Giving is a vital part of Christian living. The godly attitude of giving influences every
aspect of life, including finances.
Genesis 14:17-20 Abraham's response to God's blessings was the tithe. His attitude was
one of thankfulness, respect, and a sincere desire to give God due honor. The tithe was a
sacrifice of giving as worship to God.
Hebrews 7:4 Choicest spoils are the top of the heap, the first fruits.
Genesis 14:21-24 "I have lift up mine hand" - expression signifying full and complete
surrender as a servant to God.
Genesis 28:12-15, 20-22 Jacob's response to God's promised blessings establishes the
significance of the tithe.
Deuteronomy 14:22 and 23 Over 400 years after Abraham first tithed, it was
incorporated into the Law. The tithe taught the people to reverence God.
Numbers 18:21 The Levites lived from the tithe provided by the other tribes of Israel
(Numbers 18:21-26; Deuteronomy 10:8 & 9; 14:24-29)
2 Chronicles 31:4-10 When they were spiritually minded, they tithed, and God provided
an abundance for His people.
Proverbs 3:5-10 Health and prosperity are linked to the tithe. However, the correct
reason and attitude for tithing are to be a proper acknowledgment due God for His
blessings with an attitude of reverence and thankfulness.
Malachi 3:7-9 Man always has the freewill choice to believe or reject God. They were
cursed with a curse because they refused to believe God.
Malachi 3:10-18
Matthew 23:23 Jesus did not change the tithe in his teaching, but rather he added insight
into the reason and attitude for tithing.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 They were a great example of believers who gave with a heart of
love and commitment to God.
Verse 7 Grace emphasizes the attitude behind the giving.
Verses 8-11 He did not command them because he wanted their giving to be done as
a manifestation of genuine love.
2 Corinthians 9:5 The word "bounty" could have been translated blessing. The blessing
is referring to their promised giving. The word "covetousness" in the context of this verse
is contrasted with a blessed, generous gift and implies giving out of compulsion,
grudgingly because of the giver's greediness.
Verses 6-15 All giving, whether it be the tithe or sharing of our abundance, is to be the
manifestation of a heart of love, thankfulness, respect, and honor to God. We should never
give with a heart of reluctance, sorrow, guilt, or out of compulsion.
Philippians 4:14-20
Creeds
Definition of a creed:
1. a brief authoritative formula or religious belief
2. a set of fundamental beliefs, also : a guiding principle
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the grave.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Why creeds? What is their purpose?
The Shema in Scripture
What is the Shema? Deut 6.4-9
Other related Scriptures that speak of God's absolute oneness
Ex 3.13-16
Ex 19.16-20; 20.1-6, 18-21
Dt 4.31-39
Is 37.16-20; 43.10-13; 44.24; 45.5-7, 12, 18; 46.9
Zechariah 14.9
The Shema in Jewish Tradition
-Full Shema includes Deut 6.4-9; Deut 11.13-21; Num 15.37-41
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 11:13-21
13 "It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. 15 "He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 16 "Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. 17 "Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. 18 "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when yu sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.
Numbers 15:37-41
37 The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, 38 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 "It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. 41 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God."
-Said twice daily: when one rises and when one reclines...i.e. morning and night
-Children are taught the shema as soon as they are able to learn it
-The reciting of the first verse of the "Shema'" is called the acceptance of the yoke of the kingship of God" (Ber. ii. 5).
-Further, as written in a Torah scroll, the letters "Ayin" and "Daled" of the first verse are enlarged -- encoded to spell out the Hebrew word Aid -- "witness." When we say the Shema, we are testifying to the Oneness of God.
-Teffilin
-Mezuzah
The Shema and Jewish martyrs
"It is the last word of the dying in his confession of faith. It was on the lips of those who suffered and were tortured for the sake of the Law. R. Akiba patiently endured while his flesh was being torn with iron combs, and died reciting the "Shema'." He pronounced the last word of the sentence, "Eḥad" (one) with his last breath (Ber. 61b). During every persecution and massacre, from the time of the Inquisition to the slaughter of Kishinef, "Shema' Yisrael" have been the last words on the lips of the dying."
The great second century Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Akiva (second century) loved God so much, that he taught Torah despite the Roman law forbidding it. When the Romans found out, they sentenced him to a painful death. They took a large iron comb and began to scrape off his flesh. When Rufus--"Tyrannus Rufus," as he is called in Jewish sources--who was the pliant tool of Hadrian's vengeance, condemned the venerable Akiba to the hand of the executioner, it was just the time to recite the Shema. Full of devotion, Akiva recited his prayers calmly, though suffering agonies; and when Rufus asked him whether he was a sorcerer, since he felt no pain, Akiva replied, "I am no sorcerer; but I rejoice at the opportunity now given to me to love my God 'with all my life,' seeing that I have hitherto been able to love Him only 'with all my means' and 'with all my might,'" and with the word "One!" he expired (Yer. Ber. ix. 14b, and somewhat modified in Bab. 61b).
Seth Mandel, spoke at the massive pro-Israel rally in Washington DC in April 2002. He told the following story:
In the Sbarro Pizza bombing which killed 15 people in Jerusalem, five members of a Dutch family were killed. One was a 4-year-old boy named Avraham Yitzhak. As he was lying on the ground -- bleeding, burning and dying -- he said to his father, "Abba, please help me. Save me." His father reached over and held his hand. Together they said the words of the Shema.
Jesus and the Shema
The background to Mark 12.28-34
Jesus had just overturned the tables in the Temple the day before
The chief priests and scribes were actively seeking a way to destroy him
When Jesus arrived at the Temple the chief priests, scribes, and elders questioned him
By what authority do you do these things?
Jesus told the parable of the wicked tenants
A man planted a vineyard and rented it out
At harvest he sent a slave to receive some of the produce
They beat him up and sent him back empty handed
He sent another
They wounded him and treated him shamefully
He sent another
That one they killed
So he sent many others
They beat some and killed others
Last of all he sent his beloved son thinking they will respect him
They said, "this is the heir, come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be hours! They killed him and threw him out of the vineyard
What will the owner of the vineyard do?
He will come and destroy the vine--growers and give it to others
Mark 12.12 And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.
Pharisees and Herodians came to trap him in a statement "should we pay taxes to Ceasar?"
Mark 12.17 And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.
Some Sadducees came and asked him a question about resurrection
When a man dies, the law teaches that his brother should marry the widow
There were 7 brothers and the oldest died so the next one married his wife but then he died and so on until all 7 had married her
In the resurrection whose wife will she be?
Jesus answers: " when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."
Mark 12.28-34
- Some Observations
-- 1. The Jewish scribe did not believe that either Jesus or the holy spirit was God
-- 2. The scribe plainly understands the Shema to mean, "He [Yahweh] is one, and there is no one else besides him"
-- 3. Jesus agrees with the scribe on this understanding by saying to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
- Conclusion
-- If the Jewish scribe did not believe in the Trinity and Jesus agreed with the scribe on his definition of God then Jesus was a biblical unitarian--he believed that Yahweh alone is God.
Jesus taught that there was one and only one God (John 5.43-44)
- John 5.43-44 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
Jesus' God is our God--the Father (John 20.17)
- John 20.16-17 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
Jesus denied that he was God (Mark 10.17-18)
- Mark 10.17-18 17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
More Statements by Jesus about God
- "Truly, truly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of himself" (Jn 5.19)
- "I can do nothing on My own initiative" (Jn 5.30)
- "I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me." (Jn 8.28)
- "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak...the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." (Jn 12.49-50)
- "The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works." (Jn 14.10)
- "The Father is greater than I" (Jn 14.28)
Jesus taught that the Father is the only true God (John 17.3)
- John 17.1-3 1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you, 2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, that to all whom you have given him, he may give eternal life. 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The rest of the New Testament on God's Oneness
- The only God is eternal, immortal, and invisible (1 Tim. 1.17)
- There is one God and one mediator (1 Tim. 2.5)
- God is the only Sovereign who alone possesses immortality whom no man has seen or can see (1 Tim. 6.15-16)
- for us there is but one God, the Father (1 Cor. 8.6)
- God is one (Galatians 3.20)
- There is one God and Father of all (Eph. 4.6)
- Even the demons know that God is one (James 2.19)
The Challenge
Why not adopt the creed of Jesus, the central creed of Israel, the Shema as your creed? Knowing who God is and loving him are the foundation of everything.
Romans 3:29-30
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Deuteronomy 6.4-5
Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:11-16 Human maturity and spiritual maturity match up and are
connected. A spiritually mature person is never an immature human. Chronological
age and maturity are often not the same. Many who are adults chronologically are at
the child or infant stage of maturity. Years of Christian involvement do not ensure
maturity either.
Hebrews 5:11-14 Jesus is the primary example of a mature adult, and his teachings
provide the doctrine he believed that made him the way he was.
Matthew 5:1-ff The beatitudes are the mature way to think which motivates the right
way to act.
Matthew 5:21 & 22 Mature people do not call others "fool," "you good for nothing,"
nor have outbursts of anger. The immature allow their feelings to be hurt and act out
on others.
Matthew 5:23 & 24 Mature people do the necessary hard tasks to reconcile with a
brother. Children deny, ignore, or avoid reconciliation and rather care about
themselves only.
Matthew 5:25 & 26 Mature people do not procrastinate when there is a problem
with other people. They go to the person, speak up, and lovingly seek reconciliation.
Matthew 5:27-30 Mature people do the hard, disciplined work to avoid sin. Children
have the inability to project for the future. This shortsightedness, therefore, often
causes them to act foolishly and impetuously. They do not acknowledge something
is wrong with their lives, nor do they take the responsibility to change.
Matthew 5:33-37 Mature people have integrity. Children swear to God and lie.
Matthew 5:38-44 Mature people do not retaliate, but rather they understand how
evil works and therefore avoid being pulled into it. Immature people cannot stand any
injustice or bad that others do to them because it causes much pain within them.
