jesus’ story guard against a misinterpretation of it? Who is your neighbour? And how can you prove yourself to be a neighbour?

    2.     Verse 38-42. Martha and Mary were concerned about different things. Which did Jesus consider the more important, and how did He solve the tension between them?

Notes.  Verse 42. The ‘one thing’ may well be a pun, implying that there is no reason  for an elaborate meal, and Mary, by choosing to listen to Jesus, has chosen the best dish.                                                         

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       STUDY 27

Though He Tarry Wait For Him (Whatever the reason He puts you on a waiting mode, however long He decided)

Though He Tarry Wait For Him (Whatever the reason He puts you on a waiting mode, however long He decided)

When I was not a good Christian (I had Christ in my intellect, but not my heart) I used to talk about Abraham  in a way that I can now see as being self-righteous, and I could not understand how he made a mess of things by having Ishmael.  Now that I have been waiting for God for almost a decade, I understand his dilemma.  Through the waiting process, even though you might be doing everything right in the way that you are waiting for Him, but I find that at one point, the promise is almost like a blur. If you do not watch yourself, you will actually take matters into your hands, not because you set out to disobey.  Through the waiting process your soul is completed worn out and it spills out through the exterior life. It is so bad that you want to do something drastic to get out of the funk that you are in.

But, I also understand why God will judge us more harshly if we do not wait. (1) Like Paul said in Romans 15:4 ‘ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us’, then we must learn from them and think of the detrimental consequences of not waiting.  If there are no detrimental consequences, then, God would not be God. (2) I find that even though the promise is so distant and you are having a hard time holding onto the reality of it, but, when you try to put words into God’s mouth which ultimately changes things around and lead you to sin against Him. Through all the noise and the confusion, you can still hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit asking you to guard your heart, right this minute. I find when this happens, the best thing for me to do is to not even try to decipher what is real and what is not.  Strangely, as you decide to give in to the Spirit’s warning, you find rest and strength for the moment. 

When I compare myself to Abraham, I know he was hundreds time a better man because he was like a Guinea pig and had nothing to fall back on. I am sealed with the Spirit of God and I have materials available to me that I would never be able to go through in my lifetime.  So, when I look at the problem this way, I cannot help asking myself, what’s my excuse not to wait?

Thanks for allowing me to rant, it has been very therapeutic…

Search The Scriptures — Study 27 — Luke 10:13-24

Study 27 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 10:13-24

     1.     What do these verse show of the greatness of our privileges in Christ? In how many of them are you sharing?

     2.     Verses 21, 22. What caused this outburst of joy? What does this prayer teach us of (a) the Father’s method of working, (b) Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father?

Notes

      1.       Verses 13-15. Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum: towns of Galilee.

      2.       Verses 18, 19.  The language is symbolic of triumph over Satan and all evil.

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       STUDY 26

Search The Scriptures — Study 26 — Luke 9:57-10:12

Today we are going back to studying Luke's book and we will pick up where we left off. 

Study 26 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 9:57-10:12

     1.     9:57-62.  How would you describe the three different types referred to here? Why was Jesus not satisfied with their response to His summons to follow Him? Contrast Jesus’s own attitude (verse 51)

    2.      10:1-12. How do these verses show the urgency both in Jesus’ own concern for evangelism, and in the work He gives to His disciples? What is the reason for this urgency? In what activities ought it to make us engage?

Note.  9:59, 60 The man wants to delay until after his father’s death, which may be imminent.  In Jesus’s reply ‘the dead’ are those who have no spiritual life. 

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STUDY 19 

LESSON 25 - HERE IS THE LAST LESSON WE DID ON LUKE 

Search The Scriptures — Study 19 — Genesis 26

Study 19 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 26

     1.     Why did Isaac fail so badly after receiving striking promises from God? What was different about his reaction when the promises were repeated?

     2.     What can we learn from the quarrel over the wells concerning the way to behave in the face of opposition or hostility?  Cf. 1 Pet. 2:23

This is the end of the first part of the study of Genesis.  Tomorrow we will continue with the second part of Luke study.

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STUDY 18

Search The Scriptures — Study 18 — Genesis 24:61—25-34

Study 18 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 24:61-25:34

1.     What light do we get from this portion on the kind of man Isaac was? See 24:63-67; 25:28.

2.     Contrast Jacob and Esau, as described in 25:27-34. In their habits, character and spiritual outlook. What lesson is drawn in Heb.12:14-17 from Esau‘s conduct in regard to his birthright?

