Stanley Tavaziva

Q2. (2 Timothy 2:12a) What does it mean to "rule and reign" with Christ now, in this life? What do you think it will mean after Christ returns? How does this relate to our theme of the Glorious Kingdom? God is faithful to his children, and although we may suffer great hardships here, God promises that someday we will live eternally with him. What will this involve? It means believers will live in Christ’s Kingdom, and that we will share in the administration of that Kingdom. This truth comforted Paul as he went through suffering and death. When facing hardships? Don’t turn away from God—he promises you and me a wonderful future with him in His Glorious Kingdom

Q1. What does Matthew 24:30-31 tell us will happen when Christ returns? How does this relate to Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man? The nations of the earth will mourn because unbelievers will suddenly realize they have chosen the wrong side. Everything they have scoffed about will be happening, and it will be too late for them. It is good that we don’t know exactly when Christ will return. If we knew the precise date, we might be tempted to be lazy in our work for Christ. Worse yet, we might plan to keep sinning and then turn to God right at the end. Heaven is not our only goal; we have work to do here. And we must keep on doing it until death or until we see the unmistakable return of our Savior. In Daniel's prophecy the one “who looked like a man” is the Messiah. Jesus used this verse to refer to himself (Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27; John 1:51). The clouds of heaven portray the Son of Man as divine; throughout the Bible, clouds represent his majesty and awesome presence. God’s glory appeared in a cloud in Exodus 16:10 and 19:9 at the giving of the law at Sinai.

His face — the brightness of his personal character — is hidden behind the curtain of our carnal desires. This condition is always ready to overtake us. That is why we are told to “seek his presence continually.” God calls us to enjoy continual consciousness of his supreme greatness and beauty and worth. Many have had the sad experience of being abandoned by father or mother. Even as adults, the pain may linger. God can take that place in our life, fill that void, and heal that hurt. He can direct us to adults who may take the role of father or mother for us. His love is sufficient for all our needs. These were fervent requests. 1. I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life 2. I may behold, often used of prophet’s visions, the beauty of the LORD 3. I may meditate in His temple

Q3. Based on John's vision of the Bride, the Holy City, in Revelation 21, how would you describe in your own words the glory we will experience? The new Jerusalem is where God lives among his people. Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us, just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us. Wherever God reigns, there is peace, security, and love.The “holy city, the new Jerusalem” is described as the place where God will “remove all . . . sorrows.” Forevermore, there will be no death, sorrow, crying, or pain. What a wonderful truth! No matter what you are going through, it’s not the last word—God has written the final chapter, and it is about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love him. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine. God is the Creator. The Bible begins with the majestic story of his creation of the universe, and it concludes with his creation of a new heaven and a new earth. This is a tremendous hope and encouragement for the believer. When we are with God, with our sins forgiven and our future secure, we will be like Christ. We will be made perfect like him. The new Jerusalem is a picture of God’s future home for his people.The vision is symbolic and shows us that our new home with God will defy description. We will not be disappointed by it in any way. The Temple, the center of God’s presence among his people, was the primary place of worship. No temple is needed in the new city, however, because God’s presence will be everywhere. He will be worshiped throughout the city, and nothing will hinder us from being with him. Not everyone will be allowed into the new Jerusalem, but “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Don’t think that you will get in because of your background, personality, or good behavior. Eternal life is available to you only because of what Jesus, the Lamb, has done. We trust in him today and secure our citizenship in his new creation.

Q1. What does Matthew 24:30-31 tell us will happen when Christ returns? How does this relate to Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man? The nations of the earth will mourn because unbelievers will suddenly realize they have chosen the wrong side. Everything they have scoffed about will be happening, and it will be too late for them. It is good that we don’t know exactly when Christ will return. If we knew the precise date, we might be tempted to be lazy in our work for Christ. Worse yet, we might plan to keep sinning and then turn to God right at the end. Heaven is not our only goal; we have work to do here. And we must keep on doing it until death or until we see the unmistakable return of our Savior.

