Uncle Dave

Q3. (Acts 10-11; Acts 19:1-7) The Holy Spirit comes upon new believers in both Caesarea and Ephesus accompanied by speaking in tongues (and prophecy and praise) like on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Does He always come like this initially? What about the times when people are saved in the New Testament but tongues aren't mentioned? Are they filled with the Spirit also? This is really an interesting set of questions. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he was conceived, and I never saw any mention of him speaking in tongues (Luke 1:15). Luke 1:41 also says something big. “and it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”. It mentions nothing to her speaking tongues. Then there was Mary in Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee...” Did she speak in tongues? Some might say that was still old testament and that tongues began at Pentecost but I see nothing to back that up or support either. Another interesting situation is when Jesus came out of the water and it says the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove (Luke 3:22). I never saw anything about Jesus speaking in tongues but nobody had the power like He did. 1 Corinthians 12:7-31 appears to answer the question quite clearly and I will go with that. I do not believe one must speak in tongues to be saved. If that is the case, I, for one am in deep trouble. But who is it that speaks to me from within with answers to questions I have? Is it my spirit? Now way. My spirit always wants me to do things the worldly way and if not for the Spirit of God living in me, that is the way I would do things. What the Holy Spirit teaches is way beyond basic right and wrong.

Q2. (Acts 4:8, 31) What does it mean that Peter and the believers are "filled with the Holy Spirit" in these passages? Are they "re-filled"? Is it possible for a believer to have many "fillings" of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not? The fact that they had already received the Holy Spirit I would tend to relate this more to something like an NFL running back, who is already a gifted runner but when the heat is on in a game the adrenaline flows and the same with the Holy Spirit. As an example, I’ve seen preachers calmly reading verses and then instantly explode like a wildfire putting the word out. I don’t think a person is actually re-filled with the Spirit so much as the power from the Spirit manifests itself at appropriate times.

Q1. (Acts 2) What happened at Pentecost that was different than anything that had happened in previous history? What word analogies are used to describe this phenomenon? Are these word analogies essentially used synonymously with others in Acts 2? What did the Jews from foreign lands hear and see? How did Peter interpret what they heard and saw? (Acts 2:14-21) God poured out His Spirit on believers. What makes this so unique is the fact that these people who received the Spirit were not profits or high priests from the Levi tribe Words used to describe this include baptized, poured out, filled, come upon, overshadowed, filled, and received. These are a match to the words used in Acts 2. The Jews from other countries saw and heard people suddenly speaking in languages they were familiar with. People were prophesying and witnessing Jesus. Peter interpreted what He saw as a fulfillment of the prophecy from Joel.

