Johno
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Posts posted by Johno
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Q3. (Romans 5:15-19) By what right does Adam represent all humankind? By what right does Christ become head of all who become his disciples? If Christ is not our "representative" or "head," how can his death for sins be effective for us?
As the 1st head of all mankind, Adam is our representative for all subsequent humankind. Christ, as the 2nd Adam is our representative as disciples. God gave Him this right. His death atoned for all our sins so He is our Head.
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Q1. What kinds of circumstances in modern life can you think of where a single person acts for an entire group? In what ways are members of the group tied to this person?
I immediately thought of our ex-President of our country, South Africa, whose corrupt decisions affected everyone. Everyone was subject to the decisions he made. The people he appointed to Parliament, the State Capture that he was responsible for etc...Our new President of our democracy is already is getting our support as a nation as the wrongs are quickly being righted,
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Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage why should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope?
We need to persevere in our times of hardship as Christians. We have faith and hope and God will reward us eventually.Perseverance or endurance is what God wants of us as we will have difficulties and through these we develope character. Our spirits through the Holy Spirit will be strengthened and we will be able face even greater tests. Through this we are a faith example to others. -
We need to first have faith before we can be justified by God. The scripture says Abraham believed God and because of his faith, God accepted him as righteous. We, too, become righteous when we believe and accept God as our Father - then we trust and rely on God and through that we are justified.
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Thank you Pastor Ralph for this study which I have found very worthwhile. I now look forward to going back to your previous studies and doing them.............God bless you for your commitment to the Lord........
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4 hours ago, Debra Grant said:
Q5. (Proverbs 11:14) Why is it valuable to counsel with spiritual people in the Christian community when we're learning to discern God's voice? How is having a spiritual mentor helpful? What is the danger of always going to another person to confirm God's word? Why is out-growing a mentor a common occurrence?
1. To make sure we're on the right track.
2. They are a spiritually mature person who seeks God and someone we feel we can trust. They can encourage us and help us in different ways to know if God is speaking and if we are following him and not flesh.
3. Doing something just because someone we trust tells us to do it, can lead us into a bad situation. They can lead us wrong and not listening to God. We can begin to rely on them too much which is not good.
4. Sometimes we do not need mentors because we have learned all advice they can give. We learn to seek God for ourselves.
Spiritual people are far more in tune with God and likely to give us the right advice. A spiritual mentor who we trust will most likely give us the right advice. If we always go to another person we will find it difficult to discern what God is saying to us. We will soon discover from a mentor whether he is always right, never giving us the right advice or just occasionally advising us correctly. Thus we will outgrow that mentor and will need to look for another mentor.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:22 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Mark 14:36; 1 Peter 3:7) Why is it necessary to recognize and then surrender our desires when we are seeking God’s will. What happens if we neglect to do this? How can holding on to sin distort what you think you are hearing from God?
Our desires are often sinful desires and we will not hear God speaking to us if we don't surrender our will to him. Our temptations will lead us away from Him if we succumb to them. We will not be able to discern what is from Him
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:21 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:16). Give an example of what the voice of the flesh – our lusts and desires – might sound like. Give an example of what the voice of the world might sound like. Give an example of what the voice of the devil might sound like. Why is a knowledge of the Scripture necessary for discernment of these voices?
When we are envious, or **** after another women or are filled with pride and self-righteousness - these are the voices of our flesh. The voice of the world continually tells us that we should do things in our own strength, that we don't need God. The voice of the devil will tempt us to do what is not Godly, To ignore what God is telling us and do what we want to do. Scripture should be our guiding rule. It is all laid out there for us.
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We will make mistakes, just as we fell down when learning to walk. It takes practice. And there are many false voices we might hear that are not God speaking to us. These mistakes are because of our programming as we grow up and influences in our lives. We need to be discerning and we will learn sometimes through embarassment, when it is God speaking
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Gideon believes that God has spoken to him but wants re-assurance of what God is saying. He is not ' testing ' God but wants to be sure. The difference is one of belief. If one doesn't believe and asks God for a sign, one is testing God. It's a subtle difference. Confirmation is acceptable to God, but not repeated once God has reacted.
