September 22, 2019 – Festivals and Foundations – Rivers of Living Water

Rivers of Living Water


Leviticus 23:33-36 - New International Version (NIV)

³³ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁴ “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. ³⁵ The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. ³⁶ For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

Who spoke to Moses (verse 33)?

How long does the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles last (verse 34)?

What kind of work is forbidden on the first day of the celebration when they have “a sacred assembly” (verse 35)?

What is to happen on “the eighth day” (verse 36)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Zechariah 12:10-13:1 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. ¹¹ On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. ¹² The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, ¹³ the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, ¹⁴ and all the rest of the clans and their wives. ¹ “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

What kind of spirit will God pour out on “the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (verse 10)?

Who will they “look on . . . mourn . . . and grieve” (verse 10)?

Where will there be great weeping “on that day” (verse 11)?

Who will mourn (verses 12, 13 and 14)?

What will the fountain that is opened on that day do (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the closing assembly of the Festival of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23:33-36 similar to the day when the “spirit of grace and supplication” is poured out and the fountain is opened to “cleanse them from sin and impurity” in Zechariah 12:10-13:1?

John 7:32-44 – New International Version (NIV)

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

³³ Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. ³⁴ You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

³⁵ The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

⁴¹ Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? ⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” ⁴³ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

When did the “chief priests and the Pharisees” send temple guards to arrest Jesus (verse 32)?

Where does Jesus say He is going (verse 33)?

What will the people not be able to do (verse 34)?

In your opinion, why could the Jews not understand where Jesus was going (verses 35 and 36)?

When did Jesus stand up and speak “in a loud voice” (verse 37)?

In your opinion, what did Jesus mean by “let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (verse 37)?

Where will “rivers of living waters” flow (verse 38)?

Why had the Spirit not been given “up to that time” (verse 39)?

What did some people say (verse 40)?

In your opinion, why did some people say “He is the Messiah” (verse 41)?

In your opinion, why did others ask “how can the Messiah come from Galilee” (verses 41 and 42)?

What effect did Jesus have on the people (verse 43)?

How many people “laid a hand” on Jesus (verse 44)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, why would Jesus use the day that Leviticus 23:33-36 called the “closing special assembly” to stand up in John 7:32-44 and say “let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink”?

In your opinion, how is Zechariah 12:10-13:1 where the prophecy is about mourning the one who was pierced and about the fountain that will cleanse related to John 7:32-44 where Jesus talks about going to where “you cannot come” and invites the thirsty to come to Him?

Revelation 22:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Who showed John “the river of the water of life” (verse 1)?

Where did the river flow from (verse 1)?

What stood on each side of the river (verse 2)?

What will there no longer be (verse 3)?

Where will the “throne of God and of the Lamb” be (verse 3)?

What will the servants of God and the Lamb see (verse 4)?

Why will there be no night or need for the “light of a lamp or the light of the sun” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the “sacred assembly” that Leviticus 23:33-36 indicates is to occur on the eighth day related to the “servants” in Revelation 22:1-5 seeing the face of God and the Lamb?

In your opinion, how is the mourning for “the one they have pierced” of Zechariah 12:10-13:1 related to the “river of the water of life” in Revelation 22:1-5?

In your opinion, how is “river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb” of Revelation 22:1-5 related to the place that Jesus said He would be going in John 7:32-44?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Leviticus, Zechariah, John and Revelation show us about the relationship between mourning and salvation?

In your opinion, how can we who are thirsty able to not only drink of the “spirit of grace and supplication” but have the “rivers of living water flow from within”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 4, 2017 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – Bread from Heaven and Water of Life

Bread from Heaven and Water of Life

Genesis 41:25-40 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. ²⁷ The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

²⁸ “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁹ Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. ³¹ The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. ³² The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

³³ “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. ³⁶ This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

³⁷ The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

What does Joseph tell the Pharaoh that God has done (verse 25)?

What are the seven good cows and seven good heads of grain (verse 26)?

What are the seven lean, ugly cows and seven worthless heads of grain (verse 27)?

Where will there be seven years of great abundance (verse 29)?

