winevine03

Q3. (Judges 6:12-16) How did God see Gideon? How did Gideon see himself? Whose self-perception is most accurate? How can our own self-perception prevent us from becoming what God has made us to be? What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? What might be an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage? This reminds me of Kris Valloton's explanation in "bringing out the gold in people." We do not see ourselves as God sees us. Boy if we did - watch out world. We don't carry the power Jesus says we have access to - we are broken and don't believe God and what He says about us, and subsequently we are not walking in that truth. I don't act like a royal priesthood, a chosen people! But it's the truth. "God break through my spirit of unbelief and help me to believe Your Word spoken about me, and how you see me, and feel about me. Help me to walk in the authority Jesus died to give me."

Q2. (Judges 6:13) In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in verse 13? Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? Why do we blame God? What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? Gideon's response is indicative of someone who's ignorance has clouded their understanding of reality. Had Gideon, and the decendents before him been schooled and instructed of all that went down and was recorded in the book of Deuternonomy as Moses commanded them, their ignorance could not be an excuse, and perhaps they would not be in this mess. Perhaps they still would. But I think the lack of remembering carried down through the generations; the reading of the laws, was what leads to Gideon's obvious lack of understanding of the Israelite demise, and so he blames God not knowing why else this could be happening! His assessment is far from accurate because he is not aware of, or has not pursued the lessons of the past, nor does he know God and how he operates! We blame God for the same reasons we blame others, because we are prideful and choose not to accept responsibility ourselves. It is plainly written that if we do this, this, and this, we will reap all the benefits of the promises. But if we don't do this, this, and this, we will suffer the repercussions. It is all in writing, there is no excuse. We can take seriously and believe all that is written in our bible's as God's word to us given by the Holy Spirit to men for mankind's benefit to know God and all he expects of us.

Q2. According to the prophet in 6:7-10, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? How does this affect Christians today? That they did not listen to God when he to told them not to worship, revere, or fear any other gods but Him! "You shall have no other gods before me." The Israelites had totally forgotton how the LORD had driven out all their enemies before them and given them land they did not buy and houses they did not build, and vineyards they did not plant; they disobeyed the most important condition under which He did this for them. They were slaves in Egypt, He saved them and tested them in the desert;He made them a promise, that had a condition attached to it. He told them what would go down if they did not remain faithful to the condition - they did not remain faithful to the condition thus reaped the penalty. How soon we forget the conditions of the promise; we remember the promise but forget the condition that is included. We see God as a loving, understanding, and a merciful God- slow to anger; and He is all these things, but lets not forget the ONE THING - the MOST IMPORTANT THING, that Jesus said, "to love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your sould, all your mind, and all your strength." When we do this, the condition is met effortlessly.

Thank YOU JESUS! and Thank you Pastor Ralph, for these last two paragraphs, that I will keep close, because it fits into what God has been trying to teach me. That I have authority of Satan, I gained that authority when I accepted Jesus as LORD Of my life. I have been living below my potential, and still in slavery due to my lack of revelation. God's Grace is more than sufficient for me, let that truth enter into my mind, and spirit. This knowledge should definitely transform our prayer life, and our level of faith. But practiced it must be.

It is so easy, unless we are constantly working on being in line with God, constantly working on being one with His Spirit, in His Spirit, walking as closely as we can with Jesus. I know this is true for me at least; a one day lapse in His Word, and with Him leaves me wide open to all kinds of sinful action I regret; just from being out of the loop. It's a bad place for me to be, out of the loop. I don't expect God to be anything other than what He is, because He is so perfect just how He is, and I am desperately in need of His Grace and His Mercy.

They are dead in their transgressions, and sins. Isn't it a sin to not believe? Isn't the wages of sin death? The difference between us and them is that we have responded to the outstretched arm of Christ, accepted all He has done for us, and agree to live for HIm, for HE IS OUR WAY. We would put off our fear, which is not from God, and forget about what they think, and speak the truth in love to them. Asking the HOly Spirit to enable us to speak, and to do a work in them. Also to represent the Living Christ through our actions, as a testimony to His grace because of what He does in us. All this is easy to type, but practically will I go out today and speak to someone I know is spiritually dead about Jesus?

As a member of Christ's chosen body, I have a duty to fulfill; and what a joy that should be, to be used of Christ, to be a working part of His plan to retrieve the lost from a dying world. How else will they know if not drawn by God to His people, His church, to fill the hole that the world leaves in us with the love of Christ, and then to move on and take part in His divine plan.

I am unsure of my authority and how to use it. Probably so that we realize that Christ has already won, and we know how the story ultimately ends; we need only continue fighting the battle for the lost until He comes back to get us. Because the enemy is so good at deceiving us, and because we are just not up to the fight, sadly. Paul was assuring the ephesians that Christ has won the victory, and we are more than conquerors too through Him who has overcome death! This should encourage me to deeply seek courage from the only one who can give it to me, pray for opportunitys to practice this courage I am receiving by faith, and get out on the battle field like David, and run to my enemy, sure of the victory I have already attained through my faith in the TRUE AND LIVING GOD.

