Dec 31, 2010
Dec 24, 2010
Dec 20, 2010
Chapter 17: The Ancient of Days
1. What are the agendas of God and of Satan in the life of a believer?
God's primary agenda is redemption for everyone, Satan on the other hand wants to blind people to the redeemer. Once we are redeemed, our completion become God's primary agenda. Christ came to set the captive free; Satan wants to make the free captive.
2. In what ways does God's designation as the "Ancient of Days" encourage you?
God knows what we are facing now. He knows our temptations and failings. But the important thing about this name, "Ancient of Days", is that it tells us God also knows what has happened in the past...those ruins passed down to us from past generations that may catch us off guard, will never surprise God, He already knows about them and has been working on bringing it all out for good in our lives. He has seen the damage, He has surveyed the ruins and he is ready to rebuild!
3. What practical actions can you take to be the one person determined to build a faithful generation?
I find that all of the bible lessons and teachings a person can give will mean nothing to the hearers, if that person doesn't practice what they preach. So I think that is what I can do to help build a faithful generation...not only to teach them the truth, but to live it out each and everyday.
4. What is your desire for your children and grandchildren?
I desire for my children and grandchildren to have with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, serving Him with their whole hearts and lives, walking by faith, reaching out to the broken and lost with the love of Christ, and having a passion to see spiritually lost people, found. I pray that they will have the faith to move mountains; and that they will bring glory and honor to God, in everything they do.
5. In what ways are you allowing the next generation to see authenticity in your life?
Authenticity is being true to who you are, and what you believe. I pray that my children will not only learn the lessons I am trying to teach them, from the things I say, but also from the way I live out my everyday life.
God's primary agenda is redemption for everyone, Satan on the other hand wants to blind people to the redeemer. Once we are redeemed, our completion become God's primary agenda. Christ came to set the captive free; Satan wants to make the free captive.
2. In what ways does God's designation as the "Ancient of Days" encourage you?
God knows what we are facing now. He knows our temptations and failings. But the important thing about this name, "Ancient of Days", is that it tells us God also knows what has happened in the past...those ruins passed down to us from past generations that may catch us off guard, will never surprise God, He already knows about them and has been working on bringing it all out for good in our lives. He has seen the damage, He has surveyed the ruins and he is ready to rebuild!
3. What practical actions can you take to be the one person determined to build a faithful generation?
I find that all of the bible lessons and teachings a person can give will mean nothing to the hearers, if that person doesn't practice what they preach. So I think that is what I can do to help build a faithful generation...not only to teach them the truth, but to live it out each and everyday.
4. What is your desire for your children and grandchildren?
I desire for my children and grandchildren to have with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, serving Him with their whole hearts and lives, walking by faith, reaching out to the broken and lost with the love of Christ, and having a passion to see spiritually lost people, found. I pray that they will have the faith to move mountains; and that they will bring glory and honor to God, in everything they do.
5. In what ways are you allowing the next generation to see authenticity in your life?
Authenticity is being true to who you are, and what you believe. I pray that my children will not only learn the lessons I am trying to teach them, from the things I say, but also from the way I live out my everyday life.
Dec 19, 2010
Chapter 16: Surveying The Ancient Ruins
1. What does Ezekiel 18 teach about the relationship between the father's sins and the children?
Here is the Scripture (my comments are below):
Ezekiel 18 (The Message Bible)
Wow! This passage teaches us a lot, but here are a few key points I see:
2. If Christians do not literally die for our sins, what kinds of deaths can our sins bring about?
Since Jesus paid the price for our sins, we do not die physically because of our sins, but we still have to deal with natural consequences that sin brings. Sometimes, it may be a relationship that is beaten up and brought to the point of no return, or it could be something within us that takes the fall, such as self-respect.
3. What four steps did the son in Ezekiel 18 take to be free of parental sin?
1. He saw the sins of his father
2. He decided not to practice the same habits
3. He got rid of his own offenses
4. He pursued a new heart and new spirit
4. How can we forsake parental sin without dishonoring the parent?
We must look back honestly, believing the truth over the lies of our enemy, and we have to discern the difference between rebuilding and preserving, and we must accept God's appointment as a reconstruction worker. (See pg 102 & 103 of Breaking Free)
5. What is the difference between rebuilding the ruins and preserving the ruins?
Instead of viewing and inspecting the ruins and them working with God to rebuild, preserving is when we just keep revisiting the ruins...we never get over it or move on.
