Fall 2012 Book Ballot

Amish Grace

by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, David L. Weaver-Zercher

2007       256 pages

On Monday morning, October 2, 2006, a gunman entered a one-room Amish school in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. In front of twenty-five horrified pupils, thirty-two-year-old Charles Roberts ordered the boys and the teacher to leave. The oldest hostage, a thirteen-year-old, begged Roberts to "shoot me first and let the little ones go." Refusing her offer, he opened fire on all of them, killing five and leaving the others critically wounded. He then shot himself as police stormed the building.

The blood was barely dry on the schoolhouse floor when Amish parents brought words of forgiveness to the family of the one who had slain their children. The outside world was incredulous that such forgiveness could be offered so quickly for such a heinous crime. Of the hundreds of media queries that the authors received about the shooting, questions about forgiveness rose to the top. Forgiveness, in fact, eclipsed the tragic story, trumping the violence and arresting the world's attention.

AMISH GRACE explores the many questions this story raises about the religious beliefs and habits that led the Amish to forgive so quickly. It looks at the ties between forgiveness and membership in a cloistered communal society and ask if Amish practices parallel or diverge from other religious and secular notions of forgiveness. It will also address the matter of why forgiveness became news. "All the religions teach it," mused an observer, "but no one does it like the Amish." Regardless of the cultural seedbed that nourished this story, the surprising act of Amish forgiveness begs for a deeper exploration.

People of the Book

by Geraldine Brooks

2008        Fiction      381 pages

The "complex and moving" (The New Yorker) novel by Pulitzer Prize-winner Geraldine Brooks follows a rare manuscript through centuries of exile and war.

Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author. Called "a tour de force" by the San Francisco Chronicle, this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in fifteenth-century Spain. When it falls to Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, to conserve this priceless work, the series of tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding-an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair-only begin to unlock its deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.

Safely Home

by Randy Alcorn

2011      Fiction     406 pages

Is this the day I die? Li Quan asks himself this question daily, knowing that he might be killed for practicing his faith. American businessman Ben Fielding has no idea what his brilliant former college roommate is facing in China. He expects his old friend has fulfilled his dream of becoming a university professor. But when they are reunited in China after twenty years, both men are shocked at what they discover about each other. Thrown together in an hour of encroaching darkness, both must make choices that will determine not only the destinies of two men, but two families, two nations, and two worlds.

descriptions courtesy of Google Books

Winter/Spring 2012 Book Ballot

One-Month OptionC.S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain                     162 pages
Why must humanity suffer? In this elegant and thoughtful work, C. S. Lewis questions the pain and suffering that occur everyday and how this contrasts with the notion of a God that is both omnipotent and good. An answer to this critical theological problem is found within these pages.

Two-Month Option

James Bryan Smith

Room of Marvels                             192 pages
Written as a fable or allegory, much in the same vein as "The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis.- Although a work of fiction, the story mirrors the author's own journey through grief after the loss of his friend Rich Mullins, his mother Wanda, and his daughter Madeline.
Christian writer Tim Hudson usually turns easy answers into bestsellers. But when his best friend is killed---followed closely by Tim's mother and his daughter---his faith wavers. So he withdraws to a spiritual retreat center, where God offers him insight into his loved ones' experience of heaven---but will Tim believe it?

C.S. Lewis

The Great Divorce                                 133 pages
What if anyone in Hell could take a bus trip to Heaven and stay there forever if they wanted to?
In The Great Divorce C. S. Lewis again employs his formidable talent for fable and allegory. The writer finds himself in Hell boarding a bus bound for Heaven. The amazing opportunity is that anyone who wants to stay in Heaven, can. This is the starting point for an extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment. Lewis's revolutionary idea is the discovery that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. In Lewis's own words, "If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell."

Three-Month Option

Lois Lowry
Utopian Trilogy consisting of: The Giver; Gathering Blue; Messenger
The Giver                                            208 pages
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Gathering Blue                                    240 pages

Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world and see what places exist beyond.