Q4. (1 John 4:4) Why does John need to remind us that we have "overcome" the world? Is the potential power of the Holy Spirit within you less than the power in the Apostle Paul? What might be the factors that seem to limit our sense of power? I’m glad he did because I sometimes need to be reminded of that. There are times I find myself praying for the strength to overcome things I shouldn’t even have to be concerned with. Fears from the past and the monster that for so long took residence under the be waiting for me to close my eyes and try to wedge their way back in just when I think all is well, and then a verse like this seemingly comes out of thin air and reminds me that all really is well, and that the past is where it belongs—in the past. Is it a difference in the power received or the gifts we receive? There are many things which would have an effect such as sin, lack of faith, and even the simple fact of not knowing how to tap that source of power within. Here I’m seeing a couple of questions which I really need to do some soul searching over.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) What does the Holy Spirit as a "seal of ownership" teach us? What does the Spirit as a "down payment" teach us? When is the full payment made in this analogy? What does the Spirit as an "anointing" teach us? The seal is, in essence, the uniform we wear. Warring factions always include at-least two parties. In this case we have the “Army of God” and that of the enemy which is Satan. Clothed with the seal of ownership, we now identify with God’s army. Satan has always been hostile toward the children of God and will stop at nothing to torment them or try to win them over, which, once you have the seal of God you are of God’s children forever. The seal of God makes it plain to all that we are God’s children forever. The Spirit as a down payment teaches us that we have been bought, and we can begin our new lives, much like when a person puts a down payment on a house and can begin to live in it and when the house is paid for nobody can take it from them. The final payment for us is when we are finally taken into the Kingdom of God to forever live with Him. I don’t understand the Greek language, but on a search of anoint I found an interesting article which uses the word masah, describing the word in different ways, which are also verifiable in the Bible. The definitions included: · Being set apart for God’s work, which also included responsibility and accountability to the people. Sometimes failure happens, and we are to make things right. Empowerment. God, through His Spirit will empower us to accomplish His purpose. Protection. God promises to protect His children. Many attack Christians on this point, like at times when a Christian gets tortured or put to death doing God’s work. They will ask “why isn’t God protecting them?” They say this without seeing the whole picture. The ultimate victory comes when one finishes life having not given in to Satan’s deceptions and the victory over death surely comes under this protection.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16) What are the implications of having access through the Spirit to the "mind of Christ"? How does this Holy Spirit connection explain spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, healing, etc.? Having access to the mind of Christ is the gateway to life itself. It is about Abba. The fact that the Spirit searches the mind of God is interesting. I sometimes wonder what God might have been doing a million years ago (by what we, as humans define a year). I mean, you could go back a trillion times a trillion millenniums and even then, you could go much farther back than that (from that point) and God would have been doing something, somewhere. It breaks down to the mind of God being so complex that who could even begin to understand. Its easy to think in terms of going forward, but in the other direction is a mystery. It’s the same as being able to understand bigger and bigger and the complexities involved but smaller and smaller? I mean, like even DNA is such a complex thing but they have yet to discover what all it is made of. God will let us know what we need to know however. God is very easy to talk to. Imagine how much time He spends just listening to us without people taking the time to hear what He has to say. People tell Him what they want or would like to see take place only to return to the world they live in never giving Him a second to answer. Access to the Spirit makes it so possible to listen to what God has to say concerning a subject placed before Him, but only if we take the time to listen. Just opening your spirit to the Spirit and you have someone you can converse with and hear the whole truth, nothing but the truth, straight from God. Spiritual gifts? This one is interesting. Many claim these gifts ended with the apostolic times but if that were true why would Paul teach so intently on the subject. People claim that God does His healing work through educated doctors now, who have all this knowledge of anatomy, and associated subjects but it is by faith that things take place. Prophecy can be hearing a simple yes or no in reply to something asked of God, but it can also include an understandable reason, of course on must listen and not think they need to do all the talking. When I first came to know Christ, it was in a very Spirit-filled atmosphere but there was a sign on the wall with just two words that pretty much summed things up and they were “Let God”. Do you want to teach? You must be taught first. This is especially true if you want to teach the things in the Bible, because if the Spirit of God is not the one speaking through you, you will soon be looking at people who are fighting to keep their eyes open. There is a very big difference in the fruit produced when it comes to a teacher who simply studies out and writes a boring sermon as compared to one the Spirit of God speaks through.

Q1. (Romans 8:9-11; John 14:23) Do people who aren't Christians have Christ living within them? In what Person do Christ and the Father make their home in us? What should you do to make them feel "at home" in you? How is the Home Analogy like the Temple Analogy. How might it differ? How does the Spirit living within you affect your holiness of life? Your witness to others? Your spiritual power? You can’t be a non-Christian and expect to have Christ living in you. Tis either/or according to the Bible. …Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9). Christ is what being a Christian is all about, or should I say to be like Christ is what being a Christian is all about. Christ and our Father make their home in us by way of the Holy Spirit. You should make them feel at home by striving to be perfect, even as Christ is, living a holy life, searching out the lost and preaching/teaching the gospel to all, showing kindness and compassion to all, including our enemies, praying constantly and most of all, exhibiting a spirit of love. The Home Analogy is like the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple in that while God made His home in the Holy of Holies, He now makes it inside of His followers. The Spirit has a profound effect on a Christian’s holiness of life in that He empowers you to be holy. He will tell you what to say when witnessing to others because witnessing is not a textbook scenario where everyone is approached in the same manner even though the core of the message must never change. When I made the above post, it was late at night and I wasn’t completely awake and although I’m not changing what I said, I feel the need to append something very important that I missed. This morning as I was briefing down through the lesson I stopped at the picture depicting the tabernacle complex and suddenly realized just how much God has placed in us when He gave us the Holy Spirit. It was such an overwhelming feeling when I realized that we represent the Holy of Holies in us. How special is that? It gave me a whole new outlook on what Christianity is all about. Visions of the tabernacle and temple raced through my head, thinking about the prophets who were selected to enter this area and how esteemed was that honor. And to think God has placed all of that in us!