Matthew 5:43-48 Highly developed minds are able to love their enemies; these are
only those who have truly died to themselves.
Matthew 6:1-18 The mature do what they do for God, not the approval or
recognition of others.
THINGS THAT BUILD MATURITY
Repentance, the acceptance of the Lordship of Christ, and holy spirit. John 14:18
Receive right doctrine about God and Christian living.
Receive inner healing and the truth regarding the lies we believe.
Belong to a family where we can receive and give life. Receive mentoring and
provide mentoring for others.
Deal with habitual sin and demons
Galatians 5:1 The freedom we have in Christ is from the tyranny of the
flesh and the choke of the law.
Verse 4 We are now connected with the new covenant, not the old
which is the law.
Verse 5 This succinctly states the Christian walk.
Verse 6 Faith working through love is the correct way; anything else is
according to the flesh and causes bondage and death.
Galatians 5:13 Jesus illustrated the Christian walk at the last supper by
love serve one another. The freedom we have is for this purpose and is
only maintained as we obey.
Verse 14 The walk of the spirit is a walk in which one loves others as
oneself. The walk of the flesh is one in which the person loves himself.
Verse 15 Christians that walk by the flesh bite and devour one another.
Humanity's biggest problem is humanity.
Galatians 5:17 The word "flesh" can be used different ways and must
be understood in the context.
John 3:6 Jesus gives a clear distinction between flesh and spirit.
Romans 7:5, 18-25; Romans 8:1-13
1 Corinthians 5:5 Herein is a Christian man who decided it was good
to have sex with his father's wife, which could mean his own mother, if
not, his stepmother. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we have in our
flesh the knowledge of good and evil; howbeit, it is faulty. God did not
design mankind to have the knowledge of good and evil. In our flesh, we
think we can tell the difference between good and evil, but we cannot.
Galatians 5:18-21 The works of the flesh are centered in self and are the
manifestation of the inability rightly to discern good and evil.
Galatians 6:1-10 Loving others while dying to self is the way of Christ.
Romans 1:4 Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by the
resurrection from the dead.
Acts 2:22-36 The speaking in tongues was evidence of the spirit, and
the spirit was evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead. The
witness in the first century was regarding the resurrection.
Psalm 16:7-11 Peter quoted David from this psalm. Jesus was the
first and to date the only one resurrected from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:1-3 "According to the scriptures" refers to Psalm 16
Verses 4-8 They were eye witnesses of the resurrected Christ.
Verses 20-23 Christ is the first fruit, and we will also partake of the
fruit of the resurrection.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 When he returns, those of faith will be
raised up.
I John 2:28 and 29 We are to abide in him. A very simple, clear
statement of truth is everyone who practices righteousness is born of
Him.
1 John 3:1 KJV states "what manner of" and NASB "how great." The
Greek word means from what country, nation, or tribe. Could be
translated "behold what foreign kind of love." God's love is not found
naturally in Humanity. Smith translates "from what far realm?"
Verse 2 It must be experienced to be understood; with our present
faculties, we cannot conceive now.
Verses 3-10 To understand these verses rightly, we must
acknowledge the use of the Greek words and tenses that imply
continual action, habitual behavior.
Verses 11-19 The resurrection of Jesus Christ ensures our hope and,
if truly believed, impacts our lifestyle.
Luke 11:1 Our first prayer should be -- "Lord teach us to pray."
Verses 2-4 He provides a basic outline of things we should pray for daily.
Verses 5-10 The emphasis is not on God's unwillingness to answer, rather our willingness to ask. We must exercise free will and be persistent.
Verses 11-13 God will always give us what is the best for us.
Luke 18:1-8 We ought to pray and not lose heart. Prayer and faith are always connected.
Verses 9-17 He who humbles himself will be exalted. Genuine prayer is the act of a humble soul.
Matthew 21:12-17 The church should be a HOUSE OF PRAYER.
Verses 18-22 "All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Psalms 16:2 The great object of prayer is not any particular blessing or request, rather the Lord Himself. We are to seek the Blesser more than the blessing.
Verse 3 David delighted in the fellowship of other believers.
Verse 5 The cup given to David was -- "The LORD is the portion of my inheritance."
Verse 6 The lines that marked out the allotment of David's inheritance had indeed fallen unto pleasant places. David's share was the Lord.
Verse 11 The fullness of joy is found in His presence.
Jeremiah 7:1-26 We should not expect God to answer our prayers if we turn His house into a den of robbers.
Genesis 6:1-4 The people in Noah's day were concerned about making a name for themselves.
Genesis 11:1-9 The concern of these people was also to make a name for themselves. They preferred their own glory to God's honor.
Daniel 4:28-37 Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself. Life is to be about glorifying God not ourselves.
Isaiah 2:11-17 The pride of man will be humbled, and YAHWEH will be exalted.
Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man! Why would we desire the autographs of another human? Why is one person esteemed higher than another?
Psalms 46:1-11 He will be exalted. Will we exalt Him now?
Genesis 12:1-3 God gave Abraham a name.
2 Samuel 7:8-10; 1 Chronicles 17:1-8 God gave David a name.
Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23 God gave Jesus a name.
Luke 10:20 The only concern we should have about our name: is it written in heaven?
Revelation 3:1-6, 12 We want Jesus to confess our name before the Father.
1 Kings 17:1 Elijah is introduced as abruptly as Melchizedek.
1 Kings 16:29-34 Jezebel's father was the high priest for Baal.
Deuteronomy 11:16 and 17 - God warned Israel about idolatry.
I Kings 17:9 Zarephath belongs to Sidon where Jezebel's father is the king.
Verse 16 During God's judgment, He provides for His own, as He did with Israel while they were in Egypt.
1 Kings 17:24 No rain, ravens fed, flour and oil, raised the dead
1 Kings 18:17-46 God will not tolerate idolatry.
Malachi 4:1-6 The prediction is regarding his official, not personal, capacity. Elijah could not come back from the dead before Christ was raised.
Luke 1:16 and 17 The spirit and power of Elijah, but not literally Elijah
John 1:21 John stated he was not Elijah. He knew that he did not exhaustively fulfill all that is involved in the prophecy in Malachi 4:5. As Moses represents the law, so Elijah represents the prophets. The Jews misunderstood the prophecy to be literally Elijah.
Matthew 16:28-17:12 The Mount of Transfiguration is a vision in which they saw the Son of man coming in his Kingdom; then, Moses and Elijah will be there.
Matthew 17:13 Jesus stated he is coming and has come.
Revelation 11:1-14 May be referring to the same witnesses who will be future forerunners of the Messiah.
Malachi 4:5 The words "before the ...dreadful day of the Lord" show that John cannot be exclusively the fulfillment, for he came before the day of Christ's coming in grace, not before his coming in terror.
Malachi 4:1; Joel 2:31
Ephesians 1:15-19 Open the Eyes of our Understanding
There is much going on in the world that we can't see with our physical
eyes. Spiritual insight comes from a heart prepared to receive the spiritual
truth.
I Corinthians 2:9-14 In the world today there are many things going on
around us that cannot be understood with the normal physical faculties
to perceive. There are things that our five senses cannot detect. The spirit
of God is needed to understand things in the spiritual realm.
Throughout the Bible there are examples where God revealed spiritual
things happening behind the scenes. In these unique instances, the
Scriptures reveal to us situations where God opened a window to the
spiritual world.
II Kings 6:8-23 Elisha prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened so that
he could understand that those with him were greater than those with the
king of Aram.
I Peter 5:8 Satan or the Devil is God's arch enemy. He is called our
adversary. He, as a roaring lion, prowls around seeking someone to
devour. The Devil is real. His greatest method is his ability to go
unnoticed, pulling the strings behind the scenes.
II Corinthians 11:3 Deception is one of his greatest tactics. One type of
military strategy is secrecy or diversion. If you can go undetected into the
camp of your enemy you can gain a great advantage.
The Scriptures warn us of Satan's blinding tactics, deceiving unsuspecting
minds.
II Corinthians 4:3-4; Acts 26:18 Satan has done a pretty good job of
systematically blinding our modern world of spiritual truth. In fact, not
only do many people today not believe in spiritual matters, there are
many that don't even believe in the devil himself.
Today we carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel and
bringing deliverance to those in darkness.
Ephesians 6:10-12 The spiritual powers, the dark forces of this world,
are real. Let us follow the admonition of Scripture and stand firm against
the schemes of the devil.
What do most people today think happens at death?
1. stats from Kingdom Ready
2. six minute video clip (click here to watch the video)
What does the Bible say happens at death?
1. No activity in the grave (Ecclesiastes 9.5-6, 10; Psalm 6.4-5; 146.4)
2. Death is like sleep (Acts 13.36; 1 Corinthians 15.17-20)
3. tons of death is like sleep verses (click here)
Why do people believe that at death their soul departs?
"When the body died, parts of its soul known as ka (body double) and the ba (personality) would go to the Kingdom of the Dead. While the soul dwelt in the Fields of Aaru, Osiris demanded work as payback for the protection he provided. Statues were placed in the tombs to serve as substitutes for the deceased.
Arriving at one's reward in afterlife was a demanding ordeal, requiring a sin-free heart and the ability to recite the spells, passwords, and formulae of the Book of the Dead. In the Hall of Two Truths, the deceased's heart was weighed against the Shu feather of truth and justice taken from the headdress of the goddess Ma'at.[6] If the heart was lighter than the feather, they could pass on, but if it were heavier they would be devoured by the demon Ammit.
Egyptians also believed that being mummified was the only way to have an afterlife. Only if the corpse had been properly embalmed and entombed in a mastaba, could the dead live again in the Fields of Yalu and accompany the Sun on its daily ride. Due to the dangers the afterlife posed, the Book of the Dead was placed in the tomb with the body." (Wikipedia, Life After Death)
"In his Myth of Er, Plato describes souls being judged immediately after death and sent either to the heavens for a reward or underground for punishment. After their respective judgments have been enjoyed or suffered, the souls are reincarnated.
