John 16:33 Jesus has overcome.
1John 4:1-4; 5:4 and 5 We can overcome.
Revelation 2:7 - The church was encouraged to return to their first love defined by the words and deeds of our Lord Jesus, not by a godless society. “…I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” Genesis 3:23 and 24; Revelation 22:2, 14, and 19
Revelation 2:11 – Remain faithful unto death, and we will not be hurt by the second death. Daniel 12:1-3; Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 2:17 - Forsake immorality and idolatry. “…I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone.” John 6:31-35; Ephesians 3:14 and 15; Revelation 3:12; 19:12
Revelation 2:25-29 - Do not tolerate anyone promoting immorality and idolatry. “To him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.” Psalm 2
Revelation 3:5 – Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain and “be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father.” Revelation 20:12-15; 21:27
Revelation 3:12 – Remain faithful and become “a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.” Revelation 21:1-ff
Revelation 3:21 - Be zealous and repent and Jesus “will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.” Daniel 7:13 and 14; 1Corinthians 6:2 Revelation 20:1-ff
Romans 8:31-38 We are equipped for the job.
1Corinthians 6:9-11 What we once were is not who we are now. We are washed
and sanctified in the name of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Christ cleansed the church.
1Thessalonians 5:23 We have responsibility to obey, but only God Himself
through Jesus Christ can sanctify you.
Hebrews 2:9-18 The sacrifice of Jesus is what makes us sanctified.
Hebrews 10:1-18 The old covenant was a type for the sacrifice of Christ.
Hebrew 13:12 The blood of Jesus sanctifies.
Revelation 1:5; 5:9: 7:14; 22:11 We have been made holy; now we are to stay
holy.
1John 1:5-10 “If” indicates a condition. If we walk in light, the blood of Jesus
cleanses us from all sin.
Matthew 3:11 and 12 Jesus baptizes with spirit and fire.
Romans 15:16 We are sanctified by the holy spirit.
Titus 3:3-7 What we once were is not what we are now in Christ
1Thesalonians 2:13-16
1Corinthians 1:2 We are called saints by God. The fundamental idea is
separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God, sharing in God’s purity,
and abstaining from earth’s defilement. All around us is filth, but we can stay
clean by God’s grace.
Isaiah 4:1-6 A complete sanctification is coming in the day.
Ephesians 1:20-23 Jesus is the head; the church is the body. In the context, God is the one who fills all in all, so in the body of Christ is God’s fullness.
Ephesians 4:15 and 16; Colossians 1:18-20; 2:19
Ephesians 2:12-22 The saints, the faithful ones, make up the new temple with Jesus as the foundation, cornerstone. We make the dwelling place of God through the spirit.
Ephesians 5:22-33 The marriage provides another example for us of how Christ is in relationship to his church.
Matthew 28:20 I am with you always even to the end of the age.
John 14:3, 18, 23, 28 Jesus has come to each and every believer by way of the spirit.
2Corinthians 2:17; Colossians 1:27 We really have Christ living in us. When people are living with you, normally you are aware of their presence and govern or moderate you behavior accordingly.
Romans 8:9 The spirit of God and the spirit of Christ are the same spirit. Jesus always does the will of God, but he was given the responsibility and authority over the church. God does not micro manage.
Revelation 2:12, 7 Jesus speaks to his church through the spirit similar to what we see with Abraham and Moses in the Old Testament. The pattern is followed in each of the seven churches.
Acts 9:4-6 Jesus spoke with Paul
9:10-19 Jesus spoke with Ananias
John 15:1-ff Jesus is the vine we are connected to, and God is the vinedresser.
Ephesians 3:21 We are never to lose perspective that God is to be glorified through Jesus Christ forever and ever.
Prov. 2: 1-4 God's Word is described as: my words, commandments, wisdom, understanding, and hidden treasure. James 1:5-8; 1 Peter 2:2
Treasure (verb) = cherish, prize, adore, value
1 Peter 2:2 We long for the pure milk of the Word so that we may grow.
Prov. 2:5 When we are actively seeking God's wisdom and understanding, then we will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
Deut 17:18-20 The fear of the LORD comes from knowing the Scriptures.
The process of growing up in the LORD includes:
- Love and honor God first
- Study the Scriptures, and pray
- Have faith that the Bible is the revealed wisdom of God
- Knowing this wisdom and understanding will enable you to make godly choices and avoid sin
- When sin on occasion does occur, it will be known right away and can be extinguished
I Cor. 2: 3-16 God has given us His Word. To understand this Word, we must have the holy spirit to guide us. The things of God are foolishness to man; the spirit of God speaks to our minds and informs us of wisdom and understanding of this dynamic Word. Paul wrote a prayer in Ephesians 1:17 that asks that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened.
Prov. 2:6-11 The first four verses describe what we are to do. Next, we find out what Yahweh's response is to our diligent crying out for His wisdom.
God stores up goodness for the righteous and retribution for those who do evil. 2 Kings 20:17; Ps. 31:19
Matt. 6:19-20 Treasure on earth or treasures of heaven – your freewill choice (Luke 12:21ff)
Prov. 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Prov. 2:9-20 While God is doing all of these wonderful things for us, we will then discern righteousness, justice, equity (impartiality, fair play), and every good course.
Heb. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Rev. 21:1-5
John 14:3, 18 and 28 Jesus promised he would come to us.
Acts 2:33 The holy spirit is that which was promised.
2 Corinthians 3:17 and 18 The spirit is the Lord.
Colossians 1:27 Christ in you
Ephesians 1:20-23 The resurrected Jesus is not the same as the Son of man seen
in the Gospels. He has a whole new life, mission, and authority.
Revelation 1:5
Faithful witness – 3:14, 19:11
First-born of the dead – 1:17 and 18; Colossians 1:15-20
Ruler of the kings of the earth – 17:14; 19:11-16
Loves us and released us from our sins by his blood – 5:9
Made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father – 5:10
2:1 Seven stars are the messengers; seven lamp stands are the churches.
2:8 First to be raised, but not the last; last because no one else is the Messiah
2:12 Sharp two-edged sword – 1:16, 2:16, 19:11-16
2:18 Eyes, a flame of fire – 2:20-23
3:1 Jesus has authority in heaven and earth.
3:7 He has the authority to decide who enters and does not – John 5:25-28
3:14 Beginning of the creation – Colossians 1:15-20
5:1-14 The only worthy one
John 13:33-35 In preparation for his departure from the earth and with his
suffering in sight, Jesus gave a new commandment to love as he loved.
John 14:15-23 Love and obedience to his commandments are connected.
John 14:31 Jesus held himself to the same standard demanded of us. The world
will know he loved the Father because he obeyed His commandments unto the
death of the cross.
John 15:9- 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.
John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it.
Romans 13: 8 True lovers do not feel like they are owed something, rather that
they owe everything to God. They are not interested in getting but in giving.
Service is the passion of their soul. Lovers find their value in God’s love for them
and not from the world or anyone in the world.
Ephesians 2:1-10 One major mindset that keeps people from walking with
God and enjoying a successful in life is “something for nothing.” This attitude
is crippling and attacks the fundamental precepts of our faith and the core of a
person’s commitment center.
For immature people, carnal people, there are few things in life resented more
than responsibility.
Matthew 24:12; Revelation 2:4 and 5 Keep on loving!
Definition of the word “INTEGRITY” from dictionary.com:
1. Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
David
II Samuel 7 – YHWH promises to establish David’s kingdom forever and to take care of his children.
David to Solomon
I Kings 2.1-4 – David exhorts his son.
YHWH to Solomon
I Kings 9.1-9 – We see in verse 3 that YHWH puts His name there forever. His part of the agreement wasn’t conditional. But Solomon’s was. See 9.4 – ff.
Solomon’s final response
I Kings 11.4 – ff
What does a lifestyle of integrity look like?
Psalm 15, 26
Proverbs 2.1-7, 10.1-9, 11.1-3, 19.1
What about me?
Philippians 3 and 4
What’s the big deal?
Revelation 20.11 – 21.8, 22.1 - 9
Jesus was a man, tempted as all of us; yet, he walked perfectly and chose to live his life doing the work of the Father (Heb 2:17-18). He is referred to as “the Son of God” 46 times in the New Testament. He is referred to as “the Son of Man” 84 times. He is never referred to as “God the Son,” or a “God man.” Jesus was a man, the mediator between God and mankind (I Tim 2:5). The term “Son of Man” is used 93 times in the book of Ezekiel and emphasizes the humanity of the messenger in contrast to the divine origin and authority of the message. Jesus was a man. He had free will to walk according to the flesh or according to the spirit. He was the perfect man, the perfect human, not a “God man” but rather a human being in the flesh, who had to decide to live according to the will of God (Heb 4:15).
