Sovereignty of God / Week #2

“… for such a time as this!” … Responding to a World In Chaos
Sovereignty of God as it Relates to You
Uniquely You

You are special!
Esther 4:14 / Job 1:19-22

How God made you unique: Things you had no control over at your birth

1. The generation into which you were born ( date and time )
“In the fullness of time”….
Gal. 4:4 Acts 2:1, Rom. 11:25, Eph. 1:10;
On your specific date of birth, more than 200,000 others were born somewhere in the world
In your specific century of time, hundreds of millions will be born.
However, You will know only a small fraction of them.
You will only be intimate with a handful of that fraction.
These ‘intimate’ people will influence you greatly
However, famous people worldwide such as leaders, etc will also influence you, people like Hitler, Stalin, Jonas Salk ( polio vaccine ) the Beatles, President Obama
2. Your parents, and family heritage

Sarah and son Isaac, ( Gen. 21:1-8 )
Manoah & Wife -Sampson, ( Judges 13:1-25 )
Hannah / Samuel, ( I Samuel 1:1-11 )
Susannah and Charles and John Wesley
3. Your gender
To the guys, … ever wonder why you weren’t born a girl?
Differences: Think of what these differences mean to you….


Discussion On Points 1-3
1. Timing is important, indeed crucial
Time is based upon the circuit of the heavenly bodies of the cosmos
Myron posed the question: If you could chose, what generation would you like to be born?
Esther … In the time of Jesus or Job
Dan … Noah will be knows in heaven as the ark builder.
What will I be known for?
2. Family and Heritage
Dan … Moses and Family, Joseph and family
Heritage is vitally important because of God’s love. God chose the family into
which you would be born because He loved you and wanted you to part of
that heritage. Even when our heritage seems rotten, there is a good purpose in
where you are because of God’s love.
Dan shared openly about struggles with his father and how he found victory.
James … Romans 3:1
Myron … love is good but what about God’s love in a tragic situation?
Kathy … Romans 8:28-30, Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6,
Rom. 9:8-22, potter and the clay
Myron posed the following case study:
Two couples who each adopt 2 Russian boys ages 3-4
The boys of one couple are fine
The boys of the other couple are born with fetal alcohol syndrome
All of these boys have two heritages, their natural birth Russian heritage
and the heritage of their new parents.
But there is a vast difference.
Question: How can we as Christians help the boys with their dysfunctional
birth heritage?
Kathy: respite care, prayer against spiritual strongholds, need a mentor for the children.
James … deal with the sin of the birth parent
Dan … they must be bathed in love
3. Gender - cross gender dressing / sodomy
Jake … Today I saw a transvestite on the HACC campus. I felt revolsuion
Dan … we must love
James … I feel like throwing up when I see one
Myron posed this question: how are we going to love when we feel revolted?
Dan … we are all guilty of a sinisim,
Myron … so we all have our individual lust or craving or dissatisfaction
And God expects us to control it and live righteously anyway.
Conclusion: We are to love the sinner while we hate the sin
and try to convert thesinner to God’s truth. We must be wise and loving in our confrontation
but we cannot compromise God’s truth on the matter. This takes much grace and prayer.
A very good evening of discussion
Those present were:
James Strickler, Rick and Kathy Fogie, Esther Shirk, Dan Moyer, David Fry, Jacob diets and Myron and Ruth
Next meeting on January 22 in the home of Rick and Kathy

First Meeting of 2009

KFB Study January 8,09

The first Koinonia Fellowship Bible Study of 2009 met in the home of Myron and Ruth Hostetter on Thursday evening, January 8th.
Myron was the moderator for this session. He gave a brief monologue covering the purpose of why we were meeting. The goal, he said, was to make our Christianity practical in helpful ways to the community around us. He opened with Esther 4:14, … “for such a time as this”, challenging us with the fact that we have been chosen by God to serve in these chaotic times.
How are we to respond to a society in chaos? With fear? Instead he gave us Luke 21:28 as the antidote to fear mongering.
A copy of the following sheet was then given to everyone.

