nancychua
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Posts posted by nancychua
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On 8/29/2019 at 1:17 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Acts 13:1-3) Why are the church leaders in Antioch seeking God through corporate prayer and fasting? How does God respond to their seeking? Why do you think we don't do more of this sort of thing today? What was the importance of this to the church at large? To the chosen missionaries?
By prayer and fasting, the church leaders endeavors to discern and align itself with the Spirit`s plans and intentions. They are especially sensitive to the communication of the Holy Spirit during the time of prayer and fasting.
People now a days tend to rely more on their own strength than to depend and seek God for help.
The church sent out missionaries who show its commitment to support and encourage those who go out to work together for truth.. The church`s responsibility includes sending missionaries to their places of ministry with love and in a manner worthy of God. They must be willing to risk their lives for the cause of JC.
The Holy Spirit will empower and and establish them in local churches. By the Power of the HS living in and through them , the new Christians received and used Spiritual gifts like God-given abilities for the purpose of honoring him and benefiting the church. The Ministry of the Spirit allowed them, to carry out God`s life transforming work in their communities.
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On 8/29/2019 at 1:16 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (Galatians 2:11-16) Why does Paul call out Peter publicly in Antioch? What is the reason for Peter’s hypocrisy? What is the central issue on which Paul feels they must not compromise? Why is it so important?
Those who belonged to the circumcision group were Jewish Christians, especially in Jerusalem Church, who believed that the OT sign of circumcision was still necessary for all new covenant Christians. They taught that Jewish believers should not eat with uncircumcised Gentiles.
Peter knew that God accepted the Gentile believers without bias or prejudice, yet he denied his own principles out of fear of criticism and the possibility of losing authority with some in the Jerusalem church. His separation from Gentile believers at meal time encouraged the false notion that there were two bodies of Christ - the Jewish and the Gentile.Peter did not want to be condemned by the Jewish believers because he knows Gentile needs to be circumcised. They want to please men than God.
Paul is not saying that the law is not holy , righteous and good. But he argues against using the law as a bass for trying to gain favor or acceptance with God. Salvation by faith because of God`s grace is the essence of the true message of Christ.
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On 8/29/2019 at 1:14 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:15-17) Why do ambitious Christians struggle so much when they don't seem to be doing anything important? Why is patience with God's plan so important to growth? Why is a period of spiritual formation so important to future leadership? To listening for God's voice?
We need to be still and know that God has His plans for us in His own perfect timing. We need to rest and, seek Him, to lean and trust on Him, in order to be able to do His will.
Paul was sent to a direct commission from Christ to deliver his original message and to lead the effort of establishing His church. Each believer has been set apart by God to accomplish His purpose to spread His message and reflect His character of His Son, Jesus Christ. As Christians, we have been saved and separated from sin and evil so that we might experience a close personal relationship with God and effectively communicate to others the message of hope and life through Christ.
God is the one working in us both to will and to work according to is good pleasure. So we need to be patience for He knows what is best for us.
Spiritual separation means living in faith and obedience for God`s honor and for the purpose of revealing His truth to the world. God`s people should hold fast to the way of righteousness through Christ and grow in his spiritual salvation, his faith, his personal purity and holiness, , his service and devotion to God as His Father and Lord. He will be our counselor and guide and He will love and cherish us as His own children.
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Abraham just trusted and believed God by faith ... obeying what He wants him to do in the land he was asked to go.
If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Our Lord and Savior, and believe with our heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. We can only rely upon the righteousness of Christ and not our own strength.
Matt. 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven”.
Obeying God`s will and follow His footsteps .... Have a close sincere relationship with Him by studying His word, praying and seeking Him in whatever we do to honor Him with all our heart, mind and soul.
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Q2. (Acts 9:10-18) Why do you think God sends Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly? Why does Ananias argue with God? Why does it take courage to obey? What does Ananias do and say? Have you ever had God guide you to talk with someone and minister to him or her? Have you followed through?
