Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Hearts Beyond the Veil

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Hearts Beyond the Veil
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This weeks study in Beth Moore’s A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place is title Hearts Beyond the Veil.

Hearts Beyond the Veil


Day 1 of Hearts Beyond the Veil:  Radiant Intimacy

In today’s lesson, we studied God’s glory as it radiated from Moses’ face when he came down from Mount Sinai.  The glory which radiated from the face of Moses faded with time.  The longer the distance between the time Moses spent with God, the more God’s glory faded from Moses’ face.  If we have the Holy Spirit living within us, God’s glory never fades because the Holy Spirit never leaves us.

Day 2 of Hearts Beyond the Veil:  A Room with a View

In today’s lesson, Beth draws an analogy between the shape of the Holy of Holies and the four gospels of Christ.  The Holy of Holies was a square shaped room with four walls.  Beth’s analogy draws the comparison with each of the gospels representing a wall around the holiness of Christ Jesus.  According to Beth, Matthew’s theme (one wall) is Jesus as King.  Mark’s theme (2nd wall) is Jesus as servant.  Luke’s theme (3rd wall) is Jesus as man.  John’s theme (4th wall) is Jesus as God.  Also according to Beth, Matthew targeted Jews (religious people).  Mark targets Romans (average business people).  Luke targeted Greeks (philosophers).  John targeted all of the above.

Although I’ve never drawn the above conclusions, I find them very interesting.

Day 3 of Hearts Beyond the Veil:  The Ark of the Testimony

In today’s lesson, we learned more about the Ark of the Testimony.  The Ark of Testimony was placed behind the veil of the tabernacle, in the place known as the Holy of Holies.  Only the high priests could enter the Holy of Holies.  Today, if we have received Jesus as Lord, we can go straight to the throne of God, by the authority of the blood of Jesus.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-22
Day 4 of Hearts Beyond the Veil:  God on the Move

In today’s lesson, we were reminded that God was very specific about the construction of the Ark of the Testimony.  He was just as specific about the way it would be handled and carried.  If God’s specific instructions were not followed, the offender died.  David wanted to build a new dwelling place for the Ark because the king lived in a cedar house, but the Ark only dwelt in a tent.  God reminded David that the Ark’s construction and tent dwelling were His specific instructions.  The purpose for the tent dwelling was so that the Ark could be moved and God could move and dwell here with man.

Day 5 of Hearts Beyond the Veil:  The Meeting Place

In today’s lesson, we focused more on the cherubim position on opposite ends of the mercy seat of the Ark of the Testimony.  Then, we compared that holy structure with the tomb of Jesus.  According to John 20:10-13, two angels guarded the body of Jesus.  One stood at the head and one stood at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying.  In my opinion, this comparison draws a divine link between the Ark of Testimony and the tomb of Jesus.

I can’t say enough positive things about this Bible study.  Please consider completing the entire study A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore.  You won’t regret it.  I promise.

Read all posts in this series here.

You can get your copy here.   The leadership kit that contains the videos is found here.

A Woman's Heart:  God's Dwelling Place
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Widsdom (Bible Study on the Book of James)

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Widsdom
Image Credit:  Ismael Paramo - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Wisdom


This past Sunday, our pastor continued his series on the Book of James.  The scripture passage was taken from James 3:13-18.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. – James 3:13-18
You know you have wisdom by your deeds, disposition, and meekness.

 Our need for wisdom is great.  (James 3:13)
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. – Proverbs 4:5-7 
The wisdom of the world is not great. It’s disastrous.  (James 3:14-16)

*Treacherous Twins (James 3:14):  Bitter envy and self-seeking.  They live in your heart.

*Unholy Three (James 3:15):  earthly, sensual, demonic
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. – 1 Corinthians 2:14
*Complete Confusion (James 3:16)

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law. – Proverbs 29:18

The wisdom of God is His Greatness:  visibly working in us. (James 3:17-18)

When we are internally clean, we externally honor God.

*Pure and Peaceable (James 3:17)

*Gentle and Willingness to Yield (James 3:17)

*Mercy and Good Fruits (James 3:17)

*No partiality.  No Hypocrisy (James 3:17)

More Scripture verses:

Proverbs 2:6

Proverbs 11:2
But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:24
You'll find all my posts about this study on the book of James here.

 
   

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