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DIGGING DEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR DECEMBER 9-14 FOCUSING ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - SPIRIT

12/8/2013

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Monday - Divine Counsel - Isaiah 28:29 
Everything that makes the coming of Messiah so special and desired is wrapped up in the Spirit's activity. The Messiah, Jesus Christ comes to us with such a wonderful and perfect counsel in giving us the direction for each day of our life and the answers to our questions as time goes on. His wisdom is truly magnificent. If we but follow His Spirit we will have the ability to live life to the full.

Tuesday - Divine Justice - Romans 2:2 
The Lord knows the difference between good and bad as well as good and best. As was shared in the scripture on Sunday, His judgments are never made by what He sees or hears, but by the truth that comes from the heart and soul of an individual, even the Father. His rule and judgment are based in the understanding and character of God the Father who loves and cares for those who are His. Those who go against the will of God will be judged by the choices that they make, just as those who believe and follow Him will be rewarded by the truth.

Wednesday - Divine Equity - 2 Corinthians 5:10 
Each one of us will receive what is due us for the things that we do in this realm. The Lord will judge us by the same standard, equally giving opportunity for our case to be presented before the Lord and receive the reward that is offered. The Lord is more than just fair, He is not prejudice, never shows favoritism, is compassionate with all. But He is the Judge of all. Can it be that the judgment seat and the mercy seat are the same? We can only hope.

Thursday - Divine Faithfulness - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 
One of the promises that we have from the Messiah is that He is and will ever be faithful to be with us as our strength and power when we are found in our weakest state. When we are in need of the power just to breath...He is there. When we need the strength to carry on with the task that is laid before us, we will never be found carrying it alone for the Lord is there giving us the will to take that next step and move ahead to the place He wants us to reach. Just trust in Him for He is more faithful than any friend we could ever have.

Friday - Divine Perfection - Hebrews 5:9 
Our nature was made to desire the best though at times we do not understand or comprehend what is best or perfect for us. So God came in the form of man and brought His perfection to us in our world so that we could see how perfect the source of our salvation could be. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us revealing how we could follow in His footsteps and find ourselves in a perfect relationship with the Heavenly Father to the point where He would see beyond our faults and see our need, our desire, to be with Him and forgive!

Saturday - Divine Knowledge - John 8:31-32 
Through discipleship we are taught the ways of the Lord so that we can know the truth and be set free from those things that would try to get us off the narrow way that leads to the fullness of life. Jesus said that we have to hold to His teachings. Not just hold on to that, Bible in hand, but live them with the word of God in our hearts, guiding our lives. If we can believe in Jesus we will be able to freely live the life that will be guided by His Spirit and lead us to the reward that God has prepared.

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DIGGING DEEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR DECEMBER 2-7: THOUGHTS FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT FROM ISAIAH 2:1-5; JOHN 1:4-12

12/2/2013

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Monday - The Growth of God's Kingdom - Isaiah 9:7 
Both the text from Sunday and this familiar passage from Isaiah speak to the growth or increase of the Kingdom as drawing all nations to "His Holy Mountain" or Christ's (God's) Kingdom. The establishment of this kingdom will be undeniably world recognized and desired. All who come and draw near to this kingdom will be blessed by the Almighty who will accomplish it in righteousness and justice, fairness and joy...forever and forevermore.

Tuesday - The Call of the Gentiles - Ephesians 3:6 
The drawing of all nations and peoples to this kingdom will be a mystery to so many, whether Israelite or Gentile. There shall be a drawing of all who would believe to come together as one body, heirs to receive the blessings that God desires to give His children. We will have the opportunity to share together in the goodness of the Lord in such a way because of the promises in Christ Jesus. We are co-heirs with Christ and our inheritance will be more than we could ever imagine. And like the song states, "We can only imagine."

Wednesday - The Teaching of God - 1 Thessalonians 4:9 
The Kingdom to which we are called and the joining with others can only occur with the living out of the teaching of "Love's Great Lesson" which is brotherly love. It is taught to us by god and instilled in our hearts by the power of His Holy Spirit as part of that special fruit given to us. In 1 John 2:27 it tells us that it is an anointing of God that teaches us about all the things we need to know in relationship to God and our fellow believers. And we are to remain in Him and in that anointing for it is the real thing and cannot be counterfeited.

Thursday - Divine Teaching - 2 John 9 
In just this short letter from John He shares with us that the true lessons that we need to learn are taught to us by the Father and the Son and that we are to continue in the depth of Their teaching so as to not fall short of having God in our lives...our hearts...ourselves. In the gospel of John, John shares the important words of Jesus that we need to remain in Him and have his Words remain in us to that we can have eternal life and truly live. It comes to be understood by the blending of these thoughts that to be found in God and Christ, God and Christ has to be found in us through our living out the Divine teachings of both.

Friday - The Swords of War - Hosea 2:18 
There is coming a day when God will make a covenant between man and the rest of creation, that all will be able to lay down (co-exist) in a peace that cannot be manufactured, conjured up by man in any way, shape, or form. In Sunday's text, we came to realize that the swords and other implements of war (and even war itself) will be beaten, changed into something that will be used to bring growth and productivity back for the propagation of life for all His creation.

Saturday - Walk In the Light - Isaiah 9:7 
We come back around to that passage in Isaiah that we hear just about every Christmas because of its importance: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end..." This peace will be the enlightenment of God given to man and will be understood by all. The wisdom of God will be finally grasp by human minds and hearts, after we come to see that the Light of that peace is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who alone can bring about such a power and long-awaited gift. To God be the glory great things He is teaching us and great things He will do.

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    Study guides provided by Pastor, Dr. David Shirer

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