December 21st lesson Special seasonal segment: the connection between difficulties, faith, salvation — and that wonderful baby in the manger.
* Red, bold words correspond to class worksheet fill-in-the-blanks.
**I originally intended to jump right into the Christmas story, but I’ve had a growing sense in my spirit that I need to cover a passage in 1 Peter. **
1 Peter 1:3-10
Vs3
• God has showered us with His great mercy in that He has “begotten us again” — that is to say, He has birthed in us new life, where once there was no life, now there is a vibrant, new, precious life in us who believe, that is connected to the life of God. We were born dead spiritually in this world, but now in Christ, we have LIFE!
• That new life in the Spirit, gives us a living hope. We have hope HERE AND NOW, and a hope that stands and lasts forever. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 — “… a future and a hope.” Life now has meaning because Christ changes EVERYTHING.
• This new life and hope come to us because the little, innocent baby in the manager, 2000 years ago, gave His life, all His life for the lives of all mankind — even to the death on the cross 33 years later. But He didn’t die and that was end of story. He powerfully, and wonderfully resurrected from the dead! He came back to life, conquering sin, hell and the grave! He paid the price for our sins on the cross. His resurrection made effective God’s plan to overcome the damage of sin in the world. Eternal life with God in heaven is now available to all who desire it.
THE RESURRECTION CHANGED EVERYTHING AND GAVE US HOPE.
Vs4
• The Bible talks about an inheritance that each true believer has waiting for us in heaven. It is unclear ALL that it is, but it will be wonderful. It seems to primarily deal with salvation and all the benefits of living blissfully with God for eternity. It is something beautiful that we will share with Christ, and should give us hope, and something to really look forward to when we get there. It may be hard for our minds to grasp how wonderful this will be, but consider we were meant to be in unbroken relationship and fellowship with God — enjoying His presence and the beauty of His manifest love toward us. It will finally be in heaven, what it should have been here. The terrible and horrific consequences of sin will be no more.
Some people look forward to earthly inheritances — they seem to be a long way off — but eventually comes. This is so much better and worth the wait! And this, unlike the stuff of earth, will never run out, never be stolen, and never in any way deteriorate.
• Why should this give us hope? Why did God ensure we know this? Because this world is hard — and it tears us down, robs us of joy and hope. If we had no hope, many of us would be on the brink of giving up altogether. I know I probably would have. There is a future waiting for us, that is not long off, that should really encourage us and be a steadying presence in our lives from day to day. This life, though troublesome and hard, is very, very, very, very, VERY short — compared to eternity. It cannot even be compared. But because we live here and now, it is extremely difficult at times to remember that. Right?
WE HAVE AN AWESOME BLESSING WAITING FOR US IN HEAVEN
Vs5
• We are “kept”, [that is “guarded”— like by soldiers] by the power of God through faith — for salvation. That is, God is actively protecting our souls in unseen, probably mostly undetectable ways, to secure our future and completion of salvation. You see, if we believe on Him, we are saved past tense, but we are in a sense still being saved, and this will culminate in the final completion of God’s salvation plan when we get to heaven. God protects that process to assure us our final home with Him. And if God is guarding it, you can be sure you will never lose it!
Vs6
• SO, KNOWING ALL THIS, WE CAN GREATLY REJOICE.
• Though we rejoice in our blessed future, we must for a time endure the hardship of life.
WE MUST NEEDFULLY, ENDURE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, DISTRESSING TRIALS OF ALL SORTS. And life is full of trials. We all must go through them. And some shake us to the core of our being. Some even very nearly destroy us. So, why does God allow this?? God, being God, could save us from every and all problems! Why doesn’t He? I mean doesn’t this show a lack of love and fatherly compassion toward us?
Vs7
• No. On the contrary, our Father in heaven is allowing things into our lives “to do us good.” Remember Deut. 8, where God allowed all kinds of stuff to happen to Israel, His chosen people for their good?
• Q. Can you remember a time as a child when your dad did something that you didn’t like very much, but it was for your good? Did you understand it then? When did you understand it?
• And here we see the same thing. God is doing something for our eternal good: “that the genuineness of YOUR FAITH, BEING MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD…” may be proven.
