Landmark Baptist Richmond: Recent Episodes
Landmark Baptist Church
On Elijah's final day, he spent his time with the people that God had called him to disciple and mentor. (Sons of the Prophets, Elisha)
We have been looking at Elijah's last day and learning to live for eternity. Last week, we saw the importance of looking back and remembering God's work and way in our lives. His faithfulness should strengthen our trust in Him.In Elijah's final day, he said "for the Lord sent me" three different times. The coming of eternity led him to urgently follow the instruction and leading of God.Scripture teaches us that we must always follow and obey the instruction and leading of God.- Elijah followed God when things were difficult, when things were hard to believe, and when things were controversial.
We have been looking at Elijah's last day and learning to live for eternity. Last week, the brevity of life was emphasized. All the things that happened in Elijah's life, good bad, came to pass. Elijah understood that he stood before God alone, and that everything else fades away. This week, we will look at the places that God directed Elijah to go on his last day and why. - Scripture teaches that we should consistently call to remembrance the works and ways of God. We do this to find warning, encouragement, and direction.
Last week, we began looking at Elijah’s last day and learning to live for eternity.How would you live your life if you knew it was going to end today?- Scripture teaches us that it is wise to live with eternity in view.Elijah lived his life with urgency and consistency, and we should be challenged to do the same. Urgent Consistency and Consistent Urgency
Introduction Sermon: Looking at Elijah's last day and learning to live for eternity. How would you live your life if you knew it was going to end today?- Scripture teaches us that it is wise to live with eternity in view.
- A final theme that we find consistently in the book of Proverbs is that we should be generous people. Generous is not only giving, but will include giving. Generosity is toward those in need, toward God’s people toward God’s work, and toward God Himself. What does Proverbs teach?
- The wisdom, importance and application of Biblical warnings cannot be overstated but are too often ignored. Sometimes, there are things that need to be addressed, but we are reluctant to talk about them.- Lust and sexual temptation are often something that Christians have assumptions about while being uncomfortable with discussion and confrontation. It is powerful because this temptation involves themind, soul, and body.- We live in a world that is dominated by lust because sex has been commercialized, advertised,weaponized, and politicized. The Biblical design and intent of sexual relationship has been lost. What are examples of ways the world misuses, abuses, and misconstrues sexuality?
– The human mind can be a fragile thing. The human soul can be fractured and divided. Until our eternal perfection, there will always be a battle within the two parts of Christians. Romans 7:19-25 presents this battle and calls the sinful part of it the flesh.– The unfortunate truth is that there are moments when the flesh wins out. By our own choice, we can still sin against God. Sometimes, we even structure our lives, habits, and routines in a way that creates an environment for the flesh to win consistently.– What happens when we fail? How should we respond when we sin? How do we handle our lives when we feel our sinful nature? We can choose to be defeated and discouraged, or we can walk in wisdom with discernment. Proverbs acknowledges and confronts the struggle we face. Do not lose hope! Let’s note the tools God has given to develop discernment.
– The whole world is busy. We are all busy. You are busy. I have met very few people who did not think that their life was at least a little busy. Because of this, very few of us consider ourselves to be lazy. However, the Bible, in particular Proverbs, talks a lot about laziness. It is most often called “sloth”.– “I’m way to busy, there is no way I’m lazy.” Maybe a good question to help us see ourselves clearly would be, “Is my busyness leading to lifelessness?”As Christians, let’s ask ourselves:Am I spiritually productive? Do I do things that matter?Do I understand my most important roles in this world? Am I focused on them?Am I aware of how I spend time and the brevity of life?Proverbs will call us to consider these as well. “Sloth” is not simply laziness. The words used for slothful in Proverbs mean “sluggish, to sink down, to relax, to loosen, hang limp.” Slothfulness can be found in our lives as laziness, idleness, inactivity, distraction, pointless amusement, misdirected priorities, or apathy.
We can live our lives disregarding God in selfish greed or acknowledge God in conscious righteous living. Are our daily choices and long-term goals guided by a conscious, acknowledging perception of God?
– Of the 915 verses in proverbs, 149 of them reference our speech in some way. God is serious about the words we speak.Last week, we considered the power, potential, and problem of our words. This week, we will study more Proverbs to consider the limitations of words and how we should choose to use them.
Roadblocks to our Spiritual Lives: Intentional Ignorance, Foolish Friendships, Lethargic Living. Worthless Words, Godless Goals, Sexual Seduction, Faults and FailuresWarning 2: Worthless Words
Roadblocks to our Spiritual Lives: Intentional Ignorance, Foolish Friendships, Lethargic Living. Worthless Words, Godless Goals, Sexual Seduction, Faults and FailuresWarning 1: Intentional IgnoranceIgnorance is defined as “lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.” Ignorance is a natural result of being finite creatures. It is not a sin in and of itself. We are not and never will be omniscient. There are always going to be things we do not know or of which we are unaware.Can you think of an example when you faced consequences for ignorance about something?However, ignorance is not always acceptable. In His Word, God has placed principles, concepts, and even laws to help us live our lives with godly wisdom. Learning these Biblical principles is a process. Biblical wisdom is developed, and it does not happen accidentally.The book of Proverbs teaches us that one roadblock to wise living is intentional ignorance. God has given us divine wisdom in His Word, and to ignore it is an intentional choice for which you are accountable to God. As we begin our study, let’s consider wisdom from the perspective of Proverbs. Are you pursuing godly wisdom or intentionally ignorant?
Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every __________________, and the ____________ which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with __________________ the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus...What emotions do you feel when obstacles hinder progress?Hebrews 12 tells us that there are weights and certain sins that seem to easily entangle us as we run our race for Christ.- Life is full of obstacles that hinder our spiritual journey.- Do you ever find yourself facing the same spiritual struggles consistently?- What are some of the most common hindrances for you personally from moving forwardin your walk with God?
Paul wrote to the Galatians to convince them that Jesus alone is sufficient for salvation and sanctification. This church had been confronted by false teaching Judaizers trying to convince them to add Jewish law to the grace of Christ.Paul declared that salvation brings liberty and not bondage to works. That liberty, however, was not to be used for selfish pleasure but to serve God by serving others in love (5:13-14).When someone in Christ walks in the Spirit, their life produces spiritual fruit. (5:16-26). When someone is in Christ, they should not be weary in doing good, but continuing to do good at every opportunity (6:7-10). In 6:11-18, Paul establishes a motivation for all of it, Jesus Christ. We should never stop boasting in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Study:5:13-18 – Spirit vs. Flesh- Our relationship with God will affect our relationship with others. Your spiritual walk will not remain internal. It must eventually flow outward toward other people!5:19-21 – Works of the Flesh- A true believer can commit these sins but will not live in them.5:22-26 – Fruit of the Spirit- The fruit of the Spirit is God’s work in a believer’s life. These fruits are outward toward others.6:1-10 – Ways the Fruits Are Revealed in Life- Restoring - Bearing - Doing Good to OthersApply:What must a branch do to produce fruit? (not a trick question)What are ways that you can abide or stay connected to the vine (root), Jesus Christ?What are some ways that would disconnect you from your vine? (Hint: Gal. 5:26-6:4)Pick one of the fruits of the Spirit:What are some ways that God has worked in your life to produce this fruit?What are ways that this fruit comes out of your life and practically affects others?According to Galatians 6:3-4, what mentality will hinder us from bearing one another’s burdens?This week, how will you live Galatians 6:10 outwards, as God’s Spirit inwardly works to produce fruit? (give a specific thought or plan)
The account of a great, world-wide flood is a familiar one even to people that do not know or study the Bible. In fact, the story of a world-wide flood is familiar to many accounts of human history throughout the world. Scholars have compiled more than 200 flood traditions from various people groups around the world. The Epic of Gilgamesh is thought to be the oldest recorded story in history and contains elements of a worldwide flood.The Bible stands alone and accurate. It does not need the support of other accounts, but the Biblical account of the flood is different from all others. It is God’s account. By His Spirit, He inspired the writer to record His perspective for a distinct purpose.Because God has woven His Word together with continuity to reveal His will and His working, we should strive to read the Bible’s account to see that purpose. Over the next few Sunday mornings, I will preach through the flood account and God’s working in Noah’s family.Before we do, I want to spend this evening for laying the groundwork. As we study the flood account:How should we read it?How does it fit in the narrative of Genesis and the Bible?
The book of Samuel has shifted after the death of Saul. The account is now solely focused on David who is not only going to become Israel’s greatest king but the forefather of God’s Eternal King, Jesus Christ. 1 Samuel establishes David’s legitimacy as king while 2 Samuel traces the successes and struggles of his reign.We might expect the first chapter to open with a grand coronation of David as ruler over a united kingdom; however, we are far from that. The first chapter does not open with David’s glory but an expression of His grief. David proves that He trusts God’s Word looking back to Leviticus 19:15-18, and he lives in the shadow of the words of the Son of David in Matthew 5:43-45, “Love your enemies... That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven...” The chapter has two natural divisions.
This is not the end of the book of Samuel, but it brings the account of the life of Saul to an end. Thirteen simple verses record a succinct conclusion that carries no surprises. We know what is coming, and Saul does too. The events however are moving and disturbing, and there is profound impact in its brevity. God resists the proud, and even the rebellious soul is under God’s control.How are we to handle the death of Saul in our minds and hearts? Because we know the whole of Saul’s life, we may be tempted to think, “He had it coming.” However, the writing of 1 Samuel 31 expects us to pause and ponder the tragedy. We can see Saul, all people, and ourselves. Just as if we knew Saul, let’s take time to reflect on his death and what it calls us to personally.
