Nicolaas A.P. Mostert

Q38. (Matthew 13:44-46). If you were to objectively assess your life, career, family, values, and possessions, is there anything more important, anything of greater value to you than your relationship with Jesus? NOTHING How would you objectively prove to a friend that Jesus is first in your life? They have to see JESUS in my life. What I say and do must be JESUS first. JESUS is my everything no matter what come my way JESUS first. When you have burdens or challengers cast it unto JESUS. Sickness and sorrow cast it unto JESUS. JESUS is closer then a brother. HE fulfil any role in our lives.

Q37. (Luke 9:23-24, etc.) What does it mean to take up your cross daily? You stand willing to die for JESUS every day. It is an image of Roman execution by crucifixion, where the condemned man carried his cross to the place of execution. 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? Take up your cross vs losing your life for me; if you don't pick up your cross you will defiantly loose your life. JESUS demands that all of us must pick up our own cross and follow HIM. This is the only way for not losing your life. How does this contrast with trying to save one's life? You cannot save yourself, we are save by HIS Grace. The cross as sign that we are save by our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Q36. (Luke 14:25-32) Are Jesus' demands of his disciples too uncompromising? No, by this time JESUS has make it clear what HE wants from them. To set the record straight, I don't think it is too uncompromised. Better to let the disciple know the standards of GOD's Kingdom then face a surprise of not knowing. JESUS wants IT ALL!!! Are we too compromising with the world's demands? Some time YES, Christians want to leave too many things in GOD's. We pray about things but we are nowhere to see for what we stands for. The Word say, GOD will fight your battle, yes it is right, but where are you as Christian in that fight. We have to let the world know that we serve a GOD of the impossible. Don't compromised with worldly standards or demands. Our basis or reference must always been, what does the Word of GOD say. What do you need to completely surrender so Jesus has all of you? Body, Soul and Spirit.

Q35. (Luke 9:57-62) What do these three analogies tell us about Jesus' requirements for his disciples? The disciple must be 100% sure that they want to follow JESUS. There must be nothing in the way between the disciple and JESUS. JESUS must be the ultimate. Why is Jesus so urgent? Time is no more, time is of the every essence, time is running out. JESUS goal is for humanity is to know the FATHER. What was he seeking to teach would-be disciples about their priorities? Put first the Kingdom of GOD. You need to really want it! JESUS teaches asking, seeking, knocking. You have to be active involve, not fair Christian attitude. JESUS want to make sure that HIS disciples are on path, with HIM and understand HIM. JESUS is not looking for casual Christians but on fire for 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? We must have an urgent need to enter the Kingdom of GOD. Not to be passive about the Kingdom. Nor are we to be gentlemanly or ladylike and let others go in ahead of us. We are to struggle, maybe even push and shove to get in while we can. No one can tell when the door will be shut close, as JESUS has said only our HEAVENLY FATHER knows the time. Make sure that you are in right standing with our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Why must would-be disciples be aggressive in order to enter the Kingdom? To be a disciple you have to make or brake what ever it takes to enter GOD's Kingdom. The Word of GOD say that HIS Kingdom suffers violence, it is only a disciple that can aggressively uphold or enter GOD's Kingdom. a Disciple must make sure his place in God's Kingdom is permanently reserve. What happens if we don't aggressively seek God? The narrow door could be close in front of your face. Slam against your face, and you might loose a everlasting feast with FATHER GOD. Why do you think Jesus told this parable to his disciples? So that they be awake of things happing in the natural that tied with the spiritual realm.

Q33. (Matthew 13:22) How do "thorns" prevent the Word of God from maturing in our lives? There is too much destructions in their lives. The focus is more on the natural things then the spiritual things. Therefor their worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the Word and makes it unfruitful. What is the difference between a genuine "disciple," follower or learner of Rabbi Jesus, and a person who holds a Christian belief system? They say, even if you stay in a garage you are not a vehicle or even cannot become one. The same with this statement to be a disciple for CHRIST you have the have a relationship with HIM. You must know HIM in person. You must love HIM with all your heart, mind soul and body. A person who holds a Christian belief system is more harmful for Christianity, it is because of those that non believers don't want to be Christians. What can you do to clear your life of the thorns that prevent Christ's work from maturing in you? You have to open up yourself for the Word of GOD. Make time in your daily schedule for GOD's Word. Don't necklet the Word of GOD. Do research on it, study it and make it your own.