• Imagine the world’s largest storehouse of gold. Gold brick after gold brick stacked to the ceiling. Not thousands, nor millions, nor billions, but trillions of dollars worth. It could buy cities, countries, continents, nearly anything the heart desires. Which would you prefer: all that gold or the little bit of genuine faith that you have? Well, let me tell you how God sees it. Your faith is more precious than all the gold in the world. It cannot even compare. Earthly gold is finite. It has an end. It will not last forever. But your faith will, and eternally effects you. Gold cannot buy your salvation — which by the way is the most precious thing on this earth that we NEED to obtain. But a small bit of faith can indeed make salvation certain for you. Can you see why faith, and what it can do, is far superior than a chunk of metal? Money can buy a lot of things, but it cannot buy life’s most precious thing.
• I want you to imagine that late one night you awake to the terrible sound and smell of your house on fire. Your child is upstairs at one end of the house, your safe-box and your life-savings at the other. You only have time to get one of them. It’s not even a contest. The child’s LIFE wins every time, right? It’s a hideous thing to even compare the two. Choosing your child does not mean you do not value money or think that you do not need it, it just means you got your priorities straight. It shows what you value most. Compared to your precious child, no amount of money in the world can be even compare to them. Faith is like that in a believer’s life. It’s not that money/gold has no use or value, but compared to what faith is and what it can do, it’s almost an insult to compare the two — faith wins out every time. It is far more precious than gold — and God wants us to have the genuine, kind that will bring praise, glory and honor to Christ when He comes back for us.
• Our faith is tested by life’s trials. They are needed to develop and strengthen and prove genuine our faith. A refiner’s fire melts the gold and the impurities can be separated and removed. Trials have that same effect on our faith: God is refining the impurities out of our faith and lives that will not bring praise, glory and honor to Christ upon His return.
• God sees into the heart, soul, and spirit and discerns those things that are vile, unprofitable, and hindering our faith walk with Him.
• Others say they believe on Christ and think they have salvation, and then when that faith is tested by a trial, they give up on God. That kind of faith is not profitable for salvation, so the Lord tests it to show us where we stand and encourages us to develop that real sort of faith that is genuine and profitable.
• Genuine faith gets refined through trials and makes the believer stronger and stronger in the faith.
OUR FAITH IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANY EARTHLY POSSESION.
TRIALS ARE STRATEGICALLY PERMITTED TO TEST AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH.
Vs8
• Most of us on earth have not seen Christ — but we believe by faith — and have joy because of what He means to us.
Vs9
• The purpose and culmination of faith: our salvation — an eternal home with God in heaven.
THE BEAUTIFUL RESULT OF OUR FAITH IS SALVATION.
V10
• The prophets of old prophesied about Messiah — the Christ — our Lord Jesus, and they searched carefully [with intensity] to discern when and where He would come. They were given pieces of a larger prophetic puzzle that they had to figure out. Different prophets had different pieces of that puzzle.
• Micah 5:2 — the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
• Isaiah 7:14 — the Messiah would be born of a virgin
• Isaiah 9:6-7 — the Messiah would be called: Son, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He would be a direct descendant of David and fulfill a kingly role
• Isaiah 11:1-2 — the Messiah would come from the lineage of Jesse, David’s father and He would be very special in that the fullness of God’ Spirit would be upon Him.
• Isaiah 42:6-9 The Messiah would be a miracle worker, both physically and spiritually.
• Isaiah 52:13—53:12: the Messiah would be a suffering servant
• David — in Psalm 22 — the Messiah would die an excruciating death by His enemies.
• Psalm 16:10-11 (Acts 2:31-32) The Messiah would not stay dead for long , but be given life — He would be resurrected.
