What if the Bible's chronology is simply this:

Israel miraculously returns after 2000 years

Antichrist rises "behind the scenes"

Antichrist makes the 7-year "covenant of death" with Israel

Israel rebuilds temple during a time of false peace

Antichrist comes against God's Holy people

Antichrist sets up the Abomination of Desolation

Antichrist demands the world's worship (with help of false prophet)

Antichrist makes WAR against the Saints

Antichrist surrounds Jerusalem with his armies (on all the mountains of Israel)

Jesus sends fire from heaven to devour these armies

THE GREAT SIGNS OF THE DAY OF THE LORD! (Trumpet, Sun, Moon, Stars, Sky)

Jesus COMES BACK to defend Israel and redeem his Beloved Bride!

We meet Him in the AIR!!!!!

So if you find yourself still here when the Antichrist is demanding the world's worship and instating the Mark of Beast...DON'T CRY

Simply know that Tim Lahaye and others were a little off on their chronology.

Take heart HAVE TREMENDOUS HOPE!!! The Day of Our Lord's Appearing is in sight EVEN AT THE DOOR!!!!!

Pre-Wrath Rapture Study Here

Anyway, Happy Birthday Mark. We all love you very much and appreciate everything you do for us!

]]> http://lolnascar.wordpress.com/?p=1072 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:27:12 +0000 lolnascar http://lolnascar.id.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/nope/  

 Capshun by Melinda

I think HMS has booster seat. ;-)

Mark 12:1-12 -- 12  And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country.  2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.  3  And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  4  Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully.  5  And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed.  6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  7 But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'  8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.  9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.  10  Have you not read this Scripture:

"'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away. -- ESV

Once again it is important that we understand that the vineyard clearly represented Israel and everyone present as Jesus was speaking knew so.  In fact, as Jesus was speaking, there was a massive carved grapevine made of the finest gold surrounding the door that led into the holy place.  It was equally obvious that God, the owner of the vineyard, had taken great care to ensure that the vineyard was fruitful.  It was also clear that the people who were working the vineyard in the owners absence were the religious leaders, the same ones who only moments ago were questioning Jesus' authority as they were plotting to kill Him.  God expected these leaders to take advantage of this magnificently prepared vineyard and produce much fruit.

Please don't miss the incredible patience of our God as presented in this parable.  After God sent a servant to them for a portion of what was rightfully His, the servant was beaten and returned empty handed.  How outrageous!  How many of us would have given the tenants another chance?  I doubt I would have.  Their behavior was inexcusable.  Yet, God in His patient love, sent servant after servant, many even died.  How else can you explain it?  It was because the owner loved the tenants and wanted to give them an opportunity to do what was right.  God loves Israel and God loves the Church today.  Think of how many prophets that Israel rejected over the years and mistreated over the years.  They were out of line and God was sending His loving rebuke through His chosen servants.  The spiritual leaders and the people were too proud to receive God's rebuke.

How about today?  Are there spiritual leaders who God is attempting to rebuke through the sending of His chosen servants.  I most certainly think so.  However, we are seeing the parable lived out once again, pride and arrogance is blinding these disobedient tenants from the truth.  The church is not ours, the fruit is not ours.  It all belongs to God and therefore, the message is not ours either.  We do NOT have the right to change it to fit our world or to become popular or to sell lots of books and grow really big churches.  The reason Jesus was such a threat to the religious leaders of His day was because their pocket books would be hurt if His truth was accepted.  Folks, the reason so many preacher and pastors and many others today cannot accept a rebuke from God's servants is because their pocket books would also be directly impacted.  Since when is the truth popular?

Of course, the owner finally sent His own Son to the rebellious tenants.  They killed Him.  They wanted what was rightfully His.  They wanted the fruit, they wanted the praise, they wanted the fame, the fortune and the glory that only belongs to the Lord.  In a sense the pharisees were actually further along than many spiritual leaders of today.  At least they perceived that they were being rebuked by Jesus.  I wonder how many preachers and pastors and pew sitters today are being rebuked by God and yet remain clueless.  After all, who wants to see themselves as a pharisee?

visita su web

He taxes too much. If you vote for him you’ll be homeless. If you vote for the other one, your children will starve. But if you vote for the first guy, they’ll lose all their education and become stupid rejects, begging for day-old scraps behind the ghetto bakery. But the other guy will take your job. And the other one will tax your new raise so you actually come home with $5 less every week. One of them will date your mom. The other will shut down her nursing home. One will have dinner with terrorists at Arby’s while the other just sends him a check at Christmas, even though they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Here’s what I’m saying: There are bigger issues than whose face is on the front page. Every day 6000 kids are killed by mid-term or later abortion. They refuse to allow Bibles in schools, so Christian parents teach home school, allowing their children to learn math and moral values at the same time. While the schools are taking a massive dump when it comes to value and ethics and crime and teaching self-worth, the state of California just outlawed Christians from their God-given right to teach their own kids. Now they have to send them to the cesspool of a school that will teach anti-creation science, thereby infringing on the rights of students to practice their own religion freely (but don’t worry, they won’t attack Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, pagans, wiccans, Scientologists, etc. Just the Christians.)