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If we are proud we believe we have the answers and can do everything in our own strength. We will then not be receptive to hearing from Him. Humility comes from accepting that we are not in control but that He is.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:16 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (1 Samuel 3:7; Hosea 6:3; Philippians 3:10-14) Why is a desire for a relationship with God more important than seeking to hear his voice? How does hearing his voice contribute to the relationship? Why are we commanded to “press in” to know the Lord? How does Paul’s passion for a relationship with God inspire you?
We can't hear His voice until we have a relationship with him. We need to ' press on ' to know Him better and better, to win the race. Hearing His voice means we already have a relationship with Him and it makes the belief even stronger. ' Pressing in ' is telling us to continue in our quest to know God better. Paul suffered so much but never gave up in His quest to serve God. I am thankful that my life is so blessed but when I am tried I need to be sure to be close to God.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:15 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) What was Eli’s counsel to Samuel, when he recognized that God was calling to the boy? Was it good counsel? What is the significance of Samuel recognizing that he is a servant?
Samuel was told to go for the 3rd time to listen for the voice and to reply ' Lord, your servant listens ' Surprising coming from Eli, who, with his sons, would be disciplined by God. It was counselled that all Israel, including Eli and his family would be punished and it came to pass. Eli is subservient to his Lord and accepts Him as God. He is humble and eventually becomes a prophet of God.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:14 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Acts 16:6-10; Psalm 27:14) Why does God sometimes not talk to us? Is it always because we aren’t receptive? What should we do when we don’t hear anything from God?
Instead of talking to us, He sometimes communicates in other ways eg visions and dreams. We will soon realise that this is Him communicating with us. We are generally receptive when we have a quiet time everyday. If we don't, it is likely that we will His communicating with us. We need to examine our daily contact with Him if He is silent for more than a day or 2.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:13 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Acts 5:1-11; 8:23; 14:8-10) Sometimes God nudges you by giving you insight into the spiritual state of people around you. What should you be asking God about once you receive this insight about them? Have you ever had a nudge from God that resulted in a person receiving help? What did you learn from this?
I will have to ask God to help me with this. I can't honestly say I have helped someone after a nudge from GOD.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:12 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (2 Samuel 5:19, 22-25) What’s the similarity between God’s brief, inarticulate nudges or promptings, and David’s use of the Urim and Thummim to receive direction? What happens when David needs more than a “yes” or “no” answer?
Seems to me they are similiar. The 1st is just a yes or no to a question where the stones indicate the same sort of thing. Sometimes as with David and the Philistines, we need an explanation as to what we ought to do.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:11 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Acts 8:26-40; 16:6-10) Are promptings from the Holy Spirit clear enough when we’re seeking God for direction? Why is “no” just as important an answer as “yes”? Have you ever felt God’s promptings to take some action? If you followed through, what happened?
I just wish I had read or listened to this many years ago. I have been very headstrong when I've had an idea and very often it has not been the right thing for me. Now I will be more discreet in asking God to speak to me first. God's promptings are clear eg in getting me to do this study as an example. As I am a determined person I need to hear the 'no's ' as often as the 'yes's'. God has revealed a lot for me when I have done something that hasn't worked out for me.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:09 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Acts 10:19-20) Why was it important for Simon to get a very clear command from the Spirit to go with his visitors? What would he have done if the word weren’t so clear? What does he do when criticized for taking this action (Acts 11:2, 12)? What kind of faith does it take to obey the Spirit and take an action you know you’ll be criticized for later? Do you disobey when you know you might face criticism for obedience?