Jesus was driven, purposeful, self-motivated, determined, temperate, resolute, focused, and confident. He was a man, dedicated to doing the work of his Father, God (John 8:28-29; 6:38; 12:49; 14:10; 5:17). It took work. We can empathize with his impeccable character and be inspired by his disciplined life.
Remember what is said about us who believe on Jesus (Phi 2:5; I John 4:17; 2:6; John 14:12).
Mark 1:21-45
Capernaum is on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had a home in Capernaum. God said that light would shine in Galilee (Is 9:1-2). The day started in the synagogue and ended after dark at the home of Simon Peter. Early in the next day, before the sun came up, Jesus determined to get by himself in a secluded place to pray. This takes self-discipline, determination, devotion.
Mark 2:1-13
His belongings, his personal items, did not own him. His entire life was for God’s purpose, God’s glory.
Mark 3:1-14
He went up to a mountain. Luke 6:12-13 – He spent the whole night in prayer to God. How important is prayer? How much time, work, effort, devotion, did Jesus give to prayer? (Rom 12:12; Col 4:12)
Mark 3:20-35
They couldn’t even get something to eat. His own family thought he had lost his senses. The scribes continued their accusations. Jesus stayed focused on his purpose, doing the will of God.
Mark 6:7-13, 30-46
He gave the same power and authority to his disciples and instructed them. Jesus knew who he was and whose will he was doing. He, as his Father does, had compassion on humanity. He took time to pray.
Mark 9:1-9; Luke 9:28-36 – The Mount of Transfiguration – Jesus deliberately got away to take time in prayer. Luke 9:51 – After this, the mood of the Gospels changed. Jesus began to finish his purpose. From this point, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem, to accomplish fully the work of the Father.
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Now Christ is in us. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation to continue the work of Christ, which is the work of our Father God. As God was with Christ, God is now at work in us. Are we willing to work? II Corinthians 5:18-22; 6:1-10
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
2 Corinthians 4:1 If ever a man had reason to lose heart and give up, Paul was the man.
14 Paul believed in the resurrection and found the resources to endure the struggles of life with it in view.
15 Paul’s aim was to bring glory to God.
16 Each day, we are closer to death and eternal life. Which will you focus upon? If you want to endure until the end, think like Paul.
17 What greater comparison can be given than a moment compared to eternity?
18 The great key to life is about focus. What do you look at?
5:2 We have a certain amount of groaning because we do not want to die but to be changed. We desire that our mortality may put on immortality. Romans 8:23
4 It is against the nature of man to desire death but not to desire the garment of immortality.
5 KJV says “earnest of the spirit”- The spirit is a small taste of the full thing that we will inherit when Christ returns. 2Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13 and 14; 4:30
7 Hebrew 11:13-16 Focus upon our moral flesh, the world, the present time is discouraging or disheartening.
9 Our ambition is always to please Yahweh.
10 Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:16; 14:10; Acts 10:42; Revelations 2:23; 22:12
14 The love of Christ manifested by his sacrifice holds us in.
20 We are all ambassadors for Christ.
Galatians 6:19; Ephesians 3:13; Luke 18:1 Our knowledge of and focus upon the age to come, fear of Yahweh, and the love of Christ influence how we live as we wait.
Romans 12:1
Service is called sacrifice – it is spiritual. The spirit was never given for selfish gain. It is for service to others. Service is a sacrifice done selflessly, not begrudgingly or out of obligation, but out of love. Loving service is an important aspect of spiritual growth. It gets your eyes off yourself and your problems and onto helping others.
Romans 12:2-3
The world magnifies self. The highest/most important people get served rather than serving in love. Luke 22:24-27
Romans 12:4-8
EVERYONE has something to give, not just a few. I Peter 4:8-11
I Corinthians 12:14-27
Each and every one received a gift. Everyone has something to give. We are members of one body. Every single member is needed. Even if you don’t believe that you’re needed, it doesn’t change the truth of God’s Word.
What keeps a person volunteering? John 6:66-69 – “Lord to whom shall we go?”
Romans 12:9-13
Service is an important aspect of spiritual growth. It’s not about YOU. It gets you out of yourself and into thinking of others. Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 2:3-7; Luke 10:38-42
We are to serve out of love. Galatians 5:13Romans 12: 1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Service is called sacrifice. It is spiritual. It takes a growing up in Christ to serve in love and get your mind off yourself. In love, we are to serve. Our service is to be a spiritual service, not out of obligation, not for our identity, and not for money or anything else. It’s not about you; it’s about serving God, doing God’s will, growing up in Christ.
1Peter 3:18-22 Jesus’ spiritual resurrected life enables him to have power and authority greater than anyone else in the entire universe with the exception of Almighty God.
Colossians 1:18-20 Jesus made right everything that was wrong in heaven and earth.
Ephesians 1:19- 2:6 Christ is seated at the right hand of God, so then we too must be in this same place, which indicates access to the same kind of power and authority!
Colossians 1:13 and 14
Matthew 10:1, 7 and 8; Luke 10:17-20 - When Jesus was in his earthy ministry, he gave power and authority to both the 12 apostles and the 70 disciples. They were clearly taught that the power they operated with him was not a temporary happenstance but rather a type for what they could continue to do, even after he was gone.
Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5 and 8 The Church has been given incredible power and authority to partner with Christ to accomplish the will of God on earth.
John 20:21-23 On the day of Pentecost, immediately following the ascension of Christ, the holy spirit was indeed poured out for the first time.
Matthew 16:19; 18:18 Jesus confirmed their partnership with him. In essence he was saying, “I will stand with you and support your endeavors.”
John 14:12 - When we consider how impotent many in the Church are today, it is hard to envision that the words of our Lord pertain to us. Because of this lack, many declare that the power and authority Jesus spoke of was for the first-century Church only.
The problem is twofold: we are ignorant of the power and authority that is ours, and/or we fail to use our God-given authority. Knowledge without authority is useless as is authority without knowledge. We need both to walk as our Lord instructed.
Revelation 3:14-22 Wake up to the power!
Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21 and Luke 23:26 All say that Simon of Cyrene carried
the cross.
John 19:17 Seems to say that Jesus carried the cross; however, this is a figurative
expression often used in Jesus’ time which meant accepting the responsibility of
carrying out another’s will.
Matthew 10:24-39 The wickedness of men and not the purity of the gospel is the
cause of hostility. Micah 7:6
Matthew 16:24-27 In Matthew 10, the emphasis was on relationships; here in
Matthew 16, the emphasis is on the world. Let him surrender to God his will,
affections, body, and soul. Let him not seek his own happiness as the supreme
object but be willing to renounce all and to lay down his life also, if required.
Mark 8:27-38; Luke 9:23; and 14:25-33 - We must look at all the places that have
similar information to gain the complete truth.
Luke 23:32-43 “Criminals” is from the Greek word “kakourgos.”
Matthew 27:39-44 Two kakourgos were crucified together with him; afterwards,
two robbers (Greek – lestai) were crucified. They both reviled him. In Luke, only
one of the malefactors reviled Jesus; the other one became a believer.
John 19:18 The word “one” in the KJV is in italics because it is not in the Greek
text from which it was translated. Neither do most other Greek manuscripts have
the word, so the verse should read as:
“There they crucified him, and with him two other men, on either side, and
Jesus in the middle.”
Jesus was in the midst of four, not between two.
John 19:31-37 The soldiers broke the legs of a robber and then the malefactor
before they came to Jesus.
Luke 1:38 Mary called herself a bondslave.
Exodus 21:1-11; Leviticus 25:35-46 The background of the bondslave in the Old Testament provides great insight to our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 20:7ff; 24:32ff; 25:14ff Jesus spoke about bondslaves often because it was a commonly understood concept to the people in his day.
1Corinthians 6:20; 7:21-23 We were bought with a price; therefore, Jesus is now to be our Lord.
Galatians 6:17 The mark is pricked in or branded upon the body.
Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1 Paul considered himself a bondslave.
Romans 6:16-20; 2Peter 2:19 We all are slaves of someone or something.
