Sunday School Lesson--The Great Shepherd

The Great Shepherd



Theme: God is the Shepherd

 

Text: Ezekiel 34:1-31

 

A1 Outline: The wicked shepherds

• B1 The charge and evidence Ezekiel 34:1-10


• B2 God's sentence of these evil shepherds, and His cure Ezekiel 34:11-31

A2 Notes and questions

• B1 Shepherds
  
  
  
  • C1 Those who guide, protect, and oversee sheep.
  
  
  • C2 Symbolic for those who guide, protect, and oversee people. In this passage shepherd is used for the leaders of the nation of Israel.
  
  
  • C3 Why does God call the leaders shepherds?
  
  
  
  


• B2 How is the verb "prophesy" used here? Is it a telling of a future situation, present situation, or both?


• B3 What is a prophet?
  
  
  
  • C1 Old Testament
    
    
    
    • D1 God gave a message to the prophet/prophetess. This message might be to repent, what to do, what not to do, guidance for someone seeking God's wisdom, a message about the future, or of judgment.
    
    
    • D2 In our passage here, God gives a message to Ezekiel to tell the leaders of Israel of judgment because of their sins.
    
    
    • D3 They are confirmed by encouraging the worship of Yahweh only and their words come true (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C2 New Testament
    
    
    
    • D1 The same as the Old Testament except there were apostles to certify that they are true.
    
    
    • D2 No prophets are mentioned after the last apostle--John.
    
    
    • D3 The prophets in the New Testament era and dispensation are Agabus and the daughters of Philip.
    
    
    • D4 The so-called prophets of today are either self certified or confirmed by apostles who are self certified.
    
    
    • D5 The Bible is the only source of 100% truth and has all that we need.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• B4 Were these shepherds approved by God? Who is the Good Shepherd that is approved?


• B5 Ezekiel 34:2, what was the failure of these shepherds? What can we learn from this?


• B6 What were some of the other failures in these shepherds?


• B7 Ezekiel 34:10, what was God's sentence of these evil shepherds?


• B8 Ezekiel 34:11-16, what are some things that God states a good shepherd should be? Does Messiah Jesus fulfill these?


• B9 Ezekiel 34:17-22, what are some other things that makes God angry in shepherds? How can we avoid doing these things?


• B10 Ezekiel 34:23-24, what does God promise here? Is this to be taken literally?


• B11 Ezekiel 34:25-31, what are some other promises that God WILL do?


• B12 In the New Testament there are three references to the Lord Jesus being the shepherd.
  
  
  
  • C1 Matthew 26:31  Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me during this night, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
    
    
    
    • D1 Who is the "I" that will strike the shepherd? It is God, Himself, Romans 8:32 and Mark 15:34.
    
    
    • D2 Who is this shepherd? It is Jesus. John 10:11-14
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C2 Matthew 14:27  And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.'
  
  
  • C3 Hebrews 13:20  Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
  
  
  
  


• B13 What is the difference between the Shepherd Jesus and all other shepherds?


• B14 Does Shepherd Jesus still care for His sheep?


• B15 Does Shepherd Jesus give us everything to make us happy or what we need?


• B16 Does Shepherd Jesus give us everything we ask for?


• B17 Psalm 23 speaks of the Good Shepherd
  
  
  
  • C1 Who is the writer of this psalm?
  
  
  • C2 Who does David say is his shepherd?
  
  
  • C3 In Psalm 23:1, what is the first characteristic of this shepherd? ("I shall not want," that is, not lack what I need).
  
  
  • C4 Psalm 23:2
    
    
    
    • D1 "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. " (Psalms 23:2, NKJV)
    
    
    • D2 "He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. " (Psalms 23:2, HCSB)
    
    
    • D3 Note the difference. The Holman Christian Standard Bible is translated lets, while the New King James Verse translates the word as makes. Most English translations I checked used either makes or causes; only a few used lets. The verb is in the imperfect, but I could not find out a reason for the difference in translations. Using the word makes leaves with the impression of using force to get the sheep to lie down, while lets gives the impression of when the sheep decides to lie down. I am going to choose lets, because it fits with the rest of Psalm 23 and reflects the character of Yahweh's style of leadership.
    
