HisSong
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Posts posted by HisSong
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Q3. What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?
The "perfect law" is the law of the Spirit, the law of love that God has poured out on His by His grace and forgiveness that we give to others (if we're obedient to do so!). This perfect law is to love and treat others as we would like to be loved and treated; this includes people we do not like. In so doing, we are loving God, because He is love! The perfect law is also the Royal Law because it was bestowed on us by the King of Kings. It brings us liberty because it breaks the bonds of hatred and selfishness that satan would have us live in. "O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever..."
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Q2. (1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? What is the nature of the self-deception?
I believe we, as humans, are prideful and blind to our sins by nature; in James' words,"deceiving ourselves." Satan is very clever in that he makes us see ourselves better than we are and keeps the world's clamor and distractions so great before us that we are unable to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit when we hear the Word of God. It is able to pierce our souls, but we must put down our fleshly armor and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, by first confronting ourselves and examining ourselves.
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Q1. (1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word?
This question has given rise to more questions for me and how "word" and "truth" relate to other passages and what the original Greek words are. For example: Jesus is spoken of as the "Word" in John 1, 1 John 5:7, and Jesus refers to Himself as "Truth." There is some deep mystery here, I believe, that reveals the nature of Jesus in His relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. I wish I had a English/Greek Bible! This has inspired me to get one and to see if the words for word and truth in the passages I just spoke of are the same Greek word.
Anyway, despite all this, Jesus' message is simple: the words He spoke that He commanded us to live by that are written for us in the Bible (believing He is the Son, confessing sins, repentance, baptism, etc.) are those heart actions which the Lord sees in us and which causes Him to bestow spiritual birth to us. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." With this "birth" begins our spiritual "life," and as with our fleshly life we must nourish it to grow, we must also nourish our spirit so that we grow in our spiritual life (keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, walking in the light as He is in the light, hearing the word and doing it, asking God for wisdom, loving God and others, etc.). How do we accomplish these heart choices in our spiritual life? They are directly related to the Word. "And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." The Word is our spiritual nourishment so that we may grow. "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need somone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
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Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?
The promise to claim is that if we ask God for wisdom, it will be given to us, liberally and without any reproaching. The condition is that we must ask in faith, knowing fully that we will receive His wisdom. Trials help us receive wisdom because it is in trials that we are brought to a place where we know what to ask for. We are stripped of all pretense and faced with real need whose fulfillment can only come from Jesus Christ and His power: need for knowledge of what decision to make, need for physical, mental, and/or spiritual healing, need for cleansing from sin so that we may repair a damaged relationship, etc.
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Q3. (1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? How do trials help us grow in faith?
I think there are two different kinds of trials: one is the trial that arises from our sin, possibly the natural "consequences." Two is the trial that arises from "life," from no sin that we have committed.
The trial that arises from our sin, the wrestling of spirits within us, the painful conviction we feel in us, makes our hearts raw and, if we come to a place of humility, we turn to the Lord and He shows us our sin. It is then we can confess this sin, pray for the Holy Spirit to cleanse us from this sin, bring down the stronghold, and cure us of our double-mindedness. When we see the fruit of this labor in the Spirit, our faith will become stronger in that we will see that Jesus is faithful to answer our prayer and to help us overcome our sin.
But our faith can also be grown through the trial that comes in everyday living, not necessarily from our sin. Sometimes things come into our lives that the Lord can use to build our faith in Him. For example, if we become ill or laid off from our jobs, we can rest in Him and know that though our bodies fail us or we struggle financially, He is our hiding place; we can cry on His shoulder and beg His help in persevering through this trial. He is our Comfort and our Shelter in the walk through the "valley of the shadow of death," and will put a peace our hearts that passes all understanding despite the trial.
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Q2. (1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all?
I believe people blame God for evil because they have no faith and are listening to the lies of satan. Satan's goal is to dishonor the Lord and so he places lies in peoples' hearts to accomplish that goal.
God does not tempt us with evil, but He allows it. I believe His desire is to turn things around on satan. If the Lord is allowed to use evil circumstances and temptations caused by satan to cause something good, like spiritual growth, then that is the ultimate victory!!
The Lord does not tempt sinful people with evil, but He allows them free will to choose evil or good. As the Bible says: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. And God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape that you may be able to bear it." People are given both choices.
He allows people to sin because He allows them choice. He finds no pleasure in forcing people to do His will; He desires our hearts and love and obedience out of love for Him. He allows evil to exist because, once again, He allows us to choose: Him or satan.
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Q1. (1:2-4) What value have trials had in your life? Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? Or allowed God to refine you? How have you changed?