These final chapters of 1 Samuel have been presenting the circumstances of David and Saul in separate but parallel accounts. Their lives are no longer intersecting, but they do have remarkedly similar circumstances.Both of them have faced temptations to wipe out enemies rather than trust the Lord, the constant presence of the Philistines, pressures from their own people, and circumstances of great difficulty.David and Saul reveal their faults as sinners, but we learn that one of them continually returned to God while the other continually rejected Him. In 1 Samuel 28, Saul reaches a breaking point and completely turns to wickedness for answers. In chapter 30, we will find David facing similar pressures, but turning to God.
Hopelessness is a scary and dangerous thing, but it is not always evident. Hopelessness can be seen in a couple different ways in someone’s life.Someone in a discouraged or depressed state can become unrealistically negative. Perhaps even more often, someone can be hopelessly shortsighted. They have an unrealistically positive state of mind. In either case, hopelessness affects decisions in a deep way.In 1 Samuel 28, we find Saul living a hopeless life. He rejected God, and in turn, God rejected Him. When Saul then had a need for God, God was not available to Him. You do not get to reject God, and then command His favorable presence. In his hopelessness, Saul turned to things he had once condemned.This chapter can leave us with questions about the power of things like sorcery, witchcraft, and necromancy. The fact that Samuel, a prophet of God, is summoned by a woman using evil practices is concerning to us. Is there true power in necromancy or occult influences? Why was Saul allowed to use this type of power for his own information?It is important up front to view this circumstance through the lens of Scripture. Particularly, what the Bible says about the event itself in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14. “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.”What Saul did was warned strongly against in God’s Law (Lev. 18:31, 20:6, 20:27, Deut. 18:10-12). Saul rejected God and died under judgment.But how did Saul get here?
In these final chapters, Saul finally gives up his pursuit, while David goes to live among the Philistines. As a result, we no longer have accounts which show David and Saul facing off, but the narrative alternates back and forth between events with David and events with Saul. Tonight’s lesson focuses on David’s decision to live among the Philistines.The Setting: The end of chapter 26 included Saul “repenting” of trying to kill David and promising not to harm him. David kept his conscience clean though tempted three times to take the life of his enemies. He defended himself with logic and spiritual reasoning and trusted the Lord to reward his “righteousness and faithfulness” (26:23). In the final verse, Saul returned to his place and David goes back to waiting for the kingdom.It is not clear how much time passes, but the Bible makes it clear that David remained under significant stress and threat for a long period of time, and chapter 27 reveals that it effected his heart and mind. He ends up living in Goliath’s hometown with some of the greatest enemies of God and His people.
Our study of Judges and Samuel have shown us that sin can be cyclical in life. Victory over a sin once does not guarantee victory over that sin forever. Sometimes temptation returns like a boomerang when we aren’t looking and don’t expect it. At other times, temptation veils itself in a new way and creeps in. Even more often, temptation can simply return in the exact same way over and over like waves to the shore. We must follow and trust as God leads us to persevere over sin through Christ.Saul: In 1 Samuel 23:19, the Ziphites reported David’s location to Saul who brought thousands of soldiers to kill David. After David spared Saul’s life, Saul wept and promised (again) not to chase David. In 26:1, the same Ziphites come to Saul reporting that David is in the same location as before. Saul goes back on his word and seeks to kill Saul again.David: David was encouraged by his men in 1 Samuel 24 to end Saul’s life and take the promised kingdom. Instead, David spared Saul and trusted the Lord to “judge... see... plead... and deliver.” David almost killed Nabal and all the men of his household in 1 Samuel 25, but he received “blessed advice” from a wise woman and kept a clean conscience before God. Now, in 1 Samuel 26, David has the same type of opportunity to end Saul’s life. Would the circumstance, Saul’s betrayal, and the encouragement of a trusted man convince David to do wrong to gain something that was “right”?
In our previous study, we began 1 Samuel 25 and took note of the marks of a fool found in Nabal (strength without love, courage without wisdom, wealth without generosity, and desire without self-control). David and his men had protected Nabal’s immense herds and shepherds in the wilderness areas. When David made a reasonable request for provisions, Nabal responded selfishly and erratically.David, who has been chased and tested by Saul’s pursuit, responds with a quick and rash oath of violence. War is coming, but one woman’s wisdom and discernment stands in the way of disaster.From this event, we learn the importance of offering and applying godly wisdom when He brings it in the form of godly advice.
Last week we saw through David what it looks like to allow our responses to others to be guided by faith. (Resist the Natural Response, Be Sensitive to Your Hearts Response to Sin, Humbly Purse Reconciliation, See God's Shaping of Your Life) In 1 Samuel 25, David is tested by another man full of pride and bitterness. David's initial response is less patient, but he ends the chapter expressing gratitude that God kept him from wrongdoing through the wisdom of a woman named Abigail.