Q4. (John 3:8) What does Jesus' reference to "the wind" teach us about people who have been born of the Spirit? This is a question I have struggled with for a long time and for the most part, people I have asked the same question struggle to answer it. I wish Jesus had elaborated more on just exactly what He was saying here. The verse states that people born of the Spirit are like the wind, to paraphrase it. In the strictest sense that would mean that one would not know where people born of the Spirit come from or go to, same as the wind. For years I have meditated on that verse and probably will for a long time to come when more pressing needs are not present, not that the verse is not important but I spend a lot of time in the early hours of the morning with God, and the Spirit has told me many things and I’m sure that if God wants me to know something I just have to be persistent at times. I love reading other people's posts in here and learn much from them also. The passage I quoted here put a much needed sense of clarity on the subject for me. Thank you so much Pastor Wilson for the forum's display of other people's answer and thank you also for this Bible study. God bless everybody here. ~Dave

Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? What do you think "water" refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase "born of water and the Spirit" to best bring out the full meaning? I always thought that born of water meant procreation (a new word I learned today, but same concept). That seems to make sense to me because Jesus said that flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit to spirit which means the first birth would have been by birth by the flesh, or of human nature—to me anyway. …but of imperishable …(1 Peter 1:23) is another reason I think in terms of the human birth because the human birth is of perishable seed as compared to God’s imperishable see. The analogy of water birth being according to John the Baptist’s baptism has me thinking though. Born of water and spirit in my own words still hangs heavy on the human birth (perishable seed)though but born of Spirit is to be born of God (imperishable seed).

Q2. (John 3:1-8) When Nicodemus came to Jesus, do you think he was already born of the Spirit? What is the difference between people who have experienced the second birth, and those who have only experienced the first birth? I tend to think he would not have already been born of the Spirit because he was a strict follower of the law meaning he didn’t know the freedom from the law that being born of the Spirit brings. This I will say though, he knew that Jesus was from God. Those who have experienced the second birth have an open path to the Kingdom of God whereas those who have only experienced the first birth are still living in the natural world, or only have a sense of what they can physically comprehend.

Q1. (John 7:37-39) In Jesus' teaching on streams of living water from within, whom does he invite to drink? What does he promise to believers? To what degree has a spring of living water been fulfilled in your life? At the moment He spoke, He was talking to everybody who was in the temple and His promise to those who believed on Him was the Holy Spirit and to those who received this gift, inherit eternal life. Jesus said that the Spirit would fill them like a well-spring and flow out of them so that others too, might live. I have to admit guilt concerning the second question. Although I have testified about Jesus to others, I need to approach even more. Living in a land where I can speak freely to others about Jesus and not doing it at every possible opportunity is in-excusable.

Q5. (John 16:12-15) In what sense does the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth? Does this promise apply only to the apostolic age and its task of laying the foundations of the faith? In what sense does it apply to us today? He explains things to us we don’t understand. You have to listen though, and not be the one doing all the talking. Even the best of teachers takes equal time to listen. He convicts us of sin so that we might get things under control before we come under judgement for it. Also, He encourages us and strengthens us like a great guide/leader would. Without a doubt, from personal experience I will say that this promise was not just for the apostolic age. I have never raised a dead person, in fact there are many things I have not done although I have witnessed more than one miraculous healing and saw prayers answered, not always in the way I expected either but that goes hand in hand with the Spirit praying for me since I don’t really know just exactly what I should pray for all the time except for that which I would like to see accomplished, but it isn’t about “me” either.