Galatians 1:6-12 A bondslave does not strive to please men.
Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-25 Work as a slave of Christ, not men.
Philippians 2:6-11 Jesus is our example of a bondslave.
Philippians 2:3-8 We are to think as he thinks.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras was always laboring earnestly with prayers.
2Timothy 2:22-26 Lord’s bondslave must not be quarrelsome.
1Peter 2:13-17 Use your freedom to be a bondslave.
Revelation 22:1-6; 19:5
Considering our modern way of life, it may be difficult for us to relate to this information. Today, thousands of vocations are available for people to select from. In their day, employment was very limited, especially in Israel’s isolated situation.
Acts 2:18; 4:29
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondslave of the Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 6:16-ff
1Cor. 7:23; 2Cor 4:5
Gal 1:10; Eph. 6:5-8
Phil 2:7; Col 3:22; 4:2; 1Tim 6:1
2Tim. 2:24
1Peter 2:16
Rev 1:1; 2:20; 7:3
II Corinthians 1:21
The promises of God are “yes” and “Amen!” Through the years, starting with the man Abraham, God not only made promises, but He also made a few everlasting covenants.
Overview of the Covenants• The covenant to Abraham – an everlasting covenant
• The covenant to David – an everlasting covenant
• The covenant with the nation of Israel – the old covenant
• The Messianic covenant – the new covenant, came with Jesus
The Abrahamic CovenantGenesis 17:5-7; Genesis 22:15-18
God bound His promise to Abraham with an everlasting covenant. God not only made a promise to Abraham; He cut a covenant, and He swore with an oath.
Hebrews 6:13-19
God’s promise is unchangeable! God will absolutely bring to pass what He has promised! This is the anchor of our soul. God promised Abraham that he would inherit the earth (Romans 4:13).
The Davidic CovenantII Samuel 7:1-17
God’s promise to David was that God would establish his throne forever and that a descendant of his would rule on the throne forever. This Kingdom would never end. This is the great Messianic promise to David. As with Abraham, God not only made a promise to David, but He made an everlasting covenant and swore with an oath (II Samuel 23:5; Psalm 89:3-4, 34-37).
The Mosaic Covenant (The Old Covenant)During the time of Moses, God and the children of Israel entered into a covenant. This is the old covenant (Exodus 24:7-8). This old covenant was specifically for the nation of Israel. Much of what is recorded in the law is symbolic of what would come in the future with the Messiah. It was a shadow, a pattern, a figure of something greater coming in the future (Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5; 9:23; 9:9).
The covenants made to Abraham and David were everlasting covenants, which have ramifications for our future hope. Until the writings of the Apostle Paul and the revelation of the Mystery, the inclusion of the Gentiles was not understood (Romans 9:4-5; Ephesians 2:11-13; Galatians 3:17-18, 29).
The Messianic Covenant (The New Covenant)With the coming of the Messiah and his death on the cross, the old covenant was completed. Jesus initiated a new covenant, which replaced the old with better and more enduring promises of eternal inheritance (Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15).
God remains faithful to His promise. He not only made these everlasting promises, but He made a covenant, and He swore with an oath. He will absolutely bring to pass what He has declared.
Jeremiah 33:20-21
Thus says the LORD, 'If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers.
Genesis 3:1-6 The devil accused God of lying to Eve, of holding back something from her that would make her like God. In reality, he was the liar. He is the deceiver and the accuser. With his lies, he endeavors to render ineffective the impact of God’s powerful life-giving words.
Revelation 12:10 He is the great accuser of God and man.
Zechariah 3:1 and 2 He is present to accuse and cause doubt, fear, and unbelief.
Genesis 4:1-8 Sin is waiting to attack you, longing to destroy you, but you can conquer it.
Genesis 6 Also, a problem for us is the world − that is both the physical world and the people in our world.
2Corinthians 11:3 As the serpent deceived Eve, so he can deceive us too. We must learn to withstand or stand when confronted with the devil, sin, and the world.
1 Corinthians 10:12 and 13 God makes a way. We seek His help.
1Peter 2:21-25 Jesus is our example and shepherd and the guardian of our souls.
Hebrews 2:17 and 18; 4:13-16
Matthew 6:9-13 Pray.
2Corinthians 10:3-5 Control your thinking.
Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus responded with “It is written.” We will never be directly confronted with the devil, but we will be constantly confronted with evil thoughts that tempt and accuse.
Be alert; you are in a battle.
Be prepared for attacks. This preparation includes honestly looking at your weakness and knowing the Scripture that confronts it.
Pray, asking God for help, looking to Jesus for help.
Act quickly, decisively, and biblically.
Have confidence, and keep it simple. Ephesians 4:21ff
John 1:1:1-3 God’s word was with Him in the beginning.
Genesis 1:1; Revelation 1:4, 8 God is eternal with no beginning and no end, so His word has always been with Him.
Isaiah 40:13-17 God’s word originated with Him, not from outside of Himself. Everything in your mind came from outside of you. Zoe delight, education, reading, talking, TV movies
John 1:1 God is never separated from His word. He has impeccable integrity. I am a black man, 25 years old, sing like Ray Charles, look like Denzel Washington, PHD in physics − these words are not a true reflection or representation of the person. Psalm 119:89, 152; Matthew 24:35; 1Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8
Numbers 23:19 God always speaks truth. Man often lies, at times intentional and sometimes unintentional.
2 Timothy 3:16 God’s word is profitable. It can revive you. To revive means to bring back to life or consciousness. Sandra and restaurant
Psalm 119:25, 37, 40, 88, 107, 149, 156, and 159
Psalm 119:14, 72, 97, 103, 111, 127, 140, and 162 Your attitude toward God’s word will determine your spirituality.
Psalm 119:12, 18, 26, 27, 29, 32, 33-38, 64, 66, 68, 73,124, 125, 133, 135, and 169
Our motivation is about God and not about ourselves.
1 Cor. 13:4-7 Qualities of love –
- is patient, kind;
-is not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness;
-does rejoice in the truth, bears all things, believes all things [according to the Scriptures], hopes all things, endures all things, never fails
1 Cor. 14:20 In your thinking, be mature.
Rom. 5:5 Love is shed abroad in our hearts.
Gal. 5:13 Through love, serve one another
Recently, we were told that love of God is not a feeling.
John 13:33 – 35 New commandment is to love as Jesus loved.
John 2:13 -16 Jesus in temple with money changers
John 5:39-44 Love of God is more than making each other feel good (glorifying one another).
John 8:1-12 Woman caught in adultery was not condemned by Jesus.
John 8:19 – 24 You are from beneath.
John 8:31-32, 44 - 47 Truth makes us free.
As mature Christians, we have to do the hard things.
Jesus with Judas – John 13:26 and 27, 30
Elisha with Gehazi – 2 Kings 5:20-27
2 Kings 5:26 26
Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?
Matt. 28:18-20
Vs. 20 –
...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Luke 10:25-28 The all important question; the simple answer − love
Matthew 5:34 and 35 Jesus understood God’s top priority and taught accordingly.
Love is based upon obedience to the Scriptures and should not be confused with human love, which is conditioned upon the relationship held with others.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 The point is not to cast a disparaging view on these manifestations, but to magnify dynamically the importance of utilizing all manifestations with God’s love.
If without love we are nothing, then with love we are something.
1John 4:8 love is not an emotion or a feeling; rather, it is a deliberate choice to obey God’s Word above our own thoughts, feelings, emotions, or desires. God Himself is the standard of this love.
1Corinthians 13:4-8 All the “not” behavior comes to us naturally without any disciplined effort. To love God’s way is to be like God and is supernatural.
1Peter 3:20; Exodus 34:6; 2Peter 3:9 and 10 God is longsuffering.
Ephesians 4:1-3; 1Thessalonians 5:14 and 15; James 5:7-9 - We are to be like God and have longsuffering with our brothers.
Nehemiah 9:17; Romans 2:4 God’s kindness leads us to repentance
Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 4:31 and 32 We are to be Godlike with kindness.
1Corinthains 13:7; 1Peter 4:8 “Bears all things” means to cover over in silence.
Galatians 5:13-17 Through love serve one another.
1Corinthains 13:8-13 The greatest of these is love.
Revelation 1:3 Gives us every indication that this epistle is to us and can be understood by us to the point of reading, hearing, and heeding.