Ananias thinks he knows better than God about other people and about what is possible so his first response is to tell God that the Almighty must be lacking in information regarding who Saul is and what he’s doing because if he knew who Saul was Ananias wouldn’t be asked to go to him and pray for him.
The story of Paul is that of a man who saw the light and was blinded in order that he might truly see. It just might be that whatever our issue, problem, past or the way we messed up our life or were hurt, may become the way God uses us. It feels more natural to many of us to rant, demean, insult, and dehumanize enemies rather than to pray for them much less in person!
Saul’s spiritual condition. He was listening and not comprehending, his eyes were shut and he couldn’t see. His blindness is symbolic of his spiritual condition, he knows a great deal about religion, but he doesn’t have a personal faith. He is driven, but if we’re lost, driving faster simply gets us further away from where we need to be at a faster rate. Saul didn’t know Jesus personally; he certainly didn’t expect to meet the risen Lord Jesus on the road and to be blinded.
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On 8/29/2019 at 1:06 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Acts 9:4-5; 26:14) Why does persecuting Christ's people constitute persecuting Christ himself? What kinds of goads or prods have you seen God use on you to move you along Christ's path? When you "kick against the goads" is it harder on you or on God?
Jesus is the head of the Church and the people are His body. We are all one in Him, so when we persecute His people, we are persecuting Jesus Himself also. God is Holy, pure, and righteous by nature , so He requires His people to be set apart from evil as Holy to the Lord. Sin and rebellion against Him were exposed in an effort to turn the people toward holy living for complete dedicatiion to God`s purposes.
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Q3. (Romans 5:15-19) By what right does Adam represent all humankind? By what right does Christ become head of all who become his disciples? If Christ is not our "representative" or "head," how can his death for sins be effective for us?
Adam was was the first born of humankind who has the same image, right and nature as we do.
Jesus, by His death and resurrection has the same right as first born of the dead and the Head of all disciples. That why we must pattern our lives after Jeus Christ .
Because Jesus gave His life for us by blood sacrifice on the cross for us, He became the once-and-for-all sacrifice for mankind. He gave it all up for us, so that we could be redeemed. We didn't do anything to deserve this. God wanted us to be redeemed, and this was the only way it could be done.
Jesus' obedience to God The Father paved the way for us to be one with The Father. Jesus came from above and lived as a human to show us that we can have victorious life when we are born again and will be led by the Holy Spirit. The born again believers are identified with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
If we refuse to accept the grace and salvation that Christ gave us, then Jesus' death for sins cannot be effective for us. The only way to The Father is through Jesus by accepting what He did for us, and believing in Him would have eternal life.
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Q2. (Romans 5:13, 20) What is Paul saying in these verses? Can there be sin without law? In what sense does the "trespass increase" (5:20) when the law is present?
Paul is saying that sin blocked our relationship with God but it was not clearly understood until the law was given. Death separate us from God since the time of Adam until God had revealed His law to Moses to made known of our sin be more visible.
Yes, there was sin before the law was given and death came when Adam sinned.
Sin and its consequence of death were definitely in the world prior to the Law of God given.
The law was against sin but sin will never be forgiveness until we received salvation thru the grace of God. Jesus Christ overcame our death.
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Q1. What kinds of circumstances in modern life can you think of where a single person acts for an entire group? In what ways are members of the group tied to this person?
The Father, being the head of the family, is ultimately responsible for decision and action that impact on the financial needs, social and spiritual development of the children.
The whole family members are tied to Jesus Christ who will act for an entire group of believers, showing and setting the godly example on how to live righteously by faith in God.
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Q4. (Romans 5:9-11) What does "reconciliation" mean? Why is reconciliation with God necessary? We understand our having been saved by Jesus' death (5:10a, past tense). In what sense are we being saved (5:10b, present tense) by his life? What is Jesus doing for us in the present?
Reconcilation is to restore a close and peaceful relationship with our enemies.
