Onerivertrail

Q3. (Exodus 14:11-14) Why do the people blame Moses for the advancing Egyptian army? What motivates their fear? Who are the people really blaming? How does Moses respond to their blame and fear? Why doesnt Moses defend himself from their unfair criticism? How do the people respond to Moses words? The people blame Moses because the direction to them came from him or so they thought. The people are forgetting a Holy God is directing Moses and they needed to listen and have faith in this relationship to obtain the promised victory of freedom from Pharoah and the slavery of Egypt. Moses doesn't fold and take this personally. He instructs them on how to respond so they win this fight by standing still and seeing the salvation of their God. He kept it all in its proper perspective, "all on God." He reassured the people while directing them. He exhibited great leadership in this moment of great trial.

Q2. (Exodus 12:50) Why was obedience so important to the people's deliverance? Why is obedience so important to our deliverance from "sin, the flesh, and the devil"? Is there any discipleship without obedience? Does a person who says he believes in Jesus but doesn't obey him have real faith? God had a specific plan for His people from the beginning. To fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives obedience is first and foremost. To be delivered of any situation, sin, flesh or the devil it requires that we come into align with God's nature and direction. We cannot confess Jesus with our mouths and have a heart that goes in its own direction. Dicipleship and obedience is the key to deliverance and blessing.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19) In what sense is Christ our Passover Lamb? In what sense are we marked with his blood? In what sense does God's judgment pass over us because of Christ's blood? Christ is our Passover Lamb in the sense that He is perfect and without blemish. Accepted and planned by the Father to be the perfect sacrifice for us on earth. In this we need only to confess and repent from our sins and judgment will pass over us because of Christ's blood covering on our sins. One sacrifice was all that was needed with Him and it covered everything God's people needed. .

Q4. Why do we tend to fight our battles in the flesh rather than using spiritual weapons? Why do we so often mistake the human enemy for the spiritual enemy? When will God fight our battles and when wont he? It is human nature to react. We forget when under pressure that God is in control. All situations and our days should start with continual prayers to remember that it is the Lord's fight in our battles not ours. We fight spiritual wickedness through prayer and fasting, not physical fighting. Words spoken or silence in itself is power when under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Young christians have the hardest time because they have not disciplined themselves or exercised their senses in discernment when situations come up. It is a hard lesson to learn to give it all to the Lord!

Q3. Why didn�t M oses accept Pharaoh�s compromises? In what instances should church leaders accept compromise? In what instances is it wrong for church leaders to compromise? Moses didn't accept Pharoah's compromises because by this time God had gotten his attention and Moses had moved past the blaming point into obedience to God. Moses knew what God wanted him to do and he was going to be obedient in that. Church leaders should accept compromise when it betters the church and does not go against what God has said. There should be no compromise when you have received a clear mandate from God and the people need instruction in that, not a comfort zone in their pews or personal lives.

Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? What fears in this regard does a leader face? How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? I believe some church leaders are afraid to confront the people because of repercussions for speaking the truth. Truth will sometimes make a person uncomfortable and reject the one who gave it. Some congregations are used to controlling the pastor and demanding only comfortable teaching for direction. Others may pull out their support of the church until the pastor sees it their way. If a pastor speaks the truth in love and it is based on the word of God then those words will not return empty. They will be God's words and not mans. We must step forward as leaders or find ourselves shaken by God if we refuse to confront and correct when we should. Refusing to do right is disobedience to the Father.

Q1. (Exodus 7:6-7) Why did Moses blame God for his troubles? Why do you think Moses and Aaron are so stubborn? Was it fear? Was it unbelief? Or both, perhaps? Why does God have to command Moses and Aaron? Moses was distressed and burdened with an assignment that he hadn't encountered before. The people were complaining and placing the blame on Moses while grumbling about everything else. Moses and Aaron were not sure where they were headed in the direction God was giving them and saw a situation through their eyes and not God's. When we are afraid to go forward we focus blame somewhere else as an excuse for not moving in any direction. I believe there was fear in the both of them but they also lacked understanding of what was happening here and why. God had to command the both of them to get them out of their unbelief in finding a positive ending in this and just do as He said because He is God and they were to be obedient no matter what the outcome. Our Father knows best but we forget that sometimes and struggle with Him when we struggle from the inside of ourselves.

