Commissioned

Q2. (2 Kings 6:13-17) Why was Elisha's servant afraid? Elisha's servant was afraid because he saw a great army coming against them and felt certain that this army would wipe them out. What was the difference between Elisha and his servant? Elisha's servant was looking in the natural and trusting the arm of flesh, whereas Elisha prayed and trusted God to protect them against the army. What does it take for our eyes to be opened? For our eyes to be opened we must have faith in God to supremely rule over all matters of life. How can 1 John 4:4 strengthen you in your spiritual battle? We are encouraged that in every spiritual battle, that we face, The Greater One lives in us and through the omnipotent power of the Almighty One we will be conquerors.

Q1. (Joshua 5:13-15) Why did the Commander say he was on neither side? The Commander, God the Almighty, came to Joshua as "Commander in Chief." What is the significance of this? God is revealing to us, that in all conflicting situations He is with us as "Commander in Chief." The battles that we face along our path to eternal life is the Lord's not ours. Be courageous and trust Him to bring you to victory. What did Joshua feel like during this encounter? At this encounter Joshua prostrated himself before the Lord. Recognizing that he was in the presence of the Almighty God, he was humbled and felt powerless. How did he feel after this encounter? After this encounter Joshua was encouraged to go into battle and be courageous because the "Commander in Chief" was with him and the victory was assured.

Q3. (Ephesians 3:16, 19) What does it mean to be "filled with the Spirit" (verse 16)? To be "filled with the Spirit" a person would have repented, invited Christ in to be Lord, they have surrendered to the Holy Spirit's guidance, who now dwells in them. Every believer is "filled with the Spirit." Being "filled with the Spirit" is to have our feelings, thoughts and purposes placed more and more under the control of the Holy Spirit so that He can manifest his power through us in greater measure. Is this a one-time experience or a continual reality? Being "filled with the Spirit" is a one time experience but the work of the Spirit in the believer is a continuous process. What can we do to be filled with the Spirit? To be "filled with the Spirit" one must be born again. When we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior we are "fillled with the Spirit." Is it different or the same as being "filled with all the fullness of God" (verse 19)? Being "filled with the Spirit" is different from being "filled with the fullness of God." The later is the presence of God in the believer reflecting from our innermost being the character and stature that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. The former state is explained above in answering the first part of the question.

Q4. Meditate on the titles "King of Glory" (Psalm 24:7-10) and "Father of glory" (Ephesians 1:17). What do they tell us about God? The title "King of Glory" tells us that God, who is strong, mighty and exalted, is ruler of the entire host of heaven and earth and He rules supreme. As the "Father of Glory", God births within us the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the extent of who He is and the understanding of all that we as saints stand to inherit in the blessed hope of His call to eternal life with Him. How should they affect our attitudes as we worship God? According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, how does God's glory come to fill our lives? Our attitude as we worship God should be one of complete surrender, giving ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit to usher us into the "holies of holies," that place where we are changed from glory to glory and God is exalted above measure in our worship. It is with this attitude that we truly worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Q3. Meditate on the phrase "High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy...." (Isaiah 57:15, RSV). What do you learn about God from this phrase? From the phrase "High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy...," I learn that even before there was earth there was the High and Lofty One, He was and is and will always be. His very name is the quintessence of "Holiness." How should this affect your outlook on life, your way of conducting yourself? As a child of the one Most Holy, my outlook on life and the way that I conduct myself must reflect the position that I have as joint heir with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; who is the Holy One.

Q2. Meditate on the title "Most High." What does it mean to you? To me "Most High" means that there is but one who can be called such, and that One is God Almighty, the only God, the God that I love and serve. He alone is the creator of heaven and earth. He reigns supreme and is the sustainer of all those who have given themselves to worship Him in spirit and in truth. How do you or will you incorporate it in your worship? In worship there is but one focus of the mind soul and spirit; to the MOST HIGH, He alone is worthy to receive worship.

Q1. (Genesis 14:19, 20, 22) What did Abraham and Melchizedek seem to believe in common about God Most High? Both Abraham and Melchizedek seem to believe that God Most High is the creator of heaven and earth. They both see

Q2. (3:18-19) What kinds of things prevent us from comprehending the far reaches of Christ's love? We are prevented from comprehending the far reaches of Christ's love when we look to mortal love instead of looking to God. Time after time we see failure in human love and the tendancy to think that real love has no boundary escapes us. So that, when we try to comprehend Christ's love we are hampered by that which we are acustomed. What happens in the way we live when we do comprehend, know, and experience this love? When we experience Christ's love we ourselves will love beyond the natural. We would love as Christ love. What would be different about your life if you could grasp this? I would give more, do more, reach out to more people that need real love. OBEY HIS COMMAND TO LOVE. Lord, help me to love as you commanded.