When will the seven years of famine come (verse 30)?

Why will the abundance “not be remembered” (verse 31)?

Why was the dream given to the Pharaoh twice (verse 32)?

In your opinion, why does Joseph give the Pharaoh advice about what he should do (verses 33 through 36)?

What kind of man should the Pharaoh put in charge (verse 33)?

How much of the harvest should the Pharaoh take (verse 34)?

Where should the grain be stored during the good years (verse 35)?

When should the grain be used (verse 36)?

How did the Pharaoh view the plan (verse 37)?

Why did the Pharaoh view Joseph as wise and discerning (verse 39)?

Who is to submit to Joseph (verse 40)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 6:26-35 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Why were the people looking for Jesus (verse 26)?

What kind of food should the people work for (verse 27)?

How does Jesus answer the question “what must we do to do the works God requires” (verses 28 and 29)?

In your opinion, why do the people ask for a sign like the manna in the wilderness (verses 30 and 31)?

Who gave the bread from heaven (verse 32)?

What gives life to the world (verse 33)?

What do the people want from Jesus (verse 34)?

Who will never go hungry or be thirsty (verse 35)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is God’s preparation to provide food for Egypt in Genesis 41:25-40 similar to God’s preparation to provide the bread of God that “comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” in John 6:25-35?

Titus 3:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

What does Paul say “we too were” (verse 3)?

How did we live (verse 3)?

What appeared (verse 4)?

Why did God save us (verse 5)?

How are we justified (verse 7)?

Why is Titus to stress these things (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul in Titus 3:3-8 reinforce the answer that Jesus gave in John 6:26-35 to those who ask “what must we do to do the works God requires”?

In your opinion, how does God’s preparation for people to survive the famine in Genesis 41:25-40 foreshadow the salvation of those who are “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures”  in Titus 3:3-8?

Revelation 22:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Where does the river of the water of life flow from (verse 1)?

Where does it flow (verse 2)?

How many crops of fruit does the tree of life bear each year (verse 2)?

What are the leaves of the tree of life for (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why is there no longer any curse (verse 3)?

Where is the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 3)?

Whose name will be on their foreheads (verse 4)?

Why will there be no need of a “lamp or the light of the sun” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, his is the generosity of the “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” that Paul talks about in Titus 3:3-8 demonstrated by the river that John sees flowing from the “throne of God and of the Lamb” in Revelation 22:1-5?

In your opinion, how are the “bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” that Jesus talks about in John 6:26-35 and the “river of the water of life” that Jesus showed John in Revelation 22:1-5 related?

In your opinion, how are the storing of food in the years of plenty to prepare for the approaching famine in Genesis 41:25-40 and the amazing bounty from the trees of life in Revelation 22:1-5 similar?

In your opinion, how do these passages from Genesis, John, Titus and Revelation help us better understand the amazing bounty of God’s salvation?

In your opinion, what do these passages teach about how God provides salvation for us?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

March 13, 2016 – Letters From Home – Love and Life

Love and Life

Revelation 2:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. ² I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³ You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ⁵ Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶ But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Who is John instructed to write to (verse 1)?

In your opinion, who is it “who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands” (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what can you say about the church in Ephesus based on verses 2 and 3?

What has the church in Ephesus forsaken (verse 4)?

What is the church in Ephesus to consider (verse 5)?

After the church in Ephesus repents, what is it to do (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to say “if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (verse 5)?

Whose practices does the church in Ephesus hate (verse 6)?

Who is supposed to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (verse 7)?

Where is the “tree of life” that the “one who is victorious” is to have the right to eat from (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Ephesians 1:15-23 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

What had Paul heard about the Ephesians (verse 15)?

How did Paul respond to what he had heard (verse 16)?

Why did Paul want “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father” to give the Ephesians “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he prays that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (verse 18)?

Why did Paul want “the eyes of your heart” to be enlightened (verse 18)?

What is God’s “incomparably great power” the same as (verses 19 and 20)?

Where did God raise Christ from (verse 20)?