THE WHOLE LIFE OF JESUS WAS FORETOLD — FROM THE BABY IN THE MANGER, TO HIS RESURRECTION.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Jennifer R. Walter’s angel story
The second time I believe God spoke to me is what I believe was an angel. I have always believed that God places angels in people’s lives when they need them most. In June 2006, I was faced with a devastating blow. What the actual blow was doesn’t matter, but it was a life changing, and not for the better, situation. I was leaving Colonial Heights to go to work in Richmond. My usual morning coffee stop at the 7-11 in Chester was first on my agenda. From Colonial Heights to Chester thoughts of just taking my kids and husband and leaving everything kept entering my mind. I just wanted to run away from it all and never come back to Colonial Heights. I had other family here, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to run. I pulled up to the 7-11 and decided to keep my sunglasses on because I had been crying all the way and didn’t want anyone to notice. 7-11 was empty except for the cashier so I said hey to her as I did every morning and made my way to the coffee. As I was making my coffee, an elderly man walked up to the counter and stood across from me. I knew he was elderly because I peaked up real quick when he approached. I also noticed he had a red vest on similar to the one the cashier had on. As he stood there wiping the counter, he just began to speak to me. He told me that what gets him through his hard times is his faith in God. That trusting in Him will guide me in the right direction. I wondered how this man knew I was upset because my glasses hid my eyes, but I smiled at him and told him to have a nice day. Once I got back into the car and started my drive to Richmond, I thought of what the man had said to me and stopped crying immediately. Suddenly I had a sense of calm come over me. I knew everything was going to be o.k. and that I had to face my problem straight on. I wasn’t going to let the situation I was in define me.
The next day, I made my usual 7-11 stop. I went straight up to the cashier to ask who was the man that worked there that I had spoken to the day before and if she knew when he was working again. I wanted to thank him for changing my life that previous morning just by taking the time to talk to me and remind me of what God would want me to do. She told me that they had no elderly man that worked there and that she and another female employee were the only 2 on staff that day. I went in there daily for months after my encounter but never saw him again. So who was this man? Was he an angel sent from God in my time of need? Or was he just a customer wearing a red vest that I had mistaken for an employee who sensed I needed help? Either way, I truly believe he was there by God’s will.
The next day, I made my usual 7-11 stop. I went straight up to the cashier to ask who was the man that worked there that I had spoken to the day before and if she knew when he was working again. I wanted to thank him for changing my life that previous morning just by taking the time to talk to me and remind me of what God would want me to do. She told me that they had no elderly man that worked there and that she and another female employee were the only 2 on staff that day. I went in there daily for months after my encounter but never saw him again. So who was this man? Was he an angel sent from God in my time of need? Or was he just a customer wearing a red vest that I had mistaken for an employee who sensed I needed help? Either way, I truly believe he was there by God’s will.
Chris' guardian angel story
In October of 2006, I was invited to participate with over 50 Southern Baptist Missionaries in a Global Mission Conference at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida. I had heard that this church had a motorcycle ministry, of which I was very interested. My hope was to return to Japan in 2007 and begin a motorcycle ministry to the many Japanese men that come to the island of Hokkaido, where we lived as missionaries, every year.
When I arrived at Bell Shoals, the leader of the F.A.I.T.H. riders motorcycle ministry asked me if I would like to go with the group to Daytona Beach to participate in an evangelistic event for the multitudes of bikers that come to Biketoberfest. I said that I would love to, but didn’t have a bike to ride. The group found a motorcycle for me to ride, and early on a Saturday morning in October, I found myself on a 1500cc motorcycle, cruising down the highway to the opposite side of Florida.
After experiencing a wonderful day of ministry, we headed back across Florida to the Tampa area. The leader of the group and I separated from the rest to fuel up. After we got back on the interstate, something very frightening happened to me.
We were very close to Orlando, and approaching an entrance ramp to the highway. My new-found brother in Christ was just in front of me as we began passing the on-ramp. There was a car coming down the ramp onto the highway and didn’t notice that I was in the first lane. There was a car immediately behind me, so to slow down quickly would have caused them to rear end me at 75 mph. The car coming down the ramp came closer, almost touching my front tire with their back panel. I had no choice but to immediately go into the lane beside me, not knowing if there was a car there or not. The decision had to be made in a split second, or I would have been struck by the rear quarter panel of the car coming onto the highway, and found myself skidding along the highway, surely to be struck by another vehicle in the heavy traffic.
I prayed as I pulled into the lane beside me, and, with great thanksgiving to the Lord, there was no one there.
Just a few miles up the road, we pulled off to meet the rest of the group at a Bob Evans restaurant. As I stopped my bike, my friend said that he was watching the incident, praying that all would turn out well. We went into the restaurant to meet the rest of our group, and my friend told the story to the rest. I slipped out and went to the restroom to splash some cold water on my face and take a moment for myself.