We know that David had been anointed and chosen by God to become king of Israel. Though David knew this years before 1 Samuel 24, he still had not become king. In fact, God had not given David any sort of timeline. David has been chased for a long time by Saul who is trying to kill him. David is stuck in between what he believes by faith will happen and what he is experiencing. One of the most difficult aspects of this must have been that David had no idea where he was in the that timeline. How much longer?With that in mind, we find in 1 Samuel 24 that David faced a temptation for a shortcut. This shortcut would require him to do wrong. He chose doing right over every other option.Read Matthew 5:38-48The people of Jesus’ day had become convinced that loving your neighbor included a pure hatred for those that are considered enemies. Jesus says “absolutely not” to this anti-God concept, and we learn it in the example of David in 1 Samuel 24. To do good and be kind to those we are at odds withshows that we are becoming like the nature of our God
Big Idea: God guides, encourages, and protects His people in extraordinary ways while using ordinary means of grace.Gospel Idea: God had a promised end for David though the complexity of getting there was difficult. The promise of the Gospel is sure in Jesus Christ. Full deliverance one day ensures God’s perfect will today.
Big Idea: God chose to use the low and humble things of this world to do His work. He resists pride.Gospel Idea: Those in great need went to David for help. Abiathar had been condemned to die, but found safety in David. All who come to Christ find in Him their is life and safety.
1 Samuel 20 presses forward the narrative of God's work bringing David into place as king of His people. The primary theme of Samuel is about God's chosen king David, and we will learn later that David's importance as king comes from God's promise to bring an eternal king from his line.Samuel has continually emphasized the contrast between Saul and David, and it has began to repeatedly show us the difference between Saul and Jonathan by their relationship to David. In his humility, Jonathan loved David and recognized God's sovereign plan as best. In his pride, Saul hated David and rebelled against God's decisions. This is the emphasis of chapter 20
Big Idea - God's servants are not isolated from danger, but they are always protected in God's way for His purpose.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” As Solomon penned this advice to his son, I wonder if the stories that he had heard of his own father’s relationships with Saul and Jonathan came to mind.After the defeat of Goliath, Saul did everything that he could to make David an ally under his control, but Saul’s intentions were sinister. His mouth did not match his mind and heart.In this chapter of Samuel, David becomes forms close friendship with Jonathan (which we will explore later), but Saul grows increasingly fearful, jealous, and hating of David. The discrepancy between Saul’s mouth and thoughts should serve as a warning our own double-mindedness.
1 Samuel 16 left us with a new king anointed and the current king tormented. God has rejected Saul who, like the people of Israel, rejected God. Chapter 17 is one that has been preached and taught in a variety of ways throughout Christianity, but we should be very careful not to disconnect this event from the big story of the Bible. In fact, we should examine in the context of Samuel as a book.What do we have so far? A people that have rejected the direct rule of God because they distrust God’s care and protection and despise His judgment. These people ask for a king and an institution. They want someone to protect them. They want something different than God. They have received Saul who is everything that could be wanted as a king outwardly. Like all of Israel’s other idols, Saul is unable to save and deliver. Humans are very poor judges of what is valuable and good and the reign of Saul is a case study to prove it.The book of Samuel is primarily focused on David, and he is contrasted with Saul in these first few chapters introducing his life. Chapter 17 digs further into these differences. Saul was religious and superstitious. David was passionate about relationship with God. The difference shows up here.The primary message of Samuel’s account of David and Goliath is not “be like David and you can slay giants.” It is “trust God because only He can.” Neither David or Saul was worthy to be king of Israel, only God was. The difference between David and Saul is that only David recognized this.Why take time for the details of this account (the longest recording of any event in David’s life)? God wants us to know that His work, plan, and covenant cannot broken by any evil challenge or even our own ineptness. He is a God who speaks and acts. His truth and hope are rooted in His activity and not ours. We do not look to David and learn, “Work harder; be braver; do better; and try more.” We learn of a God who is not limited by our inability or shortcomings. Trust Him!
We slowed our pace studying Samuel as we came to chapter 15. The events in Israel’s history are significant, but what the chapter teaches us about God’s nature demands that we pause a moment and think. His character and judgment are on display (and sometimes under scrutiny). How should we think about God?“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.“ - A.W. Tozer
It has become clear in the first half of 1 Samuel that Saul has some serious issues. While it is easy to look at his rebellion as a warning against egregious sin, we might find that our own hearts are sometimes not all that distant from his. Saul did not repeatedly break God's moral law. In fact, he seems concerned and focused about "spiritual" things. However, we find that his concerns are outward. Inside, he does not view God as he should. His heart of rebellion comes out in chapter 15.
In the last two chapters of Samuel, we have seen the Israelites face significant threat from the Philistines. Saul’s army of a few thousand was quickly whittled down to 600 men, and it felt like the new kingdom was immediately threatened. When Saul looked around and saw people flocking away from him, his response was panic. He disobeyed God and would not repent from sin.His son Jonathan however displayed great faith in God. He sabotaged the Philistines camp with only one other man. God used Jonathan’s small victory to spark chaos with the Philistines, and soon their mighty army was defeated with the Israelites chasing after them. Verse 23 says, “So the Lord saved Israel that day:”While this happened and in the days after, Saul made foolish decisions with bad motivations. His rejection of God has damaged him personally, and He tries to force things to happen on His own without God’s Spirit and help. We find quickly that Saul was not the king that Israel needed. Saul diluted God’s victory with a preoccupation with his own honor.Saul displayed for us symptoms of failed human leadership. We should take inventory of our own lives and also be led to thankfulness for Jesus!
