Irmela

Q37. (Luke 9:23-24, etc.) What does it mean to take up your cross daily? What does this have to do with "losing your life for Me." What are the consequences in one's Christian walk if a disciple wants to take this step of commitment? How does this contrast with trying to save one's life? To take up one's cross daily means to be willing to die for Jesus at any time and any place. In any way. To lose our life or to die on this earth, then means living with Jesus in eternity. (For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.) This commitment is total. It is fully putting down self and taking on Christ. If you mean by that to disown Christ and thus save one's life, that is definitely not what one should do. Christ comes first. Come what may, we are to live for Him.

Q36. (Luke 14:25-32) Are Jesus' demands of His disciples too uncompromising? (unyielding) Are we too compromising (ready to reach an agreement) with the world's demands? What do you need to completely surrender so Jesus has all of you? Jesus is saying to us, come at all costs even if it means, losing relationships etc, He, Jesus has counted the cost and was willing to give up everything, for humanity to be saved. He does not expect of us, what He hasn't done Himself.

Q35. (Luke 9:57-62) What do these three analogies tell us about Jesus' requirements for His disciples? Why is Jesus so urgent? What was He seeking to teach would-be disciples about their priorities? They need to be serious about their commitment. They need to know and understand what their priorities are and live and act accordingly. Jesus comes first. Not only one day and not the next, but all the time. Live for Him. Jesus is urgent about this because there are many would be followers, who are actually fence sitters and want to follow for the excitement and the crowds, but they are not really serious about serving Him at all. Just interested in the good times. They can be a bad influence or a negative influence on the ones who are serious. Jesus wants us to keep our priorities right. Not be wobbly as a wave, and uncertain about Him.

Q34. (Luke 13:23-27) Beyond the message that few will be saved, what is the unique message of the Parable of the Narrow Door? Why must would-be disciples be aggressive in order to enter the Kingdom? What happens if we don't aggressively seek God? Why do you think Jesus told this parable to His disciples? The message is to reveal the fact that there is more to the concept of being a true follower than just "sign a paper, as to having made a decision to change". It is more than just a desire, a few tears and that's it. It is a doing (striving), a letting go of all that hinders us from living for the Lord Jesus. A repenting from a selfish lifestyle, a godless existence, and a putting aside of ones own desires and a striving to "let God". I understand this word aggressive to mean "be serious about" the decision, to seek God. It means being forceful and bold. That is what I understand by making a decision to seek and follow the Lord. If eventually you are not serious about seeking God and following/serving Him, you will loose out and the door will close. The opportunity to do so will end. Hard times were looming ahead, and some would not follow through with the path they had chosen. They would fall back during the persecutions that were soon to follow and overcome the followers of Jesus. Not just in that era. Throughout the times even till now there are those persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Their have been many martyrs.

Q33. (Matthew 13:22) How do "thorns" prevent the Word of God from maturing in our lives? Worries of this life can consume a person. Depends on how we handle them. If they crop up and we hand them over to the Lord and genuinely let them go and TRUST Him to take care of them, then the thorny branch begins to disentangle. Riches and the Desire for other Things can easily deceive one into thinking that it will be easier to serve the Lord, if one has this or that. Meanwhile this and that can just be the start of the desire for more and more. Luring one into the "keeping up with the Jones's style of life. There is nothing wrong with riches in themselves, it is the love of riches that binds a person, which prevents the Word of God from being wanted to make a change in ones lifestyle. Pleasures in this life can consume one. The need to take part in this event, that party, that sports, that competition etc. This crowds out time for anything else. No alone time spent with the Lord in quiet. What is the difference between a genuine "disciple," follower or learner of Rabbi Jesus, and a person who holds a Christian belief system? A genuine disciple/follower/learner of Rabbi Jesus, will put everything aside and desire to spend time with Him. His lifestyle will portray Jesus. A person who holds a Christian belief system, will be a person with good morals etc but not one who has a personal relationship with Jesus. One will know Jesus whereas the other will know about Jesus. What can you do to clear your life of the thorns that prevent Christ's work from maturing in you? Spend time in the Word (seeing we still have the chance to do so), speak to the Lord about anything and everything, know Him in everything, worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. This way worries are drowned and not fed, desires are curbed and pleasure is found in serving Christ.