The value trials have had in my life is that they have helped me realize that the Lord is trying to teach me things! Also, I have come to know that the Lord holds my times in His hands and that is a comforting thought when I am struggling through a trial. Because I finally got it through my head about the purpose of trials, when I go through one, I am now able, by the grace of God, to ask myself what He is trying to get me to learn? If we can stop the panic or anger at the onset of a trial long enough to think through and search the Spirit about what we could learn, I believe that that is taking our thoughts captive and disabling satan in his work. Although I dread the refining process, I know that somehow the Lord will use the trial to strengthen my faith and perfect me in Jesus Christ! That is a huge change from a few years ago - thank you Jesus!
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Q4. (Psalm 121). What does it mean that God is our Keeper. In what ways does he "keep" or "guard" us?
I love this! There have been times in my life where I knew the Lord was allowing satan to buffet me to mold and refine me. When I felt that I couldn't take much more, I could almost sense Him saying, "Enough," then putting His hand around me and keeping me sheltered from any further buffeting.
Other times, I know my family, friends, or myself would have come to bodily or some other harm had the Lord not interfened. In that way, He guards us constantly! I know there are countless times where He has shielded someone from trouble and they don't even realize it. I felt bad that He took care in caring for that person with nothing in return. I want to always be mindful of His guarding myself and my family and friends and take just a moment to say "thank you, Jesus, for keeping us and loving us."
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Q3. In what ways is God a Rock in the above verses. What functions does a rock perform in Palestine?
God is a Rock in these verses because high rocks were used as hiding places and where people built fortresses. Rocks (I think these verses refer to what we'd refer to as a "mountain.") served as fortresses and places of safety during military flight (as in David's flight from King Saul) or seige. Also, I keep thinking of the shade from the sweltering sun that a rock could provide.
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Q2. (Psalm 3:3) In what ways is God a shield? In what ways is he our glory? In what ways is he "the lifter up of my head"? What does this teach us about God? About ourselves?
God is our shield from satan's attacks. If we abide in the Lord's truth and His Word, we can ward off temptations to sin.
The Lord is our glory in that we can say to satan when he attacks that "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I will stand in Him and in His promises." We can boast in the Lord and in what He has done for us!
The Lord is the lifter of our heads in that when satan attacks with despondency and depression, we can say "He is with me always, even to the end of the age." Third Day has a song on their latest album "Wherever You Are" that states: "Even though the journey's long, and I know the road is hard, well, the One who's gone before me, He will help me carry on. After all that I've been through, now I realize the truth, that I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God." The Lord has encouraged me so much with this song just knowing that if we can persevere in Him and hold on, eventually we will see Him. That hope in Jesus lifts my head!
I've learned that God loves us so much. He created us on purpose, with a purpose, knowing that we would turn away from Him time and again. Still He waits for us to abide in the shadow of His wings so that He can give us victory in Jesus! He longs for us to say, "Abba, Father," and to let Him be our Protector in this life. I learn in Psalm 90 that I am weak: I need Jesus! We all need Him, but so many of us are deceived by satan into thinking we can control our lives. It doesn't take long to realize (if we will allow it) that we have little or no control over anything in this life. I'd rather let the Creator of the universe control things - He loves me and has my good at heart!
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Q1. (Psalm 91) What is the protected one required to do in times of danger (verses 1-2, 9). What metaphors are used of God's protection in this psalm?
We who are protected by God are to "abide" in Him and trust in Him by making Him (allowing Him to be) our "dwelling place," our home.
Metaphors used in Psalm 91 for God's protection are "shadow," "refuge," "fortress," "covering of feathers," "under His wings," "shield and buckler," and "dwelling place."
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Q4. What is the significance of the confession "Jesus is Lord"? Why is this necessary for salvation, according to Romans 10:9?
The significance of confessing "Jesus is Lord" is that one is declaring Him Lord of their life, giving Him the place of honor in their heart - God's place. This is necessary for salvation because the Word says so! But when you think about it, we must confess and believe, because in doing this, we are giving the Lord free reign of our lives. How else will His will be done unless we allow it? He does not force us to follow His will, but waits for us to submit to it.
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Q3. What are the implications for governments that Yahweh is the King of kings and Lord of lords? What are the implications of removing God" from a nation's currency and pledges, and ardently secularizing national life? Where does that put a nation with regard to God the King?
The implications for government are that they need to realize that they answer to a Higher King - they are simply a servant of the Lord. The implications of removing God from currency, pledges, etc., are that the government that condones this, even encourages this, is in direct rebellion to their Suzerain. They are removing their nation from under His protection and declaring war on the King of Kings.
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Q2. What are the personal implications of Yahweh being your King and of Jesus being the Messiah sent from God? What are the advantages of being the subject of Yahweh as King? What does it mean for you to submit to the King on an everyday basis? How does a person reject Yahweh from being King over him or her?