A World In Crisis – Chaos
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Lu 21:28)
Some Topics to be considered for Discussed in the Coming Weeks
• Cash withdrawal from your bank unavailable or severely regulated
• Food shortages
• Housing shortage
• Lawlessness on the rise
• Medications cost skyrocketing, or not available
• National I. D. Cards / tracking chip inserted at birth / personal I.D. number
• Oil prices of $5.00+ per gallon
• Religious freedom, Erosion of personal freedoms / marshal law
Christian and home-schooling choice severely regulated or illegal
• Suicides: increase in Anger, Depression, Hopelessness
• Technology … how will it change our lifestyle? Cell phones, ipod, etc.
• Other …Fill in YOUR topic of interest.

Discussion:
John Strickler opened with a relevant question. How specific should our preparation be?
Can we be specific? Should we not rather focus upon our relationship with Christ?
John gave the example of Daniel and the three Hebrew lads not knowing what their
challenge would be but nevertheless being able to respond to the lions den and
the fiery furnace.

This lead to a lively discussion. Trust John to be a catalyst!
Responses to John’s questions:
Rick / Kathy … salvation must come first, our relationship with Christ is all important, faith/works
go together … specifics come out of our relationship with Christ
Donald … Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
We should have an ability to plan, then adjust to our plan.
Dan … the ant prepares for winter, Noah built an ark for the coming flood, God gave us
Matthew 5,6,7, specific instructions for the end times, last day’s scenario,
Jesus said the laborers are few.
Myron ..What are laborers to do?
Jake … we need to help others when we see a need.

Donald then shifted the focus of the evening by zeroing in on the matter of a National I.D. card
or an implanted chip.
Ric gave information and examples of how National security or tracking technology is already
available and in some cases being used. Explained the difference between the Internet
and the Intranet. He explained it in the following way. The public uses Internet; Intranet is a governmental system that is closed and secret, used only by authorized personnel with a “need to know.”

Both Ric and Donald pointed out that information chips have already been implanted and are
being used for various purposes. Used for marketing purposes and inventory tracking.
Also used to track children as a security method.
Donald asserted that it’s already ‘global’.

Question? What is the mark of the beast?
If a chip is implanted in a baby at birth, is this the, ‘Mark’?
Must there be specific intent on the part of the implanter stating that this implant
is a sign that we have rejected our Christian faith?

Kathy … I.D. cards and implanted tracking chips o.k. However, if they’re specific reason is to
indicate we reject our Christian faith we cannot receive them.

Group consensus on global I.D. cards and chip implantation:

People must know and be able to chose or reject; card, implantation or mark, that is
issued by a controlling, anti God movement for the specific purpose of causing us to rejecting our belief In Christ. The avowed purpose for the I.D. chip or mark must be to receive the “mark of the beast.”
A believer must be able to say ‘no’ to card or chip. Thus a baby receiving one at birth
Cannot make a spiritual decision and is not accountable for having one implanted. Since this is true, a chip implanted at birth cannot be the ‘Mark’.

Though a global I.D. card or chip implantation may be invasive of our privacy, and may
be used for tracking purposes of some kind, this is not necessarily the mark of the beast
and as law-abiding citizens, we must obey the law.

Myron offers this dissenting viewpoint:
Since the Bible talks about being unable to ‘buy or sell’ without this ‘mark’, be it I.D. card
or chip implantation, does it not make any such device The Mark of the Beast by its very
nature?
Re 13:17* And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Perhaps more prayer and study need to be done before a decision is made about what the ‘Mark’ consists of.
It was certainly a very interesting evening with lively discussion of various viewpoints.

Discussion topic for week 2. / Myron handed out a sheet on the topic, “the Sovereignty of God”
Next meeting will be in the home of Myron and Ruth on January 15th, Lord willing.