1:7 As with all church epistles, it was first sent to the churches that existed then, but it is also relevant today.
2:1-5 This is first in influence or principal, not in order. They did well in preserving the doctrine but slipped in loving God, Jesus, and their fellowman.
Acts 19:1-10, 17-20 Within two years and three months, they had the most remarkable outreach ever. All the other churches John writes to were founded during this time. Their former love was for God, their Lord, and humanity. They were great lovers. When those 12 men received the holy spirit, a radical transformation took place, which happens with the realization that God loves you.
1John 3:16 Knowing that God loves us is the foundation of our faith. Everyone has the need to be loved and the need to love. Both can be satisfied only by God’s unconditional love.
Knowing God loves us is the only thing that will give us our identity and our security in this life. Our security and identity do not come from the conditional loves from others, from our accomplishments, or from our circumstances, but only from knowing that God loves us personally and unconditionally.
God’s love is the only basis, the only foundation, upon which we are to build our lives.
Acts 20:17-38 On Paul’s last visit with the Ephesians, he warns them about wolves. Apparently, they heeded his warning (according to Revelation), but they lost their passion. They protected the gospel and lost their heart of love.
Ephesians 1:15; 2:1-5; 3:19-21; 4:1-3, 15 & 16; 5:1 & 2, 28-33; 6:23 & 24
Have you lost the zest for life? Have your passion, vision, and dreams faded, and has your life become humdrum? Is love foremost in your life?
John 12:24 and 25 Our need to love is just as strong as our need to be loved. Only by loving as God desires, will our lives have the meaning and purpose that we are all seeking.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 To love like God loves requires we die to self and live for Him.
So many of us have spent our entire lives trying to fulfill these two basic needs in every other conceivable way, rather than the way God intended and designed them to be fulfilled. We have sought for our husbands, our wives, our children, our families, and our friends to meet our needs for identity and security. We have looked to our careers, our accomplishments, our prestige, and our wealth to meet our needs for meaning and purpose. Other people, things, or accomplishments can never satisfy these two needs completely. Momentarily, on the outside, our desires might be touched; but inwardly, lastingly, these needs will never be completely met.
Love can change your entire life. When we allow God to love through us in a 1Corinthian 13 way, it’s the most exhilarating, most meaningful, and most fulfilling experience of life.
1 Timothy 1:1-ff
Luke 1:5-25 Zacharias and Elizabeth
Luke 1:26-38 Gabriel and Mary
Matthew 1:18-25 - Joseph and the angel
Luke 1:39-56 - Mary visits Elizabeth.
Luke 1:57-80 - John is born.
Luke 2:1-7 - Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem
Luke 2:1-7 - Shepherds
Luke 2:8-20 - Jesus and Simeon
Luke 2:21-38 - Jesus and Anna
Matthew 2:1-12 Magi
Matthew 2:13 - Flight to Egypt
Revelation 1:12-20 Jesus now
Revelation 20-22 Jesus in the age to come
Matthew 2:1-2
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. However, when the Magi came seeking the young king, they came to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is God’s city. It is the capital of Israel and has several names in Scripture. One name is “The city of David” (II Samuel 5:7-9). Yet, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Why Bethlehem?
Genesis 35:19 - First mention of Bethlehem in the Scriptures
This region is also called Ephrath or Ephratah.
Ruth 1:1-2, 22; 2:1; 4:10-17
Naomi’s husband was from Bethlehem. After her husband and sons died in Moab, she returned home with her daughter in law, Ruth. They came back to Bethlehem. Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, was also from Bethlehem. The father of Boaz is Salmon (Salma) who is called “Father of Bethlehem” (I Chr 2:51). Boaz married Ruth, and they had a son named Obed, who is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
I Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint David as king of Israel.
II Samuel 7:11-16
God promised David that one of his descendants would rule and establish his throne forever.
Micah 5:2
The prophet wrote that this ruler of God’s people, Israel, would come forth from Bethlehem.
Luke 2:1-4
Joseph and Mary lived in Galilee – Nazareth. Yet, they were descendents of the house of David. Joseph was from Bethlehem, and they went back home at the time of this census. Bethlehem is also called the “City of David” because this is where David was born. God’s divine providence was upon this move since it fulfilled prophecy
Matthew 2:1-6
The magi came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes and inquired as to where the Messiah would be born? The answer was “Bethlehem.”
Matthew 2:13-23
Being warned of God, Joseph and Mary took Jesus and departed into Egypt. After the death of Herod, they returned, but rather than returning to Bethlehem, they went back north to Nazareth in Galilee.
John 7:40-43
Some have had difficulty accepting that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Believing in him and accepting this truth are essential for Christian faith.
John 20:30-31
The Scriptures reveal the truth about Jesus. He is the Christ, the Messiah, of the seed of David, born in Bethlehem, according to the Scriptures.
Genesis 14:18 -The first mention of Jerusalem; Melchizedek king of Salem (Jerusalem)
Deuteronomy 12:5-7 God foretold of the place to establish His name.
David finally took Jerusalem in the beginning of his reign and established the city of God.
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in about 597BC and the Romans in 70AD.
Names for Jerusalem:
Salem (peace) - Genesis 14:18
Zion (foundation of peace) - 2Samuel 5:7
The city of God - Psa. 46:4; 48:1; 87:3
His holy mountain - Ps. 48:1; Zech. 8:3
The city of the great king - Psalms 48:2; Matt5:35
City of Yahweh of hosts - Psalms 48:8
City of righteousness - Isaiah 1:26
Ariel (lioness of El) - Isaiah 29:1
Holy city Isaiah - 48:2; 52:1; Matthew 4:5; Revelation 21:10
City of Yahweh - Isaiah 60:14
Yahweh is our Righteousness - Jeremiah 33:16
Perfection of beauty, a joy to all the earth - Lam. 2:15
Yahweh is there - Ezek. 48:35
City of truth - Zech. 8:3
City of my God - Revelation 21:2
Isaiah 2:1-5 The New Jerusalem
Isaiah 4:1-6 The branch of the Lord is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In the same way God provided
for Israel while in the wilderness, He will do in the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 24:18-23 Yahweh of hosts will reign on Mount Zion through His Son the King.
Isaiah 35:1-10 Joyful shouting to Zion
Isaiah 40:1-17 God will do what He promises.
Isaiah 52:1-10 It will be a glorious day.
Isaiah 60:1-17 The first New Jerusalem
Isaiah 60:18-22 The New Jerusalem that will come from above
Isaiah 66:10-14 Great joy in Jerusalem’s future
Revelation 21:10-22:7 After the millennial kingdom, a New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven.
Albany to Miami is 1400 miles and Albany to Oklahoma City is 1500
1453 ft at the very top of the empire state building with 102 floors
There are 5280 feet in a mile.
If a person were suddenly exposed to the atmosphere at 30,000ft without a pressurized cabin
or at least a pressure-demand oxygen mask that supplies oxygen to the lungs via high pressure,
hypoxia would set in 45 to 75 seconds, followed by unconsciousness and eventually death. Less
than 6 miles, and we are looking at 1500 miles.
62 miles also is often regarded as the boundary between atmosphere and outer space.
Genesis 14:19 “And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;’”
Psalms 47:2 “For the LORD [Yahweh] Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth.”
Mat 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth….’” God has always been sovereign over all.
Revelation 4:1-ff God’s throne room
Gen 1:26-31 God gave humankind dominion over all the earth but not dominion over God or each other. They had equal authority.
Genesis 3 They sought to have equal authority with God which resulted in diminished dominion over the earth and a dominant desire to control others.
Gen 3:16 The husband rules over the wife thus beginning the history of humanity constantly struggling to control each other.
Gen 4 Cain strived to control his brother which ended in murder; hence, began the history of humanity trying to control each other.
Genesis 14 First World War, so on it has been ever since
Nations developed with men ruling over men, which have continued throughout history.
Israel for a moment had a kingdom under David and Solomon that was a theocracy.
God promised through the prophets that He would set up His kingdom on earth with His Messiah ruling.
1Chronicles 17:10-15; 2Samuel 7:12-17 The promise to David
Daniel 7:13 and 14
Isaiah 9:7; 11:1-10; 32:1
Jeremiah 23:5-7; 33:15
Zechariah 9:8-10; Matthew 21:5
Zechariah 6:12 and 13
Luke 1:31-33 Apparently, as is seen in the Gospels, the Israelites were looking for the Messiah that would be the king on the throne of David. (Revelation 12:5)
Matthew 2:1-4 Herod understood that the Messiah was the king.
