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| The Refiner's Fire
Introduction
Contents
Helps
Discussion Groups
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| INTRODUCTION The Crucified Creator  "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
"All things" were made by Him, Jesus, " and yet—according to Scripture�?Jesus wept" (John 11:35). The Creator wept? Even more so, Jesus was "despised and them. rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3). The Creator, a man of sorrows, despised and rejected? And He once cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). How could these things be? It's because Jesus, our Creator, was also our Redeemer, and as such He was the Crucified God—the Creator who took on humanity and in that humanity suffered through a life of privation and toil that ended with Him hung on a Roman cross. Thus, our Creator, the One in whom "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28), suffered in humanity in ways that none of us ever could. We can experience only our own griefs, our own sorrows; at the Cross He bore "our griefs, and carried our sorrows" (Isa. 53:4)�?/I>all of them. It's the most amazing act in all cosmic history. With that background (that of the crucified God looming over us like the desert sky) we will for the next few months seek to better comprehend the incomprehensible-our own suffering, the sufferings of Christians, of those who have committed their lives to Christ. We're making no claims to have all the answers or even many; we're claiming only that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and that although these things happen, we can trust God despite them and, indeed, grow in grace through them, no matter how painful the process. This quarter we will study the Word of God and see how other flesh and blood, though radiated in faith, nevertheless faced despair, betrayal, disappointment, loss, injustice, and abuse (sound like anything you can relate to?). How did they cope? What did they learn? What can their examples teach us? As we look at these people, their experiences, their struggles, and their trials of faith (which might be much like our own), we must always see them contrasted against the background of the Cross. We must always remember that no matter what anyone faces, Jesus Christ, our Creator and Redeemer, went through much worse. Our God is a suffering God. Even Albert Camus, hardly a Christian, understood some of the implications of the Cross and the sufferings of God there: "The night on Golgotha is so important in the history of man only because, in its shadow, the divinity abandoned its traditional privileges and drank to the last drop, despair included, the agony of death."—Albert Camus, The Rebel (New York: Vintage International, 1991), p. 33. Or, as Ellen White expressed it, "The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God."—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 263. Our lessons are not a theodicy, the justification of God in the face of evil. Instead, as we've said, they're an attempt to help us work through the inevitable suffering we all face here in a world where sin is as easy as breathing. What we will try to show is that pain, suffering, and loss don't mean that God has abandoned us; they mean only that, even as believers, we share now in the common lot of a fallen race. The difference is that for us, through Jesus and the hope He offers, meaning and purpose can be found in what seems meaningless and purposeless and that somehow, even if we can't imagine how, we can trust the promise that "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Rom. 8:28, NKJV)�?/I>the God who, though He made all things, suffered all things, too (and that's why we love Him). Gavin Anthony, this quarter's principal contributor, grew up in Sri Lanka as a missionary kid. He worked as a pastor in England and was conference president in Iceland when he authored these lessons.
Contents: (all lessons may not be posted)
Giardina Sabbath School Study Helps Jerry Giardina of Pecos, Texas, assisted by his wife, Cheryl, prepares a series of helps to accompany the Sabbath School lesson. He includes all related scripture and most EGW quotations. Jerry has chosen the "New King James Version" of the scriptures this quarter. It is used with permission. The study helps are provided in three wordprocessing versions Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; RTF for our MAC friends (this is now a zip file); and HTML (Web Pages).
Last updated on September 18, 2007 Editorial Office: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904.
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The Shepherd's Crucible
(Psalms 23)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 1
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/471.php>
Introduction: All my life I have heard that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and I am one of the dumb sheep. I accept that. I know I need protection. I know that I can make some really dumb decisions. What occurred to me for the first time last week is that the sheep also get sheared and eaten! Their lives are preserved by the shepherd so that they can in turn give up their lives for others. Why don't we discuss that part of the sheep analogy? Is it because we don't want to, or because the focus of the illustration is elsewhere? Let's dive into our study today and find out what Psalms 23 has to say about the sheep story!
My Shepherd
Read Psalms 23:1-3. Who wrote these verses? (King David - who grew up as a shepherd.)
When you think of King David, do you think of him as a "sheep?" (No. I think of him as a great warrior-king.)
Why do you think he thought of himself as God's sheep? What characteristics of the shepherd/sheep arrangement does he mention in these verses? (The shepherd takes care of the sheep's needs.)
The mention of water and grass make it seem that God takes care of our essentials. Why does David refer to "paths of righteousness?" (Read John 21:15-17. It is likely that David is only referring to spiritual food and water.)
When David refers to spiritual nourishment, is he telling us God will make us great theologians if we stick with Him?
What does he mean when he refers to having his "soul" restored? (Notice the terms used: "green" pastures, "quiet" waters and "he restores my soul." David is writing about that aspect of spirituality which gives us peace, confidence, rest and joy.)
Why does Psalms 23:3 say that God does this? (For His name's sake. A calm, confidence, peaceful demeanor on our part in the storms of life brings glory to our God.)
What stake does a shepherd have in his sheep? (A shepherd who let his sheep get injured and go hungry would develop a poor reputation. God is concerned about His reputation.)
Notice that the sheep must be "made" to lie down in green pastures and be "led" by quiet waters. What does that suggest about our attitudes in life? (That peace, confidence, rest and joy are not natural.)
What does this suggest about following the natural desires of our heart?
Do you sometimes feel that you are the only one who has gone through the kind of emotional and spiritual problems that you face? That no one else can really understand your situation? What does this analogy to "paths of righteousness" suggest about you being a pioneer in unhappiness? (If you are "off the path" that God has in mind for you, then you may be treading new ground. But, a "path," is a place where many others have walked before. In problems, God has a spiritual "green place" for you that has worked for many others.)
Read Psalms 23:4. What does the phrase "valley of the shadow of death" bring to mind? (A valley is a low spot. A shadow is dark. It lacks light. On the other hand, a shadow is not the real thing. My shadow is simply a dark representation of me. This seems to be a situation in which I am very low, I have trouble seeing the light, and my dark outlook makes me think that my death is at hand, even though it is not.)
We just painted a terrible picture. Why would the sheep in that situation not fear? (God is with us.)
As far as I can tell, King David suggests that two sticks give us comfort. How do you understand this "two stick" theory?
Read Leviticus 27:32. What was one use of the shepherd's rod? (To count the sheep. God knows about you. He counts you as one of His. That gives you confidence in the face of apparent death.)
Read 1 Samuel 17:40. With what did David face Goliath? (His staff and five stones. A staff was a weapon the shepherd could use against intruders. Thus, the two stick theory is that God counts us as His, and He stands ready to protect us against intruders.)
Let's stop a minute and revisit my introduction. The sheep (at least some of them) are ultimately headed for the cooking pot. Why should we take confidence in a shepherd who oversees that process? (Read Hebrews 13:5-6. The Good Shepherd knows us, He protects us, and nothing happens to us without His consent. If we love and trust Him, that gives us confidence about the future. Note also that King David, when he compares God to a shepherd, does not spend any time on the cooking pot side of things. Instead, he focuses on the care and protection given by the shepherd.)
My Cook
Read Psalms 23:5. Have you ever seen a dog who eats in the presence of another dog? How does the eater act? (This is not always true, but often the dog who is eating eats quickly and defensively so that the other dog will not steal his food.)
What is David saying to us in this verse? Are we eating quickly and defensively? (No. This is not a quick meal. God prepares a "table" - a big spread of food - right in front of my enemies. Normally, this would make you nervous. The picture is that God laughs at our enemies. He puts us in a place in which we can ignore them to such a degree that it is comfortable to eat.)
Read Luke 7:46. To what custom is David referring when he says God "anoints my head with oil?" (This is a sign of blessing and favor.)
Just as you might expect, a sheep is not good at holding his cup steady. Is that the meaning of "my cup overflows?" (No. God gives more blessings than we can comfortably handle.)
My Future
Read Psalms 23:6. There are several references in Psalms 23 to negative circumstances. You have a soul that needs restoration (v.3), you walk through "the valley of the shadow of death" (v.4), there is "evil" around(v.4), you have need for comfort (v.4), and there are nearby enemies (v.5). What kind of life does that suggest the sheep would be living without the shepherd?
What kind of life does the sheep who confidently follows the Good Shepherd live? (A life filled with goodness and love.)
What, ultimately, is the fate of the sheep who are with the Good Shepherd - the cooking pot? (No! We are God's house guests for eternity!)
Friend, we are on the journey of life. Problems are all around us. Would you like to take that journey in the presence of the Good Shepherd? Would you like the peace of mind that His presence brings? Would you like to know that at the end of this journey you will live in His presence forever? Give up your sins and give your heart to Him today. Sign up to be one of His sheep - one who avoids the cooking pot!
Next week: The Crucibles That Come.
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The Crucibles that Come
(Deuteronomy 28, 1 Peter 4, Romans 1 & 2)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 2
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/472.php>
Introduction: What should a committed Christian expect in life? The Bible gives us all sorts of advice for living better lives. Deuteronomy 28 promises us that if we bey God He will give us a better life here on earth. On the other hand, if we are careless about obeying God we will have a difficult life here. Why, then, do we find these texts in the Bible which tell Christians to expect bad things? Let's dive into our lesson and see what we can learn from the Bible!
Don't Be Surprised
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-8. What does God promise us if we "fully obey" Him? (He promises us blessings. If you read Deuteronomy 28:1-45 you will get the full flavor of this. If you disobey God, your life will be pretty terrible and frustrating.)
Read 1 Peter 4:12. After reading Deuteronomy 28, you bet I'm surprised. Suffering is strange when placed against the backdrop of Deuteronomy 28. If God does not change, and His word is reliable, how do you explain these apparently contradictory statements?
Let's look at the context of 1 Peter 4:12. Continue by reading 1 Peter 4:13-16. Should we expect to suffer for our disobedience to God? (Yes. Peter says you can expect to suffer as a meddler, murderer, or thief.)
What seems to be the exception to the rule of obey and prosper, disobey and suffer? (Peter points out how Jesus suffered. Jesus was leading the charge in the conflict between good and evil. As a result, He was targeted by Satan and his followers. Peter says we can expect the same thing.)
Read 1 Peter 4:17-19. Peter continues in the vein of Deuteronomy 28 by comparing those who follow God with those who do not. Have our expected outcomes changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament? (No! Peter says "If you think you've got problems as a follower of Jesus, imagine what is coming upon the unrighteous!")
