MIF 2017: Discussion Notes

Monday: His Immeasurable Riches

  1. Among the first words of God to Adam and Eve is His bountiful declaration, “I have given” (Gen. 1:29). What lessons about God’s character of giving are found in this and other passages of Scripture?
    • God initially gave them (Adam and Eve) the ability of language and understanding…
    • God is a giver… all that was needed for man’s living on the earth
    • God entrusts to Adam and Eve the earth (Stewardship implied)
    • 1 Timothy 6:17 – “God gives all things to enjoy…”
    • God’s giving … keep on giving – seed bearing plants.
  2. Consider Solomon’s extravagant giving bestowed on the queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10:13. What does this passage symbolize about God’s riches towards us?
    • God gives “according to”… Solomon’s gifts were according to her desire…
      (Ephesians 1:7 – according to the riches of His grace)
    • Solomon’s gifts did not diminish him… God’s giving does not reduce his resources/wealth
    • Solomon’s gave her the answers she sought… She sought because of the testimony she had heard… John 16:23 – In the name of Jesus name – the Father will gives …
    • Solomon – “the king of peace” gave her all – Jesus Christ – “ My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27) –
    • Gave of his royal bounty…
  3. We can trust in uncertain riches or in the God who richly gives (1 Tim. 6:17). What principles should be identified from this contrast?
    • Do not trust in uncertain riches…
    • Exhortation: Giving as a practice because we have been given much…Luke 6:38
    • James 1:17 “ Every good gift and every prefect gift… coming down from the Father…”
    • Trust is to be emphasized… In whom/what is my trust? In God or in “stuff”?
  4. In 1 Samuel 25, Nabal responded to David’s goodness with disinterest and disdain (for example, 25:10-16). How does this passage admonish ungrateful Christians today?
    • Nabal thought all was his (v10,11)… (All we have we have received)
    • Valuing true riches (In Christ) – more than temporal riches
    • Be not content with the gifts, but to be content with the giver…

Tuesday: His Incomprehensible Wisdom and Knowledge

  1. Job 28 is a wonderful ode to the wisdom of God.  Consider verses 1, 12-13, 20, and 23.  From these and other verses in this chapter, develop some clear statements about God’s incomprehensible wisdom.
    • Verses 1-11 all that man does
    • Mining indicates getting to the true essence of things.
    • James: 1)Wisdom from the earth. 2) James 3:17 wisdom from God (above).
    • There’s something much more valuable than precious metals and stones…wisdom from above.
    • Job 28:28 answers the many questions raised in the chapter
    • Man seeks wisdom by experiments (his own intelligence). Proverbs 8 tells us that the Lord Jesus Himself is wisdom personified.
    • Prov. 1:7; 9:10 “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
    • Ps. 111:10 “a good understanding have those who DO His commandments.” | obedience
    • Prov. 8:24 creation was to bring out the greatness and wisdom of God | worship
  2. Psalm 147:5 says that God’s understanding is infinite.  Provide some biblical examples of people who recognized this and sought to obtain God’s wisdom and knowledge for themselves.
    • 2 Tim. 2:7; 2 Pet 3:15 | All that is good about wisdom is attributed to God.
    • Dan. 2:27, 23 | wisdom given to one who was praying (dependent on God)
    • Prov. 4 | God told David he could not build the temple but Solomon would.
    • Ps 139:1-3, 23-24
    • Ps. 73:11-17
    • James 1:5
  3. What is it about self-confidence that is so obnoxious to the Lord?  Consider His words to Babylon in Isaiah 47:10, adding other passages as well.
    • Independency of God | the woman in the garden
    • Daniel 4:30 | arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar
    • God wants us to experience joy | John 15 | He wants us to be in communion with Him
    • Independence is the displacement of Christ | Malachi 1 “Wherein?”
    • Self dependence is sin our confidence should be in the Lord
    • Satan | Isaiah 14 “I will be like the most high” | lack of thankfulness
    • Ps. 14 | “the fool” is independent | all sufficiency should be on the Lord
    • Joseph, similar to Daniel, was before the king to interpret his dream | “It is not in me to interpret…” | sanctified confidence in the Lord | no confidence in the flesh
    • Genesis 3 | Satan made Eve lose sight of the Lord | no longer Jehovah but now it’s Elohim…loss of relationship
  4. God supplied wisdom for every artisan who crafted various parts of the tabernacle (Ex. 31:1-6). What does this tell us about the need for wisdom and the fact of God’s provision?
    • Ex. 35 | the HEART is mentioned several times after the great failure
    • 31:6 | God gave the wisdom to do what He COMMANDS
    • Gifted artisans | naturally gifted but they needed God’s wisdom
    • 1 Cor. 6 We should be wise and we must have the word of wisdom | must characterize Christians
    • 1 Kings 2:9, 3:9; James 1:5
    • Ex 25 | God as Builder has the divine blueprint and we must build according to His guidance
    • The Holy Spirit indwells us and He can take the Word of God and bring it to us
    • The objective side cannot be separated from the subjective side.