Q4. Why are we so afraid to obey God when he puts on our heart to do something decisive? How are we to deal with fear when we feel it? What is the relationship of fear to courage? Why is courage required in leaders and disciples? We are afraid to step forward at Gods request in the beginning like Moses. This is common among new christians and those who are not built up on the Word and in their position with Jesus Christ. If we are true disciples then we serve the One we love and His love helps to build us up. Fear is not from God. Fear is common in new relationships that are not tested as yet. A cleansed heart, a renewed life, one who has received salvation and is reborn should be in love with their Savior and gather courage from the love that died for you on a cross and has given you new life. Fear comes from being centered on self. Courage comes from being centered on God. We can take courage from our heavenly focus of the Lord and march forward as a leader in His ways. Leaders and disciples cannot complete their assiged course without taking this courage to do it.

Q3. (Exodus 4:13-14a) Why is God angry with Moses? What is Moses’ basic sin? Unbelief, fear, or disobedience? Do you think the Lord has ever been angry with you? How did Moses appease God’s anger? God is angry with Moses because no matter what God says Moses responds with "what ifs" and a heart of fear for himself because of possible repercussions from others. His basic sin is disobedience born out of fear for himself physically and appearing as a weak man with no power. He no longer carried the attitude of the people that raised and educated him. Moses had been stripped by all of that by God. Moses finally had to appease God by agreeing to Aaron going with him and shouldering this assignment with him. God had met all of Moses excuses and fears with reassurance, signs and wonders and finally giving Moses a person to be his mouth piece. Disobedience brought Gods anger toward Moses as Gods anger has been kindled toward me when I have been told to carry out an assignment and failed to do so.

Q2. (Exodus 3:10-12) Does Moses� response to God�s call reflect a low self image, true humility, or lack of faith? How does God reassure him? How does God reassure us when we are called to impossible situations? His response reflects all of that. Moses was conscience of serious wrong doing when he committed a murder. This did much to his self image and self righteousness of who he thought he was while in Egypt. He begins his running away when it is revealed that his murder was known by others. He left a fearful and guilty man. As the years passed he found true humilty in having no status of importance and being no different than other shepherds in the fields. He now worked for someone else. Forty years passed in this capacity and now he was an old man. He was approached by a holy God in a miraculous manner. This is humbling in itself because you now really know who you are not when in the presence of your creator. He was given a mission by God and saw himself as nothing in His presence. Moses had little if any faith at all at that point. God promises to be with him in this assignment. A powerful and holy God is giving Moses a chance at kingdom assigments. I believe Moses was empty of himself at this point so he was ready in Gods eyes to be filled with heavens plan. God reassures us in the same way. He speaks to us, he uses biblical stories that speak of His nature and love and always gives us what we need to complete His heavenly assignments while on earth.