The personal implications of Yahweh being my King and Jesus being sent from God is that everything Jesus says is from God and to be obeyed because if we have seen Him, then we have seen the Father; they are One. The advantages of being a subject of Yahweh is that He is merciful!! To submit to the King everyday means to seek His will at every moment, to weigh all things by His Spirit, to do good works out of love for Him and for His creation. One rejects Him from being King over their lives by seeking their own selfish desires, never striving to please Him, and never repenting of sin.
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Q1. Read 1 Samuel 8:15 and Malachi 3:8-10. How did tithing relate to a person's acceptance of God being their King in the Old Testament? How about for those of us who live under the New Covenant? What place does tithing have for us?
The law of tithing related to their acceptance of God as their King because, as in the suzerain-vassal treaties of the middle east of that day, it symbolized their surrender and submission before the High King, and their acceptance of Him as their Protector and themselves as His subjects.
As people of the New Covenant, we are no longer bound by the letter of the Law (2 Cor 3:5-6; Galatians 3:10-25; ); Jesus is the complete fulfillment of the Law. Those of us who live under the New Covenant are not bound by a 10% tithe; the Lord desires us to give cheerfully from our hearts as He leads us through His Holy Spirit. He may put it on our hearts to give much more than 10% or very little or nothing. It is about our intention to obey out of love for Him and His servants, even if it is very difficult. Out of love for our teachers and ministers who sacrifice their time to teach, guide, and minister to the church, we should seek the Lord as to how much and in what way He would have us give. The blessing from giving is spiritual in that we can know that we have obeyed the Lord by giving "as he purposes in his heart." Second Corinthians 9 really sums up giving to the saints and Ephesians 6:2-10 also speaks of "sharing" with him who teaches.
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Q4. Define "justice," "vengeance," and "mercy." Can a Holy and Righteous God justly forgive sins without punishing them? What is the significance of the cross in God's righteousness?
Justice is what one deserves according to their works. Vengeance is the fair dealing out of justice. Mercy is forgiveness of one's actions and the decision not to mete out vengeance.
Our Holy and Righteous God sees Christ's sacrifice on the cross as sufficient justice for our sins, so that, in effect, He is satisfied. However, this does not mean that we get a free ride. To paraphrase the beginning of Romans 6: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer." Also, Jesus states that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.
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Q3. (Psalm 68:5) Since our God is the Helper of the Fatherless and the Protector of Widows -- that is, the poorest and weakest of society -- what does this say about a Christian's commitment to social justice in our communities? How should it affect our actions?
If we stand with God, then we will stand for what He stands for: love and mercy and kindness to the widows and orphans (this is pure and undefiled religion, according to James). We should seek to support orphans financially, or consider adopting; visit widows and help them with their physical needs and encourage them in the Lord.
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Q2. If we believe that truth and morality are all relative to one's culture, how can we know and understand the Righteous and Upright God? Extra credit for present-day evangelists: How can we declare God and his Son Jesus Christ in a relativistic world? What is an effective approach? (There is no simple answer here. What is an effective communication strategy in your community?)
We cannot understand the Righteous and Upright God if we believe in relative truth and morality! It would be like sitting down to read the Bible blindfolded: how can one see or understand when one does not first know what one seeks to see or understand?
Although I am not a present-day evangelist, I have an idea of how to declare the Lord and His Son in a relativistic world. Because truth and morality are seen as relative these days, we must show the world that love and mercy are alive and well now because God is alive and well. An effective way to demonstrate this is by action; something that physically demonstrates God's love to the world. A soup kitchen, community clean-up, something that meets the physical needs of hurting people helps them believe that there is good in the world. Not "relative" goodness, but the kind of goodness that is based in a loving and merciful God who desires that all come to repentance.
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Q1. (Isaiah 6:1-8) How does a realization of God's holiness affect Isaiah? Why is Isaiah afraid? How does God make Isaiah holy? What is the symbolism of the coal from the altar? Now made holy -- dedicated to God -- how does Isaiah respond to God?
A realization of God's holiness made Isaiah's own "unholiness" more apparent, like white looks so very white when it is held against something black.
Isaiah is afraid because I believe his Hebrew training has taught him that no one can see God and live, especially anyone so unclean as himself.
However, God cleanses Isaiah and makes him holy by touching a coal from the altar to his lips, the lips that reveal the sinfulness of his heart.
The symbolism of the coal from the altar, I believe is this: a coal from the altar would be the remnants of a sacrifice, which, as we are aware, God requires a blood sacrifice for sin. This sacrifice is what makes us holy. In the believer's case, Christ is our sacrifice, our "coal."
Isaiah responds to God by volunteering to go where He sends and to serve the King.
