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Gospel of the Kingdom Training Course
Lesson Reviews
Summer 2003
Lesson 19
The Gospel of the Kingdom
The Art of Discipleship
Learning to See the Face of God
Click here and select tape #4905 for a mp3 audio sermon of this lesson
A. Read the following statement:
"The true saint finds that his faith and trust are being challenged every day of his sojourn on earth. Sometimes he despairs even of life. But if he does not turn away from the Lord, the Lord always provides a solution for every distress. The older saints know this well."—Robert B. Thompson (Change)
B. Answer the following question:
Q.1 Amidst difficult times, of what can we be assured?
C. Read the following statement:
Discipleship is an art. Learning to cope with the difficulties that come our way is a matter of learning to see God’s Presence in all that happens to us. He is in control no matter how chaotic the situation appears to be. He allows things to occur knowing that if we turn to Him in our hour of need He can use the opportunity to reveal more of Himself to us. In turning to God, in leaning upon Him alone, we can begin to see His face, figuratively, in all that takes place around us and benefit from His constant care and concern for us.
There are at least four aspects of seeing the face of God that can assist us in coming to understand the Kingdom of God, our role in it, and the manner in which God uses circumstances as training tools to sharpen the role He has for us to play in His great plan of redemption:
WHY WE DON’T SEE THE FACE OF GOD...
...because of injustice
...because they think God is blind
...because of doing evil
WHERE WE SEE THE FACE OF GOD...
...in the presence of justice
...in the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
...in our circumstances
...in the process of transformation
HOW WE SEE THE FACE OF GOD...
...by believing it possible
...by seeking righteousness
...by remaining faithful in difficulty
D. Read Isaiah 59:1-4
E. Read Hosea 7:2
F. Read 1 Peter 3:12
G. Answer the following questions:
Q.2 What prevents us from being in close contact with God?
Q.3 What mistake do people make concerning their wickedness?
Q.4 What is the result of our doing evil?
H. Read Psalm 89:12-16
I. Read Luke 1:76,77
J. Read Psalm 13:1-5; Psalm 69:16-19
K. Read 2 Corinthians 4:6,7
L. Answer the following questions:
Q.5 If justice and judgment inhabit God’s throne, what two things go before His face?
Q.6 By going before the face of the Lord what did John the Baptist’s ministry bring?
Q.7 In what common every day place can we see the face of God?
Q.8 When God’s light shines into our hearts, what then becomes possible?
M. Read Psalm 27:7-9; Psalm 80:3
N. Read Psalm 24:1-6
O. Read Psalm 17:13-15; Psalm 22:23,24; Psalm 31:11-18; Psalm 41:9-12
P. Answer the following questions:
Q.9 What is necessary in learning to see the face of God?
Q.10 What kind of actions can we take to help us see the face of God?
Q.11 What good can come from remaining faithful amidst times of great adversity?
Q. Read John 9:30-41
R. Read Matthew 21:12-20
S. Answer the following questions:
Q.12 What was the major source of criticism the Lord Jesus held against the Pharisees when they quarreled with the man healed of blindness from birth?
Q.13 What point was Jesus making when He cursed the fig tree?
T. Read Mark 8:22-26
U. Read Matthew 17:1-8
V. Read Matthew 20:29-34
W. Answer the following questions:
Q.14 What appropriate thing did the blind man whom Jesus was in the process of healing do?
Q.15 What purpose did the cloud and the Voice coming from it serve?
Q.16 What valuable thing did the two blind men do when told to be quiet as the Lord Jesus approached them?
X. Read the following statement:
Therefore, in order to Biblically learn to see it is important to:
REALIZE WHAT HINDERS
Thinking we see when we do not
Missing the purpose in seeing what God is doing
REALIZE WHAT HELPS
Learn to be honest with God about what you are seeing
Learn to focus on Jesus not religious activity
Learn to be dependent upon Jesus for true sight
Proceed to G. K. T. C. Lesson 20
Go to the Gospel of the Kingdom Training Course main page
Go to Discipleship Learning Center main page
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Copyright © 1997-2001 by Trumpet Ministries, Inc. / The Word of Righteousness Author of the "Words of Righteousness" - Dr. Robert B. Thompson Web Page design by True Word Designs
A.1 If we do not turn away from the Lord amidst the difficulty, He will always provide a solution for every distress.
A.2 Isaiah 59:1-4 Our iniquities and injustices blind us from seeing God and prevent us from hearing His voice.
