Tuesday, 31 December 2019
COLLECTIVE CAPTIVE MUST END
CALVARY IS
REAL BIBLE CHURCH
13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
CALVARY HOUR SPECIAL MESSAGE (22ND
February, 2019)
TOPIC: COLLECTIVE CAPTIVITY MUST END
TEXT: 1 SAM. 2:12-27
This
message will be coming under three (3) points;
1. What is collective captivity?
2. Examples of collective captivity
3. Our heart cry
Collective Captivity Defined?
When
someone is in captivity, he/she is in bondage and can be in any form of hostage
or the other.
Collective
captive is when one is in continuous captivity or the other that move from one
stage to the other, family to family without stopping. It can affect one person
in a family and also transmit to others and its descendant in the same family.
Examples of Collective Captivity
·
Kennedy curse:
The
Kennedy
Curse is a term for a series of deaths and calamities involving members
of the American Kennedy family. Ted Kennedy publicly wondered whether a ‘curse
actually did hang over all the Kennedys’ during his own testimony about the
Chappaquiddick incident in 1969. In 1941, Rosemary Kennedy was often believed
to have been intellectually disabled, and due to her severe mood swings and the
worry that she would damage the Kennedy reputation, her father Joseph Sr.,
arranged in secret for her to undergo a lobotomy. The lobotomy instead left her
unable to walk or speak well, and as a result Rosemary remained
institutionalized until her death in 2005. In August 12, 1994, Joseph P.
Kennedy Jr. died when his plane exploded over East Suffolk, England, as part of project
Anvil during World War II. In May 13th, 1948 Kathleen Cavendish,
Marchioness of Hartington died in a plane crash in France. In August 9th,
1963, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died of infant respiratory distress syndrome two days
after his premature birth (which itself occurred on the 20th
anniversary of his father’s World War II rescue). In November 22, 1963, U.S.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey
Oswald. Oswald was shot dead by Jack Ruby two days later before he could stand
trial. Oh! I and my wife visited the popular WASHINGTON D.C. grave of John F.
Kennedy in August 2018 just to pray there against COLLECTIVE CAPTIVITY! Wow!
The list is endless.
They
are known for violent deaths! It is a
recurring pattern. Even in September 4, 2018, Christopher Kennedy Lawford died
of a heart attack while doing Yoga at a yoga studio in Vancouver, British
Columbia. He was 63. Amazing!
·
Eli and family:
As
seen previously above, there are many such families on earth being ravaged with
collective captivity like the family of Eli in our text. Collective captivity is
something that affects your family down the line. Everybody goes through it and
they will tell you “this is how it has
been” You must as a child of God reject and refute all forms of collective
captivity because you have been BORN AGAIN into another family of JEHOVAH THE
VICTORIOUS! In the spiritual world, I no longer bear the name Chris Kwakpovwe;
I answer the name “Chris JESUS JEHOVAH” –CJJ! Same applies to you! And since
the spiritual controls the physical, then Collective
Captivity or any Re-occurring evil
cannot rule over you! For instance, I Sam. 2:27 says “And there came a man of God unto Eli, and
said unto him, Thus saith the Lord…” Did you get that? So the origin
of collective captivity in Eli family was one man – because he could not
control his family. To add salt to injury, his children polluted the altar of
God through immorality, extortion etc. God became angry and laid curses which
was a very sad situation.
Our Heart Cry
·
Satan, you are a
liar; I and my family must be free. Collective captivity break by fire In Jesus
name!
·
You family curse
moving from generation to generation; break, break and break In Jesus name.
STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS 4, 5, 6, 7
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE SHARING (26/03/2017)
TOPIC: STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 4)
B. Unsetting
the “Settings” of the Old Mind
The way our old mind is set
is the basis of our action and behavior. Hence the need to examine the old
natural mind in the light of God’s words in order to unset it.
ii.