Q1. (Exodus 2:11-15a) What do we learn about Moses� motivations, character, and leadership ability from the incident of him killing the cruel Egyptian taskmaster? What positive things do you see in his character? What negative things do you discern? Moses was raised in the wisdom of the Egyptians so his manner exhibited power as well as his speech. Unfortunately he seemed to have tied his personal importance to the reflection of power of where he was raised. He had yet to have an encounter with the God of the people of his hebrew blood. He still exhibited that part of him though when he witnessed the abuse of the hebrew people. Moses natural nature came forth with power but he made an unwise decision. He committed murder. He did not live to the letter of the law as his natural mother did. None the less he stepped forward for a hebrew. Murder was wrong, Moses knew this and exhibited a guilty manner of looking one way and then the next to make sure he would not be found out. He premeditated a murder. His heart I believe was that of a hebrew but his manner of acting and thinking was in a negative motion associated with his egyptian schooling. His spiritual line and the plans of a loving God would soon bring to light all of the goodness of Moses and the plan God had to deliver the hebrew people from slavery through him.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) What makes people so gullible that they believe the Antichrist’s deceptions? What is the reason that God gives them over to this deception? Why is a fearless seeking of God’s truth so important to us? How can a preaching of the truth set people free? The Antichrist will be the politican of all times with sweet words and signs and wonders. Jesus warned his disciples and they passed on His warning. There were and are those who refuse to hear and love the truth. People are gullible and believe every sweet word or promise that will satisfy their flesh and provide the comfort or excitement they desire. They hate the truth in this respect and will be given over to condemation for eternity. Preaching truth to people will set those free who are good ground, have ears to hear and eyes to see. The others perish in the delusion sent by God for turning their backs on the truth of Jesus Christ.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5; Revelation 13:5-8) What are the characteristics of the Antichrist that Paul gives in this passage? What does Revelation 13:5-8 add to our basic understanding? The Antichrist is a man of rebellion, lawlessness, doomed to destruction, self exalting over all, appoints himself to sit in God's temple and proclaims himself to be God. Revelation 13 says that he will have a mouth to say proud words, blasphemies, and exercise his authority for 42 months. He was given power to make war on the saints and to conquer them. He was given authority over the whole world. All will worship him except those whose names were written in the book of life which is the Lamb's book.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In what way were the Thessalonians confused? What is the order of Christ’s coming in relation to the revealing of the Antichrist? They were confused because someone sent them a letter saying the day had already come. They thought they missed it and believed this rumor. Paul set them straight on the order of events to happen first. First the Antichrist must take the place allowed to him and then Christ will return.

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) How might you describe Christ’s glory? How will his glory be terrifying to unbelievers? If heaven involves sharing this glory forever, what would it be like to be excluded forever from the glory? In what ways is the phrase “outer darkness” a helpful description of hell? Christ's glory is so beautiful and unimaginable that it is hard to describe. A blazing heavenly fire, a beautiful light beyond description and the power of all is with Him. His glory will be terrifying to see when He comes because the knowledge that was rejected has appeared and the unbelievers know their end has come. This is the living Christ that they rejected and now they know that are facing the ultimate rejection from Him to last for all eternity. Outer darkness is being out of the light of God and into a dark and black pit of hell where you are tormented day and night without hope.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) According to verse 9, what kind of punishment will unbelievers experience? One definition of “hell” is “a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.” What parts of this definition are confirmed in verse 9. Which parts of the definition trouble you? Why? The unbelievers will experience a never ending punishment for all eternity. It is called a destructive punishment so in God's measure it will destroy them forever as they continue to exist in this state. The eternal conscious part is "shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power." You have to know that consciously. You are not in just a tormented state of sorts but you know the presence of the Lord is gone and His power has been taken from you. This troubles me knowing that it is forever and there are still those I love that are far from Jesus. We need to fight hard in prayer and actions for their souls.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Would God be just if he did not punish sin? What is the difference between rehabilitation and retribution? When does a Christian’s rehabilitation take place? When does a sinner’s retribution take place? How do you balance love and justice? God has to punish sin. He is holy and just in all He does. Wrongdoing brings correction from a just Father. Our rehabilitation first took place by repentance of sin and receiving Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and learning to walk in the Spirit. Our rehabilitation is a life long process that continually changes us in becoming more Christ like with each day. Retribution on the other hand is paying back someone for wrongdoing. Retribution for a sinner is eternal damnation. God is just!! We can balance love and justice by walking in the Spirit of Christ towards others and leaving the balance of justice in God's hands.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? What would we be like without the testing of our faith? Standing in the face of persecution tests our faith but especially shows how much we love the Lord. I am joyful when persecuted because of my faith in my Lord. Pressure can be subtle and sometimes not seen as persecution so this may cause us to fall back a bit in our race for the crown. It may kill our energy of sorts for a time so we need to love and encouage each other when this happens. If our faith was not tested and we did not show we could stand in the face of testing and trials then we would not be counted worthy. Jesus was the Son of God and became as we are and passed His tests. He prove Himself and we can do the same!