A.3 Hosea 7:2 Wickedness results in deception. People who are wicked do not realize that God is aware of all that they are doing and that He is not blind to their actions.
A.4 1 Peter 3:12 The end result of evil doing is that God turns His face away from us.
WHY WE DON’T SEE THE FACE OF GOD is related to our failure to turn away from injustice and iniquity, and to mistakenly thinking God is unaware of our wicked behavior which causes Him to turn His face from us.
A.5 Psalm 89:12-16 Justice and judgment inhabit God’s throne. Mercy and truth go before God’s face. All of His actions are just, and it is in His mercies that we are not consumed.
A.6 Luke 1:76,77 John the Baptist went before the face of the Lord in proclaiming salvation and remission of sins.
A.7 Psalm 13:1-5; Psalm 69:16-19 We can see the face of God behind our every day circumstances, whether seemingly good, or bad. He is ever watching and present, though at times it may appear He is afar off.
A.8 2 Corinthians 4:6,7 As we become weak in our own strength allowing God to be our all in all, the Light that shines in our hearts reveals the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
WHERE WE SEE THE FACE OF GOD is related to the practical, common everyday decisions we must make and in the circumstances we find ourselves in at any given moment. If we keep in mind that God is just and concerned with our good it becomes easier for us to judge others with mercy and truth, to not overreact to our daily frustrations by blaming others, and to know that through weakness we can be transformed into strength that is found only in Christ.
A.9 Psalm 27:7-9; Psalm 80:3 It is of utmost importance that we believe it is possible to get to know God increasingly better and better. We must believe that God is interested in helping us, that He has the power to help us, and that He will help us as we place our faith and trust in Him over time.
A.10 Psalm 24:1-6 By following the Lord in righteousness, through the indwelling leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can do and say those things that are pleasing to God and see His face in the fruit that comes forth from such obedience.
A.11 Psalm 17:13-15; Psalm 22:23,24; Psalm 31:11-18; Psalm 41:9-12 The Lord reveals Himself to those who remain faithful in times of great trouble and adversity. He enables us to understand that it is in the night seasons, the times when we are frustrated and thwarted in our goals that we learn to cry out for His assistance. When we come to the end of ourselves yet remain faithful to God, His face dawns on the horizon and draws us forward to waters of replenishment and pastures of nourishment.
HOW WE SEE THE FACE OF is related to believing that God cares about us, that He wants us to fare well, and that He is interested in us growing in righteousness. When we obey God and keep His commandments He reveals Himself to us in increasing measure and His face shines upon us with favor even though our outward circumstances may be difficult and tiring.
A.12. John 9:30-41 By over relying upon their physical sight, and making judgments based upon what they thought they saw happening, Jesus was telling them they were blind in their spirit for finding fault with a man healed on the Sabbath. In saying they saw clearly He said they were yet in sin and were in fact blind to truth.
A.13 Matthew 21:12-20 Unlike a fig tree whose fruit only comes in certain seasons, Jesus was illustrating that the Temple, His house, should be a place where prayer makes the fruit of healing possible at all times. Jesus cursed the fig tree in place of those who found faut with Him for healing the lame and the blind in the Temple which they had allowed to be corrupted with moneychangers and buying and selling. His disciples could not see His purpose in cursing the fig tree was illustrative of the misdeeds occurring in the Temple.
WHAT HINDERS US IN SEEING THE FACE OF GOD is related to thinking we see when we do not, and in misjudging what we believe God is doing at any given time. When we rely on physical sight, and mental acuity to discern God’s moving we are prone to miss what is really occurring and the point God is interested in making.
A.14 Mark 8:22-26 He was honest with Jesus in telling Him he did not see clearly after Jesus put His hands on Him the first time. This allowed Jesus to respond in kind by laying His hand on him again resulting in clear vision.
A.15 Matthew 17:1-8 It helped Peter turn his eyes from the religious activities he was dreaming up, building tabernacles, so that his attention could return to Jesus alone.
A.16 Matthew 20:29-34 They persisted in placing their need before Jesus, not allowing others to discourage them from pursuing what only God could provide: sight to the blind.
WHAT HELPS US IN SEEING THE FACE OF GOD is related to being totally honest with God in all our actions, and especially in our prayer life. We cannot pretend to be blessed if in reality something is not quite right. In so doing we must turn our gaze from our religious activities and in thinking they are our salvation instead of the personal relationship we are to have with Christ. We must never allow others to dissuade us from making Jesus our sole means of redemption.
