Great class Wednesday night. What I thought would be a quick read/ discussion of very familiar verses, became a very blessed time of study. As we learn in verse 1, this was a teaching moment. These words were spoken to open our eyes and minds, words of instruction for the disciples and us. It was pointed out that each verse reveals a human condition that mirrors Jesus, and then the blessing from God for that condition.
Blessed are:
The "poor in spirit" , an awareness of our human condition, our spiritual poverty, our neediness, and sinfulness. That awareness makes the kingdom of heaven available to us.
Those who "mourn" will be comforted. If we care about the things God cares about...sin, hopelessness, sadness, temptation, etc. we will receive comfort and become comforters to others.
The "meek" will inherit the earth...be blessed with sustaining abundance. The meek man is one who submits, not to his own will or to the will of the world, but to will of God. Not prideful.
Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness sake" will be filled. We will have a full life when we live in accordance with the will of God. Allowing His Spirit to lead us will eliminate all the confusion of life.
The "merciful" will receive mercy. Having a heart of gentleness, tenderness, compassion...the heart of Christ.
The "pure in heart" for they will see God. Here we discussed and acknowledge that we can never have a pure heart and that is why we need a Savior. The only way to a pure heart is to invite Christ into our lives, repenting and acknowledging our need for His blood to wash away our sins. Christ's blood is the only way to see God.
The "peacemakers" for they will be called children of God. Ours deeds, our words, our reasoning, our behavior needs to be evidence that we are Christians. God rejoices when we are identified with him and not the world. We need to be examples for others, not blend in with everyone else.
Those who are "persecuted for righteousness' sake" for theirs is the kingdom heaven. People today will turn against us for not conforming, just as they did against Christ.
Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account."
As we look at these passages we see the nature of Christ and we also noticed how these verses highlighted His ministry. He began His ministry by baptism, being fill by the Holy Spirit. Then he walked with his disciples, meek and merciful, caring for the lost, the sick, and the poor. Always speaking the truth and not conforming to the false teachings of the world. He showed us how to be witnesses for His Father. And then the persecution and suffering that he underwent for our sakes and for the glory of His Father.
Discover and Proclaim the Truth of The Bible which is: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." (John 3:16 NRSV). Jesus came to humanity to proclaim and give evidence to that love and He has commanded us to do the same. We, who believe, must not merely be followers, but we must be proclaimers of the Gospel Message and we can only do that by being filled with the love of God.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday Jan. 23, 2011...Scripture: Titus: 3
Sneak Preview Class
Paul's message to Titus was to remind the followers of Christ who they were and what Christ had done by His sacrifice and grace. We need to remember that we are saved by His blood and not by our righteousness. This chapter also sends a strong message of how we are to confront those who don't share in our faith...vs.2: "to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone." This led to a discussion about slander, speaking evil of others, and how we, as Christians, are not to do it. In 2nd Peter 2: 11, Peter points out that even the angels do not speak slanderously of the unrighteous in the presence of the Lord.
Paul knows that we can only be effective witnesses by being obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading. As we talked about it, we came to the conclusion that we must "walk the talk and not just talk the talk". Paul is frequently pointing out the example that he is and his encouragement in his letters is that we need to be examples to those who are not saved. Confrontations, quarrels, dissension are described by Paul as unprofitable and worthless.
The Holy Spirit will lead us in love and to be lovers of all....to see people as worthy of our respect, our love, our generosity, our care, just as Jesus loved us when we were yet sinners and unrighteous.
Paul's message to Titus was to remind the followers of Christ who they were and what Christ had done by His sacrifice and grace. We need to remember that we are saved by His blood and not by our righteousness. This chapter also sends a strong message of how we are to confront those who don't share in our faith...vs.2: "to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone." This led to a discussion about slander, speaking evil of others, and how we, as Christians, are not to do it. In 2nd Peter 2: 11, Peter points out that even the angels do not speak slanderously of the unrighteous in the presence of the Lord.
Paul knows that we can only be effective witnesses by being obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading. As we talked about it, we came to the conclusion that we must "walk the talk and not just talk the talk". Paul is frequently pointing out the example that he is and his encouragement in his letters is that we need to be examples to those who are not saved. Confrontations, quarrels, dissension are described by Paul as unprofitable and worthless.
The Holy Spirit will lead us in love and to be lovers of all....to see people as worthy of our respect, our love, our generosity, our care, just as Jesus loved us when we were yet sinners and unrighteous.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 Spiritual Gifts
I sometimes confuse Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Fruit (Galatians 5: 22-23). I tend to look for the Fruit before I unwrap the Gifts. I want to be like Christ and I want to receive the "warm fuzzies" of seeing the results of my discipleship, but I honestly get to the point where I am just tired and unenthused because the results I am looking for do not materialize.
We cannot produce fruit until we unwrap the Gifts of the Spirit. Paul names them; the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophesy, the discernment of spirits, and the speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues.
As I look at these gifts I do not see attributes which I can claim as my own, they are all of the Holy Spirit and His working through us. It is also clear that He will work through us specifically and individually as He wills. We cannot pick and choose the gift we want because they are not for us to possess. The unwrapping of the Gifts of the Spirit is done by Him and in His timing. As we surrender ourselves to Him through prayer, study, obedience, and worship we become His living body and His Gifts to mankind. The fruits of His work will not only be evidenced in those around us but will also be a transformation of our very being.
We cannot produce fruit until we unwrap the Gifts of the Spirit. Paul names them; the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophesy, the discernment of spirits, and the speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues.
As I look at these gifts I do not see attributes which I can claim as my own, they are all of the Holy Spirit and His working through us. It is also clear that He will work through us specifically and individually as He wills. We cannot pick and choose the gift we want because they are not for us to possess. The unwrapping of the Gifts of the Spirit is done by Him and in His timing. As we surrender ourselves to Him through prayer, study, obedience, and worship we become His living body and His Gifts to mankind. The fruits of His work will not only be evidenced in those around us but will also be a transformation of our very being.
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