Q4. (John 16:5-7; 14:12) What benefit is there to the disciples that Jesus goes away? What promise do we have in John 14:12 concerning the Spirit's power in believers? Jesus said that He must leave so that the Holy Spirit could come to them as what happened on the day of Pentecost. Also, the path to salvation for all people of the world was ushered in for those who believed in what Jesus did and who He was. The promise in John 14:12 is pretty much self-explanatory “, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”(KJV)

Q3. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13a) Why do we believe that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or power, but a Person? What kinds of functions that we attribute to persons does the Holy Spirit do? Why is it so easy to refer to the Spirit as "it" rather than "Him"? I believe the Holy Spirit to be a person because of the way the Bible refers to him as “He” in so many places. Would Jesus have called the Holy Spirit “He” if He wasn’t a male and to be a male you have to be a person, simple as that, at least in my way of thinking. In answering the 2nd question I am copying & pasting the list presented by Dr. Wilson of things the Holy Spirit does, and is susceptible to, in much the same way as people. • The Holy Spirit appoints missionaries (Acts 13:2; 20:28), • He leads and directs workers in their ministry (Acts 8:29; 10:19-20; 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:13), • He speaks through the prophets (Acts 1:16; 1 Peter 1:11-12; 2 Peter 1:21), • He corrects (John 16:8), • He comforts (Acts 9:31), • He helps us in our infirmities (Romans 8:26), • He teaches (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3), • He guides (John 16:13), • He sanctifies (Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11), • He testifies of Christ (John 15:26), • He glorifies Christ (John 16:14), • He empowers (Romans 15:13), • He searches all things (Romans 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11), • He works according to his own will (1 Corinthians 12:11), • He dwells with saints (John 14:17), • He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), • He can be resisted (Acts 7:51), and • He can be tempted (Acts 5:9). There are likely quite a number of reasons as to why most people would refer to the Holy Spirit as “it” rather than “He”, but personally I tend to place the blame on ignorance. Perhaps that is more of an excuse than a reason, at least in some people’s eyes but the fact remains that some, if not most know nothing about the Holy Spirit. I was saved in a church where many of the people spoke in tongues and that was many years back and it is just now I’m having my eyes opened to a lot here. I didn’t stay with that church long, in fact for a long time I left the entire church completely or perhaps my knowledge base and more importantly, what I know deep down inside, or in my heart would be much greater.

Q2. (John 15:26-27) What does it mean to "testify"? In what way does the Spirit testify about Jesus? Can you testify from personal knowledge about Jesus? Or were the apostles the only first-hand witnesses? Testify means to offer testimony, or evidence in support of someone or something based on personal knowledge or something one has personally witnessed. The Spirit testifies about Jesus in that He tells us about Jesus and helps us to understand things which Jesus taught while He was here on Earth. Personally, I can testify from personal knowledge about Jesus by telling other people things that Jesus has done for me, even though I have never physically saw Him or heard His voice. The apostles were first-hand witnesses because both in the physical sense because they actually lived with Him and talked & listened to Him, as well as receiving the Holy Spirit.

Q1. (John 14:15-17) In what sense is the Holy Spirit "another" Paraclete? Who was the initial Paraclete? In what way can the Holy Spirit replace him? How was he "with" the disciples? When will he be "in" them? The Holy Spirit is another Paraclete in the way of being a counselor, helper, comforter, etc., It is the voice of the Holy Spirit that (if we listen) that guides us into truth. The original Paraclete was Jesus. It was Jesus who was the way and the truth and with Godly wisdom taught His disciples. The Holy Spirit replaces Him just as Jesus promised He would do because since Jesus was here in the flesh, living as you or me he had a day determined by the Father when He would die. That might sound a bit worldly, but God had a date set when Jesus would bear stripes for our healing and die for the sins of the world. Jesus said He would have to depart so that He could send the Comforter. He was the with the disciples because Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and the disciples knew who He was in that way. Beginning with the day of Pentecost He was in the disciples when they were filled with Him.

Q4. Who sends the Holy Spirit? The Father or Jesus? Does it matter? According to John 14:16-17 and 26, it is the Father who sends the Holy Spirit. Is it important? Yes, and I say this because Jesus relies on His Father just as much as He does the Spirit, and though I’m not really certain with this answer and might have to modify it in the future as I learn more.