What seems to be the primary source of problems for the unrighteous? (The judgment of God.)
Read 1 Peter 5:8-9. Will our sufferings only come from unbelievers who are unhappy that we follow Jesus? (No. Satan is looking to harm us.)
If Satan is looking to harm the followers of Jesus, what good is it to "be self-controlled and alert?" (This suggests that Satan is looking to cause us to sin - which will then trigger our suffering.)
Is it only our sin that causes us to suffer? (The sense of verse 9 is that our suffering causes us to consider abandoning our faith. It refers to "our brothers" undergoing the same kind of suffering. Thus, we are suffering attacks of Satan even though we are obedient.)
Read 1 Peter 5:10-11. Will God return us to a state of blessing if we are faithful? (Yes. We suffer "a little while.")
Is this state of blessing here on earth? (The text does not specifically say, but it refers to us being called to "eternal glory in Christ." That is a reference to heaven.)
No Excuses
Read Romans 1:18-20. Are you getting the picture that life might not be perfect? (Good thing we studied Psalms 23 last week!) If we obey, Satan is prowling around to harm us. If we disobey, the wrath of God is being revealed to us.
Does anyone have an excuse for disobeying God?
Read Romans 1:21-24. How does this suggest that God's wrath works? (That if we reject what is obvious, God allows us to continue in our own way and we continue to slip lower and lower into sinful activities.)
Read Romans 1:26-31. What does this suggest about the penalty for sin? (That sin brings its own reward! There is a great truth here if we contemplate it. Obeying God gives us a better life. Disobeying God gives us a worse life. The Christian's life is only worse because of the existence of sin which disrupts the natural order of things. This sin harms us in one of three ways: 1. Satan targets us; 2. General sin in the world catches us in its grasp; or, 3. We commit sin.)
Read Romans 1:32. Is the world today in the condition of the world in Paul's time? (Yes! How many today "approve" of the sins listed by Paul? How many today approve of the sin of homosexuality?)
How about you? Do you approve of the sins listed by Paul?
Read Romans 2:1. How do we walk the line between "judging" others and not "approving" of sin?
Read Romans 2:2-4. What brings us to repentance? What brings those sinners we read about in Romans 1:26-32 to repentance? (God's kindness! Should we take any other approach?)
Getting Better
Read Jeremiah 9:7. We just said that Satan and sin in general can injure us. For what other reason can we have what seems to be trouble in our life? (God says He will "refine" and "test" us.)
What kind of picture do you see in this text - that Joe Christian is innocently walking down the street when all of a sudden the refiner's fire hits him and knocks him to the ground? (No. Notice the last part of verse 7: "what else can I do because of the sin of my people?" Our sin triggers the refiner's fire.)
Is anyone perfect? Since I assume the answer to that question is "no," should we act surprised when faced with the "refiner's fire?"
What should be your attitude towards a refining fire? (You should be grateful. God sees merit in you. He sees that you can be "golden." The goal is not punishment, it is your improvement.)
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Paul says that he was given some wonderful revelations about heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6), and later Satan sent him "a thorn in my flesh" to torment him. Why does Paul say he received the "thorn?" (To keep him from becoming conceited.)
Paul asked God to take away this thorn from Satan. Why didn't God take it away?
What does God mean when He says "My grace is sufficient for you?" (I think of grace as Jesus' offer of salvation on my behalf. Thus, I read this as God saying "I'll take you to heaven where you will not have any pain or suffering. That should be an adequate answer to your present suffering.)
What does God mean when He says, "My power is made perfect in weakness?" (This is a theme of the Old Testament - God wants it to be clear that He is the Author of victory, not humans. Thus, when we do great work for God, He is glorified when it is clear that He did it and not us. When we suffer some sort of difficulty, that makes God's power that much clearer.)
Read 2 Corinthians 12:10. What is Paul's final attitude about this annoying problem? (He ends up delighting in it because "when I am weak, then I am strong.")
Friend, how about you? Are you suffering from some problem today? If it stems from your sins, then turn away. If it is sent to refine your character, look forward to the final results. If Satan is just injuring you, know two things: First, God's grace is sufficient for you. Second, God works more effectively for His glory when we are weak.
Next week: The Birdcage.
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The Birdcage
(Exodus 14)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 3 Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/473.php> Introduction: Sometimes life gets discouraging. This past week I argued an important religious liberty case. The judge did not want to hear the argument that I had taken many hours to prepare. Instead, he wanted me to give "yes/no" answers to a series of questions that could only be harmful to my client. Worse, they involved potential defenses of the opposing party which it had never raised - and, in my opinion, were not properly a part of the case. Many people had been praying for me in this argument - and I considered it to be a disaster. Why is it that you do the right thing and disaster comes? Let's dive into the Bible and consider a story that illustrates this problem! - Taking the Wrong Turn?
- You recall that God's people were in slavery in Egypt for hundreds of years. God, working through Moses and Aaron, forces the Egyptian Pharaoh to free God's people. Let's pick up the story by reading Exodus 13:17-18. What did God's people expect? (They expected that they might have to fight before they reached the promised land. They were armed for battle.)
- What did God expect? (He expected that His people might change their mind if they faced armed resistance. Thus, God seemed to adopt the strategy of avoiding battles.)
- Read Exodus 13:20-22. What gave the people confidence they were going in the correct direction?
- Do you wish that God would be as clear in His leading in your life?
- Read Exodus 14:5-9. God's people were ready for battle. Were they prepared to battle a force of this size and military sophistication?
- Does it seem odd to you that God would say that He was leading them to avoid war, and then allow the Egyptians to catch up with His people as they tried to escape?
- Read Exodus 14:10-12. Was God right in His prediction of how the people would react?
- Put yourself in the place of God's people. They have been following God's directions. God knew they could not stand against the Egyptians. Why did God allow this frightening thing to happen? Why did God allow them to think they would die?
- Read Exodus 14:13-14. Is this an answer to why God would allow this when He knew they were not up for the fight?
- Is this same answer applicable to us in our discouraging circumstances?
- Is this the entire answer to our question about why God would allow this - that the people needed to learn to trust God and let Him handle their battles? (Read Exodus 14:1-4 and Exodus 14:15-18. The main answer is that this difficult and frightening situation would give glory to God.)
- Consider this a moment: how many of your difficult and discouraging situations involve an attack on "your glory?" Not God's glory, but your glory?
- Are you comfortable with any resolution of a problem which brings glory to God?
- What if God's glory seems to come at the expense of you or your family?
- Let's re-read Exodus 14:13-14. If your primary goal in life is to bring glory to God, how would that affect your fear? How would it affect your discouragement? (Our attitude makes all the difference. If we know the goal of our life, and of every situation, is to bring glory to God, then we can feel comfortable with the outcome. Especially, in this situation we see that God promises them protection without having to fight!)
- Is God's willingness to fight, while His people "stand firm" and watch, a situation that applies only here? Or, does it apply to all of our problems in life? (This is the great thing about "God's glory." If it is God's glory which is at stake, and not your glory, then God is going to undertake the battle to protect His glory. If you would quit worrying about your glory, and let God fight the battle for His glory, your "nerves" would be a lot better. Your life would be more peaceful.)
- The Spectators of Faith
- Read Exodus 14:19-20. What parallel do you see for the solution to your current problems? (If we want to know God, He will give light for daily living. If we are hostile to God, we stay in darkness. The result is "neither went near the other." You are way ahead of the bad guys.)
- Read Exodus 14:21-22. In my new home, the main freeway dips into a tunnel under a huge waterway. One moment you are looking at the surface of the water, the next you are below the surface of the water. This tunnel is often jammed with traffic. When I was talking to a local person about this, she suggested that motorists were nervous about making "the plunge" below the surface of the water. What kind of feelings would you have if you were looking at a towering wall of water on each side of you?
- I painted a picture of God's people as spectators to this fight. Is that a fair picture? (Only as to the fight. They are required to "move forward." They are required to exercise faith in God.)
- Is our faith experience like theirs - that if we don't move forward, we can look forward to being captured by "the bad guys?"
- Should that equation be part of every faith decision?
- Read Exodus 14:23-25. Who do the Egyptians credit for their problems?
- Should we pray that our enemies will be "confused" and have the "wheels fall off" their endeavors?
- Read Exodus 14:26-28. The Egyptians are now "believers" (Exodus 14:25). Why drown them? (Barnes' Notes points out that in every Egyptian monument Pharaoh is depicted as leading the army. He also points out that Psalms 136:15 says that Pharaoh died with his army. The total destruction of Pharaoh and the army meant that God's people would not be threatened by the power of Egypt in their journey to Canaan.)
- What does this suggest about the deliverance that God will ultimately bring to His people? (The wicked, even those who believe in God, will be totally and permanently destroyed.)
- Read Exodus 14:29-31. What made the difference between these verses and Exodus 14:10-12?
- What does this suggest is the reason for difficulties and discouraging times in your life? (When you see God's deliverance, it strengthens your faith and trust in Him!)
- Friend, in every problem, every discouraging event, we have the opportunity to place our faith in God and let Him fight the battle for His glory. If the battle is for our glory, we have picked the wrong battle! When the goal of our life is to promote the glory of God, then a sense of peace and confidence comes into our life knowing that God is "on the point" in the battle. Our job is to simply follow Him.
- Next week: Seeing the Goldsmith's Face.
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Seeing the Goldsmith's Face
(Romans 8, Job 23, Daniel 12, 1 Peter 1)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 4
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/474.php>
Introduction: "A bad day in paradise is like a good day anywhere else." I'm sure I don't have this quote exactly right, but it is something that I've heard from people who believe they live in a pretty nice place. The sense I get of this quote is that they like where they live even when things are not perfect. Our lesson this week is about a similar idea. Even when the Christian is "having a bad day," his character is being refined. Even bad days are good! Let's dive into our lesson and learn more about "living in paradise!"
Groaning
Read Romans 8:22-25. Are we the only ones who are having a "bad day" from time to time? (No, "the whole creation" is groaning.)
Notice that the "pain" is compared to the pain of childbirth. What does that suggest? (Childbirth pain is limited in time, and gives wonderful results.)
