Rehobot

Bible study ~ John 1:1~34

2007-10-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

John 1:1~34

The Apostle John is the writer for this fourth Gospel. He was an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus according to John1:14, 19:35 and 21:24.

John 1:1-5 - The Word Introduced

This gospel begins "Word" which is used as a title for Jesus. The Greek word for "Word" would be written in English letters as logos (from which we get logic, logo etc).
A word means Jesus is the communication of a message from God. A word expresses the thoughts of the innermost person. Jesus is the expression of the heart of God. A person's word is a statement of that person's nature or character. Jesus is the perfect expression of the nature and character of God.

Jesus is said both to be with God and to be God. Our minds cannot hold the ultimate logic of both statements together. I believe there are things we don't understand deeply or there is a limit to our understanding just like the apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:32
“This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

John 1:6-13 - The Word's Witness

John the Baptist is especially emphasized in the gospel of John. He is sent from God; Jesus is face to face with God and is God. John is the witness; Jesus is the one witnessed to. John is the witness; Jesus is the Light.

John 1:14-18 - The Word in Flesh

The "Word" became flesh. Flesh, in typical biblical thought, stands for the whole person. The human nature in all of its weakness and susceptibility to sin.

John 1:19-28 - The Negative Witness

Verses 20-21 give us John the Baptist's own witness to what he was not. He declared that he was not the Messiah (the Christ), not Elijah, and not the Prophet.

John 1:29-34 - The Positive Witness

John has two important things to say about Jesus in verses 29-34. First, he describes him as, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John's gospel will present Jesus in that role at the Crucifixion. Isaiah 53:7
Secondly, Jesus is described here as the possessor of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist states that he had seen the Spirit come upon Jesus and remain on him.

Jesus is the possessor of the Spirit and that He baptizes with the Holy Spirit is important for us also.

God Bless you as you begin to study this Gospel and pray for the Lord to speak to you through the Holy Spirit.

Do you worship God for who He is?

2007-10-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

Matthew 20:20-23

Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing that he's going to die.
Mt 20:17~19 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

We deserve the cross because of our sins but he took it for us. The reason most of us don't preach the gospel to our neighbors or friends that we afraid betrayal, mocking, bad treatment. Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing that he will face difficulty.

This Scripture tells us that mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. Jesus discerned her motive for worshiping the way that she did. People do the same thing today too. They do all of the right things in an attempt to get something from God such as fame, recognition greatness and others. People worship intensely because they have heard that you have to worship God to get a response from him. They praise God, not because he is worthy of praise, but because the feel that they will get something from him if they praise him. Praising God is for the thing what God blessed us with such as Praise God for our family, home, property etc but worshiping God beyond praising Him. Worshiping God is thanking Him for who He is. Thanking God for his goodness even if I don’t have home, property etc I still thank him.

Matthew 4:21:22 tells us about two brothers James and John from the scriptures they involve in fishing Business. They seem fairly wealthy because they owned fishing boats and equipment but still they need to worship God. When Jesus called them they left their fishing boat and their father and followed Jesus. Their mother who came to Jesus requesting that one of her sons sit on his right hand and the other sit on his left had selfish motives. This would certainly make her the greatest mother of all. Her sons would have the greatest positions.

Do you serve God because He's going to help you in your career, family life etc?
Doing right thing for wrong motive is a sin by itself. Like that Mrs Zebedee.
Let's stop praying that lord send us this and that and pray send us to somewhere we can help, support.

Jesus took the time to let the woman know that status was not an issue in the kingdom but He teaches us humility. The disciples had this same desire to be the greatest. They were upset by the thought that this woman’s sons would have a greater position. Here, James and his brother are brought before Jesus by their mother notice it’s their mother who speaks. Our motive for worshiping God has to be genuine; we need to worship God for who he is.

Discussion Questions?

1. Do you praise and worship God for who he is? 2. Do you have a personal testimony about worshiping God in difficult situation? ( share...)

Tuesday September 11, 2007 President and Government Leaders and Officials

2007-08-28T12:49:00.001-07:00

Those in authority are ultimately responsible to God. Bible says in Deuteronomy 17:18-19
" When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees"
Those in authority are responsible for choosing good leaders. Deuteronomy 16:18-19
" appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. "
We should obey the governmental authorities that God has placed in power. Romans 13:1-4
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
Believers should cooperate with the authorities wherever possible. Titus 3:1
" Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,"
Sometimes obedience to God and His law may require disobedience of earthly powers. Acts 5:29
"We must obey God rather than men!"

