October 6th Class

Hey Girls!  

It's going to be a full day for me today, so will try and tap out a few notes from todays class for you by sometime tomorrow evening...

in the meantime, pop into the Comment Cafe and say hello!

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Well, it's late Wednesday Afternoon and I'm working on the notes... 

if all goes well they should be up by 4pm

Thank you for being so patient!

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3:45pm Wednesday Afternoon...

It was so good to hear this past week just how deep the book of Philippians, the Word of God, is already working on the inside of many of you, heart, mind and soul.  It's a delight to me when you share of the overflow and I encourage each one of you to continue on in your study and enjoyment of His Word.

Once again, I invite you girls that attended yesterday mornings class to share in the Comment Cafe the notes that you took during class time and also thoughts.  Even though I prepare teaching notes, they are probably only about 20% of what is actually taught or expounded upon, so I need to enlist your help here!

We began by discussing our answers from Day One questions.  Never underestimate the deeper unveiling of truth when looking up the transliterations from the Greek or Hebrew!  We spent some time discussing Question 7 as we looked up the Greek of 'grieving' and 'quenching'.  It is so important to understand that this 'grieving' of the Holy Spirit is in direct reference to a believers  former way of life, that is, the taking on of the inclinations and preferences, the lifestyle and attitudes of the world you've been sanctified from.  Listen, you do not need to be knee deep in any of these areas to grieve the Holy Spirit Who is in you.  Dip your little toe in and the Holy Spirit responds!  Then we looked at the 'quenching' of the Holy Spirit and saw that it was in direct reference to not despising prophetic utterances.  In its simplest form, this phrase 'prophetic utterances' means the Word of God.  To despise prophetic utterances, is to despise the Word of God.  To not take God at His Word.  To turn away from truth.  To live according to what seems right in your own eyes.

Day Two was rich in it's unveiling, through looking up transliterations and cross-referencing, of what it means to grumble - and not only what it means to grumble, but also how God defines grumbling AND grumblers!  When we were asked how Philippians 2:15 related to v.14 in the light of context we could see that our ability or willingness to NOT grumble or dispute at any time is directly related to the proof made evident in us that we are a 'blameless and innocent child of God, above reproach, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we are to be a light.'  Then from Numbers and Hebrews a list was made of the of what grumbling is and who grumblers are... yep, we'd better be spending some time thinking upon how Philippians 2:15 relates to v.14... there's a lot riding on it.

Day Three and Four had us looking at what it means to 'hold fast' the word of life.  It's not just carrying your Bible around that's for sure!  It's devoting ourselves to the reading and understanding of scripture.  It's taking hold of it in understanding and observing His Word.  Applying His Word.  Attending to His Word... giving our full attention to His Word.  We are to know God's Word.  All of it.  Holding on to what we know and then living it out.  Giving attention to His Word.  Not just trying to fit it in or hoping to find time or hoping to be able to make time, unless a better offer comes along.  His Word is our NECESSARY FOOD!  

(did i just rant... yes, i think i might have just ranted a little... gotta say though, it's a refreshing dose of truth!)

Page 46 had us diving into the phrase 'the day of Christ'.  This had me addressing the conversation that Jan actually began in the Comment Cafe last week, so here is the short of it... the Day of Christ is NOT the same as the Day of the LORD.  The Day of Christ precedes the day of the LORD and is the time connected to reward and blessing of the saints at the coming of Christ for His own, the church.  If you would like to discuss this further, we can do it in the Comment Cafe!  

We took our morning discussion up to Question 7 on page 48.  It was a very pointed question that required more than just a casual response, but a deeper reflection of our own hearts and lives, based up what we had gleaned from our study in Philippians 2:16-17.  Don't skip over this question, or if you did skip over it, I would suggest perhaps going back and taking the time before God to answer it as you reflect upon all you learned from your study this past week.

with love and joy in serving,

Come on in, 

pull up a chair, 

and join in on the conversation in...

The Comment Cafe