Let’s see, what else? Lets talk about gay marriage. I’m all for gays to have the right to choose their lifestyle- its their choice. (Just like my kids schooling used to be.) But I’m not for the whole gay-marriage thing. Sure, they can practice it, but that doesn’t really make it a marriage. I know, I know, they’ve redefined what “marriage” is, but it used to be a union before God between a man and a woman. Since most homosexuals don’t believe in or care for God, they can’t really have a union before Him that He will honor. But, what they hey, they ignored my right to practice my faith (only if it’s from the Christian Bible) by ignoring the 1^st amendment, why not ignore the other principals too.

So who is going to do what to help me out? Am I personally going to benefit from either party being elected? Maybe, but probably not. There aren’t a whole lot of things that are going to actually make a difference in the way I daily live my life. I could be wrong, but here’s how I look at it:

If one side is accused of overtaxing and the other of allowing abortions, I will sacrifice a couple bucks, even a couple hundred, per year to vote for the sanctity of life.

If one side is accused of sending jobs overseas and the other of limiting free speech, I’m probably going to have to go for free speech. There will always be a need for jobs on the US. They may not be the best, but we have too many people not to need a ton of jobs. We also have a lot of politicians going after free speech, even though the ones attacked are the churches and the right. Hmm.

If one side wants to build a thousand mile fence at the borders and the other wants to let gays marry, I will go for the fence. Those guys are great climbers and if they can get in through, over or under a military fence, then they deserve to stay. For those that can’t, they can still come here, but have to go through the legal process. Meanwhile, I stand up for what I believe regarding gay marriage. I’m not anti-gay, but I’m not pro-gay. I’m just ok-gay; they can do their thing, but I don’t want tax dollars going toward something I find immoral.

Bottom line, I can’t do anything about the politicians. But, then again, I will probably never have to answer to them. I will, however, have to answer to God. I will stand before Him and be able to say that I voted for the things and the principles that are on His side, His Law, and His eternal purpose. I will say that I stood up for hundreds of thousands of innocent children and supported their right to life. I will say that I voted against the activity that led to His destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, the activities that He calls an abomination. I will be able to say that I stood up for His Word, His teaching, for the right to exhibit by faith, to speak freely the gospel. I will say, “Jesus, I stood up for you.”

What do you stand for?

Previously, we looked into how Jesus' works left the people with a sense of awe and wonder. But now, we turn to a different aspect in Mark's gospel that elicited the same responses, namely, Jesus' teachings. Not only did things such as casting out demons, healing the deaf, and walking on the water prove to be actions that left the onlookers with eyes wide open and jaws dropping, but also his teachings were so earth-shattering that the same emotions tended to be evoked. Of course, it is easy to rouse ourselves to regain the right attitude of amazement before the Son of God as he overcomes this world through miraculous events due to their extraordinary nature, but how much more so should we labor to find Jesus' words just as outstanding and powerful? I think that if we fail to do so, then we are missing the full thrust and importance of just exactly what Christ is saying as a result of his Incarnation and ministry on the earth.

At the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, the people were captivated by his words. Although we are not told specifically what Jesus was saying here in the instance in Capernaum, Mark tells us in Mark 1:22, "And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes." I can't help but look back a few paragraphs to 1:14-15 in order to find a reference point for the content of his teaching. The "gospel of God" which Jesus was proclaiming was one of repentance and belief. However, we must not skim over the fact that he was also announcing that "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." But with regards to his authority, which obviously startled the audience, Jesus' teaching carries with it a weight that most likely hasn't been heard for centuries, notwithstanding John the Baptist.

In his classic commentary on the Gospel of Mark (thanks for humbly passing over this one Bret so I could buy it for $2), William Lane observes, "

Jesus' word, presented with a sovereign authority which permitted neither debate nor theoretical reflection, confronted the congregation with the absolute claim of God upon their whole person. Jesus' teaching recalled the categorical demand of the prophets rather than scribal tradition (72).