What are the "firstfruits of the Spirit?" The text says we have them. What are they? (Christians have a taste of heaven through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Taking a vacation in paradise ("tasting,") makes us wish we could live there. Having the Holy Spirit in our life makes us wish more strongly we were in heaven.)
To me, this sounds like a complaint about what we don't have, as opposed to suffering real pain. Is that true? (Childbirth is real pain (so I'm told!) The sense I get of this is that if we were just suffering in this old world, we would get used to it and be "content" with it. But, since Christians have the hope of eternal life, since we have the Holy Spirit doing great things in our life, we are not content with the troubles of this world.)
Read Romans 8:26-27. What does prayer have to do with our weakness and discomfort?
Have you ever had a problem with your car and you could not clearly describe the problem to the mechanic? (Or, like me, who knows enough to be dangerous - I tell the mechanic to fix the wrong thing!) How important to the ultimate solution is getting your request for help right? (Romans is still on the same issue of us having a "bad day" on earth. Part of the solution is having the Holy Spirit direct us in understanding the nature of the problem. Helping us to correctly ask God for the best solution.)
Hope for Groaning
Read Romans 8:28. What comfort can we have whenever we have a "bad day?" (God is working for our good.)
Read Romans 8:29-30. What is our ultimate good? (To be conformed to the likeness of "His Son" (Jesus).)
What does this suggest to you about what "our good" means? (Working towards "our good" could be painful. But, eternal life is the goal. It is the ultimate "good.")
I thought we were saved by grace. What is this "no pain, no gain" approach to eternal life? Why can I use the word "working" and "pain" as part of our eternal life and still believe in grace? (Romans 8:30 shows us that we are on a path. God has in mind eternal life for us. God calls us to follow Him. God justifies us by nailing our sins to the cross, covering our failures with His blood. Then God calls us to be glorified by right living, and ultimately, heaven.)
Read Romans 8:31-37. What past action of God gives us absolute confidence that He is "on our side" in trouble? (That He gave His Son for us!)
Notice the catalogue of potential "bad day" problems we might have? (They are very serious problems, but Romans 8:32 promises us that in those problems, God will "give us all things.")
Unlocking Groaning
Job, a great man of the Bible, helps us to understand the type of problems that cause us to "groan." Read Job 23:1-5. For whom is Job looking? (God.)
Why is Job looking for God? (He wanted to "state his case before Him.")
What case does Job have? (Job is suffering and he believes that God has made him suffer. Since he does not deserve to suffer, Job wants to argue his righteousness before God.)
How can anyone argue that they are righteous? (Read Job 1:8. God affirmed Job was blameless and upright. Job had something to argue before God!)
Wait a minute! If God knew that Job was blameless and upright, why would Job need to argue that before God? (Job wrongly believed that his suffering was brought on him by God because of his sin.)
Read Job 23:6-7. If Job got to present his case before God, did he think he would win? Would he be acquitted of the charges against him that caused his suffering? (Yes. He says he would be delivered "from my judge.")
Who does Job think is "his judge?" (He does not say, but it must be God. The logic of this is not clear. It seems that Job thinks that God does not know all of the facts or has not been paying close attention to his situation.)
Read Job 23:8-9. Can Job find God? (No!)
Is this a problem in our suffering? (How many times do we get discouraged because God does not seem to be listening to our prayers. He is not answering our cries for help.)
Is God really absent from Job's life? (Far from it! Job 1 & 2 show us that God is very involved in what is happening in Job's life.)
Read Job 23:10. What reason for suffering does Job consider next? (That he is being tested and refined.)
Is this consistent with his prior argument about how he does not deserve to be punished? That he is an upright man and if God knew all the facts or paid close attention he would be "delivered forever from my judge?" (This is a very important point. Job is obviously a great guy - God said he was. Yet, in the midst of suffering Job's mind races all over the place to figure out why it is he is suffering. "Is it because I deserve it? No! I'll find God and convince him I'm innocent." "Where is God? I cannot find Him. He is not listening to me." "Maybe what is happening to me is a test? Maybe God wants to see that I am gold." This is how we react to suffering. These are stages through which we pass when we suffer.)
Should we react the same way Job reacted? (No normal person wants to suffer. But, in every difficult circumstance we need to first ask ourselves if we are suffering because of our sins. If so, we need to turn from those sins. If we are not directly suffering from our sins, sin has some role in our suffering. Either our character is being refined by suffering. Or, we suffer because of the general sin in the world. Whatever the cause of our suffering, we need to look for the opportunity for character development.)
Groaning: Worth It!
Read Daniel 12:1-4. What is connected with the end of time on earth? ("A time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations." This distress is followed by the salvation of the righteous! The righteous will be delivered.)
Read Daniel 12:8-10. What makes the difference between the wicked and the righteous? (The righteous are "purified, made spotless and refined." While the wicked just remain wicked.)
Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. How are we saved? Daniel wrote about us being spotless. Is a spotless character, which results from our suffering, necessary for salvation? (I like the way Peter puts this together. He makes it very clear that we are saved by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our faith in Jesus is refined by fire. Suffering shows whether our faith is genuine or not. Suffering does not make us perfect so that we are entitled to enter heaven on our own merits. Rather, suffering tests and refines our faith in Jesus. It is by the merits of His perfect life and death and we enter heaven!)
Friend, are you suffering today? It is difficult, but look on it as a blessing to refine your character and your faith.
Next week: Extreme Heat.
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Extreme Heat
(Genesis 22, 2 Corinthians 1)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 5
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/475.php>
Introduction: There are stories in the Bible, just like there are sad events in life, that I do not understand. Sure, I have explanations and, I suppose, a partial understanding. But, in my human intellect (see 1 Corinthians 13:12), the matter is not clear. One of those stories is the sacrifice of Isaac. My plan is to spend most of our time this week on this story to see if any light shines into our minds about how God tests us. Let's dive in!
What Purpose?
Read Genesis 22:1-2. Do you think Abraham thought God was serious? (If you read Genesis 21:9-14, you see that God had previously instructed Abraham to send away his other son, Ishmael.)
Was God serious? Would God have Abraham kill his son in what seemed very much like a pagan sacrifice? (Read Jeremiah 32:35. No. God never had in mind killing Isaac. Instead, God instituted the death penalty for anyone who sacrificed his child (Leviticus 20:1-5).)
Our lesson is titled "Extreme Heat." No doubt this command created "extreme heat" for Abraham. Notice again Genesis 22:1. What does it say was the purpose for this command? ("God tested Abraham.")
What kind of a test is this? God never intended to have Abraham follow His command. The command was completely contrary to the character of God. To obey (that is kill his son) would be to follow the will of Satan!
Have you ever had a test of this nature? (I doubt it. I cannot pass the test of doing things I'm supposed to do. Things I know I should do. How could my logical brain ever hope to pass a "test" of doing something that I knew was completely contrary to God's will and contrary to my own will?)
Is there a difference between a "test" and a "temptation?" (The commentary, Be Obedient, has a very interesting approach to this. It says that temptations - the desire to following evil impulses - seem completely logical. They are used by Satan to bring out the worst in us. On the other hand, tests come from God, they seem unreasonable, and they are designed to bring out the best in us.)
Do you think you have any hope of separating the two in your mind?
The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that a real test has to defy logic, it must be something that we want to resist (like killing our son)! Do you agree? (I'm not so sure that we can draw such neat, tidy lines between tests (illogical and we don't want to do) and temptations (logical and we want to do). For example, the last hours of Jesus' life involved mixed motives - He wanted to save us, but He did not want to be tortured and humiliated. Obviously this was a test in part, but a very large part of it was a temptation.)
If you are not familiar with the Abraham/Isaac story, read Genesis 22:3-8. Why did they have a practice of sacrificing animals? (This practice looked forward to the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf to take away our sins. Its purpose was to teach the people about the coming Messiah and how He would substitute for their sins.)
Read Genesis 22:9-12. If the Be Obedient commentary is right that tests bring out the best in us, what is the "best of us" that this test was supposed to bring out in Abraham?
Read Genesis 22:15-18. We now get back to something that seems logical to me. What relationship does this promise have to this test? (God says that because Abraham was willing to give up his son, God is willing to give Abraham many sons - "descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.")
Is there a parallel to Jesus giving up His life so that He could "get back" all of us?
What purpose did God have in this special relationship with Abraham and his descendants? (To share the nature of God with the world.)
Are you beginning to see how the pieces of this mental puzzle are coming together? God asks Abraham to do something that illustrates what God did for us. God gives this test of the loss of a child to someone God is going to entrust with numerous descendants. The purpose of God's special relationship with Abraham and his descendants is to share the message that God is willing to give up His Son for us.)
If God were to create a parallel test for you, what would it be? (The test is about selfishness and trust. Being willing to give all that we have and we are in love to God.)
If Abraham believed that he would have to kill his son, how do you think Abraham rationalized that with his knowledge of God and trust in God? (Read Hebrews 11:19. Abraham thought God would raise Isaac back to life. Such an amazing trust!)
Consider how that anticipated what God did for His own Son in the parallel situation.
What if God did not restrain Abraham from killing his son and did not raise Isaac back to life? Would we have a different, or merely a longer, test of faith? (Read Hebrews 11:39-40. Part of the background for this is Hebrews 11:35-38, which describes followers who suffered terribly here on earth and did not see any victory on earth. All of those in Hebrews 11 had some part of God's promise left unfulfilled. We may end up going through things here on earth that will not be "made right" in terms of our personal interests, until we enter heaven.)
Of the difficulties that come your way, what percentage are tests and what percentage are temptations?
What percentage do you think come only from God? (Genesis 22:1 & 12 plainly state that Abraham's situation was a test from God. In my situation, it seems that sins and errors on my part, coupled with Satan's work, create all the trouble I can handle. I doubt that God has to add much to my burdens to discern or grow my character!)
The Purpose
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. What positive purpose does trouble serve in our life? (Paul writes that when he suffered, God comforted him. That taught him how to comfort those around him who suffered trouble.)
Have you seen this in your life? (If you have suffered from medical problems, you are more sympathetic to others with similar medical problems. If you suffer from marital problems, you are more sympathetic to others with marital problems.)
We were painting a picture of "God the tester," when we considered Abraham and Isaac. What picture of God does Paul paint in this test? (God the compassionate comforter.)