Since the first people sinned against God, there has been a constant conflict in the world. Yes, a conflict between people but also something deeper. There is a constant conflict between the power of God and human power. We should not be confused, conflict does not mean there is competition. God’s power is immense and limitless, but He is also longsuffering and forbearing. The conflict between human power and God’s power is primarily engaged in the heart and mind.In Samuel, Israel has been asking for a king like all the other nations. They wanted a human king to provide them with safety, stability, victory, resources, and security. God saw this as a direct rejection of His authority as king (1 Sam. 8:7) as He had promised He would provide each of these. They rejected the kingdom (kingship) of God for a human regime.As Christians, we acknowledge that God is over all and Jesus Christ is King. It is literally who we are by definition. We believe that one day the kingdom of God will come in its fullness and be the only option, but until then, we face conflict. Our belief puts us into a power challenge of values and submission.Human power outside of submission to God always challenges God’s way.Human wealth or value offers pleasure or security without need for God.Human reason attempts to explain life without reference to God.Human institution assigns purpose of people without going to God for it.Human power, wealth, reason, and institution all have their place within God’s good creation and rule. The problem comes when they do not come under submission to God’s power and rule first. Are we keeping this order in our lives?
1 Samuel 4-6 taught us that God will not be manipulated by man-made religion. He responds to relationship and nothing else. God will not be manipulated or used for our glory; we are created for His. The Israelites learned this along with the Philistines as the ark of the covenant seemed to bring with it cursing rather than blessing. It was not the ark that caused problems though, it was human attempt to control God. 1 Samuel 7 gives us a turning point.
1 Samuel 1-3 told us of the birth and growth of Samuel as God’s prophet and judge while telling us of the coming fall and judgment of Eli and Israel. Chapters 4-7 tell us of more than 20 years of Israel’s sad history as they continue to reject real relationship with God. Parts of these chapters can be humorous, but the sobering reality is that humans (religious or not) often misunderstand and try to put God into our own image. He is not like us; He is over us and demands to be seen this way. God will not be manipulated or used for our glory; we are literally created for His.
The great hymn of faith from Hannah that we read in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is immediately countered with lives of rebellion and unbelief that show us the desperate nature of Israel’s leadership crisis. Hannah’s declaration said God is incomparable. He knowledge should crush pride. His power reverses evil. His position gives Him all authority. He is always victorious, and His enemies always lose. Her life reflected these beliefs that she knew about God.It is said of Eli’s sons that, “they knew not the Lord.” This is clearly reflected in their actions and attitudes. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God says that He honors those that honor Him, and disgraces those that despise Him. This is the main lesson in chapter 2 and 3.
We have finished the portion of the book of Judges that includes details of God’s continued merciful deliverance of Israel through various individuals. It culminated with Samson who was the judge that presented Israel with a mirror image of itself. Though we have finished with the judges, there are five chapters of the book left. What are they about? Essentially, there are two “appendix” sections at the end of book. Like other portions of Judges, they are not in chronological order. In fact, it is possible that the events found in Judges 17-18 happened while Joshua was still alive. What we are told in the story of Micah and his idols is meant to be an additional story that gives us insight into the condition of Israel toward their relationship with God. It is an odd timeline of details, but reveals much of the danger of idolatry and man driven religion. Key Verse: Judges 17:6 “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” – The key to properly understanding the chaos in the passage is that even though God had given a Law, instruction, and expectation, everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Jephthah is a judge that God used to free Israel from Ammonite oppression after eighteen years. Remember that this oppression was from God's hand because of His people's sins (10:7). Jephthah arises in a moment of trouble and need when there were princes but no leaders. He was the last person that the people wanted, but God used Him.
An interlude is a welcome break during some physically or mentally demanding activity. During work, it may be a moment for coffee or lunch. During music, it is a short composition that transitions from what longer part to another. During a drama or a movie, it is music or entertainment between acts. It is a type of hinge between major parts. It can give an opportunity to reset or reflect on what has been done or seen. Here in the book of Judges, the writer has given us some breathing space during a part of the book that has been intense and draining. There are still things that are happening. We read of two of the minor judges, continued rebellion, and then a brief phase of repentance from the Israelites. However, it is the first time since Judges 3 that the storyline is not rapidly advancing. Rather than rush into the next major judge (like pressing fast forward to the next action scene) let's sit this "intermission" and reflect on what we have learned and what sadly continues to happen in God's people.
