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May 30, 2018

Assignment #8 New Testament Study Lesson: Matt. 6:19-34


Other study lessons from Matthew

Jesus Continues with His Teaching
on the Mount (part 4)
Matt. 6:19-34

We are still on the Sermon on the Mount. So, read Matt. 6:19-34 and continue your outline the lessons (with any insight God gives you).






#4 (vs 19-24)    ____________________________________


#5 (vs 25-34) _____________________________________





So, now let’s look a little bit deeper into this section of Matt. 6.


Did you happen to notice a repeated command in these verses?

 I will give you a hint: “Do not” is used four times in these verses.

So, what did Jesus say not to do?

Why do you think He did (or what was the reason) in verses 19-24?

In verses 25-34 He said “Do not…” but what was the rest of the sentence that He stated THREE times?

Do a quick lookup of the following verses:
  • Genesis 1:31
  • Psalm 19:1
  • Psalm 29:3-9
  • Psalm 104:1-4 
  • Romans 1:20

So, who created nature? Of course, God did. And He is more than able to care for nature. We may take care of our yards but out in the middle of no-where, where there isn’t man to tend it, nature and all in it continues to be cared for by God. So, if God will go to such extremes to provide and care for nature, how much more do you think He will tend to us? After all, we are made in His image, He created us to have a relationship with us.
  • Now look up Rom. 12:2 and write it down in your notes.
  • Also look up Phil. 2:13 and add it to your notes.
  • And finally look up Eph. 2:10


Do you see a pattern in these verses?

God has “work” for us to do. He has created each of us for a purpose. So, if we are walking with Him and are seeking His will for our lives (and we are being obedient), then doesn’t it make sense that God is going to provide for us so that we can do His will?

This doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships. This doesn’t mean we are going to be filthy rich… but if we are truly seeking His will, and we are earnestly stepping out in faith, then His Word says He will provide. Keep in mind though that sometimes “our needs” are more of what we desire to have. And sometimes, what we need and what we desire are two totally different things.

Now look up Ps. 37:25 and write it out in your notes.


How does this comfort you? What are your thoughts now?

 These set of verses also talk about the eye and the body.

What we watch, or what we allow ourselves to “look upon” will fill our minds… once that happens, then we start thinking about it… and eventually it takes root inside of us. So Jesus is basically warning them not to fill their minds with garbage from what they are gazing upon.


What are your thoughts now on this?


  

That’s all for now. See you soon!
Kassie



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May 28, 2018

Assignment #8 Old Testament Study Lesson: Gen. 15-16


Click here for other lessons in Genesis
Hello, I hope you are ready to dig deeper in God’s Word!

Before we start this lesson, lets recap what we have already seen in the last few chapters:

>> In Genesis 12 we saw God’s promises to Abram, and a step of faith taken as Abram obeyed God and left his people to travel to Canaan. However, Abram decided to go down to Egypt due to a famine and suffered the consequences.

>>In Genesis 13 Abram and Lot separated due to the feuding between their herdsmen. And we saw God restate His promise to Abram.

>> In Genesis 14 we read where Abram was called into a battle to rescued Lot after he (Lot) was taken captive. We were also introduced to Melchizedek, who gave glory to God for Abram’s victory.

Because neither of the two chapters in this lesson are very long,
we are going to go straight to our study survey.


Study Survey
Chapter 15:  The Cutting of the Covenant

When starting out in chapter 15, the first thing we read is God telling Abram “Not to be afraid…” Typically not the best way to start out a conversation. This reminds me of several times my sons would come in and start out their conversation with me by saying, “Mon, don’t get mad, but…” However, if we look back over chapter 14, we see that Abram just came from a battle with some very fierce tribes.  He probably was a little concerned that there might be some retribution, so God starts by telling him not to worry.

Something very important to grasp in this very first verse: God didn’t tell Abram that He would give Abram a shield. No, God said “I am a shield to you.” 

The next thing to take note of is that Abram totally accepted God’s pledge and went on to discuss something totally different. In other words, God said “Hey, don’t worry…” So, Abram basically said “OK”. How can I say that? Because Abram obviously didn’t feel the need to ponder God’s pledge any further, because he went on to change the subject.

So, what did Abram want to talk about? He brought up the topic of another promise God had made him… and that was of an heir. God listened to Abram and then reassured him that he will have a son (one from his own flesh). Notice something else: God didn’t take offense to Abram questioning Him.

