Sarah Aug. 18

Ladies Bible Study Aug. 18

We began with prayer presented by Shera

Discussion begins with Mark 9- Sarah is in her tent listening to the Lord. Is anything impossible with the Lord.

At the beginning of Mark 9 is the transfiguration.  What a wonderful experience and when they came down from the mountain there were 9 other disciples left there.  The scribes had been questioning these disciples and a man stepped out of the crowd to speak to Jesus.  This man said he needed Jesus to heal his son and Jesus’ disciples could not remove the demon from the boy.  Jesus refers to the crowd as a faithless generation and the boy begins convulsing and falling into the fire.  The man explains that this has been happening throughout the boy’s youth.  The man said to Jesus IF you can you could remove the spirit and Jesus replies If you can believe, with God all things are possible. The man said I believe, help my unbelief!

Then we see the responses of the Leper and then the lady with the issue of blood.  Peter’s mother in law was sick with a fever and Jesus just walks over and touches her

The ultimate end was that they all believed and all had healing and all were touched by God.  People may not be looking for God, but God has a purpose in all that he does.   Our salvation, healing, or whatever, is not of us it is all of God, for HIS GLORY!!  We get so much more when we do believe. When we believe we begin to see more of the whole picture of God’s movements. 

When looking at our moment of salvation and looking at the thief on the cross, we don’t know when his salvation happened, but we do know that at the end he is receiving the blessings poured out upon him. Like Sarah, we don’t know when Sarah received her moment of salvation, but she too received the blessings poured out upon her.  Sarah is an example placed in God’s word for an example of a faithful woman.

Hebrews 11:11- We looked at the paper prepared by Pastor Jon, and Shera asked us to be careful of what versions we are reading.  The Hermeneutics of Biblical study = the thoughts of another combined with the thoughts written in another language. 

Question 2 pg. 20

The promise isn’t what was important, what IS important is the knowing that God who is in control.  Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an unknown God.”  Sarah trusted God and we have that opportunity too! Trusting God through all things in our lives!   Sarah counted God faithful in all, knowing that through all her making a mess He still loved her and fulfilled his promise through her.

1Tim. 12:1-15

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sarah had faith but she also had doubts, she had jealousy of her maid servant, her child, lived with her weaknesses, she was totally human, just like us.  But, God knew her heart and all her weaknesses and God saw great things.  His faithfulness doesn’t rely on us.  

Shera shared the story of her brother’s death and how her mother’s strength in God was unwavering. At the same time of her brother’s death the marines in the American embassy in Iran were killed.  Her mom said, “Oh, I need to pray for those families that have lost family” Her thoughts were on others even in her worst times.

In Genesis God tells them that there will be enmity between the serpent and man as a prediction of the coming of the Savior.  

Edith brought the story of her mother-in-law and how she got sick on Thanksgiving and died of bone cancer by Christmas.  Her mother-in-law when asked if she was upset replied, “Christians look forward to going home!”  How some have tremendous faith and they are a great inspiration to us.

In 1 Samuel 30:4-6 tells of all the sadness of having their families taken, but David encouraged himself in the Lord His GOD!  How do we give out our Christian heart; how do we show our heart and not have it be a platitude, when we say “God really cares for you.”  That person may hate what we say but sometimes we need to say it.  Sometimes words unspoken are better and actions need to be done. 

Sarah continues Aug.4

Ladies Bible Study Aug. 4- Study of Sarah

We began by discussing the polytheistic nature of the world today, how many are embracing nature gods or what they want to be gods. 

We then looked at question 5 – what ways were the name changes of Abraham and Sarah significant in helping them have faith in God’s fulfillment of His promise.

It is a constant confirmation since they can’t even hear their names without thinking about the promise. It is also a time that God is confirming Sarah’s involvement in the promise.  God had plans for their union.  This is also showing God’s love to the both of them, after 13 years after the incident with Hagar.  We also wonder if Sarah is carrying around “baggage” from her past religions which hinders her walk or even if she truly trusted that she would be a part of the promise.  She is a true example of our wavering in her walk with God, and yet God placed her in faith’s hall of fame!

In today’s culture we choose names because they are what we want, but God changed or selected the names of several people in his word, and God has also promised us a new name in heaven!!

Bible Connections:

1.       Genesis 17:15 Sarah’s name was changed when she was 90, how does age impact the ability or desire to change:

Our requirements from God remain the same, although with time growing short she may have felt a desire to get things done.  She suffered with childlessness for 90 years, but when change in your life has been prepared by God we go through things a little easier, at least if we are walking with God. God was preparing her through her suffering and God is revealing himself through these circumstances. They didn’t have God’s written word and they didn’t have years and years of experience with God.

What is required for change to be embraced by women especially older women?

Women must have: She needs support, Submission to God, willingness to change, to be flexible and flow in the grace of the Lord and to have Faith. It really doesn’t matter what we think, what matters is having the faith in God.  You must let go of self, if you are stuck in your way you won’t. You must have a teachable spirit, sanctification- the teachable spirit.   God calls us beloved.  We must have the willingness to look at the big picture.  When we learn that it isn’t all about us, we are just a piece of the whole puzzle, there is a purpose.  How broad was their scope of view.  Without the blessing of God there will never be change. The world has their opinion on change, but God is the one that will change things.

2.       Hebrews 11:11 – Sarah is mentioned in the Faith’s hall of fame, she judged him faithful who had promised. What does that phrase mean to you?

We have a discrepancy on the interpretations in this passage, so we will be researching this passage further and come back to it another time.  We encourage you to listen to the sermon that Shera shared with us.  We cannot transfer faith or belief. Each of us will independently be given faith by God if he so wills.  We do see some of Sarah’s walk of faith as she learns how to trust.  The faith of her husband would affect her because of his leadership in the family, as well as how he prayed and demonstrated his faith.  God uses people to spread his word. Throughout history God has chosen men to have a part in God’s way.

Shera  listened to a sermon by Rev. John Greer of Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, N. Ireland last week: the path if anyone is interested in the further understanding of Sarah from Heb 11:11-12 and Gen 18.  It is titled "Receiving Strength By Faith".
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=520464142.