PHASE 1 WEEK 10 page 186—211
New York Youth Leaders Association
difficult and confusing circumstances?
2. Share a testimony of God speaking to you through circumstances.
3. How does the church help us in knowing God’s will
divine...@gmail.com
1-What can we learn from the life of Job in relationships that are too difficult and confusing circumstances? From the life of Job we learn (a)to turn to God's Word first, (b)pray, (c)walk in faith with patience, (d)watch and wait on God. We need to declare in faith that the devil means "...evil against me; but God meant it unto good,.." (Gen 50:20). (e)We learn to stay faithful to God as we face overwhelming odds in difficult relationships and confusing circumstances beyond our control. (f)-We learn that in any adversity we can stand upon the promises of God in His Word, with a blessed assurance and a complete confidence in Him. (g)-We learn to lean on God, trusting in Him as our all in all, to take us through for our good and for His glory. (Romans 8:28). "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold". (Job 23:10). Job did not try to "blame" God for his losses, grief and trials. Job felt it was vital to view his circumstances from God's perspective. He trusted God to help him to understand the confusing and painful circumstances and reveal His purposes and the Truth that he was trying to teach. Like Job, we too need to be confident and know, that God never fails. He was faithful in the past, He is faithful today and His faithfulness endures forever. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..." (Job 13:15)
2-Share a testimony of God speaking to you through circumstances. About two years ago I was going through a tough situation in the ministry leadership of a church where I was a local Associate Pastor. There were a lot of changes in the leadership, some of which proved to be difficult and confusing. I turned the entire situation over to the Lord. I recalled in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Through my mentors in Christ and study in the Word, God answered my prayer and spoke through the following Scriptures:
A. "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." (2 Tim.4:5b NIV). B. In Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD..." I felt comforted and encouraged.
C -Isaiah 43:1-2, "...thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. D. He whispered to me Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Father God was saying to me, Debbie, don't get discouraged. Just keep on going. I got this and I am taking care of you. I had a peace that passed my understanding of the situation. As I prayed the Scriptures back to God, He strengthened me and increased my faith that He will make a way out of no way. And as I continue to trust him, He will continually and faithfully see me through.
In addition to my past experiences in God,
I am taking the approach to daily depend upon the Holy Spirit to help me to understand and to make wise decisions in navigating around, from, or through a situation from His perspective. I need to continually depend on Him like Job, to reveal the truth about my circumstances and acquire divine wisdom to deal with tough relationships that God uses to build my character. Only then can I adjust my life and my thinking to what God is doing in my life. Romans 8: 28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
3-How does the church help us in knowing God's will? The church is extremely helpful to us in knowing God's will. The church helps us to develop our character, attitudes, abilities, skills, talents, and areas of spiritual growth and maturity in God. The church of believers is the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Head of the body of believers. God let's us know His will, through the body of believers, as directed by the Holy Spirit. Believers (the church) help us in conforming our lives to align with Truth and the will of God. Believers, through the Holy Spirit, directly impact, influence, guide, instruct, teach, and lead us as we minister and serve God and minister and serve others in making disciples and in meeting the needs of others.
Every member needs to genuinely and lovingly. share divine wisdom of the Word, revelation knowledge and Christ-centered understanding of the Word. In addition to testimonies of the goodness of God in their lives and in building His kingdom. This is very important to leading and guiding members in faith, in obedience and in faithfully trusting God.
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Najwa Clay_Edwards
1) Job always tried to understand his situation from God’s
perspective. He never allowed himself to listen to his circumstance
or
even other people’s interpretation of his circumstance. He always
trusted in God’s plan to work for his good. He didn’t question God’s
intentions toward him, but rather chose to look at his difficult and
confusing issues through the heart of God. He knew that God’s
intentions toward him were always coming from a perspective of Love.
2) Two and ½ years ago I was driving down the highway and my car
just
stalled in the middle of traffic and when I had it towed to the
dealership I was told that it was going to cost five thousand dollars
to replace my engine. I didn’t have any transportation and my credit
wasn’t the best. My husband’s employment had recently been downgraded
to partime, however after much prayer and searching God used a man at
another dealership to work with us and we were blessed to drive a
2000
Saturn SL2 for a payment that we could afford. Right after we got the
car my husband’s position was downsized all together, however God
allowed me to make every payment. The car had many challenges
especially a very loud exhaust system that couldn’t ever seem to be
repaired properly and it had begun to stall on the side of the rode
if
you drove it for more then 15 minutes, but that didn’t bother me
because I only had a few more payment to make and I was going to put
the payment into repairing that wile saving the rest of the money to
catch up on some traveling I wanted to do. Well wouldn’t you know it
exactly 30 days before my last payment was due the car shut off on
me in the middle of rush our traffic during my 8 minute ride home
from
work . As I sat there in traffic watching the cars go by for about
an
hour I began to pray about my situation. I began to sort of feel
frustrated and wondered why me, however God allowed me to get to my
destination safely. The next day I was expected to go to a very
prestigious meeting for work which was about 20 minutes away. So, I
prayed before I left and decided to use my lunch plus the travel time
issued by the job to get to my meeting (covering all of my bases).
