The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

Whew! Here it is Sept. 5 already and Week 5! Well, my DH is on vacation all this week and we plan to take a short trip up to the peninsula tomorrow. I am going to be a little late in posting this week. Will try to get it all done by Thurs.

Hope you are having a great week and look forward to continuing this study with you!!

Jane

1-2. I think the principles here are Christians should live exemplary lives in the midst of unbelievers so as to be a witness and glorify God. It's too bad we cannot attain sinless perfection here on earth, as it would be so much easier, wouldn't it!!? Well, we still have that remnant of sin, our flesh, and even tho made powerless, it still loves sin and wages war with our spirit.

When we abstain from fleshly lusts, suffer for doing what's right, honor authority, respect and live in harmony with our husbands, the unbelievers see this and it makes an impression upon them. The unbeliever can try to live as we do, but they only do it in the flesh and there is no peace or joy associated with it. Another benefit of behaving in a Christ-like way is we're not only doing what God wants and He knows best, but the behavior is harmonious with our new nature, and we benefit from that with peace that passes all understanding.

3. Gal. 5:19-21 Deeds of the flesh: These are what unbelievers produce on a continual basis. They cannot produce any righteous deeds. Christians have a choice, and have the power to overcome these desires. From time to time we Christians do cave in to these fleshly desires but we have the Holy Spirit showing us we don't want those things anymore.

5. I still battle with some of the deeds of the flesh to some degree at times but I have to realize that behavior is not becoming and doesn't honor God. It never produces a peaceful feeling within. I just thank Him for His forgiveness for all my sins and try to remain in that ‘attitude of gratitude'. What a loving God we have.

Day 2

7. Submit yourselves...that's the will of God. Enjoy our freedom in Christ as long as it doesn't cause another to stumble or that we're not using that freedom to be doing something we shouldn't be doing. It wouldn't be glorifying God.

Diamonds: We are servants, slaves of righteousness, serving out of love.

8. In the Romans passage, I see ‘honoring authority' and ‘suffering for doing what is right' to be similar with 1 Pet. 2:13-17.

9. How does it look to honor someone? Respect, courtesy, not bashing or name calling.

Day 3-5

Hi Pam! I don't know about you, but I thought more time was spent on submission than needed to be. We probably could have bypassed days 4 and 5.

12. Peter and John refused to submit to the Jews' wishes of not preaching Jesus' resurrection from the dead, so they were thrown in jail. They were also on trial for healing the crippled man. But because of all they'd seen and heard (Christ's power), they couldn't deny the truth of it. They knew it wasn't from their own strength, but of Christ's that did the healing.

I think the main point of submission is that we are to obey God, no matter what man says and regardless of the consequences.

There are examples in Daniel where the Hebrews refused to submit to the king's wishes and God honored that.

We are to obey our masters, both good and unreasonable, because God is completely sovereign over the situations and as we submit (yield) to God, He will work His desired results through us. We may not understand at the time and it may not be pleasant, but we just have to trust Him!! Romans 8:28.


Lord thank you for giving Pam the perseverance to continue in this study even though she may be busy with many other tasks. Keep her strengthened and encouraged in your Word. Thank you for the lesson on submission to authority and that you use every person and every circumstance to accomplish your perfect will.

Col 3:23-25
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
NASU

Sorry it has taken so long to write this up. It has been a busy week.

I related to your wording of "the unbeliever trying to live as we do...and only being able to do it in the flesh." Soooo true. But...

Even as a Christian I have struggled with that some. I know some very strong, gentle, meek amazing Christians, and I desired to be like they were...but I was doing it on my own strength...not the Lords. I tried to carry on Biblical conversations with them, all while knowing not what I was talking about. I so wanted to be like them that I covered up my "inequality" so I could fit it. What I have learned since then.... the day I accepted Christ is the day I "fit in"

The deed of the flesh are strong, and they do wage war. Some days I feel I am winning, some days I feel like I am losing, and other days I am unaware and peaceful knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord. He has proven Himself over and over to me... He does not change and does not falter... and now I have an answer to the people who look to my life and want what I have.... Jesus! Plain and simple... When I am asked to account for the joy in my life....it is HIM. What relief to be able to say that it is nothing that I have done, that it has been done for me. The only thing I have done, is allow Him to rule over my heart.... though He does remind me when I am not doing that too...