God then went on to reaffirm the promise of the land to Abram’s descendants. Then Abram asks something that might seem peculiar. Abram asked, “But how will I KNOW….?”

My friend there is a difference between believing something and KNOWING something.  Let me give you an example: Say my phone rings and I see that the caller ID shows my oldest son’s name. I would instantly believe that it was my oldest son calling, but when I answer it and hear his voice, well, then I KNOW it is him.

We can believe something to be true (even if its not). We can believe a lot of things… until they are put to the test. And then we know for certain what is true and that which is not. God did not take offense to Abram needing a little more reassurance. After all, there were a lot of people living in the land that God had just promised him.

But notice something else. Abram didn’t ask God “how will I know you will give me a son?” God said he would have a son, and Abram completely accepted this as truth and trusted God for it. Somewhere in his heart and mind, he must have thought there was still a way for him to have a son. But the land… now that was something different.

What did God do to build the same faith (and trust) to this part of the promise? He made a blood covenant with Abram. And in verse 13 God Himself declared, “You can know for certain…”
  • Read very carefully verse 17. God Himself made the covenant. God was the one to walk through the sacrifice laid out (as a flaming torch). Abram didn’t have to meet God half way and shake hands like you and I would if we were making an agreement with each other. God took full responsibility.
 So, let’s look at this a bit deeper: "How can I know?"(Gen. 15:7-21)

Abram did believe, but he also needed to know. Again, God was not upset. Instead, God had Abram prepare the most binding of all forms of ancient covenants from that culture, which was a "covenant of blood."

Take a moment to read Hebrews 6:17-18. It tells us that God took this action because He wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear (and not only to Abram, but also to us as heirs of what was promised). God confirmed it with an oath. But why would He do this? To show that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie. And, because God is totally committed to us as well, we can also know that when God makes us a promise, He will uphold it.

My friend, God not only knows the future, but is also in full control of the future. So, on this basis we (like Abram) needn’t have doubts when God reveals His intentions to us. Abram had to “know” based on God's word alone. We can “know” (not only because God is the One who speaks to us), but because we can look back on fulfilled prophecy (which Abram could not do) and see the faithfulness of God.

We can look back at the 400 years in Egypt, the slavery imposed on Abram's descendants, the punishment of Egypt, and the Exodus deliverance as history today. And what do we see when we do? Everything happened just as God said it would.

One last thing to consider before going on to the next chapter.

God told Abram that his descendants would be blessed, but that there was also going to be hardship. My friend just because we are Christians, doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships as well. Just as Abram’s descendants would suffer trials and long periods of waiting… so will we at times.

>> Thought to ponder: God’s Word came to Abram in a vision (vs. 1) but then there was action on Abram’s part. Look up Hab. 2:1-3. Notice it says he will “keep watch to see what God will speak to him…” And he was to write it down. My friend, God does the same for us while we are in prayer with Him. Many times, He will “speak to our hearts” and we can "see" with our spiritual eyes what He is speaking to us. And when we do, we need to write it down!

__________________________________
Study Survey
Chapter 16: Impatience & Consequences
“Perhaps I can build a family” (Gen. 16:1-16).

Let’s start with on overview of this chapter:
When reading Gen. 16, we need t0 remember that in biblical times, bearing children was viewed by women as giving meaning to their lives. Abram had believed God's promise, but as the years passed and no children came, Sarai became impatient.  Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and she urged Abram to sleep with her maid, Hagar.

This might seem awful to us, but according to the customs of those times, this was not an immoral act. It was actually a recognized way to provide a childless wife with children she would then call her own.  Though this might have been acceptable in man’s eye, but it wasn’t by God.

Sarai’s impatience is proven to be a horrible mistake… all starting with one thought, "Perhaps I can build a family."

It was foolish for her to think that SHE could build it when God had already said HE would build Abram's family!

>> Life Lesson: My friend, anytime we try to do God's work in our own strength (or insist on imposing our timing instead of waiting for God to act), it will always wind up proving to be a dreadful mistake.

As we see, Sarai's self-help effort turned out horribly. Because, Hagar did become pregnant, however, soon after Hagar began showing contempt for her mistress! And, since Hagar was pregnant by Abram, it was now very clear that the couple's childlessness was Sarai's fault. Sarai probably didn’t expect this result when she set out on her own. The strife that then dominated Abram's tents (as a result) reminds us to wait on God rather than going ahead without His guidance or direction.