Here is the Scripture (my comments are below):
Ezekiel 18 (The Message Bible)
Judged According to the Way You Live
1-2 God's Message to me: "What do you people mean by going around the country repeating the saying, The parents ate green apples, The children got the stomachache?3-4 "As sure as I'm the living God, you're not going to repeat this saying in Israel any longer. Every soul—man, woman, child—belongs to me, parent and child alike. You die for your own sin, not another's.
5-9 "Imagine a person who lives well, treating others fairly, keeping good relationships—
doesn't eat at the pagan shrines,
doesn't worship the idols so popular in Israel,
doesn't seduce a neighbor's spouse,
doesn't indulge in casual sex,
doesn't bully anyone,
doesn't pile up bad debts,
doesn't steal,
doesn't refuse food to the hungry,
doesn't refuse clothing to the ill-clad,
doesn't exploit the poor,
doesn't live by impulse and greed,
doesn't treat one person better than another,
But lives by my statutes and faithfully
honors and obeys my laws.
This person who lives upright and well
shall live a full and true life.
Decree of God, the Master.
doesn't eat at the pagan shrines,
doesn't worship the idols so popular in Israel,
doesn't seduce a neighbor's spouse,
doesn't indulge in casual sex,
doesn't bully anyone,
doesn't pile up bad debts,
doesn't steal,
doesn't refuse food to the hungry,
doesn't refuse clothing to the ill-clad,
doesn't exploit the poor,
doesn't live by impulse and greed,
doesn't treat one person better than another,
But lives by my statutes and faithfully
honors and obeys my laws.
This person who lives upright and well
shall live a full and true life.
Decree of God, the Master.
10-13 "But if this person has a child who turns violent and murders and goes off and does any of these things, even though the parent has done none of them—
eats at the pagan shrines,
seduces his neighbor's spouse,
bullies the weak,
steals,
piles up bad debts,
admires idols,
commits outrageous obscenities,
exploits the poor
"—do you think this person, the child, will live? Not a chance! Because he's done all these vile things, he'll die. And his death will be his own fault.
eats at the pagan shrines,
seduces his neighbor's spouse,
bullies the weak,
steals,
piles up bad debts,
admires idols,
commits outrageous obscenities,
exploits the poor
"—do you think this person, the child, will live? Not a chance! Because he's done all these vile things, he'll die. And his death will be his own fault.
14-17 "Now look: Suppose that this child has a child who sees all the sins done by his parent. The child sees them, but doesn't follow in the parent's footsteps—
doesn't eat at the pagan shrines,
doesn't worship the popular idols of Israel,
doesn't seduce his neighbor's spouse,
doesn't bully anyone,
doesn't refuse to loan money,
doesn't steal,
doesn't refuse food to the hungry,
doesn't refuse to give clothes to the ill-clad,
doesn't live by impulse and greed,
doesn't exploit the poor.
He does what I say;
he performs my laws and lives by my statutes.
doesn't eat at the pagan shrines,
doesn't worship the popular idols of Israel,
doesn't seduce his neighbor's spouse,
doesn't bully anyone,
doesn't refuse to loan money,
doesn't steal,
doesn't refuse food to the hungry,
doesn't refuse to give clothes to the ill-clad,
doesn't live by impulse and greed,
doesn't exploit the poor.
He does what I say;
he performs my laws and lives by my statutes.
17-18 "This person will not die for the sins of the parent; he will live truly and well. But the parent will die for what the parent did, for the sins of—
oppressing the weak,
robbing brothers and sisters,
doing what is dead wrong in the community.
oppressing the weak,
robbing brothers and sisters,
doing what is dead wrong in the community.
19-20 "Do you need to ask, 'So why does the child not share the guilt of the parent?'
"Isn't it plain? It's because the child did what is fair and right. Since the child was careful to do what is lawful and right, the child will live truly and well. The soul that sins is the soul that dies. The child does not share the guilt of the parent, nor the parent the guilt of the child. If you live upright and well, you get the credit; if you live a wicked life, you're guilty as charged.
21-23 "But a wicked person who turns his back on that life of sin and keeps all my statutes, living a just and righteous life, he'll live, really live. He won't die. I won't keep a list of all the things he did wrong. He will live. Do you think I take any pleasure in the death of wicked men and women? Isn't it my pleasure that they turn around, no longer living wrong but living right—really living?
24 "The same thing goes for a good person who turns his back on an upright life and starts sinning, plunging into the same vile obscenities that the wicked person practices. Will this person live? I don't keep a list of all the things this person did right, like money in the bank he can draw on. Because of his defection, because he accumulates sin, he'll die.
25-28 "Do I hear you saying, 'That's not fair! God's not fair!'?
"Listen, Israel. I'm not fair? You're the ones who aren't fair! If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he'll die for it. He'll die for his own sin. Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he's committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won't die.