The Greek god Hades is known in Greek mythology as the king of the underworld, a bleak place in between the place of torment and the place of rest, where most souls live after death. Some heroes of Greek legend are allowed to visit the underworld." (Wikipedia, Life After Death)
Socrates - story about taking the hemlock poison
"And what is that which is termed death, but this very separation and release of the soul from the body?" (Plato, in Phaedo)
Aristotle->Alexander the Great
"The belief in the immortality of the soul came to the Jews from contact with Greek thought and chiefly through the philosophy of Plato, its principal exponent, who was led to it through Orphic and Eleusinian mysteries in which Babylonian and Egyptian views were strangely blended" (The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1901).
1. common phrases used to talk about death
a. passed away, taken by God, went on, became an angel, looking down on me, departed, on to a better place
What is the solution to death? Resurrection.
1. one day those who sleep in the dust will awake (Daniel 12.2; John 5.28-29)
2. this happens when Jesus returns (1 Corinthians 15.20-23)
How does Jesus' resurrection relate to our resurrection?
1. Jesus died, remained dead for three days, and then was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15.3-4)
2. Because Jesus was raised we can be comforted in knowing that we too will be raised (1 Thessalonians 4.13-19)
Matthew 5:1-3 "Poor in spirit" is a metaphoric way of saying the humble.
The first thing Jesus taught was that the humble inherit the kingdom.
James 4:1-10 He strives on his own to provide for himself and causes
unlimited destruction. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the
humble. The humble understand that they cannot live life by their own
terms with their own ability. The devil devours and is prideful!
1 Peter 5:5-10 Anxiety is a signal that you are doing things on your own
without faith in God.
Matthew 6:9-15 Prayer is the manifestation of a humble person.
"Our Father" makes clear our relationship with Almighty God.
Deuteronomy 10:14, 15, 17
"Who is in heaven" implies His almightiness, superiority,
sovereignty, and authority.
"Hallowed be your name" speaks to His character holy, holy, holy.
It is also a form of praise which is always a great part of prayer for
the humble soul.
"Give us this day our daily bread" shows that we need His help to
have all that is needed this day to live a godly life. The prayer is a
daily one.
"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"
indicates that we sin and need forgiveness daily. Forgiving others is
our way of life which we cannot do on our own ability.
"Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil" implies
that temptation and evil will overwhelm us, but we are instructed to
seek His help.
1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9 We can be victorious over temptation
if we depend upon God.
Colossians 1:9-12 The help that God will supply is all we need.
A) MOSAIC COVENANT
Exodus 20:1-17 In the third month after leaving Egypt, Israel came to the mountain in the wilderness of Sinai where God spoke directly to all the people. Everyone heard the Ten Commandments, so no one could ever justifiably plead ignorance. They form the core of righteous behavior, the essence of the right relationship with Yahweh and humanity.
Matthew 22:36-40 These two summarize the whole of the law and the prophets, but they do not diminish the unchanging specifics written therein.
Exodus 20:1-3 God, whose proper name is Yahweh, reveals Himself through the books of Moses and the prophets which are contained in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD (Yahweh) is our God, the LORD (Yahweh) is one!"
TEN COMMANDMENTS
You shall have no other gods before Me
You shall not make for yourself an idol
You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain
Observe the Sabbath day
Honor your father and mother
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet
B) THE TABERNACLE
Exodus 25:8 God's initial communication having to do with the tabernacle explains one primary purpose for it: "...that I may dwell among them."
C) PURPOSE OF THE LAW
- Revealed to the world that Yahweh is the one, true God - Romans 9:17
- Proclaimed His personality - Exodus 34:6 and 7
- Defined sin and explained its consequences - Romans 3:20; 7:7
- Showed man was guilty before God and needed a Savior - Romans 3:19
- Pointed toward Christ as the means to receive God's righteousness through grace - Romans 3:21-26
- Illustrated that sacrifice is necessary for remission of sin - The book of Hebrews
- Held mankind in until Christ; provided a moral code and strict governor - Galatians 3:19-25
- Provided a teacher till Christ - Galatians 3:24
The old covenant was a type for the new covenant and provided a shadowy pattern and example.
Matthew 2:1-6 The knowledge regarding the Kingdom was so common
that the evil King Herod knew that the King and Messiah (Christ) were one
and the same.
Luke 23:37-43 The criminal hanging on the cross near him understood
the Kingdom. Today, because of the infiltration and permeation of false
doctrine; many know nothing about the King or the Kingdom. Due to the
unknowing acceptance of Platonic doctrine regarding the immortality of
the soul, most believe death is the beginning of eternal life in heaven.
Acts 1:6 On the day of his ascension, the question on their mind was,
"Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
Luke 18:31-34 They did not understand the sacrificial Messiah. Even his
most educated disciples did not comprehend that he had to suffer and die,
nor did they grasp what it would accomplish.
All the prophets wrote about the reign of the King and the Kingdom, so
there are many verses regarding the subject. Yet, there are only a few
vague Scriptures regarding the suffering of the Messiah (Psalms 2:1 and 2;
22:1-18; 69:1-ff; Micah 5:1; Isaiah 53:1-ff; Zechariah 13:7). The
understanding of these verses was veiled. Central to Israel's belief system
was the sacrifice of innocent animals for the sins of the people, but no one
understood that these sacrifices were connected to the Messiah and served
as a type for what he would do.
Isaiah 53:1 "Every" Christian knows today that this chapter is referring
to Jesus Christ because the New Testament tells us so.
1 Peter 2:22-24 Allusion to Isaiah 53; see also Matthew 8:17
1 Peter 1:10-12 Neither the prophets nor the angels could grasp what
they were reading because God kept it secret.
Revelation 9:1-ff These prophesies are going to come to pass but are
now an enigma to us.
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 A mystery does not mean the information is not
provided rather that the understanding of the information is hidden.
Ephesians 3:1-9 The revelation regarding the mystery was revealed to
the Apostle Paul.
Romans 16:25-27 Paul reveals the mystery by using the words of the
prophets. He explains plainly that which was veiled previously.
Genesis 1:1 God is the only truly eternal being without beginning and end. Isaiah 57:15 states that He inhabits eternity.
Revelation 4:8 says: "WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."
Exodus 3:14 and 15 "I am" denotes His eternity and immutability. "YAHWEH" has the Hebrew root word hayah that was translated "I am" in verse 14.
Isaiah 44:6 "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me."
Genesis 1:2 Before the earth, there were darkness and water.
Verse 3 The word "God" is used 26 times in 31 verses for emphasis.
Verse 5 On the first day, God created day and night − our reckoning of time.
Isaiah 57:15 says that God inhabits eternity which means He is bigger than time! 1 Kings 8:27 and 2 Chronicles 2:6 say the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. He is bigger than space.
Genesis 1:13 The word "kind" is used ten times in this first chapter. We best understand it to mean genus. Everything is after its kind with seed within itself.
First day -- light (time)
Second day -- expanse (space)
Third day -- dry land and seas, vegetation
Fourth day -- sun, moon, and stars
Fifth day -- water creatures and birds
Sixth day -- animals and man
Seventh day -- God rested
Genesis 1:26 Every other living organism was according to its kind, but man was created in the image and likeness of God. In chapter five, after the fall of man, we see everyone is after Adam's kind.
Gender was never mentioned before. With mankind, God specifically states "male and female."
Only man was given dominion in God's creation. This dominion is expressly stated to be over all other living creatures: sky, sea, and land creatures.
In English, the pronoun "I" can be replaced with "we" or "our" when used by sovereigns. He presents Himself as sovereign because He is about to give man dominion or sovereignty on earth.
Genesis 1:29 Neither man nor animals were carnivorous.
Genesis 2:1-4 The completion of creation
Genesis 2:16 and 17 Only one restriction, which provided man with the opportunity to exercise his free will to love God by obedience to His command
Genesis 3:1 The word "serpent" speaks to his craftiness and not his appearance.
Genesis 3:2-7 The nakedness was not new, but their perspective was new because now they had knowledge of evil.
Genesis 3:8 Hid from God
Genesis 3:10 Fear of God
Genesis 3:12 We see an irreverent attitude toward God and shifting the blame. Adam blamed God and the woman.
Genesis 3:13 She blamed the devil.
Genesis 3:19 Everything changed and will remain so until Jesus Christ comes back
Exodus 34:6-9 YAHWEH reveals Himself to Moses. He is
abounding in loving kindness.
Numbers 14:17-35 When Israel refused to enter the Promise Land,
Moses reminded God of His loving kindness. His loving kindness is
immense, but it also has limits when the people disregard and
disrespect Him.
Deuteronomy 5:1-10 The loving kindness of God is upon all men
simply because they are on His earth. However, He shows loving
kindness to those who love Him and judgment to those who reject
Him.
Nehemiah 9:13-28 The loving kindness that God continually
extended to Israel is extraordinary.
Psalms 57:9 & 10; 86:5, 15; 103:8, 11; 108:3 & 4; 111:4 & 5;
138:2; 145:8 & 9; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2
Romans 2:1-5 Firm confrontation because they were not God-like
in kindness
Luke 6:35 and 36
God is kind. We are to be godly; therefore, we are to be kind.
Kindness is to be a way of life giving to all people
The motivation cannot be recognition or favorable response (Matthew 6:1-3) because the instruction is to give kindness to the ungrateful and evil man.
Kindness often makes an indelible impact upon people and can cause people to want God
Ephesians 4:31-5:1 Be like God, and share kindness.
You can grow, and our church will grow light-years if this year we
give ourselves to the pursuit of loving kindness.
Luke 8:13 Throughout our lives, there will be times of temptation. Many people give in to temptation and fall away.
Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4 Jesus instructs us to pray daily with regard to temptations.