>> Life Lesson: This invariably happens when we take over for God, trying to make His promise come true through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions.

In this case, time was the greatest test of Abram and Sarai's willingness to let God work in their lives. My friend, sometimes we too must simply wait. When we ask God for something and have to wait, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands and interfere with God's plans. But when we do, it only causes more hardship and possible delays.

Look back at vs. 2, notice that it says, “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai…” Consider this:
          >> Who did God talk to?

          >> Who did God make the promise to?

          >> Who should be the leader (head) of the family?

          >> So, who should have enforced God’s Word in the family?

          >> What did he do instead?
He became passive and followed the voice of his wife instead of what God had told him.

         >> What was the result?

Where have we seen this pattern before? 
In Gen. 3 with Adam and Eve.


Now look at vs. 5. Although Sarai arranged for Hagar to have a child by Abram, she later blamed Abram for the results (Adam and Eve did the same thing in Gen. 3:12-13).

In vs. 6 we see that Sarai was angry with Abram, but she took it out on Hagar.  Instead of accepting her responsibility to what was now happening, she blamed everyone else.




Though Hagar was originally the victim in this situation, she made it worse by HER treatment towards Sarai. And then instead of facing the problem, she did what a lot of us do… She tried running away from her mistress, thus running away from her problem.

So now, we have three people who are entangled in a serious mess: (1) Sarai, who took matters into her own hands and gave her servant to Abram; (2) Abram, who went along with the plan but, when the circumstances began to cause strife, he refused to help solve the problem; and (3) Hagar, who added to the strife with her attitude and then ran away from the problem.

However, despite this messed up situation, we will soon see God demonstrate His ability to work all things for good (see Rom. 8:28), and the truth of Pr. 19:21 (look this verse up and write it down).





Going Deeper:

After Hagar ran away, the Angel of the Lord found her in the desert at a spring (beside the road to Shur) on the way to her homeland (Egypt).

This is the first reference in the Old Testament to "the Angel of the Lord".
o    Though this Angel is identified with God, this Angel also identifies distinctive from God. And by doing so, refers to a theophany (meaning a visible manifestation) of the preincarnate Christ.
§  I highly suggest you highlight this in your Bible in a special way, so that you will know that you just saw Jesus.

God (Jesus) asked Hagar two questions: Where have you come from, and where are you going? Why would He ask her these questions if He is all knowing? To draw her closer to Him in relationship, and to have her voice (admit) what she is doing (running away).

After God (Jesus) asked her these questions, He did two things. First, He gave her a command which was to return to her mistress and submit to authority instead of rebelling. The fact that she was able to conceive after all these years that Sarai couldn’t would suggest that the “contempt” she was showing her mistress was a form of GLOATING, and that is never acceptable in God’s eye.

Secondly, He gave her a promise. He told her that she would give birth to a boy and was to call him Ishmael.
  • God Himself named her son Ishmael, which He then explained: for the Lord has heard your misery. He also promised her that her descendants would be too many to number (thus giving her a future and a hope).

Somewhere in her, she accepted and believed. And she stated what each of us needs to know about our God…
  • She called God the One who sees me. and to commemorate the event she named the well at that ion Beer Lahai Roi ("well of the living One who sees me”).

 Insight:
God spoke to Hagar in direct revelation, and she responded in faith. My friend, God really does see our distress and affliction, and He hears us.  And this was something that Sarai should have known. Since God knew Sarai was barren (but had promised Abram a son), she should have cried out to God for help, instead of trying to figure out her own solution.

This is a great reminder to us that in our distress (like that of Sarai's barrenness), we should turn to God because He hears our cries and sees our needs. God is able to miraculously fulfill His promises He doesn’t need our help

God provided for this woman who was thrust out into the desert. And He made her a promised; that her son would become the father of a great tribe of wild, hostile people. However, he would not be the promised son to fulfill God’s Word to Abram. By Sarai taking matters into her own hands, she caused the origin of the Ishmaelites, and that harvest is still being reaped today. Ironically, Sarai's great-grandson (Joseph) was later taken to Egypt in slavery by the Ishmaelites (see Gen. 37:28).

>> Life Lesson: God's people can trust His Word and should wait for its fulfillment, enduring patiently till the end.
o   Look up Hab. 2:2-3 and write it out as a reminder.