Q32. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to the Parable of the Sower, do some people fall away so quickly? What is their problem? Unbelief . . . doubting Reading the responses brings many thoughts to mind. It is all well and good to say, they do not read the Word, or they fail to be grounded in the Word. What about the illiterate persons or where there is no Bible. I think of those in the Communistic countries who cannot even openly gather together around the Word. I personally have experienced not being free to openly read the Word. The Bible and any Christian books were hidden to not be thrown away or torn up. I do feel that if the response to someone having shared the Gospel is shallow then indeed they will fall away quickly, as testified by ROBOMOM3. I also believe that if there is a genuine desire to have a change of heart that, that person will grow with or without normal fellowship and reading of the Word. Talking to and waiting on the Lord is also important. Reading the Word is very important (I don't deny that). Believing and trusting Him, is what matters.

Q31. (John 10:6-15) Why does a true shepherd "lay down his life for the sheep"? Because of his LOVE. A true shepherd lives for his sheep. They are his. They are who he loves , who he is proud of. He cares for them, so that they are in good health, so that they learn how to be obedient. He knows that in the misty , foggy conditions, he can walk ahead with his stick, which he puts hard on the ground (so it can be heard) that he has taught his sheep to follow him. He also knows that his sheep are vulnerable. He is prepared, because of his love for them, to lay down his life for them. He gives up creature-comforts, to be with them. To keep them calm in harsh weather conditions, his presence is enough. His voice stills them. How did Jesus' do this for His disciples? For us? Jesus knew that the only way for humanity, to share eternal life with Him, a perfect sacrifice was needed. He was prepared to put aside His heavenly glory and take up life as man starts life. (a cell) Like that He grew to be born into a family; to live in a community where he was to be accepted by some, rejected by others; He learnt to accept instruction, guidance etc., from human parents/guardians; He was tempted to do wrong, yet He did not sin; etc. He was indeed the perfect man - the perfect SACRIFICE. He "laid down" His life for His disciples, for us. In what way did Jesus intend His disciples to learn that they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives for the sheep? Jesus intended us to recognize the need of fellow humans and be prepared to fulfill those needs, not only in food, clothing and maybe housing but also in giving of ones time. That is laying down ones life. Putting aside what is important for oneself and fulfilling someone else's need. Then too it was in fulfilling the work given to do viz., to teach others about Him. This could literally mean death for many. Can you think of any examples where Christ's servants have done this? We read of Stephen who was stoned for his faith. Tradition tells us that many of the first disciples were martyred. Today still, there are many who give their life in the Mission field and are martyred for their faith. Others accept Christ as Saviour and who are then thrown out by family and loved ones. They lay down their lives again for others to see and follow suit.

Q30. (John 10:1-5 Why is knowing the Shepherd's voice and obeying it so very important for disciples? It is very important to know the shepherd's voice, so that we can follow the right voice. It doesn't help not knowing His voice, because which voice do we end up obeying. As disciples we need to know the Shepherd's voice that we are following. What happens when we act independently of the Shepherd? When we act independently of the Shepherd, we are on dangerous ground. Bound for disappointment, disillusionment and abandonment. What causes sheep to stray? That is a very interesting point made about the Bummer lambs. (Nikonya16) Yes, rejection is a prime reason for straying and for fear to set in and uncertainty and then not to return to the original "church fold" one was in. Unfortunately very often it makes a person turn away from the Faith completely . Important: Don't look on the other "sheep" nor on the so-called leader of that church-flock. Look to JESUS the TRUE SHEPHERD!!!!! I am talking from experience.