What is
the mode of life and conduct that the old mind was set upon? (Rom. 8:4-8; Eph. 4:17-20, Phil. 3:17-19;
James 4:4-5; 1 Jn. 2:15-17)
It is clear that the
old mind was set on what the human nature wants, not what God wants and no
matter how you try to serve God with that mind, it will only achieve what the
human nature wants. It was a futile mind that works all uncleanness with
greediness. It was a mind set on earthly things.
Look inside, what are
the things you have set your mind to achieve in life or even in your marriage?
Don’t rush over this. Bring them out sincerely one by one and see whether they
are things on the earth or things above. That will help you to cry to God and
unset those things as a preparation for setting your mind on things above.
QUESTION
1. What do
you understand by unsetting the setting of the old mind?
2. What is
the mode of life that explains best the old mind?
3. Explain with
examples what the human nature wants according to our teaching?
4. Give
various examples of the things God wants that is different from the human
nature?
5. Give a
practical example of when one is trying to serve God with the mind of the human
nature and its result?
6. Explain
how your pursuit in life can depend on what God wants for your live different
from the human nature?
7. A
brother/sister whose heart is set in quarreling, finding faults, gossip etc,
how will the person set his/her mind to start being at peace with everybody?
8.
What are the ways to overcome the influence of
the human nature in our lives?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE SHARING (2/04/2017)
TOPIC: STEPS
UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 5)
B. Unsetting the “Settings” of the Old Mind
The way
our old mind is set is the basis of our action and behavior. Hence the need to
examine the old natural mind in the light of God’s words in order to unset it.
iii. For example, discuss the already set
understanding of the world system (the old mind) about the following concepts:
ü Prosperity and success
ü Beauty
Compare this with the biblical (or spiritual)
understanding of the same concept. Gen. 39:3, 21; Josh. 1:8; 1 Pet. 3:3-5
What
did you discover?
In
the world, prosperity or success is synonymous with wealth, popularity, power,
position. But in God’s own perspective, none of those things make a man
prosperous. A prosperous man is someone who has God on his side. Joseph was a
slave later a prisoner; yet he was described a prosperous man because the Lord
was with him. What would make Joshua prosperous, and have good success was not
money or popularity; it was as he walked closely with God, studying and
meditating on His word day and night.
In
the world, someone is said to be beautiful depending on her external
appearance. But in God sight, even though someone may look beautiful in
appearance, she is not beautiful in God’s sight unless she has a meek and quiet
spirit. That is the set spiritual understanding of beauty.
Before
you can successfully have your mind set on things above, there is need to
carefully unset the settings of the old mind and have your mind renewed and set
on heavenly things. Your understanding of things must change and be in line
with God’s own understanding of such things so that your desires can become
right.
As
we are coming to the end of this topic today, what decisions have you made to
unset all the understanding of the old mind to God’s way (true/right way).
QUESTIONS
1. Give a summary of all our previous discussions on
our topic “Unsetting the settings of the old mind”
2. From our study, how can you define ‘prosperity’ and
‘success’
3. Is a man with all the riches, cars, good houses,
best certificates and all the world wants said to have prospered or succeeded
in life? YES/NO, Explain.
4. Explain God’s standard of beauty from our study?
5. How can studying and meditating God’s word,
righteousness etc. makes one prosperous?
6. How can we describe a Christian who is wholly
following God but lack the basic needs of life. Is he/she prosperous or said to
have succeeded? Explain.
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE SHARING (23/04/2017)
TOPIC: STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 6)
C. Cultivating the mind of Christ
Cultivation requires
clearing off, breaking up the ground and planting of a new seed followed by
proper weeding and watering. Discuss how we can cultivate the mind of Christ
taking the following steps:
i.
Clear off the
old mind; Jn. 3:3-7; Eph. 4:17-22; Ezek. 36:25-27; Psa. 51:10
There
is need for a saving encounter with the Lord, a supernatural removal of the
natural heart by God as you surrender to Christ to save you. It cannot be done
by the energy of the flesh; the natural heart cannot be improved upon; it has
to be removed and replaced.