Are these pictures consistent? "Here, let me break your leg. By the way, I will also set it, put it in a cast, pray for you and send you a card. If you need anything else, let me know." (I think the leg breaking illustration is misleading because there is nothing to be gained. God is much like the physical education teacher who says "Let's run 10 miles together - by the way, I'll bring the water.")
Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. What other purpose does trouble serve? (It causes us to rely on God.)
Paul has a very interesting way that he describes God. He refers to Him as "God, who raises the dead." Why refer to God that way? (As a practical matter, the ultimate danger/ trouble that we fear is death. God is equipped to handle even that. What is not to trust? As you recall, that was Abraham's thought process.)
Friend, are you going through trouble? Do you feel tested? God not only has a purpose in the testing, but He comes with comfort and compassion and a promise of life eternal. Will you, like Abraham, trust Him?
Next week: Struggling with All Energy.
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Struggling with All Energy
(Luke 13, Colossians 1, Romans 7 & 8, Matthew 5)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 6
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/476.php>
Introduction: Struggling. What a difficult word. Hebrews 12:4 speaks of the "struggle against sin." Is struggling what God wants of us? Is it all He wants? I feel so inadequate because God has to forgive me of the same sins over and over again. I teach others, why am I still struggling? God offers to lift our burdens, should I ignore my sin and let God handle it? If that is true, how can the Bible speak of the "struggle" against sin? When Luke 13:24 tells us "to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many ... will try to enter and will not be able to" this sounds like serious work. I believe in righteousness by faith, not righteousness by works. How can these texts be true? Let's dive into the Bible and see what we can learn about the Christian's struggle!
Struggle of the Few
Read Luke 13:22-23. What question is asked of Jesus?
What answer would you think Jesus would give?
Read Luke 13:24. What is Jesus' answer? Does he say "Yes, only a few?" (He does not. He says "many" will try, unsuccessfully, to enter. Thus, it seems that more do not enter than enter. But, Jesus does not say only a few enter. It is a narrow door and many fail to enter.)
How do we enter this door? (It involves "effort" on our part. "Make every effort to enter the narrow door.")
Read Luke 13:25. What does this tell us about entering into the narrow door. What is the first requirement in our "effort?" (Act promptly. It is a limited time offer because "once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door" it will be too late.)
What requirement does the owner give for entering his door, other than being prompt? (The owner needs to know the person who wants to enter. That makes sense. Who wants to let strangers into their home?)
Since this is obviously a parable about God, what does the all-knowing God need to know? What does it mean "I don't know ... where you come from?" (The owner says that he does not know the most basic information about these people. He does not even know their background.)
Read Luke 13:26. Do the people correct the home owner? Is this just a case of poor recollection?
Read Luke 13:27. Does the owner admit this a matter of mistaken recollection? (No. Apparently, just being around the homeowner is not enough for him to know them. He does not deny that he taught in their neighborhood or ate with them. Notice again Luke 13:24 which says "many ... will try to enter and will not be able to." This paints a picture of people who want to enter. People who made some effort to enter. The rejected people heard the teaching of the owner, yet it does not say they followed the teaching. Instead, the owner calls them "evildoers.")
Read Luke 13:28-30. What is NOT required to enter? (You do not have to be Jewish (or part of the accepted group). This is not a "group thing." People from all over are allowed to enter. You do not have to be "first" here on earth to enter. This is not a worldly status thing.)
Is this just a message to the Jewish nation of Jesus' time? Or, are eternal principles stated here?
If you say "eternal principles," what do these verses suggest is the key to entering? (Having the homeowner know you. Making "every effort" to enter the door. Not being classified among the "evildoers." )
Read Romans 1:21-23, 28. What does this suggest about this idea of knowing God and God knowing us? (Just having the knowledge is not enough. We have to think the knowledge "worthwhile to retain" and we have to be thankful for it and use it to glorify God.)
What kind of a link can you begin to see between "struggling" and being known by the homeowner?
The Meaning of Struggling
Read Romans 7:21-24. Does this sound like a struggle? If so, what is the struggle about?
Read Romans 7:25. Jesus will rescue us. The question is: will He rescue us from the struggle or from something else? (Jesus rescues us "from this body of death.")
Read Romans 8:1-3. From what do these verses suggest we are rescued? (We are rescued from "condemnation.")
Read Colossians 1:19-23. What must I do to be free from accusation? (Christ's death on my behalf allows me to be presented "holy" "without blemish and free from accusation." Here we are rescued from "accusation.")
What a glorious thing! We are rescued by Jesus from both accusation and condemnation! Is that the end of it? (The text looks towards the future. "If you continue in your faith... not moved from the hope held out in the gospel." Being saved is a free gift. Living the Christian life is a partnership with God.)
Read Colossians 1:24-29. On what point is Paul struggling? (Read Colossians 1:28-29 several times. Paul is working with the power of the Holy Spirit (all His energy) to promote the gospel. He is a partner with God in getting the work done. My imagination sees Paul, like a fireman, holding a water hose with tremendous water pressure. It takes a partnership to do the best work to put out the fire of evil in our life and the lives of others.)
Life Struggle
Read Matthew 5:27-30. Here is the ultimate work in struggling - cutting off body parts! Let's assume for a minute that you regularly think lustful thoughts about the opposite sex. Would pulling out your right eye fix that problem?
What if you have a compulsion to steal? Would cutting off your right hand stop you from stealing? (I suppose plucking out both eyes and cutting off both hands might slow us down a bit - but these things are more matters of the mind.)
If Jesus is not asking us to cut off body parts - and I don't think He is - what does He mean by this language? (He is calling us to radical action to avoid sin. If you have a weakness for a particular sin, then you should avoid doing things that might not be sin, but which lead you closer to your favorite sin.)
Let's ask the tough question. If salvation is a free gift from God, then how can Jesus refer to "making every effort" to enter the narrow door and cutting off body parts to avoid being sent to hell (i.e., missing the narrow door)? (We cannot earn salvation. Our reading in Colossians 1:22 tells us that Jesus' death on our behalf makes us "without blemish and free from accusation." Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. But, our Christian life does not end with salvation. God expects us to push on in partnership with Him. This partnership requires effort on our part to resist our character defects and to promote the gospel.)
So, what about my struggle with the same sins? What about you and your struggle with the same sins? (I think this is what the Christian life is about. When you stop struggling, you are dead - eternally. Romans 7 & 8 are critical to this issue. If you are not familiar with these chapters read them. Now read Romans 8:12-14. I think this is where the struggle exists in the life of the Christian. We are "by the Spirit [to]... put to death the misdeeds of the body. We also struggle to bring the gospel to others.)
Friend, how about you? Have you turned your life over to God? Have you determined to set your mind on what God requires, rather than what your nature requires? Are you serious about, through God's power and His partnership, putting to death the deeds of the body? God calls us to turn our hearts and our minds over to Him to live a life in accord with His will.
Next week: Indestructible Hope.
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Indestructible Hope
(Romans 5, Job 1, 38-41, Jeremiah 29)
Refiner's Finer: Lesson 7
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/477.php>
Introduction: My daughter and I were recently discussing depression and suicide. I told her that if I ever got to the point of thinking I should kill myself because of my problems, I would simply move to Florida and hire on as some sort of helper on a boat. I remember the days when I had a simple job - I would just go back to something like that in a place with sun and nice weather. That answer did not impress my daughter as a potential global solution for depression and suicide. Her response was that depression causes some sort of mist of darkness to settle over you so that you cannot see out of it. You cannot imagine the sunny boat in Florida. It seemed to me the difference between the two views was hope. (Not that my understanding of depression was realistic!) I had hope in my solution and she described a situation without hope. Our lesson this week is about hope, so let's hopefully dive right in!
Two Types of Hope
Read Romans 5:1-2. These two verses trace a path to rejoicing, what is it? (If we understand and believe in righteousness by faith in Jesus, that (first) gives us peace. It doesn't stop there. That peace leads (second)to "hope in the glory of God." I think the glory of God is our expectation of heaven, life made new, and eternal companionship with God. That spiritual hope gives us joy.)
Read Romans 5:3. Apparently, spiritual hope is the not the end of the picture of our life. What enters into our life that creates problems? (Suffering.)
Read Romans 5:3-5. What can be the outcome of suffering? (Paul tells us that suffering can produce perseverance, that can lead to an improved character, that improved character can produce hope.)
What kind of hope is this? Is it the same as the spiritual hope ("hope in the glory of God") that we learned about in Romans 5:1-2? (I think we are discussing two somewhat different concepts. The first two verses of Romans 5 teach us that we can have joy waiting for our eternal reward. But, in the meantime, we live in the third verse of Romans 5 - which is the daily "suffering" in life. That suffering can also lead to hope, but it seems that this is not so much a hope for heaven, but a hope that exists "because God has poured out His love into our hearts.")
Read Romans 5:6-8. Has Paul moved on to another topic, or is this discussion linked to Romans 5:3-5? (It is a further explanation. Our hope in our suffering is God's love. God's love for us is shown by His willingness to die for us.)
Notice what is going on here. When it comes to the "hope" of Romans 5:1-2, we see the logical solution of heaven - living beyond the problems of this world. But, the hope of Romans 5:3-5, the hope for people suffering right now, is that God suffered for them - proving His love. This is not a "logical" cure for suffering. It simply says (in case you doubt because of your suffering) God loves you! He has not left you, He has not deserted you, He died for you.)
Job's Hope
Read Job 1:1, 8-12. How did this blameless and upright man get into trouble? (By being blameless and upright! It was because of a contest between God and Satan that trouble started for Job.)
The book of Job consists of the human quest for an explanation for suffering. Job's friends accuse him of wrongdoing - which caused his suffering. Job denies that he did anything to deserve this and asks to confront God so that he can be heard on the injustice of his situation. Read Job 38:1-3. God finally shows, but instead of debating Job, He tells Job He wants Job to answer a few questions. Does that seem fair and loving to you?
Read Job 38:4-7. The rest of that chapter and Job chapters 39-41 are all along the same line of logic. What argument is God making to Job? (I'm God and you are not! Who are you to question Me!)
Read Job 40:1-2. If you were Job and you were suffering, would this be an encouraging answer from God?
Read Job 40:3-5 and Job 42:1-6. Apparently that was enough of an answer for Job! How does this answer fit what Paul tells us in Romans 5:3-6 that the hope in our suffering is God's love poured out on us? (The two texts fit because in neither case does God explain the reason for the suffering. In Romans 5 God says "I love you, and I suffered death for you." In Job 38-41 God says "I'm God and you are not. Consider whose judgment you are questioning.")