Q29. (Luke 5:36-39) What did Jesus intend his disciples to learn from the Parables of the Unshrunk Cloth and the Wineskins? Why are we tempted to say, "The old wine is better?" How might our church traditions limit the Holy Spirit's work in our day? How do these parables illustrate the need for newly planted churches? Jesus came to give us the "new wine" of the Gospel. This new wine is to be placed in the new wineskin of GRACE, not in the old one of LAW. We are used to the old and can logically see that if the Law is not broken, it works. But we are not perfect and do sin, so we need the new. We see that the Law shows or portrays our wickedness, our shortfalls. Never can we be saved by the Law. Works fail us. Traditions are not flexible. It is the same old all the time. The Holy Spirit does not act robotic. When someone is touched in a meeting and tears just flow and flow or someone is moved to confess a sin (repent) or someone from the street (a tramp who reeks of goodness knows what) comes in to attend the meeting, we are very apt to stop or watch sharply and try to stop the extra ordinary works going on. This is trying to limit the Spirit to what we seem to think as being proper. It limits the Holy Spirit's work, by stopping His free flowing, as He sees fit. It's hard to change the old. Not necessarily that the people are against tramps coming to salvation. Almost as if they expect them to be "cleaned" up first, before they come to church. The new churches are almost sooner geared to accept the "obvious sinner" , and are aiming for just that, whereas the more traditional ones, make one be almost too scared to breathe in, in case you breathe wrong. (Maybe it's just me that feels like that. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone, I didn't mean to)

Q28. (Luke 13:18-21) What lesson did Jesus intend his disciples to learn from the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast or Leaven? Why might the disciples be discouraged by the "size" of the Kingdom? Why are we sometimes discouraged in Christian work? Why are patience and faith so important for disciples? Having re-read the answer as I wrote it, I see that I only covered the mustard seed portion. Looking at the yeast or leaven, I am even more convinced that Jesus is warning that the Kingdom will eventually be infiltrated and not look at all like it should. If we look at what is and has happened over the years. We find worldliness infiltrate into the churches. Many times there is no difference between a person in the world and a so called Christian. The "yeast" has truly done its work. Hidden, so it isn't noticed right away. According to Dr McGee, "leaven" occurs ninety-eight times in the Bible. Never really in a positive sense. Seems strange for it to be so now. Only when Christ returns will the true Kingdom be established.

Q28. (Luke 13:18-21) What lesson did Jesus intend his disciples to learn from the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast or Leaven? Why might the disciples be discouraged by the "size" of the Kingdom? Why are we sometimes discouraged in Christian work? Why are patience and faith so important for disciples? The questions are covered but not as they are asked. I do notice that as mentioned there is controversy about the meaning of this parable. Smallness can often be discouraging to us. Be it as being insignificant, unimportant, not being similar in size to other "bigness". We need to remind ourselves it is quality that is important not quantity. It is not that which is seen on the outside, but the work that is going on inside of a recipient of the Gospel message, that is important. Faith to believe that the seed planted will continue to germinate and grow, is vital, else we will continually run back and check. Pull the seed out and look. Do more damage that way. Leave it. Let go and LET GOD. This is exercising both patience and faith. Dr Campbell Morgan writes in his book "The Parables and Metaphors of our Lord" , Quote: "Whatever the popular interpretation may be, It is not therefore necessarily the correct one. It may be correct, but popularity is not any guarantee of accuracy. Considering history from the standpoint of observation and interpreting these parables of Jesus by the facts of history as we know them, is also a perilous procedure to guard against. General principles of interpretation to be observed is the harmony of the teaching of Jesus throughout these parables and the consistency of our Lord's figures of speech." Thru the Bible with J, Vernon McGee gives a similar interpretation. The Sower sowing the seed, being the Son of man. The soil, the field where it is sown, is the world. The birds would then be symbolic of evil. Thus the abnormality of the growth of the mustard shrub/tree, would then make a lodging (camping place) for the birds of the air. This indeed is what is seen that it has become. A great worldly power principally occupied with its loftiness, the expressing of itself in pride, seeking dominion, or domination in the affairs of the world; consequently it has become the refuge of unclean things. Could Jesus not have been giving the disciples a warning in the citing of this parable. Don't think everything must be BIG. Don't think the following must always be LARGE. Don't strive for POPULARITY. Hank said it well: "Bigger is not better". When the Lord cited this parable, He was not dealing with the true nature of the Kingdom. He said: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . . " The ethics of the Kingdom are found in THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Q27. (Luke 11:17-22) In the Parable of the Binding of the Strong Man, who is the strong man? Who is the stronger warrior? How does this explain Jesus' power to cast out demons? How does it explain Jesus' power to set you free? To set your friends free? Satan indeed is no weakling but Jesus by far is the stronger Warrior. This is shown to us in human terms which we can relate to. We can understand that a strong man would need to be bound first in order to overthrow him. If he is loose he can still cause all sorts of "mischief" to try and prevent the overthrow. Demons are the beings that satan uses to try and thwart the work of Christ. Jesus has shown again and again in the accounts of the Gospels and happenings throughout history that demons can be cast out of the victoms they try to hold in their power.

