TennLady01

Q4. (4:19-20) In this context, what is the condition that must be met for the promise to be valid? We have to give ourselves in order for this promise to be in effect. Not give because we are ordered to give but out of our love for Jesus we give to build up and help others and we know that the 10 percent that belongs to God should be given to him always. He does not take seconds it is of the first fruit we give. What is the limit of the fulfillment of the promise? There is no limit with God as to the fulfillment of this promise. He owns all things as he created all things so it is limitless. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. In your own words, what does the promise mean to you? It means just what he said if I can in love and to honor him he will meet all my needs. Not just money we give time, we give of ourselves and God restores all that we need and much more at all times. We do not fear things because perfect love cast out all fear. We giving in love knowing without fear of what will happen tomorrow. Our tomorrow is in God's hands we are blessed. Hallelujah. All Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Q3. (4:14-16) How were the Philippians' financial gifts credited to their heavenly account, do you think? Just as Paul said he told the Lord about the giving and the reward will be laid up for them in heaven. Also this is a blessing that will be added to them while they live here on this earth. Waiting the return of the Messiah. They will be blessed going in and coming out of every transaction that they do. It is true you can't out give God. He owns it all and he is willing to supply all needs according to his riches in glory. That is a lot read up in Revelation what heaven is like streets of gold and all. But more than that he made this earth and all that is within it so we know he can give to his own more than enough. How was their giving linked to temporal blessings? No they giving was linked to an eternal blessing one that will never end it had a beginning but it will have no end the blessing God will give to them. Even the more so when the judgment day comes and God gives out the rewards to those that gave to him. For it is better to give than receive if you need to be blessed bless someone else it will happen for you.

Q2. (4:11-13) What is the basis of Paul's contentment? He is content because he knows that he will make heaven his home that his sins are forgiven and that no matter what is going on nothing or no one can take the Lord Jesus Christ from him. That is our hope of glory our mind is content when we keep it where it belongs. We know he has promised he will never leave us or forsake us and Paul knew this for he had lived his life after he was saved knowing both want and to have plenty. The only thing that matters in our life is how we live it for Jesus we do not have to be concerned about the thing of this world, God does supply all our needs. Thank you Jesus, Does this contentment undermine ambition? We have our goals set for us from the day we except Jesus into our life. We still strive to do our best to be our best and to make something of our lives for God is pleased when we do what he would have us to do and he does not want us to sit around and not work. The word says a man that don't work should not eat that goes for women too. I am not talking about just work in this world for money it is for God that we work and we do all we can to uplift his Holy Name. Not make a great name for ourselves but make sure he receives Honor and Glory for all that is done. We need to be busy about the Fathers work and to support our families and help others that need help. Work is necessary at all times. What is necessary for us to achieve this kind of contentment? Depend totally on God and trust in him for all things he will never fail one of his children. Faith and Trust are what it necessary for us to be content in God. True faith and trust let us know every promise in the word is to us. We just need to do our part and he will do his. He is God why should we ever dough him.

Q1. (4:11-12) How can a "prosperity doctrine" threaten Christian ministry? It puts our minds on things of this earth not on the thing of God, he has said he will provide all our needs according to his riches in glory. We do not need to count or depend on this world for our help. God is our God. To what prime motivation in us does such a teaching often appeal? We to be honest want to keep up with the Jones as the old saying goes. We want to look think we are as good as everyone else. When in fact what is in this world should not have affect on us. We need to keep our minds our thoughts on the Lord who has gave us promise after promise if we do what he says he will take care of us. The things of this earth are only borrowed for a while they are temporal and they will pass away but still when we see others with great wealth we seem to desire it. In balance, what does the Bible teach about poverty and riches? The bible tells us God will meet all our needs and that he is the one we need to seek and desire. He is a King I am the child of a King he is not going to let me go without what I need. But if times get hard we know he is with us. He will be with us in want and in plenty. He is our Father he loves us. He lets us go through all things for us to grow. I have been where I did not know where the next meal to feed my family would come from and I have been able to do a lot for family at times. In both these times I thank God for he supplies all my needs. I do not have to worry or fret he is with me at all times. We need to know both sides of this coin for that way we are eager to help others and do for others that need our help. God has a purpose for all things that go on in our lives. We grow and become a better more useful child to our Father as we learn in all things. Thank you Jesus.