My friend, that is all for this lesson, I hope you are encouraged and will take God’s message to heart.
Kassie




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May 24, 2018

Preparing Your Bible for Studying the Four Gospels



When it comes to reading (or studying) the four Gospels, its a little bit different than going through the Old Testament or the rest of the New testament.... and here's why...

May 23, 2018

Assignment # 7 Study Lesson New Testament: Matt. 6:1-18


Jesus continues teaching the Sermon on the Mount (part 3)
Matt. 6:1-18

Other assignments from Matthew


Welcome back! We hope you are enjoying these lessons, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Note that in this lesson we are still with Jesus during His Sermon on the Mount.

~ Kassie, Tammy, and Anna

______________________


Read Matt. 6:1-18 then outline the three lessons with any insight God gives you. There is much to discuss about Matt. 6, which we will do a bit later. But for now, I would like to spend this time simply “listening to Jesus” as He continues His sermon.
  
#1 (vs 1-4)    __________________________________________

#2 (vs 5-15) __________________________________________

#3 (vs 16-18) _________________________________________




So, now let’s look a little bit deeper into Matt. 6.

In the first part of this chapter Jesus illustrated the practicing of righteousness before men (people). Jesus also continued to describe the character and actions of those who will enter His kingdom.

Beware of practicing your righteousness to be noticed by men instead of the Father.

As Jesus continued His sermon, He explained righteousness that exceeded the scribes and Pharisees’ righteousness. He stated that they paraded their “righteousness” in front of men. Which to God they weren’t righteous at all because they did it to impress and be noticed by men. Therefore, they would have no reward from God, because their reward was already being fulfilled here on earth instead.

In verses 2–15 Jesus teaches about giving to the poor. And in doing so, not to brag about it thus making yourself look good by “oh look what I am doing, look what I am giving.”  But instead, let it be done in secret, don’t let left hand know what right is doing. You don’t have to brag about it or point it out, God sees and knows, and His approval is all we need.

Jesus also teaches about prayer. Again, it isn’t supposed to be about making yourself look good, or to make yourself sound good. We are not to pray in a manner so as to impress people. This doesn’t mean we aren’t to pray in public, but when we do, then do so from the heart, and with the right intentions, and right motivations.

And take time to go into “an Inner room” in other words, go somewhere private where you can just pray and have a conversation with God.

There is a contrast we see in verse 7 with the way the Gentiles pray. They use meaningless repetition and many words. This doesn’t mean that when we are alone with God and pouring our hearts out to Him, that we can’t repeat ourselves. What He is saying here, is when praying in front of people, it doesn’t have to be a LONG prayer, and again don’t do it distractedly… if your heart is not in it, then don’t sit there with people going on and on with words that are completely meaningless, because it doesn’t come from the heart.

Verses 9–13 usually is referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gave this to us as an example, to show us in what order to pray (like acknowledging God first as GOD). It also shows us topics (for example “give us our daily bread” we can totally pray about our need for provisions). Basically, He gave us a pattern. This doesn’t mean we always have to say this specific prayer word for word and only this prayer. I say that, because throughout the Gospels, we see all kinds of prayers Jesus spoke.

Also, in this pattern Jesus gave it shows us that at the beginning of our prayer and at the end of our prayer, we should worship and praise God, because above all else, He is worthy of that.

In verses 16–18, Jesus teaches about fasting. And again, just as we are not to give or pray to impress people… our fasting shouldn’t be done in a way to draw attention to ourselves… or in a manner where we are all gloomy about it, as in “look at me, pour pitiful me…. I’m so sad and I’m fasting, see how righteous I am…”

So, what is fasting? It’s going with food or drink for a period of time. Fasting was done for several reasons, one being for God to listen when connected with prayer. Because when we are fasting, it shows that seeking God for a very stressful reason means we are willing to be uncomfortable in the flesh, because we want and need HIM MORE that the comfort of the flesh. Sometimes when we REALLY need direction from God, but can’t seem to hear Him, we can take a time of fasting and commit to stronger time in prayer. Fasting can also be done by giving certain things up for a period of time (like NO TV, NO FACEBOOK….) something that we are prone to do a lot of, so giving it up for a certain period of time to REALLY seek God, shows our sincerity.

This is all we are going to study from Matt. 6 for this lesson. We will look at the remaining verses of Matt. 6 next time.  

Kassie





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