Week of February 9th 2010 – Spiritual Essay Question

Spiritual Essay Questions

 

Note:

Whether you write your thoughts for private or public reading please do so before reading other people’s thoughts, as this will provide you with a confirmation that your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas are supported by both the Lord Jesus and other Believers. 

 

Please read the instructions that follow the question[s] to understand the purpose of this exercise and study.

Why would Jesus want us to love our neighbor “as our-selves”?

 

Purpose and Goal of Questions

 

God uses the Word in our lives in order to conform us to His image [Romans 8:29]. Therefore, time spent in reflection on the Word, pondering the principals and commands of the Word is vital to spiritual growth.  In so doing we should resist the urge to “see others” in Scripture, analyzing what they should be doing and instead focus on ourselves, society as a whole, or humanity in general. 

That stated…

The series of questions, present one at a time, are meant for such pondering, reflection, and thought. Please allow other individuals to grow and be enriched, as a result of your reflections on the Word, by means of posting your thoughts via the “comment” link provided. 

Either way, may Gold deeply engrain wisdom within your spirit as you ponder each question.

New Series Starting February 2nd 2010 – Spiritual Essay Questions

Spiritual Essay Questions

Next week I am starting a new series that is meant to help individuals reflect upon and apply the ideals of Scripture to their lives.

Each week a single question will be presented for consideration.

Please read the instructions that follow to understand the purpose of this exercise and study.

Purpose and Goal of Questions

God uses the Word in our lives in order to conform us to His image [Romans 8:29]. Therefore, time spent in reflection on the Word, pondering the principals and commands of the Word is vital to spiritual growth.  In so doing we should resist the urge to “see others” in Scripture, analyzing what they should be doing and instead focus on ourselves, society as a whole, or humanity in general.

That stated…

The series of questions, present one at a time, are meant for such pondering, reflection, and thought. Please allow other individuals to grow and be enriched, as a result of your reflections on the Word, by means of posting your thoughts via the “comment” link provided.

Either way, may Gold deeply engrain wisdom within your spirit as you ponder each question.

Note:

Whether you write your thoughts for private or public reading please do so before reading other people’s thoughts, as this will provide you with a confirmation that your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas are supported by both the Lord Jesus and other Believers.

Week of January 26th Final Installment of Redemption – Obedience – Grace Study

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

 

Please see special note at the end of this study. 

Grace & Obedience

[Leads to full redemption.]

 

Arthur W. Burt – Book “Surrender [Your Key to Spiritual Success]”

Page 61 – Quotes

“x-ray of failure

Working backwards 3, 2, 1

3 – Failure occurs because I lack God’s grace.

2 – I lack God’s grace because I am in unbelief.

1- I am in unbelief because in my pride, instead of bowing to God, I set myself up in His place, turning a deaf ear to His voice and reject His Word”

“On the basis that I am in pride, God resists me, and He does this by withdrawing His grace!”

God resist the proud but gives grace to the Humble 1 Peter 5:5

My Notes:

Devotional Journal April 18^th 2009

1 – Accept My Truth

2 – Live by Grace

3 – Accomplished to the Glory of Me [God].

This is what God spoke to me on that day.  This is a reference to what He wants and expected from me in my daily life. This way His grace, not my power, could accomplish the goals ………..goals He set for me or guided me into.

 

 

Special Note – -

Arthur Burt, 97 years young in 2009, provides the book referred to earlier, “Surrender [Your Key to Spiritual Success]” along with several of his other books, in both paperback form and electronically downloadable from the internet.

They are free of charge from his website at: http://www.arthurburt.com/aburt/

This is a man, not interested in fame or money, he truly just wants the truths of God out there and available to the people of the world.

May God Be Praised!

Week of January 19th Defining Grace Study – Concluding Thoughts on Grace

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Concluding Thoughts on Grace

God’s grace is the greatest miracle of all time.  Without His grace, we would not even take our next breath.  Everything we have ever done, hope to ever do, or will ever do is all because the grace of God showered our lives.  If we have, any desires for holiness, godliness, or goodness it because of the grace of God.  Our desire for God is because of the grace of God.  Our existence is because of the grace of God.  All hail the Mighty King and His Glorious Grace!

Week of January 12th Defining Grace Study – Notes on Questions 9-11

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

 

Notes on Preceding Questions

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and for greater understanding of the question notes, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions.

 

GRACE — favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

 

Note on Q-9

No matter what we ever do we will not be able to earn God’s grace nor do we need to do so.  He loves us and wishes to bestow on us His grace, as His gift to us.  We never earn anything with God!

Notes on Q-10&11

God is very patient with us regardless of how we may feel inside about this fact.  The Enemy would often have us believe our grace with God is running out.  It can never run out, God’s love and mercy endure forever.  We should never, ever, abuse the grace of God but we should enjoy and rest in the grace of God; there is a difference. When we are doing all we can, all that God has asked and shown us, we are not abusing His grace.  Therefore, we should enjoy Him, His love, and life.  If we are doing as we like with no or little regard for God’s Will for our lives and telling ourselves, and possibility others, no problem our sins are covered by the grace of God; then we are grace abuser and we are spitting on the love, mercy, goodness, grace, and sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.

Week of January 5th Defining Grace Study – Questions 9-11

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and to answer the questions, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions, they will provide clues for the answering the questions.

 

GRACE — favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

 

Q-9

Do we work for grace?  Why or why not?

Q-10

When you think of your relationship to God, do you feel He is patient with you?  Why do you feel this way?

