God's Expressed Will

Monday, November 28, 2011: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – 4 (NKJV)                   What is God’s expressed will?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor

What is God’s expressed will? God wants believers to abstain from sexual immorality by possessing his own vessel in sanctification and honor.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011: 1 Thessalonians 4:6 – 7 (NKJV)                   What is defrauding?

That no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

What is defrauding? Not possessing your own vessel but another’s.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011: 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (NKJV)                   Who were they rejecting?

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Who were they rejecting? Not Paul’s advice but God who has given us His Holy Spirit.

Thursday, December 1, 2011: 1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NKJV)                   What love is this?

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another

What love is this? This is NOT what the world calls love: this is selfless love.

Friday, December 2, 2011: 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – 12 (NKJV)                   What are we to be to unbelievers?

That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

What are we to be to unbelievers? We are to be examples of quiet workers.

The Copycat Exorcism

Monday, November 21, 2011: Acts 19:11 – 12 (NKJV)                   What was unusual about Paul’s miracles?

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

What was unusual about Paul’s miracles? God used not just Paul but also handkerchiefs or aprons belonging to Paul to validate the message of salvation.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011: Acts 19:13 – 14 (NKJV)                   What did the Jewish exorcists’ try to do?

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

What did the Jewish exorcists’ try to do? The copycats tried to use the ‘formula.’ They were without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011: Acts 19:15 – 16 (NKJV)                   What was the result for the copycats?

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

What was the result for the copycat exorcists? The demon they were trying to exorcise showed the seven sons of Sceva what they lacked.

Thursday, November 24, 2011: Acts 19:17 – 18 (NKJV)                   What was the result of the attack?

This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

What was the result of the attack? The story spread. It magnified the Name of the Lord. As a result, many believed and confessed that they were now believers.

Friday, November 25, 2011: Acts 19:19 – 20 (NKJV)                   What was a collateral result?

Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

What was a collateral result? Sorcerers who dabbled in evil spirits burned their books, recognizing their implication. In conclusion, miracles linked to Paul magnified God and validated Paul’s message.

The Slave Girl and the Jailer

Monday, November 14, 2011: Acts 16:16 – 17 (NKJV)                  Was the slave girl possessed by an evil spirit?

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

Was the slave girl possessed by an evil spirit? Yes, she was. However, her own spirit made her follow Paul and declare him as servant of God and proclaimer of the way of salvation.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011: Acts 16:18 – 19  (NKJV)                  Why was Paul annoyed?

And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

Why was Paul annoyed? The demon’s actions on the girl annoyed Paul and using Christ’s name, he released her.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011: Acts 16:20 – 24 (NKJV)                  What did the slave masters do?

And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

What did the slave masters do? Their desire for money made them overlook the message of salvation. Instead, they brought false charger against them to put them into prison.

Thursday, November 17, 2011: Acts 16:25 – 28 (NKJV)                  What were Paul and Silas doing in prison?

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

What were Paul and Silas doing in prison? Their feet were restrained but they were praying and preaching! The earthquake that opened the restraints was not as powerful as the message that opened the prisoner’s hearts.

Friday, November 18, 2011: Acts 16:29 – 33 (NKJV)                  Why did the Philippian jailer ask about salvation?

Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

Why did the Philippian jailer ask about salvation? He realized that the slave girl was right.

Saul's Encounter

Monday, November 7, 2011: Acts 9:1 – 6 (NKJV)                                     What did the light do for Saul?

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

What did the light do for Saul? Saul fell to the ground. He recognized Jesus Christ as Lord.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011: Acts 9:7 – 8, 10 – 11 (NKJV)                       What happened to Saul?

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

What happened to Saul (but not to those with him)? He became blind and had to be lead to his destination, Damascus.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011: Acts 9:13 – 16 (NKJV)                               What was Ananias’ objection?

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

What was Ananias’ objection? Ananias was afraid for his own safety but was commanded to go.

Thursday, November 10, 2011: Acts 9:17 – 18 (NKJV)                                    What did Ananias do?

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

What did Ananias do? Ananias obeyed the Lord and a miracle followed.

Friday, November 11, 2011: Acts 9:19 –Acts 9:20 (NKJV)                               What action did Saul take?

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

What action did Saul take? Saul immediately preached that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.