Commissioned

1. Why do you think God chose someone like John to be Jesus' forerunner? I believe that God chose someone like John to be Jesus' forerunner so that the meekest and most humble among us can come to Him and feel that he/she fits in. 2. How can we be sure that all our personal differences are part of God's plan and purpose? Can't some be patterns of sinful reactions to past events? We can be sure that all our personal differences are part of God's plan and purpose because of His Word to us in Jeremiah 1, Psalms 139, and Jeremiah 29. God knew us and formed thoughts concerning us before our conception. God made each of us unique. God set us aside and appointed us before birth. “The Lord gave me this message: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:4-5, NLT) “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Ps. 139:15-18, NLT) “For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT) No patterns of sinful reactions to past events can be attributed to God. “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.” (James 1:13) 3. John was raised in the desert. What kinds of circumstances has God used as a training ground for your preparation? When I use the word circumstances, I seldom use it to mean causing an outcome beyond the normal. In answering this question, I can say the God used the ministries of the church and my studies in Bible College as training ground for my preparation. 4. How dependent are you upon what others think and say about you? How can you change this without becoming callous? I am dependent upon what others think and say about me, even though I would not want to dwell on it. I can change this without becoming callous by meditating on God’s words, His thoughts that He thinks towards me are thoughts for me to prosper, to be successful. Thank You Jesus! 5. What would you say to a person suffering from chronic guilt over past sins? How can guilt be healthy? How can guilt be unhealthy? To a person suffering from chronic guilt over past sins, I would read with them the scripture verses that tell us how confession and repentance of past sins brings us in right standing with God and that he/she should not feel any guilt over what was done prior and forgiven by our Lord. Guilt can be healthy if it promotes a learning of what not to do and the consequences. To continue in remembering and feeling guilty is unhealthy and stagnates any progress of growth in our walk with Jesus Christ. 6. Why is humbling (such as repentance and baptism in John's day) necessary to form disciples of Jesus? Humbling (such as repentance and baptism in John's day) was necessary to form disciples of Jesus, (It still is required today); this is the action of the Believer crucifying the flesh to be sanctified and walk in the Spirit. 7. What kind of cutting, filling, straightening, and smoothing work has God been doing in your life? What does he still need to do? Why is this necessary preparation for disciples? The revealed work of God through His word is truly doing in me what it proclaims: “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” I pray for God’s continued drawing me unto Him and revealing to me His thoughts for my success as His disciple.

Summarize the lessons of this chapter. What are the churches criticized for? The letters to the churches are hard and encouraging The churches in this chapter are criticized for their spiritual weaknesses, the imperfections in their spiritual walk. They are told of areas where they have been strong and have lost ferver. Encouraged to strengthen the things which were about to die. What are they praised for? The churches in this chapter are praised for their spiritual strength, for works of charity and service. They are encouraged to hold on to their faith. How should these observations shape the twenty-first century Church? For the twenty-first century Church these observations should shape the way we seek to stay fervent and grounded in the word of God, in the service of the Kingdom and in our worship to God.

Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? So many churches are a "hotbed of apathy" because from its leadership it has entered into a state of traditional service and refuses to make a change. How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves? We can combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves by returning to our first love, by fervently communing with God, hearing His voice and obeying what He tells us to do.

Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? The religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive because it accommodated heathen practices. The word of God says, thou shall have no other god but Jehovah Elohim and Him alone is to be worship. What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? The twenty-first century Christians struggle with worship of material things. They put before God and worship those things that have eyes and cannot see. Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity? The real compromises that dilute vital Christianity is to have the influence of the world so deeply ingrained that they become Christian in name only.

Why would loosening of sexual standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture be destructive of vital Christian faith and witness? Loosening of sexual standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture is destructive of vital Christian faith and witness. Even though the Church is in the world the Church cannot allow the world to dictate its sexual standards. The standard for the culture should come from the church. How has your culture tended to take the edge off your own Christian moral convictions or forced you to be quiet about them? My culture tended to take the edge off our own Christian moral convictions or forced you to be quiet about them by stating everyone's rights should be protected.

How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? A local congregation can lose its "first love" for Jesus by not doing those things that it did at the beginning after conversion; being a witness and testifying of the love of God and His power to save. What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? The signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry are loving God, self and others. In loving others one would proclaim the the gospel of Jesus so that others would repent and b reconciled to God. How does the lack of love show up? The lack of love show up in selfish ways. Focusing only on oneself. How can a congregation regain this love? A congregation can regain this love by getting involved in ministry and witnessing for Christ everywhere.