Q4. (4:8) Why is mind control necessary for success? It is important to control your thoughts for you to be able to be pleasing to God. He will not look upon sin and if sin is in your thoughts you are not pleasing to him. We have to us control of what we let our minds dwell on. We will be blessed and be a blessing if we practice this to its fullest. For mental and spiritual peace? You become stronger when you think on the right things and Satan's attacks are not as effective on you. When he can't get you to worry and be upset all the time it is harder for his attacks to hold you down. When you think on the things of God you will have spiritual peace at all times. Not peace as the world gives but the peace of God that passes all understanding. What have you decided to focus on instead of your anxieties? How is this working for you? When I am under attack I find to keep repeating scriptures works really well. It is what Jesus said to Satan as he was tempted and it still works today. It is not big secret how to handle this it is a matter or memorizing the word and using it to your advantage at times of temptation. The answer to every question is in the word you to every problem. We are blessed to have computers and there are many help tools on here for us to us and I thank God for them and for Dr. Wilson and these studies.

Q3. (4:7) How does making our requests known to God help build a relationship and trust? We need a relationship with God as we need a relationship with our Dad and Mom and friends here on this earth. If you never talk to someone they do not know what you have need of. We need each other and more than any we need to talk to our Lord and Savior he knows you inside out but he wants a relationship with you. He knew Peter and the disciples but still he ask questions to build a relationship with them. He did not have to ask them one question he knew their thoughts still he wanted to build a bond a personal relationship with them as he does us today. Here in this scripture you see that Jesus ask Peter who he says he is? Jesus already knew the answer but he wanted to communicate with them to build the relationship. Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. God wants a relationship with each of us and he needs to hear from us to build that up and to build up our faith and trust in him. What is God's part in the promise of peace? He said for us to ask and we shall receive and if we don't ask he does not have to keep the promise I am not saying he will not but we need to do our part. The IF's in the bible are very important. All promises come with an If read them and see. Thank you Lord for the blessing if we trust and obey.

Q2. (4:6) How is a request in prayer altered by the presence of thanksgiving in the prayer? Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. Psa 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations. David was always going before the Lord and he knew that he needed to do so in thanksgiving and we see it works for he was blessed of God. When we go unto him with Praise we enter into the throne room with him our praises lift our words to his ear and make them a sweet sound unto him. We need to always be thankful for he has done so much for us and we can never repay the things he has already done. When we go before him telling him how much we thank him for the help he has given in the past it opens our hearts to faith to know he will never leave us or forsake us and that the answer is already on the way. God is good and his mercy is every lasting he is worthy of all praise and thanks that we can give. How does thanksgiving affect our faith as we pray? Yes thanksgiving means we bring back into our memory the things God has done for us already the things we have seen him do in others and the things we read that he has done in his word. It makes us about to stand strong in the Lord for he is Faithful and True. He is no respecter of persons what he has done for others he will do for you. Let your faith rise for he will never let you down. Praise his Holy Name forever. Jesus I just want to thank you for who you are and all you do for me. It is wonderful knowing you are a child of the King. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. I love you Jesus.

Q1. (4:4-5) Is rejoicing in the Lord a feeling or an action? Rejoicing is both feeling and action in us that love the Lord. The love we have for him will cause us to rejoice inwardly and outwardly. It is a time of love between you and Jesus to express the joy you have in knowing him. How should you seek to fulfill this command if you don't feel like it? Yes we should always seek to fulfill and the commands give to us in the word. This one is such a blessing to the one that is rejoicing. It is a blessing to those around you to see you have such great love for the Lord Jesus Christ and that you feel him love in you and rejoice in this love. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. What is the effect of rejoicing? Joys effects all the things you do and feel. It is rejoicing that let you enter into the presence of the Lord. Enter his gates with thanksgiving in your hearts enter his courts with praise. When we go before the Lord he wants praise and joy to be part of what we come to do with him. This is a personal walk with Jesus and to rejoice in Jesus just makes all things seem to be easier to take and understand. Praise him all ye people, Praise him in the morning praise him in the noon time, Praise him when the sun goes down. It is just like pray without ceasing it is rejoice without ceasing. Praise your Holy name Jesus you are worthy of all Praise Honor and Glory. Hallelujah, Jesus our Prince of Peace, Faithful and True you are who we live to rejoice in. Thank you so much for your Joy. J is for Jesus for he has first place. O is for others we meet face to face. Y is for you and what ever you do put yourself last and spell JOY.

