Sgt_Z_Squad

3a.) John writes: "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 17-18) We are not showing the agape love that Jesus had for us. That self-giving love. We (I) am focused in on myself not keeping my eyes on Jesus. 3b.) Solomon writes: "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." (Proverbs 30:25) We (I) am not fully trusting in the LORD. 3c.) Paul asks: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Ephesians 6: 19-20) I pray for this also. 3d.) Many of the points addressed in the study. But I keep falling back on what Martin Luther quoted: Preach the Gospel daily and if necessary, USE WORDS! AMEN!

1a.) Paul writes: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) 1b.) Because even in affliction and imprisonment he rejoices in the Lord. He never lost sight of the prize. Preaching Christ crucified and His resurrection. 1c.) Right now our daughter has had quite a year with a number of illnesses. The Lord has used this to make me rely in Him in our powerlessness.

4a.) "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil (Hebrew5:14) 4b.) "Then their eyes were opended and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight." (Luke 24:31) 4c.) Selfishness reflects seeking your own glory, not living a life exalting and glorifying to God. 4d.) Good in this context reflects satisfaction, passionless faith. "..that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16) But Jesus tells us: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

3a.) To continue the work of sanctification in the believers. 3b.) "God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." (Hebrews 6:18) 3c.) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

2a.) Good answers from all. Most of the points have been covered. Giving back to God's work is the blessing to know that it is being used to build the Kingdom. Financial support reflects stewardship of those gifts God has given us. The practical reality is the need for currency to provide for the basics of all. 2b.) Prayer, letters of encouragement; sharing with others the work our "soldiers of the cross" are doing.

1a.) The basic idea is that we are more than just a hired hand. I am drawn to Exodus 21. The text narrates that a Hebrew servant is to be freed on the seventh year unless: "But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with a awl. Then he will be his servant for life." (Exodus 21:5) We love our Lord and bear the mark of servanthood through Baptism in His name. 1b.) We are Holy, set apart, consecrated. We are consecrated once for all through the blood of Christ. I am drawn to the consecration of Aaron and his sons and its parallel. It is written: "Aaron and his sons placed their hands on the head of the ram, and Moses slaughtered it. Then Moses took some of the blood and put it on the right lobes of their ears, on the thumbs of their right hand, and the big toe of their right foot." (Leviticus 8: 1-30) 1c.) I am drawn to Jesus' comforting assurance in John: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:39-40) Isn't that reassuring?

5a.) I have been reminded of the Holiness of God in this study and a couple of others I am in. I have taken that for granted, and still do at times. I pray for a heart of repentance and contrition. 5b.) Very good. 5c.) Pastor Ralph I like your format with the message board. Great getting imput from other brothers and sisters in the Lord. Keep it the same.

4.) I am drawn to Jesus' warning to the church at Laodicea. It was neither hot nor cold..because you are lukewarm, I am about to spit (vomit) you out. Jesus warns, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stand firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13) Active faith shows a love for God which is alive through our faith.

3a, b, c.) All of you have given the answer, which I can not add to. Thank you. 3d.) It restores our relationship with God so that our prayers will be heard. David writes: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of the summer. Then I acknowedged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD'--and you forgave the guilt of my sin." (Psalm 32:3-5)

2a.) To pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 2b.) "An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient." (Titus 1:6)

1a.) The sick person. 1b.) "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;." (James 5:15a) Earnestly seeking prayer shows faith.

4a.) Paul writes the church in Philippi: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." (Philippians 2:14-16) If we are grumbling and complaining, we are not being that light. 4b.) Paul tells us: "Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Our faith will reflect the sovereignty of God in our lives; when we grumble, we are showing our weakness in faith. 4c.) Jesus tells us: "By standing firm you will gain life." (Luke 21:19) Our patience will reflect our maturity.

3a.) Our faith becomes flat, lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. 3b.) Paul writes: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverence, perseverence, character, and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us because God poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:2,3)

2a.) The pursuit of it is endless, unsatisfying, self-centered, and selfish. We are admonished: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17) 2b.) Because most of the time, you cannot cut on the quality of the resources the product is made of. So the only other way is to cut employee costs to raise the profit margin. Many cases your employees are having to live in the same area with the same concerns of putting food on the table and a roof over their family's heads. 2c.) It may take longer to make your millions.

1a.) I guess over the past several months, I have to ask myself if God has been my co-pilot or pilot in my life? There have been many times in which he has been riding shotgun. 1b.) Prayerful submission to my Lord and my God. Seeking God's wisdom and discernment. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) Thank you, Father.

4a.) We are forgetting from whence we came. Sinners saved by grace. That same grace is available to all, yet when we slander or judge, we are forgetting the judgement that was on our heads before redemption in Christ. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32) 4a.) It is the sinful nature that dwells in us and is in conflict with our new selves. "For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death." (Romans 7:5)

3a.) They help us to focus on God and His purpose. 3b.) Because, don't we want what is best for us (in a worldly way of thought)? Look out for number one...this is not the case if we focus on God's purpose which is to bring salvation to all men. "He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe." (John 1:7) Talking of John the Baptist. "..He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9b) 3c.) Humbling myself.

2a.) I go to the epistle of Jude: "They (Apostles) said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 18, 19); John writes: "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us." (3 John 9) James warns us about trying to love the world and love God at the same time. It can not happen. 2b.) Trying to love the world and loving God at the same time. Jesus warned the disciples: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19) 2c.) Many of you have answered God, but the Scriptures tells us that: "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." (Ephesians 5:23) John tells us: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--." (John 1:12) We are children of God through Christ's redemption.

1a.) No. 1b.) It is "me-focused" and not "God focused." The sin nature in us is never satisfied as you can see in the world today. Through seeking to live a life filled with the Holy Spriit for the glory of God, that empty place in our heart that only God can fill; will satisfy. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4)

4a.) The wisdom from Heaven which is available to us through the in-dwelling Holy Spirit. 4b.) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) 4c.) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Romans 3:22)

3.) Jesus tells us the greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) My only thought is that if you are consumed with bitter envy and self ambition, then you can not love God or others. Because you are too consumed with loving yourself.

2a.) I am drawn to Romans 7 where Paul elaborates on what Jesus is telling us: "I know that nithing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18) Because of the sinful nature in us, we will continue to struggle with our sin. I know I have to chew quite a hole in my tongue on many occassions, when I would rather be giving a smart retort. 2b.) A transformation of the heart, washed by the blood of the Lamb. As Paul concludes: "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.." (Romans 7:25) But as Paul reveals, we will continue to struggle with the sinful nature in us. Our refining process, sanctification, will continue until we are called home.

1a.) Most of you have said it..if you're teaching it, then you know it and you have no excuse to claim ignorance. 1b.) Paul writes Timothy: "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:15, 16) Quite a responsibility for those who teach, isn't it? 1c.) Luke writes about the early church: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11) Be a Berean! That is ultimately why we left a local congregation after eighteen years to find a church which honors God and teaches the Scriptures.

4a.) I guess I have to answer with a question on this one. Wouldn't you want to please the Father because of the freedom we have through His grace? Paul writes in Romans: "So, my brothers, you also died to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." (Romans 7:4) I think Paul and James are on the same page here.

3a.) I am drawn to Romans 8:6-9; because the Apostle Paul really defines it: "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinfull nature cannot please God." The demon is hostile (really strong word) to God. The believer is controlled by the Spirit. 3a.) The person is not allowing the Spirit to control them.