It would have been so simple for God to explain exactly what was going on in Job's case. He never did explain it to Job. Why didn't He? (Job is a perfect lesson for us. We have the curtain pulled back and we see the reasons for Job's terrible suffering. These are reasons Job would never have guessed. However, God never discloses those reasons to Job - He just tells him "Trust Me, I'm God." Since we have the entire picture of Job's situation, we can see that God is right. However, like Job, we generally do not have the entire picture concerning our personal suffering. What gives us hope is knowing that God was acting reasonably with Job, and He was acting with incredible love for us when He died for us.)
Do you need to have the specific answer for your suffering to have hope? Do you need to know the specific reason for your suffering?(Just knowing that a loving, caring, logical God is in charge should be enough.)
Realistic Hope
Read Jeremiah 29:1-3. What kind of tragedy and suffering lies behind these words? (God's people had been defeated by the Babylonians. Their temple had been destroyed, Jerusalem had been destroyed and most of the people were taken captive to Babylon.)
Imagine that your country was defeated in battle, your home destroyed and you and your family taken captive and dragged to the land of your enemy.
How would you feel? (My life would be completely turned upside down! Nothing that I enjoyed in the past would be part of my life now.)
What would your thoughts be if you believed that God was the head of your country - and the people who had just captured you were pagans (see Habakkuk 1:1-7) who were opposed to your God? (How could God allow this? Surely, He would correct this.)
Read Jeremiah 29:4-9. What does God mean when He says "do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you?" (Some were saying that God was going to fix the problem immediately.)
How would you describe God's "solution" to this terrible problem? (Make the best of it. Take your new situation and try to make your life as normal as possible. When God says "seek the prosperity of the city to which I have carried you," I think He is saying "Look ahead, not back. Don't pine for the old days, do your best to create good days in your new situation.")
Would this advice apply to our sufferings today? (Some people pine for how things were in the past. In this particular situation God promised that He would "fix" the problem in the future by returning His people to their homes - 70 years in the future! (Jeremiah 29:10). This was obviously "too late" for these people. Their children or grandchildren would be rescued. God has a timing in mind for everything. Instead of moaning about our situation and wishing for yesterday, we need to make the best of today knowing that God loves us and He will ultimately make things right in the world.)
Friend, suffering of some sort will be a part of your life at some time. God promises us eternal life. But, He does not promise us that He will explain or fix our problems right now. Sometimes He just says, "I love you absolutely, trust that I know what I'm doing." Sometimes He says, "Make the best of your situation." Will you rest in the hope that God loves and cares for you? Whether He fixes the problems in this world (and your life) now or later, He will always do what is best. We can be sure of that because He died for us. There is no greater love and compassion than that!
Next week: Seeing the Invisible.
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Seeing the Invisible
(John 14)
Refiner's Fire: Lesson 8
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/478.php>
Introduction: Have you ever said, "Those characters in the Old Testament had a real advantage over me because God spoke directly to them." Do you sometimes feel that your faith could use a real boost by having God speak to you directly? Would you like some tangible proof of God's presence? How about actually seeing God? The "faith chapter" of Hebrews (Hebrews 11) starts out "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." True faith, it turns out, is built on a lack of visible proof. Is there a way to see the invisible? Let's dive into our study to learn more about "Seeing the Invisible!"
How to See the Father
Read John 14:1. Jesus is speaking to His disciples at the "Last Supper." Why should they be troubled? (In the prior chapter, John 13, Jesus told them that He would be betrayed by one of them and that He was leaving for a place where they could not follow (at least not right now). John 13:21,33.)
Read John 14:1-3. What is the cure for the disciples' fear? (Trusting Jesus. He will come and take them to the home of His Father so they will all be together.)
Read John 14:4-5. Thomas is concerned about getting confused over the directions and getting left behind. Why should he be concerned? Didn't Jesus say (John 14:3)that He would "come back and take you to be with Me?" (Jesus also said that they "knew the way" and Thomas is not going to be quiet about his ignorance on this important point.)
Read John 14:6-7. Is this an answer to Thomas' question?
Jesus said that He was going to His Father's house. Thomas responds "We don't have that address - we need it to be sure we get there." Does Jesus give His Father's address? (Yes. In John 14:6 Jesus says the only way to the Father is "through Me." Jesus teaches them that if they know Jesus, they know the Father. The "way" to the Father's house, the way to know the Father, is to know Jesus.)
What do you think of Jesus' answer? Thomas is asking for a physical address: "At the 29th palm tree, turn left and proceed to the watering hole. The house will be on the left." Is Jesus giving Thomas that kind of answer? (We begin to understand "seeing the invisible." Jesus is physical (they can see Him), and His Father has a physical location (heaven), but physically getting there is not like turning left at the 29th palm.)
Read John 14:8. Philip joins Thomas in this questioning. He wants to see the Father. But, he thinks he has a lesser request: "You don't need to give me the Father's actual address (unlike Thomas), just let me meet Him and that will be enough." Is Philip asking for less?
Read John 14:9-11. Has Philip seen the Father?
Is Jesus annoyed with Philip's question?
Going back to "seeing the invisible," is Jesus showing them "the invisible?" (Jesus says that if they "know" Jesus, seeing Jesus equals seeing the Father. Seeing Jesus is the same as seeing the invisible Father.)
How does that work? Jesus refers to the Father as being separate, but says seeing one is the same as seeing all. How would you explain this? (Read John 14:10-11 again. Jesus is not talking about an image, He is talking about something greater than that. God had made Himself known in Jesus. God revealed Himself in Jesus.)
How much does a mere image tell you about someone? Show me a picture of your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your husband, your wife, your children. How much does that reveal?
What if you lived with someone who wore a mask for two months? What if they wore a bag over their head and gloves so their whole body was covered? How much would you know after living with that masked person?
Do you see what Jesus means when He says, "If you have seen Me you have seen the Father?"
Obtaining the Brushes and Paint for the Picture
Read John 14:12-14. Jesus tells us that the two of them (Father and Jesus) are one. Thus, Philip has seen the Father and Thomas knows how to find the Father. Why does Jesus point (v. 11) to miracles as evidence of His connection? (Because only God could do them.)
In this context Jesus says "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." When Jesus says "whatever you ask" does He mean "just anything?" Want a new Mercedes? Just ask! (The whole theme of this series of conversations is the relationship between Jesus and the Father. The theme is "seeing God." That makes me think "anything" means "anything" that promotes the human understanding of God. Anything that promotes trust in God. Indeed, that sentence continues "so the Son may bring glory to the Father.")
Read John 14:15. I thought Jesus just got through saying that we could "command" Him - just ask, and our wishes are His commands. Why is He now talking about us obeying His commands? (This is further proof of my theory: Jesus is not saying "I'll give you anything." He is saying that if we are working together with Him to promote the Kingdom of God, that He will give us whatever we ask to promote that end.)
Painting a Picture of God
Read John 14:16-17. What kind of relationship are we to have with the Holy Spirit?
Is it the same relationship that Jesus has with the Father? (Jesus puts it in much the same terms. Compare John 14:10-11.)
Why does the "world" not accept the Holy Spirit? (Because it neither sees Him or knows Him.)
Isn't this the very problem we have been discussing - seeing God? Having faith in the invisible?
What is the solution for the world's inability to see the Holy Spirit? (Notice the parallel! Jesus tells His disciples that they have seen the Father and they know the Father by seeing and knowing Jesus. "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." (John 14:11) Jesus then says that we can have the same relationship with the Holy Spirit ("He lives in you and will be in you." John 14:17.) The purpose for this is so the world can see God. They see the invisible through you!)
Read John 14:18-21. What kind of relationship can we have with Jesus? (He says the same thing about our relationship with Him: "you are in me, and I am in you.")
Why is this discussion about our relationship with the Trinity and our role in making visible the invisible interwoven with these references to having and obeying God's commands? (Christians who are saved by grace and who (therefore) believe they have no obligation to obey the law are really missing the message! The "world" sees God through you. How could the world possibly get a clear picture if you pay no attention to God's rules for living? The world will see something alright, it just won't be the invisible God.)
Read John 14:22. Good question! Why is it that God depends on us to give the world a picture of God? (Read John 14:23-24. We are obviously the "advance agent" working with the Holy Spirit to bring the world a picture of God. God will reveal Himself to all who come to Him.)
Help With the Portrait
Is the thought of your role in promoting the Kingdom of God overwhelming? Is it beyond your ability? Read Isaiah 41:13. What offer does God make to us?
Read 1 Peter 5:7. What cure does God offer for our anxiety?
Friend, just as Jesus revealed His Father, so we are to reveal the Trinity. This is not a work we have to do in our own strength. Jesus provides the Holy Spirit and He offers to hold our hand. The question is, will you undertake the task? Will you study God and His commands so that you can portray an honest picture of God?
Next week: A Life of Praise
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A Life of Praise
(Acts 16)
Refiner's Fire: Lesson 9
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/479.php>
Introduction: When I was a growing up, I sang hymns at school, in church and at home. All that repetition burned the words (or at least something that sounded like the real words) into my brain. I sang about "throwing out the lifeline," "volunteers" "for the rescue of mankind," building "my hope on nothing less than Jesus Christ" and "cling[ing] to that old rugged cross" "on a hill far away." The theme running through many of the old hymns is what I will do. I will throw, climb, volunteer, hope and cling. Those are fine things to sing about, but I have a very strong preference for contemporary praise songs because, in general, they praise God. They are focused more on God than on me. Our lesson this week is about this idea of living a life that focuses on praising God rather than focuses on our problems. Is that possible? Can we look past our personal pain and praise God? Let's dive in and see what we can find out!
Blocked and Disappointed
Read Acts 16:6-10. Paul runs into a closed door! Why would the Holy Spirit prevent Paul from preaching in Asia? (God had a different preaching plan in mind.)
If you made plans to open up a new territory for the gospel and God slammed the door shut, how would you feel? (Disappointed.)
Read Acts 16:12-15. What is unusual about Paul's audience? (They are all women! In Acts 16:9 it was a man who begged Paul to come to Macedonia, but when Paul and his companions get there, they find only women.)