Q4. (3:18-21) Why is recognizing and affirming your citizenship and allegiance vital to discipleship? It is vital to us because we don't need or want to lay up our treasures where moth and rust can get to them. We need to strive for a higher calling in Christ Jesus that knowing this world is not our home we are strangers here and we do not want to become like this world but be like Jesus. We need to remember at all times who we are and whom has called us into a higher calling. How does it keep us from the temptations outlined in verses 18 and 19? It keeps our mind on who paid the price for our salvation and who we love and want to be with. That is the reason we live is to be with Jesus serve him and do his will and the will of the Father. What are the dangers of a church combining and confusing the concepts of temporal patriotism with a Christian's true citizenship? We know that in we need one another so church is necessary for us to make heaven our home. Still we need to know our patriotism is to Jesus and to make heaven our home. We can do both if we study and stay in the word and in a good bible teaching church. Hbr 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) Hbr 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Hbr 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Q3. (3:17) How can Paul be so bold as to ask others to imitate him? Paul was sure in his standing with God and with all he has been through he knew in whom he believed and was persuaded that he was the follower of the Son of God, Christ Jesus. He had been tested and found worthy to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ he did so boldly. Why are we so hesitant to do this? We do not think ourselves equal or worthy to stand on the same ground that Paul stood on. We do not hold ourselves equal to Paul. We are all of the same body just different parts and most of us think we are lowly parts of the body and not worthy to take the same stand Paul did for Jesus and his word. We also fear what others will think or say about us. We all need to read the book "Its Not About Me". How does God use imitation in building disciples? Jesus was and is our first example of how to live and to be a disciple. There are many others all through the word that are wonderful examples also like Abraham and Job and Elijah and so many of the profits come to my mind at this time. We too should be an example for others to see Christ Jesus in us. Who is likely to imitate you? Those that are younger watch the ones that teach and do things for the Lord. Your children learn from what you do and so do other children in the church. I do not know who they are but I do know that there is always someone out there keeping their eyes on you to see how you will handle things and they learn from us. If we fail do we repent quickly as David did and admit our mistakes and when we accomplish something for the Lord do we boast and draw attention to ourselves?? Well I pray we don't we have no glory it is all for Jesus and none of us will ever be perfect as he is and always will be. I pray I am a good example for them to see.

Q2. (3:14) What is it like to be called upwards by God? To be called upward is to be lifted out of the sin and shame that one has lived in without Christ Jesus. To receive him as your Lord and Savior to know that he is Christ Jesus the Son of the Living God without any dough and know he died to save me. Have you ever experienced this? Yes Praise the Lord I accepted his call as a child and then had no real teaching but knew he was the one that was helping me to be who I was. Then went back into the world and was called unto him again at the age of 19 this time fully in a full gospel church where I learned how and why I needed to press upward as do we all to his calling to work or run to achieve the prize of the high calling. What causes God's call to become dim in our hearing? Lack of knowledge, not reading his word will dim our hearing of the calling. Not obeying the things that are written within the pages of the Bible and not studying to show yourself approved a workman called of God will dim our hearing. How can we renew our hearing of his call? Jesus never leaves us or forsake us that is one of the many promises he has given us. To renew our hearing we need only to ask him to forgive us our laziness and complacent attitude and go back to doing the things we let go off that let us hear. Read his word and obey it and we can hear again. What is the content or specifics of this message or summons or call? To let us know that the prize is more than heaven it is something we live here on earth. Not just something we reach for upon his return. We are blessed here on earth and we walk here on earth our call is to go forth and tell others to witness and let others know how Great Jesus is not us but our Lord. We are blessed more than any other country I have read about we need to share the good news.

Q1. (3:13) How can the past get in the way of our quest to know Christ? The word says he that looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. I know he does not mean we will never think of our past but the day we desire to step back into what he delivered us out of is when we are not longer fit for the Kingdom of God. What do you need to "forget" so that you may focus on Christ today and tomorrow? Yes anyone that has been hurt in any way by family, friends, church people and just anyone needs to forgive. We do not live in a perfect world so we will be forgiving the rest of our stay on this earth as we will be hurt in some way the whole time we are here. We are not excepted as Christian and that is how it is supposed to be. That is why Paul said I die daily he knew sin or unforgiveness has to be stopped at the day it happens. Is there forgiving you need to do so you can grow in Christ? There was someone that hurt me in the recent past at church and they upset me because of broken trust in them. I had to do a lot of praying. I never wished harm on them in any way. Nor did I pray that anything would happen except this one thing. I prayed and fasted and ask God to help me to move on in the relationship. They are good people human as I am and we all make mistakes. None is perfect no not one and I also ask God to help me to work at being good friends again with them and I thank him it is happening.

