Jake
-
Posts
16 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Jake
-
-
Q4. (Matthew 5:6) How can an intense desire for righteousness put you at odds with the world? What sort of righteousness is Jesus talking about, do you think? What promise are we given in this Beatitude?
Righteousness is Christlikeness. 1 Cor 5:21 says A man who trusts in Christ becomes the righteousness of God in Him. The world opposed Christ and so will it oppose a man who is like Christ. Hence we who are being transformed into His image will surely be at odds with the world.
- Jesus does talk about a higher life in the Spirit. He speaks about a life in Him.
- We who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be filled. The Spirit is the life giving water, mingled with milk and later, meat of the Word.
-
Q2. (Matthew 5:3-4) Why is it necessary to be aware of your spiritual poverty before you can become a Christian? What kind of mourning is necessary for a person to become a Christian? What kind of mourning is a common experience of Christians? (See Isaiah 61:2-3; Ezekiel 9:4.)
Being a Christian ( a child of God) is perhaps the greatest blessing bestowed on a man. When all of lives glitter and splendor cease there is no hope but in our creator and maker. Being born again is no decision that is pre-emited but it is only by god's tender mercy that we have been chosen. For we were enemies of the gospel before we were saved yet now God has made us partakers in this devine calling.
No king of self mediated mourning would ever bring us to the Lord, except when the process is initiated by the Spirit where we are brought before the cross, where we realise our nakedness, filth and wretchedness and the greatest gift that is bestowed on us.
Mourning as a christian is for the lost and perishing. A christian would also mourn for his own standing before the Lord. Mourning for the unbeliever is our necessary responsibility.
-
Q1. (Matthew 5:3-11) Each Beatitude consists of two parts. What are these parts? Why do you think Jesus made each Beatitude a paradox? What is the relationship of the Beatitudes to the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)?
The 2 parts are the quality one must possess and the blessings as a result of practicing it.
Jesus wanted to show that the ways of His kingdom were contrary to the ways of this world and they may seem like paradoxes, however these are the qualities that determine the ways of a blessed man.
The fruit of the Spirit is what is seen in us when the Spirit is at work in us and that in turn will help us to be what Jesus intends us to become in the Sermon on the mount.
-
Q3. (Psalm 98) What are the reasons given for praise in Psalm 98? Why do you think praise is so exuberant in this psalm? How exuberant is praise in your congregation, in your life? Why or why not is it exuberant?
Psalm 98 praises God for His wondrous creation, for His victory, for His grace and faithfulness.
Praise is exuberant because our God will come as a rightful judge and His credentials and qualification exceeds everything and is beyong our fleshly imaginations. The psalmist is rightfully reminding us that He is a righteous and faithful judge.
In my own life, i would like to have a higher and a greater praise filled life.
Praises come from a heart which is filled with faith and i am continuing to grow in faith and i believe that the Lord God would give more grace from His throne.
-
Q2. (Psalm 95) In Psalm 95 we are commanded to worship the Lord. What are the reasons why we should worship contained in this psalm? Why do you think the warning in verses 8-11 is included in this psalm? How does this fit with the earlier elements of the psalm?
Adonai, represents absolute supremacy because He inspite of His greatness as mentioned in verses 3-5,He loves us and is our good Shepherd verse 7. We need to fall protrate before this Great King of Kings who comes to visit us.
Unbelief limits the Godhead of God and undermines His works which have been a continual experience. Jesus himself detested unbelief and spoke about it.
The first part of the psalm is purely meditative on the supremacy and love that God has for us and the second part is a warning of unbelief that limits the work of God.
-
Q3. (Psalm 133) What about this short psalm seems to attract you? Why is "dwelling together in unity" so difficult? What kinds of commitments does unity require of us? How do the principles of unity and purity seem to conflict with each other? Why are reconciliation and unity such high values in Jesus' teaching, do you think?
Unity is the main theme of this Psalm. In my bible it says that this was a song of ascends. I am not sure what it means, however i would think that this could have been the time when he was fleeing from Absalom. The need for that hour would have been the requirement of unity among the brethren. With this assumption, i am fascinated to see David admiring unity among the brethren. I long to see unity in the house of the Lord and this theme really attracts me.
Dwelling together in unity comes only from being one in Christ under His(Word of God's) authority.
We need to have an attitude of humility and say to ourselves "For He must increase and i must decrease"
Unity in Christ is essential, however there may be differences between different denominations with regard to purity. However in my opinion purity precedes unity and every person must be true to what God has revealed.
Without unity there is anarchy.
-
Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? Where should praise occur? With what should praise be conducted? Who should praise? What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud?
This psalm teaches us that praise comes from within and reiterates the importance of Praising as the psalmist makes it clear that let everything that has breath praise the Lord. This psalm also brings out the continual need to praise God as we as humans breath constantly so should we praise God at all times.
Praises come from the depths of our hearts.