    
    • D4 The green pastures would imply that Yahweh as shepherd would not let the sheep stop at inferior pastures but would lead them to the best. Once He has brought them to the best, He would let them do what sheep do--eat.
    
    
    • D5 The still waters are to be compared to raging waters as a rapids. God leads them to the best and cleanest water.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C5 Psalm 23:3
    
    
    
    • D1 What 2 things does this good shepherd do in this verse?
    
    
    • D2 An emotional abuse and control freak does not want to restore someone's soul. Yahweh does. What is the lesson for us?
    
    
    • D3 See 2 Corinthians 4:16 and Colossians 3:9-10
    
    
    • D4 What path does God lead us on? What is righteousness? (Doing what is right. What is right? See Ephesians 4:22-32 for one example).
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C6 Psalm 23:4-5--what are some of the difficulties we face in this passage, and what is the solution? How can we apply this?
  
  
  • C7 Psalm 23:6
    
    
    
    • D1 Why should God's goodness and mercy be with us always?
    
    
    • D2 Name some things that are of God's goodness and mercy.
    
    
    • D3 Are they still with us when times are difficult?
    
    
    • D4 Why is living in God's house forever important? What is God's house?
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

 

 

Sunday School Lesson--Power to Spare

Power to Spare

Theme: God is the Almighty

 

Text: Genesis 17:1-8

 

A1 Outline

• B1 God's covenant with Abraham Genesis 17:1-8

 

A2 Notes and questions

• B1 Who is God talking to? (Abraham).


• B2 Who does God reveal things, give messages to, etc.? (Prophets)


• B3 Is Abraham a prophet? (Yes, Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours. (Genesis 20:7 NKJV).


• B4 What is a prophet? Amos 3:7
  
  
  
  • C1 The Hebrew word is נָבִיא nâbı̂y' naw-bee' It means prophet and spokesman. The first use is in Genesis 20:7.
  
  
  • C2 A spokesperson for God. Some were men, and some were women (Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, Luke 2:36, etc.).
  
  
  • C3 Qualifications:
    
    
    
    • D1 A call Amos 7:14-15
    
    
    • D2 A ministry Amos 7:15, Ezekiel 2:3-4
    
    
    • D3 100% accuracy Deuteronomy 13:1-3,
    
    
    • D4 Hatred of sin and love of righteousness
    
    
    • D5 Lover of truth
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C4 Dispensation
    
    
    
    • D1 Old Testament starting with Abraham and continuing to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:9-14) and Anna (Luke 2:36), the widow.
    
    
    • D2 New Testament
      
      
      
      • E1 The Apostles
        
        
        
        • F1 Of Jesus Christ, this is the 12 (Matthew 10:2-4, Acts 1:26)
        
        
        • F2 Of the church, these are those who lived while the Apostles of Jesus Christ still lived. The Apostles of Jesus Christ could verify that these individuals were apostles. After the Apostle John died, there was no one who could verify people who claimed they were apostles. Compare Romans 1:1, 2 Corinthians 8:23, and Philippians 2:25).
        
        
        
        
      
      
      • E2 Agabus (Acts 11:28 and Acts 21:10) and the daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9). These lived before any of the Scripture was written.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C5 How do we know if there are prophets today?
    
    
    
    • D1 Their message must be compared to the New Testament writings. If different, the message is false. If true, it is not needed, because we already have that message written to us.
    
    
    • D2 False prophets are real. Experiences are real, but is their message true?
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• B5 How old is Abraham?


• B6 What name does God give Himself?
  
  
  
  • C1 The name "Almighty God" is the Hebrew Original Word: שַׁדָּי Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Phonetic Spelling: (shad-dah'-ee) H7703 and means almighty, the all powerful, omnipotent.
  