Q1. (Ephesians 3:16-17) Do the concepts of (a) strengthened by the Spirit in the inner person, and ( Christ dwelling in our hearts say the same thing, or are they separate and distinct ideas? What do you think? The two concepts are not the same thing, rather one supports or facilitates the other. The ability, as a Christian, to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus, comes after we have accepted Christ as Savior. God, through His Spirit, strengthens our inner man giving us the "power, might, strength, force, capability;" to live this victorious life with Christ dwelling in our heart. Before the empowerment by the Holy Spirit, strengthening the inner man, we were pawns in the hands of the Prince of this world, Satan. We were his and followed his path to damnation. But now that we have repented and accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are no longer under the rule of satan. The "power" that has been given to us by the Spirit of God now enables us to obey God rather than satan. Where once we were connected to the devil we are now connected to God, and Jesus Christ now dwells in our heart.

Q4. What does Ephesians 3:12 teach us about the manner of approaching God? According to Ephesians 3:12, when approaching God we are to come with boldness and confidence by the faith we have in Christ Jesus. What happens if we try to pray without these qualities? When we try to pray without these qualities our prayers are hindered.

Q3. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? Paul is careful to be humble about his call and apostleship because God appointed him to be a servant, and as a servant he only has the power of the one whom he serves, Our Father and God. Of himself, Paul knew that he was nothing. How can his example help us remain as humble servants? We would do well to remember, as Paul, that we are servants, call by God to complete a task and we should carry out that task with all humility and thankfulness.

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? The "mystery" was that no longer was the Jews the only heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ as given in the Gospel; the Gentiles also had rights to be partakers of the same promise. Gentiles are equally the people of God with God's chosen people, the Jews. Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day? The Gentile Christians in Paul's day were sometimes made to feel like second-class citizens around Jewish Christians. But now the mystery revealed and they are both one in Christ.

Q1. (Ephesians 3:2-5) Why is God's revelation to "his holy apostles and prophets" our authority for faith and practice? God chose to reveal His truths to "holy apostle and prophets." As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are subject to the authority of the Kingdom's ruler and His delegated authority. Our faith and practices are as a result of abiding in and under the authority of the Word of God. What is the danger of minimizing or straying from that revelation? The danger of minimizing or straying from the revelation that God has given in the Holy Scriptures is that we do not trust God to deliver His Word by the means that He has chozen. What is the danger of superceding that revelation? When the Scriptures are superceded we are no longer under God's authority. What is the danger of denying that God reveals himself to us and to his church today? We try to box God in and deny the Sovereignty of God.

Q4. (Ephesians 2:22) What is the significance that your congregation was made to be "a dwelling place for God in the Spirit"? When we come together, as a congregation, to worship or to fellowship we provide a habitation, a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. It is there in that atmosphere that we can experience the manifested presence of God. As saints come together all the gifts that are present can manifest to bring glory to God and the body of Christ profits. What hinders that from being fully experienced? When members of the congregation stays away from "assembling together" they rob the body of the gift that the Holy Spirit has given them; it is not fully experience and benefitted by that body. What can you do to help that become more fully experienced and appreciated? Participate in as many called meetings as possible. Allow the Holy Spirit to manifest the gift He has given to me among the Body of Christ

Q3. (Ephesians 2:17) What does it mean to have "access to the Father"? When Jesus died on the cross, giving His life as the perfect sacrifice, he open the way so that all men may have access to the Father. The blood of Jesus allow all men to boldly access the holiest. Now instead of us having to present a sacrifice, we can approach God in prayer any place and at any time. In what way does the Holy Spirit facilitate this access? The Holy Spirit facilitates this access by making intercession on our behalf. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. In what way does Jesus enable this access? Jesus also make intercession for us. "Who, he that condemns? Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Rom. 8:34

Q2. (Ephesians 2:14-15) In what sense did Jesus as Messiah "fulfill" the Mosaic Law? Jesus as Messiah

Q1. (Ephesians 2:11-12) Why does being out of touch with what it means to be "lost" impede our willingness to witness? Being out of touch with what it means to be "lost" impedes our willingness to witness because in such a state we allow our hearts to become callous and unconcerned for the lost. We no longer see their plight, their need for a Savior and we stand in disobedience to the command of our Lord. As servants of God, we have been commissioned by Christ to be a witness to the nations. Before Jesus left this earth to take His seat on the right hand of the Father, He instructed his disciples: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:19-20) We have been given the authority to be His witnesses here on earth, but if we are out of touch and don't see that there are lost ones out there in need of a Savior, we will do nothing; and they will die without knowing Jesus as Savior. In your own words, what is the spiritual condition of a friend or co-worker who doesn't know Christ? Those who do not know Christ are living in a "false security." Sure, they live and are enjoying this life, by the grace of God, but they are spiritually dead. They can have everything that money can buy and still live in misery, because they have no hope. We must not allow our eyes to be blinded to the plight of the lost around us. We must have compassion and lead them to our loving Savior.