1 Corinthians 10:13 Temptations can be so powerful and deceiving that we conclude we cannot stand against them. We can lose faith and the heartiness (courage and energy) to withstand. We are especially susceptible to this fatalistic mind-set when we try to conquer temptation with our own limited ability.
James 1:2-4 The "wants" torment us and tempt us to fill our own desires, which most often are sinful.
James 1:5-12 We are richly rewarded when we withstand temptation.
James 1:13-21 Correctly identifying the temptation is fundamental, and bringing the Word of truth to it is how Jesus withstood the devil.
Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus provides the mold we are to follow in our own time of temptation.
James 1:22-25 We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Hebrews 2:17 and 18 Jesus went through all the things he did without sinning which means he knows how to withstand temptation. Also, now as our High Priest, he is willing and able to help us. "Succour" [succor] means run to help in the time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 "Boldly" is openly, frankly, without concealment, having free and fearless confidence. Finding the right person for the need at hand with the willingness to help is always a challenge. Jesus is the right and willing one for the job. The question then becomes: "Are we willing to ask for his help?"
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from temptations.
2 Peter 1:2, 20 and 21 The chapter begins and ends with placing great
emphasis upon the Scriptures.
(Matthew 17:1-9) The mount of transfiguration was a glimpse of the Son
of man coming in glory.
2 Peter 1:16-19 The prophecies do not give a perfect light, or they
would remove all obscurity, but they do shed light on objects which
would otherwise be entirely dark.
2 Peter 1:1-4 All things pertaining to life and godliness are found
through the true knowledge of Him.
The Scriptures contain the true knowledge of Him
We must be diligent workers of the Scriptures because there are many
false prophets and teachers (2 Peter 2:1- ff).
The only way to escape the corruption now and in the future is by
means of the divine nature which is revealed and made available
through the Scriptures. Psalms 119:11, 105, 162; Jeremiah 15:16; John
5:24; Philippians 2:16
Precious and magnificent promises have been granted to us; therefore,
we must accept them by faith and act accordingly.
2 Peter 1:5-8 Diligence must join together with our faith for faith
without works is dead according to James 2:14-26.
Moral excellence or virtue
Knowledge
Self control
Perseverance
Godliness
Brotherly kindness
Love
2 Peter 1:8 and 9 Our worse feelings are uselessness and
unfruitfulness which we often wrongly identify as boredom. The
converse are the great feelings of usefulness and fruitfulness.
2 Peter 2:10 Speaks about being diligent again as did verse 5. If you
practice these things, you will be useful, fruitful, and not fall.
2 Peter 2:11 Entrance into the eternal Kingdom
Matthew 6:19-34 If we are worried about material things rather than focused on God and His Kingdom, we have little faith.
Matthew 8:23-27 Fear rather than confidence in Christ causes us to be of little faith.
Matthew 14:22-33 Peter took his eyes off the Lord and started looking at the circumstances, which overwhelmed him.
Matthew 16:1-12 Failing to remember what the Lord had done caused them to have little faith.
Matthew 8:5-13 To have understanding, confidence, and trust in the authority of Christ causes one to have great faith.
Matthew 15:21-28 Unabashed, aggressive action without controlling is great faith.
Matthew 9:1-8 Their faith could be seen because of their actions. Faith has corresponding works according to James 2:14-26.
Romans 4:5-20 Abraham embraced the promise. In like manner, we are to keep our eyes on the promises, and we can do so by reading the Scriptures.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We walk by faith and not by sight.
Galatians 5:5 and 6 Spirit and faith work together. This year our theme is going to be on the holy spirit.
Hebrews 10:22-38 We are to hold onto our faith until the end.
1 Timothy 1:14-20 Do not become a shipwreck.
There are two destinations which await all humanity.
Daniel 12:1-2 Everlasting life or disgrace and everlasting contempt
Romans 2:5-8 Eternal life or wrath and indignation
John 5:28-29 Resurrection of life or resurrection of judgment
It is only through the Messiah, that mankind can receive eternal life. Without the work of Christ, all men are destined for death. But he made away out of certain destruction.
John 3:16; John 5:24 This is what it means to be "saved." We have been saved from certain, everlasting death.
Romans 5:12-14 Because of Adam's sin, all humanity is bound for death. Mankind, without Christ, are "dead men walking."
Psalms 49:6-9 No man can redeem his own soul. It does not matter how bad or how good you have been. You cannot redeem yourself from death.
Psalms 49:10-14 Many people live today with the philosophy: "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die."
There is nothing you can do in this life that will gain you entrance into eternal life. God needed to provide a savior. The psalmist put his hope in God. Psalms 49:15
The only way in which mankind can be redeemed from destruction is through the love, mercy, and grace of God.
Ephesians 2:1-8
When you recognize your absolute dependence on the grace and mercy of God and you submit yourself to His loving kindness, you then will find an intense desire to live for Him.
II Corinthians 5:14-15 -- The love of Christ controls us, compels us to live for Him!
Now, our actions should be compelled by love, provoked by mercy, and motivated by grace. We have been saved from destruction, but now we are bound for glory!
Great men of the Bible recognized that they were unworthy to receive the abundance of God's mercy and grace. They were humble men who walked, motivated from within by the loving kindness of God.
Paul: Ephesians 3:7-8; I Timothy 1:12-16
Moses: Exodus 3:11 "Who am I?"
David: I Chronicles 17:16-17 "Who am I, O LORD God?"
(The original lyrics to the song Amazing Grace written by John Newton as it appeared in the Olney Hymnal in England in 1779. It was titled Faith's Review and Expectation)
Faith's Review and Expectation'
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.
Luke 1:24 and 25 Elizabeth was barren and advanced in years; yet, she became
the mother of John.
Luke 1:26-33 Why was Mary chosen?
Matthew 1:1, 16 She was in the right genealogy and was a virgin fitting with the
prophecy.
Tamar Genesis 38:7-ff
Rahab Joshua 6:1-ff
Ruth Ruth 1:1-ff
Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11:1-ff
Luke 1:26-30 The reason Mary was selected above every other woman is God's
grace just as with all the women included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:31-38 She had faith and was humble.
Luke 1:39-56 Mary's prophecy sounds very similar to another woman of
graceHannah.
1 Samuel 1:9-20 Hannah was also a barren woman whom God had
miraculously blessed with the child Samuel.
1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah's prayer.
Luke 2:19 After the visit of the shepherds, Mary pondered all these things.
Luke 2:51 After the visitation to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old, Mary
stored these things in her heart.
Matthew 13:55-56 Mary had four more sons and at least two daughters.
John 2:1-12 Mary encouraged him at the wedding. It seems Joseph had died.
Mark 3:20, 31-35 His family at this point did not believe in him.
John 7:5 His brothers were not believing.
John 19:25-27 Mary was at the cross.
Acts 1:14 After the ascension, Mary is with the believers waiting for Pentecost.
Romans 3:21-24 The problem is not what we do or don't do, rather who
we are as humans. We are guilty before God, condemned and helpless.
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham is the example of righteousness by faith, not
works. No one can be saved by religious deeds such as fulfilling the Law.
Romans 4:23-25 The faith of Jesus Christ makes us justified by God's
grace.
Peace with God
Access to God
Rejoice in hope
God's love within
Saved from wrath
Reconciled to God
Shall be saved
1) Romans 5:1 - Peace with God. Verse 10 states we are enemies of God;
Romans 8:7 states we are hostile toward God. Justification brings peace
with God.
2) Romans 5:2 - Access to God. Before justification, we were on the
outside looking in. Now we are inside looking out. Luke 23:45; Ephesians
2:14; Hebrews 10:19-23
3) Romans 5:2 - Rejoice in the hope of glory of God. Peace with God
takes care of the past; access to God takes care of the present; and the
hope of the glory of God deals with our future.
4) Romans 5:5 Love of God is poured out within us by the holy spirit.
5) Romans 5:9 Those who are not justified by the grace of God will
experience the wrath of God. I Thessalonians 1:9 and 10; 5:8-10
6) Romans 5:10 Reconciliation with God we have because of the faith
of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:11-18
7) Romans 5:10 We shall be saved.
Romans 5:12-21 The basis of our justification
Romans 8:31-39 We should confess and believe we are justified and
live accordingly.
Setting the Scene: what is the extent of Satan's authority?
[Luke 4.5-6; John 12.31; 2 Corinthians 4.4; 1 John 5.19; Revelation 12.9]
If you can't beat them, get them to join you: the temptations of Satan
[Matthew 4.1-11; Luke 4.1-13]
Jesus does battle against the befuddled demons and silences their testimony
[Mark 1.21-28; Mark 1.32-34; Mark 3.7-13; Mark 5.2-13; Matthew 12.22-32]
New recruits sent to do battle: the twelve and the seventy
[Matthew 10.7-8; Mark 6.7, 13; Luke 10.1-24]
Victory declared because the ruler of this world has been judged
[John 12.31-33; 16.7-11; Colossians 2.13-15]
Cosmocrats of the age to come share in the victory of the Son of God now
[Ephesians 6.10-13; James 4.7; 1 John 2.13; 3.7-10; 4.1-9; 5.18-21; 1 Peter 5.8-11]
Hebrews chapter 11 is understood when we acknowledge its
relationship to the entire epistle and the immediate context
beginning in chapter 10:19 and ending in 12:29. The great subject
is living by faith with patient endurance in view of the promises.
Hebrews 10:19-25 Draw near with a sincere heart, with clean hearts,
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, provoke one
another to love and good deeds, encouraging one another.
Hebrews 10:26-39 The sternest warning against apostasy recorded in
the epistles, reminiscent of the prophets of old. The stark truth and graphic
consequences of God's judgment pierces the heart and shocks the mind.
Hebrews 11:1 The word "faith" is used in many ways in the biblical
context of Hebrews 11. The word is defined in the first verse.
Romans 10:17 Our faith is not based upon human intellect or opinion
rather the integrity of the words of Almighty God.