How do you think this made Paul feel? (The whole thing seems odd. God steers him in a different direction, and when he arrives he finds only women. According to The Bible Exposition Commentary, the contemporary attitude of the rabbis was reflected in this statement: "It is better that the words of the Law be burned than be delivered to a woman." I'll assume that Paul did not have this attitude (Galatians 3:28), but it surely would not be an inspiring start for Paul to be speaking only to women.)
Annoyed and Frustrated
Read Acts 16:16-17. Here is a woman with a "spirit" that can tell the future and promotes the kingdom of heaven by doing public relations for Paul. This spirit is right in the place the Holy Spirit has directed that Paul go. Consistent with his past fortunes here, it is a woman. Is this a good or bad thing? A good or bad spirit?
If you say "bad" (as you will), how do you explain that this woman/this spirit was promoting the kingdom of God?
What does this teach you about hastily making a judgment on whether a person is motivated by the Holy Spirit or Satan's spirit helper?
Adam Clarke's Commentary has a great insight on the reason why this was bad for Paul's ministry. He says that the Jews knew that they should steer clear of this woman because of the Old Testament warning against "familiar spirits." It would ruin Paul's work for the Jews if it appeared that Paul and his friends were in league with evil spirits. It would ruin Paul's work for the Gentiles if they were confused about whether Paul's work was just an extension of the work of this demon-possessed woman. So, things are getting worse, not better, for Paul and company.)
Read Acts 16:18. Is Paul annoyed about the noise or is he annoyed about the dilution of the gospel? (Several translations use the term "annoyed" which seems to me to be more than just unhappy about the dilution of the gospel message. Paul is irritated by this woman.)
Why didn't Paul cast out this demon at the very beginning? Why wait several days? Why wait until his patience runs out? (The answer is in our next text.)
Unfairly Treated and Beaten
Read Acts 16:19-21. Analyze the charges brought against Paul and Silas. Do they "fit" the "crime?"
Is there an attempt to prejudice the crowd? (Yes, they call them "Jews." Acts 18:2 reveals that Emperor Claudius had driven the Jews out of Rome.)
Are Paul and Silas disturbing the peace? (It seems "their girl" was disturbing the peace with her shouting.)
What unlawful customs were Paul and Silas advocating? (Most likely this charge is that they were promoting an unlawful religion. The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that the local officials probably did not know the difference between Judaism and Christianity, but neither was an approved Roman religion. It was unlawful to try to proselytize Roman citizens.)
Why not just say, "These guys interfered with our business by ruining our fortune teller?" (This was not ordinary commerce. This was "otherworldly." In that context, the rulers might think this was a clash between two unapproved religions. If it got down to that, you would realize that Paul and Silas had the more powerful God. Why get into that mess, who wants to oppose what might be a powerful god?)
Read Acts 16:22-23. Is this fair? (This is mob rule. The crowd joins in, and without any hearing Paul and Silas are stripped and whipped. So much for due process of law.)
Read Acts 16:37-38. Compare Acts 22:25-29. Why didn't Paul mention his Roman citizenship before the flogging, not several verses later? (No doubt he would have if he could have. The mob was taking over.)
How serious was their whipping? (The Bible says they were "severely flogged." They were hurt very badly.)
Read Acts 16:24. Is there any justification for this? (The whole thing is ridiculous from a human point of view. They have done nothing dangerous. They are severely whipped without a trial. They are then treated like dangerous criminals. The jailor, of course, knows nothing different. He is just following orders.)
What would cause this whole terrible sequence of events to make logical sense? (Paul has attacked one of Satan's demons. In that context, the rough punishment makes sense. Satan's forces inspired the rough treatment.)
Imagine having the flesh of your back and bottom severely lacerated. Then you get your feet put in stocks so you cannot move around. This might force you to lay in the dirt on your badly damaged back. How would you feel?
The Power of Praise in Terrible Times
Read Acts 16:25. Would you feel like singing? Praising God?
Would you be blaming God for this rough treatment?
Read Job 35:9-10. Think about this a minute. This whole trip is one big mistake. You wanted to go somewhere else. God lead you to this town. There, you find only women. Nevertheless, you are obeying and spreading the gospel. Completely false charges are brought against you. Your "trial" is very unjust. The punishment is worse. Why would God drop you in this terrible place and then forget about you?
Would this be cause for praising or complaining?
Would you be asking for God to execute judgment on those who hurt you?
Would you be asking God about His planning?
Why were they singing and praising? (A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments suggests, based on the Greek word used, that they were singing the same hymn as Jesus and the disciples sang at the Last Supper. This consisted at least of Psalms 113:1-118:29. Take a few minutes and read these Psalms. They are rejoicing to be suffering like their Master. They are looking forward to the victory of God.)
Read Acts 16:26-28. Just when they are praising God in the worst situation, God comes on the scene. Why wouldn't Paul and Silas take this as God's sign they should run away? (They might have, but Paul is still focused first on saving souls. That includes the soul of this rough jailer.)
Why would the rest of the prisoners "be there?" (Notice in Acts 16:25 they were listening to Paul and Silas singing praises. Apparently, Paul had captured their attention.)
Read Acts 16:29-34. Who else was apparently listening to Paul and Silas? (The jailer and his family!)
Friend, think for a minute about how things would have turned out differently if Paul and Silas had laid in the dirt complaining! Will you determine that, whatever your situation, you will praise God?
Next Week: Meekness in the Crucible.
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Meekness in the Crucible
(Matthew 5, Psalms 37, Romans 12)
Refiner's Fire: Lesson 10 Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/480.php> Introduction: Do you remember when you were dating and you would hang on every word your date would say about you? Sometimes you were pleased and sometimes not. When I was dating my wife (to be) decades ago I recall her singing "My Guy" to me. Here are the lyrics that caught my attention "No muscle-bound man could take my hand from my guy. No handsome face could ever take the place of my guy. He may not be a movie star, but when it comes to being happy, we are. There's not a man today who could take me away from my guy." It was, to say the least, a mixed message. This reminds me of our lesson this week. We are told that if we are described as "meek," (as in "meek and mild") that is a compliment. Being meek is a goal. The value of being "meek" is not obvious, so let's jump right into our study of the Bible and find out more! - What is a "Meek?"
- Read Matthew 5:5. Is this what you would expect to read? Would it be more consistent with your experience if the Bible said "Blessed are [the very bright], [the very strong], [the very rich and persuasive]: for they shall inherit the earth?"
- If this is not what you expect (or have seen), why is it that the meek inherit the earth? Is it because of the very bright, very strong, very rich and persuasive God who intervenes on their behalf?
- Or, is this a rule of life for which intervention by the smart and strong is not needed?
- Perhaps we need to consider what the word "meek" means. Barnes' Notes says that it is "patience in the reception of injuries." I think we can agree that someone who is meek has been "injured" in some way and has not responded in anger. Is that the end of being meek: suffering in silence?
- Would being meek mean that we surrender our rights? (Read John 18:23. Jesus is making a legal objection. He is asserting His legal rights.)
- Does this mean Jesus was not meek?
- Barnes' Notes adds this about meekness: It is not "a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance." Do you agree?
- Would you be a "meek" if you sued someone, but did not punch someone who had wronged you?
- Is there a difference in the two? (When you claim your legal rights, you are asking a third party to intervene. When you punch someone, you are taking matters into your own hands. If Barnes is right, then invoking your rights before a third party is consistent with being meek.)
- Happy "Meeks"
- Look again at Matthew 5:5. What does "blessed mean?" (According to Strong's it means "happy.")
- If someone has wronged you and you are being patient - not punching them back - how does that make you happy?
- Read Psalms 37:7-11. We see here that Jesus was not coming up with a new idea, He was quoting Psalms 37 when He said "Happy are the meek: they will inherit the earth." Let's look more closely at this longer explanation in Psalms of the merit of the meek.
- Read again Psalms 37:7. Would this describe the attitude of the meek?
- On who are the meek relying to make the matter right?
- Read again Psalms 37:8. This text tells us to refrain from being angry - which I think we can understand the logic of that. But, it also tells us not to worry, because that leads only to evil. How do you understand that statement?
- Read again Psalms 37:9-11. Is this a solution to your particular problem, or is it a global solution for all the meek? (It sounds global, but if you read Psalms 37:14-15, it seems that rule applies at least some times to particular problems.)
- Overall in these verses, can you find the basis for the claim that a "meek" will be happy and a "puncher" unhappy? (If you fret and get angry, you are obviously not happy. On the other hand, if you simply trust God that He will "cut off" all of the wicked troublemakers, and you will have the promised land to yourself (and the rest of the meek), then you can be happy in the future.)
- The Power in Meek
- Read Romans 12:17-19. Here Paul repeats the same idea. Let me get back to my original question: are the meek happy and successful because being meek is inherently better, or it is because a smart, strong, powerful God stands in the wings ready to make things right by His power?
- Where would a "meek" be without his God?
- Let's continue on with Romans 12 and read Romans 12:20-21. Here is a new, and contrary idea, being meek can overcome evil. How does that work?
- Notice the tension between Romans 12:19 and Romans 12:20-21. One says "Be patient, God will get them." The other says, "Be meek and kind, goodness will get them." Are both true?
- If so, how can both be true? (The greatest example of overcoming evil with good is the life and death of Jesus on our behalf. However, there is a Second Coming of Jesus in which He comes with "punching power." The answer to this contradiction is in the timing and in the role assignments. God approaches us first with kindness and love. We are to do the same with the bad guys. (Even in this God has a critical role because it is the Holy Spirit who "heaps the coals." Ultimately, though, there are "bad guys" around who will be dealt with by raw power. That role, the raw-power to make things right role, is not assigned to us.)
- Perfect "Meeks" Explained
- Read Matthew 5:43-48. How many enemies do you have? Count them.
- How many people persecute you? (Unless there is something wrong with your emotional intelligence, or you live in peculiar circumstances, the number of people who truly are your enemies and who are persecuting you must be very small.)
- What opportunity is presented by the very few who enter your life to persecute you? (You should value these people. They present to you the opportunity for character growth. They can teach you things that cannot be taught by people who are always nice to you.)
- I'm not sure I know how to "love" my enemies. That does not seem possible(aside from heavenly help) if "love" means "affection." Further, I'm not sure what I should be praying about when I'm told to pray for them. "Please may they break a leg - but not a compound fracture, so it will heal properly." We get a hint of what God means in the example that God gives us. Notice that Matthew 5:45 says God "shines" and "rains" on the wicked. How could He avoid doing that?
