Section A - Asking the Right Questions (1 Thessalonians 5)
In Thessalonian, five verse eight, the bible talks of wearing the breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope for salvation. It is telling as to be prepared like a soldier. A soldier in battle is always armed and ready for the enemy to attack, he does not lay his weapons aside. As Christians, we should also be ready for the coming of the Lord, for like a thief or an enemy. He may come at any time. The bible says we should fast and pray and be like the five wise girls so that when the bridegroom cometh we are ready with our lamps full, Matthew 25: 1-13.
In verse twenty-two, Paul says we should avoid all evil. Evil according to the bible is anything that can separate us from the glory of God. We are told to observe the Ten Commandments given to us by God through His servant Moses in the book of Exodus chapter 20.
The chapter in verse nine says we are not destined for wrath but salvation and that we may live with our Lord Jesus Christ. The promise of a righteous life is eternal life after death. If we live a life away from sins and observe the teachings of the Bible, we are promised a place with the lord. The bible says that we shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16.
In verse 17, we are told to pray without ceasing and be thankful in all circumstances. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in the book of Luke chapter eleven, verses 2-4. We should constantly pray that God might forgive our trespasses and help us live a holy life so that when the day of the coming arrives we shall be ready, Luke 11:2-4.
In chapters eleven to fifteen, Paul tells us to encourage one another and show respect to the hard working people among us. He however tells us to admonish the idle. We are being told to work hard in everything we do. We should work hard to keep ourselves from earthly desire in order to live a holy life. Earthly things will perish but the word of God will stand forever, Mathew 24:35.
Verses 19 to 22, the bible tells us not to quench the spirit nor despise the prophecies but test everything and hold what is good. The desires of the spirit are earthly and will pull as away from the Lord’s glory; it is there for a condition not to follow what our body’s wants. The prophecies are meant to lead us in the times of darkness. We should obey the prophecies, as it is through them that we shall know the signs of the coming of the Lord. Galatians 5: 16-25.
The era to mark is the end of the world and the beginning of the eternal life. Paul says that the season is well known to us, that the Lord will come like a thief. This marks the end of the world and the start of the everlasting time. The mark will come like any other day, people doing various activities and the Lord will appear in the clouds to take the church. He is telling us to be prepared. Matthew 24: 40-42.
The major challenge is our body. Trying to fulfill the desires of the spirit is the main reason of failure to live a righteous life. Other challenges include being faint-hearted and lack of patient. As Christians, we should pray that we might not fall into temptations and not fulfill the desires of the spirit. Matthew 26: 40-44 and Matthew 24: 35.
Section B-Truth That Transforms (Psalms 51)
In the previous chapter, we were learning on the nearing approach of the day of the Lord. We observed how we could live a righteous life that is pleasing before the eyes of the Lord. We observed that the first thing is to avoid the desires of the body. To keep our Christian life in check through prayers, we should never get tired of praying and never cease. The desires of our bodies are the major challenge in living the advocated holy and righteous life.
In Psalms 51, David the king writes a song of the sin he had committed in killing Uriah and taking Bathsheba his wife, (2 Samuel 11: 5-27). David is remorseful for his actions and he plays God for forgiveness. David’s sins were because of his spirit/ bodily desires that made him admire Uriah’s wife and plotted his murder. The action displeased God and He sent His prophet Nathan to warn David about it. This shows that indeed the desires of our bodies are a major cause of our sinning against God.
In Psalms verse 2, David seeks for thorough cleansing from his sin. He accepts that he is aware of his transgression and that his sins are ever before him. In the fourth verse, he continuous acknowledging his sinful deeds and seeks God’s forgiveness and cleansing. David is guilt of pouring innocent blood; in verse fourteen, he seeks deliverance from blood guiltiness. This verses shows that David acknowledging the turn of events as recorded in 2 Samuel 11.
There are parts in the chapter that are convincing to live a righteous life. In reflecting the relationship between David and God, how it turns out to be after his sinful deed, one wishes to live a righteous life where their relation with God is perfect. David mourns of the lost presence of God. He yearns for the gladness and happiness of knowing God protects and watches him. This shows how life can be discouraging and hopeless. It makes us wish that the presence of God is with us and live that peaceful life that is promised when we walk with the Lord.
Section C- A Transformed People
According to Exodus in Old Testament god promoted and provided for good human attribute relating to knowledge and skill at perfuming a task. In exodus 31: 1-11 the Lord our God was talking to Moses and He said look I have chosen Bezalel who was son of Uri from tribe of Judah and Ohaliab son of Ahisamak from the tribe of Dan. God appointed and filled them with the Holy Spirit which guided them with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and all kind of skills.