Those attending this meeting were:
Ric and Kathy Fogie, David Fry, Dan Moyer, Esther Shirk, John Strickler, Donald Sauder, Jacob Dietz and Myron and Ruth Hostetter

2009 First Meeting Set

Koinonia Bible Fellowship
For 2009

Date: Thursday, January 8th, 2009
Meeting thereafter each Thursday through end of March
First meeting in the home of Myron and Ruth

Time: Thursday at 7pm
From 7-8:30pm, followed by light refreshments

Topic: A practical Christian approach to the coming chaos
A 10-week discussion on Biblical principles and their practical application
Goal : the group will focus on specific ways to help those with needs
caused by the upheaval in the society around us.
Though the group will meet weekly for only three months,
its service to the community will continue throughout the year.


Location: In different homes within a 5 mile radius of Silver Spring
We will meet in different homes. Hosting a meeting is voluntary.

Everyone is welcome!
We hope that you will commit to most of the evenings scheduled.
In the past, those who have done so have been encouraged,
strengthened and challenged to a deeper walk with God and their
fellowmen.
This will be our eighth year, come join us as we celebrate God’s
call to “be our brothers keeper.”

Interested, Questions, want more information?
Call Myron Hostetter at 717-285-9355
Or Email at: myron@oorb.org

Blogging at: www.koinbb.blogspot.com

After the meetings begin, meeting notes will be posted weekly
at our blog site above.

Please let us know if you intend to attend.

Continuing Updates

Blogging From Our Home on Oxford Hill

Though our three month Bible Study ended on Thursday night of the 20, I as blogmaster will continue to post Bible material on various subjects. Please continue to visit our blog site for future topic and discussion. Myron Hostetter
These three months have been ones of searching the scriptures; learning, applying and good spiritual fellowship. This makes our eighth year and if God gives us life, we hope to continue next January. We were blessed as various people took the responsibility to lead the Biblically based topical discussions. Now it becomes our responsibility to practice what we learned. By God's grace we will be better citizens of God's Kingdom.

Intercessory Prayer

The first 20 minutes of the Bible Study on 3-20 were about Intercessory Prayer.
Praying as a Friend of God 2 Chronicles ; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23
• Anyone with an intimate relationship with God can be an effective intercessor.
• Holiness gives us confidence in our prayer life.
• A friend of God can ask God for anything because they understand what pleases God.
• “If we ask anything according o His will ….”
• An unsaved person cannot be an effective intercessor
This part of the evening was moderated y Norma Link from material taken from the
Book by Dutch Sheets titled, Intercessory Prayer

For the remainder of the evening Ric Fogie moderated a discussion on
The Character of God

No matter what extreme action is taken against God and his Word, the Word of God remains true and nothing can thwart its purposes.

Study taken from the web site www.siscom.net/~direct/god’s_character.htm
“All About” God’s Character – Bible Basics Series

This evening concluded our three-month, annual Bible Group study.
On Thursday, March 27 the group will meet at 6:30pm at the Ichiban Restaurant for a meal.

A Man Born Blind Sees

Ruth at home in the sun room with an Amaryllis

John chapter 9 Jesus and a blind man

• Who was truly blind?
• Who were the real sinners?
• What was the cost of the blind mans healing?
• What were some rewards of his obedience?
• Are there areas of blindness in us?
• How can we apply this lesson to us?

In this story the blind man was receiving more light, his sight;
both physical and spiritual.
The Pharisees were becoming blinder.

What is God trying to teach us through this story? Rev. 3:14-19

This Bible Study held in the home of Esther Shirk
David Frey led this discussion
The next Bible Study will be in the home of Ric and Kathy on March 20th

The Year of Jublee Worksheet

Harvest Time in Silver Spring, PA.

The Year of Jubilee
Leviticus 25 ( NLV )
WORKSHEETS


Q- 1. Would the law of the Year of Jubilee found in Leviticus 25 be 
workable in the twenty-first century in which we live?
Q- 2. Could these principles be used within our churches?
Q- 3. What ramifications would implementing such a law have upon our 
lifestyle?
Q- 4. Can you give me an example were the Year of Jubilee was obeyed in 
O.T. times?

1. Where was Moses when the Lord spoke to him? ( Lev. 25:1 )___________.

2. The land itself must observe a Sabbath to the Lord every _____________year.

3. What happened to the land during this seventh year? ________________

4. What will the people eat during this Sabbath year?

5. How many years between the years of Jubilee?

6. On what day did the Year of Jubilee begin?

7. What must every Israelite do at the beginning of the year of Jubilee?

THE LAW OF KINSMAN-REDEEMER
8. What could never be done to the land?
9. What went along with the bill of sale?