Q5. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) If you met a true Christian who had no assurance of salvation, how would you explain to him or her God’s power to protect and present them blameless before Christ at his coming? What is the problem of having no assurance of salvation? What is the problem of having a false assurance of salvation? I would explain that God knows the sincerety of their hearts and He will finish what He started with them as stated in scripture. He also made them blameless through the death of Jesus on the cross. Only God can sanctify us and make us holy. This is not something that we can do for ourselves. His gifts are eternal, His love is forever!! If a person has a false assurance of salvation like, "once saved, always saved" may just wake up in eternal damnation. We are held to a standard and His grace is sufficient to get us through if we do not ignore it

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy? The early church was new at prophesying and our churches now have new Christians who may give words out of their own wishes or excitement of the moment that was not from God for the people. Words given in haste and words that do not come to pass cause discontent and frustration with the people. They sometimes get the "why bother attitude." Truth is necessary and if its not real some will begin to despise prophesying. Paul gave guidelines to help keep a proper order in prophesying and the prophets are to judge the prophets. He said two or three should speak and the others should weigh the words. This helps to keep order in the body of Christ.

Q3. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In your own words explain how a person can rejoice and pray continually. Are there any circumstances we might be in the midst of where we should not give thanks to God? You can rejoice and pray continually when in just remembering who God is and all the benefits He has provided for us. Just remembering this brings us into conversation with God which IS prayer. From here we go on and pray for others and it seems continual all through the day if we just begin with remembering who God IS!! There are not any circumstances where we should not give thanks because the Word says that this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!!

Q2. (1 Thessalonians 5:15) What happens to people who seek revenge on those who hurt them? What happens when they neglect to forgive those who have wronged them? What happens in a congregation that has an unloving, superior attitude towards outsiders? How do these attitudes reflect on Christ? How can people or congregations get healthy after have been vengeful, proud, or unforgiving? People who always seek to repay hurt or wrongdoing are not healthy christians themselves. We must remember who forgave all sins and died for all of our sins and walk in love toward one another in every instance. When a church has a judgemental attitude toward outsiders it creates a division in fellowship and does not reflect the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Churches will run stangnant and not grow if they continue with this attitude. The fulness and beautiful love of Christ is never experienced when a church is reflecting their own self righteous attitude. The way for a church to get healthy after being this way is to turn back to our first love, repent and let His forgiveness and love shine out through us to others.

Q1. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) What happens in a congregation when people don’t show respect for their leaders? What happens when the disrespectful spread their disrespect? Will getting rid of the leader fix the problem, or is there something deeper going on here? When you undermine a God given authority or position you undermine God's order in this. Whether the person is right or wrong for the position given by God to the church that person must be respected. Disrespect and rebellion cause a serious matter of spiritual unrest which also affects people physically. We must continue with love and respect toward each other as God would have us do and especially for those who labor so hard in their positions for the sake of our souls. Disrespect can come from a source of many different issues in the church. Some are never happy and some want to take the position for themselves. Others like to compete for popularity and grab a following for themselves. All this comes from a base of ungodliness in those people. It is destructive in nature for themselves and others.

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8) What effect should a belief in Christ’s soon coming have on believers? What does it mean to be “sober” or “self-controlled” (verse 6)? What does it mean to be “alert” or “watchful” (verse 6)? How does this differ from our normal Christian lifestyle? We should maintain a holy and disciplined life and keep a watchful eye for the time that comes unexpectantly like a thief in the night. To be alert and watchful is to maintain a level head and be sober minded, not caught up with the cares or excitements of this world. Always be prepared to greet your master. Our normal christian lifestyle is earthly concerns and activities. We are a scheduled and sometimes apathetic people forgetting what the day is! Some of us may depart early. We must always be ready!

Q3. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) According to this passage, what warning can we expect to have prior to Christ’s return? What does it mean that he will “come like a thief”? There is no warning except we should always be aware and remember that Jesus will come as a thief in the night. He will come when least expected so we should always be ready as that day approaches.