  
  • C2 Why does God use this name to Abraham? (To emphasize to Abraham that His promises and covenant will happen).
  
  
  
  


• B7 The word perfect means blameless. Why does God command this of Abraham? How can we be blameless today?
  
  
  
  • C1 "Jesus said to him, “He that is bathed need only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." (John 13:10, EMTV)
  
  
  • C2 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, EMTV)
  
  
  
  


• B8 Why did God change Abram's name to Abraham?


• B9 Is the covenant that God made with Abraham still in force? (Genesis 17:7 "everlasting").


• B10 What are the promises of this covenant with Abraham? (The land of possession (Israel) forever, a large amount of descendants, and that He will be their God forever).


• B11 God's power
  
  
  
  • C1 The problem of evil. Why is there evil in the world, if God is omnipotent, omniscient, and all-loving?
    
    
    
    • D1 It is the curse upon creation because of sin. Genesis 3 especially Genesis 3:13-19
    
    
    • D2 It is the natural consequence of bad decisions. Proverbs 11:15, Proverbs 19:15, Genesis 6:5-7, etc.
    
    
    • D3 It is the chance happening of disasters because of a cursed world. Luke 13:4-5, John 9, 2 Timothy 4:20, etc.
    
    
    • D4 It is because people are sinners (law breakers). Proverbs 11:1, Proverbs 15:4, Proverbs 17:23, etc.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C2 Extent
    
    
    
    • D1 Calvinists believe that God decrees everything that happens and renders it certain. Every rape, murder, death is decreed by God. Every healing, every blessing, every salvation has also been decreed by God.
    
    
    • D2 Classical/reformed Arminians believe that God is sovereign in that He can do what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, and no one can change it. Decisions that people make are truly free. People can genuinely resist or not resist salvation.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C3 God is the law giver. He is judge. He sentences. These are absolute, and no one can avoid these. God is also redeemer, if one meets His conditions.
  
  
  • C4 How does God help people?
    
    
    
    • D1 He sends rain on the just and the unjust. Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, etc.
    
    
    • D2 He wishes all to be saved, that is, forgiven and reconciled to Himself. 2 Peter 3:9, John 3:16, etc.
    
    
    • D3 He can heal. He can strengthen. He can encourage, etc.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C5 God's power is seen in
    
    
    
    • D1 Creating
    
    
    • D2 Miracles
    
    
    • D3 Judgment
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• B12 How can our knowledge of God's power, strength, and authority be used to help others?

Sunday School Lesson--God's Name

How excellent is your name

Theme: God is LORD

 

Scripture: Exodus 33:12-34:8

 

A1 Outline

• B1 Setting: after Aaron had made the golden calf and most worshiped it.


• B2 Yahweh's rebuke Exodus 33:1-6


• B3 Yahweh's tent Exodus 33:7-11


• B4 Yahweh's glory Exodus 33:12-23


• B5 Yahweh's law Exodus 34:1-4


• B6 Yahweh's name Exodus 34:5-8

 

A2 Notes and questions

• B1 Meaning of your name. Would you want the name of someone famous or infamous? Why?


• B2 God's name
  
  
  
  • C1 Many titles
  
  
  • C2 Descriptive names
  
  
  • C3 Personal name--Yahweh
  
  
  • D1 Means self-existent. He is the I AM.
  
  
  • D2 This is His proper name as someone might be Mary or John.
  
  
  • D3 See below under Exodus 34:1-8
  
  
  
  


• B3 Yahweh's rebuke Exodus 33:1-6
  
  
  
  • C1 Who is giving the orders in this passage?
  
  
  • C2 What are His orders to Moses and Israel?
  
  
  • C3 Why did God say that He would not go with them? Is there any application for us today?
  
  
  • C4 Does God sound angry?
  
  
  • C4 Who is the "my angel" of Exodus 33:2?
    
    
    
    • D1 Some say that it is Messiah and reference Exodus 23:20-23.
    