Unlike the teaching of the scribes, Lane says the difference in authority was "in view of not merely the power to decide, but to compel decision (72)." This is all the more clear, especially with reference to how Mark begins his gospel, that is, under a very prophetic tone. I won't go into much detail here because it isn't necessarily related to the topic of this post, but notice how he immediately enlists the prophecy of Isaiah to set up the fulfillment of John's ministry, and then how he quickly transitions into the beginning of Jesus' ministry as the fulfillment of both the OT prophets and John's preparatory service, as well as the divine affirmation of God and the Holy Spirit. Lest we forget the relationship of Jesus' wilderness experience to prophetic ministry, he also returns proclaiming the standard prophetic message in fullness: Repent! This message coupled with his divine authority as the true Messiah and only Son of God without a doubt would have been an astonishing combination for the Jews of the first century.

But why isn't it so for us? Are we located in a place really that far off from the ones who were standing in the presence of Jesus that day? Perhaps in some ways. But we must not forget that the relevance and significance of Jesus' teaching, even here at the very beginning of the Gospel of Mark, is universal, not only local. The inagauration of the kingdom of God and the appearnce of the long-expected Christ has eternal ramifications for all of creation, and that includes 21st century readers. So when we read that Jesus has come, proclaiming the gospel of God with the authority of God, I pray that we will learn to devote undivided attention to his words, and come to understand the great cosmic implication that God in the flesh is standing among men, teaching.

Stay on the lookout for Part IV where I will investigate other examples of Jesus' teaching in Mark's gospel that produced a remarkable response from his hearers.

Our customers all over Sweden deserve free access to quality wine and we will take this argument further. I will send Lars G. Nordström, the new Managing Director of Posten a letter and see what other avenues of appeal we have to open up their ombud delivery network to wine lovers in this long and wonderful country.

Cheers: Mark Majzner

The Departed (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/

Regi: Martin Scorsese

Manus: William Monahan

Med: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson og Alec Baldwin.

Spilletid: 151 min

Dette er da den andre og øverste filmen av Martin Scorsese. Som sagt i forrige innlegg er han en av favorittregissørene mine. Generelt sett er Goodfellas og Taxi Driver regnet som de to beste filmene hans (henholdsvis 15. og 38. plass på top 250), og selv om begge disse er solide 9/10-filmer etter min mening, er det altså The Departed og Raging Bull som er mine favoritter.

The Departed har litt av et stjernelag på skuespillersiden, med litt eldre storheter som Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining), Sheen (Apocalypse Now) og Baldwin (Glengarry Glen Ross), i tillegg til de yngre som DiCaprio (Blood Diamond, The Aviator), Damon (Good Will Hunting, The Bourne Identity) og Wahlberg (Boogie Nights).

The Departed handler om to unge menn i Boston's politiopplæring. Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) kommer fra dårlige kår, og blir valgt ut til å gå inn undercover. Politiet vil få has på Frank Costello (Nicholson), lederen av den irske mafiaen. Det de ikke vet, er at Colin Sullivan (Damon) også nettopp har blitt politimann, og hans lojalitet ligger hos Costello. Når så Sullivan blir satt opp til å lede gruppen som skal fange ham selv, og Costello ber han om å finne ut hvem muldvarpen i gjengen hans er, er det duket for forvirring og dobbeltspill med livet som innsats.

Først bør det vel nevnes at filmen er en remake av en trilogi fra Hong Kong, med navnet Infernal Affairs (den første). Den har en skare av fans som er rasende over den nye, dårlige versjonen. Jeg har sett begge to, og Infernal Affairs er en god film, men rett og slett ikke i nærheten av så bra som The Departed. Sånn ser i alle fall jeg det.

Scorsese er jo en mester innen sjangeren, og dette er toppen av kransekaka. En fantastisk historie, som aldri slutter å være spennende gjennom 2,5 time, som i tillegg har en slutt som slår pusten ut av deg. Det er vel kanskje slutten som har fått en del kritikk blant de som ikke liker filmen, men for meg fungerte det så det suste, og jeg syntes det var veldig passende i forhold til resten av filmen.

Skuespillet er det absolutt ingenting å si på. Absolutt en av Wahlbergs beste roller, og Nicholson passer utrolig godt som mafiasjef. Men de aller beste prestasjonen syns jeg DiCaprio gjør. Han tar virkelig steget inn som en kvalitetsskuespiller med denne filmen her.

Masse stilige kameraføringer, og ikke bare tradisjonelt. Er blandt annet noen kjappe kjøringer under dialogscener, som egentlig ikke er vanlig, men det brukes bra her. Apropos dialog, så er jo manuset glimrende. Føles veldig naturlig, men er samtidig "krydret" med allslags utrolig morsomme replikker, ofte levert av Wahlbergs karakter.