Q4. (3:8-10) What does it mean to "know" Christ? To know Christ is to believe he is the Son of the Living God that you have by faith excepted him into your life and he now lives in you by faith and you trust totally in him. Does this mean to have faith? Faith to trust and believe in someone or something in this case Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We know the word tells us that work without faith is dead and faith without work is dead there for we must work out our salvation before God and without faith that is impossible to do. Or to have a personal relationship? Yes I have a personal relationship with Jesus he is my Savior my King of Kings and Lord of Lords one I talk to daily my best friend. He is to me all that I have need of he will never leave me or forsake me so I love him because he first loved me. Is it possible to have a personal relationship with Christ without faith? No it is not possible you can hear of Christ and be taught of him an maybe even think he is real but without a personal relationship with him you are not sure he truly is the Christ the Son of the Living God. The only way to truly know him is to have him come into your life and be with you and in you. Is it possible to have faith without a personal relationship? Where are you on your quest to know Christ? You can get all the book knowledge to know how to make a car or to raise a child but unto you experience it by doing it you do not truly know what it is all about the same with Jesus until you experience him in your life you only have head knowledge not heart knowledge not hands on knowing what he is all about.

Q3. (3:9) How does righteousness obtained through faith differ from righteousness obtained through law observance? Law observance means you do what you have learned from another. Like your parents, sunday school teachers or any that have told you right from wrong and tell you not to do the wrong. Faith is something God has given you through salvation in Jesus. He is the one that is the giver of faith unto righteousness. It was counted for righteousness for Abraham because grace by the death on the cross had not taken place our faith that Jesus lived died and was buried and rose again on the third day is our faith unto righteousness something the old testament could not offer since it had not happened then. Now the only righteousness that can stand before God is through the blood of Jesus our Lord and Savior. How seriously does righteousness by law observance infect your congregation? Jesus said he came to fulfill the law not to do away with it we still live with laws faith does not take them away it is still how we are to live we are blessed that we have grace and mercy of forgiveness to cover our sins and let us walk on with Jesus in hope and faith. Society's view of Christianity in general? People that live according to the word of God they do not understand the act of faith if they have never stepped out in faith to receive Jesus into their lives. Sometimes I think society in general think we are a bunch of nuts that think we are better than other that is not true we are not perfect we are forgiven. Why is this concept of justification or righteousness by faith so difficult to grasp? It is impossible to grasp something you have never excepted or tasted. I can tell you all day that chocolate is good but until you put it in your mouth and chew on it for yourself you will not know if it is good or not. The same with righteousness by faith until you have faith to see what it is like you will never understand it.

Q2. (3:2-6) Why isn't Paul merely neutral about his religious pedigree? Paul did not want to put his teaching he had learned being a Jew above the teacher the Messiah the King whom he knows now as his personal savior. He knew still that what he had learned as a child was important because as with us the Old Testament leads us up to the New Testament that tells us of Jesus. He put things in order in his life the old was there and for learning he was grateful but nothing is more important than Jesus whom we serve and he served. Why does he consider it loss, dung, an obstacle? No matter how much we learn as we grow up in a church or in a religion it does not matter to us it does not help us until we except Jesus into our lives as our Savior and Lord. Some times the teaching are not even in line with the word of God there fore it is useless to us to have taken the time to learn him. Some times what we are taught can even get in the way of the truth that we learn as we walk in our life with Jesus Christ as the head that leads us. In what way could your religious background be an impediment to your faith? My background did teach that Jesus is the son of the living God and that you must repent to let him into your life. It gave me the facts as a young child to know their is a creator and you cannot have creation without a creator. It told me Jesus is the Son of God and that he loves me and I need him in my life.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Confidence in the flesh is one that we see often in the churches not just of today but it has been around since the time Jesus started the church. We start to think because we are trained to do something we can do it better than others that are not trained but called by the Lord to do things. One example is a lady that use to attend our church was a trained singer. She has a beautiful voice and was trained well in doing so. She never sang in the Spirit of God her training was good but you did not feel the power of the Spirit when she sang. It was more like look at me I know how to do this. Then one night she was signing and the Holy Spirit moved in her and her voice was like an angel not trained to sing but singing unto God. What a difference it made in the way her singing was received by those in the church. Instead of listening to see if she made mistakes people rejoiced and worshiped God in her singing. It is a blessing to know to be able to do things but that is your blessing you bless others when you do it under the anointing. Have you ever struggled with it? All of us struggle with the flesh from time to time. We think we can do something better or trained more than others to handle things. God's leading is the most important training there is and we need to hold to him for guidance and what is the right way. So the answer here is yes.

