BIBLE QUIZ ( 172 )

QUESTIONS:

1. What Hebrew captive interpreted the dreams of the Egyptian Pharoah?
2. What king of Israel was murdered while he was drunk?
3. According to Job, whose children dance about and make music?
4. What group of people were busy dancing and partying when David caught up with them?
5. Who used the first pseudonym?
6. Who built the first city?
7. What new name did Jesus give to Simon?
8. Who was told to name his son Solomon?
9. What disciple outran Peter to Jesus’tomb?
10.Who ran to the priest Eli thinking Eli had called him in the night?

ANSWERS:

1. Joseph ( Genesis 41:1-36 )
2. Elah ( 1Kings 16:8-10 )
3. The children of the wicked ( Job 21:7-12 )
4. Amalekites ( 1Samuel 30:16-19 )
5. Esther whose real name was Hadassah ( Esther 2:7 )
6. Cain ( Genesis 4:17 )
7. Peter ( John 1:42 )
8. David ( 1Chronicles 22:9 )
9. John ( John 20:4 )
10.Samuel ( 1Samuel 3:4,5 ).

JOSIAH

” Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength in accordance with all the Law of Moses ” 2Kings 23:25.
Josiah is remembered as Judah’s most obedient king. His obedience consisted of his recognition of sin,secondly his elimination of sinful practices and finally attacking the causes of sin. This approach for dealing with sin is still effective today. Though Josiah’s father and grandfather were exceptionally wicked, at a young age, he understood that there was spiritual sickness in his land. Idols were sprouting in the countryside faster than the crops and he cleaned out the temple and revived obedience to God’s Law. When Josiah heard the Law, he tore his robes in grief. He immediately instituted reforms.With just one reading of God’s Law, he changed the course of the nation. He was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and immediately tried to expose his people to that holiness. Today, many people own Bibles but, only a few are affected by the Truths found in God’s Word. The Word of God should cause us like Josiah, to take actions immediately to reform our lives and bring them into harmony with God’s Will. Josiah never knew his great-grandfather Hezekiah but, they were alike in many ways. Both Hezekiah and Josiah are praised for their reverence towards God. Hezekiah was said to be the greatest in trusting God whereas, Josiah is said to be the greatest in following the Law of God.
” Dear Lord, let me follow both Hezekiah and Josiah through my faith in God and by being obedient to God all the time. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen.

JESUS IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS

” Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be Amen ” Revelation 1:7.
Here, John announces the Return of Jesus Christ to earth. Jesus’Second Coming will be visible and victorious. Jesus Himself told His disciples,” At that time, men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory ” (Matthew24:30; Mark13:26; Luke21:27 ). When He comes, He will conquer evil and judge all the people according to their deeds. The nation of the earth will mourn because unbelievers will suddenly realize they have chosen the wrong side. Everything they have scoffed about will be happening and it will be too late for them to repent. ” Those who pierced Him ” could refer to the Roman soldiers who pierced Jesus’side as He hung on the Cross or to the Jews who were responsible for His death. John himself had seen the Crucifixion of Jesus with his own eyes and he could never forget the horror of it. After 40 days with His disciples, Jesus was taken up before their very eyes and the cloud hid him from their sight. Jesus would return in the same way as He went bodily and visibly. We should be ready for His sudden return,not by standing, ” looking into the sky “,but by working hard to share the Gospel so that others will be able to share in God’s great blessings. Now, we have reached a critical juncture and the Bible says Jesus’Second Coming is drawing near and people will see Him coming in clouds with power and great glory.

INDIAN REPUBLIC DAY

” The Lord will indeed give what is good and our land will yield its harvest ” Psalm 85:12.
India’s 63rd Republic Day is celebrated today, the 26th of January to commemorate the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. Once, the Father of our Nation Gandhiji went with his friend to listen to the sermon of a famous preacher in a Cathedral in Transvaal town in South Africa. He went there before the Service and sat at the last bench. The sexton came there and said,”Sir, this is not the Church where Asians worship. Asians are not allowed to worship with the English here. There is a separate Church for you. So, please get away from here “. On hearing this, Gandhiji told his friend that he was surprised to hear that there was no place for Jesus Christ in that Church. The sexton got angry and said.”This is a Cathedral. How can you say there is no place for Jesus Christ here?”. Atonce, Gandhiji said,” Jesus Christ was born in the Continent of Asia. Isn’t it? Only you said that there is no place for Asians here “. The sexton was ashamed and lowered his head. How nice it would have been if Gandhiji accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Saviour! The mean-minded people with caste feeling were a hindrance for him to accept Jesus Christ. Do our speech and behaviour attract people towards Christ or repel them away from Christ? In this Republic day, let us think about it seriously and take decisions to bring as many people as possible towards the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. As God’s people, we are Christ’s ambassadors sent with His Message of reconciliation to our country. We darenot take this responsibility lightly. How well are we fulfilling our Commission as Christ’s ambassadors?
” Dear Lord, help me to spread everywhere the fragrance of the Knowledge of Christ by my words and deeds and bring many people unto Your Fold .Lord heal our Nation. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