On the way back to the table, I noticed a young lady with a bus-cart full of dirty dishes. I hadn’t noticed her there on the way to the restroom. She looked at me with a gaze that went right through me and said “hello”. I returned the greeting and walked on to the table with my friends. I ordered, and then sensed that I really needed to go outside and have some time with the Lord. I retraced the route from which I had just come…no young lady with a bus-cart full of dirty dishes.
I went outside and had a time of thanksgiving and gratitude with the Lord, shedding a few tears that He would look after a wretch like me with such tender care.
As I returned back to my table, there was the same young lady with the same intense gaze. She repeated her greeting: “hello”. I, again, returned the greeting and walked back to the table.
As I sat back down, I asked another friend if he had seen the young lady when he went to the restroom. He said no, and we went on with our conversation.
The next morning, I was sitting in the worship service listening to Gordon Fort, one of the Vice Presidents of the International Mission Board, and a dear friend. God interrupted the sermon for me as I, almost audibly, heard Him say “Chris, do you remember yesterday?” I said “Lord, how can I forget yesterday. You saved my life!” He replied “Chris, the young lady you saw in the restaurant was your guardian angel”. In the middle of the service, I had to restrain myself from jumping up and shouting.
After the service, my host family was taking me out to lunch for one last time of fellowship with them before I left to return home later that afternoon. I hadn’t had a chance to share with them the previous night about what had happened, so I filled them in on the way to dinner. Before I could even share about what God revealed to me during the service, the wife, who was sitting in the back seat, leaned forward with great excitement and said, “Chris! That was your guardian angel!” I told them that is what God revealed to me during the service. It was a wonderful affirmation to what God had shared.
I truly do believe that God allowed me to see the physical manifestation of the angel that He has put in my life to watch over me. What a wonderful, loving God we have. To Him be all the Glory, forever and ever.
When I arrived at Bell Shoals, the leader of the F.A.I.T.H. riders motorcycle ministry asked me if I would like to go with the group to Daytona Beach to participate in an evangelistic event for the multitudes of bikers that come to Biketoberfest. I said that I would love to, but didn’t have a bike to ride. The group found a motorcycle for me to ride, and early on a Saturday morning in October, I found myself on a 1500cc motorcycle, cruising down the highway to the opposite side of Florida.
After experiencing a wonderful day of ministry, we headed back across Florida to the Tampa area. The leader of the group and I separated from the rest to fuel up. After we got back on the interstate, something very frightening happened to me.
We were very close to Orlando, and approaching an entrance ramp to the highway. My new-found brother in Christ was just in front of me as we began passing the on-ramp. There was a car coming down the ramp onto the highway and didn’t notice that I was in the first lane. There was a car immediately behind me, so to slow down quickly would have caused them to rear end me at 75 mph. The car coming down the ramp came closer, almost touching my front tire with their back panel. I had no choice but to immediately go into the lane beside me, not knowing if there was a car there or not. The decision had to be made in a split second, or I would have been struck by the rear quarter panel of the car coming onto the highway, and found myself skidding along the highway, surely to be struck by another vehicle in the heavy traffic.
I prayed as I pulled into the lane beside me, and, with great thanksgiving to the Lord, there was no one there.
Just a few miles up the road, we pulled off to meet the rest of the group at a Bob Evans restaurant. As I stopped my bike, my friend said that he was watching the incident, praying that all would turn out well. We went into the restaurant to meet the rest of our group, and my friend told the story to the rest. I slipped out and went to the restroom to splash some cold water on my face and take a moment for myself.
On the way back to the table, I noticed a young lady with a bus-cart full of dirty dishes. I hadn’t noticed her there on the way to the restroom. She looked at me with a gaze that went right through me and said “hello”. I returned the greeting and walked on to the table with my friends. I ordered, and then sensed that I really needed to go outside and have some time with the Lord. I retraced the route from which I had just come…no young lady with a bus-cart full of dirty dishes.
I went outside and had a time of thanksgiving and gratitude with the Lord, shedding a few tears that He would look after a wretch like me with such tender care.
As I returned back to my table, there was the same young lady with the same intense gaze. She repeated her greeting: “hello”. I, again, returned the greeting and walked back to the table.