Thereafter
the settings of your old mind have to be identified and put off deliberately.
ii.
Break up your
fallow ground; Jer. 4:3; Hos. 10:12; Joel 2:13, Psa. 34:18
What does that mean and
how can we achieve this? Be concerned about the fallowness of your heart. Mourn
over your situation. Let it touch your heart and not just your face. When you
understand what you stand to lose if you continue with thorns and thistles in
your heart, you will cry out. You will pray. A broken and a contrite heart God does
not overlook. It is a necessary preparation for receiving heavenly seed,
heavenly understanding on the soil of your heart.
QUESTION
1. Cultivation requires clearing off, breaking up the
ground and planting of a new seed followed by proper weeding and watering. How
does this apply to our mind/heart?
2. How can we have the mind of Christ?
3. Do we have people in our church who have the mind of
Christ?
4. What are the things obtainable in the life of those
who have the mind of Christ?
5. What are the steps to take in other to break the
fallow ground in our life?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE SHARING (7/05/2017)
TOPIC: STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 7)
C. Cultivating the mind of Christ
Cultivation requires
clearing off, breaking up the ground and planting of a new seed followed by
proper weeding and watering. Discuss how we can cultivate the mind of Christ
taking the following steps:
iii. Cleanse and renew your mind
Eph. 4:22-23; Rom. 12:1-2; Jas 4:8; Eph.
5:26; Ps. 119:9-11
While
the blood of Jesus washes and cleanses the heart from sin and its guilt, the
word of God is God’s instrument for cleansing and renewing the mind. There is
need for constant, daily, regular reading and studying of God’s word for this
purpose. You cannot be lazy at studying the word of God and hope to be renewed.
The mind of Christ is embedded in the word of God. It only becomes yours as the
word of God gets engrafted inside of you.
iv. Feed and fill your mind with the word of God
1 Pet. 2:2; Col. 3:16; Josh. 1:8; Ps.
119:11; Isa. 5:13-14
A
sparing sowing of God’s word in your mind is not enough. Any little space or
aspect of your life not filled with the word of God will soon grow weeds, the
weeds of the natural mind. It will also become the loophole through which hell
(the devil) creeps in to trouble you. Rather let the word of God dwell in you
richly in all wisdom. Make no room (Provision) for the flesh.
QUESTION
1. What are the various ways to cultivate the mind of
Christ from our study?
2. How can one cleanse and renew his/her mind?
3. Explain the significance of the word of God in
cultivating the mind of Christ?
4. Explain different ways from our teaching that weeds
of the natural mind can grow in your mind though you read the word of God?
5. Why do believers make mistake in specific areas of
life like marriage, fashion, doctrine etc even when they read the word of God?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE SHARING (04/06/2017)
TOPIC: STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 8)
C. Cultivating the mind of Christ
Cultivation requires
clearing off, breaking up the ground and planting of a new seed followed by
proper weeding and watering. Discuss how we can cultivate the mind of Christ
taking the following steps:
v. What is the attitude and goal of a renewed mind?
Phil. 1:20-21; 3:7-11; Heb. 10:5-7
Set your heart, mind
and body to know and to please the Lord at all cost. Let that be your goal,
your only goal in life. Let it be your
life pursuit. Then, it will not be difficult to follow Jesus.
Conclusion
The
Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly won God’s approval over His life. Anyone who
wants to walk with God and please Him must diligently cultivate His mind and
follow the path Jesus trod. He must embrace Jesus’ pattern of life and service.
The steps He took, the focus He had, His manner of doing things must become the
standard for anyone who desires to please God.
Jesus
Himself declared: “I am the way”; that means He is the method the path, the
strategy and pattern of living and service for mankind to follow. But no one
can follow Him without having denied himself and taken up his cross daily.
What
is your response in all these?