It is sad to see people finish badly. Can you think of anyone in the Bible who had a promising beginning or started well but finished badly? For two weeks, We have studied the deliverance that God brought His people using a man named Gideon. Introduced to us as a frustrated, God-doubting, fearful man hiding from the enemy, Gideon has now led a small band of men to defeat the massive Midian force. When we left Gideon, he was the remnant of the enemy army and trying to capture their fleeing leaders. Ultimately, Gideon and his 300 men catch and defeat the enemy; however, Gideon quickly displays a dramatic shift toward deep personal failure. He leads Israel into horrific idolatry. Gideon was remarkably obedient and filled with faith in the extreme moment of battle, but the routine of daily living seems to have been a greater test of his character. (This is true for many of us, and the challenges of daily living are more difficult than those of the extreme moment.) Not much detail is given to us about why Gideon seemed to turn from God, but there are hints in Judges 8 that we may hear echoed in our own lives.
Last week, we began a study of how God delivered Israel through the a man named Gideon. Our focus on Gideon's personal background led us to see that he was angry, frustrated, afraid, doubtful, and reluctant. These are not your typical qualifications of leadership; however, God was delivering His people by His own strength using Gideon's weakness. The people of Israel were being oppressed by the Midianites and other nomadic tribes that would steal and destroy the agricultural production of Israel each year. God's people were living "cave life". Gideon's family, in contrast, seemed to have been blessed by God in an amazing way. However, when God called Gideon, he challenged God and expressed that he felt God had abandoned them. God showed grace to Gideon and His people and proved His continual presence once more. After challenging, the idolatry of his family and community, Gideon sees 32,000 people gather around him for battle. Still not convinced, Gideon asked God for two more miraculous signs before finally preparing for war.
The book of Judges begins with two distinct introduction summaries. Judges 1:36 talks about the death of Joshua and some of the initial moments following when the tribes of Israel went to their lands and tried to conquer them. Chapter 1 ends revealing that the Israelites did not fully drive out the sinful inhabitants of their land but rather conquered and taxed them. This refusal to obey leads us into a second summary chapter. It steps back slightly into the book of Joshua as Joshua has exhorted God's people to follow Him.
Why study the book of Judges as a Christian? It's content often dips into descriptive depravity. It is not full of hope or doctrine. If we come to the book looking for human examples of faith and leadership, we are going to come away disappointed. In the book, we find that sin creates a life that is messy, foul, and complicated. Yet, we also find that God rules in and over the chaos of sin.
The concluding statement of Paul's prayers in Ephesians is that there would be glory to God "in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."The prayer for God to give us an understanding of His focus, hope, riches, power, and love demands the fitting response of giving God glory. However, even our mission of glorifying God is done "by Christ Jesus". When the church understands and walks in God's purpose, it will glorify Him. Christian's within the church accomplish this purpose as they continually grow in Jesus. Our growth is not independent personal improvement; it is a deepening in relationship and growth in Christ.
Have you been praying any differently since we started this study? A pointed question to be sure, but it is a necessary one. What good does it do any of us to stare into the the mirror of God's Word and then walk away without concern.The Bible makes it clear that prayer is a spiritual practice, and much of it should be spiritually focused. These two prayers modeled for us in Ephesians have shown our need to pray for focus, understanding, and revelation. As we pray for these, we are praying that God would clearly put into our hearts His hope, His riches, His power, and His love.How is all of this supposed to happen? Often, these things sound very different from our personal experience. Is this just for certain, special people?
Do you have any idea how loved you really are? The truth is we probably do not. In this life, we won’t ever really comprehend the depth of God’s love toward us, and its impact on our lives won’t be fully felt until eternity.That is why Paul prays in Ephesians 3 that God would allow us as His people to grow in our understanding of that love. Just as Paul prayed several other request for their lives spiritually, He prays that we would be rooted in love by being able to comprehend the love of Christ in our lives.
Most of us don’t typically feel “powerful.” Though we may feel that we have power over certain situations, it doesn’t take much to make us feel weak or helpless.We are often overwhelmed by things like finances, health, relational concerns, and any number of things in life that are out of our control.However, we often struggle to realize just how powerless we really are. In Ephesians 1, we find that Paul prays that Christians would know and understand God’s power that is given to those who believe. He prays that we would understand God’s power, “according to the working of His mighty power.” In the verses that follow, Paul points us to the display of God’s power through three facets of Jesus Christ’s work.
As we have looked at Paul’s prayers in Ephesians, we have seen that he prays specifically for spiritual things. He prays first that these Christians would know God. Are we praying that God would allow us and those around us to grow in our knowledge of Him?In the second portion of his prayer, Paul prays that they would understand everything God gave them in Jesus Christ. Last week, we looked at the hope that we have in Jesus. This week, the focus is on the riches that we find in Him.
What is hope? Do you have hope? How would you describe your hope? How would you voice your hope for your life, your family, your community, your world? As Christians, we are called to have hope, but unfortunately we often misunderstand it.