    
    • D2 Others say that it is one of the angel host and reference Exodus 32:34
    
    
    • D3 Nonetheless, there seems to be a punishment here because of the people's sin in Exodus 32 concerning the worship of the golden calf.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C5 What is the distressing words of Exodus 33:4?
  
  
  • C5 Why didn't they wear their jewelry that day?
  
  
  • C6 Does sin have consequences?
  
  
  
  


• B4 Yahweh's tent Exodus 33:7-11
  
  
  
  • C1 Why was the tent of meeting outside the camp? (Possible because of God's anger and departure that He would not lead the nation of Israel Himself).
  
  
  • C2 Some believe that the tent of meeting was 2000 cubits (~0.56818181818182 miles or 0.9144 kilometer) away from the camp, which later was named a Sabbath's Day Journey. Compare Joshua 3:4.
  
  
  • C3 Where was the cloudy pillar located that indicated God's presence? (At the entrance, not inside). Why not inside the tent?
  
  
  • C4 Where did the people stand when they worshiped the Lord?
  
  
  • C5 When Moses came back to the camp, where was Joshua?
  
  
  
  


• B5 Yahweh's glory Exodus 33:12-23
  
  
  
  • C1 In Exodus 33:12-13, what 2 things does Moses ask God for?
  
  
  • C2 Does Moses, conversing with God at the tent, enter into The Silence or is his mind active? What is conversing with God called?
  
  
  • C3 In Exodus 33:13, what is Moses pleading with God for? ("I want to know your plans and please you, but I need for you to go with us, so you can teach me.")
  
  
  • C4 What is God's answer in Exodus 33:14?
  
  
  • C5 Does God change His mind? (As seen many times in Scriptures, God has a condition. This condition is repentance. Sometimes this condition is not stated but implied. If this condition is met, then God will not carry out His punishment. See Jonah 3:1-10.)
  
  
  • C6 Why did Moses ask to see God's glory? Is asking questions like this wrong?
  
  
  • C7 Does Exodus 33:19 teach Calvinism? No, God does not arbitrarily choose who goes to heaven and who go to hell. It is God's character of love to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). God has set up conditions to be forgiven and saved. These are repentance and faith. Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb who received God's wrath to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
  
  
  • C8 Why can't people see God's face and live? (God is holy; we are not holy, so we would die. When we are in heaven, we will be holy, because all our sin and sinful tendencies will be gone. Compare 1 Timothy 6:16 and Isaiah 6:5-7.
  
  
  
  


• B6 Yahweh's law Exodus 34:1-8
  
  
  
  • C1 In Exodus 34:1-3, God instructs Moses that only Moses can come up the mountain. Why? Is God cruel and evil to do this? Wouldn't this prove that the atheist is wrong when they say, "Why does God hid himself. We will believe, if he shows himself to us?"
  
  
  • C2 When Moses arrives at the mountain top, what does God tell Moses? (His name). What is His name here?
  
  
  • C3 What is the importance of someone's name? What is important about God's name?
  
  
  • C4 What does a name signify about a person? (Often, it signifies his character, who he is, and what he stands for and against).
  
  
  • C5 What does God reveal about His character? (Exodus 34:6-7
    
    
    
    • D1 Yahweh--self existence. God has no beginning and no end. He gives life. He does not receive life; He is life.
    
    
    • D2 God--a class of beings. The highest of any being. There is only one of this class--Yahweh.
    
    
    • D3 Merciful--not punishing when one deserves it. In this case, the mercy comes because a person has met God's conditions
    
    
    • D4 Gracious--not receiving what is deserved.
    
    
    • D5 Slow to anger--doesn't punish us immediately but gives time to repent.
    
    
    • D6 Abounding in kindness--gentle, helpful, and other kind things.
    
    
    • D7 Abounding in truth--facts, reality, unfeigned in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. What is obvious outwardly is also inwardly. His motives are pure.
    
