Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Isaiah 29:8-14 KJV
8 It shall even be as when an hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. 9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. 13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After declaring that all the nations will attack Jerusalem (Mount Zion), what does the Lord declare about those who do so? (v.8)
2) What will the Lord allow to take place among His people, their prophets, and their spiritual leaders? Why? (v.9-14)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Have you ever ignored the words or teachings of an individual that the Lord may have sent to help you and/or your church? If so, please describe one such time.
LIFE LESSONS
4) The Lord gives His people those with five-fold ministry gifts to edify His body.
5) When God's people ignore, or treat those the Lord sends to them wickedly, He sovereignly removes, or silences, those He sent and allows His people to languish in their error.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Proverbs 29:12-18 KJV
12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants [are] wicked. 13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. 14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame. 16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. 17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. 18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) When a spiritual or civil leader listens to lies, what are the people who told them the lies like? (v.12)
2) What do the impoverished and the deceitful have in common? (v.13)
3) Whose authority is established forever? (v.14)
4) How should those who are wise exercise their spiritual authority over the spiritually immature? (v.15a)
5) What becomes of a natural or spiritual child who is left to themselves? (15b)
6) When transgression increases, what happens and why? (v.16)
7) How will the spiritually mature receive rest and what will happen to their relationship with their wayward spiritual child(ren)? (v.17)
8) What happens when there is no vision? (v.18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Are you in a position of spiritual authority in your home, job, church, or community? if so, what have you done to establish the God-given vision and/or rules for the souls that are in your care.
LIFE LESSONS
10) The Lord expects His people to exercise spiritual authority in those areas where He has blessed us to care for the souls of people.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Exodus 4:27-31 KJV
27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Following Moses' call to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, what did the Lord tell Aaron (Moses' brother) to do? (v.27)
2) What did Moses tell his brother? (v.28)
3) What did Moses and Aaron do after their conversation? (v.29)
4) What did Aaron do before the people of God? (v.30)
5) How did the people respond (v.31)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have your spiritual leaders ever revealed the Lord's vision for your church to the congregation? If so, what is it, at present?
7) How did the congregation respond to that vision?
8) How certain are you that your leader(s) follows Christ?
LIFE LESSONS
9) Our Lord often reveals His vision for a denomination, or local church body, to its leaders.
10) When the Lord places His people under spiritual authority, He expects us to follow the divine vision given to our spiritual leaders.
11) Every believer should be in a church home whose leaders only follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