” But, I tell you who hear me. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you ” Luke 6:27.
In a Communist country there lived a Christian woman leading a witnessing life for Christ. She was like a rose among thorns in the midst of the cruel atheists. She had a little girl Mary, who used to give her a flower bouquet as birthday gift every year. One day, the atheists dragged her mother to a prison and tortured her to betray Jesus Christ. But, as she refused to betray, she was murdered ruthlessly. Her birthday fell on that same week. Remembering the birthday of her mother, Mary prepared a beautiful flower bouquet and decided to place that on her grave. While she walked towards the grave, she remembered the words of her mother which she used to say often :” Mary, we should love our enemies; we should pray for those who mistreat us. This is what Jesus Christ said. If we follow this, we can become His children “. Then, Mary thought that as her mother would be in Heaven in the midst of a beautiful garden, there was no need of a flower bouquet for her. Then, she decided to give that bouquet to the atheist army officer who killed her mother. With a great difficulty, she entered the prison and gave that bouquet to the officer saying the words which her mother used to say often and said,” Jesus loves you too “. On hearing this, the officer burst into tears and said that he had never heard of Jesus’Love before and accepted Jesus Christ. Finally, he died as a martyr for Christ. Loving our enemies means, we can pray for them and we can think of the ways to help them. Jesus asks us to follow His example by loving our enemies.
” Dear Lord, let me put love to work by taking the initiative in meeting specific needs of those who hurt me and hate me. Lord, give me the mind and strength to do so. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen.

DIVINE FORGIVENESS

” Stephen prayed,” Lord Jesus receive my spirit ” Then, he fell on his knees and cried out,” Lord, do not hold this sin against them ” Act 7:59.
On hearing the pathetic news of her beloved husband and loving children, what a sorrowful pain Gladys Staines would have gone through! Words can never express her grief. Yet, she said,” It is far from my mind to punish the persons who were responsible for the death of my husband Graham and my two children. But, it is my desire and hope that they would repent and would be reformed “. On January 27th 2005, the Indian Government conferred the prestigious Padma Shree award on Gladys Staines, a social worker and wife of Australian missionary Graham Staines. Despite the tragedy, Mrs.Gladys Staines stayed in India with her daughter Esther, overseering the completion of Graham Staines Memorial Hospital for leprosy patients in Orissa. Speaking to Asia News, in an interview, she stressed the importance of forgiveness saying,” In forgiveness, there is no bitterness and when there is no bitterness, there is hope. This consolation comes from Jesus Christ”. She said that Jesus Christ gave her the ” Strength ” to continue living. She also said,” I live in hope that whenever God calls me Home, I will see God but also be reunited with my family “. In memory of her loving children ” The Philip and Timothy Staines Memorial Hostel ” was established in Baripada district in 2002 to provide education and care for the boys who had limited opportunity and future. Members of the council stoned the first martyr Stephen to death while he prayed for their forgiveness. His final words show how much like Jesus he had become in a short time. As Stephen died, he spoke words very similar to Jesus’ Words on the Cross (Luke23:34).Stephen’s death made a profound impact on Saul who later became Paul, the world’s greatest missionary.
” Dear Lord, as a child of a FATHER who forgives spontaneously, I am commanded to forgive the shortcomings of others. Lord, let me forgive and forget the tresspasses of others. In Jesus’Name I pray “,–Amen.

