Jun 30 2008

Bible Study Week 18 - Spiritual Warfare - Using the Shield of Faith

Published by Rose under Weekly Reflections

Purpose of This Lesson

The purpose of this lesson is to guide on how to use the fourth piece of armor which is the in their spiritual warfare.

Lesson Objective

This lesson will guide the participants to:

  1. Discover the meaning of the ;
  2. Discover how to use the in ;
  3. Apply faith in real life situations using relevant parts of .

Introduction

The says that “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”(1 Jn 5:4-51 Jn 5:4-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith. 5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  

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Today’s Lesson: Onward Soldier

Read Matt 14:22-32Matt 14:22-32
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away. 23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters. 29 And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.  

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, Luke 8:22-25Luke 8:22-25
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling [with water], and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?   and Mark 11: 20-23Mark 11: 20-23
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
20 And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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.  

Against All The Odds

A story is told about a certain man who wanted to cross a bridge that connected the market to his village. Since he had not visited his home for a long time, he was not aware that the bridge had become weak. He even ignored some villagers who cautioned him about the bridge. They had advised him to use a longer route to get home.

Determined to get home before dark, the man reckoned to the villagers that “I have faith that I will go across the bridge”; and although the villagers had warned him, he stepped forward onto the bridge which began swaying dangerously. His better judgement stopped him from crossing.

This story is an illustration to us that it is not the amount of faith that we have in something that makes the difference; but UPON the focus (or the object) of our faith. This man had a lot of faith BUT in a weak bridge. Some people have chosen to put their faith in witchdoctors and idols, yet the Bible says that “cursed is the one who trusts in man. . .” (Jer 17:5Jer 17:5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.  

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). The life of a is governed by faith and without faith we cannot please God, (Rom 8:8Rom 8:8
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.   and 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.  ) since the devil knows this truth, he schemes evil plans in order to attack the core of our faith.

When Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he too wanted to walk on water and by faith he stepped out and walked, but when the strong winds started to blow, he became afraid and instead of fixing his eyes on Jesus, he looked at the situation around him and he immediately started sinking. Many today are like Peter; instead of fixing their eyes on the One who can help them, they look at the situations the Devil has brought upon them and so they begin to sink.

Questions For Discussion - Week 18

  1. Do you think the shield of faith is important to you as a today? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  2. What do you think made Peter’s faith to waver according to Matt 14:30Matt 14:30
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.      ? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  3. Please give an example of the “winds” that would cause your faith to waver today. Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  4. What biblical suggestion/advice would you give to someone whose faith has been challenged? Please use vs. 30b and vs. 31a to explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  5. Using your own words, please explain the teaching Jesus was giving to the disciples in Luke 8:24-25Luke 8:24-25
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?      ? Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  6. What do you think Jesus meant when he used the term “faith as a mustard seed” in Matt 17:20Matt 17:20
    English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
    20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.      ?
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  7. Do you think Jesus’ use of the word “mountain” in Mark 11:23Mark 11:23
    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.       was literal? If no please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  8. Name one thing that has challenged your faith recently either in the area of worry, doubt, fear, and low-self esteem etc and how you handled it as a . Please explain
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
  9. How would you use any of the scriptures in this lesson to build up your faith in that area? Please quote a specific scripture that may apply to your specific situation
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

For Meditation: Psalms 20: 5Psalms 20: 5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 We will triumph in thy salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners: Jehovah fulfil all thy petitions.  

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- Swifter than Chariots

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

In the day of trouble, it is only our faith in the Lord that can save us.



Amen

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Mar 10 2008

Bible Study Week 2 - How Do You Relate With The World Part 1?

Published by Rose under Weekly Reflections

Purpose of This

The purpose of this lesson is to understand how we ought to relate with the world according to .

Lesson Objective

This lesson will guide the participants to:

  • Discover what says about our relationship with the world.
  • Discover the role of Satan as the prince of this world
  • Discover ways to overcome challenges facing us as in the world

Introduction

The blueprint of our with the outside world is given in the . Since the days, God in His wisdom cautioned the children of Israel not to inter-marry with the pagan nations of Canaan, because He knew that they would compromise their faith in Him and get lost.

Many times God punished the children of Israel by allowing their enemies to defeat them because of such disobedience. Do you remember the story of Balaam and King Balak of Moab. The King asked Balaam to curse the Israelites because of he was afraid they would conquer him as they had done to the other surrounding nations. Balaam told him it was impossible to curse what God had blessed and Balaam blessed the Israelites instead as he was instructed by God (Numbers 23:11Numbers 23:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.  