You’ve bowed your head, closed your eyes, perhaps folded your hands, and maybe even knelt down for prayer. While all of this is good, there comes a point where the actual praying must happen. Have you ever been trying to pray and had the thought, “Now what do I say next?”Fortunately, the Holy Spirit can communicate even our groans before the Lord. There are moments that we just don’t know what to say. However, Ephesians 1 and 3 have given us a helpful pattern of ways that we can pray to God about the spiritual needs and desires of our lives.
Last week, we began a study on the “Heart of Prayer” focused on a couple of Paul’s prayers in the book of Ephesians. There is a difference between being someone who prays and having a heart of prayer.In our first study, we focused on the fact that prayer by its nature is about dependence. We see that in who we are praying to, how we are praying, and what we are praying. Our thought for this week may feel overly simplistic, but it is a truth we often ignore. Prayer should be spiritual.
Prayer is a core action of the Christian life. We all know that we should pray. We all want to pray. In fact, we all probably desire to pray bigger prayers in a better, more faithful way. What holds us back? What is causing you to feel like your prayer life is stagnant, ineffective, frustrating, and monotonous?We often view prayer as something that we do, and we try to consistently check it off our list of spiritual disciplines. We think that God’s actions might be in some way based on our ability to pray well, much, or often. I wonder if you (like myself in recent days) need to see prayer more clearly, more Scripturally. We all need a heart of prayer, and it begins with what God’s Word teaches about it.
Like 2 John, 3 John is a letter that is personally addressed. It is brief for the same reason that 2 John is brief. John planned to see these people soon and do most of his instruction in person. In both letters, John gives commendation for good and rebuke for what is bad, and he does it with a loving spirit.3 John is written to one man, but it refers to three. The description of each man shows us responses to the truth. Truth is the emphasis of the letter, and it is viewed through the lens of love. (vs. 1, 3, 4, 12)
Last week we began a short study on the book of 2 John. We saw that John is writing most likely to an individual. Her response to false teachers is probably what prompted the letter, and John is trying to help guide her to the truth in love. We noted last week that though she seems to have made a mistake, John seeks to encourage her first by1. Encouraging her in who she is.2. Giving confidence that the issue can be corrected.3. Speaking of the permanence of their relationship in Christ.4. Showing joy in the growth experienced as a believer.Now, John gives her both commendation and warning. He speaks of her guiding by the truth and her guarding of the truth in in her life.
The Importance of Truth -The books of 2 & 3 John are the two shortest books in the Bible. They both contain around 250 Greek words. Their brevity has sometimes has caused us to ignore their importance.
In the final chapters of Esther, we see the difficult consequences of Haman’s hatred as well as the rescue by God’s reversals begin to ripple through the empire.
It is significant to note that the writer has dramatically slowed the timing of the book of Esther. The first four chapters of the book span about nine years of history. The next three chapters cover less than two days. Like slow motion in a movie, this is the portion that the writer wants us to focus close attention.Things to note in this extended reading for this lesson:• The slower progression of time and the detail of events.• This quick change takes place in the heart of the Empire where absolute power rules the known world.• Watch for reversals. There is a constant state of reversal and inversion.• God’s hidden hand is as evident here as any part of the book.• Most of the book tells us facts without speaking to the intentions or motivations of the people involved. These chapters speak directly about the evil in Haman’s heart.
What happens in chapter 4 of Esther is critical to everything that follows in the book. The rest of the events of the account flow through the decision that Esther will make here.Chapter 4 is interesting because it is a dramatic conversation between two people that never meet in person. They are deeply connected, but probably have not been able to be near each other since the day Esther was taken into the king’s harem (about 4 years).Chapter 3 leaves us with Haman and the king sharing a drink over the sweeping law that was intended to annihilate the Jewish population from the empire.
We have noticed the last few weeks that the book of Esther presents the people involved in its story in an almost neutral way so far. The book is less about them and more about God’s salvation of His people. But salvation from what? Esther 3 reveals that in this case it was salvation from a sentence of death fueled by hatred of them and ultimately hatred of Him.The burden of Esther 3 presses home that there is in the world an underlying hatred for God that often expresses itself toward His people. There have been dark hints of this in chapter 2 (vs. 10, 20).
We mentioned last week that the timeline and pace of Esther varies throughout the book. In the first couple chapters, we cover at least a span of four years though very little emphasis is placed on this fact (1:3, 2:16). It feels like the reel goes in and out of fast and slow motion. In the scope of the purpose and point of the book, the real story has not yet started. These two chapters set the scene for the drama to come.While a lot happens here, it is important to note that the writer does not invite us to make value judgments about how the people here behave. We are bound to have our own opinions, but the emphasis being made is about the condition of God’s people and the place they are living (the world empire of the time).
The quick summary of the book of Esther reads a little bit like a Cinderella story. The radical life transformation of a beautiful Jewish orphan girl living in a foreign land raised by her older cousin before being chosen from a princess court as the next queen of the most powerful kingdom in the world. Meanwhile, an evil villain plots to destroy an entire people based on his personal hatred particularly toward the wise mentoring cousin.So, what possible relevance could be held for us in an account from 2,500 years ago of events in what is modern day Iran? That’s a great question we will ask over the next few weeks. To find its personal meaning for us, we must first discover its broader meaning in the Word of God.