As I sat back down, I asked another friend if he had seen the young lady when he went to the restroom. He said no, and we went on with our conversation.
The next morning, I was sitting in the worship service listening to Gordon Fort, one of the Vice Presidents of the International Mission Board, and a dear friend. God interrupted the sermon for me as I, almost audibly, heard Him say “Chris, do you remember yesterday?” I said “Lord, how can I forget yesterday. You saved my life!” He replied “Chris, the young lady you saw in the restaurant was your guardian angel”. In the middle of the service, I had to restrain myself from jumping up and shouting.
After the service, my host family was taking me out to lunch for one last time of fellowship with them before I left to return home later that afternoon. I hadn’t had a chance to share with them the previous night about what had happened, so I filled them in on the way to dinner. Before I could even share about what God revealed to me during the service, the wife, who was sitting in the back seat, leaned forward with great excitement and said, “Chris! That was your guardian angel!” I told them that is what God revealed to me during the service. It was a wonderful affirmation to what God had shared.
I truly do believe that God allowed me to see the physical manifestation of the angel that He has put in my life to watch over me. What a wonderful, loving God we have. To Him be all the Glory, forever and ever.
Angels Among Us — special segement
Special seasonal segment: Angels Among Us: Exploring how God speaks and works through angels.
Start with 2 stories from Billy Graham’s book Angels God’s Secret Agents (1975 ed.)
1. Story of Chinese woman calling upon the name of Jesus — pgs. 1-2
2. Story of the Reverend John G. Patton, missionary in New Hebrides Islands — pg. 3
Read lists from Halley’s Bible Handbook (88th ed.) on the subject of angels: Pgs. 426-428
1. Sometimes angels appear and look and sound just like us — and we cannot at first discern they are not one of us. But there is just something peculiar about them, what the say, how they act, what they bring into our lives, that leads us to discern that they are from God.
Genesis 18:1-22; 19:1-3 Story of the “three men”— two were angels, one was God!
Q. How did the Lord appear to Abraham? [v2 He saw 3 men — from what we can tell, one of them was the Lord, and the other two were… 19:1 “The two angels”]
• From the context of the story, it seems Abraham discerns there is a leader of the group (vs3) and addresses Him as “Lord”= “Adonai” which is an emphatic way of saying “Master!” or emphatically expressing a title of reverence. It could be used of God or men.
• As the story unfolds it appears Abraham understands that this leader is The Lord God. He may have realized from the very beginning, which I believe to be true.
• Sarah’s uses the word “lord” too (v12), of her husband Abraham, but it’s Hebrew from is different than when Abraham uses it. It is in the non-emphatic sense = “Adown,” in the sense of “husband — the one who leads our household.”
• The other uses of the Lord in this chapter, by the author (Moses), and God Himself use only the Hebrew term “YHWH” (or Jehovah) — God’s proper name, meaning, “existing one.”
Q. Why do you think God chose to speak to Abraham? [We may not know all the reasons, but we do know God had a special covenant with Abraham for a world-changing plan]
Q. What possible reason might God have for angels being disguised as humans?
Hebrews 13:2
• It’s possible we could be in a discussion with an angel and not even know it!
• “Some”= not all, not many
Hebrews 1:14
Matthew 18:10
• Believer’s have angels who watch over and guard them
• Angels not only minister to God, but also to us.
• Angels have a special purpose and mission with us — they are actively ministering to all of us who are saved and who are being saved. They are actively working on our behalf in ways we do not often see or hear.
• Most times they are hidden but in our midst.
• Sometimes God deems it necessary or beneficial for them to be revealed.
• It seems when angels reveal themselves and speak it is for a strategic reason — and their words are to the point.
• Most of the times we hear sightings of angels, it is in VERY difficult circumstances, or when circumstances absolutely warrant their appearance — like to verify that God is doing something special.
• Because angels often appear looking as one of us, it is easy to dismiss the very real possibility that ANGELS HAVE BEEN AMONG US.
Jennifer’s story: Angel at 7-11? (click here)
Hebrews 2:2
• God uses angels to communicate God’s word and warnings (Ex. Gabriel speaking to Mary)
Psalm 91:11
• Angels are sent by God at times to protect.
