The Fine Pearl. Julie Teariki-Tautea
1. Thessalonians, 2:13. At times when men had wrong ideas about the shape of the earth, the bible referred to it accurately as “the world was the circle.” “He sits enthroned above the “circle” of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy and spreads them out like a tent to live in. “Isaiah, 40:22. The bible is not a science book, but it touches some important scientific matters. “He spreads out the northern skies over space; he suspends the earth over nothing. Job, 26:7.
The third bible study meeting: Witnessing was so overwhelming and I was filled with God’s presence of the Holy Spirit of love and joy as we sat down around the table to begin our studies, after the opening prayer we begin with the bible studies from where we left off last week, at that very moment, I could not even describe the overwhelming love of God, and at one point I could not speak, I just felt his amazing love it was Jehovah Gods’ love and God’s Holy presence in the midst of us. I thank Jehovah through Christ Jesus as Jesus said were there two or three gathered in my name, I would be there in the midst of them. All Praise to God! John 4:23, yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth to please him.
After our meeting I was so overwhelmed, then I remember what the Lord had said; “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. John. 4:21, which means that we can worship him at home and everywhere in the world in our daily lives. We can pray to him by standing, sitting, lying, and kneeling or marching around, like around the wall of Jericho.
When we pray we approach him with love and respect with a sincere heart to communicate to our loving father with our entire petition made know to him, he already knows everything about our struggles and he knows our triumphs but still, we must talk about them with Jehovah our father our God. It's about our communication channel between the father and his beloved children. How would you feel if your children ignore you all the time? As a parent, you would feel hurt if your children don't want to talk to you still, you love your children as parents, the same with our loving God, even if we ignore him, he still love us as his children, we must make a time to talk with him in prayer. Most times in my prayers the Holy Spirit reminds me of my struggles and overcoming those obstacles. I thank Jehovah and appreciate his love and strength to overcome those matters.
“Book of Practical wisdom: The bible is not surprising to many believers because it is God's inspired teachings for mankind. God through his Holy Spirit breathed through his Prophets to write for what was and what is to be in his time to come. God is the Author speaking his words and his will to the bible writers to put it down in writing. The Bible writers were never in one place or in one time to write the whole bible. They were all writing in different places and at different times. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Reading from (N.I.V. 2 Timothy 3:16). It is important to read scriptures and understand what Jehovah God wants out from us and through us, and how to live our lives according to his good teachings, because God understands our thinking and emotions better than we do. Reading of his words teaches us to be obedient to Him as he is our Father our God, we are his children, and He knows what pathways to avoid and the right part to take. His words are a lamp to our feet. Jesus also mentioned in his ministry about the kingdom of God, that we must humble ourselves like little children. Jesus was teaching practical wisdom and practical values in these verses. Further reading and teachings from Jesus in Matthew chapters 5,6,7. How to find happiness, how to settle disputes, how to pray, and how to have the proper view of material things and many teaching for correction and righteousness. The bible teaches many principle family life, value, work habits, life habits, and relationships with others' love and respect.
“A Book of Prophecy.” The Bible contains numerous prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled. Consider an example. Through the prophet Isaiah, who lived in the eighth century B.C.E., God Jehovah foretold that the city of Babylon would be destroyed. Sodom and Gomorrah will overthrow Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, and the glory of the Babylonians’ pride. ((NIV. Isaiah 13:19; 14:22,23). Some 200 years later on the night of October 5/6, 539 B.C.E. an army encamped near Babylon. Who was its commander? “A Persian king named Cyrus” The stage was thus set for the fulfillment of an amazing prophecy. This prophecy did more than predict a city’s fall. The uninhabited site of ancient Babylon about 50 miles south of Bagdad. Iraq is proof that what God spoke through Isaiah has been fulfilled: I will sweep her with the broom of annihilation.” Isaiah. 14: 22, 23. Many prophecies have come through and still, we are waiting for more fulfillment of the scriptures.
CHAPTER THREE
God’s purpose for the earth:
What is God’s purpose for the earth and mankind? How has God been challenged? What will life on earth be like in the future?
God's purpose for the earth is good and wonderful. If we know what God’s purpose is for every one of us here on earth, we will work towards it and live the way God wants us to live out our life. God’s purpose for the earth is wonderful, God wants the earth to be filled with happy, healthy, loving, and caring people. It’s important to know that the image of God and his characters are of love, peace, and kindness, God said to Adam and Eve, in the beginning, to be fruitful and increase in number. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it, Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground”. Genesis 1:28,
The earth is filled with farmers and fishermen and all working men, to provide us with fruit and vegetables, fish and goods to meet the demanding increase number of peoples' needs, fathers and mothers, young men and women all working for a purpose in life. Yet we still struggle in life for our sinful nature and choices, we all know the freedom of our choices in life or choosing unhealthy choices of lifestyles, why? because God has given us choices in life to choose for ourselves, most often it's the choice of the sinful way, it's better in this world than to be obedient to God. The desires of what we want or who we want to be. The same applies to our first parents; The LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it. Genesis 2:8-9,15. It was a beautiful perfect place and a beautiful lovely couple to be obedient to God.
Paradise on Earth: In the beginning, God created a paradise on earth, Adam and Eve were living with God walking and talking with God. The tree of knowledge of good and evil (sin) separates man from God. God’s purpose and the plan were to live on an earthly paradise. Although Adam and Eve ruined it from the beginning, our Heavenly Father Jehovah knows, how and when he will make the earth as to how he purposes it to be and how he intended it to be an earthly paradise. He sent the second Adam Jesus Christ to come to this earth so that through him this earth will be as how he intended it to be. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purposes will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah, 46:9-10. So as my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah, 55:11.
The Earth: God created the earth simply not for nothing; the earth was created and is meant to be inhabited with all kinds of people. God requires his people to live here on earth. For this is what the LORD says he who created the heavens, he is God; he, who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it: he did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited he says: I am the LORD, and there is no other. Isaiah, 45:18. Meaning that there is only one God and his name is Jehovah, Jesus always