Jun 03 2009

Bible Study Week 31 - Becoming Like Christ in Excellence

Published by admin under Weekly Reflections

Purpose of This Lesson

This lesson will help you to know that it is God’s will that you become Christ-like in the life of faith that you live and that you imitate Christ’s nature of excellence.

Learning Goals

This lesson will guide the participants to:-

  1. Discover the qualities that distinguished Christ’s character of excellence
  2. Discover the process of becoming a man or woman of excellence
  3. Discover the price and sacrifice of spiritual excellence

Introduction

As you mature and become intimate with God, you will discover the ways of God, as the Psalmist wrote in Psalms 103:7Psalms 103:7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.  

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that “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” God wants very much to reveal His ways to us because we are His children whom He has called unto righteousness and holiness. It will take strict discipline on our part to understand and follow the path of excellence that Christ has set for us. Excellence was a trade mark of the men and women of old listed in Hebrews 11 who walked with God by faith and pleased Him by faith because “without faith, it is impossible to please Him” (Heb 11:6Heb 11:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.  ).

Therefore, in order to grow in excellence, we must live a life of faith because it pleases God and also believe that we “can do all things, through Christ which strengthens” us” (Phil 4:13Phil 4:13
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.  

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).

Begin Today’s Lesson by Reading: Daniel 6:1-5Daniel 6:1-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.  

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, Heb 11:1-11Heb 11:1-11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 1 Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a [land] not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:  

Spiritual Exercise Gives Birth to

Jesus talking to one of his disciples Phillip after he had asked him to show them the Father told him that “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9John 14:9
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?  

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).

In telling this disciple that whoever had seen him had seen the Father, Jesus is teaching his disciples the lesson of faith because they need to believe that Jesus was sent from God, and in John 14:12John 14:12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.  

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Jesus stressed again this fact by saying that “Truly, truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father”.
The emphasis by Christ himself in this portion of Scripture is that whoever believes in him will do greater works than those that Christ had done while he walked on the face of this earth. There are three things that distinguished Christ’s ministry here on earth:

  1. He always did things to please his Father; i.e. he was not a man-pleaser. When we do ministry, we should not do things to please men, but the One who has called us.
  2. He was a humble man, because he wanted God to get credit or glory for the things that he did. God will not share His glory with anybody and that is why many Christians today lack excellence because they want to do things that bring glory unto themselves and not glory for God.
  3. Jesus withdrew to a lonely place for prayer because a life of is a life of prayer. Many great men of God like Daniel, Elijah and Moses were disciplined in a life of fasting and prayer. James says that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. (Jam 5:17Jam 5:17
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    17 Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.      ). Prayer strengthens our spiritual muscles and disciplines us to perform the “great works” that Christ has said we will do

Questions For Discussion - Week 31

  1. What are the three main things that distinguished Christ’s ministry on earth? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  2. Why do you think it is important for us do works that please God as Christians today? Please explain.
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  3. What role do you think humility plays in becoming like Christ in excellence? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  4. Why do you think we should become prayer warriors if we are to excel in becoming like Christ? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  5. How does faith help us in attaining spiritual excellence? Please explain using Heb 11:1-11Heb 11:1-11
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    11 1 Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a [land] not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:  
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  6. Why should faith become our trademark in seeking excellence? Please explain using Heb 11:6Heb 11:6
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.  
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  7. What is the evidence of an excellent life according to Daniel 6:3Daniel 6:3
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.      ? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  8. In your own words please explain briefly why you think you should cultivate a in your Christian walk today. Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Memorize 1 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 9:24
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.  

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“Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.”

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May 19 2008

Bible Study Week 12 - What Authority Did Jesus Give to Believers?

Published by admin under Weekly Reflections

Purpose of This Lesson

Today we will study why it is important for to know the authority that handed over to them through the apostles. In the preceding lessons, we studied how a can tap into the power of the to pray effectively and grow spiritually.

Lesson Objective

This lesson will guide the participants to:

  1. Know the keys of the ;
  2. Know what authority has been given to Christians;
  3. Know how to claim that authority by growing in the faith and earnestly seeking God.

Introduction

A story is told of a certain couple who won a lottery ticket to go on a triangular cruise by ship. Just before boarding the ship, they reasoned that they could afford not meals on the ship so they bought some crackers, biscuits and some other snacks for the trip. Aboard the ship they stayed in their cabin and would look out through the window to see the trip’s progress. They did not mix with the rest of the people. At meal times, they would eat a snack. The captain of the ship had noticed that there was a table that was always empty at dinner time. On the last day, he inquired why this was so. He was told that it was reserved for a couple who were on board but had never came down for dinner. He decided to pay the couple a visit. While talking to them, he asked why they never came down for dinner. They told him that they could not afford the dinner. So he asked them for their ticket. At the back of their ticket, in small print, it was written that all meals on the ship and other facilities were included at no extra cost! Very disappointed, they asked him whether they could come for one meal. He told them they were docking in fifteen minutes - it was too late. Due to lack of knowledge, they had missed out on delicious meals and had instead put up eating snacks.