Genesis 12:1-4 Abraham is the father of faith and with him we see the
origin of all genuine faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 The common expression seeing is believing
contradicts what Hebrews teaches. We believe what we hear not what we
see.
John 8:56 Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day not because it was his
reality rather it was based upon God's promise to him.
Hebrews 11:1 The two statements "the foundation of things hoped
for" and "the conviction of things not seen" do not communicate two
different things rather two ways of saying the same thing.
Romans 8:21-25 Our faith is directed to our hope and hope is always
future. Once hope becomes manifest it is no longer hope rather reality.
Hebrews 3:12- 4:16 The word assurance is the same used in Hebrews
11:1. Psalm 95 is referred to throughout this section.
Exodus 17:1-7 Is the historical record.
Ephesians 2:1 Inescapably clear are the desperate need and
universal sinfulness of humanity.
Dead - no spiritual life. Romans 6:23; 7:10 and 24; Colossians 2:13
Ephesians 2:2 According to the course of this world - a whole
social value-system which is alien to God
Luke 22:3; John 13:2 and 27; Acts 5:3
Ephesians 2:3 Lusts of the flesh - the longings and impulses of the
self-centered life
Romans 8:4-9; Galatians 5:16-21
Desires of the flesh and mind signify the effect on human life of evil
and selfishness are not limited to the emotions but embrace intellect
and reasoning processes as well.
Children of wrath - the judgment of God
Ephesians 2:4-10 Given the state of man, the only possible way
for salvation is the grace of God.
Verses 11 and 12 We cannot afford to forget where and who we
were.
Verse 13 We are brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 Peace between Jews and Gentiles
Verse 15 Jesus opened the way to God.
Verse 19 Not strangers and aliens, but citizens in God's household
Ephesians 2:22 We are God's dwelling place.
Romans 1:1 - Paul
Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy
Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras
James 1:1 - James
2 Peter 1:1 - Simon Peter
Jude 1:1 - Jude
Revelations 1:1 - John
Philippians 2:7 - Jesus
1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20 We were bought with a price. According to
1 Peter 1:17-19, our price was not paid with silver and gold, but with the
precious blood of Christ.
Exodus 21:1-6; Deuteronomy 15:12-17
1) Bought by another
2) Love the master
3) Chose to be a slave
4) Bear the brand
5) Done permanently
Matthew 6:24-34 One master who provides everything the slave needs
Matthew 7:21-23 Slaves obey.
Matthew 8:5-10 Lord is the master and has supremacy over the
subordinate slave.
Galatians 1:10 As Christ's bondslaves, we aim to please him, not men.
2 Corinthians 4:5 We serve each other because of Christ.
Matthew 25:34-46
Acts 2:36 The LORD JESUS CHRIST is our message.
Romans 10:9 Jesus is our Lord, and we are his slaves - which is a
lifetime arrangement.
Psalms 123:1-4 We are to keep our eyes on the master
Philippians 2:3-11 Jesus is our great example of a true slave.
Revelation 22:6 The Word is for the slaves.
I. Marriage: the original intent
a. Marriage is between a man and a woman
Gen 1.27-28; Gen 2.7, 22, 24; Mat 19.4-5
b. Marriage involves sexual union
Gen 1.28; 4.1; 1 Cor 6.16; 7.2-4
c. Marriage is a covenant
Malachi 2.14; Prov 2.17; Matthew 19.6
d. Marriage is a life-long commitment
Rom 7.2;
e. Marriage is between ONE man and ONE woman
1 Cor 7.2;
f. Marriage is a figure of Christ & his bride
Ephesians 5.22-33
g. Separation from the world
i. Our standard for truth is the Bible
ii. We are the new creation, the community of redemption
2 Cor 5.17-21; John 3.3; Rom 6.4; Gal 6.15;Rom 8.20-23
II. Divorce: when the marriage is broken
a. Old Testament Instruction on Divorce
i. Deuteronomy 22.13-21; 24.1-4
ii. Though it was permitted, God hates it (Mal 2.16)
b. New Testament Instruction on Divorce
i. Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter in Matthew 19.3-9
ii. Divorce is not for "any cause"
1. There is only one exception mentioned in Mat 5.32 & 19.9
iii. Mat 5.31-32; 19.3-9; Mark 10.2-12; Luke 16.18; 1 Cor 7.8-16
iv. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin
c. Other reasons why we should not divorce
i. It causes great pain to all involved
ii. It causes Christians to go to court with one another (1 Cor 6.1-11)
iii. It shows that world that Christianity doesn't work when it comes to marriage.
iv. It destroys our witness of unity to the world (John 17.20-23)
I Samuel 16:1, 12 and 13 David was anointed to be King
over Israel.
I Samuel 24:2 Saul had three thousand chosen men. David
had about 400 motley discontents. I Samuel 22:2
I Samuel 24:4 His men encouraged him to kill Saul.
Verse 6 He refused to compromise, although he was tempted
to by all his men. Saul had compromised in the past because
of what the people wanted.
Verse 11 Saul was his father-in-law.
Verse 13 Jesus said the same in Matthew 7:16-20.
I Samuel 24:14 David considered himself to be insufficient.
Verse 20 Samuel told Saul (I Samuel 13:14). Jonathan his son,
the rightful heir, also knew David was to be the King (I Samuel
23:17).
Psalm 57:1-11 Written regarding the same event. David
trusted God.
Psalm 142:1-7 Rather then controlling his own destiny, he
trusted God.
I Samuel 26:1-25 David again spares Saul because of his
commitment to God and his unwillingness to compromise.
Philippians 4:6-9 Anxiety tempts us to depend on ourselves
rather than to trust in God.
Verse 1 "Brethren" is used 28 times in this epistle which has eleven
major concerns ten of which are behavioral and one doctrinal (the
resurrection).
Paul as their minister evidences God's great mercy and longsuffering in
dealing with them. He is not tolerant of their sin, rather provides
instruction and encouragement without discarding them.
Verse 2 "If" states a condition for salvation you hold fast the Word.
Resurrection is integral to our faith. Greek philosophy believed in the
immortality or reincarnation of the soul, but scoffed at the resurrection.
Verses 3-8 The Scriptures and eyewitnesses provide assurance that Jesus
did raise from the dead.
Matthew 27 Judas saw the resurrected Christ (verse 5 said the twelve,
and verse 7 all the apostles, which included Judas).
Verses 9-19 If there is no resurrection, then Christ is not raised, and our
faith is a joke.
Verse 20 Christ is the firstfruits, which implies two things: he was the
first resurrected from the dead, and there will be more. Sleep is used for
death because it is a temporary state with no consciousness.
Verse 22 Everyone before Christ, including Enoch, Melchizedek, Moses,
and Elijah, died and has stayed dead (Hebrews 9:27).
Verse 23 When Jesus returns, the resurrection of the just will come to
pass. 1,000 years later, all who have lived that did not believe will be
raised in the resurrection of the unjust. No one except Christ has been
raised thus far. The belief that there is immediate life after death is not
biblical.
Verses 35-49 At the resurrection, we will be given a new body with a
new life. The person is raised, not parts of the person (like his soul, spirit,
or body).
Verse 54 Death is not swallowed up in victory until the resurrection.
Acts 1:1-5 Unquestionably, the baptism of the spirit is held up as the more
significant. John stated it himself four times.
John 1:29-34 The baptism of John came to an end. He did not baptize people
in the name of Jesus the Christ because he did not know Jesus was the Christ until
this point. The sacrifice of Christ did not happen in the lifetime of John. The book
of Acts does record water baptism, which has to be understood, but first we must
acknowledge the distinction between John's baptism and the baptism of spirit.
If we conclude that water baptism can provide forgiveness of sins, then Jesus did
not need to die so that we could be washed in his blood.
Acts 1:5 Did Jesus water baptize his disciples? He said that John did so and he
(Jesus) did not. The baptism of Jesus Christ is with spirit.
Acts 1:5; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 2:33, 39 The promise of the Father had everything
to do with the baptism of the holy spirit.
Acts 1:7 and 8 Power and witness
Acts 2:1-4 Speaking in tongues was one of the things that the spirit empowered
them to do.
Acts 2:6; I Corinthians 14:2 The speaker did not understand, but the listener did.
Acts 2:14-21 Peter explained that the baptism of the spirit was what Joel
prophesied regarding. From there, he is able to jump into why they had been
given this promise from the Father. As Jesus said, the spirit would help them to be
witnesses unto him.
Acts 2:22-33 He remains consistent to the topic of what just happened the
baptism of the holy spirit.
Acts 2:37-40 The context demands we conclude that the baptism in the name
of Jesus Christ here is regarding the holy spirit.
Acts 8:4-13 It seems apparent that Philip is baptizing in the name of Jesus with
water (36-40).
Acts 8:14-18 They were concerned that they receive the holy spirit. We can
conclude that water baptism does not ensure a person is baptized in spirit.
Acts 10:43-48 We can conclude that water baptism is not required to receive
the holy spirit. Peter felt it was necessary afterwards. They spoke in tongues.
Acts 18:24 - 19:6 Manifestations were commonplace.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 We should seek to have these things in our lives.
Matthew 3:11 and 12 Three baptisms are spoken about: water, spirit,
and fire.
2 Peter 3:7, 10-12 At the end of the age leading into the millennial
Kingdom, the wrath of God is going to be poured out upon the earth.
God's judgment will be with fire.
Revelation 20:7-15 At the end of the 1,000 years, again God's judgment
will come; His final judgment which also will be with fire.
The baptism of fire will be all encompassing, with a full and complete
influence.
Matthew 3:16 The water baptism of John was an immersion or
submergence in the water.
Luke 12:50 The baptism is regarding his suffering and death.
When we think of the baptism of holy spirit, we should think of an
immersion in the spirit.
Luke 4:1 Jesus is our example. He was full of spirit (we might say
someone is full of joy, sadness, grief, self) implying an all encompassing
effect of influence.