Q3. (Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14a; 4:18-19; 5:17b; 10:21; Acts 10:38a) Did Jesus do miracles by reason of being the unique Son of God, or by means of the power of the Holy Spirit upon him? Why is this important for us as his disciples? In what ways does Jesus serve as our example in ministry? Jesus did miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is important to us as His disciples because the fact that Jesus was “depleted” of His divine nature when He came to the earth shows that He had no power than you, me, or the next person, but operated with a power that is freely available to all of us. This was just one way that Jesus served as an example for us in ministry. I know I’m going out on a limb saying this, but I once heard the comment that if you want to do what Jesus did, you must do what He did. Jesus lived with complete faith in the Father to take care of all His needs while here on Earth. No ands, ifs, or buts. Jesus preached the gospel to the poor but a trend I see which I find troubling is people going out in groups from churches to do what they call “door knocking”, etc., in an attempt to round up those who have nice places to live while traveling past a homeless encampment. Jesus would have done the opposite. The comment made by Jesus …Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45). All I am saying is that for the most part Christians don’t follow Jesus’ example, I’m not saying all, but for the most part. But, getting back to the question, Jesus’ set the tone when He said to preach the gospel to “ALL” the people, even if it means dying in the process. To preach to the poor, heal the sick, visit the prisoners in jail, etc., Here’s a good one: Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: It simply cuts to the heart in me when I hear of millionaire Christians who won’t give a dollar to a homeless person because of what he’ll just do with it, i.e., buy some cheap wine (to stay warm? Sidewalks are cold and cruel), buy marijuana (maybe to forget things). I know I’m getting way off track with this question but since we’re spending so much time in the book of Luke it would be hard not to come across these 2 verses: Luke 6:30-31: 30.Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31.And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Just a couple more ways Jesus served as a ministry example for us. Every day I see new ones and I admit that I have not followed everything I should have but praise God for the saving grace he so freely gives and prayers that tomorrow will be a better day in His service.

Jesus’ statement was proof that although He came down from Heaven, He came down to identify wholly with man. Jesus demonstrated that all things can be done via the power of God. I believe He showed how the government of Heaven operates. Just like the Israelites were broken up into tribes with leaders that were actually “co-leaders” with the other tribes or when Jethro, Moses’ father-n-law showed up in the desert to inform him that he should not be in charge of every little detail, Jesus demonstrated how everyone working together created a formidable force. Concerning Jesus “emptying Himself”, obedience. John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Matthew 26:53 talks of how Jesus could have called upon more than 12 legions of angels. In John 12:27, Jesus said “…but for this cause came I unto this hour”. Had Jesus called upon the legions of angels to rescue Him, He would have been operating in the divinity He knew before coming to Earth, disrupting to path to salvation God had laid out for us. This would also have been the cancellation of our ability to communicate directly with God the way we do. John 3:16, the one verse almost everyone knows tells us that God sent his Son. It was up to Jesus to obey. If Jesus had not been depleted of the glory known before coming to Earth He would not have been able to demonstrate dependence on the Father and the Spirit. He would not have operated with the dependence, but with His divinity. Operating like this, Jesus would not have been able to teach us dependence on the Father, something man had grossly drifted away from.

Q1. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20; Luke 3:21-22) In what ways is the Holy Spirit active in establishing Jesus' core identity as Son of God as Jesus came to earth? How does the Holy Spirit establish your core identity as a disciple of Jesus? From the very beginning when the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and informed her that she would conceive a child, and Mary, having never slept with a man questioned this and according to Luke 1:35 the Holy Ghost would come upon her and that the baby would be called the Son of God and not the son of any man, although and interestingly Jesus often referred to Himself as a son of man. The Holy Spirit establishes my core identity as a disciple because before I came to terms with God and accepted salvation, the Holy Spirit was not with me, but afterwards I began to experience the power that first got me moving on the right track, and as one who helps me to communicate with God, either through vocal prayer or even via thought. There is much more, too much to tell here and I’m not the best at putting things into words but I have seen power go out in the way of healing for people in different ways.

Q4. (Joel 2:28-32; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 37:14; 39:29) What promises do we find in Joel and Ezekiel concerning the Holy Spirit? Who are the recipients of these promises? In the passage in Joel, it is promised that the Holy Spirit will be poured out on ALL flesh, both male and female, that who shall call on the name of the Lord will be delivered. We are the recipients of this promise. The verses in Ezekiel however, appear to be promises for the Israelites when you read before and after. I am of the belief that the promise of the Holy Spirit was for all generations.