QUESTION
1.
Outline the
different ways of cultivating the mind of Christ as studied previously?
2.
Explain the
attitude of a renewed mind?
3.
What are the
ways to set your goal only to please God?
4.
How can one win
God’s approval over his/her life as Jesus did?
5.
What are the
steps for denying ourselves and following God wholly?
EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (13/08/2017)
TOPIC: EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS
IN THE BIBLE (Part 2)
Abraham in Discipleship Relationship with God
1.
Look at Abram’s life
background before he started walking with God in discipleship relationship.
Though it was not called by the word “discipleship”,
you will soon discover that it is a discipleship relationship essentially.
Abraham was a human being
like any of us before he started walking with God. Gen. 11:22-32; Discuss
this, applying your discovery to our situation today. You will discover that
Abraham was born by his parents just as we were born. He was a child of old
age, and the first born child of his parents, loaded with many
responsibilities. Yet he left all to walk with God. He was faced with peculiar
problems naturally as any of us. He got married but had a problem with child
bearing as it happens today to many also. In addition, he had to take care of
his nephew, Lot, whose father Haran (Abraham younger’s brother) died. If
Abraham could answer the call unto discipleship with all these life troubles,
and go through it, we have no excuse.
2.
Discuss Abraham’s first
encounter with God Gen. 12:1-5
Compare this with Mk.
11:28-29; Matt. 4:19-20 and the condition for discipleship in Lk.
14:26-27, 33. What lessons can
you learn from this? Discover that when Abraham encountered the Lord, the
instruction God gave him was a call unto discipleship. In order to follow the
Lord, he was asked to leave his country, kindred and father’s house to an
unknown destination, with a promise of what God was going to make him to
become. That sounds like Jesus’ instruction to Peter and Andrew, “Follow
me, and I will make you fishers of men.” But there were conditions to fulfill. He was to deny himself.
The self for him was embodied in his love and attachment to his country, kindred
and father’s house. He was to take up his cross, and he did, bearing the
reproach of following an invisible God to an unknown destination with a promise
that is naturally unrealistic. Yet he did. When he did, he entered into a
discipleship relationship with God. You cannot do less and satisfy God’s desire.
QUESTIONS
1.
In what ways has
God called us out to walk with Him as he called Abraham? Explain.
2.
What should be
our attitude to the call of God in our lives even if it will cost us all we had
as Abraham left all to answer God’ call?
3.
What are the
conditions to fulfill when we decide to walk with God?
4.
What are the
trails we can face while walking with God as Abraham also faced it?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (20/08/2017)
TOPIC: EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS
IN THE BIBLE (Part 3)
Abraham in Discipleship Relationship with God
3.
a). Discipleship is not without
trials. Just as examinations are to students, so are trials to a disciple.
Discuss the trial Abraham faced Gen 12:8-20. We discussed earlier
that discipleship is a master - apprentice or teacher-pupil
kind of relationship. And as a student or pupil, there are certain
examinations or tests you must passed before you are promoted to the next class
in your training. So also it happens to disciples. God sometimes allows certain
trials to come our way in our discipleship walk with Him in other to prove us
and approve us for the next stage of our training if we pass this test. If not,
we repeat the class. Many of us have found ourselves repeating the same lesson
over and over again and receiving heavenly rebukes each time. That definitely
hinders our progress in our walk with God and that is what normally makes many
that are first to be last. Abraham was faced with the trial of famine though he
was in the will of God, in the land of promise. The fact that you are in the
will of God, where God wants you to be, does not mean there could be no famine
there.
b). What was his reaction to this
trials? Gen. 12:16; 16:1. Instead of calling on the Lord whom he
followed into that land when faced with that trial, we are not told he prayed.
