Rosesam

Q2. (Hebrews 5:14) Why will a person have to make mistakes in the process of learning to discern God’s voice? Even though we are born from above, the thinking patterns of the old nature has not been completely wiped out. That's why we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, then we'll be able to discern His good and perfect will for us. But since renewing is a process, mistakes are inevitable to discerning God's voice. If mistakes are part of the process, how can this be of God at all? A baby does not become grown up immediately. It is the same way with spiritual maturity. It takes time. Our God is a patient Father, who still embraces us in the process of mistakes we make, knowing that we are weak, not wicked. A weak person is still learning and making mistakes and learning from the mistakes whereas a wicked person may be someone who has closed his heart toward God.

Q1. ((Judges 6:36-38; Psalm 95:7-10) Does Gideon ask for a sign because of his unbelief? He has already believed that God has spoken to him. Now he only wants a confirmation that he has heard the Lord rightly. It was not unbelief but for reassurance. What is the difference between Gideon’s seeking confirmation, and “testing God” in a way that displeases God? Testing God is what an unbelieving heart demands of God for their own selfish reasons and this displeases God. In Hebrews we read, without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that seek Him diligently. Faith is the lingua franca of heaven. If a person demands from God without faith in his heart, then it is displeasing to God. Does God mind if we ask for confirmation? When might God be upset with us for asking for confirmation? God does not mind if we ask for confirmation. He is the best parent and as a parent He knows that we are only learning and in the process we might fall and hence He keeps on encouraging us to keep learning. But He might become upset with us if we ask in disbelief for confirmation.

Q4. How can pride corrupt our hearing from God? God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. God hates pride and pride comes before a fall. If we need to hear from God, we need to approach Him, on the basis of His grace. Pride says I can do it all apart from God. But humility says, Lord I am empty, I need You to fill me up. A proud person will not hear from God, but a broken and contrite heart He will not despise. How do we protect ourselves from being deceived by our pride? When we recognize pride in us, confess before the Lord and seek His forgiveness. Renew our minds by dwelling on the word of God and seek Him with all our hearts.

Q3. (Psalm 32:8-9; John 7:17) Why is a willingness to obey without understanding the reasons for God’s commands so important? Jesus said, if you love Me, you will obey my commands. Obedience is the characteristic feature or result of love. When we grow in a relationship with the Lord, our love for the Lord increases, our trust in His faithfulness increases, our realization of knowing how precious we are in His sight grows. If we are precious In His sight, whatever He tells us is for our good. We may not understand the reasons of His commands but implicit obedience is an expression of our love to Him. How does obedience sometimes help us understand God’s workings. Sometimes God allows us to see the reasons why He requires obedience from our part. In some instances it may be immediate, and in others it may be after many years. Sometimes we may not understand the reasons in this life time. When God shows us why He required us to obey, we are truly blessed knowing that God was in it all the time and we did respond in obedience.

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? Christianity is all about relationship and it is not a religion. Any relationship grows by spending time with the other. To grow in relationship with the Lord we need to spend time with Him. And that’s what our Father in heaven desires of us. To have a relationship with us!!! Even the thought that the sovereign Lord who created me loves to have relationship with me baffles me. Hearing His voice is only part of the relationship. How does hearing his voice contribute to the relationship? As communication is vital in any relationship, hearing His voice greatly benefits in the growing of our relationship with Lord. Why are we commanded to “press in” to know the Lord? Living in this material world, our senses could be tuned in to the things of the world which would take our focus away from the Lord. Fish of the sea and birds of the air are not comfortable in an environment that is not suitable for them, whereas we, spiritual beings, made in the image of God become more comfortable in the things of the world rather than the things of God. So we need to press on, strive, take effort in order to know Him more. Knowing Him intimately is how we grow in Him. Our life on earth is not sufficient to know Him, neither eternity is sufficient to know our Eternal God, who is the Other, Incomprehensible God. So, we should take every opportunity and press on to know Him more than we do earlier. Not to know about Him but to know Him. How does Paul’s passion for a relationship with God inspire you? Paul, almost towards the end of His ministry says, “ that I might know Him...” We might think that Paul who had written so many epistles had reached a greater intimacy with the Lord. But he says I need to know Him. Same thing happened with Isaiah. One in previous chapters who was saying woe to them, when he saw the Lord realized his spiritual bankruptcy and says woe to me. If these stalwarts wanted to know the Lord more, how much more we need to press in know the Lord more.