Q3. (Isaiah 11:1-2; 42:1; 61:1-2) What promises does God make through Isaiah the prophet concerning the Holy Spirit and the Messiah? How were these fulfilled? God promised that via the earthly bloodline of Jesus to trace back to Jesse, the father of King David. It was promised that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon him, that is, the Spirit of Ø Wisdom Ø Understanding Ø Counsel Ø Power Ø Knowledge Ø Fear of the LORD Although the genealogy of Jesus can be traced back as far as Abraham according to the book of Matthew, the promise made by the prophet Isaiah begins with Jesse and ends with Joseph, who was married to Mary who conceived Jesus via the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 3:16 we see “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”

Q2. (Numbers 11:16-29) What enables the 70 Elders to lead the people? What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon them? Why does Moses long for the Spirit to come upon all God's people? It was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enabled the 70 Elders to lead the people. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, they began to prophecy. Moses would have loved for the Holy Spirit to have come upon all the people because it might have stopped them from complaining so much about how they had it better in Egypt and doing things that made God so unhappy. They were fearful about entering the land they left Egypt for when they finally were supposed to enter. They practiced idolatry, they went so far as to get Moses in trouble with God when he used his staff to beat the rock to get water out of it. All in all, the Israelites were a whiny, ungrateful people which Moses had to contend with.

Q1. (1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 51:11) What is the primary purpose of God putting his Spirit upon selected individuals in the Old Testament? What effect does the Spirit seem to have upon their relationship with God? God poured out His Spirit on certain people in the O.T. for accomplishing different tasks. His prophets received messages to relay to the people via the Spirit. People like Moses received messages from God through the Spirit to relay to Pharaoh in Egypt, for delivering the commands of God to the people during the Exodus, and to warn the people of the consequences of their actions, to name a few. Saul received messages from God through the Spirit informing him how to fight battles. Not to be forgotten is how much of the O.T. was written through the Spirit of God? Those who the Spirit worked through had a much closer relationship with God, because by way of the Spirit, God communicated directly with these people, empowering them to do things which, to the average person didn’t add up, such as when Gideon defeated the Midianites when they turned on each other, or when Sampson killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ***. 2 other Bible stories that many people have heard are the ones about Daniel in the lion’s den where the mouths of the lions were closed, and the time Daniel and his friends were thrown into a furnace so hot it killed the guards who threw them in, yet Daniel and his friends didn’t so much as smell like smoke. Even the Babylonian king recognized that the Spirit of God was in him. The Spirit also led Daniel also to writing very important prophecies. There are many stories in the Old Testament about the Spirit of God, these only being a few examples.

Q4. (Romans 8:35-36) What kinds of perils were the early Roman Christians likely exposed to? What kinds of perils are Christians exposed to today? How does this passage reassure us? In what sense do we Christians "overwhelmingly conquer" (NASB) despite the obstacles we face? The early Christians in Rome had some very rough times. The fact that they wouldn’t worship the emperor especially made it very dangerous for Christians at this time. To top this off there was much conflict between Jewish & Gentile Christians. After Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, the emperor Nero waged all out persecution against all Christians. Nero, in fact was known for lighting Christians on fire to light up his gardens at night. The persecution of early Roman Christians is well documented and was truly a dangerous and trying time for Christians in Rome in the early days of the Christian movement. Christians are still persecuted heavily in certain parts of the world today. Christians are murdered and jailed daily in many countries, in fact there are countries where they will not only sentence you to death by starvation and being overworked in slave labor camps, but their children are also given the same sentences. The passage in question gives me reassurance of the fact that I will not have to stand trial post resurrection as so many teach. This was the best part of this whole study for me because it gave me more ammunition to add to the fact that we have been forgiven our sins before heading to God’s throne, a time I have always speculated was a time for those who died unsaved to have their sentences read and cast into the furnace just like Jesus described at the end of Matthew, chapter 25. Jesus said He was bringing our rewards with him, Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. The verses Romans 8:33-34, which have taken on a very special meaning to me was truly the best part of this whole Bible study for me. Maybe I didn’t see it because I don’t remember getting that far in the book of Romans because it seemed so hard for me to understand. Romans 8:28, however is one I have quoted often because a good friend showed me great encouragement at an extremely dark moment in my life. We overwhelmingly conquer in that even though we may be harassed, tortured, or even killed for our faith in Christ we still share the eternal inheritance for standing strong for our beliefs. What comes after conquering? Occupy, of course and spend eternity with Jesus.