Andi59

Q2. How is Jesus’ glory displayed through his transfiguration and miracles? Miracles did several things, one was direct intervention in live to give a preferred outcome to an individual. This type of event is prayed for frequently I'm sure as we'd all like to think we are deserving of divine intervention. Another was to generate interest in these events - which happened. So we have a WOW factor. For me the horror of the events leading up to the resurrection concentrate all the evil there is the world, and that Jesus was able to transend all of this is the inspiration of my faith. That I am overwhelmed by the fury and destructiveness of this evil is something I try to keep at bay with my Walk with Jesus. He understands.

" 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5) Q1. (John 1:1-5, 14) When did Jesus glory and kingly authority have their origins? This passage of scripture indicates for all time and there does not seem to be a point of origin - it has always been. Conveying this in language is rather primitive because to believe in Jesus is to believe in the heart which for human kind starts with the first heartbeat, since we do not really feel any other point in time, it is with the believer's first heart beat, in fact it is why the heart beats. In what sense were they hidden while he was on earth? In the sense that Jesus lived as one of us, that our lives can hide the glory of God. The Way we live can hide the Glory of God. Our struggle is to uncover the Glory of God in our daily lives. In what sense were they still present? In our journey to uncover the Glory of God we reveal to ourselves the presence that has in a sense never left us but can be difficult to find in our daily lives. The darkness appears to have always been as well but does not hold authority once the Light of Jesus's Glory shines. For each of us this is so personal that sometimes it can't be put into words but is thought and feeling which is shared with Jesus.

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? I'm not sure about consuming fire but light shone in dark corners does banish the darkness bringing into stark relief that which is in the light. Where there is Light there can not be darkness. If it takes consuming fire to banish darkness then there is a presumption of light burning away darkness. Man has always used fire to banish light so it is not too far a leap to see fire burning away the darkness. Especially with visions of God's appearance as burning light, fire, blinding whiteness. What is in the darkness that is so scary to Man? It is the fear of the unknown that is threatening to Man. Light gives a guiding light however sometimes the journey into the Light is a journey into the unknown as well so it stands to reason that Man would be fearful of the dark and of the light. However it can be argued that in the Light you can see where as in the dark - well it is just dark and unknown. Wilful disobedience of children is punished by parents who care about the development of their children however these days punishment comes more in the form of discipline leading to self discovery - is this the way of the Light or does it burn furiously like a bush fire sweeping all away before its path? God will not give you more than you can bear: I've heard this from a few sources and believe it to be a way of understanding some of the heavy burdens some people bear and without any clue as to why other than it is God's will it is beyond my current understanding as to why this is so. We can't re-enter Eden so co-existance with sin is a constant battle between God and Satan until we either ascend to God's heaven or descend into hell - the battle for our souls. Paid for by the death of Jesus for those who give themselves to God, the Way of the Light we have a way of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

Reputation glory attributed glory or credit for deeds done, derived glory is something that is absorbed from a source that is considered glorious and inherent glory comes from within when witnessing or a party to something wonderful and glorious. When praising God all three types of glory are evident with inherent glory being the result of being a part of something wonderful - when He steps into my orbit, my world lights up.

I am a major work in progress! My daily walk with Jesus would be the biggest change and from there I'm just going to listen very intently to God's words in my heart and be ready for when He needs me.

By stubbornly believing and espousing he is the sole reason for his success and high station and its privileges Nebuchadnezzar's pride overtakes his faith and his life. Pride is not to be confused with self confidence. It is by God's grace that this thing has come to pass. Self confidence that God chooses me to carry out His task is where I try to start with this topic otherwise pride does take over. It's not a case of following instructions but more a case of using the skills developed over many years that self confidence can deliver the outcome that God expects - have to say don't always seem to get this right for any number of reasons when the outcome is the experience of pain and doubt either for myself or someone else. Reflecting on the process and the outcome doesn't always deliver an alternative option, mostly just sort of left wondering. Self doubt becomes the antithesis of self confidence and so the double edged sword becomes the reflective surface. Can only pray that as I move forward in my walk with Jesus that He is there to guide me and show me the path.

My change has not been one of geography but of time. The transitions in age can be just if not more challenging as life events threaten to overwhelm me. Sometimes my faith sustains me and sometimes I just totally lose the plot. My faith seems to phase in and out as time passes. I am grateful when it is with me and search very hard when it seems to slip away. My interest in this bible study is to consider how the values in the Lion's Den can be made relevant in today's environment where the lions don't think twice about eating you!