Wednesday: His Unsearchable Judgments

  1. God’s judgments—His decisions and determinations—are unsearchable, and yet the Holy Spirit searches “the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). How do these two facts combine to encourage believers today?
    • Key Note Address –Unsearchable – I Pet searching diligently end can’t be found out / Rom 11 unable to be searched out
    • Careful not to diminish as we look into it
    • Intellectuals came together but it is the down fall
    • Things prepared, God has shown to us
    • Us in vr. 10 is the Apostles, we have the Holy Spirit within to help
    • Eph 3 – Revealed to Apostle Paul by the Spirit
    • Need the Spirit to enlighten, intellect does not work, who has known the mind of the Lord? We have the Spirit
    • There is a danger because we have fallen, Spirit of God desires more and more to unfold the Lord Jesus
    • We depend on human reasoning, we should not, we need to depend on the Spirit
    • Natural man wants to go into all things, searching even space –contrast His judgments being unsearchable
    • Chp 2:7 In His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus – many acts of kindness and in that day we will know, He will declare and show us the exceeding riches of His grace. In that day we will understand the mysteries
  2. Use the book of Jonah to identify examples of God’s perfect assessments that impact the lives of different types of people.
    • Jonah Chp 1- We see Gods perspective in Him deciding to show mercy to a gentile nation. Was up to Jonah to get on-board or get out of the way
    • God’s dealing with not only the city, but with Jonah himself. He maybe learned the greatest lesson of all
    • God is seen as a holy God right from the beginning
    • He revealed His mind to Jonah, God did not change His commandment, Jonah still had to go to the city
    • God prepared, not by chance that the fish was there. God prepared for the rebellious heart, God takes time to deal with His rebellious prophet. He was not only concerned with the people of the city
    • God knew how to respond to the gentile heart, He knows how to apply mercy
    • God used Jonah when Israel had completely failed to reach out to the gentile
    • Mat 12 – a greater then Jonah is here
    • Salvation is of the Lord – then Jonah is vomited onto the dry land
  3. Contrast God’s unsearchable judgments with the parable of the unjust judge (Lk. 18:1-8).
    • Judge did not fear God
    • God is for His people – who can be against us. The unjust judge thought of himself. God cannot be bought
    • Men always aught to pray – not to lose heart – God wants to answer prayer
    • Rom 3 – God always judges right, unlike the unjust judge who just wanted to get rid of the woman
    • In chp 4 of Jonah or in this passage, where are we, where was Jonah, where was the pity? So that God could be merciful, we were all under disobedience
    • Be humble so as to be helpful to those in our life
    • There is the widow, continued to cry out, shall not God answer the pleading
    • Dependent to keep inquiring of Him
  4. In Revelation 1-3, the Lord Jesus is seen as the One walking among the lampstands.  He emphasizes to every local gathering, “I know your works.”  How should this aspect of the Lord’s character affect us individually and collectively?
    • We see Him as the Judge in Chp 1 with the correct assessment of the church condition
    • Hagar in Gen 16 – knows where the baby is, let to worship and fear of the Lord
    • In Rev we see Him in His Judicial and Priestly character – Ez 44:23-24 Future day… Account of a complete departure, a warning given
    • Heb 4:13 – All will give an account, we must drop the pretense – you do not know that you are blind and naked
    • Gospel of John all judgment given to Him –we see men trying to judge Him
    • Men are always trying to judge Him – He is the Judge! We need to submit to His judgment
    • Rev 2 – His mercy to the church of Ephesus – a word of encouragement to them
    • I know your works – important that the emphasis is His works dependence on Him is critical
    • What appears to us as a bullock may be a turtle dove, what may appear to us as a turtle dove, may be a bullock.
    • Rev – I will keep thee from the hour of temptation – even so come Lord Jesus

Thursday: His Untraceable Ways

  1. Job 26:7-14 describes the wonders of creation as the “mere edges of His ways” (v. 14). According to the scriptures, how should His ways as Creator affect our understanding of Him?
    • Job and friends reflect on the majesty and power of God in creation
    • V7 – He hangs the earth on nothing – He needs nothing to carry out His plan/ways
    • V11 – the pillars of heaven tremble – the mountains quake – He over earthquakes…
    • All of creation – beyond man’s comprehension… It is the platform for placing man – from among them He calls out those to be in relationship with Himself
    • The effect on us is that He who creates is greater than what is created…so we respond in worship and adoration.
  2. Though God’s ways are unsearchable, His people are exhorted to walk in His ways (for example, Dt. 10:12, 1 Ki. 8:58, Hos. 14:9).  Use Psalm 103:7 and other scriptures to explain how these two points fit together.
    • The ways of God – are 1) his activity 2) His purpose and intent
    • Psalms 103:7 His acts were visible, all the people could experience that… but to Moses was the intent and purpose revealed
    • The ways of God are revealed when there is closeness to God… (John was on the breast of Jesus Christ – revealed who would betray him}
    • Closeness leads in the right way – …
    • Ezra 8:21 – Sought the Lord for a right way …
    • God revealed will must be responded too… for His complete will is unchangeable – Psalms 18:30…
  3. The Holy Spirit is grieved with believers and angered with professing believers go astray because they do not know God’s ways (Heb. 3:7-12, esp. v. 10).  What lessons does this passage contain?
    • The issue is unbelief… Hebrews refers to mere profession
    • The Holy Spirit is grieved when there is disobedience…Ephesians 4:30
    • God ways are known 1) By his counsels 2) By his commandments and 3) by closeness to him!
  4. The triumphant song of Revelation 15:3 declares, “Just and true are Your ways!”  Although this passage particularly relates to a specific group of believers at that time, what should we learn from their example?
    • This is the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb… Moses knew the ways of God; It is a confession that God’s ways are always just and true
    • It is the confession of the those who came through great tribulation,.. As they appreciate God’s way…

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