KERNEL OF WHEAT

” Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it ” Matthew 10:39.
1999 January 23rd was a gloomy day and a day of challenge for every Christian. Around the world, the Gospel has most often taken root in places prepared by the blood of martyrs. Before people can give their lives for the Gospel, their desire to serve Christ is translated into the reality of serving others. One of the martyrs Dr.Graham Steward Staines an Australian Christian missionary served effectively with his wife Gladys Staines among the leprosy patients. He had been working especially with leprosy patients since 1965 for about 30years in India. He spoke fluent Oriya and helped the patients after they were cured. He used to teach them how to make mats, out of rope and baskets from Saboigrass and handweaving. On the night 22nd 1999, he had attended a jungle camp an annual gathering of Christians at Manoharpur. He was on his way to Keonjhar with his two sons Philip and Timothy who had come back on holiday from their school in Ooty. At night, owing to severe cold, they broke their journey to spend the night in Manoharpur and slept in their vehicle, Station Wagon. A mob of about 50 people led by Dhara Singh armed with axes and other weapons, attacked the vehicle, poured petrol and burnt Staines and his two innocent boys to death. In Acts 7, we see Stephen was an effective administrator and messenger before becoming a martyr. Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. To take our cross and follow Jesus means, to be willing to publicly identify with Him, to experience opposition and to be committed to face even death for His sake. In doing so, we will inherit eternal life and experience the benefits of following Christ. Unless a kernel of wheat is buried in the ground, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds. Jesus Christ had to die to pay the penalty for our sins and also to show His Power over Death. Would we be willing to die for Him? Are we willing to live for Him?
” Dear Lord, let me loosen my grasp on earthly things and be free to follow Christ. In doing so, let me inherit eternal life. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen

BIBLE QUIZ ( 171 )

QUESTIONS:
1. What flower were the capitals on the temple columns shaped like?
2. What plant according to Isaiah would not be broken by the Messiah?
3. What prophet had a vision of the four winds lashing the surface of the oceans?
4. What book does a woman call on the North wind and South wind to blow on her garden?
5. According to Psalm 84, what two small birds have a nesting place near the temple?
6. What prophet said that Ahab’s people would be eaten by birds?
7. What idol associated with Moses was offered sacrifices by later generations?
8. What wicked king a dabbler in sorcery sacrificed his son in the fire?
9. Who built the walls of Jerusalem?
10.What foreign invader tore down the walls of Jerusalem?

ANSWERS:
1. Lilies ( 1Kings 7:19 )
2. A bruised reed ( Isaiah 42:3 )
3. Daniel ( 7:2 )
4. Song of Solomon 4:16 )
5. The sparrow and the swallow ( Psalm 84:3 )
6. Elijah ( 1Kings 21:24 )
7. The brazen serpent ( 2Kings 18:4 )
8. Manasseh ( 2Kings 21:6 )
9. Solomon ( 1Kings 9:15 )
10.Nebuzaradan ( 2Kings 25:10 ).

HEZEKIAH

” Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him” 2Kings 18:5.
Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah, who instigated civil and religious reforms. The Bible describes him as a king who had a close relationship with God. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah either before or after him. As a reformer, he destroyed altars, idols and pagan temples. The bronze serpent which Moses had made in the desert was not spared because it had ceased to point the people to God and had also become an idol. The doors of the Jerusalem temple had been nailed shut by Hezekiah’s father Ahaz and it was cleaned out and reopened. The Passover was reinstituted as a national holiday and there was revival in Judah. His successful efforts made him proud and he showed little interest in planning for the future and protecting the spiritual heritage for others. Hezekiah showed all his wealth to the Babylonian messengers. When Isaiah asked Hezekiah what he had shown the messengers, he replied,” They saw everything in my palace “. It appears that Hezekiah’s prosperity, success and deliverance from sickness had made him proud. Rather than giving credit to God for all His blessings, he tried to impress the foreigners. Indeed, a testimony of victory can quickly degenerate into vanity and self congratulations, which we should be very careful not to do so. When he knew through Isaiah that his nation would be punished for his sins, he thanked God for choosing not to destroy Judah during his lifetime. This attitude reveals his selfishness, pride and short-sightedness.
” Dear Lord,when I am successful, let me fully give the credit to You only and let me not use my blessings to impress others. In Jesus’Name I pray “.–Amen.

JESUS – THE RULER OF THE KINGS

” Grace and peace to you from Him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits before His throne and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness the First-born from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth ” Revelation 1:5.
The power and authority of earthly kings are limited. But, Jesus Christ said,” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me ” ( Matthew 28:18 ). On the basis of that authority, Jesus told His disciples to make more disciples as they preached. Whoever it may be, the earthly kings are accountable to the” King of kings and Lord of lords “. Paul worships Jesus Christ saying,” God the Blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords “. In Revelation, Jesus Christ is portrayed as an all-powerful King victorious in battle and glorious in peace. He is not just a humble earthly teacher. He is the Glorious God. When we read John’s description of the vision, we should keep in mind that His Words are not just good advice, they are Truth from the King of kings. When the blood-thirsty queen Mary ruled over Scotland, the famous evangelist John Knox openly condemned her activities. When his friends were frightened, he said,” I am standing before Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Then, why should I have fear for this earthly queen?”. In John’s vision, he saw most of the people worshiping the beast, the antichrist whom they believed, had all power and authority. Then, suddenly out of the heaven rode Christ on a white horse with His army of angels. ” On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written ” KING of kings and LORD of lords ” Revelation 19:16.