Messenger                                          176 pages

For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.

Lesson #5: Zoom Through Scipture

Zoom Through Scripture

GOD is already everywhere.

GOD Is Omnipresent, HE Is Everywhere.

GOD Is Omniscient, HE Sees and Knows All.

The LORD ardently longs to be especially present with each of us as we daily walk the earth.

HE pursues us in order to personally relate and engage each person in an intimate relationship with HIM.

Chelsa:

Understanding this has everything to do with recognizing the Work of The HOLY SPIRIT as The PRESENCE Of GOD in our lives, [R.E.] Both in the small moments and in the 'Big' moments.

The HOLY SPIRIT in Genesis

How did GOD relate to man in the very beginning?

The Garden of Eden

Genesis 3:8 NLT

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

GOD'S PRESENCE was especially present in the Garden. [We even sing of our desire to walk in that Garden with HIM again.]

HE went there in such a concentrated extent that Adam and Eve could hear the sound of HIS Footfalls as HE walked in the Garden.

The LORD gave Adam and Eve direct contact with HIMSELF. There was no barriers between them and GOD, allowing for a very intimate fellowship.

What is 'intimacy'?

It is when you invite another to know your heart so deeply that this other knows all your secrets, all your goals, all your dreams. Basically another invited into your heart sees and knows and understands every detail of your existence down to the very breath you inhale or exhale.

• GOD walked among the inhabits of the Garden of Eden

Direct contact

No barriers between humans and GOD

Man experienced an intimate fellowship with The LORD

Does it sound like HE wanted to have a close fellowship with HIS Creation, particularly those made in HIS IMAGE?

Yes!

But then what happened to taint this relationship betwixt us?

Our Sin separated us from GOD...but GOD still wanted to dwell with HIS Creation in some manner.

GOD & The Story of Noah

Genesis 6:3 NIV

Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." [*a, *b]

• Who was in charge of the existing connection/fellowship to GOD in this story?

The HOLY SPIRIT

From this verse, does it sound like GOD had planned to continue in fellowship with man forever?

Yes

Genesis 6:5-8 NIV

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 8:15-9:17 NIV

Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."

So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark, one kind after another.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood[*c] . And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

"As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease."

God's Covenant With Noah

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.

"Whoever sheds the blood of man,

by man shall his blood be shed;

for in the image of God

has God made man.

As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

• What instructions does GOD give Noah for the future walk with HIM?

Keep multiplying MY Creation.

Genesis 9:1, 6 NIV

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

"Whoever sheds the blood of man,

by man shall his blood be shed;

for in the image of God

has God made man.

• What does GOD know, when did HE know about the sin cycle amongst all of humanity?

Of course HE does; HE knew before HE created us...and while we are faulty people, HE did not make a mistake when HE created us.....Also I think we should allow The LORD to break out of the box we have limited HIM to with our idea/understanding of time.

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9 NIV

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward[*d] ,they found a plain in Shinar [*e] and settled there.

They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel[*f] —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

• What was wrong about the community's idea to build this tower?

It goes against GOD'S directions for fulfilling their purpose in HIS Kingdom, namely to spread out and fill the planet.

Why do you think GOD wanted the people spread out?

I have no clue.

Abraham

Genesis 12:1 NIV

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

Genesis 16:13 NIV

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen [*g] the One who sees me."

• Because GOD wanted to dwell among people is some sort of way, HE revealed HIMSELF to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob under some situations, in certain circumstances and in certain seasons.

• The HOLY SPIRIT visits and talks to Abraham

Genesis 18:1 NIV

The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

• The HOLY SPIRIT appears in the form of a man.

Genesis 19:1 NIV

The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.

• The HOLY SPIRIT is [are] seen as [an] angel[s].

How often did GOD Himself relate to people?

Rarely

The HOLY SPIRIT as Mentioned In Exodus

Exodus is a book about deliverance. It is a book displaying GOD'S Power and HIS Desire to be made known to all people. He wants to bless and be with HIS Chosen People.