Well, I guess you know the car shut off 3 different times and I was
exactly two minutes late to my meeting. When I walked in the
executives were already seated and I had to walk through the crowd to
find a seat. I wanted to just cry. I quietly prayed during the
meeting
in regards to my journey home and in regards to my transportation
needs in the future. After I prayed the Holy Spirit reminded me that
the car dealership was just down the road from where I was and they
offer free oil changes. Although I didn’t know what an oil change
could do for me I decided to go on anyway. I called the dealership
and
they had an opening for me to come right in. As I puttered down the
very busy road placing the car in neutral from time to time to
prevent
it from stalling I was reminded that my car title was in the Bible
lying on the back seat. When I pulled into the service center and
registered the car with the mechanics, I was prepared to sit in the
waiting room and pray that the oil change would do the trick, but I
felt unction to go to the show room floor. A sales guy asked me if I
was interested in making a purchase and I said I’m not sure yet. He
later led me to the man who sold me the car two years ago. The
salesman remembered me and greeted me by telling me that he knew I
would be in to trade my car. I explained my situation and I also
explained that I didn’t want an high payment if I was going to get a
car because I really wanted to save for a cruise with my car payment
money. He convinced me to test drive a vehicle, so I went to pick up
my husband. By the time we returned he had a deal for us that kept
the
car payments the same and I could leave the lot with the vehicle no
money ever changing. Hands. In one instance I had been upgraded by
God
from a 200 Saturn to a 2009 Chevy HHR with my entire wish list
fulfilled as far as the features go at no out of pocket expense to
me. God used my old car as the down payment for my new car because
the dealership paid more than the blue book value for my trade. I
mean
in less than three hours of following the voice of God he had worked
a
real miracle.
3) The church allows you to come together with other believers
and
study God’s word. We also have a chance to share experiences and
witness other’s experience God which will increase our faith. We also
have an opportunity to study the Word and pray together. We have
personal encounters with God in a public setting , so he ministers to
us as a body while speaking to us induvidually as well.
On Mar 19, 11:52 am, New York Youth Leaders Association
charlesette
takes the Word of God and reveals truth, you adjust your life to the
truth of God, you obey Him, and God works in and through you to
accomplish His purpose. pg. 164
2. How does God speaks through prayer?
1. God takes the initiative by causing you to want to pray.
2. The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God reveals to you the will of
God.
3. In the Spirit, you pray in agreement with the will of God.
4. You adjust your life to the truth (to God).
5. You look and listen for confirmation or further direction from the
Bible. Circumstances, and the church (other believers).
6. You obey.
7. God works in you and through you to accomplish His purposes.
8. You experience Him just as the Spirit revealed as you prayed. Pg.
178
3. What steps are you taking in adjusting your life to the scripture?
Since I started to take a class at church and taking this one, I am
becoming more focus on my reading of the word of God and in prayer.
4. What is most challenging for you? The most challenging thing for
me is managing my time, please pray for me.
charlesette
2. The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God reveals to you the will of
God.
3. In the Spirit, you pray in agreement with the will of God.
4. You adjust your life to the truth (to God).
5. You look and listen for confirmation or further direction from the
Bible. Circumstances, and the church (other believers).
6. You obey.
7. God works in you and through you to accomplish His purposes.
8. You experience Him just as the Spirit revealed as you prayed. Pg.
178
becoming more focus on my reading of the word of God and in prayer.
. What is most challenging for you? The most challenging thing
for
> me is managing my time, please pray for me.
>
> On Apr 21, 4:49 pm, Najwa Clay_Edwards <najsad2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
charlesette
my computer last night when I was posting
Phase I Week 12 page 186=211
1. We can learn that even though Job had problems and circumstances
he still had faith and trusted God, and because a person is having
challenging things going on in there life that they have turned away
from God we shouldn’t go around being judgmental about others
relationship with God. And even though the situation we are going
though we don’t understand we must give God praise and fully trust him
knowing He is able to carry us through.
2. I have been going through a issue in my body since October, been
to my family doctor, sent to a specialist in the field had test done
one surgery and still having the issue. The specialist in this field
referred me to a Oncologist Doctor in this field to do a 2nd surgery
and take test because she think it might be related to chemo medicine
I took in 1995 for Breast Cancer and the test need to be done by a
Oncologist Specialist. I had to go to the hospital last week for pre
testing before my surgery this Thursday. As I left pre-surgery area I
sat down on my to my car to go home and it was a lady sitting across
from me, she didn’t no what I was there far she said to me I’m praying
for your healing. To me that was and Angel God had sent to me to let
me know He is with me.
3. God speaks through the members of the body to help others know and
understand God assignment for their lives by the Holy Spirit and one
avenue God uses is the church. Pg204 Blackaby