Luke 17:20 “When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:”
Luke 19:11 They supposed the Kingdom was going to appear immediately.
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom continually.
Acts 1:6 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
Matthew 27:11 “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Matthew 27:29 Crown of thorns
Matthew 27:37 This is the king of the Jews.
Revelation 3:21 God has a throne, and Jesus has a throne. 5:13
Ephesians and Peter reveal that Jesus has authority over every living being (with the exception of God) in heaven and earth now and in the age to come.
Revelation 20:1-6 During the thousand years, Christ will reign on earth over the kingdoms of the world, and the faithful will reign with him.
Revelation 1: 5 and 6
Revelation 20: 7-21:7 During the millennial reign, people will still be governed by people; but in the new heaven and earth, we will return to the relationship that Adam and Eve had in paradise where they ruled over the earth and not each other.
Lamentations 3:22-26 His mercies never fail; they are new every morning.
Ephesians 2:1-7 God is rich in mercy.
Psalm 118:2-4 Israel, the priests, and everyone should say His loving kindness is everlasting.
5 – “Lord” is Yah which is a shortened version of Yahweh and is used in songs, poetry, and names.
6 – Psalm 27:1-3; 26:1, 11; 56:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:31
9 – Our trust belongs in God alone and not in man.
12 – The name of Yahweh provides deliverance and victory for those who are His.
14 Yah is my strength and song. Psalm 18:2; Exodus 15:1-6; Isaiah 12:2; 45:17-25
16 Exodus 15:6 The song of Moses
19 Isaiah 26:1-7 Song of trust in God
22 Matthew 22:41-44; 1Peter 2:1-11 Corner stone
29 Ends just as it began in verse 1
John 7:1-10 At this time, his biological brothers did not believe in him; later, they
would.
Mark 3:20- 22 His family thought he was beside himself − that is mentally
unstable.NIV - When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they
said, “He is out of his mind.”NLT - When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind.” Later, his family believed.Mark 3:31-35 Jesus considers those who do the will of God to be his family, not
those who share in common blood.
God is the Father of those who do His will, and Jesus is their brother.
Hebrews 2:10-13 Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren.
1John 3:1-ff God is our Father; we are His children if we walk in righteousness
and love one another. We are family, and our Father commands us to love one
another.
Loyalty and love should be companions, i.e. children in my home.
Galatians 6:1-10 Be good to the household of faith.
1Thessalonians 5:12-15 Take care of each other.
Psalm 110:1-7 Much prophetic information is presented about our Lord Jesus Christ.
“The LORD [Yahweh] said unto my Lord [Adon]….” The second “Lord” in the AV is from the Hebrew Adon, and in the NASB, it is from the Hebrew word Adonai. In the Masoretic Text, it is the word Adon.
Hebrew Words Translated “Lord”
YHWH - Transliterated Yahweh – The name of God
Adone - Lord, master, owner, controller; (from a root meaning to rule) – a sovereign
Adonai - Emphatic form of Adone – “The Lord” - A title of God translated “Lord;” used 444 times, most of which are referring to God
Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:42-44 They did not understand that the Christ was also the Son of God.
Acts 2:29-36; Psalms 16:8-10; Acts 13:33-37 Here for the first time, insight is given into the fullness of the prophesy regarding the ascension.
Hebrews 10:11-14 Hebrews brings in the understanding about the sacrifice and high priest.
Ephesians 1:19-23
Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of God until Yahweh makes his enemies a footstool for his feet.
Right hand - Exodus 15:6-12, Hand of blessing and strength - Psalms 17:7, 18:35; 20:6; 48:10; 60:5; 63:8
Footstool - implies humility and subjection - Psalms 99:5, 132:7; Isaiah 66:1
He remains at God’s right until God moves to cause the enemies to be in subjection. We know that Satan and the demons will be locked in chains when Jesus returns, and all the kingdoms of the world will have been humbled to the degree of submitting to King Jesus.
2 - Scepter is the rod or staff carried by the king as a symbol of royal power or authority, sovereignty.
Rule in the midst of your enemies Psalms 2:1-9; 132:18
3 The royal troops will be numerous and voluntarily come clothed in holy array.
4 Melchizedek was a priest-king over Jerusalem - Genesis 14
Zechariah 6:13; Hebrew 5:6-10; 7:22
5 & 6 The king goes out to war, and the Lord (Adonai), as the master of the universe, supports him by being at his right hand. He is at the right hand of the king. Psalms 16:8; 109:31; and 121:5 & 6
A day of accountability is appointed, and the day will be a time of vindication. Psalms 2:-12; 21:9; Isaiah 13:9; and Zeph. 2:3 On that day, Yahweh will judge the nations. Ps. 2:9; 7:8; 9:8; 76:9; and Revelation 19:11-21
7 The king will enjoy victory because the Lord fights for him.
Genesis 3:8-10 The first interaction man had with God was motivated by fear of God. They hid from God.
Exodus 14:10-18 The sight of the Egyptians marching caused Israel to be paralyzed in fear. Fear impacted their behavior
I John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.”
Numbers 14:1-ff The children of Israel believed the report of the elders and refused to enter into the Promised Land due to fear. In them we see the horror of fear and the extreme evil it can cause.
1Samuel 15:21-24 Saul, for fear of the people, chose to obey their voice over God’s commands.
Mark 5:1-20 When the demon occupied man was freed, they were afraid of Jesus and asked him to leave their community.
Fear caused Peter to deny his Lord three times, and fear caused him and the apostles to hide behind closed doors.
1Samuel 21:10-15 David was in a life threatening and frightening situation.
Psalms 34:1-10 When we have fear, we need to run to God and not to run away from Him.
Mark 5:21-36 Jesus did not allow fear to ruminate; rather, he attacked with faith.
Psalms 18:6; 77:1 and 2; 116:1-6 In distress call upon Yahweh.
Acts 9:1-20 Paul’s best effort to live for God caused him to be one that persecuted the church. His works did not and could not save him.
Psalms 51:1-19 Nothing David could do cleansed him from his sin. If he was to be cleaned, God had to do it for him.
Romans 3 set forth the universality of human guilt.
Romans 3:10-12 Man’s utter sinfulness, helplessness, and hopelessness: His mind – none understand
His heart – none seek after God
His will – none do goodRomans 3:10-12 from Psalms 14:1-3
Romans 3:13a from Psalms 5:9
Romans 3:13b from Psalms 140:3
Romans 3:14 from Psalms 10:7
Romans 3:15-17 from Isaiah 59:7 and 8
Romans 3:18 from Psalms 36:1
Romans 3:13 and 14 Emphasize human speech -- throat, tongue, lips, and mouth (Matthew 12:37)
Romans 3:15 and 16 Emphasis on the sinner's feet, where he goes; his ways bring death, destruction, and misery
Romans 3:19 and 20 No one has the ability within himself or herself to save themselves.
Romans 3:21-31 We are saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 4:18-25 Abraham, like David and Paul, needed God’s help, and so do we.
James 5:7-11 Be patient. The Lord is coming. The prophets spoke in the name of Yahweh. Often times, they were rejected and treated as outcasts for their stand, but they remained faithful to Yahweh. Patiently, they reaped the fruits of their faith.
James 5:14
The name of Yahweh is powerful. Today, we can invoke the name of Yahweh’s Son, Jesus. His name is also powerful. In Hebrew, his name is Yeshua (Yehoshua/Y’shua) which means “Yahweh is Salvation.” The name Jesus, Yeshua, bears the name of God, Yahweh. There is a name of the Father, and there is a name of the son (Mt 28:19, Rev 3:12, 14:2). When we pray in the name of Jesus, the Father is glorified (John 14:13).
James 5:15-16 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
James 5:17-18 – Elijah!
Elijah
I Kings 17:1 Elijah stood before Yahweh, the God of Israel, during evil times. He had the word of Yahweh: “No rain for three years!”
I Kings 17:2-7 – He followed the word of Yahweh and lived by a brook. He was fed by ravens!
I Kings 17:8-16 – A miracle by having faith in the word of Yahweh
I Kings 17:17-24 – He raised the dead through prayer, having faith in Yahweh.
I Kings 18:1-18 – Again, he is following the word of Yahweh. He’s not doing his own thing. This took boldness and courage. Elijah goes straight to the king who had already had other prophets of Yahweh killed.