Q4. (Matthew 6:10) In what sense are we to rule and reign in Christ's Kingdom administration now, in this life? What would your world be like if a majority of believers took this seriously? What do you think ruling and reigning with Christ will consist of after he returns? The phrase “May your kingdom come soon” is a reference to God’s spiritual reign. God’s Kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham, is present in Christ’s reign in believers’ hearts (Luke 17:21), and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). When we pray “May your will be done,” we are not resigning ourselves to fate but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next.

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? The world fears the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God of the universe, who not only created that atomic power but also raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God’s incomparably great power is available to help you. There is nothing too difficult for him. Having been raised from the dead, Christ is now the head of the church, the ultimate authority over the world. Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed one, the one Israel longed for, the one who would set their broken world right. As Christians we can be confident that God has won the final victory and is in control of everything. We need not fear any dictator or nation or even death or Satan himself. The contract has been signed and sealed; we are waiting just a short while for delivery. Paul says, in Romans (8:37-39) that nothing can separate us from God and his love.

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"? In (2 Corinthians 4:5-12) Paul willingly served the Corinthian church even though the people had deeply disappointed him. Serving people requires a sacrifice of time and personal desires. Being Christ’s follower means serving others, even when they do not measure up to our expectations. God uses us to spread his Good News, and he gives us power to do his work. Knowing that the power is his, not ours, should keep us from pride and motivate us to keep daily contact with God, our power source. Our responsibility is to let people see God through us. Though we may think we are at the end of the rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable body is subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won the victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through us.

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) If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light by (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going along with the crowd, (3) denying the light, (4) letting sin dim our light, (5) not explaining our light to others, or (6) ignoring the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth—don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world. We become Christians through God’s unmerited favor, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the church We are God’s masterpiece (work of art, workmanship). Our salvation is something only God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in us. If God considers us his masterpieces, we dare not treat ourselves or others with disrespect or as inferior work.

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? It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. We should not let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don’t forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today’s pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment. Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give us opportunities to prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. See your troubles as opportunities! Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is—there is life after death! Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life.

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? In this parched and weary times.” If you are lonely or thirsty for something lasting in your life, remember David’s prayer. God alone can satisfy our deepest longings! The Bible is our safeguard both morally and theologically. When we read it individually and publicly in church, it alerts us to corrections we need to make in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. What are we willing to give up in order to know Christ? A crowded schedule in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer and Bible study? Your friend’s approval? Some of your plans or pleasures? Whatever it is, knowing Christ is more than worth the sacrifice. Some Christians, people who claimed to be Christians but didn’t live up to Christ’s model of servanthood and self-sacrifice. Such people satisfy their own desires before even thinking about the needs of others. Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to be selfish. It means taking every opportunity to serve and to become the best person you can be.

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? It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. We should not let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don’t forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today’s pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment. Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give us opportunities to prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. See your troubles as opportunities! Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is—there is life after death! Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life.

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? The glory that the Spirit imparts to the us believers is more excellent and lasts longer than the glory that Moses experienced. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like him. In the Good News, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ’s life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what he is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience. The more closely we follow Christ, the more we will be like 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? When Moses came down Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face glowed from being in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face and from seeing the radiance fade away. This veil illustrates the fading of the old system and the veiling of the people’s minds because of their pride, hardness of heart, and refusal to repent. The veil kept them from understanding references to Christ in the Scriptures. When anyone becomes a Christian, the veil is stripped off , giving eternal life and freedom from bondage. You then be like a mirror reflecting God’s glory. What prevents me from experiencing this gory is sin, my personal relationship with God, the lack of faith and prayer life.

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? This one “who looked like a man” is the Messiah. Jesus used this verse to refer to himself (Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27; John 1:51). The clouds of heaven portray the Son of Man as divine; throughout the Bible, clouds represent his majesty and awesome presence. God’s glory appeared in a cloud in Exodus 16:10 and 19:9 at the giving of the law at Sinai. Luke 9:1-2 - NLT One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Jesus’ methods of leadership. He empowered his disciples, gave them specific instructions so they knew what to do (9:3-4), told them how to deal with tough times, and held them accountable .