Q4. From what you've read in Philippians so far, what seems to be the Philippian church's chief problem? The church was a loving and giving church that was there for him both in deeds as well and finances. The loved Paul so much they sent others to make sure his needs where taken care of. This shows great love the love of Jesus toward another person. As Christ took care of the disciples they took care of Paul and made sure his did not want for anything they could provide. How does Paul's description of Timothy's character speak to this problem? He described Timothy as loving and one that follows after the Lord with love and one that he considers to be his own son. He has raised him in the work of the Lord he holds him in great honor and love. How does Paul's call to honor men like Epaphroditus speak to this problem? The fact that he did not get to stay the whole time and do all that the church send him to do because of sickness might make him appear weak to some but not to Paul. He knew that he had done his best to serve and take care of him the best her could. He should receive honor and be called a brother and hold up in love for all that he has already done not put down because he had gotten sick. He was hurt in the line of duty he should be a hero not one to look down on.

Q3. (2:22) What is the significance of serving Jesus as a "slave" as opposed to serving him as a preference? We should serve him with all that is within us and never stop day or night that is what a bondservant does. He has more than paid the highest of price for our obedience. A slave never walks away they know it is life bond to the master and in our walk with Jesus it what we want to to be a slave one that never walks away or does anything that does not please him. What does it say about the quality of our service? We are to do all things with all our strength and all our might to get the word done for the Lord not do it half hearted or with a spirit of selfishness. We should always give 100 percent to the Lord. Not do it with a hateful attitude or it is not for his glory or honor but for our own and that will only keep us upset. Of our commitment? What is wrong with leaders who serve out of preference? We should all do the work of the Lord because it is the desire of our hearts to please him and to want to give him all the honor and glory. We serve him because of who he is not for what he can do for us. We are a blessed people. Thank you Jesus.

Q2. (2:22) Who has come alongside you to teach you? I am so blessed that I have sisters that are older than I that love the Lord and worked in the church for many years. They in turn came back home they where full of zeal and love for the Lord Jesus Christ and in turn took time to tell me about him and how to obey his word and work for his glory. I had many Pastors that helped me along the way to become who I am today. If it was not for some of them I would never have grown to become who I am in Jesus. I am nothing without the Lord but with him I know because of his word I can do all things and nothing is impossible with Jesus. Thank you Pastor Parker from my young years and all the others that have gave me so much help. My sisters Vada, Eva, and Jean for the wonderful way they showed me it is not a chore to serve God for a pleasure. Thank you Jesus for all those you have placed in my life to lead me closer to you. What potential leader in your church needs someone to come alongside them? Every young person male or female I see as a potential leader. They are all blessed and have so many different talents. I know that the next generation will serve God without great hope and love for they are being loved and taught how to love and show love. I love each one of them I cannot name them you do not have enough room on this page. Thank you Jesus. Do you have a person or two that you are mentoring "as a son with a father" or "a daughter with a mother"? I have many younger friends some male mostly female because of me being a woman they come to me for advice and I love them and try to help them always with the word so I know it is the right thing. If they have problems I can't find in the word we pray till God shows us what is right and so far he has always given me a scripture to help them. I want to thank him again for those that I love and try to help, Mary, Paul, Laura and many others all who come asking I want to help find the answer in the word of God. I love them all.

Q1. (2:19-21) Why was Timothy's selfless concern so rare among church leaders? It is rare because there are not many willing to give up their own wants to make sure others know the truth of the gospel and that he does this willing to go where he is sent and do whatsoever is ask of him for the spreading of the word and to bring forth the best in those he is with to show them to worship and obey the word shared with them. Rather than pointing the finger at others in your church, consider yourself. What things has Jesus had to deal with in your life that has helped you to become genuinely selfless and focused on the concerns of others? He has shown me that no matter the job if it be sweeping the floor or dusting the seats it is all of great importance to him. I for one did not want to work with children, some are called to this job others are not, I was not but they had no one to take the nursery. I did not feel physically able to do it. After much prayer and since it would not be open I knew God would help me to do it. I now keep the nursery during the sunday school time every sunday. I am blessed the children are wonderful and I have fallen in love with each one. God always knows best when we will just listen to him. Everyone needs to have time to hear the word of God and this is my way of letting the moms that deal with them all week be fed by the teachers. Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes and showing me how to take care of them again. Jesus, others and you what a wonderful way to spell joy. Hallelujah.