Luke 4:14 "The power of the spirit" - different terms communicating the
same thing.
Luke 4:17 and 18 The spirit of the Lord was upon him in the sense of
empowering and influencing him.
John 7:37-39 Again, we see the power and influence of the spirit.
Acts 4:5-22 Peter and John were greatly influenced by the spirit.
Acts 4:23-31 They were moved by the spirit.
Acts 6:1-7 The people they wanted to serve had to be full of the spirit.
Luke 11:9-13 Pray and believe.
Matthew 28:19 and 20 The great commission of the Church is not a
onetime act in water, rather a complete immersing in the Father, Son, and
the holy spirit.
John 13:7-10, 16-20, 27-29: 17:17-23
"completely separate from me and that nothing I could do would shelter him from his a loneness in the face of time, brutal events, the meanness of other human beings, his own wrong choices, the decay of his own body and finally death." Dallas Willard
1/3 of the population suffers from some type of mental health problem: mood, anxiety, psychotic, eating, development, and personality disorders. There are many causes for these problems but at the top of the list is this overwhelming feeling of loneliness or aloneness.
This powerful intrusive feeling is common to humanity because our original design was to be in fellowship with God and each other and because of the fall of man it has not been so. The fellowship with God must come before our fellowship with each other.
Romans 8:26-39 nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 13:5&6 He will never leave nor forsake us.
John 14:13-15 the way to enjoy this oneness relationship with God is to pray, obey and most of all have faith.
John 14:20-24; 15:1-11 He is your Father
John 10:3, 4, 14-16 Our Father works with us similar to how loving parents work with their children speaking and guiding as they need and allowing the child to think for himself and mature.
Mathew 28:18-20 we should have faith that our lord spoke the truth.
Psalms 16:11; 23:4; John 7:37-39
A) THE SPIRIT MADE JESUS ABLE
Matthew 3:13-4:1 Was this the first time he received the spirit?
Apparently, from this point on, he was led by the spirit.
John 1:29-34 The water baptism of Jesus was for the benefit of John so
that he might bear witness.
John 3:34-36 "Without measure" means not moderately or sparingly,
rather with abundance, bountifully.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Jesus is that prophet like unto Moses who spoke
the words of God. He is the last great prophet, the greatest prophet.
Matthew 12:15-18 The spirit enabled him to speak and do God's will.
Luke 4:18-19 Jesus' words about himself quoted from Isaiah
John 4:34, 5:19 & 20, 6:38, 12:49 & 50; 17:8 His obedience to the
written Word and the revelation received is why he always did God's will.
B) JESUS WAS SENT TO BAPTIZE IN SPIRIT
Matthew 3:11&12 Each time John spoke regarding baptism, he said the
same thing.
John 1:19-34
John 3:22-34 Jesus did not baptize people in water because his baptism
is of the spirit.
John 7:37-39 The baptism of the spirit first happened on the day of
Pentecost, ten days after the ascension. (Acts 2:33)
C) THE SPIRIT ENABLES US TO BE JUST LIKE HIM
John 14:1-3 I will come again (verses 18, 27 and 23)
John 14:4-11 The relationship Jesus had with the Father was because of
his obedience to the Scriptures and the spirit.
John 14:12-20 We can be like him because we are enabled with holy
spirit just as he was!
Matt 6: 33 -- seek FIRST the K of G and all that we need to live (food, shelter, clothing, transportation, etc.) will be "added [or provided] to us".
With how much of our heart are we to seek the K of G? Some? Most? NO! We are to seek FIRST the K of G and His Righteousness with our WHOLE heart.
God wants our whole heart. He doesn't want half or three quarters or 90% of our heart -- He wants it all, our whole heart. That's why this sharing is titled "With All Your Heart".
We are going to look at three things this morning:
[1] How important our hearts are,
[2] Why we should give God our whole heart, and
[3] Areas of our lives where God wants our whole heart
How Important Are Our Hearts?:
The most valuable thing we have is our relationship with God. That relationship starts in and emanates from our hearts. What is in our hearts determines who we are, what we really think and believe and, therefore, governs all our actions.
How important are our hearts?
Matt 12: 34b-35a (Jesus speaking with Pharisees) "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good;...". What is in our hearts will be manifested in our lives by the words we speak and the way we live.
Rom. 5: 5 -- "And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." The love of God is poured our / shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Rom. 6: 17: "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed."
Eph. 6: 6: "not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers; but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." It is from our hearts that we obey the Words of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 3: 17a: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." It is in our hearts that Christ dwells.
Matt 5: 3 -- 8: -- It is in our hearts that we are truly humble, mourn our sin, gentle / meek, hunger and thirst after righteousness, merciful. And, it is the "pure in heart" that shall see God (Turn to Deut. 10 please).
In order to live for God as He wants us to, we must give our whole heart to Him and be willing for Him to work in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure".
How important are our hearts? The heart is the center of our will. That is why God directs us in Proverbs 4: 23(KJV) to "keep [guard / watch over] thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [our heart] are the issues of life". The NLT reads "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."
Gate at Bowling AFB -- guards with BIG guns made sure that nobody and nothing got into the base that did not belong there. We must be just as fierce in guarding our hearts if we are really going to seek first the K of G and give our whole heart to Him.
Guarding / keeping our hearts is more than keeping bad stuff out. It is also a tending to, a daily feeding and nurturing to put GOOD stuff into our hearts.
Best way to guard our hearts -- put God's Word into them! (Psalm 119: 10-11 -- "With all my heart I have sought You: Do not let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart , That I may not sin against You.")
Why should we give God our whole heart? Deut. 10, Vs 12 -- 13 has the answer
Deut. 10: 12-13 -- Because that is what He requires of us! Why? For our good! So that we live faithfully for Him with our whole heart and accept from God the gift of salvation / eternal life and enter into the Kingdom.
Living faithfully, doing our best to walk with God and be obedient to Him is our part of the covenant. God's part is to keep His promise and raise us up to eternal life, which He will do at the appointed time.
1 John 4: 19 (KJV) tells us the "we love Him because He first loved us." God has acted through the accomplished works of His Son Jesus, the Messiah and made salvation / eternal life in the K of G available to us. Now it is our turn to act by giving Him our whole heart and being obedient children out of love for Him (turn to Deut 6 please).
Areas where God wants our whole heart
God wants our whole heart in ALL areas of our lives. Here are a few that stick out to me:
Love God "with all your heart":
Deut. 6: 1 -- 5: It is a commandment -- Love God first and foremost and above all else. Quoted in Matt. 22:37, Mk. 12: 30 and Lk. 10:27. (Keep finger in Deut.)
Matt: 22: 35 -- 40; The first and great commandment, to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.
Luke 10: 25 -- 28: A requirement to inherit eternal life and enter into the K of G is to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves.
How do we know that we love God? By keeping / obeying His commandments from our hearts (1 John 5: 1-3)
Obey God "with all your heart":
Deut. 26: 16: God wants us to obey His Word with all our heart. He wants us to be faithful to Him and His Son Jesus Christ with all our heart. Our response -- keep on doing our best to obey and live holy lives as God directs in the Scriptures with our whole heart.
Deut. 30: 1 -- 10: We all want God to rejoice over us for good. So, we must stay faithful and obey Him with all our heart. We know that when The Messiah returns and establishes the K of G here on earth, the faithful ones will enter into the Kingdom and reign with Christ as His priests and kings. What a day that will be!
Psalm 119: 33 -- 40, 65 -- 72: David, a man after God's own heart, obeyed and followed God with all his heart (1 Kings 14: 8). David was not perfect. He made some big mistakes. But, he repented, came back to God, asked for forgiveness and then obeyed with all his heart.
That's exactly what we should do when we wander / go astray -- repent / change, ask God to forgive us and start obeying with "all your heart". (Psalm 9 please)
Praise God "with all your heart":
Psalm 9: 1 -- 2: God desires and deserves our wholehearted praise and worship. So, let's give it to Him!
Psalm 86: 12 -- 13: As if we didn't have enough reason to praise Him. He has delivered us from the grave by the accomplished works of Jesus the Christ.
Psalm 150: 1-6: Praise Him with all your heart!
Seek and Turn to Him "with all your heart":
Psalm 119: 1 -- 10, 57 -- 64: David sought the Lord with all his heart. He sought the Lord's teaching and help in obeying / walking faithfully. We must do likewise.
2 Chron 7: 12-14: A promise to Israel, but, true for us today. It is our job to seek and turn to God with all our heart. Humility is a requirement in seeking God. Turning away from our wicked ways is also a requirement in seeking God. When we humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear, forgive and heal the land.
Remember, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins with a heart to change.
Trust God "with all your heart":
Proverbs 3: 1 -- 7: God wants us to trust Him with all our heart. And trust Him we should, because our Heavenly Father is faithful and always knows best.
Jer. 17: 5 -- 8: Which do you want, to be cursed or to be blessed? If we want to be blessed, then we must trust the Lord "with all your heart".
Summary / Conclusion:
God wants our whole heart -- everything we have inside of us. He requires and deserves that we:
Love Him with all of our heart
Obey and serve Him with all of our heart
Praise Him with all of our heart
Seek and turn to Him with all of our heart and
Trust Him with all of our heart
Why -- for our own good! When we give God our whole heart and live faithfully for Him today, then when Messiah returns and establishes the K of G here on earth, we will hear those words we all desire to hear -- "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master (Matt. 25: 21 and 23)."
Pray
Matthew 6:25-30 You of Little faith
"Little faith" = oligopistos - (Used 5 times in the Gospels)
oligos = small or little; pistis = faith
Oligos can mean small in size, small in quantity, or small -- short period of time.
Faith has an aspect of endurance. James 1:2-7. When you ask God, be patient. Have endurance. Do the things you know to do, and move on. Do not doubt.
Matthew 8:23-26 Why are you afraid?