Psalm 34:7
My friend Chris’s angel story: click here
CORE LESSON: God has spoken and still speaks and works through angels!
Start with 2 stories from Billy Graham’s book Angels God’s Secret Agents (1975 ed.)
1. Story of Chinese woman calling upon the name of Jesus — pgs. 1-2
2. Story of the Reverend John G. Patton, missionary in New Hebrides Islands — pg. 3
Read lists from Halley’s Bible Handbook (88th ed.) on the subject of angels: Pgs. 426-428
1. Sometimes angels appear and look and sound just like us — and we cannot at first discern they are not one of us. But there is just something peculiar about them, what the say, how they act, what they bring into our lives, that leads us to discern that they are from God.
Genesis 18:1-22; 19:1-3 Story of the “three men”— two were angels, one was God!
Q. How did the Lord appear to Abraham? [v2 He saw 3 men — from what we can tell, one of them was the Lord, and the other two were… 19:1 “The two angels”]
• From the context of the story, it seems Abraham discerns there is a leader of the group (vs3) and addresses Him as “Lord”= “Adonai” which is an emphatic way of saying “Master!” or emphatically expressing a title of reverence. It could be used of God or men.
• As the story unfolds it appears Abraham understands that this leader is The Lord God. He may have realized from the very beginning, which I believe to be true.
• Sarah’s uses the word “lord” too (v12), of her husband Abraham, but it’s Hebrew from is different than when Abraham uses it. It is in the non-emphatic sense = “Adown,” in the sense of “husband — the one who leads our household.”
• The other uses of the Lord in this chapter, by the author (Moses), and God Himself use only the Hebrew term “YHWH” (or Jehovah) — God’s proper name, meaning, “existing one.”
Q. Why do you think God chose to speak to Abraham? [We may not know all the reasons, but we do know God had a special covenant with Abraham for a world-changing plan]
Q. What possible reason might God have for angels being disguised as humans?
Hebrews 13:2
• It’s possible we could be in a discussion with an angel and not even know it!
• “Some”= not all, not many
Hebrews 1:14
Matthew 18:10
• Believer’s have angels who watch over and guard them
• Angels not only minister to God, but also to us.
• Angels have a special purpose and mission with us — they are actively ministering to all of us who are saved and who are being saved. They are actively working on our behalf in ways we do not often see or hear.
• Most times they are hidden but in our midst.
• Sometimes God deems it necessary or beneficial for them to be revealed.
• It seems when angels reveal themselves and speak it is for a strategic reason — and their words are to the point.
• Most of the times we hear sightings of angels, it is in VERY difficult circumstances, or when circumstances absolutely warrant their appearance — like to verify that God is doing something special.
• Because angels often appear looking as one of us, it is easy to dismiss the very real possibility that ANGELS HAVE BEEN AMONG US.
Jennifer’s story: Angel at 7-11? (click here)
Hebrews 2:2
• God uses angels to communicate God’s word and warnings (Ex. Gabriel speaking to Mary)
Psalm 91:11
• Angels are sent by God at times to protect.
Psalm 34:7
My friend Chris’s angel story: click here
CORE LESSON: God has spoken and still speaks and works through angels!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Kimmy Barker's God speaking testimony
This "video" is actually only audio, and is approx. 8 min. long.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
PART III: Understanding HOW and WHY God spoke in the past
Hearing the voice of God: exploring the various ways God speaks/communicates with us and how we can discern and hear His voice
PART III: Understanding HOW and WHY God spoke in the past.
** Kimmy’s testimony of how God recently spoke to her! **
We were blessed especially to hear from Kimmy Barker.
Click here for audio of her testimony
-------------------------------------------
Scripture study:
Let’s go back to the beginning— literally!
Genesis 1:1-20
HOW did God speak? (directly or indirectly) DIRECTLY
WHY did God speak? God spoke TO CREATE the world.
Genesis 1:26-27
God spoke TO CREATE man.
Q. What was different about how God created man?
Vs 26 God created man/us IN HIS LIKENESS
Vs 27 God created us in His IMAGE
Man was created in a very special way to reflect the very image and attributes of God!