29 "And yet Israel keeps on whining, 'That's not fair! God's not fair.'
"I'm not fair, Israel? You're the ones who aren't fair.
30-32 "The upshot is this, Israel: I'll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won't drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel? I take no pleasure in anyone's death. Decree of God, the Master.
"Make a clean break! Live!"
Wow! This passage teaches us a lot, but here are a few key points I see:
- The sins of one Person or generation do not make another person or generation suffer punishment.
- The person who sins, is the person who pays.
- However, there is always forgiveness, if we who have sinned turn away from our sins, get a clean heart, and make good decisions...we will LIVE!
2. If Christians do not literally die for our sins, what kinds of deaths can our sins bring about?
Since Jesus paid the price for our sins, we do not die physically because of our sins, but we still have to deal with natural consequences that sin brings. Sometimes, it may be a relationship that is beaten up and brought to the point of no return, or it could be something within us that takes the fall, such as self-respect.
3. What four steps did the son in Ezekiel 18 take to be free of parental sin?
1. He saw the sins of his father
2. He decided not to practice the same habits
3. He got rid of his own offenses
4. He pursued a new heart and new spirit
4. How can we forsake parental sin without dishonoring the parent?
We must look back honestly, believing the truth over the lies of our enemy, and we have to discern the difference between rebuilding and preserving, and we must accept God's appointment as a reconstruction worker. (See pg 102 & 103 of Breaking Free)
5. What is the difference between rebuilding the ruins and preserving the ruins?
Instead of viewing and inspecting the ruins and them working with God to rebuild, preserving is when we just keep revisiting the ruins...we never get over it or move on.
Dec 18, 2010
Chapter 15: That Ancient Serpent
1. How does Satan's knowledge of generational sin influence how he tempts individuals?
Satan knows what sins past generations have dealt with, and he uses the same weaknesses to try to make present and future generations fall.
2. What have you seen in yourself that you disliked in a parent or grandparent?
Pride.
3. Why is forgiveness so important to breaking yokes of generational sin?
When we forgive the generations who have made mistakes before us, we let go of the feelings of resentment and become more able to withstand making those same mistakes.
4. How do the sins of the father's increase the vulnerability of the children?
When a child grows up seeing a parent continually do something, the child quickly learns to do the same and may not even realize that they are doing it.
Satan knows what sins past generations have dealt with, and he uses the same weaknesses to try to make present and future generations fall.
2. What have you seen in yourself that you disliked in a parent or grandparent?
Pride.
3. Why is forgiveness so important to breaking yokes of generational sin?
When we forgive the generations who have made mistakes before us, we let go of the feelings of resentment and become more able to withstand making those same mistakes.
4. How do the sins of the father's increase the vulnerability of the children?
When a child grows up seeing a parent continually do something, the child quickly learns to do the same and may not even realize that they are doing it.
Dec 13, 2010
Chapter 14: The Ancient Boundary Stone
1. What was an ancient boundary stone?
"Similar to a fence - it visually reminded people what belonged to the land owner and what was beyond the legal limits." (see pg. 90 of Breaking Free)
2. What always results when someone removes a boundary stone?
Bondage and Sin
3. How does bondage promote sin?
Being in bondage makes you more susceptible to sin.
4. How does parental sin impact multiple generations?
The children grow up watching and learning from their parents. So they naturally pickup the same sins that their parents dealt with all of their lives.
5. What does it take for someone to break the cycle of parental sin?
Recognize the bondage/sin, move the ancient boundary stone back to where it should be, i.e. Set up guidelines and rules in your life to help you not to fall into the same trap and ask someone to be your accountability partner...but most of all ask God to help you break all of the chains and to set you and future generations free.
"Similar to a fence - it visually reminded people what belonged to the land owner and what was beyond the legal limits." (see pg. 90 of Breaking Free)
2. What always results when someone removes a boundary stone?
Bondage and Sin
3. How does bondage promote sin?
Being in bondage makes you more susceptible to sin.
4. How does parental sin impact multiple generations?
The children grow up watching and learning from their parents. So they naturally pickup the same sins that their parents dealt with all of their lives.
5. What does it take for someone to break the cycle of parental sin?
Recognize the bondage/sin, move the ancient boundary stone back to where it should be, i.e. Set up guidelines and rules in your life to help you not to fall into the same trap and ask someone to be your accountability partner...but most of all ask God to help you break all of the chains and to set you and future generations free.
Dec 12, 2010
Chapter 13: Touring The Ancient Ruins
1. Without dishonoring your family, can you identify any ancient ruins that have been in your family for generations?
Pride, fear, anger and rage, manipulation, prejudice, addictions, bitterness, selfishness, lack or self-control.