Matthew 14:22-32. Petered asked the Lord. Jesus gave him one word -- "Come". There is no secret formula here. Peter asked, the Lord gave him the word, and Peter acted. That is faith.
Peter took his eyes off the promise and looked at the circumstances around him. He doubted. His faith was short in duration. But he then did the right thing. He cried to the Lord -- "Save me". And immediately Jesus responded, to help his faith. The wind did not stop until both Peter and Jesus were back in the boat.
Matthew 16:6-12. They had doubt from self consciousness. God will not forsake you when you make a mistake.
Luke 12:28-32. God has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom. Don't worry. Seek it. Have faith.
Luke 17:5-6. If you have the promise of God, faith like a mustard seed can do miraculous things.
Luke 17:7-10 Do what you've been called to do. Have faith. And when your done today. Have faith tomorrow.
Luke 18:1-8. Keep on praying and do not lose heart.
Have faith until the end.
Hebrews 6:9-12
Hebrews 10:35-39
James 5:7-8
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6.8 Having mercy is not something that God suggests to us; rather, he requires it.
Isaiah 1.10-20 God was not concerned with their sacrifice. He wanted them to have genuine love for him, which was to be evidenced in caring for those in need.
Matthew 9.9-13 Jesus understood exactly what the Father wanted; the religious hypocrites did not know.
James 1.27 "...visit the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
Matthew 25.1-46 If Jesus were hungry, would you have food to feed him? If Jesus were thirsty, would you have time to give him drink? If Jesus were sick, would you visit him? We are to treat each other as if the other were Jesus.
Faith is to have confidence and trust that God means what He says and will do
what He promises.
Ethics means the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral
duty and obligation.
Leviticus19:35-37 Since He is "the Lord your God," you can afford to be honest
in your dealings and always be equitable (dealing fairly and equally with all
concerned).
Proverbs 11:1; Luke 6:38 Your standard of measure will be measured to you in
return. Do not look for get rich schemes; most are unethical because someone gets
hurt. No one should lose for you to gain; rather, things should be equitable. Both
parties are to be equally blessed.
2Thessalonians 3:7-9 If you have a disability or are elderly, you are still required
to work. (In Colossians 4:12, Epaphras labored fervently in prayers.)
Ephesians 6:5 "Fear and trembling" means reverence and obedience. The KJ
says "singleness," which means the virtue of one who is free from pretense and
hypocrisy. We work for our boss as if we were working for Christ.
Ephesians 6:6 When the boss is not watching, your behavior is the same as if he
were. For whom are you working? For what are you working?
Ephesians 6:7 & 9 Do we have faith in the words of God?
Colossians 3:16, 17, 23, and 24 Refuse to do anything half-heartedly. Put your
all into everything you do and be thankful.
Luke 16:10 What one does in the small things of life, one does also in the big
things. Faithfulness or dishonesty appears throughout. Life is a unity.
Luke 16:11 & 12 In accordance with the principle laid down in the previous
verse, anyone who uses money in the wrong way shows himself unfit to handle
more important things. He must not be surprised if God keeps them from him.
(1Timothy 3 tells ministers to take care of their homes and families as a basic
requirement to be a minister.)
Ephesians 4:25 Be a person of integrity, that is mean what you say and say what
you mean. When you say you will be there at 5pm, then be there. If I cannot trust
you to be on time, should I trust you with my heart?
Psalms 37:21; Proverbs 22:7 Get rid of your credit cards. If you do not have the
money, you cannot buy it. Control you covetousness. We obey God because we
have faith that He will provide what is best for us.
Exodus 34:6 and 7 God reveals Himself. He is compassionate,
gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness, abounding in
truth; He keeps loving-kindness for thousands, forgives sin, and by no
means leaves the guilty unpunished.
Matthew 5:43-48 The attributes of God are to be emulated by His
children. We are to be like God!
Colossians 3:12-14 God is compassionate; therefore, we are to be
compassionate.
Titus 3:1-11 God has been so gracious to all people that we should
likewise share grace one with another and avoid foolish controversies and
factious people.
1Peter 3:20; 2Peter 3:5-9; Ephesians 4:1-3; and 1Thessalonians 5:14
and 15 God is slow to anger, longsuffering; so should we be.
Nehemiah 9:17; Romans 2:4 Once again, God is our model to follow
regarding this aspect of love.
Ephesians 4:31 and 32 Kindness is contrasted with the hardhearted
attitudes of bitterness, wrath, anger, etc.
Ephesians 4:12-16, 25, 29-5:2 God is abounding in truth, and we too
should speak truth one to another. If we bite and devour one another, we
destroy God's people and demean His desires.
Matthew 6:12-15 God forgives and fully expects His children to do the
same. Let it go! If you keep on thinking about it and talking about it,
forgiveness most likely has not yet been realized.
Matthew 24.1-3
False Christs
Matthew 24.4-5 Jesus' first response is a warning against being misled
Acts 5.36-42
2nd century: Shimon Bar-Kokhba (Kosba) was the leader of the Jewish revolt from 132 to 135. He was a strict military leader who won many battles against Rome. He was hailed by Rabbi Akiva as the Messiah. He was meticulous in his observance of Jewish laws, holidays, and tithing. The Jewish people pinned their hopes for regaining independence from Rome on him. He was given the name "Bar Kokhba" (son of a star) in reference to Numbers 24.17. He died in the massive battle of Bethar and the surviving Jews were exiled until 1948.
5th century: The Talmud had expected, based on some calculations that the Messiah would come in 440 or 471. At this time there were a number of invasions of the Roman Empire and a man named Moses of Crete claimed to be the Messiah. He said he would lead the people dry-shod through the sea back to Israel. His followers left their possessions and followed him. He commanded them to cast themselves into the sea at which point some drowned and some were rescued. Moses either died or fled.
12th century: David Alroy of Kurdiston declared himself to be the Messiah in 1160. He gathered a following of many burdened and over taxed Jews and opposed the Muslim government. His revolt failed and he is said to have been assassinated by his father-in-law while sleeping. The result was a heavy oppression on the Jews and more taxes.
17th century: Sabbetai Zevi was a Spanish-Jew from Smyrna, Turkey, born in 1626. He was educated in the Talmud and the Torah and wandered into Jewish mysticism. In 1648 he proclaimed himself the Messiah and pronounced the name of God in front of his Jewish community. He was promptly excommunicated from Smyrna for blasphemy and went to Cairo and gathered a group of followers around himself. He married a prostitute, named Sarah in an attempt to parallel other Jewish figures, like Hosea. In 1666 he sailed to Constantinople where he said he would be given the throne by the sultan. Instead he was arrested and told to either do a miracle to vindicate his claims or convert to Islam. Sabbetai converted.
20th century: Lubavitcher Rebbe was a chasidic Jew who preached in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY. He believed the messianic age was imminent because of the collapse of communism, the gulf war of the 90s and the move toward nuclear disarmament. At his death in 1992 many of his followers proclaimed belief that he would return as Messiah. They are dedicated to spreading Judaism in the meantime through acts of kindness.
21st century: Klaus Kinski, Jim Jones, Bhagwan Rajneesh, Michael Travesser, Matayoshi Jesus, Marshall Applewhite, Hogen Fukunaga, Suma Ching Hai, Maria Devi Christos, Sergei Torop, Grigory Grabovoy, and David Koresh.
Video: Jose de Jesus Miranda who claims that he is the second coming of Christ and has a tattoo of 666 on his arm. click here to watch it on the Today Show
Persecution
Matthew 24.6-14 Tough times are predicted.
Daniel 7.19-27 little horn wages war against saints and overpowers then till the kingdom comes
Revelation 13.5-8 beast speaks blasphemies, wages war against saints, everyone worships him
2nd Coming
(Daniel 7.13-14; Psalm 110.1)
(Matthew 19.28-29)
Matthew 24.27-31 visible, cosmic signs, people mourn, power, angels, trumpet, gather together
Matthew 24.36-39 like the flood, sudden, disastrous
Matthew 25.31-34 glory, angels, sit on the throne, judgment of the nations
Mark 8.36-38 glory, angels
Luke 19.11-12 goes to receive a kingdom then comes to rule
Acts 1.9-11 come in same way as he left
Acts 3.19-21 stays in heaven untill restoration spoken of by prophets
Acts 17.30-31 judge the world in righteousness, motivates repentance
1 Corinthians 15.22-25 resurrection, kingdom, submission of all enemies
1 Corinthians 15.51-53 sudden, last trumpet, resurrection
Philippians 3.20-21 transform our bodies into conformity with his glorious body
1 Thessalonians 4.15-18 resurrection first, shout, trumpet, meet in the air
2 Thessalonians 1.6-10 angels, retribution to the disobedient, glorified in his saints
2 Thessalonians 2.1-10 apostasy comes first then man of sin who is killed by Jesus at his coming
2 Timothy 4.1-2 judge living and the dead, appearing, kingdom
2 Peter 3.3-10 people will doubt he is coming, it will come like a thief, intense heat
Revelation 11.15-18 trumpet, kingdom of world becomes kingdom of God, begin to reign
Revelation 19.11-21 white horse, wages war, glorified, armies follow, strike down the nations
Closing
1 Thessalonians 5.1-11
John 1:14-17 Grace and truth are realized through Jesus
Christ.
Eph.1:2; 6:24 Paul's epistle begins and ends with grace.
He was God's communicator for this age of grace.
2 Cor.12:7-10 Paul experienced grace.
Eph.3:1-8 Least of all saints
Phil. 3:1-11 Grace, not works or ability
1Timothy 1:12-17 Paul never forgot who he was and what he
did before he believed that Jesus was Christ.
Eph. 2:1-3 We were dead in trespasses and sins.
2:4 God, being rich in mercy, loved us.
5-10 By grace we have been saved.
11-22 No longer are we strangers and aliens, rather saints and
a part of God's household.