    
    • D8 Keeps His kindness for a thousand generations--He has a good memory. He really enjoys being kind. The word "generations" has been added. Many understand this that God has kindness for future generations that have not yet been born and/or have not heard the Gospel yet.
    
    
    • D9 Forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin--forgiveness because someone has to pay the penalty. Jesus did this at His crucifixion.
    
    
    • D10 Does not clear the guilty, but visits the iniquity of the parents up to the fourth generation--bad choices lead to bad consequences which are then taught by example, etc. to the following generations. This can be stopped by meeting God's conditions of repentance and faith.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • C6 What was Moses' response? What should be our response? What is worship?
  
  
  
  

Daily Bible Study--1 John 2:15-17

1 John 2:15-17

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever. " (1 John 2:15-17, EMTV)

A1 Outline

1. B1 Command 1 John 2:15


2. B2 Reason 1 John 2:16-17

A2 Notes

1. B1 World
   
   
   
   1. C1 A system of life including how we live, how we think, what our motives and desires are.
   
   
   2. C2 This system is opposite of God's system.
   
   
   3. C3 It is called the "world," because it is the system currently in operation in humanity. It is the opposite of the "Kingdom of Heaven."
   
   
   4. C4 Cross references
      
      
      
      1. D1 "They are of the world: on account of this they speak of the world, and the world hears them." (1 John 4:5, EMTV)
      
      
      2. D2 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. " (John 15:19, EMTV)
      
      
      3. D3 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and well pleasing and perfect will of God. " (Romans 12:2, EMTV)
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

2. B2 Love--is the word for choice. This life style and motivations/desires are chosen, not forced.


3. B3 Lust--strong desire for something that is contrary to God's desires.


4. B4 Pride--thinking and wanting to be looked up as being better than someone else.


5. B5 Three sins
   
   
   
   1. C1 Lust of the flesh--"If it feels good, do it."
      
      
      
      1. D1 "The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at.” (Numbers 11:4-6, WEB)
      
      
      2. D2 "They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire." (Psalms 78:18, WEB)
      
      
      3. D3 "Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids." (Proverbs 6:25, WEB)
      
      
      4. D4 "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." (1 Corinthians 10:6, WEB)
      
      
      5. D5 "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire." (Galatians 5:17, WEB)
      
      
      
      
   
   
   2. C2 Lust of the eyes--"O, that looks so good, I want it." That person then does whatever necessary to get it.
      
      
      
      1. D1 "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate." (Genesis 3:6, WEB)
      
      
      2. D2 "When I saw among the spoil a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:21, WEB)
      
      
      
      
   
   
   3. C3 Pride of life--"I'm better than ___________."
      
      
      
      1. D1 "The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? " (Daniel 4:30, WEB)
      
      
      2. D2 "“Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I tithe on all things, as many as I acquire.' And the tax collector, standing far away, would not so much as lift his eyes towards heaven, but beat on his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I say to you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." " (Luke 18:10-14, EMTV)
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

A3 Questions

1. B1 Explain the phrase "love of the world?" Why is this condemned? Explain the alternative.


2. B2 What is the two choices? Why can't someone love both?


3. B3 How do these verses apply to church meetings?


4. B4 Based on these two choices, which choice will make people happier? Why?


5. B5 How is "love of the world" in this passage different than the same phrase in John 3:16?


6. B6 Which of these two choices has eternal benefits?

 

Letter to a friend about The Silence

Greetings

Lighthouse Trails Research is the main source today examining and refuting contemplative prayer, spiritual formation, and mystical rituals. Others are David Cloud, WorldViewWeekend, Roger Oakland, even Calvinists, and many others.

Stan is a promoter of The Silence. Sending information to him will do little good. Still we must be faithful to warn of error.

Teaching The Silence is teaching rebellion against God. God requires an active mind, not a passive mind. In the silence you must do a discipline to reach the silence. The mind must be cleared of our thinking and thoughts. Many in eastern mysticism use Om or “m” sounding words as “I am, etc. Some use Jesus or some other word and repeat it until the silence is achieved. Others teach to concentrate on breathing by listening and controlling the rate of breathing. Listening to the breath go in and go out. Whatever method is used it will result in a mindless state.