There he went down into Egypt and traded his wife for food, telling lies. There
he received a rebuke from the unbelieving king of Egypt, and there the devil
posted an Egyptian maid servant in his family, who later became an alternative
to Sarah and to God’s promise for him (Gen 12:16; 16:1). We have an enemy
who always wants us to trade our birthright for a spoon of pottage. When such
temptation comes, it is not compulsory for us to fall, but rather to see the
way of escape graciously provided for us in that temptation and stand for the
Lord.
c). How did God deliver him out
of that trail? Gen. 12:17, 20; Psa. 34:19; 1 Cor. 10:13. First, God saw the
submission and innocence of Sarah and probably her trust in God, (1
Pet. 3:5-6). He plagued Pharaoh’s house, not because of Abraham but
because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. This is a lesson for wives. God then provided a way of escape for Abram
in other to deliver him from that problem. He moved Pharaoh to send him away
out of Egypt. Thank God Abraham agreed to get out. He would have been lost
forever out of the plan and purpose of God. In times of temptation, always
watch out for the way of escape and escape for your life.
QUESTIONS
1.
Are life
challenges excuses not to walk with God as Abraham did? Yes or No, Explain.
2.
Why does God
allow trails to come upon u when we are faithfully walking with Him?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13
UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (19/11/2017)
TOPIC:
EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE (Part 4)
Abraham
in Discipleship Relationship with God
4. What
did Abraham do after this in order to restore his relationship with God? Gen. 13:1-4 (NIV), Ezek. 33:13
When a righteous man, who has
been righteous all his life falls into sin, all his righteousness will be
forgotten. That is the principle of the scriptures. You go back to the zero
level and begin again. Abraham had to go back to Bethel where he made an altar
to God at the beginning and start afresh. Even with that, the way back to
Bethel from Egypt was no longer straight forward. He had to go from Egypt to
the Neger and then to Bethel, whereas from the land of promise to Egypt was an
expressway. He went straight down to Egypt.
The way unto restoration is
always more difficult than the way unto backsliding. Nevertheless, it is better
to pass through it and get restored as Abraham did than to continue in
backsliding and lose all. May God grant you understanding?
5. Discuss the role played by Lot in
Abraham’s life and Relationship with God; Gen.
12:3; 13:1, 5-11; 14:8-14
God called Abraham and Lot
went with him. That was an opportunity for Lot to learn the life and
relationship of Abraham with God and partake in the blessings of Abraham. But
he would not. He lifted up his eyes in pride (against his uncle Abraham),
choosing lands before his uncle chose, and ended up choosing wrongly.
But
Abraham grew in conformity to God’s character; He peaceably and meekly resolved
the matter with lot and Lot choose to separate himself from Abraham.
Discipleship involves spiritual growth. As we walk with the Lord or with our
human masters (disciplers), we must use the challenges that we face there to
develop our character in conformity to the image of the Lord Jesus. We must
grow not only in service but in character. Have you been following Jesus and
your character has not changed from that of your old self? Then you are not
growing and your inheritance, (the purpose of God for your life) may be delayed
from getting into your hands.
6. There
is room for growth in discipleship. Discuss Abraham’s growth in his
relationship with God and consequently in his vision Gen. 13:7-9, 14:8-14, 21-24
Discover
his growth in vision as you compare Gen. 12:2-3 with Gen. 13:14-18
As said
earlier, we can see Abraham’s growth in character from the way he related with
Lot. He was humble, meek, peaceable and kind. He showed kindness in going with
his soldiers to deliver Lot and did not revenge. He consequently grew in vision.
When you grow in conformity to the character of lifestyle of the Lord Jesus,
God enlarges your scope and adds to His promise for your life. His blessings
increase over your life. But if you keep marking time over the same wrong habit
or behavior that God has been warning you about, you will also not progress in
vision. God does not release all His promise anointing upon a life at once. He
does so in stages, depending on your growth in life and character.
QUESTION
1. What
steps are to be taken by any believer that backslide from the ways of God in
other to be restored?
2. In what
ways can a believer behave like Lot from our teachings and our reactions if we
come in contact with such believer?