Where did God raise Christ to (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that Christ is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (verse 21)?

What has God placed “under his feet” (verse 22)?

What is “his body” (verses 22 and 23)?

In your opinion, what does it mean when Paul says “the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what happened in the church in Ephesus 1:15-23 that it goes from Paul hearing about and giving thanks for “your love for all God’s people” to Jesus telling them in Revelations 2:1-7 that “you have forsaken the love you had at first”?

John 3:16-21 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Why did God give “his one and only Son” (verse 16)?

What will those who believe in “his one and only Son” have (verse 16)?

What did God “not send his Son into the world” to do (verse 17)?

How did God plan to save the world (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why is “whoever believes in him” not condemned (verse 18)?

Why do those who do not believe stand “condemned already” (verse 18)?

What is the verdict (verse 19)?

Why do those who do evil refuse to come into the light (verse 20)?

Why does “whoever lives by the truth” come into the light (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does it mean to you that Jesus said in John 3:16-21 that “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” when later Paul says in Ephesians 2:1-10 that “Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath”?

In your opinion, how can we reconcile Jesus statement in John 3:16-21 that “whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” with the warning to those at the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7 that “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first”?

Revelation 22:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

How does John describe the “river of the water of life” that the angel shows him (verse 1)?

In your opinion, how can the “tree of life” stand on “each side of the river” (verse 2)?

When does the “tree of life” bear “crops of fruit” (verse 2)?

What are the “leaves of the tree” for (verse 2)?

What will no longer be (verse 3)?

Where will the “throne of God and of the Lamb” be (verse 3)?

What will “his servants” see (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why will there “be no more night” (verse 5)?

Why will they “not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the promise of Jesus in John 3:16-21 that “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light” given a more rich meaning when John is told by the angel in Revelation 22:1-5 that “they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light”?

In your opinion, how does Revelation 22:1-5 help us to understand better the things that Paul prayed for in Ephesians 1:15-23 that 1:4-8 show that “you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe”?

In your opinion, how is the description of the tree of life in Revelation 22:1-5 a wonderful hope for those who Jesus tells in Revelation 2:1-7 that if they repent and do what they did at first and are “victorious” they will get to “eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God”?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Revelation, Ephesians and John show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Revelation 2:8 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

New Hope High School – Lesson 8 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

New Hope High School – Lesson 8 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 28:18-20 - New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 5:8 New International Version (NIV)

“Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.”

Who is blessed?

How will they be blessed?

In your opinion, why is this an appropriate blessing?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 5:8 show us about the Great Commission?

Psalm 51:1-12 New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

^1 “Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Who wrote the Psalm?

When did he write it?

What does he plead at the beginning of the Psalm (verse 1 and 2)?

            1)____________________________________________

            2)____________________________________________

            3)____________________________________________

            4)____________________________________________

Who has he sinned against (verse 4)?

When did his sinfulness begin (verse 5)?

What did God desire “even in the womb” (verse 6)?

In verse 9 what does the Psalmist request of God concerning “sins” and “iniquity”?

What is the request of verse 10?

In your opinion, why is the negative request of verse 11 between the positive verses 10 and 12?

What is the positive request of verse 12?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Psalms teach us about Matthew 5:8?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Psalms show us about the Great Commission?

Titus 1:15 New International Version (NIV)

^15 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe,                         nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”

For who are “all things pure”?

In your opinion, why would this be true?

What is pure to “those who are corrupted and do not believe”?

In your opinion, why would this be true?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Titus teach us about Matthew 5:8?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Titus teach us about the Great Commission?

Revelation 22:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

What flows in the river in the New Jerusalem (verse 1)?

Where does the river originate (verse 1)?

What stands on each side of the river (verse 2)?

When will there be any curses (verse 3)?

Who will be served (verse 3)?

Who will serve him (verse 3)?

What will they see (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the significance of “his name will be on their foreheads”?

In your opinion, are these who have “his name” “on their foreheads” pure in heart?

Why will there be no more need for lamps or light from the sun (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation teach us about Matthew 5:8?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation teach us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 5:9 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)