Once the mindless state, The Silence, is achieved, then the practitioner is to listen for God’s word, voice, message, presence, etc. It is very real. I have challenged people on how they know this is God’s voice, words, message, etc. They always quote, “My sheep hear my voice. (John 10:27). This doesn’t mean that we have discernment or some voice that guarantees knowing God’s will. It refers to the Gospel. Nevertheless, I challenge, “How do you know this is God speaking? Is it possible that you are wrong? Sometimes they do admit that they can be deceived. Usually they are convinced that they cannot.

Many use passages as Psalm 62:1

• "TRULY my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.” (Psalms 62:1, NKJV)


• "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” (Psalms 62:1, ESV2011)


• "I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.” (Psalms 62:1, HCSB)

Practitioners of The Silence love this and then misinterpret it. David is saying that he is going to wait and not jump to his solution, but practitioners and promoters interpret it that we are to go into The Silence and listen to God. They use that verse and their faulty misinterpretation to bully others into their heresy.

Lighthouse Trails Research has 175 pages of articles (some seem to be a duplicate) on The Silence. Many more (including links to books, pamphlets, and articles are here.

“In a section of So You Want to Be Like Christ called “Ministry of Silence” (p. 64), Swindoll quotes Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest who had strong affinity and experience with mysticism. Swindoll quotes Nouwen from his book The Way of the Heart, Nouwen’s primer on contemplative prayer. Swindoll wraps up that section by saying, “I do not believe anyone can ever become a deep person without stillness and silence” (p. 65). Lest you think that Swindoll is referring to going to a quiet place (like sitting beside a stream or turning off the television) when he says silence, he differentiates solitude (outer quietness) and silence (stilling the mind) in his book. He admits that silence is referring to an inner silence of the mind. All contemplatives (and New Age meditators for that matter) know that stilling the mind or putting it in neutral can only be done with some form of mantric-like meditation, breath prayers, or focusing on something to eliminate thought and distractions, thus going into the silence.” [emp—editor]. Link

Teaching others to do the discipline of The Silence is teaching rebellion against the Lord. Jeremiah 28:16.

We are to keep alert, be alert, be aware, not in The Silence.

• "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; " (1 Peter 1:13, NKJV)


• "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7, NKJV)


• "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)


• "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; " (Colossians 4:2, NKJV)


• "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– " (Ephesians 6:18, NKJV)


• "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NKJV)


• “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." (Mark 13:33, NKJV)

The words watch and be sober are different Greek, as you know.

1. Thayer writes, “ἀγρυπνέω, (ῶ; (ἄγρυπνος eqluiv. to ἄϋπνος); to be sleepless, keep awake, watch (equivalent to γρηγορέω (see below)); (from Theognis down); tropically, to be circumspect, attentive, ready: Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; εἰς τί, to be intent upon a thing, Ephesians 6:18; ὑπέρ τίνος, to exercise constant vigilance over something (an image drawn from shepherds), Hebrews 13:17. (Synonyms: ἀγρύπνειν, γρηγορεῖν, νήφειν: "ἀγρύπνειν may be taken to express simply ... absence of sleep, and, pointedly, the absence of it when due to nature, and thence a wakeful frame of mind as opposed to listlessness; while γρηγορεῖν (the offspring of ἐγρήγορα) represents a waking state as the effect of some arousing effort ... i. e. a more stirring image than the former. The group of synonyms is completed by νήφειν, which signifies a state untouched by any slumberous or beclouding influences, and thence, one that is guarded against advances of drowsiness or bewilderment. Thus it becomes a term for wariness (cf. νᾶφε καί μέμνασ' ἀπίστειν) against spiritual dangers and beguilements, 1 Peter 5:8, etc." Green, Critical Notes on the N. T. (note on Mark 13:33f).)”