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After the insistence of the King, Balaam crafted a devious plan of causing the Israelites to marry pagan women from Midian (Numbers 31:16Numbers 31:16
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah.  

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). This caused the Israelites to backslide, worship other Gods and hence be punished by God, Himself (Numbers 25:1-18Numbers 25:1-18
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
25 1 And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab: 2 for they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel. 4 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto Jehovah before the sun, that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel. 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor. 6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. 7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand. 10 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 and it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel. 14 Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midian. 16 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them; 18 for they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.  ). The same is true even today because the Bible has cautioned us not to be “unequally yoked” (2 Cor 6:142 Cor 6:14
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?  ) with non-believers. If we continue to disobey God in this issue, then God will punish us and abandon us just like He abandoned the children of Israel.

Today’s Lesson- A Holy People

Begin today’s lesson by reading 2 Corinthians 6:14-182 Corinthians 6:14-18
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  

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and Deuteronomy 7:1-11Deuteronomy 7:1-11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
7 1 When Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before thee, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2 and when Jehovah thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them; 3 neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God: Jehovah thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. 7 Jehovah did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples: 8 but because Jehovah loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath Jehovah brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, 10 and repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. 11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command thee this day, to do them.  

Secularism vs. The Christian

The today is under a lot of challenges because the coming of Christ is drawing near. The challenge to remain separated as is very real today as it was during the days of Joshua when he declared to the people in Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.  

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saying “… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.  .

Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Tim 3:1-52 Tim 3:1-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.  

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gave a warning of the end times saying people will be “lovers of themselves and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”, and warned Timothy to ” have nothing to do with them” (vs. 5b). The love of the world (systems and perspectives) is something that the has been warned against in the but which many still find hard to comprehend because we live in this world.

In 1 John 2:15-171 John 2:15-17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

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, the apostle John says clearly, “do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life), the love of the Father is not in him” (vs. 15), he concludes by saying that “. . . the man who does the will of God lives forever (vs. 17).

In Romans 12:2Romans 12:2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  

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, we are told not to be conformed to the patterns of thinking of this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds so as to prove (know and experience) the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (paraphrased slightly).

James also writing on the same subject says that “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4James 4:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.  

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Jesus has mentioned that Satan is the prince of this world saying that “now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw men to myself” (John 12:31-32John 12:31-32
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.  

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In conclusion therefore, let us remain separated from this world so that we may continue to become the salt and the light of the world, and live holy lives that are worthy of our calling. In other words, let us not conform to the world’s view, what’s popular, what is in fashion if it is contrary to God’s word. God’s word is our standard as believers. One may therefore ask “how then can we overcome the world?”

The says in Revelation 12:11Revelation 12:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.  

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that “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”. Let us therefore learn the secret of hiding ourselves in the and always giving a testimony of God’s goodness to us, and we shall overcome the world.

Questions For Discussion - Week 2

1. What do you understand by the term “yoked together with un-believers” in
2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?  

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? Please explain……………………………………………………………

2. Why do you think God commands the Israelites to be separated from other nations in Canaan? Use Deut 7:4Deut 7:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly.  

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to explain……………………………………………..

3. Do you consider this reason to be valid to today in the world? Please explain…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What do you understand by the term “world” from the Bible’s perspective? Please use the context found in James 4:4James 4:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.  

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to explain…………………………….

5. What are some of the things mentioned in 1 John 2:16-171 John 2:16-17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

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that cause to fail to do the will of God? Please list these here…………………………

6. Do you think the things Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-52 Timothy 3:1-5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.  

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are real today? Please explain ……………………………………………….
7. As a today what do you think is our role in the world? Please use Mathew 5:13-16w 5:13-16
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
Izbrana zbirka ASV ne vsebuje vpisane knjigeMesto: to explain……………………………………………………………………….

8. How can a Christian overcome the world according to Revelation 12:11Revelation 12:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.  

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? Please explain…………………………………………………………..

For Meditation: John 17:16John 17:16
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.  

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: & not Kingdoms of this World (with its systems and views). Jesus praying said that “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it”

This is part of Jesus’s for the saints, may we always remember that we are not part of this world! Let us therefore not get too comfortable here in the world but let us beware.

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