Reconciliation with God is necessary because we are being saved by the blood of Christ and His resurrection life. We are forgiven and are reconciled to God. God sent His Son for our sins, that we may know Him as our Father.
We are being saved by His life now because we have free access into God's awesome presence. Now there is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by His life, our salvation from sin has been settled by Jesus death on the cross
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Q3. (Romans 5:6, 8) Why is it so important to embrace the truth that "Christ died for the ungodly" (5:6), that "Christ died for sinners" (5:8)? According to 5:8, did Christ die for us at our best or at our worst? How does this give us assurance against the devil's lies about us being too bad to forgive?
We are assured that God loves us inspite of our sin.
The devil always try to fear us with the wrong doing that we have done against Him. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Satan wants us to feel that we have sinned so bad that we can't be forgiven.
But when we come before God with a repentant heart, He will forgive us. Christ died for us that we might be washed clean of our sins through repentence, and acceptance of Christ's love and salvation.
The truth and His redemption work on the Cross has set us free from sin and condemnation. We should not fear that we human being are too bad to forgive.
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Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage why should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope?
1) Because God uses suffering to shape us and mould us to develop his character in us. It helps us to cling and depend on HIm who can strengthen us. It illuminate our mind, moral and spiritual reinforcement that He is always with us and will not allow the suffering that we could not bear it. He is the God of love and mercy.
2) A. Perserverence: "it is the art of trying again after the series of failures until you get what you are aiming for". Self motivation and perseverance are our success secrets. The promises of God and our hope of glory in Christ are our "prize".
It gives us the endurance to hold out in circumstances of difficulty.
B. Tried character: willl help us to develop qualities like graciousness, purity, wisdom and patience. Will show us how to extend yourself to others so that Christ can be glorified.
C. Hope: Enables us to know why we are who we are and we know where we are going. It is where we can see the fulfillment of God`s promises for our eternal destiny.
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Q1. (Romans 5:1-2) According to verses 1-2, faith is a key to salvation. For Abraham (4:3), what was the relationship between faith and justification? For us (5:1-2), what is the relationship between faith and justification? In your own words, just what does it mean to be justified?
Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness
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Q4. (Psalm 24) How do verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King? What do verses 3-6 tell us about the requirements of the King? What do verses 7-10 tell us about the glory of the King? How does this psalm speak to you in your situation?
Q4. (Psalm 24) How do verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King?
They speak of His sovereignty. The King of heaven and earth and they are His own.
What do verses 3-6 tell us about the requirements of the King?
It describes that God requires ethical and moral purity-loyality to the King. Strict allegience without idoltry.
What do verses 7-10 tell us about the glory of the King?
He is Yahweh and God of Magnificent and Almighty. He is the victorious warrior King, mighty in battle, worthy of respect and honor. He deserves all our praises and all Glory. He is the highly exalted , the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.
How does this psalm speak to you in your situation?
He is my Sovereign God and I must come in full surrender to Him as Lord of my life. I must come to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. He is Awesome and Great in Power to save us.
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Q3. (Psalm 126). In this psalm, the nation is going through some kind of crisis. How does memory of God's deliverance in verses 1-3 prepare them for the prayer of verse 4? How do you understand the two metaphors of deliverance: (1) a wadi or dry gully and (2) sowing and reaping? How do these metaphors help you in your situation?
How does memory of God's deliverance in verses 1-3 prepare them for the prayer of verse 4?
It reminds them of God`s faithfulness and assurance that He is fully capable of taking care of the present and future situations they will face. They can seek Him knowing that He hears and He will answer.
How do you understand the two metaphors of deliverance: (1) a wadi or dry gully and (2) sowing and reaping?
a). a wadi or dry gully - when we are spiritually dry, our souls cry out from drought and God is faithful to make things right and will bring the answer in due time. We must be patient.
sowing and reaping - when we give God the praise everyday , He will loads us up with His benefits and will reap us with the harvest that we have sowed. We need to sow the seed and be patient as I wait. How do these metaphors help you in your situation?