As we pick up the story of GOD, the descents of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob have been enslaved for 400 years in a foreign land. HE has heard their cry and is concerned about their suffering. The Israelites had been in slavery in Egypt for 400 years and now GOD is going to free them from their bondage and lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

• As in Genesis the promise had been already made/ prophesied/ identified/ covenant to Abraham.

Genesis 15:12-16 NIV

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

• What Characteristics of GOD do you see in this passage?

Exodus 2:23-3:10 NIV

During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

Moses and the Burning Bush

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

And Moses said, "Here I am."

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, "I am the God of your father[*h] , the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." A his, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

What Characteristics of GOD do You See in This Passage?

GOD IS...

Holy

Awesome

Fearful

Concerned for HIS People's suffering.

Coming down to rescue them.

HE...

Listens to the cries of HIS People

Desires to bring them to a beautiful, spacious place.

Wants HIS People to be free.

• What characteristics of GOD do you See Here?

Exodus 6:6-8 NIV

"Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.'"

What characteristics of GOD do you See Here?

HE IS...

Their GOD

Powerful.

Trustworthy.

The LORD Will...

Free them.

Redeem them.

Take them as HIS OWN.

Be their GOD, and they shall be HIS People.

Give them land and space.

Keep HIS Promises.

• Can you see the desire GOD possesses to have a relationship with HIS People?

Yes! Yes! Yes!

After their deliverance out of Egypt, GOD leads them toward the Promise Land. Moses, GOD'S prophet, is leading the Israelites, but GOD is leading Moses.

• Three months after they walked out of Egypt in triumph, they arrive at Mount Sinai where The LORD gives them instructions to regulate their behavior and lives. HE gives rules which reveal how HE loves them and how HE wants them to show HIS LOVE to each other...

BIG Ten does not refer to football ; )...it refers to the Ten Commandments.

• Why did GOD keep the People at a distance?

Exodus 19:9-24 NIV

The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain."

After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently[*i] , and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[*j]

The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."

Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, 'Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'”

The LORD replied, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them."

• Why did GOD keep the People at a distance?

These are serious and even crucial instructions for the people's own protection.

GOD Is Holy.

&

The LORD Is Set Apart from them.

• Who was permitted to approach The LORD?

Exodus 24:1-2 NIV

Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him."

• Who was allowed [a.k.a. permitted] to come close to GOD?

Most could only worship at the bottom of the mountain. Elders and priests could journey a little closer to God. But only Moses was granted the capability to draw very close to The LORD.

• Why do you think GOD wants to dwell with HIS Chosen People?

Exodus 25:8-9 NIV

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”

• Why do you think GOD wants to dwell with HIS Chosen People?

To reveal HIS GLORY, & to disclose HIS Relationship to them for their benefit.

HE wanted to display HIMSELF to those in the Promised Land who would hear about the Israelites' [and thus HIS] reputation.

The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY wants to live among them, but HE knows because of HIS HOLINESS and their sinful nature a barrier must be built between them and HIMSELF.

So HE instructs them to build the Tabernacle.

GOD expresses HIS Desire to live among HIS People, not just visit them on occasion. But HE knows how holy HE IS, and how unholy they are. HIS Mere PRESENCE would shock them to death. So, HE told the people to make a habitation, a place so that HE could dwell among them. HE gives detailed instructions, including those chosen to do the work [i.e. metal manipulation, sewing], on how construction was to proceed on the Tabernacle. [And much later, HE will again give the Israelites detailed building plans for HIS Permanent Place among them, details for the Temple.]

• Who had The HOLY SPIRIT in The Old Testament?

Exodus 31:1-11 NIV

Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent-the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand-and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you."

In the Old Testament who were given the GIFT of The HOLY SPIRIT?

Judges

Kings

Prophets

Why then was Bezalel filled with The HOLY SPIRIT?

Judge?

No.

King?

No.

Prophet?