Q26. (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) How do the bread and wine remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins? In what way, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, do we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26)? A spotless sacrifice was needed for the forgiving of sins. The matzos made without yeast (yeast being a symbol of sin) symbolizes a life without sin. When we partake of it we break it. Jesus' s body was broken for us. The wine which symbolizes blood, which in turn symbolizes life, symbolizes Christ's blood poured out for my sins. When I use the "Bread and the Wine", I am thus reminded of what Christ did for me on the cross of Calvary. He was the Perfect Sacrifice for me. In this way by partaking of the bread and the wine , we remind ourselves continually that it was the Lord's death that has made it possible that we are forgiven.

Q25. (Luke 18:24-25) Why do you think people try to distort Jesus' Saying of the Camel and the Needle from a parable of impossibility? Why is salvation impossible to humans? I have understood this to mean that with much or little riches or anything of our own doing, we cannot enter. All, be it riches or works, or even personality, needs to be laid aside, to enter the Kingdom of God. It is by GRACE alone that we can enter. So also we cannot enter that city gate called THE NEEDLE, with the opening being THE EYE, without laying aside everything first. Nothing we try to take with us, can enable us to enter. Salvation is impossible to humans as we are sinful. With sin you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That has to be laid aside. God's Gift of Salvation is not given by merit. It is by Grace we are saved through Faith. Nothing of our own doing has anything to do with it.

Q24. (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39) If water is symbolic of life, what is flowing or living water symbolic of in these passages? Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? How are these promises fulfilled in believers? To live, we need food, water, and air to be able to breathe. A well needs replenishing. It contains water that is all gathered in one place. A spring has running water, that bubbles out of the ground. One can almost see it leaping out of the earth, as it were, with a never ending joy. In John 7 "Rivers of Living Water" are spoken about. It furnishes a picture of bountifulness, never ending, a continuity. If we take the picture of the woman at the well, we find her spiritual thirst brought about by degradation in life, disillusionment in people and life itself, and total dissatisfaction about what her life had become. In general thirst is beneficial to a person, because one senses a need to be fulfilled, to be quenched. With no desire or thirst to change, that soul becomes dehydrated and dies. Rivers are suggestive of life in quenching of thirst, also in providing means by which fruit or a harvest can be brought forth. When Jesus said the words, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink," when STANDING, He was proclaiming them, like a herald. When we believe we begin thirsting, and come to Him to quench our thirst. Then the Holy Spirit fills us with the Living Water, that flows like a river from within us, bubbling up, beautifying satisfying, building us up, refreshing our souls, bringing forth fruit.