2. γρηγορέω, γρηγόρω; 1 aorist ἐγρηγόρησα; (from ἐγρήγορα, to have been roused from sleep, to be awake, perfect of ἐγείρω; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 118f; Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. ii., p. 158; (Winers Grammar, 26 (25); 92 (88))); to watch;
   
   
   
   • Properly: Matthew 24:43; Matthew 26:38, 40; Mark 13:34; Mark 14:34, 37; Luke 12:37, 39 R G L Tr text WH text As to sleep is often equivalent to to die, so once, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, γρηγορέω means to live, be alive on earth.
   
   
   • Metaphorically, to watch i. e. give strict attention to, be cautious, active: — to take heed lest through remissness and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one, Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:35,(37); Revelation 16:15; or lest one be led to forsake Christ, Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; or lest one fall into sin, 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 3:2f; or be corrupted by errors, Acts 20:31; ἐν τίνι, to be watchful in, employ the most punctilious care in a thing: Colossians 4:2. (the Sept.; (Baruch 2:9; 1 Macc. 12:27; Aristotle, plant. 1, 2, p. 816b, 29, 37); Josephus, Antiquities 11, 3, 4; Achilles Tatius; others) (Synonym: see ἀγρυπνέω. Compare: διαγρηγορέω.)
   
   
   
   


3. νήφω; 1 aorist imperative 2 person plural νήψατε; from Theognis, Sophocles, Xenophon down; to be sober; in the N. T. everywhere tropically, to be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect: 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 5:8; εἰς τάς προσευχάς, unto (the offering of) prayer, 1 Peter 4:7. (Synonym: see ἀγρυπνέω; and on the word see Ellicott on Timothy, the passage cited Compare: ἀνανήφω, ἐκνήφω.)

The Silence is passive. We are taught by the Apostles writing under inspiration to be alert. We do not get drunk or use drugs recreationally because they cloud the judgment. The devil would like better than for us to be NOT alert and thus deceive us. These words, voice, and/or Jesus will be real and will supplant the authority of Scripture. Been there; done that.

Len

From Misery to Mission

From misery to mission

Theme: The resurrected Savior

Scripture: John 20:1-31

A1 Outline

B1 Jesus is gone John 20:1-10

B2 Jesus and Mary Magdalene John 20:11-18

B3 Jesus and disciples John 20:19-23

B4 Jesus and Thomas John 20:24-29

B5 Why John wrote John 20:30-31

 

A2 Notes and questions

B1 Jesus is gone John 20:1-10

C1 What day of the week were these actions?

C2 What approximate time did Mary come to the tomb?

C3 What was the first thing that Mary noticed?

C4 Who is the "we" in John 20:2? (Cometh Mary Magdalene.—St. Matthew has, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary;” St. Mark has, “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome;” St. Luke has, “The women which had come with Him from Galilee” (Luke 23:55), and enumerates them in Luke 24:10, as “Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the others with them.” St. John speaks of only one of the group, who was specially prominent). From Ellicott's Commentary on this verse.

C5 Why did Jesus rise from the dead when it was dark?

C6 What is the most important thing about the tomb? (it is empty).

C7 What does this mean for the Christian?

C8 What does this mean for the non-Christian?

C9 Is there any evidence of this resurrection other than eye witness? (Yes, "Who Rolled Away the Stone?" By Frank Morison.

C10 Who was the faster disciple?

C11 Why did they run?

C12 Was there any importance in mentioning the linen strips and Jesus's head cloth?

C13 After John saw, he believed. What did he believe?

B2 Jesus and Mary Magdalene John 20:11-18

C1 What is Mary doing outside the tomb? Why?

C2 What did Mary see when she looked inside the tomb? Did John and Peter see the same?

C3 Why did the angels ask Mary why she was crying?

C4 Mary turns around and sees _______? Was this an hallucination?