3. How can
we be stunted in growth as believers even if we have stayed many years in the
church?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13
UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (26/11/2017)
TOPIC:
EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE (Part 5)
Abraham
in Discipleship Relationship with God
7. a)
Discuss how Abram handled the trial of barrenness that confronted him; Gen. 15:1-4; Jas. 1:2-4
His problem of barrenness dominated his mind so
much that he could no longer see the value of possessing God. (God Himself
becoming his exceeding great reward). Rather he complained.
In our
lives’ journey, we keep facing one trial or the other but our attitude as we
follow the Lord must be Phil. 4:6-7. Complaining will land us
into more trouble as it happened to Abram and to the children of Israel in the wilderness.
Rather than worry and complain, learn to pray and give thanks. Even though
weeping endures all through the night, surely joy is coming in the morning.
7. b)
How did Hagar come into Abraham’s life? Gen.
12:16; 16:1-2
She was one of the items in
the bride price given to Abram by Pharaoh in exchange for Sarah his wife.
However when his wife was restored to him, instead of restituting by returning
the bride price, he went away with everything. And he went away with trouble
that has become the trouble of the whole world today: the Ishmaelite that came from
the womb of Hagar the Egyptian.
Are there things you did
against another person while an unbeliever or a backslider? For your record to
be clean with God both now and in the future there is need to restitute. It is
part of Christian life. Zaccheaus did it and Jesus went to abide in his house.
You must not dodge it.
7. c)
Discuss the effect of Haggar’s life on Abraham’s home and his discipleship with
God? Gen. 16:1-6; 15-16; 17:1; 15-19
How was he restored? What
lessons can we learn from here?
Hagar became an alternative
to Sarah, a stumbling block to the man of God, Abraham. He went in to her and
so went into the devil’s trap. Hagar conceived and quarrels started in the
house of the man of God. He became a polygamous man and the presence of God departed
from him for 13 years. No prayer, no building of any altar, he was in darkness.
In Gen. 17:1; God had to
come back and introduce Himself afresh to Abram as if he was an unbeliever who
never knew God. He had to start afresh to learn how to walk with God. Because
of the stubbornness of his flesh, causing him to fall into sin often, he had to
be wounded; through circumcision; he had to bleed. God had to renew His
covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham.
Despite this, Abraham’s
passion and tenacity to having a child was so much that he argued with God and
pleaded for Ishmael to live. May be God would have finished with Ishmael
forever, but he pleaded for his Ishmael, the fruit of his sinful nature to
live. That is a great lesson for those of us desiring to follow Jesus. Don’t
pray for your “Ishmael” to live. Let God deal with him as He wills. We must
watch our lives, our steps and be surrendered to the will of God at all cost.
QUESTIONS
1.
What should be our reaction when we are faced
with challenges like Abraham? Give examples.
2.
Give instances of what a believer should throw
away or restitute after returning back from his/her backslidden state?
3.
How can we be tormented by our former way of
life?
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13
UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (3/12/2017)
TOPIC:
EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE (Part 6)
Abraham
in Discipleship Relationship with God
8. After those thirteen years of
backslidden, Abraham became restored (though with pains) and he grew on again
in his relationship with God Gen. 18:1-8;
18:17-19; 18:23-25
He grew in character, he grew
in hospitality. God had good testimony about Abraham and Abraham knew God’s
character also in a deeper way Gen. 18:23-25. In discipleship
relationship, the disciple grows to know the discipler better and the discipler
does the same.
9. God’s promise to give Abraham a son
became fulfilled after 25years of waiting; Gen.
21:1-5; Lam. 3:25-26
God is ever faithful to His
promises. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him; to the soul that seeks
Him; it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation
of the Lord. It is painful to note however, that the wasted 13 out of those 25
years were caused by Abraham’s carelessness, not by God’s delay. My God grant
you understanding.