May this not be our situation when we get to the other side. Let us therefore discover from God’s word what He has provided on this side. The word of God says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..” Hosea 4:6Hosea 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.  

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Today’s Lesson:

Begin today’s lesson by reading, Matthew 16:18-19Matthew 16:18-19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  

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, Luke 17:20-21Luke 17:20-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.   and Matt 18:18 - 19Matt 18:18 - 19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!

The Keys of the Kingdom

The Greek word for key in the Bible is kleis: it derives it’s meaning from the act of shutting as shutting a lock. Kleio means to close or to shut up.

The is very clear that there are some keys that belong to Christ’s disciples and others that belong to Christ Himself. For example, in Revelation 1:18Revelation 1:18
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.  

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Jesus says that “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”. The keys of hell and death therefore belong to Jesus Christ and not to men. Other verses are Is 22:22Is 22:22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.   and Rev 3:7Rev 3:7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:  .

Christ therefore put a boundary on the types of keys that we have. However we have the key of knowledge as indicated in Luke 11:52Luke 11:52
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
52 Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.  

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wherein Christ rebuked the lawyers saying “Woe unto you lawyers, ye have taken away the key of knowledge: Ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered”. Here Christ meant that the Lawyers had burdened the people with laws prohibiting the people from entering into the kingdom of God and yet they were not able to fulfill these laws themselves.

The Pharisees and the scribes lacked the spiritual key to the kingdom of God, which is KNOWLEDGE. In the New Testament, we have a new key; it is not a real key to a real house. It is a spiritual key to a spiritual house. It is the key of knowledge that leads to the kingdom of heaven. We also have the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind and to loose anything here on earth; these keys were originally handed to the Apostle Peter by Christ Himself in order to empower the Church of Jesus Christ here on earth.

Hosea 4:6Hosea 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.  

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clearly says that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.” And just like that old couple which won that ticket to tour the world on the ship and did not read the small print at the back of the ticket, there are many Christians today who are suffering because they have not discovered the hidden treasure of words contained in the Bible that they need, the key of Knowledge that will open and close doors for us as Christians, so let us get knowledge from God’s word and begin to live fulfilling lives.

Jesus compared His going away to a house owner who was going away for a while. He gave authority to his servants over his household but he did not tell them when he would return but he told them to watch and be ready for he could return at any moment (Mark 13:34Mark 13:34
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
34 [It is] as [when] a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.  

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). Jesus also gave the disciples the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. (Matt 10:1Matt 10:1
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 1 And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.  .)

In summary Jesus commanded the disciples and gave them authority to preach the gospel (key to usher people into God’s Kingdom), heal the sick and to cast out unclean spirits. He asked them to wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit before moving out. (Luke 24:49Luke 24:49
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.  

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and Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  ). He also gave the authority of the tongue - whatever they bind or loose shall be bound or loosed accordingly and whatever they say and believe in their heart would be done. (Mark 11:23-24Mark 11:23-24
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  .)

This is a spiritual journey. Paul exhorts Christians to grow in their faith in order to exercise fully the authority that Christ has given them. He compared this to a child growing up in his father’s house. So long as the child remains a child, he has no authority in his father’s household and is equated to servants. In fact even servants exercise authority upon him. However as soon as he is grown, he takes charge of his father’s house including the servants. We should therefore grow into maturity (of faith) by studying and hearing God’s word.(Gal 4:1-7Gal 4:1-7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.  

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).

Week 12: Questions For Discussion

  1. Do you think that the keys of the kingdom mentioned in Matt 16:19Matt 16:19
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.       are physical keys? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  2. How can you describe the keys of the kingdom of heaven in your own understanding? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  3. Would you say that these keys were only given to Peter according to Matt 16:18-19Matt 16:18-19
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.      ? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  4. What is your understanding of the words “bind and loose” as used in verse 19? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  5. Would you say that the question the Pharisees asked Jesus about the coming of the was out of ignorance? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  6. What do you think Jesus meant when He said that “the kingdom of God is within you”? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  7. How can you describe the key of Knowledge that Jesus mentioned about in Luke 11:52Luke 11:52
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    52 Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.      ? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  8. Do you think this key of knowledge is important today to us as Christians? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  9. How can Christians use the keys to the kingdom that Christ gave to Apostle Peter today? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

A Reflection: Matthew 4:4Matthew 4:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  

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- Kingdom Bread

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.
God did not allow the children of Israel to store the manna that they collected in the wilderness for more than a day; we therefore need to feast on fresh spiritual bread everyday, as our spirits can only be satisfied by .

Amen.

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