Praises should be conducted with instruments of praise (including our bodies)
As the psalmist says let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
It makes me want to praise Him continually
-
Q1. (Psalm 1). This short psalm seems to reaffirm what we already know: the righteous will succeed and the wicked will perish. Why do we need to be reminded of this? From an emotional standpoint, what lines in this psalm stand out to you. Why do you think you like them?
- We need to be reminded of this fact as we may find the contrary as we go on through life, however the bible does make it clear that justice will be restored.
- From an emotional standpoint the lines "Their delight is in the Adonai's Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night." plays a very important role in our lives during these end times. As the uncertainity increased we have certainity in the absolute Word. It is also lovely to note that the psalmist delights in the Word and that is the attitude that i long to have everytime i read the Word.
Thanks be to G-d.
-
QUOTE(Pastor Ralph @ Aug 19 2007, 06:49 AM)
Q3. (Psalm 63) Why is recognition that God loves you the basis of all faith? What does this realization bring about in your life?
The image of a loving God who gave His only begotten son to be crucified for our sins is the pillar of Christian faith. God loves me hence He died for me. Without love the Christian Faith becomes void.
This realisation brings about a sense of security and confidence that my God gave His life for me and that He loves me with an everlasting love.
-
Q2. (Psalms 42-43). What is the psalmist feeling during this spiritual struggle? How does he combat his spiritual depression? Have you ever felt this way? How did you reach out to God at this time?
The psalmist feels hopeless and discouraged.
He recalls the glorious works of the Lord in the past. V 6 says that he makes an effort to remind himself of the victories and deliverances brought about by the mighty hand of God.
I have had many instances where i have felt depressed and lonely.
Many of those times i havent been strong, but in His mercy i have survived those times. I do pray that the Lord will help me to trust more in His unfailing love.
-
Q1. (Psalm 27) What does it mean that David desires to "dwell in the house of the Lord"? What does it mean to "seek his face"? How does David provide hope at the end of this Psalm?
To meet a person we always have to go to his/her house.David however did not only want premission for occasional visits but wanted to live in this "House" (presence of God).
David had already known and tasted the goodness of God. And it is that experience that he did did not want to loose or be away from.
Seeking His face: When we read about someone, we get eager to know them more intimately. This is possible when we see the person in addition to talking to the person. David had prayed and heard God, however he wanted a closer walk and hence he began seeking for the Lords face.
David believed that he would see the goodness of Adonai in the land of the living (his present times). He had tasted and seen that the Lord is good. In other words he had first hand experience of the sovereignity of God and he trusted that God who does not change would help him.
-
Q3. (Psalm 139). In what way does the wonder of creation in the psalm seem to affect the psalmist? In his concluding prayer in verses 23-24, what does he ask God to do?
The psalmist here in this psalm brings out the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent nature of God.
David in this psalm also shows us that he was very sure that God loved him and cared for him. This brought out a devine confidence that God was on his side.
We can carry this confidence one step forward because we believe in a God who loves us so much that He sent his only begotten son, who died for each one of us on the cross.
Praise be to God, for in Him is our strength and confidence.
David in verse 23-24 gives God the permission out of his free will to screen his heart, as we screen our computers for viruses. He goes on to ask God to lead him along the right way.
-
Q2. (Psalm 19) Verses 1 to 6 seem very different from verses 7 to 13, but there is a common thread that relates the first part to the second part. What is it? In what way does the psalmist seem to bask in God's Word? Have you ever felt that way? How does the psalmist's wonder in creation seem to affect him in this psalm? In the classic prayer of verse 14, what is David asking God to do?
The common thread is the revelation factor, both reveal the Lord, God our God.Jesus himself is the Word who became flesh and is now our High Priest.
The psalmist basks in God's Word by listening to it, meditating on it and finally obeying it. He has implicitely accepted the Word, however in my own experience i am begining to see the greatness of His Word and hold on to His word.
The psalmist realises his own unworthyness when he stands before the measure of God's goodness and revelation.
In this wonderful and marvelous prayer David asks God to bring his own thoughts and words in line with God's own thoughts and words.
-
QUOTE(Pastor Ralph @ Aug 18 2007, 12:41 PM)
Q1. (Psalm 8). What does this psalm teach about God? What does it teach about human beings? What does it teach us about Christ? What does it teach about our responsibilities?
The Yahweh, is our God and that He is all powerful.
This psalm teaches us that we are fragile and weak yet this all powerful God loves us and cares for us.
This psalm reiterates to us that Christ, though He limited himself into a fleshly form is still the ruler of all.
This psalm emphasises our need to glorify God who created us to commune with Him.
-
Hello,
I am Jacob and i am from Sydney. It is my first attempt to participate in an online bible study.
Regards,
Jake
Dear Friend,Welcome to the online Bible study forum for Experiencing the Psalms.
It's exciting to meet other people who are involved in this Bible study. Why don't you check in and share a bit about yourself, and what state and country you are from. Please do NOT include your e-mail address. Be discrete about sharing private things about yourself.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Ralph
Q5. Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
in 1. Paradoxical People: the Beatitudes (5:1-13)
Posted