BANKRUPCY LAW
10. Explain the Bankruptcy law.

Houses:
11. What was the difference between buying a house outside an unwalled village and the purchase of a house inside a walled village?
12. Why were the Levites special?

13. How was the Bankruptcy law different for a Levite?

14. What did the term “usury” mean in O.T. terms?

15. Against who did this law against “usury” apply?

16. What happened to an Israelite who was poor or went bankrupt and could not
support himself?

17. Why did God say an Israelite was different than a common slave?

Slaves:
18. Did the O.T. condone slavery?
19. Where did “slaves” come from?

Resident Foreigner

20. Could a Resident Foreigner own Israelite slaves?
21. Explain what happened to an Israelite who went bankrupt and sole himself to a
Resident Foreigner.

22. What was the price of freedom based upon for a bankrupt Israelite?

23. How were people who sold themselves into “slavery” to be treated?

24. What happened to an Israelite at the time of the Year of Jubilee?

25. What did God say was the difference between an Israelite who sold himself into slavery and a foreign slave?

26.If you had been living at the time of the Civil War what position would you have taken and why?

27. Didn’t the O.T. justify a southern benevolent slaveholder in keeping his slaves?

28. Is there slavery in the twenty-first century? Where?

29. Who might be almost considered “slaves” in the USA?

30. How are slavery and abortion alike?

The next Bible Study will be in the home of Esther Shirk on Thursday, March 13.

Effective Prayer

A split rail fence and cabin that Hector walked past on his way to his grandfathers home in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Oaxaca

Effective Prayer

To understand how to pray we must understand the Character, Circumstance, Content, and Consequences of prayer.

1. The early church – Acts 2:42; 4:24
Q. How can we pray with the same fervency and effectiveness today?

I. The Character of prayer

1. Supplications - reverence before a sovereign king
2. Prayers – an attitude of worship-literally bending the knee.
3. Intercessions
a. Used when trying to obtain something for another.
b. Prayers made for the sick
4. Thanksgivings
a. Giving of thanks
b. Used for all blessings that come our way

II. The Circumstance of prayer
A. In the assembly. ( I Tim. 2:8 )
a. General prayers ( I tim. 2:1-3 )
b. Praying around the Lord’s table ( I Cor. 11:23-25 )
c. Closing prayers ( Acts 20:36 )
B. Around the dinner table ( Matt. 14:19; 15:36 ; I Tim. 4:4-5 )
C. In private devotion ( Mark 6:46 ; Luke 5:16; 22:41 )
D. The example of Paul ( Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:4 ; Col. 1:9 )

III. The content of prayer
A. Address – To God the Father ( Col. 3:17; Matt. 6:9 )
B. Body of Christ ( Phil. 4:6
1). Give thanks for:
a. The Christ
b. The Word
c. Our jobs
d. Our food
e. Our families
2). Request Guidance for:
a). for ourselves
b). the church ( local and universal )
c). family
d). government
3). Specifics
a). Enemies ( Matt. 5:44 )
b). The sick ( Jaes 5:13-14 )
c). More workers in the kingdom ( Matt. 9:38 )
d). That the gospel will go forth ( 2 Thes. 3:1 )
e). That our love may abound ( Phil. 1:9 )
f). That God will open doors for the gospel ( Col. 4:3 )

IV. The Consequences of prayer
1. Physical consequences ( James 5:15-18 )
2. Spiritual consequences ( Phil. 4:6-7 )
3. That your prayers will be heard ( I Pet. 3:12 )
4. Parable of the unjust judge ( Luke 18:1-8 )

Conclusion - Matt. 7:7-11

Material moderated by Richard Fogie 2/28/08 met in home of Myron and Ruth
Material taken from “Sermon On Prayer” y Kevin Cauley
www.preachersfiles.com/prayer
Next Bible study in home of Myron and Ruth on 3/6/08 … topic, “The Year of Jubilee”