Q1. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) What was Eli’s counsel to Samuel, when he recognized that God was calling to the boy? Eli told Samuel to go and lie down and if He speaks again to say, Lord speak, your servant is listening. Was it good counsel? Yes it was. As Samuel had not known the word of God previously, Eli as a mentor was helping Samuel to recognize the voice of the Lord. What is the significance of Samuel recognizing that he is a servant? Jesus said, I no longer call you servants but friends. We are not just friends but sons of the Most High God. That’s our positional privilege. But we need to realize that we are only servants in the presence of the Almighty, Omnipotent, Sovereign God. That understanding will help us to come with an attitude of humility before His presence.

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? God is sovereign and He can choose what He wants to do according to His will. We cannot box Him in or dictate to Him. If you are not receptive it may not be possible to hear Him, but even then since He’s sovereign and wants to get across to you He can definitely do that. But as a believer, we should be in a yielded posture and abiding position in His presence. When we do not hear from Him, we should continue doing what He has previously revealed till He gives fresh instructions or guidance.

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? We should be asking what He wants me to do with the insight that’s been given. Yes. During Jesus ministry on the earth, He was used to be a channel of blessing in the lives of the people He ministered to. If we are yielded, we too become vessels in His hands to be channel of blessing to others.

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? Brief, inarticulate nudges or promptings are mostly yes or no answers or abstract impressions. In the Old Testament period direction from the Lord was sought and understood trough the use of Urim and Thummim, in the way these stones lighted up. Even though we do not fully understood how these stones which could mean Lights and Perfections could articulate God’s guidance to the priest when he enquired of the Lord, the answers were mostly yes or no, or selecting someone/something by lots. So the answers were brief and that’s how they were similar. What happens when David needs more than a “yes” or “no” answer? When David needed much than yes or no answer, God does give him an elaborate answer with the strategy to be taken. That’s what God did to Joshua and the people for their Jericho conquest, Gideon and the three hundred against the mideonites, to mention a few.

Q1. (Acts 8:26-40; 16:6-10) Are promptings from the Holy Spirit clear enough when we’re seeking God for direction? Yes, its clear. Why is “no” just as important an answer as “yes”? He is the sovereign God. So His no is as important as yes. Have you ever felt God’s promptings to take some action? If you followed through, what happened? Yes and When I look back after many years, I have realized that it was the best thing to have happened. God knows my end from the beginning and when I follow through His promptings, even though it may not make sense at that time, it will eventually turn out for good. All glory to God alone.

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? Peter considered himself to be a law abiding Jew and would have never gone with the gentiles as Jews have no dealings with the gentiles. So the command to go to the gentiles had to be clearly impressed upon Peter’s heart. And the Holy Spirit did just that in order to make Peter know it is from the Lord. What does he do when criticized for taking this action (Acts 11:2, 12)? He repeated the vision that he had received and the clear instructions that the Lord gave him. What kind of faith does it take to obey the Spirit and take an action you know you’ll be criticized for later? You need a strong faith and trust in the goodness of the Lord who directed you, knowing that ultimately it is Him you are serving. Do you disobey when you know you might face criticism for obedience? It is easier to just cave in and disobey. Certain times God as given me the grace to stand firm in spite of criticism and other times I have miserably failed Him.

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? Flesh resists pain and suffering. Had he not heard from the Lord, Paul would have imagined that going to Jerusalem was not Gpds will. But thank God that Paul did not short circuit His plan on his life, whereby we got some precious epistles from him through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Would you have tried to dissuade him? Most probably. 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? It takes a great deal of maturity through a regular walk with the Lord. What happens when we choose the easy way, when God leads us on a difficult path? Then we are clearly not walking according to the revealed will of God in our lives.