Monday September 10, 2007 Marriages ( Families ) and HIV/AIDS patient

2007-08-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

What does the Bible teach about marriage?
Marriage is a permanent, committed partnership between a man and a woman. Bible says Matthew 19:5-6 " and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
How should husbands relate to their wives? Ephesians 5:25-28 " Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."
How should the wife relate to her husband? Ephesians 5:22-24 " Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
How should society view marriage? Bible says Hebrews 13:4, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
By what commandments has God guarded marriage? The seventh and the tenth. Bible says Exodus 20:14 & 17, "You shall not commit adultery." and "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife."
What is the only acceptable reason that Jesus gave for ending a marriage? It's in the Bible, Matthew 5:32 "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery."
To experience healing from sickness follow God's plan. Bible says in James 5:14-16 " Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
God expects us to care for the sick and suffering. Galatians 4:14, "Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ himself."
When caring for others we are caring for our Lord. It's in the Bible, Matthew 25:40, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me."

Sunday September 9, 2007 Churches ( Leaders ) and moral awakening

2007-08-28T12:47:00.002-07:00

Pastors should be faithful to family responsibilities and reflections of God's truth.
The Bible says in I Timothy 3:2-7" Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap."
Pastors are not to be status seekers.
The Bible also says in I Corinthians 4:6 " Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another."
Pastors are to teach God's people by word and example.
Acts 20:28 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

Saturday September 8, 2007 Freedom of speech including media and for imprisoned

2007-08-28T12:47:00.001-07:00

God forbids injustice. bible says in Deuteronomy 16:19
"Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."
God is tired of our injustice. Habakkuk 1:3
"Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds."
Overcome evil injustice with good. Bible tells us in Romans 12:21
" Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

Friday September 7, 2007 Children ( Youth ) and the Educational System

2007-08-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

What is the value of early attention to child training? The bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
What does God expect from parents as they raise children? Parents must be Godly examples in words and actions. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
God expects parents to be patient. Bible says in Colossians 3:21 " Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Discipline is an expression of parental love. Proverbs 13:24 " He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."
The purpose of discipline is to help the children mature, not to anger them. Bible says in Ephesians 6:4 " Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
What response does God expect from children? Ephesians 6:1 says "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."

Thursday September 6, 2007 Poverty and Economic Development

2007-08-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

We should be eager to help the poor. The bible says in Galatians 2:10 " All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Ignoring the needy is a sin. the Bible says also in Amos 5:12, " For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts."
Helping the poor brings God's blessing. psalm 41:1, " Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble."
We the church should help to support the poor who have no families. Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 5:5-6 "The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives."
God promises great rewards for those who help the poor. Isaiah 58:7-11
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness [a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Pray for Ethiopian millennium

2007-08-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

If you wonder how exactly to pray for Ethiopian millennium you aren't alone. Start with the following Scripture each day with list of topics.-> -->
" If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Intercessory prayer has the power to change our land. Not politics, econony or anything else ; only God has a solution for our land. It is time that we start seeking God's Kingdom by humbling ourselves. Pray for our land Ethiopia inspire of tribe, language, political openion, church denimination or religion; let's ask God to heal our land

Thursday September 6, 2007 Poverty and Economic Development
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Friday September 7, 2007 Children ( Youth ) and the Educational System
Matthew 18:19-20
Saturday September 8, 2007 Freedom of speech including media and for imprisoned
1 Peter 4:7-10
Sunday September 9, 2007 Churches ( Leaders ) and moral awakening and personal renewal
1 John 3:16-18
Monday September 10, 2007 Marriages ( Families ) and HIV/AIDS patients
1 Peter 4:7-10
Tuesday September 11, 2007 President and Government Leaders (Government Officials )
1 Timothy 2:1~4

Please email us and let us know about your decision of Prayer and Fasting or If you have any questions, concerns or comments please email us or post your comment.

May God bless you and keep you

A week of prayer and fasting for Ethiopian Millinium

2007-08-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways;then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

From September 6~11, we are encouraging you to join us in prayer and fasting for Ethiopia :

* Join with churches around the world in a special week of prayer and fasting for Ethiopian future.
* Skip at least one meal.
* Donate the money saved by skipping the meal(s) for helping the needy and orphans .

It is our hope that all Ethiopian believers will unite in concentrated prayer and fasting seeking God's face
at this crucial time.