3.     Review Abraham’s life. What gives him an outstanding place in world history and makes him a conspicuous example to us all? Cf. Is. 41:8; Gal.3:9, 29.

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STUDY 17

Search The Scriptures — Study 17 — Genesis 24:1-60

Study 17 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 24:1-60

      1.  What can we learn from the attitude of Abraham’s servant in his relation to (a) his master, and (b) the task given to him? What were his confidence and concern? Cf. Col. 3:22-24.

     2.   Examine the manner in which the servant made his choice, and the test he employed. Of what did he become particularly conscious? Can we learn from this about choosing a life-partner?

     3. What picture do we get of Rebekah? 

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STUDY 16

Search The Scriptures — Study 16 — Genesis 23

Study 16 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 23

     1.     What features in Abraham’s character does the story of this chapter bring out?  With verse 4 Cf. Heb. 11: 9, 10, 13-16. What may we learn from his example concerning the right way to face both life and death?

    2.     What is Sarah’s character as shown in Genesis? Cf. Heb. 11:11; 1 Pet. 3:5, 6. How many wives today become what the Bible calls her children?

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STUDY 15

Search The Scriptures — Study 15 —Genesis 21:22—22:24

Study 15 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 21:22—22:24

1.     Gn. 22. In what ways was the command of verse 2 a most severe test of Abraham’s faith in God?  Note the significance of the comment in Heb. 11:17, 18. Whence did Abraham expect to get, and where did he expect to find, the answer to the questions which he could not answer? How did his faith express itself? Cf. Jas. 2:20-24.

2.     Gn. 21:22-24. What was it about Abraham that made Abimelech believe that a covenant between them which would be kept was a serious possibility? Do we covert similar evidences in our lives which will make others trust us and reverence our God? Cf. Mt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12.

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STUDY 14

Are You Listening to God? - Oswald Chambers

Today’s Oswald chambers post radiates with truths. Every line, every idea and almost every word are true to us, today’s Christians.  If you have never been to a point in your life where you can see with your heart how much you do not love Him and how much you have been disrespectful to a God who deserves your full reverence, you are either PERFECT or you are knee deep in your lies as a Christian.

Through my walk with Him I learned that there is nothing wrong with listening to God’s servants. As the matter of fact, it is extremely important to listen to your leaders, and to one another. But, before we choose to listen to them, we have to learn to listen to God first. Otherwise, we follow after man and the end result is exactly what you see happened to the Israelites. Centuries after centuries, they have never learned to make God ‘personal’.  They have never learned to take ownership of their faith, their spiritual responsibilities vis a vis Him and their love for Him. These things cannot be found in traditions and rituals and we are left empty without a personal relationship.

Another thing that I have learned is that God will take all of us to a point where we realize we are TERRIFIED of Him. When this happens, He does not force you to go forward and come closer. Because, as much as He craves for intimacy with us which is the ultimate reason He put forward His plan of salvation, He will sit there, waiting for us to make the decision to choose Him too, in the same way He chose us first.  Remember, all this will be happening at the level of your heart, your spirit and your soul, so we have to be in tune with this life we have with Him, not to miss the cues. You might think it is impossible to miss those cues, but I tell you it is not.  Casing point, the Israelites missed out on God coming down to talk to them. (He did not have to come down)

When this happens to you, you are paralyzed because in your mind you keep thinking that He will throw a ball of fire at you or something to that effect if you go closer.  It will take all your strength, it takes an embrace of your fear and all that you are goes into embracing the fact that you have to go meet with Him face to face because of three main reasons: HE IS GOD! HE IS YOUR FATHER! AND YOU WOULD RATHER DIE THAN LIVING THIS LIFE WITHOUT KNOWING HIM PERSONALLY AND INTIMATELY! But, if you dare to make the decision to go closer in spite of what might happen to you, as you lift up your feet to move forward He takes over and you find yourselves in His arms of love. Some of you would say, well, if you have to do all that, it is no longer grace at work. Of course it is His grace at work changing you and me. Without His grace, you and I we have no interest whatsoever in Him.  WE COULD NOT CARE LESS!

As much as I was ecstatic to be in His arms of love, when all this experience was over, I was sad to see how much I did not love Him and most of all, I totally misjudged Him, even though I was repeating like a parrot that “God is love”. I also knew in my heart that I did not do it deliberately and I would never have known the difference if…..

Are You Listening to God? - Oswald Chambers

They said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." — Exodus 20:19

We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

“You speak with us,…but let not God speak with us….” We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.”

Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, “Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?” This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.