Q4. What exactly is faith? Faith is putting your total trust into something or someone for a result that you have not seen. Can we take credit for having it? No, we can't. The Bible said that God has given us all a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3). Can we be condemned for lacking it? Because faith has been given to us, there's no lacking of faith. Lack comes when we choose not to use it. Define "faith" in terms a 10-year-old could understand. Ask a 10-year old to jump into his father's arms, from a distance, and without thinking they'd make the leap. Why, because he trust daddy not to let him fall.

Q3. According to Ephesians 2:10, what were we created to do? Why? (Matthew 5:16) According to Ephesians 2:10 we were created to do good works. Men would see and benefit from our good works and praise God (Matt. 5:16). What is the difference between these works and the works Paul discredits in verse 9? The works mentioned in Ephesians 2:10 and Matthew 5:16 are works as a result of our walking in obedience to God. These are works that are as a result of us using the gifts and talents that God has blessed us with, along with deeds that are developed through our love for God and our fellowmen. The works Paul discredits in Ephesians 2:9 are deeds being done with the expressed purpose of getting to Heaven. He is saying that good works, alone will not save us. We must receive salvation by faith.

Q2. "Saved" has become Christian jargon. How can you "translate" this word into modern speech so people can understand what it really means and why they need it? In modern vernacular to be saved means to be 'set free, liberate, emancipate, rescue,' those words that tell the hearer that they are no longer bound to the slavery of sin; now they can walk in freedom - enter a new walk.

Q1. Why is it so hard for us to understand grace? We've heard it so many times, 'nothing in this life is free.' And we believe it. What commonly held life principle does it demolish? The life principle that in order for you to receive anything worthwhile, you have to earn it. Translate the word "grace" into language a 10-year-old child would understand. "Honey, again you disobeyed me, but I saw this doll and I know you'd love adding it to your collection, so I bought it for you. I love you."

Q5. (Ephesians 1:22-23) When we neglect to be an active part of a local congregation, what particular blessings do we miss out on according to Paul in this verse? We miss out being under His headship. How do we, by our absence, withhold this blessing from others? When we are absent from the body, we allow the completeness of the body to be flawed. God has placed us all in the body for a specific, special, purpose. When we're not in place, we rob the body of a blessing that our gifting brings.

Q4. (Ephesians 1:20-22) Why do we so often take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare? We take a pass when it comes to spiritual warfare because we lack understanding of the power we have over demonic forces. Why is Christ's exaltation, demonstration of complete victory, and superior rank over all spiritual powers important enough for Paul to mention it to his readers? It is important for believers to know that they too have been given authority over every firey dart that the devil can throw our way. Why do we tend to feel powerless in the face of spiritual enemies? In the face of spiritual enemies we tend to feel powerless when we fail to keep ourselves nourished on the word of God and when we fail to keep in communion with our Heavenly Father. What was Paul assuring the Ephesians of? Paul assured the Ephesians that in the face of persecution they can stand firm and be victorious, because they have the power to fight the enemy. What does this encourage us to do? In light of all this, we should always remember the power we have working on our behalf, power over Satan and sin. We need not feel powerless when temptations come our way. "No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (Rom. 8:37)

Q3. (Ephesians 1:18d) Why are we powerless sometimes? We are powerless when we operate in the flesh. If our spirit is in communion with our counsellor, teacher and guide, we'd remember the power we have been given. Is it an inadequacy with the source or with our faith? The inadequacy is with our faith. We vacillate in and out of believing that we have the dunamis power that Jesus said we have. In John 14:12 he tells us: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father." We have been given the power to do great works. We just need to use it. Why do some congregations and movements produce disciples with miracle-believing faith and others produce disciples with wimpy faith? How can this be changed? Congregrations that produce disciples with miracle-believing faith put into practice what they believe. When miracles happen they are inspired to trust God for others. For a change to come for those "disciples with wimpy faith," as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, so must we pray for each other, so that the power that God has given to us would not lay dormant; but that we would do the work He has sent us to do.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? Yes, it would. My living standard would reflect what I know I stand to inherit. How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Knowing that our inheritance if eternal and not of this material world we should wear this world as a loose garment. Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them? In this life we should live as one. When Jesus was leaving He told the disciples to love one another and prayed to the Father that we would all be one and that we fellowship together in unity. As brothers and sisters, we are all one in Christ, our oneness should be reflected in the way we treat each other.