The two craftsmen were blessed with artistic design for work in gold, bronze and silver which were used to design cutting objects that were used to set and cut stones, wood and engage in all kinds of crafts. The two craftsmen were not famous because during that time King David was most famous because he used to play the harp and writing songs. This showed that even in those times, musicians got all the attention and was highly appreciated. Bezalel was the man in charge of constructing the Tabernacle.
Tabernacle is significant example of God’s method which He could seed his kingdom into earth. Just to give a little contextual on this, the children of Israel had just had their first Pentecost and soon after Moses gave the Ten Commandments which was the time God started laying down the earth’s rules for a godly society.
Tabernacle was a sanctuary for God which symbolized freedom of Jews from bondage of Egypt. In short tabernacle was a shadow of the nature of God Trinity which is God the Father, God the Son and God Spirit. This was symbolized by the three parts of tabernacle. This was the reason behind tabernacle leading the Jewish people. High quality workmanship was required is because tabernacle was God’s dwelling place.
God still endows certain individuals with special gifts this is because God loves us unconditionally and last forever. The special spiritual gifts are given to help others but not our selves. As the two great commandments deal with loving god and others. Truly the life of Christian is also designed to be a spiritual journey in which God reveals in our lives. God provides good and perfect gifts but he also wants to reveal himself in our day to day issues of life.
That is why our testimony as artists will destroy the works of our enemies. As he leads us into all purifies and truth us in the fires and challenges of our lives, God will draw all men to himself through the testimony of his saints. This will aid us as Christians to reach the promise land. The temple was primarily house of worship of Yahweh. It was the only place to sacrifice animals to God which was conducted by Jewish.
Temple reflected a great quality of workmanship since it was built with the blocks dressed at quarry with no hammer, chisel or any kind of iron tool were used. The Lord told Solomon to observe his laws as he obeys his commands. The connection is that we are God’s workmanship; we were created for good works which God prepared for us. The most important applications of spiritual truth loves the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This will help to love others us you love yourself. This mean to keep God on the fore line in everything you do and commit daily action onto him.
Section D- The Process of Application
Spiritual growth is referred as commitment to change where Christian has positive input from the Word of God. However, there are differences that make Christian life to vary in their lives. According to observations made in reference of apply the scripture proves that the observation is reasonable. In conclusion, Christian should not neglect or avoid applying what we have learned.
The bible study should be put in consideration since the issues have an impact on our daily life. In truth, however, it is the Bible that is timeless and it is us that have grown irrelevant. The Bible is the immovable truth of life. It is we who need the adjusting and the twisting; we are the ones who need to be molded around the truths of Scripture. Thus, though I may be making more out of it than necessary, I prefer to say we should apply our lives to the Scripture.
Customized Christianity (Jeremiah 36)
The Lord said to Jeremiah, am the Lord, the God of all flesh, there is anything too hard or big for me. Therefore he gave out permission for the children of Israel to perish since they provoked God to anger with work of their hands. So as Christian we should learn how to obey God and follow his commands for us to reach the promise land
Cultures in Context (Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-46)
In Genesis the Bible tells us about the account of the family line of Isaac son of Abraham. The biblical context consist socio-cultural element, it provides the setting for the accounts, and it is therefore supportive in understanding certain passages of the text more completely. The bible tells how Abraham generation multiplied to be like the stars of the sky as he was promised by God which was a covenant. Jacob was a miracle child he gave birth to two children. However, the two children become two nations. Rebekah did not know she was going to give birth to twins, and she could not understand what the trouble was.
God allowed this to happen to her so He could reveal His plan for the children she would bear. From the chapter we learn that we should always stay with future generation in mind. The character you set for your generation will leave a mark on the lives of generation that one will never live to see. Don't be content to leave an inheritance of material possessions. Instead, strive to be a channel for God's blessings to reach generations still unborn. The greatest inheritance your posterity can receive from you is the heritage of God's blessing. We must be ready to go when we are called and have patient to wait.
Stating Principles from Scripture (2 Peter 3)
The first principle guides us on all the day to day problems we encounter which are removed from the explicit statements of Scripture. The second is the Bible is starting point as well as turn-up point for these principles. As Christian we should follow the Scripture and guide us in our day to day issues. The third basic is the authority provided by the Scripture which provides reliable information that would guide them.
