25 Questions
What did God prepare for man before creating him?
A world of useful and pleasant things
According to the passage, the use of the pronouns 'my' and 'mine' is a sign of spiritual health.
False
What has taken the place of God in the human heart?
God's gifts
Our woes began when God was forced out of His central _______________________ and 'things' were allowed to enter.
shrine
Match the following biblical quotes with their respective book and chapter:
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. = Matthew 5:3 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. = Unknown
According to the passage, the use of 'things' was originally intended to be a source of peace to the soul.
False
What was the promise God made to Abraham?
To make his seed be called in Isaac
Abraham was hesitant to sacrifice his son Isaac because he did not trust God.
False
What did Abraham have to give up to fulfill God's promise?
His son Isaac
Abraham was a man marked out by the Lord for special _______________.
treatment
Match the following phrases with their corresponding meanings:
In Isaac shall thy seed be called = God's promise to Abraham Whosoever will lose...for my sake shall find... = A New Testament Scripture I never intended that you should actually slay the lad = God's words to Abraham The secret of His great heart = Abraham's understanding of God's plan
Abraham was rich and possessed many things, but he still felt empty and unsatisfied.
False
What is the chief characteristic of the "self-life" according to Jesus?
Its possessiveness
Abraham was a young man when Isaac was born.
False
What is the result of allowing the "enemy" (self-life) to live?
to lose everything
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of _______________ poverty and abnegation of all things.
soul
Match the following Bible characters with their relevant stories:
Abraham = Offered his son as a sacrifice Jesus = Called people to take up their cross and follow him Isaac = Was born to Abraham in his old age
What is the result of surrendering the "self-life" according to the passage?
To gain eternal life
Why do we often hesitate to give up our treasures to the Lord?
Because of fear for their safety
Our Lord came to destroy our treasures.
False
What should we do when we recognize the symptoms of possession malady in our own heart?
Put away all defense and make no attempt to excuse ourselves either in our own eyes or before the Lord.
We must in our hearts live through ______________ experiences if we would know the blessedness which follows them.
Abraham's harsh and bitter
What should we do when the old miser within us begs?
Steel ourselves against its piteous begging
Match the following statements with their corresponding themes:
We should come to God in full determination to be heard. = Holy Business We must recognize the symptoms of possession malady in our own heart. = Self-Awareness The ancient curse will not go out painlessly. = Renunciation
We can learn the truth about possession malady by rote.
False
Study Notes
The Tyranny of Things
- The original creation of the world by God was meant to provide useful and pleasant things for humanity's sustenance and delight, but sin has made these gifts a source of ruin to the soul.
- The human heart has become a shrine where "things" have taken over, and God is no longer crowned there.
The Problem of Possession
- The human heart has a deep-seated nature to possess, and this covets "things" with a fierce passion.
- The pronouns "my" and "mine" express the real nature of the old Adamic man, symbolizing the roots of our hearts growing down into things.
The Way to Deeper Knowledge of God
- The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things.
- To possess the Kingdom of Heaven, one must repudiate every external thing and root out all sense of possessing from their heart.
The Story of Abraham and Isaac
- Abraham's trial by fire was to sacrifice his son Isaac, which tested his obedience to God and his willingness to surrender his most precious possession.
- Abraham's decision to obey God, despite his heart's protests, demonstrated his surrender to God's will.
The Lesson of Renunciation
- The spiritual secret of the heart can only be learned in the school of renunciation, where one must let go of possessions and desires.
- True freedom and riches come not from possessing things, but from possessing nothing, having surrendered all to God.
The Dangers of Possessiveness
- Possessiveness is a harmful habit that hinders us from giving up our treasures to the Lord, out of fear for their safety.
- Our gifts and talents should be recognized as God's loan to us and should be turned over to Him.
The Path to Intimacy with God
- To know God in growing intimacy, we must go the way of renunciation, surrendering our possessions and desires to Him.
- The testing place of renunciation is an inevitable part of the spiritual journey, where we must choose between our own desires and God's will.
Explore the biblical account of creation and God's intention for humanity. Understand the significance of the external world and its relationship with the human heart.
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