No.

Remember Bezalel was on ordinary Jewish man.

• So why was he the sole recipient of The INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT, who did not fit into these three categories in the Old Testament?

The LORD wanted HIS Dwelling Place to be perfect.

I wonder: Why?

HIS GLORY had to be reflected to the best of man's ability to reflect it.

• Why does GOD desire not to travel with HIS People, even after they built HIS Tabernacle?

Exodus 33:1-3 NIV

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

• Why does The LORD not want to go with HIS People?

This is the Golden Calf incident.

The LORD knows the anger HE feels against them. HE knows the Israelites weren't wholeheartedly dedicated to HIM. Even after HIS Evidence of Powerful Action in their behalf, they still just don't trust HIM as completely as they should.

HE knows how Powerful HE IS, & HE knows HE can do mighty acts [i.e. like Kill Them] even when HE is not angry. Knowing how angry HE IS, HE knows that if HE dwells with those people in HIS Anger, HE will kill them, even though HE promised Abraham, Isaac & Jacob to bless the world through the product of Abraham and Sarah's union, through Isaac and Rebecca's union, etc.

• How does GOD relate to HIS People in this passage?

Exodus 33:7-11 NIV

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Now the Israelites always have to go through a secondary source if they wanted something from The LORD. In this case in particular, they had to go through Moses. Later in the Kingdom of Israel, the people could only approach GOD through the priests and through blood sacrifices.

• Why is Moses so adamant about GOD being with them on their travels?

Exodus 33:15-16 NIV

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

GOD still wants to be with HIS People. But now the opposite was also true. Moses wanted GOD'S PRESENCE to be among the Israelites. He wanted GOD dwelling in their amidst.

• Why is Moses so adamant about The LORD'S PRESENCE going with the Israelites?
• Why is Moses so concerned about GOD being with them on their travels?

Moses knew that The LORD'S PRESENCE would make all the difference in the Israelites' safety and well-being. It distinguished them from all other peoples. They were nothing without The LORD.

Do you think that is true of us today?

Yes.

Why?

The HOLY SPIRIT lives inside believers and shines forth.

• How did The HOLY SPIRIT show HIMSELF when HE was leading the Israelites in the wilderness?

Exodus 40:34-38 NIV

Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.

How did The HOLY SPIRIT show HIMSELF when HE was leading the Israelites in the wilderness?

A Cloud by Day

A Pillar of Fire at Night

The Israelites were to continue their travels until The SPIRIT Of The LORD descended and filled the Tabernacle with HIS PRESENCE.

This indicated to the Israelites that The LORD desired to refresh them through a time of rest [a.k.a. Sabbath].

Scripture depicts The LORD'S Descent as:

“The Glory of The LORD filled the Tabernacle.”

• The Tabernacle was filled with tangible indicators of The LORD being with the Israelites.

Do you think our bodies [similar in concept to the Temple, and thus when going further back in history, to the Tabernacle] should be filled with tangible proof that we belong to GOD?

Absolutely!

In this story of escape and wilderness wandering, clearly one can find GOD'S longing for more than the occasional visitation with HIS People. HE wants to have a habitation among them even though our sin has created a gorge between Us¹. But now the opposite was also true. Moses wanted GOD'S PRESENCE to be among the Israelites. He wanted GOD dwelling in their amidst.

How is The LORD physically manifesting HIMSELF in order that the People would see HIM leading them?

By Day, HE led them from a cloud.

By night, HE led them from a pillar of fire.

Moses did not want GOD'S Only Appearance before the People of Israel to be a cloud or fire. Moses wanted more evidence that The LORD was with HIS People and that HE chose to dwell among them.

When the Israelites would stop to make camp for rest, what would the cloud leading the People do?

HE would descend and fill the tabernacle.

Obviously GOD wasn't just leading them, HE made HIS DWELLING among them. This is when the most meaningful, thought-out, pondered part of the building of the Tabernacle.