- Can we interpret "loving" our enemies by simply doing for them what we would do for anyone else? Not withholding some good that we could do for them? (Read again Romans 12:20. It means at least this.)
- What does Romans suggest about our prayers for our enemies?
- Should we pray for them to break a leg?
- Should we pray their plans do not succeed? (There is no doubt that "loving" our enemies means helping them with the basics of life. However, I think praying for their failure is like "suing" them - only better. When we pray that they fail we turn the matter over to God. That is what it means to be a "meek.")
- Friend, our natural heart resists being meek. Will you ask God to make you a "meek?"
- Next week: Waiting in the Crucible.
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Waiting in the Crucible
(Mark 5)
Refiner's Fire: Lesson 11
Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/481.php>
Introduction: Most lawyers handle cases in the town or state where they live. Unlike most lawyers, my nearest case would often be hundreds of miles away. Many of my cases were thousands of miles away. This meant traveling. One of the lawyers who worked with me announced one day that he "never waited in line." How could that be? I was constantly waiting in line. Getting through security at the airport, getting on the plane, getting a rental car or cab, checking into the hotel: all involved some sort of wait. As I was patiently (or impatiently) standing in line this fellow's words would come back to me. He described a world which, in my experience, did not exist. If you wanted to get somewhere, you had to wait. Our lesson this week suggests that this is a Biblical principle - patient waiting helps us to get somewhere. Let's dive into our study and learn more about what the Bible teaches about why waiting is good!
Jairus and the Wait
Read Mark 5:21-23. Assume that you are Jesus' "handler," His "booking agent," to help promote the gospel. What kind of opportunity do you see here? (This is an opportunity to help someone of great influence in that town. It would really help to promote the gospel there. I would tell Jesus to "go for it!")
Read Mark 5:24. Does Jesus follow your good advice? (Jesus decides to help Jairus.)
Read Mark 5:25-26. Compared to Jairus, what position does this woman have in society? (She is poor, she is sick, she is "unclean" (because of the constant bleeding) and she is a woman.)
Read Mark 5:27-28. Why would this woman decide on this approach? Why not say to Jesus, "I've been sick for years, have no money, and the doctors cannot figure out the problem - I really need your help!" (We can be sure that she had faith. Whether she was too embarrassed to explain her problem in the middle of a crowd, whether she thought Jesus would turn her down because of her low status and being unclean, or whether she did not want to "waste" His time is unclear.)
Read Leviticus 15:19-23. How do you think this rule plays into her thinking about sneaking up and touching Jesus? (She would arguably make Him "unclean" just by her touch! He might not like that. It might interfere with some official business of His.)
Does this teach us anything about coming to Jesus?
Read Mark 5:29-33. How does this woman react to the healing and to Jesus' question?
Does she feel guilty?
How do the disciples react to Jesus' stopping to determine who touched Him?
Most important, how would you react to the delay if you were Jairus?
Read Mark 5:34. I have no doubt that this whole sequence of events took some time. Put yourself in Jairus' position. This woman had been sick for 12 years and had not yet died. For his daughter, seconds were important. Why would Jesus stop to fool around with this woman when He had a genuine emergency on His hands? The woman could wait, his daughter could not.
How would you take the delay and the wait?
Read Mark 5:35. The worst has happened. Waiting has caused the worst tragedy. Jesus has absolutely no sense of priorities, right?
Read Mark 5:36-42. What is Jairus' view about the delay and waiting now?
Assume that Jesus spent two hours or two days with the woman who had been sick for 12 years, would even that kind of delay have mattered NOW to Jarius?
Read Psalms 27:14. Compare Mark 5:36. Does God have a consistent message to us about waiting?
Are you waiting for God right now? Are you waiting for Him to fix a problem? Are you waiting for Him to fix an illness? Are you waiting for Him to fix a relationship? Are you waiting for Him to return?
If so, on what logical basis can we accept God's command to be strong and confident, not fearful and upset? (In Jairus' case, the "faith event" was the raising of his daughter to life. Imagine a time-line which has in the middle of it the "faith event." When Jairus was on the right side of the "faith event" (i.e., after the miracle) the delays that took place on the left side (before the event) were now meaningless. As faithful Christians, we need to live as if we were on the "right side" of the faith event. Whether that faith event is the Second Coming of Jesus or something before that, we can know that ultimately the waiting makes absolutely no difference.)
The Timing of the Faith Event
Read Galatians 4:4-5. This suggests that God had a specific time in mind for the first coming of Jesus. What does this suggest about the timing of Jesus' Second Coming?
When you consider the story of Jairus, did Jesus make an executive decision on the timing of the faith event, or did the events of the day shape Jesus' timing?
Assume your answer is, "Events shaped Jesus' timing. We live in a sinful world, and thus God's work has to take into account the impact of sin." The delay in Jairus' case had to do with Jesus getting physically to the daughter. The delay took place because the two needed to get together in the same room. Did Jesus have to "take [Jairus' daughter] by the hand" (Mark 5:41) in order to heal her? (In Matthew 8:5-13 we read the story of the healing of the Centurion's servant. Jesus performed that healing remotely. Jesus had the power to heal Jairus' daughter from the moment Jairus asked Him for help. Jesus was not delayed because of the events of life.)
If I'm right that Jesus had full control over the timing of the faith event, why did He delay? Why does He delay in fixing your problem? (Reading the mind of God is hardly an exact science and humans are not fully equipped for such a task. But, we do get some insight into God's mind from the Bible. Jesus did not control when the sick woman came to Him. That delay allowed Jesus to do the most good for two sick people. The delay also increased the magnitude of Jesus' work. Raising someone to life is an extraordinary event that gives us faith that Jesus can raise us to life. Finally, the delay teaches us the value of waiting in faith.)
Delight in Delay
Read Psalms 37:1-2. This describes events which have gone wrong. Evil people are creating a problem. What does God tell us to avoid? (Fret. To fret means to worry. Worry is concern that things will not turn out right. It is the second cousin to impatience over delay.)
Read Psalms 37:3-4. If the entire time Jairus had known the end of the matter, would he have been impatient, upset or worried?
This text reveals the end of the matter for you. What is it? (The Lord will give you the desires of your heart!)
Friend, do not grind your teeth when God does not intervene on your timetable to fix a problem. Do not worry and fret over the evil that happens. Do not get upset when it seems that God is doing the wrong thing, or has lost His priorities. Live on the right side of the faith event, because you know that Jesus "will give you the desires of your heart." Will you pledge today to do your best to ban worry?
Next week: Dying Like a Seed
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Dying Like a Seed
(Philippians 2, 1 Samuel 13-14) Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. Introduction: The ad campaign for the Commonwealth of Virginia is "Virginia is for lovers." That may be true, but I would add "Virginia is for thinkers." Why? Many years ago some states of the United States decided that they would allow citizens to designate what was on their car license plates. California decided to go for "snob appeal," and charged hundreds of dollars for "custom" plates. Virginia, in contrast, let anyone have a custom plate for a fee of $20.00. The result was that Virginia had a huge revenue flow from this decision (much more than California, even though California is a more populous state). Hundreds of thousands of cars registered in Virginia had custom plates. If you lived in Virginia, what would you put on your license plates? It appears to me that one of the most popular decisions is to have your initials and the number 1. For example, "BNC 1." A lot of people think they are number 1. Our lesson this week suggests another custom plate: "BNC last." I've never seen a plate like that. Let's plunge into our lesson and find out what is going on! - What Would Jesus Do?
- Read Philippians 2:5. We see the popular slogan, "What would Jesus do." This seems a variation on that: "What would Jesus think?" Is that how you understand this text?
- Once we figure out how Jesus would think, what attitude He would have, what is required of us? (The Bible says our attitude should be the same as that of Jesus.)
- Read Philippians 2:6-7. Our text says that Jesus, who "being in the very nature God," decided to making "Himself nothing" by becoming like us. Can that attitude be translated into our life?
- Would we have to become like a dog or cat (or a bug) to translate that concept to our life?
- Or, is there a more direct comparison: are we commanded not to "grasp" "equality with God?"
- Read Genesis 3:1-5. How long do you think Satan contemplated the temptation that he would use on humans?
- What is this temptation? (To become like God! We have no reason to believe we should be equal to God, but apparently this is a huge weakness in humans. In this problem area we should have the same attitude as Jesus.)
- In the abstract, how hard can that be? Jesus was God! We are not.
- Read Philippians 2:8. Once Jesus became a human, did He lower Himself even more? (He humbled Himself to the point of dying for others.)
- Do we now have a point of reference that we can follow? (We obviously started out "low" in comparison to God. But, we can do precisely what Jesus did as when He was a human.)
- What do you think it means to die for others? Terrorists die for their cause. Is this the same concept? (Hardly. Terrorists die to kill others. Christians give up their life to allow others to live eternally.)
- Let's turn next to some Bible stories to see how this principle should, as a practical matter, be applied in our life.
- What Should Saul Do?
- Read 1 Samuel 13:1-4. What is the background for our story? (King Saul seems to have sent most of his army home. However, his son, Jonathan, continues a military campaign against the Philistines. The Philistines get annoyed, and decide to take care of the problem. Saul recalls the troops and the two countries brace for all-out war.)
- Read 1 Samuel 13:5-7. What was the assessment of the average Israelite soldier about the relative strength of the two nations? (The Israelites had no chance. They were running away or hiding.)
- If you were King Saul, what would you do? What would you want to do?
- Read 1 Samuel 13:8-9, 12. Pretend you are the "lawyer" for Saul. What argument would you make on his behalf? (I was on time and in a crisis situation. Samuel was late. He did not keep his appointment with me or with the country. God is central to my life. I do not want to go to war without seeking God's favor. My situation is critical, my troops are deserting. Someone has to step in and fix the problem since Samuel is falling down on his job - which is to invoke God's blessing. God made me the King, and I am going to lead.)
- What do you think about this argument? Is Saul doing something that you would do?
- Based on what we studied last week, what is wrong with Saul's approach? (He did not wait on God!)