I Kings 18:19-39 They had to choose. Who is God − Yahweh or Baal? In the end, it was obvious: “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!”
I Kings 18:40-46
For three and a half years, no rain fell. Elijah had faith in Yahweh. He prayed as he was commanded and followed the word of Yahweh. This was effective prayer!!! It accomplished much! We today can have faith in Yahweh as the prophets of old did, and we can have faith in His Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
2 Peter 3:3-14 The word “world” in Greek is kosmos which can mean the heavens and earth, the universe.
Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1 New heavens and new earth
2 Peter 2:4 and 5 The first heaven and earth were destroyed with the flood.
1. Genesis 1 to the Flood (Genesis 11)
2. The flood to Christ’s return (present)
3. Christ’s return through eternity
Matthew 13:34-36 Two Greek words are translated as foundation:
1) Katabole translated 10 times foundation and once conceive in Hebrews 11:11. All the other uses are with the phrase “foundation of the world.” “Foundation” in this context means the act of founding or establishing, the beginning point.
2) Themelios translated 16 times foundation, used most often as laid down as a foundation of a building, wall, or city. Luke 6:48
Hebrews 11:11 “Conceive” is katabole.
Matthew 13:35 is quoted from Psalms 78:2. To which world is he referring?
Matthew 25:34 – 36 The Kingdom was prepared after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Luke 11:50 The prophets began after the flood.
John 17:24 If God loved Jesus before He created the first heaven and earth, then He knew that Adam and Eve were going to sin and had another plan in mind.
Genesis 1:26-31 Are we to believe that God said what He said, but the whole time He knew they would sin and we would need a savior?
Ephesians 1:4 Before the destruction of the first heaven and earth, God had a plan that included all who would believe.
Isaiah 46:10-13 God has known and does know the end of many things from their beginning.
Hebrews 4:3 Talking about Israel entering into the rest that would be theirs after entering the promised land
Hebrews 9:6 This cannot be talking about before the fall of Adam and Eve.
1 Peter 1:20 Jesus was known before the destruction of the first heaven and earth but not before the first was created.
Revelation 7:8; 13:8 The book of life started after the fall of man and still has enterers today.
Luke 1:1-5
Zacharias was a priest after the division of Abijah. (I Chr 24:10)
Luke 1:6-27
In the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth.
Luke 1:28-33
This child that would be born would be the Son of the Most High. The Lord God would give him the throne of his father David. (I Chr 17:11-15; Jer 33:14-21, Rom 1:1-4)
Luke 1:34-35
Through this divine action, the child would be called the Son of God. Jesus was the second Adam (Luke 3:38; Rom 5:12-19; I Cor 15:21-22), made in the image of God (Col 1:15; Gen 1:27). He was the promised seed of the woman (Gen 3:15, Gal 4:4-5), the man that would bring salvation to humanity (ITim 2:3-5).
Luke 1:36-45
Mary’s visit to Elisabeth was in her first month of pregnancy. This encounter verified to Mary the promise God had made.
Luke 1:46-56
Mary exalts Yahweh, rejoices in God, and declares the mighty deeds of God, while giving glory to the Father.
Luke 1:57-80
John the Baptist is born, and Zacharias gives praise to God and blesses Yahweh for remembering His holy covenant and bringing this salvation to God’s people. Again, the Father God is glorified.
Luke 2:1-7
The birth of Jesus the Messiah
Luke 2:8-14
The angels praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest.” Again, the Father is glorified.
Luke 2:15-20
The shepherds returned, praising and glorifying God. The Father is glorified
Luke 2:21-35
Simeon blesses God, giving the Father glory for being able to see Yahweh’s Messiah.
Luke 2:36-38
Anna the prophetess gave thanks to God the Father.
Glory to God in the highest! The Messiah was born.
Yahweh’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
- Lamentations 3:22 and 23
O Yahweh, Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? - Exodus 15:11
"Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Yahweh, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. – 1 Chronicles 29:11 and 12
The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. - Deuteronomy 32:4
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. - Psalms 147:5
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. - James 1:17
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come.” - Revelation 4:8b
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” - Revelation 4:11
“Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are your ways… - Revelation 15:3b
Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished… - Exodus 34: 6 and 7
For Yahweh your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. - Deuteronomy 10:17
“Am I a God who is near," declares Yahweh, "and not a God far off?”
"Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?" declares Yahweh. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 23:23 and 24
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. - Isaiah 40:28
Yahweh longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For Yahweh is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him. - Isaiah 30:18
Yahweh abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,
And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. - Psalms 9:7 and 8
There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. - Hebrews 4:13
`Yahweh is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations. – Numbers 14:18
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 1:17
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20 and 21
To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen - Romans 16:27
Sing to Yahweh, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship Yahweh in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. – Psalms 96:2-4, 8 and 9
Jeremiah 10.1-2
be separate (Leviticus)
- no eating unclean animals (Lev 11)
- no mixing seeds for fields (Deut 22.9)
- no plowing with an ox & donkey together (Deut 22.10)
- no mixing fibers for clothing (Deut 22.11)
- tassles on the four corners of garments (Deut 22.12)
- no working on Saturday (Ex 20.8-11)
- no cutting/tattooing when mourning the dead (Lev 19.28)
Lev 18.24-26; 20.7-8, 22-26
- God gave them customs different than the nations to keep them separate/holy
- Why? To prevent syncretism (idol worship, moral evil, etc.)
signs of the heavens
- “Astrology, first elaborated in the temples of Mesopotamia, whence it spread to Greece and Rome, was an extremely important element in ancient civilization. Every level of society was affected by its fatalistic belief in the influence of the apparent motions of heavenly bodies on human destinies. During certain periods of antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages, it commanded the ardent allegiance of the best minds; even emperors resorted to it.” Abraham J. Heschel, The Prophets (Peabody: Prince Press 1962), part II, p. 20.
- These signs included comets, eclipses, unusual cosmic occurrences
Jeremiah 10.3
customs are a delusion
examples of delusions in our own culture today:
- lying is ok, if nobody gets hurt
- stealing is fine if someone really needs it
- marijuana is ok since it is not a hard drug
- getting drunk is fine so long as you are celebrating something with friends
- ladies and gentlemen, the nations are still deluded (more than 2,500 years later)
- going down stream, cultural currents carry you if you do nothing, must engage your arms/legs swim against current towards God…b/c at the end--if you just give up--is a waterfall and death
supreme example of delusion => idolatry
- cutting wood takes work, no chainsaw, story from Michael’s house (demonstration?)
Jeremiah 10.4-5
utter folly of idolatry
- the person makes the god
- utter paralyzed nature of idols
- cannot exist without being made
- cannot dress itself
- cannot stand on its own w/o tottering
- cannot walk
- cannot do harm
- cannot do good
- utterly impotent, frozen, limited, motionless, finite, sub-human
- yet, thousands and millions have worshiped them for thousands of years (in a mere 3 verses Jeremiah has deconstructed the whole practice!) What does that tell us? They were all stupid? No! To think that is to fall into the trap of chronological snobbery…rather, this should tell us that it is extremely difficult to see above the crowd, to hear the one instrument playing a different song in the midst of a symphony, to detect inconsistencies within one’s own worldview and culture
o for example, common sense changes in every generation (calling vs. going to websites to add event to community calendar, getting paid more vs. getting an extra day off work, bloodletting, thinking the world was flat—that the sun orbited the earth)
Jeremiah 10.6-7
an eruption of praise
- overwhelmed by the contrast Jeremiah erupts into praising God
- Yahweh is great, powerful, feared, beyond all the wisest men of the nations
Jeremiah 10.8-9
more deconstruction
- idols must have been impressive or else the statement “their idol is wood!” would be superfluous
- pictures of Titus head
- so, imagine a massive standing structure, in the inner part of a holy shrine, with incense burning, ornately decorated with gold and silver, and with priests dressed in fine clothing
- he names the ingredients of the idol (wood, gold, silver, clothing)
- all the work of craftsmen, skilled men and women
Jeremiah 10.10
the living God
- Yahweh is the true God
- living, everlasting, king, powerful, wrath
Jeremiah 10.11
non-creator gods will die
- this verse in Aramaic
- commandment: tell them “the gods that…”
- people were about to go into captivity into Babylon where Aramaic was the common language
- was Jeremiah giving the people of Israel the exact words to say to their captors in the very language they would understand?