Genesis 1:28
God spoke TO BLESS man. [means: to cause to prosper]
Q. What special role did God give mankind that reflects something of God?
A. Man was to have DOMINION over all the stuff of earth.
God spoke TO INSTRUCT man on what his purpose and mission was.
Genesis 2:8-9, 15
God created a special PLACE for man, His special creation.
Genesis 2:16-17
God spoke TO COMMAND and TO INSTRUCT.
God spoke TO WARN.
Genesis 3:8 God spoke TO REVEAL Himself.
Q. Do you see relationship yet, in the way God speaks with man?
Genesis 3:11 God spoke TO CONFRONT sin.
3:14 God spoke TO JUDGE and TO CURSE the serpent.
3:15 God spoke TO FORETELL important future events.
The “Protoevangelion” — the Gospel before the Gospel: this speaks of God’s loving concern for mankind in his deepest need.
---------------- (we got this far on 12/7/08)--------------
Q. Can you find a place in Scripture where God has a (two-way) conversation with any other creature or part of creation other than man? NO
Q. Why do you think that is? WE HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE TALK TO EACH OTHER!
Class discussion:
Q. Think of a relationship you have or have had in your life — like your child or younger sibling — do you find common ways you have spoken with them as God has spoken to man?
Q. What does that reveal about that relationship? Concern? Indifference? Love? Hate?
We are beginning to discover some of the reasons why God speaks to man.
Core lesson: God speaks to man because He desires and pursues a LOVE RELATIONSHIP with us. He CREATED us to have that kind of relationship.
Because of SIN, this precious relationship was severely crippled — and sin would effect how God would COMMUNICATE with man after this — and man’s ability to HEAR God.
PART III: Understanding HOW and WHY God spoke in the past.
** Kimmy’s testimony of how God recently spoke to her! **
We were blessed especially to hear from Kimmy Barker.
Click here for audio of her testimony
-------------------------------------------
Scripture study:
Let’s go back to the beginning— literally!
Genesis 1:1-20
HOW did God speak? (directly or indirectly) DIRECTLY
WHY did God speak? God spoke TO CREATE the world.
Genesis 1:26-27
God spoke TO CREATE man.
Q. What was different about how God created man?
Vs 26 God created man/us IN HIS LIKENESS
Vs 27 God created us in His IMAGE
Man was created in a very special way to reflect the very image and attributes of God!
Genesis 1:28
God spoke TO BLESS man. [means: to cause to prosper]
Q. What special role did God give mankind that reflects something of God?
A. Man was to have DOMINION over all the stuff of earth.
God spoke TO INSTRUCT man on what his purpose and mission was.
Genesis 2:8-9, 15
God created a special PLACE for man, His special creation.
Genesis 2:16-17
God spoke TO COMMAND and TO INSTRUCT.
God spoke TO WARN.
Genesis 3:8 God spoke TO REVEAL Himself.
Q. Do you see relationship yet, in the way God speaks with man?
Genesis 3:11 God spoke TO CONFRONT sin.
3:14 God spoke TO JUDGE and TO CURSE the serpent.
3:15 God spoke TO FORETELL important future events.
The “Protoevangelion” — the Gospel before the Gospel: this speaks of God’s loving concern for mankind in his deepest need.
---------------- (we got this far on 12/7/08)--------------
Q. Can you find a place in Scripture where God has a (two-way) conversation with any other creature or part of creation other than man? NO
Q. Why do you think that is? WE HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE TALK TO EACH OTHER!
Class discussion:
Q. Think of a relationship you have or have had in your life — like your child or younger sibling — do you find common ways you have spoken with them as God has spoken to man?
Q. What does that reveal about that relationship? Concern? Indifference? Love? Hate?
We are beginning to discover some of the reasons why God speaks to man.
Core lesson: God speaks to man because He desires and pursues a LOVE RELATIONSHIP with us. He CREATED us to have that kind of relationship.
Because of SIN, this precious relationship was severely crippled — and sin would effect how God would COMMUNICATE with man after this — and man’s ability to HEAR God.
A WALK IN THE WOODS
A story by Jennifer Rainey Walters
November 14, 1994
[Jennifer shared with me this beautiful story she wrote some years ago. I thought it would be great to share it with the class as well.]