“THE GLORY OF THE LORD [A.K.A. THE HOLY SPIRIT] FILLED THE TENT OF MEETING.”

The Tabernacle was filled with the tangible evidence of The PRESENCE of The LORD.

• Do you think our bodies [a.k.a. Tabernacles, a.k.a. Temples] should be filled with evidence that others can see?

Yes!

The HOLY SPIRIT will never be just theory. HE Is Tangible. HE can do the same things GOD The FATHER & JESUS HIS SON can do. THEY can change my life in the blink of an eye in by both abstract and practical ways, as long as you give the operating, controlling power to do change you and your actions.

[*a, *b] Or My spirit will not remain in; Or corrupt

[*c] Or humans, for
[*d] Or from the east; or in the east; [*e] That is, Babylonia
[*f] That is, Babylon; Babel sounds like the Hebrew for confused.

[*g] Or seen the back of

[*h] Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch (see Acts 7:32 ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.) fathers
[*i] Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
[*j] Or and God answered him with thunder

1Meaning between humanity/creation and The Creator

Lesson #4: Investigating

 

Lesson #4

Investigating The HOLY SPIRIT

Let's look at Scripture about Who The HOLY SPIRIT Is:

Acts 5:3-4 NLT

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

• As this passage reveals, you can't lie to HIM, after all HE IS GOD and thus The HEART-KNOWER.

Romans 15:5-6 NLT

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• HE orchestrates unity in believers, and those believers who follow HIS Direction are in fact united.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

• The HOLY SPIRIT lives inside believers.

The “Temple” Our body is the temple, and we need to honor it as such.

“You are Not Your Own” The HOLY SPIRIT wants to take over our bodies.

We are a place where The HOLY SPIRIT lives, we need to honor HIM by using it with pure motives.

I Corinthians 12:3 NLT

So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

• The HOLY SPIRIT leads us to JESUS & to The FATHER, and does not lead us to anyone else.

Exodus 34:29-35 NIV

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the LORD'S presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

The Old Law came with glory. What does it bring?

Condemnation

When Moses was given the Ten Commandments by GOD HIMSELF, how did Moses's appearance and demeanor change?

Moses's face glowed so brightly that no other person could stand to look at it.

He had to wear a veil.

Can that still happen?

Yes! Believers who live in the SPIRIT do shine. They have a GOD-Glow face.

But What Has Changed?: An Analogy

II Corinthians 3:14-16 NLT

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

What Has Become Faded?

The Old Covenant

How could this happen?

True Freedom arrived in the Form of JESUS CHRIST

Freedom to Know GOD

II Corinthians 3:7-18 NLT

The old way,[*a] with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

The Ministry of The HOLY SPIRIT is even more glorious than the old law.

What does it bring?

Righteousness

What are we to do that is similar to what Moses had to do?

Confess The CHRIST

How do we experience freedom?

Indwelling of The HOLY SPIRIT

In the Old Testament, who could be in The Presence of The LORD?

First Moses & then the High Priest of Israel could be in the PRESENCE once a year.

Now who can enter The Presence of The LORD?

All Who Believe

Who can radiate from The LORD as Moses did?

All Who Believe

How?

The Transforming Power of The HOLY SPIRIT

What are we transformed into?

More Perfectly into The Image of JESUS CHRIST

Will the radiance we shine fade?

Only if/when we choose/decide to exit The Presence of The HOLY SPIRIT

II Corinthians 13:14 NLT

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[*b]

• The HOLY SPIRIT wants to be in fellowship us those who believe in The SAVIOR, JESUS The CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:18-22 NLT

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. A Temple for the Lord So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

I John 5:13 NLT

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

I John 3:23-24 NLT

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

I John 4:1-3 NLT

Discerning False Prophets Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet[*c] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

I Thessalonians 5:19-21 NLT

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

[*a] Or ministry
[*b] Some English translations include verse 13 as part of verse 12, and then verse 14 becomes verse 13.
[*c] Greek If a spirit; similarly in 4:3.