Q-11

Are you patient with yourself?  Explain

Week of December 29th Defining Grace Study – Notes on Questions 6-8

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

 

Notes on Preceding Questions

 

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and for greater understanding of the question notes, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions.

 

Grace =

grace

n

3.  generosity of spirit: a capacity to tolerate, accommodate, or forgive people

7.  gift of God to humankind: in Christianity, the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God 

8.  freedom from sin: in Christianity, the condition of being free of sin, e.g. through repentance to God 

Encarta ® World English Dictionary

 

Note on Q-6

God has granted us much tolerance and forgiveness, therefore; we should extend the same to other people.  This displays His love to those people.  When we through humility of mind and heart choose to accommodate another, especially at cost to ourselves, it is an act of agape love we are showing them.  Agape love is love, which takes action, just as our Lord’s love took action for us on the cross.  There can be great healing for people who are wounded when they are shown loving grace through tolerance, forgiveness, and accommodation of who they are, how they are, and why they are as we find them. 

Note on Q-7

God’s grace to you, me, and mankind is infinite.  There is no point or act that can extinguish that grace.  We cannot terminate God’s grace toward us because it is not ours to terminate.  That grace is God’s, given by God, owned by God, and controlled by God.  Just as our grace toward others is for us. Hence, the amount of grace is determined by God and He has determined it was, is and will be without end, infinite. 

Note on Q-8

It is only through and because of the grace of God that we are able to break the sin patterns in our lives.   Without that grace, no matter what we tried, we would be bound to the beast of sin forever.  We are to do what God shows us we need to do in order to correct any area of our lives we need to correct but never let us begin to think that we alone have done anything; we have merely been obedient, which is enough.

Week of December 22nd Defining Grace Study – Questions 6-8

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

 

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and to answer the questions, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions, they will provide clues for the answering the questions.

 

Grace =

grace

n

3.  generosity of spirit: a capacity to tolerate, accommodate, or forgive people

7.  gift of God to humankind: in Christianity, the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God 

8.  freedom from sin: in Christianity, the condition of being free of sin, e.g. through repentance to God 

Encarta ® World English Dictionary

 

Q-6

When dealing with people how important do you think it is to tolerate, accommodate and forgive them and why?

Q-7

At what point or with what act does the grace of God end in a person’s life?  Explain why you believe your answer.

Q-8

If we are able to shake off the shackles of a particular sin in our lives, why are we able?

Week of December 15th Defining Grace Study – Notes on Questions 1-5

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

 

Notes on Preceding Questions

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and for greater understanding of the question notes, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions.

 

Grace =

5485. cavri” charis, khar´-ece; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig., or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; incl. gratitude):— acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, worthy).

5463. caivrw chairoµ, khah´-ee-ro; a primary verb; to be “cheer”ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impers. espec. as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well:— farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hall, joy (- fully), rejoice.

New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words

 

Note on Q-1

If we have an inner desire to better ourselves or rid our lives of sin, it because the grace of God is moving within our hearts making us have these desires.  Without the grace of God, we would have no motivation toward this end at all.  Therefore, we must keep in mind when we see a ‘Christian’ who seems to not want to grow spiritually or change into the image of Christ; it would be wiser for us to pray that the grace of God would rest upon them to desire such, instead of giving them a firm scolding about their lack of ‘spirituality.’

Note on Q-2

When we get to a place in life where we truly understand how much grace God has poured out on our lives, gratitude begins to rise up within us like a fountain that cannot be contained.  We realize how great His mercy is and how undeserving we are.

Note on Q-3

Another byproduct of God’s grace is deep understanding of our acceptability to and before God.  Because of Christ, we are fully accepted by God the Father from the moment we take Jesus into our hearts.   We do not receive our acceptability in degrees or stages.  We have it fully and eternally.  God does desire us to grow, change, and be able to walk in His full purpose and will for our lives, yet, this is a separate issue from our acceptability to Him.

Note on Q-4

All the trying in the world will often do you little good with people without the favor of God, which comes through His grace.  We do not need to fear or be intimated by anyone, we only need to pray that God’s grace and favor will rest upon us everywhere we go and be present in our dealings with everyone we encounter.

Note on Q-5

I will describe an ideal state of being.  When we come to mature as a Christian and evolve into full comprehension of the grace of God, we should become peaceful inside.  Our condition should become calmly happy, what I also refer to as joyous in the Lord.  The struggle with life, self, and others should cease and be replaced with peace, trust, and humility.

Week of December 8th Defining Grace Study – Questions 1-5

Redemption – Obedience – Grace

The Master of Self

Defining Grace

 

Use the definitions provided for a better understanding of what grace is and to answer the questions, which follow each definition.  Pay special attention to underlined portion of the definitions, they will provide clues for the answering the questions.

 

Grace =

5485. cavri” charis, khar´-ece; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig., or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; incl. gratitude):— acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, worthy).

5463. caivrw chairoµ, khah´-ee-ro; a primary verb; to be “cheer”ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impers. espec. as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well:— farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hall, joy (- fully), rejoice.

New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words

 

Q-1

What do you believe makes us want to change sinful or negative behavior in our lives?

Q-2

When a person understands the grace of God upon their lives, what response might spring up inside of them?  Use the definition to find the specific feeling being sought.

Q-3

Do you believe you are acceptable to God? Why or why not?

Q-4

How do you go about finding favor with people?

Q-5

Do you believe a person knows and understands the grace of God and what that means for their lives, when they are experiencing a great deal of unrest within themselves?  Explain your answer.