2. What are the right reasons for looking back at ancient ruins in a family?
Looking back in order to see what issues are there, so that you know what you may be dealing with in your life the lives of you children.
3. What are the wrong ones?
To cast blame.
4. Why are generational strongholds so difficult for us to identify?
They are difficult for us to identify because we grew up with them, and may not even realize we are in bondage...the strongholds become second nature to us and we do not even realize that they are there.
5. What do you have in your lineage that you need to put in the trophy case? In the trash can?
Trophy Case:
Pride, fear, anger and rage, manipulation, prejudice, addictions, bitterness, selfishness, lack or self-control.
2. What are the right reasons for looking back at ancient ruins in a family?
Looking back in order to see what issues are there, so that you know what you may be dealing with in your life the lives of you children.
3. What are the wrong ones?
To cast blame.
4. Why are generational strongholds so difficult for us to identify?
They are difficult for us to identify because we grew up with them, and may not even realize we are in bondage...the strongholds become second nature to us and we do not even realize that they are there.
5. What do you have in your lineage that you need to put in the trophy case? In the trash can?
Trophy Case:
- Prayer Warriors
- Faithfulness to God, spouse, church, etc
- Loving others
- Mission minded - longing to see the lost come to Christ
- Creativity
- Addictions
- Selfishness
- Pride
- Lack of Self-control
- Prejudice
- Fear
- Anger
- Bitterness
- Manipulative
Dec 11, 2010
Chapter 12: The Obstacle of Legalism
1. What is so appealing about legalism? Why do people continue to return to legalism?
I think that legalism stems from pride. We think that we could be good enough to earn God's love. Which is so far from the truth...God's Love is a gift and it never changes no matter what we do. So we are attracted to legalism because it makes us feel like we are deserving of God's love, and we keep returning to it because we have not accepted the gift of God's love, we still feel the need to work for it.
2. Which condition do you find the greatest temptation: (1) regulations to replace relationships, (2) microscopes to replace mirrors, or (3) performance to replace passion?
Performance to replace passion
3. How has legalism squeeze the joy out of your salvation?
Legalism makes you think you have to do everything perfect, and sometimes it makes you think you have to say yes to everything asked of you, or you are a bad person. At least that has been my experience, I didn't know it was okay to just tell someone "no!" I felt like I had to say yes to everything, and I ended up working on so many things and running so many directions, that there was no way I could enjoy anything. I literally ran myself ragged. Trust me there is no joy in that!
4. Which of the five obstacles you have studied gives you the greatest problems? Which gives you the least?
The most = Pride
The least = Prayerlessness
I think that legalism stems from pride. We think that we could be good enough to earn God's love. Which is so far from the truth...God's Love is a gift and it never changes no matter what we do. So we are attracted to legalism because it makes us feel like we are deserving of God's love, and we keep returning to it because we have not accepted the gift of God's love, we still feel the need to work for it.
2. Which condition do you find the greatest temptation: (1) regulations to replace relationships, (2) microscopes to replace mirrors, or (3) performance to replace passion?
Performance to replace passion
3. How has legalism squeeze the joy out of your salvation?
Legalism makes you think you have to do everything perfect, and sometimes it makes you think you have to say yes to everything asked of you, or you are a bad person. At least that has been my experience, I didn't know it was okay to just tell someone "no!" I felt like I had to say yes to everything, and I ended up working on so many things and running so many directions, that there was no way I could enjoy anything. I literally ran myself ragged. Trust me there is no joy in that!
4. Which of the five obstacles you have studied gives you the greatest problems? Which gives you the least?
The most = Pride
The least = Prayerlessness
Dec 6, 2010
Chapter 11: The Obstacle of Prayerlessness
1. How would you paraphrase Philippians 4:6-7 into a formula for anxiety?
"Be anxious about everything, and in everything, complain grumble and groan, to anyone who will listen. And then your anxiousness will fill your heart and mind, causing all manner of illness and disease. No doctor will be able to heal you, no medicine will help you - you might as well go eat some worms."
Now for those of you reading this that do not know what Philippians 4:6-7 really says, here it is for real:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
2. What is the difference between superficial and "meaty" prayer lives?
Superficial prayers tend to just skim the surface. They never get down into the things that really matter, and superficial prayers do not cause change to occur. "Meaty" prayers go deep, deeper than we can express with words, "meaty prayers change lives and move mountains.
3. Why is prayer a key to peace?
Peace only comes from knowing God, and how can we truly know Him, if we never talk with Him or listen when He speaks to our hearts.