It shows me that as long as I continue to trust in Him, no matter what circumstances I`m facing , He will deliver me. He knows and understands every situation I face and that in His own time and in His own way He will carry me through and bring me to the pass with peace and understandingl
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Q2. (Psalm 96) What does it mean to "ascribe" to God attributes of glory and strength? What happens when we fail to ascribe such qualities to him? In what sense is praise to God "fitting" or "worthy"?
Ascribe to God atrributes of glory and strength mean that we look upon God`s glory of creation and the power of natural phenomena. Ascribe to the Lord is the worship and adoration to the Lord realizing that He created the heaven and the earth. He created us and deserves all our allegiance and our complete obedience. We praise His power and mighty in nature. We glorify His name that He is God all powerful. We acknowledge He is greater than all things.
When we fail to ascribe such quality to Him - we fail to give Him glory and ignore Him as our God of life.
He is worthy of all our praises. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His Holiness.
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Q1. (Psalm 57) Why is praise difficult in the midst of trying circumstances? How does praise affect our faith? Our attitude? Our motivation?
Praise is difficult in the midst of trying circumstances because we focus on the feeling of fear about the future. We allow the darkness of our broken heart, doubts , pains and burdens weighed us down that we couldn`t see the glory of God.
Praise will strengthen our spirit up to speak God`s wod with boldness, to stir our heart to the voice of the Lord, to have the power to comprehend the love of Christ, to have a deeper sense of hope, the encouragement of togetherness in unity and harmony, to have a mind of discernment and strategic wisdom.
Praising will filter our attitude and emotion through God`s word, give us a divine opportunity to see our ugliness on how we choose to response them with peace and joy. It will motivate us to give thanks, worship and pray in spirit and in truth to come courageously in raising the banner of praise. It will lift up our voices in a cry of love, adoration and triumph that Jesus Christ sits on the throne of God who reigns forever.
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Q5. After you've studied the psalms in this chapter, what do you think it means to "rest" in God? How do you seek God's peace when you have a dozen things coming against you?
We need to dress up in the whole armor of the Lord and that we will rest in Him and trust Him to give the victory in His time and in His way. Our true source of happiness must rise above the circumstances and situations of life and it must come to rest in no other place but God Himself.
We must learn to cast our burdens on the Lord and trust Him to take care of matters in His way and at His time. Our duty is to trust Him and He will "bring it to pass", that is, He will take care of it, in His own time!
Those who trust in the Lord need never fear that He will fail them. In the end, faith in God always pays out the greatest dividends!
Keep your eyes on the sky, wait patiently for the Lord to finish His plan for the ages and know that the best is yet to come!
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Q4. (Psalm 46) How does the imagery of the river and streams in verse 4 function in Psalm 46 to speak peace to the harassed and harried person? Verse 10 tells us: "Be still and know that I am God." How does knowledge of who He is affect our peace? How should it affect our words? Why does He command us to "be still" as a result of this knowledge?
The ``river whose streams shall make glad the city of God`` may allude to the tunnel that King Hezekiah built to guarantee a continous water supply for Jerusalem in times of war. The tunnel carried water from the Gihon spring outside the city to a cistern inside the walls. So when invading armies besieged Jerusalem, the unstoppable stream of water made the whole city glad.
Likewise, God makes His people glad through His continous presence. His protection flows like a river out of His lasting commitment to those who honor Him.
Verse 10 We can almost hear the din as mighty armies bear down on God`s people, perhaps besieging Jerusalem itself. Yet, hope, courage, and defiance spring from the certainty of God`s presence. The scene builds to a climax until silence suddenly descends. The: `Be Still and know that I am God` - That`s God`s promise. He will do it, even as He destroyed Israel enemies. Only He can do it. God will be exalted and that is the hope of the world.
Be still knowing that God is our refuge, strength and help:
God`s protection provides reassurance in a tumultuous world.
God`s presence provides an immovable defense in a hostile world.
God`s peace deserves worship and priase through out the world.