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Q1. (Isaiah 45:9-12) Why is it ridiculous for a pot to second-guess the Potter? How do we Christians do this? What is a better attitude and behavior before our Creator?
For a pot to second-guess the Potter is like we second-guessing the Lord Creator: for us to question the will of God in our finite existence is probably no different to God, than for a lump of clay to begin to speak to the potter and question what the potter wills it to be.
Christians second-guess the Lord when we question why things happen to us or envy the gifts and talents of others and wish we had those same gifts.
The better attitude toward our Creator would be to humbly accept what He has for us: our circumstances, our personal characteristics (that are not in Biblical need of change!), and so on. He alone knows how to create and knows what we, as clay, need to mold us into the creation He would have us be.
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Q4. (1 Samuel 17:26, 36; Hebrews 10:31) How do you think David's understanding of the Living God enabled him to challenge Goliath? Read Hebrews 10:31 in context. Why should the Living God inspire fear and dread?
David's understanding of the Living God enabled him to challenge Goliath because he knew that Goliath's power was only in his human strength; there were no gods with supernatural power to assist him in his conquests. However, David knew that the Israelites had the True and Living God as their Savior; against the Creator of the universe, Goliath and his armies didn't have a chance!
Hebrews 10:31 lies within a passage that is speaking of the man who has once received the "knowledge of truth" and then dares to sin against the Lord, reject Christ's sacrifice, count his blood as common, and insult the Spirit of grace. The word "snub" comes to mind. It quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to say that the Lord will surely judge and deal harshly with that person, and in that, it is fearful to be in His hands. Who could stand and face the Living and Eternal God and flaunt his foolishness; to the very One who created him? Who could even stand? We have no concept of the vastness of the Lord - He is nothing we could dream up. He has blessed humans, particularly artists, with imaginative creativity, but His glory lies outside the realm of the human imagination. The God who has legions upon legions of angels at His disposal, hosts of beings bowing before Him and lauding His Name, who has created every thing that we as humans know, is to be feared and honored.
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Q3. (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:8) What does the idea of "first" and "last" tell you about God? How does Revelation 1:8 relate to God's revelation to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM"?
In my limited view, the idea of His being the "first" and "last" has something to do with His existing outside of time. Of course, we cannot comprehend this since everything we know is in relation to time and distance. I think He is referring to the fact that He is omnipresent, everywhere in every time, all at once. In my mind, any being that Himself, is omnipresent, must also be omniscient and omnipotent; time seems to be the shackles with which all things are fettered but which God is not. He created time and therefore has ultimate power over all things, since all things (that we know) exist in time.
In relation to "I AM," it's as if Yahweh is saying that He is the ultimate in existence, He is existence itself, which in regards to our own existence, jives with what is said about the Word in John 1:3: All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
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Q2. (Isaiah 57:15) What do you think it is like to "inhabit eternity"? What will it be like when you inhabit eternity with the Eternal God, seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places? What emotions does this inspire in you?
I can imagine what it is like with my finite mind: I think it may be a bit like having the entire length of human existence captured in lets say a glass bottle and to be able to watch any bit of time at any moment all at once. That's a rather lame description, but I live in time; what can I say?
We will be unaware and unfettered by any "time" when we live with the Eternal God and will only be aware of His Presence and our desire to worship and experience Him. As I get older, I become more aware of this mortal tent and earth and long to just be with Him.
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Q1. (Exodus 3:1-15) What does God's name Yahweh reveal about his person and his power? How would an understanding of Yahweh's name contrast him with the idols worshipped by the Egyptians?
God's name, Yahweh, reveals that He does not exist in time, that He has always been, He is the ultimate existence. There is no greater mystery known to man that he desires to conquer than time (just look in the Yellow Pages under "surgeons, plastic"). Since time is of no relevance to God and is not a hindrance to Him, He is all-powerful and beyond anything any human could imagine or strive for. If an ancient Egyptian could understand this very nature of Yahweh, he would feel foolish indeed to worship, honor, and sacrifice to a "god" that is fashioned by human hands and is at the mercy of time and its adverse effects.
Q8. True Religion
in 2. Hearing and Practicing the Word (James 1:18-27)
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Jesus said that whatever comes out of a man's mouth is what defiles him. I believe He meant that when we speak whatever satan puts in our hearts, we are not resisting temptation and so we are allowing ourselves to be defiled by sin. Our tongue is a door to our hearts; whatever is in there is just going to come out! So in taming our tongue we are also taming our flesh, because when we make a point to control our tongue we are resisting satan. It is promised that if we resist him, he will flee. By resisting him in controlling what we say, we are cleansing our thoughts from impurity, taking every thought captive.
Also, what our tongue is doing is more visible to the world and affects others, sometimes harming them. The Lord would not have us harm others, so we must learn to control our tongues. Help me, Lord!