10. a) Abraham was faced with yet another trial; Gen. 22:1-3; Heb. 11:17-19
Discuss the implication of
this trial and Abraham’s attitude to the trial this time around.
Isaac was becoming an idol in
Abraham’s heart. And God does not tolerate rivals. That brought another trial,
in order to prove Abraham. God instructed him to go and sacrifice his only son
Isaac, the one he loves. That means he was to become childless again. It was a
great trial. But Abraham has learnt his lessons. He believed God that God was
able to raise him from the dead. He obeyed God and proved his unequalled love
for the Lord.
What is your own Isaac
that is creeping into your heart and trying to become an idol in your heart?
For God to commit Himself to you in a greater dimension, you must prove your
unrivalled love for Him. You must sacrifice that Isaac to the Lord.
b). Also note that God did not respond to
provide a way of escape until Abraham actually took the knife to slaughter
Isaac.
In his heart, Isaac was
already dead. Every Isaac in our lives must be sacrificed to the Lord.
c). Discuss the reward of Abraham’s obedience
in this scripture Gen. 22:15-18; Gal.
6:6-9
Abraham received a greater
blessing for his obedience. He sowed to the Spirit and reaped life. Where do
you throw your allegiance? Whom do you obey? The Spirit or your human nature?
QUESTIONS
1.
What are the different fruits that can show one
is restored after returning from backslidden state?
2.
How can we delay God’s promises and blessings
to our lives?
3.
Mention various lifestyle or things that can
stand as God’s rival in our lives as an idol and how can we deal with it.
4.
Does disobedience to God’s instructions make
God to fulfill His promises in our life? YES or NO
CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH
#13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI
BIBLE
SHARING (17/12/2017)
TOPIC: EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP RELATIONSHIPS
IN THE BIBLE (Part 7)
Abraham in Discipleship Relationship with God
11. Abraham
sojourned in the land of promise as he was commanded by the Lord, until he died
Gen. 25:5-19; Discuss what this teaches
us about:
a) What our attitude should be towards
God’s promises. (His word to us) 2 Cor. 1:20; Heb. 6:12-15
b) The duration of our discipleship
relationship with the Lord Lk. 1:74-75
Abraham
stayed, lived and died in the Land of promise. He stayed within the promise of
God for his life, without looking back or returning to the land where he came
from. And God fulfilled His promise. He never fails. His promises are in
Christ, yea, and in Him, Amen. Though it tarries, wait for it. It will surely
come.
Abraham
walked with God in discipleship relationship till he died. Discipleship is a
life - long process. For how long will you walk with God?
Conclusion:
God
raised Abraham by a direct discipleship relationship. The relationship had a
definite starting point and Abraham voluntarily yielded his life to follow the
Master despite the fact that he did not know where he was going. He grew on,
learning under God; he also grew in vision. He faced many troubles and trials
as part of his training process to become what God wanted him to be.
He
failed in some instances and his inability to wait patiently for God’s promise
of the child, led to the birth of Ishmael, for which cause the whole world is
suffering today. He was however quick in learning his lessons and at last, he
emerged victorious and became the father of faith. The doubter became the
father of faith; the barren became the father of many nations. Jesus says “Follow
me, I will make you…”He can also make you if you follow Him.
Abraham
did not graduate from being a disciple until his death. Discipleship is a life
- long training between a believer and the Lord Jesus. The moment you seek to
be independent from Christ and His principles, you cease to be His disciple.
Commitment
and submission are the watchwords of a disciple, not minding the instrument He
chooses to use to hammer you to the desired shape.
Abraham
showed us an example with his life, so that where he fell, we shall not fall;
and where he followed the Lord, we shall do likewise. Look into your life once
again. Can you truly say a discipleship relationship has started between you
and the Lord? What is your goal in life?
QUESTION
1. What should be our attitude to problems we faced in doing the will
of God.
2. How can we stay within God’s promise for our lives till eternity?
3. Explain what is meant by “Discipleship is a life-long process”