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? When Paul hears from God, he’s profoundly touched. For it’s through God that we can do anything. When we realize that God is on our side, no matter what the circumstances around us, we rise up from ashes, so to speak. His grace is sufficient for us. God is not distant from us and is desirous that we have a meaningful, intimate, and vulnerable relationship with Him.

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? Wind, earthquake and fire are spectacular and loud displays but the Omnipotent God’s voice was not in them. Rather it was in the still small voice. Elijah was depressed and lonely and had the Lord spoken to him loudly, elijah might have taken it as a rebuke. God’s presence is best conveyed in personal communication with His servants, not in some showy spectacular display of power. The essence of God is in His relationship and communication to us, His children. God listens patiently to the pourimg torrent of self pity from Elijah without rebuke. Then He gently tells him to go back the way he came. Sometimes it is difficult to go back after our embarrassing situations, but it’s an important part of our healing and restoration. Then He gives Elijah new assignment. After He does all this then He rebukes Elijah gently. Unless we are trained to recognize God’s voice, we might mistake it for a passing thought. Sometimes we are not listening or there is so much noise in our lives that His gentle voice gets lost in the clutter

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 thoughts are higher than our thoughts and If we try to perceive His thoughts through our own efforts, we will miserably fail. But we have been given the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, to live in us and He knows God's thoughts for us and can communicate them to us ina way we can understand. Thus He communicates His guidance and truth for our lives. Thank God for the Holy Spirit, for If we did not have the Holy Spirit, we would have never heard Him in our lives.

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? The Holy Spirit is His gift to us. When Jesus was about to leave them, He said, He will not leave them orphans but will send another comforter, helper just like Him. He is the Paraclete, who comes along side with every believer. Whereas in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit come upon people who held the offices of king, priest and prophet, now all believers have the privilege of having the Holy Spirit residing in them. He guides and instructs us in the way of truth. He teaches us and speaks to us what He hears from the Father and declares to us what is to come. Because He is in us and guides us, when He speaks to us we are hearing God. If we truly hear and obey Him, then it would be just like how Jesus lived on earth, a Son in whom the Father was well pleased. We are not as obedient as Jesus was, but we know our penalty is paid for and our sin is covered by the blood of Jesus. Not only is the provision for failure made through His blood, He also made provision for our success by giving us His Holy Spirit.

Q2. (John 5:19, 30) Why do you think Jesus said, “By myself I can do nothing”? (vs. 30). How do you justify this statement with Jesus’ divine nature as the Son of God? In His earthly life, He did everything depending on the Father. He was fully yielded to the working of Holy Spirit through Him. He was subordinate to God. Moreover, during His earthly ministry, He had emptied Himself of all divine attributes and was completely human even though divine in nature. Because of which, if He had to do God’s will, He had to depend on God. In what ways can we use Jesus’ example as a pattern for our own life and ministry? We need to discern what He is wanting to do through us and do accordingly. How do you think Jesus would “see” and “hear” the Father? Because He was so tuned with the Father, He might have seen impressions from the Father and might have heard the still small voice of God.

Q1. (Mark 1:33-39) What pattern do you see emerging in Jesus’ prayer life? Jesus had a consistent prayer life. He rose very early in the morning to seek His Father in order to have intimacy with Him, to seek guidance from Him so that He would be obedient to Him in His walk on the earth. Why do you think he spends Quiet Time with the Father before the day begins? Jesus enjoyed communing with His Father before He faced the day. He wanted to spend time in intimacy with the One Who mattered the most to Him. And He wanted this time with His Father to be without any disturbance or distraction from anyone else and so He chose the early morning time when it is quiet. How does this prepare him for his ministry? He received direction, guidance for every moment of His life on earth. Whatever He did in His walk on the earth was as directed by His Father. He doesn’t get carried away by His disciples demand to serve the people, because He had clear directions from His Father and the Father vouched for it by saying “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased”. How did the disciple desires for Jesus differ from what Jesus felt impelled to do? (Mark 1:37-38) Why? His disciples wanted Him to minister according to the needs of the people rather than the direction given by His Father. Do you have a Quiet Time? What could you do to improve the quality of your time with God each day? I do. But would like to improve the time with God by avoiding distractions to which I am succumbing to.