I will continue on with Lesson 2 tomorrow... I should be caught up to you by the time you return... but Gods timing is perfect and His lesson will get taught. I so appreciate you and the accountability I feel so as to keep me in Gods word.
always...
Pam

Yes, the deeds of the flesh can be strong, but Christ has broken that power over us. The unbeliever does not have the H.S. and the deeds of the flesh are all they know! We have a choice now, to yield to 'those' or yield to Christ. I think it takes practice, and I pray God lets me work on the little things first!!

I could sure relate to your dealing with other Christians and trying to fit in. Talk about feeling inequality! One guy in church was confronting me with a bunch of stuff that I thought was from Scripture, and it was actually from a commentary that had some error in it, as I (years later) found out. I figure if we are being made to feel inferior, then it's a spiritual battle and guess who's behind that!!?? Hah!

All we need to know is Christ crucified. I learned not to be intimidated by scholars. Knowing who we are in Christ is enough to live a life of Victory.

Hey, here's where you can use your freedom in Christ! Answer those questions that speak to your heart. We don't have to answer every single question. I felt that days 4 and 5 were pretty much moot so I summarized.

By the way.....I finally processed the last apple today and put up 5 quarts. That makes 24 qts. of applesauce. Not bad for a beginner! Also, I added some lemon juice and lemon peel to a small batch of applesauce, and it was heavenly! Just a little sweet with a little citrusy flavor! Mmmmm.

I'm glad to have a sister like you, Pam!

I have studied submission some, mostly because of my "colntrolling" personality. I have learned a great deal of head knowledge...but it is always good to have redirection again!

Submitting for the Lords sake.... for Hids will.... His purposes...
Be a bondservant... surrendering to the Master, swallowed up in the will of another (GOD). Bound to the master until death.

I do not have any rights to myself... I have the right to love others and serve others and be an open vessel of the Lords.

Following the rules of man can be quite a challenge some days. My boss tells me to do things that make me mad...I have to do them anyway... even though it is NOT how I would do them. SUBMIT.
Driving down the road I follow the speed limit...because it is the law...though that can be tough some days too. SUBMIT.
Someone harms me with their word and has a bad attitude towards me...I have to give a gentle answer, certainly a challenge... SUBMIT.
There are plenty of other examples of the human institutions which I must submit to... but the most important this of all to submit to is my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. I die daily to myself and live for Him...then I will be in the right place.

Thank you Lord that you mercies are new every morning. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for the peace and the joy you have brought to my life. A place of refuge...
Thank you for this free country I live in, Be the guiding hand. Thank you for the internet and the ability to study with my dear friend all the way on the other side of the states. How amazing.
Much love to you Jane...
Pam

Yes, I am still around... sorry it has taken so long. I have been busy and stressed. God is good.... this too shall pass it wil not last!!

Following God along with following the rules that govern us.... God first. His laws and comands override mans. Seems simple.... submission can be gard sometimes.

Being honest about who I am in the Lord is important. Making it clear to others my faith. Family can be hard (they've known you always and don't accept change real well) and so can work (they see me on a daily basis and can judge from day to day how my spirit is doing)...

Lesson 4 talks about the workplace... it is a hard thing to be a Christian among unbelievers. Thye do watch everything I say and do. One day a good mood, the next may be not so good, another could be just awful. They would love nothing better than to "catch me" compromising. It has happened a few times, and I have gone back to them and sought forgiveness from them... which always throws them off guard. They wonder what I am up to when I admit my fault. I have found some amazing opportunities to talk openly about faith in the Lord. So all in all... it is the Lords work to be done.... through me....with a submissive heart and spirit.

Day 5 is interesting to me in the fact that it speaks of taxes and such. My husband likes to follow politics and such and he quite often gets himself worked up into a tizzy. I do not get myself worked up. .. which sometimes can cause tension between us. I take the stand that we are to submit to the laws that govern us... even if we do not think they are right... because it is what the Lord says. I have said to him that if the Lord has really put it on his heart to do something about it, than he should become involved in the decision making process. Seems simple enough to me. Complaints only get you so far....

Q: What has God said to me this week? Continue... press on toward the goal... stay in my word... walk with me and talk with me. Hang in there... I gotcha....

Praise the Lord. Thanks for your patient attitude. I am being blessed by this study, and by you. In Him...
Pam