Q23. (John 3:3-8) In what way is becoming a believer in Jesus similar to a second birth? What aspects of physical birth are analogous to spiritual birth that Jesus seeks to clarify with this analogy? What about wind's characteristics are we to attribute to the Spirit? A birth is coming out of somewhere into some other place. Out of the womb into the world. Becoming a believer is coming out of unbelief into believing in Jesus. (Unbelief disappears, just as the darkness of the womb). It is experiencing something new.' A new beginning. Life in the womb had already become a fact. Now the birthing brings in a new way of living. With a natural birth the "water sac" which held the baby bursts and the birthing process begins. Being born again, also needs the working of that "water". By hearing and reading the Word, the process of repentance begins. and then the working of the Holy Spirit brings about the action of regeneration. In this way a "new person" is birthed and grows to "maturity". What is not of God is cleansed and made new or replaced/ regenerated. The wind is and remains a mystery. The result of the working of the Spirit is a fact. The personality changes. But how and when it happens remains a mystery. Working with the Spirit and you get desired results eg., allowing the wind to blow the sails of the ships and you get results. (cf wind and Spirit)

Lisa, thank you for sharing about your own father's salvation. What an encouragement. God is so faithful. There are not adjectives descriptive enough to describe our God.

Q4. (Acts 12:6-17) Why do you think the Christians don't believe their own prayers for Peter's release? Don't they believe in miracles any longer? Why don't we pray with greater faith to the God who can do anything? How can we grow our faith in God so we can pray better? I don't think it was so much that they did not believe as that it never occurred to them that the release would come in the way it did. Possibly that he would be released in the usual way, was the way of expectation. I guess in a way it is unbelief and in a way it is that one is shrouded with guilt and feels so unworthy to have prayers answered. How can we grow our faith in God so we can pray better? I do not have an answer. It is after all by GRACE and grace alone that anything favourable is forthcoming to us anyway. Help my unbelief and change my words to be Yours and my yearnings to be like Yours also, my precious Lord.

Q3. (Acts 11:29-30) In what way does the monetary gift from the Antioch believers to the Judean believers exemplify the most basic directive of Jesus (John 13:35)? Why do you think that ministry to the poor and needy has become a hallmark of the Church down through the ages to our own day? What happens when we de-emphasize this? What happens when we over-emphasize this? Showing love, cross-cultural love at that, in sharing with fellow-believers,who you do not even know, is most certainly a way of loving one another as Christ did. Invariably it is the poor and needy that come for help. That is where a ministry usually starts and blossoms. What gets done is seen or is visible. Others are attracted to where genuineness is reflected or seen. Over-emphasizing it can cause people to come just for the hand-outs instead of for the spiritual help also. De-emphasizing the caring for the poor and needy gives the impression that there is no love in that body of believers. It is like saying to an unclad beggar be warm , but it is a freezing day and he has nothing to cover himself with.

Q2. (Acts 11:22-26) What qualifications did Barnabas have that made him an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch? What qualifications did Saul of Tarsus have that caused Barnabas to seek him out and enlist him to help in Antioch? Why do you think it took so long for Saul to get into active ministry in Antioch? Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He was from Cyprus. The new believers in Antioch had been given the Good News of the Kingdom by fellow-Cypreans. This then made him an ideal candidate to help with the work there. Saul was a Pharisee, well learned in the Scriptures. Also he was a Rabbi. Saul was well-versed in the Greek language and knew the Greek culture as he had lived among the Greeks. He was a Roman citizen. These put lots of things in his favour. Saul first had to be "forgotten" as he had originally been part of the persecution mob. His life had to bear fruit and thus prove that he had really turned away from the enemy camp . Barnabas had befriended him before and introduced him to the Jerusalem leaders. He had to flee when his life was in danger. That was when he went into obscurity for a long period and very likely shared the Gospel there. Submission is a heavy tool to pick up and use. It is a very effective tool, but not readily used.