- When it comes to making lawyers' arguments, you generally find you have more than one - and they disagree. Let's look at the other side of this argument. Read 1 Samuel 10:8. What would Samuel's lawyer argue? (Samuel was not late. Saul was told to wait "seven days until I come." The seventh day was not yet finished and Samuel had not yet come.)
- A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory of the Old and New Testaments suggests that Samuel deliberately waited until the seventh day to come to "put the constitutional character of the king to the test." What do you think this means?(What the commentary is talking about when it says "constitutional character," is the idea of separation of church and state. Saul (representative of the state) was invading the province of Samuel (the prophet of God). Instead of waiting on God, instead of waiting on God's prophet, Saul took matters into his own hands.)
- What does this have to do with Eve's temptation and our lesson theme about self-sacrifice?(Eve wanted to "occupy" part of God's "space" - just like King Saul. He thought he could be both King and Prophet. When we want to make ourselves first, we occupy part of God's space.)
- Wait a minute! Didn't we start out saying that we should be like Jesus? What is this argument about crowding God? Occupying His space? I thought we were supposed to act as if we were inhabiting God's space! Agree?
- Look at 1 Samuel 10:8 again. What was the last thing that Samuel was going to do for Saul? (Tell him what he was to do.)
- Was Samuel crossing the separation between church and state and infringing on Saul's turf? (The so-called separation of church and state is not a Biblical concept as it is most commonly applied in the United States today. In the Biblical model, it means the state cannot tread on the church. This fits perfectly with the idea that man should not assume to be God. Israel was led by God. Saul was not to move forward without instructions from God.)
- Are you able to apply this instruction to your life? Things are falling apart and God wants you to wait on Him? Do you have sympathy for Saul?
- Read 1 Samuel 13:13-15. What was Saul's error? (When we are told that we should have an attitude like Jesus - to give up ourselves for others - this attitude does not include the right to disobey God and start making executive decisions contrary to His will. When we do that, we invade God's space and make ourselves "number 1.")
- What was the result of Saul's error? (We cannot do great things for God if we are not going to follow instructions.)
- What Did Jonathan Do?
- Get the picture: The Philistines have 3,000 chariots with two soldiers in each. They have foot soldiers "as numerous as the sand on the seashore." ( 1 Samuel 13:5) Saul, after most of his soldiers have run away or hidden, has 600 left. ( 1 Samuel 13:15.) Worse, no one but Saul and his son, Jonathan, have metal weapons. (See 1 Samuel 13:19-22). Saul just got rebuked and fired. What a mess! What would you do if you were an Israelite?
- What would you do if you were the King's son?
- Let's find out what Jonathan did. Read 1 Samuel 14:1-6. How would you compare the attitude of Jonathan with the attitude of Saul?
- Jonathan has just proposed to his armor-bearer that the two of them should climb up the cliff towards the Philistine outpost with the possibility that they will attack the Philistine army. Just the two of them. What would you say if you were Jonathan's armor-bearer? (Read 1 Samuel 14:7. Would you say we have two crazy guys? Or, two faith-filled guys?)
- Read 1 Samuel 14:8-10. Let's analyze this a moment. Did Jonathan just sit on a rock and await his fate? (No.)
- How did Jonathan approach the same goal that his father, Saul, had so badly approached? (Jonathan came up with a plan of action which depended entirely upon God's approval.)
- Read 1 Samuel 14:11-12. Has God approved? Is Jonathan putting God to the test? Isn't he forcing God's hand when he decides to create this test? (They have an immediate problem. They need an immediate solution. If God is going to act for them, He must act soon. I think what Jonathan proposes primarily depends on God's will. Jonathan is not invading God's space.)
- Read 1 Samuel 14:13-15, 20. Compare how Eve, Saul and Jonathan approached their tasks in life. How does this square with the idea of dying to self? (Both Eve and Saul decided that they would take some of what belonged to God. Terrible results followed. Jonathan depended wholly on God to do great things - and great things followed.)
- Friend, will you follow Jesus' example by putting obedience to God first? It means you are expendable. Jonathan never became king. Instead, he died in battle with his father, Saul. ( 1 Samuel 31:1-2.) Jonathan gave up his life on earth to satisfy God's plan to make David King.
- Next week: Christ in the Crucible.
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Christ in the Crucible
(Romans 3-5)
Refiner's Fire: Lesson 13 Copr. 2007, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid. This lesson can be found at: <url:http://www.GoBible.Org/study/483.php> Introduction: Would you volunteer to suffer? This last lesson in our studies on surviving difficult times looks at one who volunteered to suffer. I assume we all would like to avoid difficult times. As we have learned, difficult times generally come to us in two different ways. We either do something stupid and get into difficulty, or something we cannot control happens and creates suffering for us. What about this idea of choosing to suffer? Would you, if given enough time to think about it, choose to suffer? Standing behind this group of studies is the astonishing fact that our God chose to suffer terribly. Why did He do that? Let's jump into our study and see what we can learn about this amazing decision and how it should shape our attitude about suffering and our God! - God's Justice
- Put yourself in God's place when it comes to solving the sin problem. As we studied last week, humans have rejected and disbelieved God because they want to be like God. (Genesis 3:1-6) Apparently, humans think some sort of competition with God is appropriate. If you were God, how would you bring humans back to you?
- Would you even try?
- What considerations would you balance?
- Read Genesis 3:2-3. Apart from God executing sinners, is this statement true? (We all know it is true. We observe in our world that sin results in death. All sorts of decisions which lead to death result from sin.)
- How does your statement (remember, you are in God's place for purposes of the discussion right now) about sin causing death, hedge in your potential solution to sin? (This is a critical. Satan says sin does not lead to death, you told Adam and Eve it did. Satan specifically challenges you on this point.)
- If this hedges you(God)in, why did you say it? (Because it is true. The question is, how does sin cause death? Is it a natural result? Or, is it the execution of God's judgment? Or, both?)
- Now back to your accustomed role as a human. Remember the sacrificial service in the temple (Leviticus 1:4-5)? What was the point of all of that? (That sin leads to death - in this case an animal dies for your sins. This was not a "natural result," this is an execution. This would lead a human to conclude that sin leads to an execution.)
- God's words and deeds would naturally lead us to believe that sin results in death by execution. That means sin is punished by the sentence of death. Read Romans 3:21-26. This text gives us one reason why Jesus (and His Father) made the deliberate decision that Jesus should suffer terribly. What is it? (Justice.)
- What kind of justice is this? (Romans 3:25 tells us that sin demands punishment. That is the same conclusion we drew from God's words and deeds up to that time. Punishment for sin is just.)
- If God can delay punishment for sin, why can't He just forget about it? Why can't He change His rules so that sin no longer need be punished every time?
- Have you ever seen any justice like we see describe in Romans 3 before? (This is astonishing. God died for sin to demonstrate His brand of "justice." It is not a justice that I normally see in the world.)
- How can Romans 3:25 say that God had not previously punished sins? What about all those animals which died? (God was not kidding Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Sin brings death. Not the death of animals, but your death. The offering of the animals did not "forgive" the sins of the people. It did not satisfy the law. It simply pointed towards the future penalty that would we paid by the death of Jesus.)
- How does Jesus satisfy the penalty for sin? It is not His sin? Why is He a better solution than killing a bunch of animals? (I have always had trouble with the logic of this, but here is my best explanation. Adam and Eve were perfect until they sinned. By their sin, we all became sinful (Romans 5:12-14) whether or not we actually sinned. God could have executed judgment (justice) on Adam and Eve at the moment of their sin. (Thus sparing the rest of us from their sin.) Or, God could let the natural working of sin take its course. When Jesus came to earth, He came as Adam and Eve came, which is to say; perfect. He lived a sinless life, and He died as a substitute for Adam and Eve (Romans 5:15-17). The result is life for the rest of us.)
- Would another human being have been sufficient? (Another human being, post Adam, would have been infected with Adam's sin. Jesus is our Creator (John 1:1-3), the Creator can logically die in the place of His creation.)
- Look at this from a little different angle. Does the idea of paying a ransom to a kidnapper make sense? (The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that the Greek word for "redemption" comes from the Greek root word for "a ransom payment.")
- When I look at the "justice" side of Jesus' suffering, I come away impressed with just how seriously a righteous God takes sin. Sin brings death and sinners deserve execution. The Christian who fails to take the sin in his life seriously is just missing the obvious!
- Let's summarize what we have learned. God told humans from the very beginning that the punishment for sin is death. They sinned anyway and plunged the rest of us into sin. God illustrated the link between sin and death by the sanctuary service - but He did not punish sin at the time. Ultimately, God suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sins. Just as Eve plunged us into death, so Jesus plunged us back into life! We see the "legal" reason why God died, what we don't see is why He should volunteer to suffer so greatly. Let's look at that next.
- God's Love
- Read Romans 5:6-8. What other reason motivated God to suffer terribly on our behalf? (His love!)
- Why does Paul stress the fact that God died for us "while we were still sinners?" (We were not friends of God. We were enemies because of our sins. We were in rebellion against Him! This is wildly extraordinary love!)
- What tension do you see between God's justice and His love? (The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Romans 3:25-26 says "God's divine dilemma was how to satisfy His own righteousness and its demands against sinful people, and at the same time how to demonstrate His grace, love and mercy to restore rebellious, alienated creatures to Himself.")
- If a police officer pulls you over for speeding, how do you react?
- If you are hauled before a judge to respond to something you did, how do you react?
- If someone accomplishes a difficult task on your behalf (for free), how do you react?
- If someone sacrifices a great deal for you, how do you react?
- Put the answers to the prior four questions all in one basket and you get a peek into the nature of God's thinking about us (rebels) and how to solve our sin problem.
- The Crucible Life
- As we have seen, Jesus suffered for us because of His justice and His love. To what degree does this explain the universe of our suffering?
- Let's break it down. How much of our suffering is justice? How much is due to mistakes we have made?
- How much of our suffering is due to the mistakes of others?
- How much of our suffering is due to our love for others?
- Is Jesus our example in every one of these situations? (He walked through the fire before us in every kind of suffering.)
- Friend, there are many lessons in what Jesus has done for us. One of them is the seriousness of sin. Another is this: if you want to limit your suffering, then avoid sin. Another lesson is that when you suffer because of following Jesus, rejoice! The last lesson is the unbelievable, extraordinary, wildly extravagant love Jesus has for us! Won't you decide today to follow Him?
- Next week: We start a new series of studies on Discipleship.
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