Q32. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to the Parable of the Sower, why do some people fall away so quickly? GOD's Word say. that people perish for lack of knowledge. People hear the Word but don't make the effort to go read it by themselves. The moment they hear the Word immediately the Word is snatch away from them. They have actually nothing to chew on, there is no deepness in it. What is their problem? This is a type of Laissez faire attitude or comsi comsa they don't care about the Word, they don't love the Word. They don't make the Word their own. Ownership here is the problem.

Q31. (John 10:6-15) Why does a true shepherd "lay down his life for the sheep"? He cares for his sheep. He love his sheep. He has empathy for them. He groom them from birth, this creates a special relation between shepherd and sheep. The more the shepherd dwell amongst the sheep the more he got attached to the sheep. How did Jesus' do this for his disciples? JESUS prepare them the night before HIS crucifixion "The bread is JESUS body broken for you and the wine HIS blood sheard is the new covenant. The Friday JESUS was crucified, HE lay down HIS life. For us? Exactly what JESUS has done for HIS disciples HE has done it 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 set the example to them. They were in JESUS presence for three and a half year, JESUS groom them the way HE wants them to be. They must know their sheep, they must love them, they must care for them and give them the best "food" continuously. Can you think of any examples where Christ's servants have done this? When church's sent out their Evangelist to spread the WORD in the field. When church's reach out to each other with the common goal to spread the GOOD NEWS of our LORD JESUS CHRIST to those in need. When the church practically when out and serve those in need.

Q30. (John 10:1-5) Why is knowing the Shepherd's voice and obeying it so very important for disciples? There are too many voices in the air. Only one of the voices is the right one. This can only be obtain by, in the presence of the Shepherd. When in the presence of the Shepherd you learn how HE utter, how HE pronouns HIS words. When hearing a voice, you will be able to recognize HIS voice and immediately obey what HE wants to say to us. What happens when we act independently of the Shepherd? You will slowly drift away, no more in HIS presence. Start to do things in own strength. What causes sheep to stray? As the previous question say "when we act independently."

Q29. (Luke 5:36-39) What did Jesus intend his disciples to learn from the Parables of the Unshrunk Cloth and the Wineskins? You can't mix the two, because both will be destroyed. Why are we tempted to say, "The old wine is better?" People tend to grasp the old, the known, the comfort zone so that is the easiest way of choosing things. How might our church traditions limit the Holy Spirit's work in our day? when they cleanse to the old way of doing things, when they don't let go with the old. How do these parables illustrate the need for newly planted churches? New wine still have to mature in the new wine skin, so the new church has 100% change to successful maturity in CHRIST JESUS. The newly planted church can only flourish.

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? "Don't despise the day of small things." JESUS wants HIS disciples look over the small beginnings, but to see the bigger picture, the bigger end of the process. As the tiny little Mustard Seed grow into a huge massive tree or the little Yeast or Leaven allow the dough to raise into enormous versus its size. In the beginning things might look small, insignificant or moving slow, but the end result will let them stand amaze. Why might the disciples be discouraged by the "size" of the Kingdom? The disciples were the first to that received the commandment to expand the Kingdom, therefor they looked upon that small number. Why are we sometimes discouraged in Christian work? Sometimes you see the results immediately, but sometimes over a long period and during that period things began in the mind "will it really manifest?" We have to have great FAITH to do GOD's work. Why are patience and faith so important for disciples? Patience to endure the long period of waiting and waiting, to be wait upon the LORD and not try to do thing out of human strength. Faith that built up through out that waiting period of patience and see how GOD came though to deliver HIS promises.

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? JESUS' parables are related to objects in JESUS' time on earth. Was there camels and needle, Yes. Was there a small gate in a big gate called "eye of the needle, Yes. The first example, shows that it impossible for men to save themselves, only GOD can. 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'" This version shows a clear cut GOD or nothing. The second example, shows men must first admit his wrong doings, kneel at the cross asked for forgiveness, off-load his baggage's (sin) and enter GOD's Kingdom blameless. Why is salvation impossible to humans? Salvation is no more out of work as in the Old Testament, but by HIS Grace.

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? When you believe and accept our LORD JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and Savor, your have just invite HOLY SPIRIT to dwell in you. The more you meditate on GOD's Word the more HOLY SPIRIT will flow out of your belly like Streams of Water. when you have that Stream of Living Water within you, you will be never thirst again. Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? Only HOLY SPIRIT. How are these promises fulfilled in believers? By the Baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.