Q1. (Acts 11:19-21) Why do you think it took so long for the gospel to jump over from the Jewish "fishing pond" into the vast ocean of Gentiles who need Christ? What kind of preparation did God have to do among the Jewish Christians to get them ready for this? Babies don't grow overnight. They grow fast, yes, but it still takes time. Believers take time to mature, to ripen. Before the new converts could be sent into the vast ocean of Gentiles, they needed to be able to share in the "fish-pond of Jews". There were still Jews that were open to the Good News of the KIngdom. They needed to join in first. The Good News was to be given to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. Home-ground first. When they were persecuted there and the dispersion came in earnest, they were ready to pick up tools , as it were, and start off elsewhere. In the new places they then began spreading the Word among fellow- Jews who had settled there previously then in the market places or public places where a mixture of people were gathered. Those interested would then gather in areas where they were taught together. The mind-set of the Jewish Christians had to change before they could be sent to the Samaritans and the Gentiles. They had to see them as potential fellow-believers and not view them as unclean or as a different class of people.

Q5. (Acts 10:44-48) Clearly tongues were a sign to Peter that Cornelius's household had been baptized with the Spirit. Does the Scripture support a doctrine that speaking in tongues is a "necessary sign" of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If so, how? (Christians disagree on these matters, so be gentle as you share your thoughts with one another.) Whatever anyone believes or decides is the correct answer remember that "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. . . . The evil one also uses counterfeits, so be careful. The fruit will reflect if the person is filled with the Holy Spirit or not.

Q4. (Acts 10:38) Since Jesus is God, why is he dependent upon the Spirit's anointing? Are we dependent upon the Spirit's empowerment in a similar way, or is it different for us? He had emptied Himself, i.e. laid aside that part, and had come as a slave as a likeness of man. Therefore to do the work He was called to do and had agreed to do, He needed to have the Spirit's anointing. If Jesus needed that empowerment, we very definately need to be empowered as well. We sure do need the Spirit's anointing on our lives to be able to do anything He calls us to do. Without Him I can do nothing Without Him I'd surely fail Without Him I would be drifting Like a ship without a sail

Q3. (Acts 10:9-16) Why does God have to bring this noon-time vision to Peter? What prejudices did Peter have against Gentiles? How did his religion prevent him from reaching out to Gentiles? What specifically did God tell him about "common and unclean"? How does this revelation affect his attitude towards Jewish dietary laws? Peter needed to be prepared. He needed to know that it was from the Lord that these Gentiles came to him. Jews didn't generally mix with the Gentiles. In a way Peter was still thinking as one under the Mosaic system. The Gentiles that did believe in God and accepted the Jewish way of life also needed to be circumcised. They were then known as the proselytes. Peter needed to realize that God was opening the way to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles also, without them having to become proselytes. "What God has cleansed do not call common." God had prepared Cornelius and his household. Jewish dietary laws were for a past era. They have now been superceded, and all that you eat will not change your relationship with the Lord.

Q2. (Acts 10:4) Why do you think your prayers and your obedient life are like incense that gives God pleasure? Do you think you can actually bring pleasure to God? To be honest I cannot really imagine incense that has a pleasurable smell. The ones that I have smelt have given me a headache and I have tried to get away from the area where they burnt, as quickly as possible. I actually do have a good imagination and so it is difficult for me to get this picture of something like incense being pleasurable to God. Recently I have been reading in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers where the Children of Israel were to bring the sacrifices to the Lord. The mixture of the oil to be used etc has just made me realize that it was something specific, a special recipe for the "oil" to be used, which was mixed to create a sweet smelling savour. It was to be used for nothing else. That was well-pleasing to God. It was not to be a counterfeit. The prayers also need to be specific and not counterfeit to be well pleasing to God. Certainly not full of self (as with the Pharisee who lauded himself for what he did etc., refer to Jesus' parable in Luke 18:9-12). Not something that is just babbled off. My God, I pray that my life may truly be a sweet smelling aroma to You. May You have pleasure in me.