4. How has prayer brought peace to you in a time of great stress?
In December 2008, at 14 weeks, we found out that I had miscarried at 11 weeks. Only my circumstances were unusual in the fact, that my body didn't recognize that there was an issue and so I never physically miscarried. So we scheduled a D&C, I remember waking up in recovery, after the anesthesia wore off, alone and heart broken. I do not know if it was audible or if it was just in my thoughts, but I cried (with very real tears) out to God in my pain, and just laid there on the gurney, with tears pouring out and God's love and peace pouring in. I do not know how I would have made it through without the peace that comes from casting all our cares on Him.
"Be anxious about everything, and in everything, complain grumble and groan, to anyone who will listen. And then your anxiousness will fill your heart and mind, causing all manner of illness and disease. No doctor will be able to heal you, no medicine will help you - you might as well go eat some worms."
Now for those of you reading this that do not know what Philippians 4:6-7 really says, here it is for real:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
2. What is the difference between superficial and "meaty" prayer lives?
Superficial prayers tend to just skim the surface. They never get down into the things that really matter, and superficial prayers do not cause change to occur. "Meaty" prayers go deep, deeper than we can express with words, "meaty prayers change lives and move mountains.
3. Why is prayer a key to peace?
Peace only comes from knowing God, and how can we truly know Him, if we never talk with Him or listen when He speaks to our hearts.
4. How has prayer brought peace to you in a time of great stress?
In December 2008, at 14 weeks, we found out that I had miscarried at 11 weeks. Only my circumstances were unusual in the fact, that my body didn't recognize that there was an issue and so I never physically miscarried. So we scheduled a D&C, I remember waking up in recovery, after the anesthesia wore off, alone and heart broken. I do not know if it was audible or if it was just in my thoughts, but I cried (with very real tears) out to God in my pain, and just laid there on the gurney, with tears pouring out and God's love and peace pouring in. I do not know how I would have made it through without the peace that comes from casting all our cares on Him.
Dec 5, 2010
Chapter 10: The Obstacle of Idolatry
1. Why does God create a nagging sense of dissatisfaction in every person?
So that we will look for satisfaction - which will lead us to Him, because He is the only one who can truly satisfy.
2. Why does the Bible call seeking satisfaction in anything but God the sin of idolatry?
Because God put a hole in each of us, so that He could fill it, so trying to put anything else in that hole is wrong.
3. What forms have idols taken in your personal experience?
In my life, idols have taken many forms, relationships, activities, work, people, etc.
Dec 4, 2010
Chapter 9: The Obstacle of Pride
1. To what degree would you say that God's name and renown is the desire of your heart?
It's hard to say...I would love to say "all of my heart", but I know that pride is the reason for wanting to say that...so though I want and desire God's name and renown, it is not to the degree that it should be.
2. In what ways is pride a dangerous enemy?
God opposes the proud, and if that alone is not enough...Pride is the downfall of many, it blocks us from doing the one thing God created all of us to do...Glorify Him.
3. How do you feel toward someone who exhibits pride in their life?
How do you feel toward one who demonstrates humility?
When someone is prideful, it makes it hard to connect with them. When a person is too prideful to admit their failures, it makes other people uncomfortable. On the other hand, when they demonstrate humility, you feel comfortable around them, because you know they make mistakes too and they won't judge you. I think we tend to gravitate towards humble people.
4. What does it take to humble yourself before God?
Recognizing how big God is and how small you are. I find that reading scriptures about God's greatness, power, love, everything about Him, tends to make me realize how small and helpless I am without Him. Then once you come to the knowledge of His greatness and your smallness, you tell Him how thankful you are for everything about Him and praise Him for who He is.
It's hard to say...I would love to say "all of my heart", but I know that pride is the reason for wanting to say that...so though I want and desire God's name and renown, it is not to the degree that it should be.
2. In what ways is pride a dangerous enemy?
God opposes the proud, and if that alone is not enough...Pride is the downfall of many, it blocks us from doing the one thing God created all of us to do...Glorify Him.
3. How do you feel toward someone who exhibits pride in their life?
How do you feel toward one who demonstrates humility?
When someone is prideful, it makes it hard to connect with them. When a person is too prideful to admit their failures, it makes other people uncomfortable. On the other hand, when they demonstrate humility, you feel comfortable around them, because you know they make mistakes too and they won't judge you. I think we tend to gravitate towards humble people.
4. What does it take to humble yourself before God?
Recognizing how big God is and how small you are. I find that reading scriptures about God's greatness, power, love, everything about Him, tends to make me realize how small and helpless I am without Him. Then once you come to the knowledge of His greatness and your smallness, you tell Him how thankful you are for everything about Him and praise Him for who He is.
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