April 20, 2005

• Here is a picture of Pastor Don (left) and Pastor Dongo (right)

  

  As promised, here is Tuesday Night’s Bible Study.

  Last night was Pastor Dongo’s last night here. He is travelling to California, but I am not sure which city. I will try to find out. So we had a potluck dinner in honor of him. Some made African dishes that were awesome. There was a curried carrot with raisin dish that I have to find the recipe for.

  Pastor Dongo has an orphanage in Kampala City, Uganda. He is now working on building a school building.

  If you recall, one Friday he spoke on God’s ownership, and last Sunday he spoke on our Will. I was not there to listen, but will get the tape and try to transcribe notes for you. But the general idea was that we don’t own our own wills, they belong to God. We are responsible to manage our wills in the way the owner wants (the owner being God), and we manage our wills by obedience.

  Last night, Pastor Dongo talked about God’s plan.

  He pointed out that everything we do is done by following a plan. And the order of our universe testifies to a plan.

  Man is the crown of God’s creation. God made man like himself, and different from every other of his creation. Man was created in God’s image and likeness. God gave man power and dominion on the earth. Genesis 1:26-28

  Man followed the suggestion of satan and rebelled against God and man no longer was like God. He lost the image and likeness of God and the dominion on the earth, which was given over to satan. (Jesus was the image of God on the earth, and part of that image was obedience to God, when man rebelled, he no longer portrayed obedience).

  Satan believed that he had destroyed God’s plan when he caused man to disobey. But God foreknew what was going to happen and made a plan to circumvent what satan meant for evil. Satan cannot stop God’s fulfillment of his plan.

  Romans 8:28-30 is an outline of God’s plan for man. We are called according to His purpose, God planned to call back man into the image of His son. Christ is the image of the invisible God, so God in Christ Jesus reaches to us to restore us to our original state before the fall of man. And that original state is also the image of God.

  Here is the plan:

  We are chosen.
  We are set apart.
  We have been called by God.
  We are being put right with God in Jesus, so we are made the righteousness of God in Jesus.
  We are being given the opportunity to share God’s glory.

  1 Peter 1:2, tells us we are chosen to God’s purpose beforehand. That God planned for us before we were even born.

  Ephesians 1:4 We were chosen before the foundation of the world, so we may be Holy. Justified and sanctified through Christ so we can be Holy.

  He chose us for he knew we would serve Him.

  Col. 1:15 Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

  The disciples asked Jesus to show them the father, and he told them that if you see me, you’ve seen the father.As believers we are to be the reflection of Jesus wherever we are.

  God wanted to form a big family, so Jesus is the first born among many brethren. God wanted all his children to reign with Him forever and ever, and ever.

  Revelation 22:5

  Ephesians 1, describes what happened when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

  God made the universe and man for his Glory.

  Isaiah 43:7 He had created everything for His glory.

  Ephesians 1: 6, 12, 14 so we will be the praise of his Name.

  Eph. 4:13 Christ gave the five fold ministry to the church.

  We are not to seek signs and wonders but we are to seek the creator, God.

   

  I enjoyed so much hearing Pastor Dongo’s teaching. Sometimes I think we get used to thinking in a certain way, and searching the scriptures from our view point. I love having visiting pastors, and ones from other cultures to show us what is important from their point of view. It helps to make me aware of a fullness in the Bible that cannot be gained by just one point of view. There is such richness in the Word of God.

  Heather

  • 8:42 am
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