GOD'S FIRST COMMAND was and is - "I am the LORD your God, who brought
you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other
gods before Me."
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 The word "Belial" means worthless or wicked and is a
name of Satan. The command is very clear. The darkness in the unbeliever will
overpower the light in us. We are not to fellowship with those who are
unbelievers, lawless, in darkness, or idolaters.
1 Kings 16:29-33 The name "Ethbaal" means "with Baal." He was a king of Sidon
(B.C. 940) who ascended to power by the wicked assassination of his predecessor.
He is said to have been also the high priest of Asherah, whose worship was closely
allied to that of Baal.
During Ahab's reign, the prophet for YAHWEH was Elijah, who said unto the
people, "I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four
hundred and fifty men." Israel was totally infested with idolatry.
1 Kings 21:17-26 Elijah confronted Ahab after Jezebel murdered Naboth.
2 Chronicles 18:1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah apparently wanted to have
unity with the kingdom of Israel as it was in the days of David and Solomon. He
arranged a marriage of convenience as Solomon did. His son married Ahab and
Jezebel's daughter.
2 Chronicles 18:28-19:4 Jehoshaphat responded but did not learn his lesson.
2 Chronicles 21:4-7 Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, married Athaliah, Ahab's
daughter. Her grandfather was the high priest of idols, and her mother was
Jezebel. She brought her wicked family legacy into Judah where the throne of
David and the Messiah were.
2 Chronicles 22:1-4 Jehoram's son Ahaziah followed his mother's ways.
2 Chronicles 22:10-12 After Jehoram's death, his mother reigned on the throne
of David.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do you think God's commandments are overstated?
1) Idolatry has always been rampant. We would be foolish
to think the devil's methods have changed.
2) Idolatry, not any other sin, was the reason for Israel's
destruction. It is also the reason for the demise of
Christian churches.
3) Marrying an unbeliever does not work, "it's different
with us."
4) Unity with idolaters cannot work.
1 Corinthians 8:1-ff Our heart regarding the idolater.
Romans 16:25 and 26 The preaching of Jesus Christ according to
the revelation of the mystery was first presented by the Apostle Paul.
Jesus gave him the revelation through the deeper understanding of
the prophets, which indicates the information had been given but
not understood fully.
Romans 3:19-26 The redemption available through Jesus the
Christ was written but never really understood until Paul taught it.
The Jews, even in Paul's day, misunderstood the purpose of the law.
Romans 3:27-31 The inclusion of the Gentiles was stated in the
old testament but not understood.
Romans 11:1-36 Israel's current relationship with God was not
understood until Paul explained it.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16 Jesus Christ and him crucified is the essence
of the mystery. It was made known by the spirit and still is to this
day.
Ephesians 3:1-3 Wrote before (afore time) in a few words
Ephesians 1:1-14 The accomplishments of Christ
Ephesians 3:3-13 Gentiles fellow heirs, fellow members, and
fellow partakers of the promise.
Colossians 1:18-29 Christ the head, Christ in you
Colossians 2:1-3 God's mystery Christ
Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3 Speak the mystery.
Acts 2:1 Day of Pentecost had fully come which had been planned thousands of years before, when God had Moses include the three feasts of the Lord Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles.
Acts 2:2 Wind and spirit had been connected before, in Ezekiel 37
and John 3.
Acts 2:3 The fire of God happened in Genesis 15:17&18 when God cut the covenant with Abraham, Leviticus 9:22-24 when Aaron gave sacrifice to dedicate the tabernacle, 1 Kings 18:36-39 when Elijah prayed, and 2 Chronicles 7:1-5 at the dedication of the temple. The sacrifice of the perfect, sinless lamb was presented to God in the holy of holies and was accepted once and for all.
Acts 2:4 Provides the great key to how the spirit works with us. They began to speak, and the spirit gave them utterance. The proof of the acceptance of God was the spirit, and the proof of the spirit was speaking in tongues. Acts 10 was proof the Gentiles were accepted and in Acts 19, proof these men received also.
Acts 2:5 The word "living" should be translated "dwelling" because many people had come in for the great feast of Pentecost. Later, the Apostle Paul would go to most of these places and speak about the Kingdom.
Acts 2:17-21 Quoted from Joel 2 and shows that this day was the beginning of the end times. What they experienced then represented the start of the end.
Acts 2:22 The preaching of Peter was the first time the resurrection of Christ was included in the witness and has remained central ever since.
Acts 2:37 The message pierced their hearts, as it does today when a soul wants to hear the truth.
The spirit of truth, the holy spirit, changed everything for the believer. From this time on, the believer is enabled to be just like Christ.
Acts 1:1-6 Why would the apostles respond to the promise of the spirit with a question about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel?
John Calvin Commentary on Acts (1585)
He showeth that the apostles were gathered together when as this question was moved, that we may know that it came not of the foolishness of one or two that it was moved, but it was moved by the common consent of them all; but marvelous is their rudeness, that when as they had been diligently instructed by the space of three whole years, they betray no less ignorance than if they had heard never a word. There are as many errors in this question as words. They ask him as concerning a kingdom; but they dream of an earthly kingdom, which should flow with riches, with dainties, with external peace, and with such like good things; and while they assign the present time to the restoring of the same.
Matthew Henry Commentary (1706)
1:6-11 They were earnest in asking about that which their Master never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge.
Wesley's Notes (1754)
1:6 Dost thou at this time - At the time thou now speakest of? not many days hence? restore the kingdom to Israel? - They still seemed to dream of an outward, temporal kingdom, in which the Jews should have dominion over all nations. It seems they came in a body, having before concerted the design, to ask when this kingdom would come.
People's New Testament (1891)
1:6 Wilt thou at this time, etc.? They still held to their old ideas of a worldly restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Their only question was, Wilt thou restore it 'now' ? After the Holy Spirit was given, this delusion was dismissed, and they understood that Christ's kingdom is not of this world.
Luke 1.31-33 This was the Messiah's destiny
Matthew 19:28-30; Luke 22:28-30 Jesus is the one who gave them the idea of ruling in the kingdom, it was not their own delusion (maybe Matthew 25.31-34)
Revelation 2:26-28 Even after Jesus ascended it is clear that this promise is still true, it has not been spiritualized
Isaiah 32:13-18; 44:1-5; Ezekiel 11:17-20; Ezekiel 36:24-28, 33-35; 37:12-14; 39:25 - 29; Joel 2:28 - 3:2 In all of these prophecies spirit is spoken of in the context of the coming kingdom (both judgment and restoration).
Matthew 4.23; 9.35; 12:22-28 In Jesus' mind spirit and kingdom were linked together. Wherever he went there was a pocket/bubble of the kingdom.
Luke 7.11-23 Messengers come from John the Baptist
Acts 1:7-8 Jesus here clarifies that the spirit comes before the kingdom. The purpose of the spirit is to enable the disciples to be witnesses. The spirit is a taste of the age to come here and now (Hebrew 6:4-5).
Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1.22; 2.32; 3.15; 5.32; 10.39, 41; 13.31 The book of Acts is the fulfillment of Acts 1:8. As the disciples testified (witnessed) about Jesus they preached the gospel in the power of the spirit.
Romans 1.3 The resurrection proves that Jesus is the promised Davidic king, the Son of God, the Messiah appointed to rule.
Matthew 24:14 The spirit enables Jesus' followers to carry out the mission of Christianity, preaching the gospel of the kingdom so that repentance and forgiveness occurs.
Acts 2.40; 8.12, 25; 10.42; 18.5; 19.8; 20.21-25; 28.23, 30-31 What did these witnesses do in the book of Acts? They solemnly testified about the gospel.
Luke 4:16-20 May we be the ones who say "the spirit of the Lord is upon ME to..."
If we are the people who say that the spirit has been poured out on us...then let us not divorce spirit from kingdom...let us announce the coming of the kingdom in the power of the spirit while living by the ethics of the kingdom here and now until the kingdom comes
Acts 4:1-3 The priests and Sadducees could justify putting them in jail
because of what is written in Deuteronomy 13 warning them about prophets
or dreamers who do signs and lead the people away from YAHWEH.
The High Priest was a Sadducee, as were many in the Sanhedrim. The
Sadducees denied the supernatural. They affirmed the freedom of human
will and the oral traditions. They were rationalists in religion. They were
religious undoubtedly, for they believed in God and in the Mosaic Law, but
they denied every story of the miraculous. They believed neither in angels,
spirits, nor resurrection.
Acts 4:6 Caiaphas and Annas were those primarily responsible for the
torture and death of our Lord. They were perhaps the most evil men alive at
that time.
Acts 4:8; Luke 12:11 and 12, 21:10-15 Jesus had prepared them for just
such an occasion. Indeed, the spirit was with them and was providing the
words needed.
Filled with the holy spirit, they had clear vision, absolute certainty, strong
passion, and unflinching courage. They were under the power and influence
of the spirit, not their own limited human ability. They stood in the midst of
their Supreme Court with unflinching courage. Weeks earlier the thought of
these men caused them to hide behind closed doors in overwhelming fear.
Acts 4:11 Jesus also referred to Psalms 118:22 in Mark 12:10 and 11. In
the parallel passage, Luke 20:17 and 18, the rejected stone is linked with the
stumbling stone of Isaiah 8:14 and 15 and with the great stone in
Nebuchadnezzar's dream which struck the image so that the wind carried
its dust away like chaff (Daniel 2:35). In 1 Peter 2:6 the rejected stone is
further linked with the precious cornerstone of a sure foundation laid in Zion
(Isaiah 28:16), which is also interpreted as Christ by Paul in Romans 9:33.
Acts 4:13 They spoke of the men as having been with Jesus in a past tense.
Little did they understand that Christ now lived inside these men and was
empowering them to do the things they were all experiencing.
Acts 4:29 They prayed for more confidence to speak; then they were bold.
Acts 4:31 "Boldness" is free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, and
assurance.