C5 Why did Mary hold on to Jesus? (Possibly to examine him, to see if He was real or a spirit).

C6 Why did Jesus reply the way He did?

C7 What does it mean "...not yet ascended...?" (Possibly to go to the heavenly Temple and offer His blood as an atonement for sin).

B3 Jesus and disciples John 20:19-23

C1 What emotion were the disciples experiencing before Jesus showed up? Why?

C2 What was the first thing that Jesus said to the disciples?

C3 Why did Jesus show them His hands and side?

C4 What emotion did the disciples experience now?

C5 What was Jesus asking them to do?

C6 Did they already have the Holy Spirit?

D1 Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit for special work.

D2 They received the baptism later at Pentecost.

D3 Evidently this was a mission to govern the church that will begin soon. This was not a commission for all Christians. This time frame is still the Old Testament dispensation. They had already received the Holy Spirit for sanctification and to do miracles. The full outpouring would be at Pentecost.

C7 What is the meaning of John 20:23?

D1 Does it mean that I can go across the street, tell my neighbor that his sins are forgiven, and assure him that all his sins are forgiven and that he is going to heaven? (No)

D2 Does it mean that if someone robs a bank, that I can go to them and forgiven them, then the government will not prosecute? (No)

D3 Is this only for the Apostles (the 12)? (No, for one, Thomas, was not present).

D4 No Apostle ever was seen exercising this gift, so it cannot mean that they or the community of believers could forgive sins as God forgives sin.

D5 The College Press commentary has "John 20:23 has long been a problem. The Roman Catholic Church has used this verse to teach that the so-called successors of the apostles (the popes and priests) have the authority to forgive men of their sins. Such a doctrine is technically called “absolution.” Not even the apostles themselves had any authority of their own to grant absolution—the forgiveness of sins. One need only to turn to Acts 8:14-24 to find one example of an apostle being asked to grant absolution in the case of a man confessing his sin. The answer of the apostle Peter is, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.” This passage in John 20:23 does not grant the apostles the power of absolution. The verbs apheontai (they are forgiven) and kekratentai (they are retained) of this verse are in the perfect tense in the Greek. Now the perfect tense means “an action having been completed in past time with a continuing result.” Literally translated John 20:23 would read, “whose soever sins ye forgive, they have already been forgiven them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they have already been retained.” It is very interesting indeed that in the other two instances where Jesus similarly commissioned the disciples (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18) the verbs are also in the perfect tense! There the verbs are dedemena (has already been bound) and lelumena (has already been loosed).
In founding the church, declaring the will of God and preaching the gospel of repentance and remission of sins by the blood of Christ and men’s obedience to the gospel, the apostles merely declared on what terms, and to what people God extended forgiveness of sins. Whatever they preached on earth had already been decided in heaven. Only God can forgive sins. The apostles and all who have preached since are merely heralds of the covenant which has already been ratified, once for all, in heaven.
The apostles were given here by Jesus a symbolic prophecy of the special baptism of the Holy Spirit when He “breathed.” The literal baptism of the Spirit would come upon them on the day of Pentecost and would empower them with miraculous power in order to confirm the already-ratified message which they were to preach afterward. The Holy Spirit did not give them any inherent authority to grant absolution of sin. "

D6 Basically it has to do with preaching the Gospel.

B4 Jesus and Thomas John 20:24-29

C1 Why did Thomas respond this way? Can skepticism be a good thing?

C2 When Jesus came what did He tell Thomas? Why is this important? What about us?

C3 What is the most important part of Jesus's words to Thomas? (Stop doubting and believe).

C4 Is Jesus God?

C5 Is belief hard? What don't most people believe?

C6 Is there a special blessing for belief?

B5 Why John wrote John 20:30-31

C1 What do people have to do to have forgiveness of sins?

C2 What kind of life is the Apostle John speaking of? What is the alternative?

C3 Which comes first the believing or the life (which is forgiveness of sins, regeneration, rebirth, born again, etc.)?

The Ultimate Sacrifice

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