Jeremiah 10.12-13
- powerful, wise, and genius creator
- power over waters, clouds, lightning, rain, and wind
Jeremiah 10.14-15
- every man (i.e. all idolaters, cf. NET)
- images are deceitful, they appear to be grandiose but they can’t even breathe (my dog can breathe, pigs can breathe, a rat can breathe)
Jeremiah 10.16
- portion: “Yahweh, who is the inheritance of Jacob’s descendants is not like them” (NET)
- again he is called the creator
- Israel is God’s special people
some context:
- Babylonia was gobbling up countries left and right
- the great Assyrian Empire had fallen to Babylonia
- Judah and her capital, Jerusalem, was hanging on by a thread in Jeremiah’s liftetime
- early message: repent, give up the sinning
- later message: do not resist Babylonia, God is using them to punish you
o people will go into captivity
o they will live in Babylonia for 70 years
o then they will return to the holy land and rebuild Jerusalem
- the people already had constant trouble with idolatry from the time they came out of Egypt, to when they were in the desert, to when they first entered the promised land under the Judges, to the kings starting with Solomon onwards
- now they would see new and strange idols that the powerful Babylonians worshiped
- there would be a massive temptation to worship the gods that defeated their own Yahweh
- one may think Jeremiah’s task was impossible…how could a people who never really gave up idolatry in their entire history suddenly give it up when they were now living scattered abroad among the idolatrous Gentiles?
- yet, it worked! the Jews were cured of idolatry and when they came back, they never again returned to idolatry since
for us today:
- do you live as if God does not exist all week except Sunday morning once in a while?
- be real honest with you
- Jer. 10.10 “but Yahweh is the true God”
- is Jesus Yahweh? (Acts 3.13)
- Jesus himself said he had a God (Rev 3.12)
- if Jesus is not Yahweh, then you should not worship him
- idolatry is worshiping someone in Yahweh’s place
- golden calf wasn’t a new God, but a new way to worship the invisible God (Ex 32.4-5)
- if you are worried Jesus won’t get the worship…don’t...every Sunday hundreds of millions of Christians rise early to praise him as God
concluding points:
- Yahweh is the living, powerful, wise, genius creator at whose wrath the nations tremble. He is the one who controls the waters, clouds, lightning, rain, wind. He is great, powerful, and to be feared. He is the inheritance of God’s people. Worship God, he is worthy.
- truth matters, our current cultural climate devalues truth saying that being nice is all that matters…I’m sure there were many nice idol worshipers, but God was still offended at such behavior as we can see over and over in the Scriptures. Truth matters. Love matters. Let’s do both, and not just fall into the mold set for us by our culture.
Matthew 4:1 The spirit is not a person rather a thing. Right in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:2, we see that the spirit is the creative, animating power or divine influence of God. The gift of holy spirit bestowed upon those of faith is God’s supernatural empowerment designed to help believers to know and do the will of God.
God is not lead by the spirit rather He leads others with the spirit including his son. Jesus walked perfectly his meekness and obedience to the spirit’s leading.
Mark 1:12 the spirit drives him but does not force him It guided him!
Luke 4:18 consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
Acts 10:38 he was anointed with holy spirit and power
John 1:19-36 Each record of John he talks about Jesus baptizing with spirit which has a different purpose
Acts 2:4, 33
Luke 11:9-13 faith that we have this empowerment, willingness to accept its leading and aggressiveness asks, seeks, knocks
John 16:13 the spirit will guide you not just teach you if you are willing to be guided.
John 14:12 in the context of teaching about the spirit he makes this statement
Psalm 29:1 and 2 the purpose of the spirit is help with reconciling the world and to glorify Yahweh
Colossians 1:9-12 our aim as Christians is perseverance and perfection - Mary
The reason games are fun is the possibility of winning. We often measure success and failure by what we accomplish.
Isaiah 38:16-ff
Hebrews 3:1-19
Hebrew 11:13-16 - Ezekiel 14 Noah, Daniel and Job
On July 4, 1952, at the age of 34, Florence Chadwick attempted to become the first woman to swim 21 miles across the Catalina Channel, from Catalina Island to California coast. The ocean was ice cold, the fog was so thick that she could hardly see the support boats that followed her, and sharks prowled around her. Several times, her support crew used rifles to drive away the sharks. While Americans watched on television, she swam for hours. Her mother and her trainer, who were in one of the support boats, encouraged her to keep going. However, after 15 hours and 55 minutes, with only a half mile to go, she felt that she couldn't go on, and asked to be taken out of the water.
"Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I know I could have made it." The fog had made her unable to see her goal, and it had felt to her like she was getting nowhere. Two months later, she tried again. The fog was just as dense, but this time she made it. After 13 hours, 47 minutes, and 55 seconds, she reached the California shore, breaking a 27-year-old record by more than two hours and becoming the first woman every to complete the swim.
Philippians 4:4-9
Thankful – Horatio Spafford “it is well song” stop the negativeness and the complaining
Humble – God centered not self centered
Involved not with the world but with the church
Naturalize – Naturalization ceremony stay committed to God daily
Kingdom – finish line
RedemptionRomans 3:19-24 We have redemption in Christ by grace, a gift of God.
Galatians 1:3-5 We have been rescued out of this present evil age.
Colossians 1:13 and 14 Rescued from the domain of darkness
1 Peter 1:18-25 The price paid for redemption was the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 1:7 -14; 4:30 The day of our full redemption is yet to come.
Romans 8:23 We enjoy redemption now, but there is also a future redemption when Christ returns.
Luke 21:20-28 When Jesus returns, complete redemption will be realized.RighteousnessRomans 1:16-18 The righteousness of God is revealed in the Scriptures.
Romans 3:10, 21-26 Righteousness is a gift through Christ.
Romans 4:1-5 Righteousness was credited to Abraham because of faith and grace.
Romans 5:17-21 We accept this righteousness by faith.
Galatians 5:5 We wait for the hope of righteousness. We are righteousness now, but not until Christ returns will the fullness of our righteousness be realized.God’s Child1 John 2:28-3:3 The righteous ones are the sons of God now.
3:4-10 Simple truth is set forth so we can easily discern if we are the children of God.
You are what God made you to be.
Romans 8:23 – 25, 28-39
I Thessalonians 4:13 There are those who have no hope. For people without hope of a future resurrection, grief and sorrow can be great. If when you die there is nothing else, then all we have to live for is the 70-80 years we have in this life. However, we do not have to live in this life without hope. Our hope begins to be realized at the day of Christ’s return, when the dead are raised to life.
I Thessalonians 4:14-18
John 5:24-29 Jesus spoke of this resurrection to life. This day is coming. It is still future, but a time is coming when those who have died will be raised to life again.
John 6:39-40; 43-44; 54 Jesus will raise up those who believe on the last day. This teaching is simple. We have faith in Jesus today. We live by faith now, and we have the promise of eternal life. If we die before he returns, then we will be raised to life on the last day.
This is our hope. This has always been the hope for the people of God. Acts 24:14-15; Daniel 12:1-2; Ezekiel 37:1-14.
When a person dies, he or she goes to the grave (Hebrew sheol; Greek hades). This is not necessarily a physical location, but rather it is the state of being dead. It is gravedom. In this state, there is no life. It is death. Ecclesiastes 9:4-5, 10.
Psalms 49:6-15 Man cannot redeem himself from the power of Sheol. A redeemer is needed.
I Corinthians 15:1-19 Some may say that Christ was not raised from the dead, but over 500 eyewitnesses saw the resurrected Christ. If Christ was not raised from the dead, our faith is vain.
I Corinthians 15:20-28
The resurrection has an order − Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming.
I Corinthians 15:29-49
There is a spiritual resurrected body, a new life.
I Corinthians 15:50-58
The dead will be raised at the last trump. We have a true hope. It is real. Our faith is not in vain, but we can be steadfast in our faith, knowing that God will bring to pass this promise on the last day.
Colossians 1:1-4, 26 – “Saints” (in Greek hagios) translated “holy” 161 times and “saints” 61 times. Who are the saints?
Romans 1:6 and 7 Called of Jesus Christ, beloved of God
1 Corinthians 1:2 - Sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling God makes us saints through Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 This calling to holiness is by His grace, not our works.
1 Corinthians 6: 11 We were washed in the blood of Jesus in order to become holy.
Hebrew 10:10 - By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
2 Corinthians 1:1
The word hagios is not used in the epistle of Galatians.