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Q3. (Psalm 31) What does it mean to say to the Lord, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5)? How does that statement bring peace to a person? How does the statement, "My times are in your hands" (31:15), bring peace to the troubled soul?
1). What does it mean to say to the Lord, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (31:5)?
`Into Your hands I commit my spirit` meant that we completely surrender our lives unto the Lord by resting our faith in the promises of God.
2). How does that statement bring peace to a person?
We have the full assurance with Christ liveth in us, He will keep us safe in peace. There is no other god who can be compared with the souvereingty that our Mighty God has.
3). How does the statement, "My times are in your hands" (31:15), bring peace to the troubled soul?
We have trusted in Him that He is in control of our lives. God watches over us at all times knowing that whatever we are doing are God's will, we will surely have peace and joy in our lives.
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1). David quiet his inner person before the Lord with an attitude of humility. He stilled and quieted rested with God like a weaned child enjoying the intimacy of breast feeding. Humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God's leading in our lives.
2). The elements mentioned in this psalm was allowing humility and trust to do God`s perspective way so that we will have the strength to serve God and others with love and gratitude.
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Q4. Since Christians don't seem immune to accident, persecution, and death, how are we to understand these psalms of protection? Why don't some believers seem to be protected? Does God really protect us? How?
1. In the scriptures God said that there is a time for everything--a time to die, a time to weep. He wants our inner spiritual filling rather than our earthly flesh.
2. God is in control of everything and He has every reasons for everything. He will always give us the very best of what we need. Though there were times, some believers seem to lose their faith when things doesn`t go their way so God has to remind us that He has the mighty power to overcome what we can`t do so that we need to put our trust in Him in all the ways that we do.
3. I truly believe that God protects us, because of our many personal experiences and trials that we have had and we know that he is the only one who brought us through.
4). God is the God of all power who knows what lies ahead of our future.
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Q3. (Psalm 121).
What reassurance is it to you that God keeps you and watches over you?
God is our protector and Shepherd who loves us so much and will always keep us from all harm and danger.
He is the maker of heaven and earth and do great things that can`t be fathomed and wonderful works that can`t be counted. We put our confident entirely on Him and walk in dependence upon the power of the Spirit who watches us all day long. Nothing in the world can give me that kind of comfort and security.
How does Psalm 121 make you feel?
This Psalm gives me joy & peace knowing that He is always beside me. He has become someone whom I have everything taking great effort in every step I take and knowing that without Him, I can`t stand on my own strength.
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1. What does this psalm teach us about God's protection when in danger?
In times of danger God has promised us that we have His protection, shelter, shield, fortress, and a refuge. He will cover us under his feathers and wings where we can find refuge; his faithfulness will be our shield and rampart
2). What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies?
IN Jesus name we have the power greater than that of our enemies and we have the power to push back and resist the evil and wage war against him the master of confusion and against his evil deeds nothing can harm us.
3). What promises does Psalm 91 contain?
He promises He will rescue us, protect us, deliver us, answer us when we call to Him, be with us in trouble, He will honor us , willsatisfy us with long life and show us His salvation.
4). How does this psalm make you feel?
Psalm 91 is my protection, I know that he is always with me,and shall not abandon me when trouble is near . I can find comfort, peace and assurance and protection when we dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Thank you Jesus as we have quiet confident toward our Almighty Father in Heaven.
Q4. Gifts and Callings
in 2. Paul in Arabia, Tarsus, and Antioch
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We are servants of God called to be obedient in proclaiming God`s word to be used for his Kingdom sake.
Paul was converted to do the will of God and willing to adjust his personal practices and preferences in order to influence others to consider Christ`s claims and to find a personal relationship with God. He actually says more about a willingness to restrict our freedoms and become more moderate in our standards than a need to gain knowledge.
Willingly to set aside our own personal rights in order not to hinder the message of God. As Christians, we must be just as willing to restrict our rights as we expand our rights when it comes to loving consideration for others.
The opposite of faithfulness is unfaithfulness, rebellion and disobedience.