Q23. (John 3:3-8) In what way is becoming a believer in Jesus similar to a second birth? To become a believer in CHRIST JESUS, you step out of the Kingdom of darkness into GOD's Kingdom of Light. As believer you started a New Day in CHRIST JESUS. Then you have to grow from a Christian fed with milk to a Christian fed with meat. As Paul the Apostle said, we have to grow-up in maturity, in the same measure and stature of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. The second birth relates to the spiritual birth, to be born from the Kingdom of GOD. What aspects of physical birth into the are analogous to spiritual birth that Jesus seeks to clarify with this analogy? A new born baby has to be born through the amniotic fluid as symbolic of physical birth before experience the light of natural world. The spiritual birth the most important part of a New believer, to be wash and cleanse JESUS' blood and baptism through water. What about wind's characteristics are we to attribute to the Spirit? "The wind (pneuma) blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (pneuma)." (John 3:8) People who have been born of the Spirit, JESUS is saying, are motivated, guided, and moved by an unseen but powerful force beyond themselves. The life of the Spirit is a new level of spiritual existence, a different plane entirely. Only people who have been born of the Spirit can perceive and enter the Kingdom of God.

Q15. (Luke 16:19-31). What was the Rich Man's sin that landed him in hell? He was self-centered, only mind things concerning him. His luxury life style and money was the his daily focus and love towards it. It is not luxury life style or money that let him fall into sin but the love of it. There was no time for him to reach out to his neighbors or the beggar (Lazarus). Since it isn't stated explicitly, what must it be? Caring for the poor, we as Christians must have that passion and love to serve the community in specific the vulnerable. In hell, what is the Rich Man's attitude towards Lazarus? Still didn't recognised Lazarus as equal in creation. What is the main point of the Parable asof the Rich Man and Lazarus? No matter who you are they are equal in GOD's eyes. On Judgement Day their judgement where equally according their actions on earth. Roles have changed Lazarus that was in need received well deserve here after life will the Rich Man was put in hell where no one can stand it. Love towards one anther is every much short in this parable. What are you and your church doing to aid the very poor in your area? In the world? Gather clothes, shoes and food to hand out to the poor. When it's winter blankets and soup are also part of the dish outs.

Q9. (Mark 7:14-23; Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20) What does Jesus teach about the heart of man? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him "unclean"? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. Only what comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean. What does Jeremiah 17:9 tell us about the heart of man? The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it? Why do we try to look good on the outside, but resist letting Jesus change us on the inside? The natural man always looks to the outwards appearance, the hair style, the face reconstruction and the branded clothes been wear. Most of the time people want to change their inner man themselves, this is not possible, only HOLY SPIRIT can change a person for inside out. Why is repentance necessary for an outwardly "moral" person in order to be saved? Repentance is a new way thinking and living. It is a way of putting GOD's Kingdom first. It is a way cleaning from inside out and this cause outward to be lighted up.

Q5. (Luke 13:6-9) What caused Israel's barrenness in Jesus' time? The Pharisee and Sadducee in JESUS' time has rejected the teaching and our LORD JESUS CHRIST in person. They were still waiting on the MESSIAH come because to them JESUS is the son of Joseph and Mary. The WORDS JESUS has spoken didn't found entrance in them because of their unbelieve and if the WORD of GOD didn't enter any life, it will stays dormant or barren. The veil was still hanging over their eye still blind in their own traditions and man made laws. It was too hard for them to change their minds, for this reason Israel was barren in JESUS' time. What keeps the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) from growing and maturing in our lives? When people didn't want to submit them to the HOLY SPIRIT. HOLY SPIRIT is the only person that can cause some to grow and mature in their lives. Fellowship with the HOLY SPIRIT is the key maturity in CHRIST JESUS as FATHER GOD want us to grow to the full stature of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. What can we disciples learn from the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree? We have to continuously fellowship with HOLY SPIRIT. The KINGDOM of GOD is not a one-man show, but interaction (fellowship) with fellow Christian.

We serve a GOD who's character is love, mercy and grace. It's GOD's desire that not one of HIS creation (mankind) must get lost, for this every reason FATHER GOD sent HIS loving SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST to this every earth to seek the lost. JESUS also said, that a person who is healthy don't go to a doctor but the one who is sick, so HE has come not for the righteous but for the unrighteous (sinner) to be saved. JESUS shows the same love and compassion of FATHER GOD, after all HE is GOD in flesh. JESUS search with love for the lost, found them turns into a feast of celebration rejoicing for one more soul add to the Kingdom of FATHER GOD.