Q4. (2:17) You have gone through struggles and obstacles to your faith. If you were to look at your sufferings as a "drink offering" poured out before God, how does that honor God? Every trial that we go through is a stepping stone to get us closer and closer to the way God wants us to be. He is with us always he says in his word even unto the end. He proves not just to us as we go through the trial that he is more than able to care for us, but also to those around us that he will never leave us or forsake us. He gets the honor because alone we can do nothing. He is our strength and our help. He is our protection and our provider. What we go through in our life is nothing compared to what Jesus went through for us. It honors God because he sees our faith our hope and that we will endure, We are trusting him for our Joy and our Peace. In the end the trust the truth and the worship we do is to his glory. It brings us closer to God. How does that bring value to your struggles? It moves us ever closer to God for we use our faith our hope and all our energy to get closer to him at times of trials. We pray more we reach and call out to him more during the trial this should not be but it is truth. We work on our personal relationship with God during a trial more than when things are going good for us. As we get closer to Jesus and do all we need to do the trials will not stop there is never a time we will not need more of God in our lives. I thank God for the trials that help me to grow and show me that through him all things are possible. Praise your Holy name Jesus.

Q3. (2:16) In what sense are we Christians to "hold fast" the Word of Life? The only way to hold fast or hold onto the word of Life or the word of God is for us to read and know it. We must study to show ourselves approved and not let things of this world cause us to replace our study time with thing that are not important to our walk with Jesus. Gods word the bible is life unto our bones and hope unto our lives. In what sense are we to "hold forth" this Word of Life? The world tells us we are all given a commission and that is to tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ. He let us as a witness to tell others of his love and that he is our Lord and Savior and will be more than happy to come into their lives to help them and be their Savior. We are all called to witness. I pray all are doing what they are called to do " TELL OTHERS". How does this relate to the purpose of the church? The church is one of the main ways for us as Christians to reach out to others. I do not believe it is being done today the way it should be for we have become complacent and want to sit and let the Pastors and Evangelist and Missionaries do all the work. The Church is not just the leaders we are all part of the church as we are all part of the body of Christ we need to do our part and that is to love one another and to witness to others, yes even those that don't want to hear the word need the word, it is our job to come out and tell all about Jesus and his Love for us and for them. Thank you Lord.

Q2. (2:14-15) How does ceasing complaining and arguing enable a church to shine as stars in a dark sky? When the complaining and fighting stops that lets the love of Jesus in our lives shine through and then people who want in their lives to let Jesus be seen will shine like the stars in a dark sky. What does this shining as stars signify? The Love that one has for another and the church will show forth as love and understanding a place where others will want to come to be together and join in for worship. Have complaining and arguing compromised your churches witness as a God-place? Yes there has been times when satan will raise up his head and those that will allow him to use them to cause problems that goes on in all churches. It is not because we are human that this happens it is because we are not prayed up, fasted up and reading the word of God so we are in the place God would have us to be. If so, what can you do to change this? Well I really answered that already read, pray and fast and stand behind your leaders. Let them know if you are out of line they can come to you in love and show you the right way. That you are in a Godly state of mind and willing to change or be part of a change that is needed to move forward in the work of the Lord.

Q1. (2:12-13). In this passage, what does it mean to "work out your own salvation"? Paul is telling them to move on with their lives and not keep doing things that do not please God. To love and show all the fruit of the Spirit to each other. Not to grumble and complain but to stand in love and brother and sisters of the Lord to show love at all times. Is this referring to salvation from sin? We can never work our way out of sin it is a gift from God that is paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. None of us are worthy of this gift but still Jesus did this for each of us. If not, what kind of salvation is it referring to? It is the unity of the Church that he is talking about to lift up those things he has said before he knows they do even when he is not there with them. To love and let the fruit of the Spirit show like the stars in a dark sky show let others see the love and let it reflect Christ Jesus.

Q4. (2:9-11) We know we're supposed to humble ourselves like Jesus did. But how can we know whether or not God will exalt us? "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10) "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6) The word of God is truth he cannot lie and he we see two places he says he will lift or exalt us up. We need to be humble and do as Christ our example. Why do we get impatient with this? Being human we want to be exalted by others and lifted up at the time we do things. This is the human part of us but we need not the praise of man for we shall receive all we need in heaven from the Father if we just do as we should. What does our impatience sometimes lead to? When we do not wait upon the Lord you will receive the glory from those here on this earth and once you have the glory of man you need not expect Jesus to still reward you. You have already received your reward. If we will but wait the reward is much greater from our Father and Lord.