Ephesians 1:1-4; 2:1-10
Ephesians 4:17-24 Your new self has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. You are not the same! You
have a new you!
Colossians 1:1 The epistles are written to saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus, not to unbelievers. The Word of God is written for
believers.
Colossians 1:19-23 We are now reconciled through Christ so that we may be presented before God as holy ones, blameless, beyond
reproach (that cannot be called into account, unreproveable,unaccused).
Colossians 3:1-17 Live like saints.
Philippians 3:4-17 Paul is the example we are to follow.
1Corinthians 5:8-16 We are to be imitators of Paul who was an imitator of Christ.
1Corinthains 10:31-11:1 Imitator of Paul just as he was of Christ
Acts 161-4 The decrees decided upon at Jerusalem stated that the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised.
1Corinthians 9:19-27 I become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
Matthew 10:37-39 All or nothing walk
Acts 16:5-7 The spirit of Jesus, the spirit of God, the spirit of truth, holy spirit − all are different names for the same thing. Jesus is the head of the church, and he directs his followers.
10 Immediately, they responded to the direction given.
Acts 5:20; 8:26-29; 9:6 and 11; 10:20; and 12:17
13 Paul was constantly out and about and looking for opportunity to speak the Gospel.
14 The Lord opened her heart − the only way it works!
18 The authority of the name of Jesus Christ is undeniable.
25 The level of commitment and focus provides a powerful example.
30 The way God reaches people is supernatural.
40 Philippians 4:10-13 “I can do all things through Christ….”
Kingdom as Reward 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 - Promise to David
Daniel 7:13-14, 27 - Daniel’s vision
Matthew 5:5; 6:10; - Revelation 5:9-10; 11:15
Kingdom as GospelMatthew 3:2 - John the Baptist preached the Kingdom.
Matthew 4:17, 23; 9:35 - Jesus preached the Kingdom.
Matthew 10:5-7 - The twelve preached the Kingdom.
Matthew 16:21-23 - The Kingdom message is not the same as the cross.
Acts 8:12; 28:30-31 - Still preaching the Kingdom after Jesus’ resurrection
2 Timothy 1:7-11 - Immortality comes from the gospel.
Kingdom as Lifestyle Matthew 6:33 - Sermon on the Mount mentions Kingdom 9x.
Kingdom events
o Coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-9)
o Resurrection (Isaiah 25:6-9; Ezekiel 37:1-13)
o Outpouring of God’s spirit (Isaiah 32:14-18; Ezekiel 39:25-29)
o New covenant ratified (Jeremiah 31:31-40)
Hebrews 6:4-5 - Tasted the powers of the age to come
Hebrews 8:7-13; 10:14-22 - The new way of relating to God and living as the people of God is now in effect. (Otherwise we still would need to keep the Law.)
We are the citizens of the Kingdom who look forward to the coming of the Kingdom while preaching the message about the Kingdom and testifying to its beauty and wholeness by the way we live − from how we do our jobs to how we do marriage to how we treat each other here at church. We are a prophetic community who represent the future of humanity as signposts of what is to come.
Acts 2:4 The day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended marked the beginning of the church age and the beginning of the last days of the age.
John 4:24 and 25 The spirit provides unparalleled ability to worship.
John 14:15-24 The holy spirit is Christ living in us.
Ephesians 2:17-22 The church has become the temple of God, so we are able to worship God in a manner never before available. John 14:15-23 Christ is in us. Colossians 1:27Gregory A. Boyd in his book Present Perfect (Finding God in the Now), wrote: “remaining awake to God’s presence in the present moment is the single most important task of the Christian life and that no spiritual discipline is more foundational or transforming than this one.Isaiah 38:19 and 20 The single most important thing a human can do is to worship God.
John 7:1 and 2 The Feast of Booths, also called the Feast of Ingathering, was at the end of the agricultural year (Exodus 23:16; 34:22) and was a time of great rejoicing.
John 7:37-39 The spirit will cause spiritual life to flow out of us.
Philippians 2:12 and 13 God is at work within you to will and do of His good pleasure. Thomas Kelly in His book A Testament of Devotion says: “In this humanistic age, we suppose man is the initiator and God is the responder, but the Living Christ within us is the initiator, and we are the responders.” “He is the center and source of action, not the end-point of thought.”John 14:16-18; 16:12-14 The spirit is our teacher.
1 Corinthians 2: 8-16 We have the mind of Christ.
Proverbs 2:3-5 Seeking is important.
Luke 24:49; Ephesians 1:19; 3:20; Colossians 1:11 We have power.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
In the time of Moses, the people were required to give their firstborn − both human and animal. Remember the Levites took the place of the firstborn children. So that the Levites could serve God, the children of Israel gave tithes of all, that is 10% of all, and always were to give the first fruit. God got the best rather than the leftovers. They also gave of their time. Each week, they observed the Sabbath, and three times a year they had a weeklong feast and other special days of observance. God was not to be the last activity or the afterthought; rather, God was to be first in everything all of the time.
Acts 4:32-36 The believers shared a common mind, an open consistent fellowship, and were generous.
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira threatened the purity and commitment of the church.
12-16 One would think that the situation would have had a negative impact, but the opposite happened.
Acts 19:13-20 Again, the opposite of what one would expect happened.
Acts 5:17 and 18 Jealousy is an extremely powerful motivation which inspires unlimited evil.
19 When God is on your side, no prison can hold you in.
20 The mission of the church is exceptionally clear when we have eyes to see.
24 The bad guys were greatly perplexed. Really! What can anyone do to stop the movement of God?
29 Their boldness was supernaturally driven.
33-39 Gamaliel presented sound reasoning which we too must consider.
42 Their commitment and passion provide the example we should follow.
Acts 2:42-47 Their lifestyle was evidence of their faith (James 2:14-26).
Common - It is evident that John possessed property, which he retained (John 19:27). Jesus did not command them to give up their property into a common stock, nor did the apostles (Acts 5:4).
Exodus 13:1, 2, 11-16 The firstborn belonged to God (Numbers 3:11-13, 40-51).
Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Lev. 23:10 Israel gave their first fruit.
2 Chronicles 31:5-12; Proverbs 3:5-10
Genesis 14:17-24 His attitude was one of thankfulness, respect, and a sincere desire to give God due honor. The sacrifice of giving was as worship of God.
Genesis 28:12-15, 20-22; Deuteronomy 14:22 and 23
Exodus 16:23-29; 20:8-11; 31:14-16; 35:2 They gave their time with at less one day a week devoted to Yahweh.
Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:10-16 Three times a year, they gave a full week.
Acts 4:32-37 They gave what they did not need. Levites according to the Law were not to own land, so Barnabas was doing what he should have been doing all along.
Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira brought evil into the church which had not been there.
Acts 5:12-16 We can look for the same today because God and our Lord have not changed.
Acts 3:1 – They went out looking for an opportunity to speak on behalf of their Lord. Seldom do we see something for which we are not looking.
4 – Peter locked in and took control, just as he had seen his Lord do so many times before this. They are walking, Christlike walking, in the confidence and power of God.
6 – Peter had the power and authority to use the name of Jesus Christ. Expectations and faith have everything to do with healing.
Mark 16:17 and 18
13 – Peter deferred the glory to God and used the situation as an opportunity to witness.
15 – Peter identified Jesus. Notice he never said that Jesus was God or the third part of the Trinity.
16 – Faith in the name is why the man was made whole.
18 – All His prophets - Acts 17:2,3; 26:22,23; 28:23; Luke 24:26,27,44; 1Cor 15:3,4; 1Peter 1:10,11; Rev. 19:10
19 – “Times of refreshing” - this is that time that all the prophets and apostles have written about, the time when our Lord the Messiah will return.
21 – “Restoration” means to restore to its former state. “All His holy prophets” refers to the Old Testament. Apostles wrote the new (2Peter 3:1 and 2).
22 – Deuteronomy 18:15-18
25 – Genesis 22:18
26 – Peter calls him “Servant.”
4:6 – Annas and Caiaphas are the same men responsible for the torture and death of Jesus.
10 – Peter receives their questions as an invitation to witness.
13 – Their boldness is extraordinary.
16 – Resistance to the Gospel has always been an issue.
19 – Peter’s boldness is again apparent.
29 – They prayed for boldness.