It would be the start of the evangelisation of Gentiles throughout the world. He had just had a vision of the ' unclean food ' and a word from God, so the word that followed was clearly from God. He would have stayed where he was. When criticised he gave them an account of the vision he had had. He was not concerned about going to uncircumcised gentiles. He goes with 6 fellow believers to Caesarea to the house of Cornelius. The faith it takes is that of knowing for sure that the command received has come from God and knowing that it will lead to doing God's will. I don't know that I disobey as I haven't been tested fully up till now with God's Word up till now. I will in future be more discerning and will obey.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:08 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Acts 19:21; 20:22-24; 21:12-14) What would have happened if Paul hadn’t been sure of his instructions from the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem? Would you have tried to dissuade him? It’s comforting to receive encouraging words. What level of maturity does it take to receive a direction that might lead us into hardship and danger? What happens when we choose the easy way, when God leads us on a difficult path?
He would probably never have got to Rome as the Holy Spirit had commanded him. If I had known he was in great danger I would have tried to dissuade him, but Paul was resolute. Only when we are sure of the Holy Spirit directing us must we listen and be obedient. God has a plan for us and His plans are always good plans. We need to choose His way and not the easy way..........
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:06 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (2 Corinthians 12:9a; Acts 18:9-10; 23:11; 27:24) How do you think it feels to Paul for God to personally encourage him when he is afraid and hurting? What do we learn about God that he speaks to Paul in this way?
Paul heard God very clearly but we don't often hear Him as obviously as Paul did. I have had similiar experiences with my sicknesses - and this was God's way of speaking to me..
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:06 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (2 Corinthians 12:9a; Acts 18:9-10; 23:11; 27:24) How do you think it feels to Paul for God to personally encourage him when he is afraid and hurting? What do we learn about God that he speaks to Paul in this way?
Paul suffers terribly while in his ministry but never falters and keeps going. He feels elated and enthusiastic and it is interesting that he sees all the discouragements and 'the thorn in his flesh' as God's way of keeping him on track. I have had the same experience in my life and have often commented on it to my friends and family. I developed chronic asthma after smoking excessively from the ages of 17 to 23 years. I was told by a doctor to either stop smoking and live or continue and die. Having stopped then, I am now 75 years old and feeling good! I also developed diabetes 18 years ago and have had to be very careful what I eat. I have kept my weight steady during this time and have energy and generally feel elated as Paul did............
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:05 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (1 Kings 17-19) Why do you think the author contrasts the “still small voice” to the wind, earthquake, and fire? How does God’s voice comfort and renew Elijah? Why is it easy to miss God when his voice is gentle and quiet?
God apparently uses both methods to get our attention. Although more aptly it is through a small, still voice that needs effort to hear. Elijah knows it is God speaking to Him and He is comforted by it. With all the distractions in our world, which is filled with noises of one sort and another, we are inclined to rush through each day. So it is important to make time, a time of meditation and silence to listen to and hear God's voice.
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On 28/11/2017 at 8:04 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16) How does the Holy Spirit make “the mind of Christ” available to us? How does this make you dependent upon the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to listening for God’s voice?
God's Spirit and not the world's is in us once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. We have the mind of Christ once we have the Holy Spirit in us. It is then incumbent on us to obey the promptings of His Spirit and live as He wishes us to live. Only by discerning God speaking to us are we able to know that it is in fact the Holy Spirit, through Him who is leading and directing our thoughts and actions.
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On 28/11/2017 at 7:58 PM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (John 14-16) What promises concerning the Paraclete – Comforter – Counselor – Helper – Holy Spirit does Jesus give in John chapters 14-16? How do these relate to guidance? To “hearing” God?
Jesus gives a number of promises in these Chapters. Basically that HE will send the Holy Spirit to them and they will receive the Spirit. We will hear God through the Spirit.and need to discern whether it is God speaking to us.
Q4. Coming Under Christ's Headship
in 2. United to Christ, the Second Adam (Romans 5:12-6:5)
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Q4. (Romans 6:2-5) According to this passage, at what point do we move from being under the headship of Adam to the headship of Christ? Is there anything we must do to bring about this change in headship? What are the implications of us having died with Christ?
Through baptism by full immersion we move from being ' earthly ' to being ' In Christ ' - Having died with Christ we are assured of eternal life.