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? The angel who announced the good news of the Resurrection to the women gave them four messages: (1) Don’t be afraid. The reality of the Resurrection brings joy, not fear. When you are afraid, remember the empty tomb. (2) He isn’t here. Jesus is not dead and is not to be looked for among the dead. He is alive, with his people. (3) Come, see. The women could check the evidence themselves. The tomb was empty then, and it is empty today. The Resurrection is a historical fact. (4) Go quickly and tell. They were to spread the joy of the Resurrection. We, too, are to spread the great news about Jesus’ resurrection. When we share our suffering with someone it hurts to be told things like, “God works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). Jesus shows us how to deal with suffering and injustice by loving God with our whole person and loving our neighbor as ourselves, including those who are difficult or mistreat us. Of course, this requires maturity and strength and that’s a main reason why we need to go through hardships and tribulations and His Glory is shown in these situations.

Q2. How is Jesus' glory displayed through his transfiguration and miracles? The Transfiguration was a vision, a brief glimpse of the true glory of God. This was a special revelation of Jesus’ divinity to three of the disciples, and it was God’s divine affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do. Moses’ and Elijah’s presence with Jesus confirmed Jesus’ messianic mission: to fulfill God’s law and the words of God’s prophets. Just as God’s voice in the cloud over Mount Sinai gave authority to his law, God’s voice at the Transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words.

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? The Word was an agent of creation (Psalms 33:6), the source of God’s message to his people through the prophets (Hosea 4:1), and God’s law, his standard of holiness (Psalms119:11). In Greek philosophy, the Word was the principle of reason that governed the world, or the thought still in the mind, while in Hebrew thought, the Word was another expression for God. John’s description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus a human being he knew and loved, but at the same time the Creator of the universe, the ultimate revelation of God, the living picture of God’s holiness, the one who “holds all creation together” To Jewish readers, to say this man Jesus “was God” was blasphemous. To Greek readers, “the Word became human” was unthinkable. To John, this new understanding of the Word was the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Yes the Kingdom of God present now because we live with the Holy Spirit. We see Jesus who lives in us and we live in Him.

The Pharisees asked Jesus God’s Kingdom would come, not knowing that it had already arrived. The Kingdom of God is not like an earthly kingdom with geographical boundaries. Instead, it begins with the work of God’s Spirit in people’s lives and in relationships. We must resist looking to institutions or programs for evidence of the progress of God’s Kingdom. Instead, we should look for what God is doing in people’s hearts.

The Messiah is the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. Jesus is the One who is in single person Son of Man, Messiah, and God, who is worshipped and reigns over all. The Son of Man gives himself as an atoning sacrifice for sin

This one “who looked like a man” is the Messiah. Jesus used this verse to refer to himself (Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27; John 1:51). The clouds of heaven portray the Son of Man as divine; throughout the Bible, clouds represent his majesty and awesome presence. God’s glory appeared in a cloud in Exodus 16:10 and 19:9 at the giving of the law at Sinai.

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? The Tabernacle was a tent and temple shepherd’s dwelling place and a place of worship dwelling place of God, and also a meeting place between God and man in the wilderness. The Kingdom of was dwelling in the wilderness. The Tabernacle was a portable place of worship designed for the people as they were traveling toward the Promised Land, it was the dwelling place of God and His Kingdom will come down.

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? The Tabernacle was a tent and temple shepherd’s dwelling place and a place of worship dwelling place of God, and also a meeting place between God and man in the wilderness. The Kingdom of was dwelling in the wilderness. The Tabernacle was a portable place of worship designed for the people as they were traveling toward the Promised Land, it was the dwelling place of God and His Kingdom will come down.

I think Moses wanted to see the manifest glory of God. He wanted assurance of God’s presence with him, Aaron, and Joshua, and also he desired to know that presence experientially. Because we are finite and morally imperfect, we cannot exist and see God as he is. To see God’s back means we can only see where God has passed by. We can only know him by what he does and how he acts. We cannot comprehend God as he really is apart from Jesus Christ (John 14:9). Jesus promised to show himself to those who believe. After Paul considered everything he had accomplished in his life, he said that it was all “worthless” when compared with the greatness of knowing Christ. This is a profound statement about values: A person’s relationship with Christ is more important than anything else. To know Christ should be our ultimate goal. Consider your values. Do you place anything above your relationship with Christ? My spiritual hunger is to seek God intimently. To desire, have appetite and be complete in Him.Hunger and thirst for spiritual things.