I am powerless because I do not exercise this faith I have, I am powerless because I am crippled with fear, I am powerless because I do not step off this ledge of comfort and predictability into the point of no return; I am powerless because I do not take God at HIs Word. The inadequacy is undoubtedly with my faith. The movement must take hold of more than just a handful of faith-filled, Spirit-led, ledge-leeping, fealess, and obedient world-changers; they must infect their whole churches, who can then change their communities, and the world. We change this by taking God at HIs Word, and seeking HIM FIRST, and jumping off the ledge!

I think yes, it would in many ways, and no in others. Yes in the sense that my overall oulook on things would be slightly different, more hopeful perhaps. And no in that I might have an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of attitude about it, just knowing me! This kind of promise is different though. I fully trust God to make good on all His promises, and as spectacular as the sights here on earth are to me, I can only imagine what Heaven will be like. I am less and less attached to this place as I grow closer to God. I just wanna be where He is. I think our fellowship and tolerance of eachother is very important to Jesus, and so it should be to us. After all, we can pray for anything, surely we can pray for the ability to help and be around those we are not attracted to.

My hope is in Christ, I have the sum of all He is now, and Heaven in the near future. It "should" motivate me to share my faith with as many as possible to help usher in the Kingdom. This hope "should" affect my decisions and my lifestyle in such a way that ALL I do is for the glory of the Kingdom to come. My life should be a clear reflection of His love, as an example to ALL around me to give an answer for the hope that I have. What hope does an unbeliever have?

I'd say the end of the term ocurrs at the rapture, or when Jesus comes; perhaps the same thing. I am quite comfortable with the two terms, they make me feel even more of a part of something huge. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit, a down payment of the miraculous things of God, moving and leading me through this world, and into the next.

God has chosen for a reason, Hallelujah! Oh, that I would be made to know the riches of His glorious grace, His good pleasure, and will; to praise, to give approval, TO THE ONE WHO MADE ME! "It is so incredible, it borders on fantasy (quoted from Graham Cooke at the Normal Kindgom Life Conference, 9/28/06 in Vacalville, CA.)." This statement is so profound to me, because I am (but soon to be was) addicted to others approval. I am (almost was) an approval addict. So to consider my purpose as being to approve of God, that is big for me, that God wants my approval. Praise and approval to me just never seemed the same, can't explain why! I guess this revelation makes me see God in a more intimate way than before. Not that He needs my approval, but that He desires it. That is so awesome. In Mathew 5:15,16; Paul conveys Gods message for us not to be hidden, not to keep what we know a secret, like a great stock tip. God doesn't desire us to be greedy with our testimonies. He's a best kept secret, but He wants us to share HIm with the world who so desperately needs to know Him, and that is our job while we remain on this planet for however long that is. Share your faith in God, it is something worth sharing. It is really the only thing worth anything at all!

I relate that statement to the fact that Jesus is the head of the church, we are the parts of the body, but He is the head of us. We cannot perform our own work, we must be engaged with Him, and following His lead. He is our leader, we are the followers. He has the plan, we are to carry it out. I believe it relates to the Creator, in the sense that God is head over all, but He has delegated certain apects of His great plan to His Son, and for now, this is how it is to be. But I totally believe God is fully in the loop, after all, Jesus only did what he saw his father doing. Unity is what we should all be about, not confusion and strife. That just proves we are about ourselves, and following Jesus' lead, we are attempting to blaze our own trail. I think 1 Corinthians is a wonderful passage, a gift to the body of Christ. God is so intentional, and gave us a clear definition of the order he has established. Jesus never considered himself equal with God, or tried to make anyone else think he was.

Before accepting Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, as the Way in which I will continue to live my life; I was steeped in drug abuse and immorality. I had hurt many people, and was numb to the fallout of my actions. But one day I was sitting in jail, coming down, and quite frankly coming down hard; and suddenly the only thing that mattered to me was being forgiven. For I had much to be forgiven of. Now, even though I got out of jail, and went back to my previous lifestyle, there was something deposited in me that was not going away. I must have gone back to jail 5 more times after that, but Jesus didn't leave me, even though I may have left Him. He didn't give up on me. I guess that's the predestined part. So redemption, to me, came that time in jail, but real freedom came later, when He finally delivered me from the bondage of drugs. Had I not been redeemed, I might very well be dead, or more likely in prison. Not restored to my family as a mother to my 11 year old son, getting a college degree, and pursuing a normal life with Jesus as my leader, and teacher. I PRAISE YOU JESUS. YOU ARE THE ONLY WAY, WITHOUT YOU LIFE ISN'T WORTH LIVING.