What is the significance of the exalted Jesus walking among the lampstands? (1:12-20) The significance of the exalted Jesus walking among the lampstands is His Lord over the church. What does this teach us about the church? What does it teach us about Jesus? This teaches us that the church is very important to Jesus. What does it teach us about Jesus? It teaches us that Jesus is present in the midst of the church.

The vision of Christ among the lampstands (1:12-20) is much different than the Carpenter-Teacher who walked the roads of Galilee and Judea. Why? The Man who stood among the lampstands is been seen in all his glory. His presence invite one to bow and worship. The carpenter walked among man as one of them. What overall emotions is this vision of Jesus among the lampstands designed to evoke in the reader? Why is this understanding of Jesus important to a balanced faith? The vision of Jesus among the lampstand is designed to evoke the sight of a King in all His splendor yet He is seen in righteousness ans holiness. This understanding of Jesus is important to a balance faith because He demonstrated who He is and proclaimed that He is the Alpha and the Omega. He was, and is and is to come.

In what countries are Christians presently experiencing tribulation or persecution for the faith? There are many countries in which Christians are experiencing persecution for their faith, for example, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China to name a few. How can the Book of Revelation be a comfort and encouragement to them? The Book of Revelation can encourage them because they will hear of the reward that;s laid up in Heaven for them. Their labor is not n vain.

What does this tell us about the Father? The Father is the speaker here in 1:8 and in 21:6. But Jesus is the speaker in 1:17 and 22:12-13. What is the significance of this for our understanding of who Jesus is? As Jesus said to His disciples, "The Father and I are one." Both the Father and the Son, Jesus, are one. It is significant that we understand who Jesus is because there is only one God.

Revelation is written to encourage and strengthen a church facing intense persecution. Why is the theme of testimony and witness so important to that purpose? The theme of testimony and witness is very important to the church to whom Revelation is written because when encouraging someone it is more meaningful for you to offer encouragement and words that would strengthen if you are speaking from personal knowledge. That you are empathizing and not merely sympathizing. How is Jesus as the "faithful witness" (1:5) supposed to encourage us? Our Lord Jesus is the faithful witness because our salvation is because He gave his life as the sacrificial Lamb so that we can have eternal life. Why are we afraid to be clear witnesses in a culture where we aren't persecuted? We are afraid to clear witnesses in a culture where we aren't persecuted probably because we are weak in our testimony.

Why is it valuable to counsel with spiritual people in the Christian community when we’re learning to discern God’s voice? It is valuable to counsel with spiritual people in the Christian community when we’re learning to discern God’s voice because being part of a Christian community provides safety to us, since we can find spiritual men and women who can counsel us and help us discern God's voice How is having a spiritual mentor helpful? Having a spiritual mentor is helpful as there are always those who are more mature in spiritual things. And, as the scripture tells us, there is wisdom in the counsel of others. What is the danger of always going to another person to confirm God’s word? There is a danger of always going to another person to confirm God's word, because God might not have revealed to that person the things he is revealing to you and they might speak to you from a place of ignorance. Why is out-growing a mentor a common occurrence? Out-growing a mentor may be a common occurrence because many choses to seek older, in age, persons to mentor them.

Why is it necessary to recognize and then surrender our desires when we are seeking God’s will. It is necessary for us to recognize and then surrender our desires when we are seeing God's will so that God's will is done. What happens if we neglect to do this? When we neglect to surrender to God and allow His will to be done we enter into a realm where we no longer are in the path of righteousness but rather we open ourselves to allowing the enemy to direct us. How can holding on to sin distort what you think you are hearing from God? Holding on to sin can distort what you think you are hearing from God as what can be purified by the word of God is being kept impure with sin, so what can be a clear word from God becomes blurry and you begin to question it.

Give an example of what the voice of the flesh – our lusts and desires – might sound like. The voice of the flesh might sound like a Billionaire who craves to one more car to the dozens he already possesses. Just one more! Give an example of what the voice of the world might sound like. The voice of the world might sound like the culture that says, 'what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right; that black is white and white is black; bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter'. Give an example of what the voice of the devil might sound like. The voice of the devil might sound like the voice of deception, spoken to Eve, “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Why is a knowledge of the Scripture necessary for discernment of these voices? Knowledge of the Scripture is necessary for discernment of these voices because it renews our minds, it teaches us the ways of the source of these voices in contrast to the true word and desire of God for our lives.

Why will a person have to make mistakes in the process of learning to discern God’s voice? A person will have to make mistakes in the process of learning to discern God’s voice because we grow up in a world with many sources of voices. You have to contend with the voices of the world, your flesh, your conscience and the devil. There is ample opportunities for a person to make a mistake in identifying God's voice. If mistakes are part of the process, how can this be of God at all? If mistakes are part of the process, it can still be of God because He gives us the Word of God to use as a reference to know Him, His word, His will and His voice.