The Departed var den beste filmen jeg så på kino i 2006, og jeg så den i tillegg to ganger. Jeg er rimelig sikker på at dette kommer til å forbli en klassiker langt fram i tid. Den vant fire Oscar; Beste film, Beste regi, Beste klipp og Beste manus basert på annet materiale. Fire av de aller beste prisene å få, med andre ord. I tillegg ble Wahlberg nominert til Beste mannlige birolle, men vant ikke. På IMDb har den en rating på 8.5/10 med 187 156 stemme, og den er dermed på 45. plass på top 250.

Se trailer:

Få sett denne filmen, den er steinbra. Nei, bedre enn stein. Har du sett den? Legg igjen din egen lille tanke om den i en kommentar!

-Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.

The last mentioned of the Fruit of the Spirit, self control is the one most people would probably prefer to leave out. It can often be the hardest to practice, and it encompasses all the preceding Fruit of the Spirit. Perhaps that is why it was mentioned last; to leave it afresh in your mind. We know that a lack of SELF-CONTROL has a detrimental effect on us, but it also affects our relationships; those we come into contact with.

~Proverbs 25:28- Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Without self-control in our lives, we become vulnerable to all kinds of problems. Anything out of CONTROL in your life can harm others and cause damage in relationships. Including (but not limited to):

-Uncontrolled anger

-Uncontrolled lust

-Uncontrolled spending (The #1 cause for divorce is financial stress & money problems)

-Uncontrolled drinking

-Uncontrolled ambition (The workaholic who’s never at home with the family)

-Uncontrolled tongue

~How do we obtain self-control? Here are 9 key ways that will help in maintaining your self-control:

1) Master your moods- Keep you attitude in check, do what’s right even when you don’t feel like it; live by commitment, not by emotions

2) Watch your words-Put your mind in gear before you talk.

-Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

3) Restrain your reaction- How much can you take before you lose your cool?

-Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

4) Stick to the plan- If you don’t determine how your time is spent, others will; Remember though, we are to follow God’s will & His plan 1^st. Have control enough to be in it.

-Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

5) Manage your money- learn to live on less than you make; invest the rest. The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it to go, instead of wondering where it went.

-Proverbs 21:20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

6) Maintain your health- (to the best of your ability) Thus, you can accomplish more & enjoy your achievements.

-Psalm 38:3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

7) Avert your eyes- This one’s tough. You can’t control everything you see, but you can control how much you look at it

-Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (I’m pretty sure the same standard applies to ladies looking at men; sorry, you’re not off the hook)

8) Don’t allow anger to bring sin- like it plainly says in Ephesians 4:26, "In your anger do not sin" God let us know that we will get angry, but we must release the pressure before the top blows, no matter how we’ve been wronged.

-1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

9) Know when to “Cork the Bottle”- The Bible doesn’t specifically say that we can never drink, but it’s clear that we are not to get drunk.

-Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

~Now, where do you need self-control?

 Discipline today will help you determine success tomorrow. We must realize that we cannot accomplish this on our own, but we need Holy Help.

-2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

The key to self-control, is giving up control to God. With Him in the driver’s seat, you’re sure to get where you need to be. The more our progression, the further He’ll take us.

-Matthew 25:23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

 There is tremendous potential to be used in positive ways that honor Christ. In reality, we are still subject to sin and death. Although we are not totally evil ourselves, we are still susceptible to weakness & fleshy desires. Our body can be used for good if the flesh is not in control.

-Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship..

~How can we be living sacrifices?

-Self-discipline isn’t in our nature. Spirit-Control, not self-control, makes the difference. The Holy Spirit can control the things I can’t. Ask God to help you, through the Holy Spirit, to help you do right in His eyes.

-Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

-Open the door to let the Holy Spirit fill you, and close the door of flesh to Satan by confessing sin & claiming Christ’s crucifixion.

-Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

-Renew your mind with God’s word

-Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-Allow the Holy Spirit to help you master your emotions (with the fruit of the Spirit); Present yourself as an instrument of righteousness.

  -Romans 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

  -Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, & strength.

 -Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

-The key to self-control is surrendering control. Surrender your control to God; allow Him to move in your life. Who better to run your life, than the One who made your life?

“Fruit of the Spirit- Self-Control” Bible Study prepared by Justin Lessard. Email: ferventservant1@hotmail.com

Web: http://justinlessard.wordpress.com & http://www.myspace.com/justinlessard

If you wish to use this study, all I ask is that you leave the credit info lines, including the name, email, & web address, above.

and this little stegall stayed home...