Well, we can't all be born like Jesus, who IS GOD'S ONLY SON, but as adopted children, (which by the way, I am totally ok with) we receive all the benefits of sonship, being part of the family of God, being guided, disciplined, chosen. Like he came to the orphanage and hand picked us knowing we would respond to him at some point in our lives. I am very thankful GOD IS WHO HE IS. I wonder sometimes why someone would not choose adoption if they could not have "their own blood" child. If you want to be a parent, and have love to give to a child, why wouldn't you adopt? I feel that is how God feels about us. We can't all be Jesus. But thank you GOD for loving me enough to adopt me. We think of troubled kids in foster homes, that nobody wants to adopt because they are not "perfect kids", they have a ton of problems. But really, isn't that how we are before God? And He adopts us anyway, in all our unattractiveness (to put mildly).

To be holy, to be set apart for God, consecrated to God, not meant to blend in with the world's values. Not that I am perfect, but I am being perfected. I can stand blameless before God because of Jesus' finished work at Calvary, in Him I can stand blameless before A HOLY GOD.

I think the only thing really scary about it is how it becomes blown out of context and used to decieve people from what it truly means; or gives someone an excuse not to bother to pray, or speak about Jesus to anyone because God has already determined who will go to Heaven. I think the whole verse is Glorious, and very comforting. It makes me feel secure. I think Paul brings up predenstination to assure the Ephesus church of its purpose, that they were purposed by God for being and were validated by that . God is always worthy of our Praise, but we definitely need to be reminded of it, or taught that all things good, and praiseworthy come from Him. But that we are part of God's big plan for the earth is pretty amazing. I think Paul wanted the church in Ephesus to be amazed, and feel worthy of their calling in Christ Jesus to be His church.

It means to me that Jesus IS life, and I can live this life that IS HIM, in Him, because He has chosen me to to. I draw my strength THROUGH HIM, because I have no strength of my own apart from Him.

Hi fellow Jesus lovers, My name is Jill, and this will be my 3rd or 4th bible study with Pastor Ralph. I am very much looking forward to it. My prayer is we all become closer to our Father, and Lord Jesus through better understanding of His Word as The Spirit reveals it to us. Thank you Pastor Ralph, for the opportunity to study with you again, Jill

Yes, I agree with Pickledilly, the words "tired and weary", occur multiple times in these short passages. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever read. Rading this aloud moved me, and I am so evident of my weakness and Gods strength, and yes, it is so unfathomable for me, I am in awe of my Creator, my Everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth. I just wish I could live in a constant state of awe and respect and reverence for Him, I am so unworthy of all He Is.

It is too easy to forget, take for granted, or just plainly not consider the very nature of God, what HE IS. HE IS EVERYTHING, we are nothing, HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING FOR US, what are we doing for HIM? I am speaking for myself of course, but I know I am not alone. It is too easy to assume, just as the world does, that everything is ours for the taking, we owe no thanks to anyone for the earth we live in, the air we breath, the luxury of beauty in nature to look at, or even the luxury of technology and modernity, and convenience, if that is our desire. It is all only there for us to enjoy and be a part of because God willed it so. We have only God and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to thank. Is He LORD over our lives? Do we shout aloud to the ROCK OF OUR SALVATION? Do we thank Him continuously for all we have? Do we make music and sing songs to Him out loud or in our hearts? In His hands are the depths of the earth- He made the sea, and not just the mountains but all of it belongs to Him; not us. Let us kneel before the LORD, OUR MAKER, for that is the least we could do to show appreciation and honor for all HE does.

Well the same as any owner over his possession I suppose. Or a parent over a child, but even more so than parental rights does our Creator, Maker, Potter have over what He has made. We didn't make our children, we are just graciously entrusted with them. But God as Creator, Maker, Potter has every right to do as ever He wills with us. But that doesn't make me feel like a puppet at the end of a string, Because my experience is that is not God. The bible backs up what experiences I have of His grace, and love, and patience, and desire to give me the desires of my heart. Yet, I must be willing to follow Jesus example, and be obedient to the commands in the bible, they are for my own good. I am but dust, I am only what I am in Jesus. I am nothing on my own. I know that, I have lived that most of my life, so that really agrees with my spirit.

Revelation of anything God says in His word is most welcome at this stage in my walk, as I really need it all to fall into place; but revelation of "His incomparably great power for US who believe", means there is no other power like this in the whole world. There is nothing to compare it to, and I am eligible to use it, IF it is revealed to me. Faith that can move mountains, faith that knows its prayers are answered before they are finished being prayed, or even before they are prayed. That is the faith that is available to us who believe, I need that revelation. How do I develop this in myself? By believing and praying. Believing what I read in the bible, and praying for the revelation and praying big prayers.

As much as I hate to say it, if God is poverty-stricken than He has nothing to offer us, and we, well, will not take Him seriously, as He has nothing to offer us. I am motivated by riches of grace, and everlasting peace. My prayers are motivated right now, by the desire to know the God who is passionate about my relationship with Him. I can pray for God to open the eyes of their hearts, like He did mine.