One day a man was walking down a long quiet road. He wasn’t sure where he was going or how to get back home, until he saw woods ahead. He thought to himself whether he should keep walking along the road or take a chance and go through the woods. Even though he thought he should stay on the road, it would be getting dark soon, he decided he would go through the woods hoping it would be a short-cut.
A little ways into the woods, everything suddenly seemed to be much darker. Even the sky now was a charcoal black; where, a short while ago, it had been a beautiful blue. As he walked deeper and deeper into the woods, he realized he was lost. The loud screams of birds and other animals frightened him very much. He regretted turning from the quiet road to a place that seemed very dark. If only he hadn’t chosen to go the “short-cut”. He feared he would not find his way home. He began to feel cold, he didn’t know what to do. He prayed to the Lord for His help, explaining to Him that he had made the wrong decision and needed His guidance.
After a while he was beginning to give up hope. He had prayed and prayed and it seemed as if God wasn’t listening. After resting for a while, he knelt down on his knees and prayed even harder than all the times before. He said, “Lord, I know I have prayed to you several times before, but all I know to do is to keep putting my total faith and trust in You. I know You will guide my way.”
Then, after a few more minutes of walking, between a couple of trees, he noticed a light. As he came closer to the light, he realized he had been walking in the woods all night searching for a way out.
He thanked God for guiding him to the light beyond the darkness. Once he reached the end of the woods, he saw a beautiful meadow where he could smell the scent of wild flowers. Finally, beyond this meadow was a small town. His town. With God’s help, he found his way home.
Although he regretted his decision to go through the woods, he learned a valuable lesson. Never take the “short-cuts” in life. No matter how long it may take, always stay on the right path. But if you do make the wrong decision, God will show you the way.
It is you who make the decisions in your life. Some will be right and some will be wrong; but all decisions are yours to make. Believe in and listen to what’s in your heart. Walk with God and constantly seek the “light beyond the darkness” until you find it. Because no matter how dark things seem, there is always a light at the end where everything is brighter and much much nicer.
If you turn from Gods path, you’ll find yourself lost, but with His help, He’ll bring you home.
November 14, 1994
[Jennifer shared with me this beautiful story she wrote some years ago. I thought it would be great to share it with the class as well.]
One day a man was walking down a long quiet road. He wasn’t sure where he was going or how to get back home, until he saw woods ahead. He thought to himself whether he should keep walking along the road or take a chance and go through the woods. Even though he thought he should stay on the road, it would be getting dark soon, he decided he would go through the woods hoping it would be a short-cut.
A little ways into the woods, everything suddenly seemed to be much darker. Even the sky now was a charcoal black; where, a short while ago, it had been a beautiful blue. As he walked deeper and deeper into the woods, he realized he was lost. The loud screams of birds and other animals frightened him very much. He regretted turning from the quiet road to a place that seemed very dark. If only he hadn’t chosen to go the “short-cut”. He feared he would not find his way home. He began to feel cold, he didn’t know what to do. He prayed to the Lord for His help, explaining to Him that he had made the wrong decision and needed His guidance.
After a while he was beginning to give up hope. He had prayed and prayed and it seemed as if God wasn’t listening. After resting for a while, he knelt down on his knees and prayed even harder than all the times before. He said, “Lord, I know I have prayed to you several times before, but all I know to do is to keep putting my total faith and trust in You. I know You will guide my way.”
Then, after a few more minutes of walking, between a couple of trees, he noticed a light. As he came closer to the light, he realized he had been walking in the woods all night searching for a way out.
He thanked God for guiding him to the light beyond the darkness. Once he reached the end of the woods, he saw a beautiful meadow where he could smell the scent of wild flowers. Finally, beyond this meadow was a small town. His town. With God’s help, he found his way home.
Although he regretted his decision to go through the woods, he learned a valuable lesson. Never take the “short-cuts” in life. No matter how long it may take, always stay on the right path. But if you do make the wrong decision, God will show you the way.
It is you who make the decisions in your life. Some will be right and some will be wrong; but all decisions are yours to make. Believe in and listen to what’s in your heart. Walk with God and constantly seek the “light beyond the darkness” until you find it. Because no matter how dark things seem, there is always a light at the end where everything is brighter and much much nicer.
If you turn from Gods path, you’ll find yourself lost, but with His help, He’ll bring you home.
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