ERGO...

this here conversation...

Jeff McMillan version of Kraftwerk's album Trans Europe Express. 

A group of artists were given known album covers to use as their canvas's .. and go wild!

HERE's what they came up with. You can also find out for about the exhibition HERE at Gallery 1988. 

Below is Mark Brown's version of Nirvana's Nevermind.

Yes, it's on a napkin! LOL Mark and I went out to Winger's up in Rexburg that night to celebrate "love day" and he forgot to buy me a card. I went to the bathroom and when I got back I found this sitting in front of me:) I thought it was very funny and sweet, even though he did forget to BUY me a card. I think this "card" was more thoughtful!

I love my husband and even though he's not perfect I cherish the thoughts behind his actions:)

Mark 11:20-25 -- 20  As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.  23  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.  24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."  -- ESV

Peter was truly astonished when they passed the fig tree a second time and found it completely dead.  They had heard Jesus' prediction about the temple not having one stone left standing and they understood the fig tree represented Israel and now the reality was setting in for them as they saw a tree full of leaves and life die over night.  Jesus did not explain the parable because it was painfully clear to all.  Instead, He sought to encourage them by reminding them the answer is prayer.  It is not the temple that people need, it is God Himself and He is found through prayer.  What an important reminder for us today.  It is not the church that people need, it is God and He is found through prayer.   Neither the temple or the church can save anyone, it is only through faith in Christ that people must be saved.

There are some simple but profound lessons to be learned from Jesus' teaching on prayer here.  Through prayer, God promises to remove huge obstacles from our path.  It is not the strength of our prayers but our faith in His strength that matters.  How big is our God?  How much in control is our God?  Can He really do what we ask of Him?  If we Know God and Know His word, we will know His will and when we pray according to His will, we should pray with the faith that He will most certainly answer our prayers and therefore we should live our lives based on that reality.

Finally, Jesus is reminding us that one of the greatest barriers to effective prayer is unforgiveness.  Remember, that right after Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's prayer He reminded them about the importance of forgiveness.  We must never underestimate the destructiveness of an unforgiving heart.  It will destroy us and those we love and all that we desire to do for God.

Therefore, let us forgive as we have been forgiven and pray in faith for God to move the mountains that are in our way and preventing us from spreading the good new of eternal life found in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.

-------

Gentleness is described as: compassionate, delicate, sensitive, merciful.

Exhortations to be gentle-

~2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

~Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men.

~James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.

~Acts 24:4 But‑‑not to be tedious‑‑I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case.

-Why do you think wisdom is 1^st pure, then peaceable, gentle,...(James 3:17)?

-Why might listening to the gospel be “tedious”?

-We are to be gentle toward unbelievers, not to force them into an uncomfortable obligation, not to be rude, or too forward, but with sensitivity of the Spirit, discern the need delicately, tactfully, and explain to them that Christ is the Answer.

~1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 ...nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

~2 Corinthians 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ‑‑I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away!–

-Why is it important not to be self-seeking or a “glory-hound” in our evangelism?

-Why might Paul have been more timid in the presence of the Corinthians, and bold when away?

~Galations 6:1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted.

~1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

-We are also to be gentle toward other believers, as well; our brothers and sisters in Christ. As such we are called to greater peace. (Hebrews12:14 Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord; Romans 12: 18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.) If an issue arises, talk about it, carefully, and not too hastily. We are permitted to anger, but it should be “known not shown”. ( Eph 4:26 Be angry but do not sin;..) If the issue is regarding them, how might Jesus Himself talk to the person, knowing the importance of the problem better than we would? (In short, W.W.J.D.?) If we shout “Repent or DIE!!” or “Stop screwing up all the time!”, we will get a poor response more often than not.

~Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

~1 Corinthians 4:20-21For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

-These verses show us that these are spiritual battles.

-What place should we not leave? (Eccl. 10:4)

-What power is there in the spirit of gentleness?

~James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

~Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Gentleness of the Lord

~2 Samuel 22:36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

~Psalm 18:35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.

~Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

-Is this verse literally talking about sheep? What does it mean by “carry them in his bosom”?

~Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

-What is an easy yolk to you?

-What can we learn from Christ about gentleness?

-How can gentleness give us rest?

-What can YOU be gentler with/ about?

“Fruit of the Spirit- Gentleness” Bible Study prepared by Justin Lessard. Email: ferventservant1@hotmail.com

Web: http://justinlessard.wordpress.com & http://www.myspace.com/justinlessard

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