The final chapter of Habakkuk is the prophet’s response to God’s words and answer. It is a prayer, a poem, a psalm, and a song all in one. The first verse says it is a prayer “upon Shigionoth.” While we don’t know the exact meaning of the word, it appears to be a musical or liturgical instruction meaning something like “with song” and instructs something lively or pressing. (Only Psalm 7 also includes this word as an instruction.)This is significant as we realize that his response to God’s judgment, truth, and promise was worship. Though he clearly felt uncertainty, pain, distress, and sadness, he worshipped because worship is not based in our feelings but God’s character and worth.Habakkuk was not struggling with his belief I God’s existence. Rather, he was questioning God’s presence. As Habakkuk thought on God’s supposed inaction, he asked “How long?” and “Why?”. He did not get a specific answer to those questions; however, when he listened to God’s reply and came to understand God’s character, Habakkuk’s attitude produced both praise and petition.
As we enter the Christmas season, we think about advent which is derived from the Latin word for adventus which means “coming”. We celebrate advent in two ways. First, we think of the first coming of Jesus as He fulfilled all the promises of God for a coming Messiah. Second, we think about our own advent as we wait for the second coming of Jesus in which He will fulfill all of God’s promises eternally.We are faced with a world very similar to the people of God that waited for His first coming. As we read the book of Habakkuk, we will hear the prophet ask God questions that might reflect some of our own thinking. We will also read God’s answer and learn about His character from it.
There are many things that separate the Christian faith from the man-made religions of the world. One of the most prominent is the belief in God's promise of a literal, bodily resurrection of people. This principle is taught throughout Scripture with key passages in the Old Testament including Ezekiel and Daniel. We can't teach it all in an evening, so we will mainly look at 1 Corinthians 15 which provides a good summary.
We have been talking about things that the Bible teaches are absolutely necessary in the lives of believers and the church. What would be the essential and basic words that are used to describe: "What is Worship?"
From the creation of man, God designed us for relationships. God told us in Genesis 2:18 that it is not good for man to be alone. The ultimate relationship of fulfillment and satisfaction is the relationship that we have with Him; however, He also designed us to have relationships and community with one another. As Christians, God has called us to love others as He has displayed love toward us. We are to extend love outward to those that are lost, and we are to live in love with the community of believers that God has placed around us. Let's look at some Bible principles for God's family, the church.
So far in our study of “Church Essentials”, we have discussed things like Bible authority, discipleship, evangelism, faith, and personal holiness. All of these are positive things in the life of any Christian or local church body. Of course, there are differences of opinion on each of these topics and many others. How do we as Christians decide the best way to approach these essentials? We do this with faithfulness to Biblical doctrine. The word “doctrine” can often sound formal, scary, or contentious; however, the Biblical word for doctrine simply means teaching. How are the decisions of a Christian and the teachings of a church decided? God tells us exactly where our doctrine should find its roots: in the Bible. Rather than try to cover every doctrine of Scripture in an evening, lets look at a description and an illustration of Bible doctrine.
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Are you discipling others? A disciple simply is a follower or “imitator”. It is someone who is continually moving toward Jesus in relationship with Him. Christian discipleship is the life-long process of following Jesus Christ, becoming more like Him, and helping others to do the same. Jesus commanded all that are part of His church to be going and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
We have been studying things that we believe the Bible teaches are essential in the life of a Christian and church. Though some of these things seem obvious, there are times that we ignore their importance or simply fail to emphasize them. Another essential of the Christian life is the holiness of a believer. Just like the idea of faith, I think we all know that holiness is important, but what is our understanding of it. If we are not careful, we can start in the wrong place with personal holiness. Holiness is not sinlessness, perfection, maturity, experience, or even a level of righteous deeds. If we approach holiness from a place of misunderstanding, there will be certain misapplication. So, how do we know what holiness is? How do we define it and why? Is there an authoritative standard of holiness? Who can make a person holy? First, let’s quickly establish why we know this is essential in the life of all Christians. 1 Peter 1:15-16 - “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
There are many churches that have very similar “statements of faith”; however, they can feel tremendously different. Why is this? Simply stating our faith is not enough. Do we own our faith as individuals and as a church? What is the culture, focus, and emphasis of our church? What is described as truly important to us? If something is really important to us, it should be the very thing that stands out about us. These are the “essentials” of the church. So far we have discussed some of these essentials like the authority of Scripture and our submission to it. Tonight, we will take a quick glimpse at evident faith. We do not simply want to have the “proper code” of faith defined by someone else. We desire to have real faith in the one true and living God. Illustration: If you were charged with being a “person of faith”, what evidence could be found against you? How do we know that faith is an essential of the Christian and the church? Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God! So what is real, Biblical faith? Much passes for “faith these days”, but let’s let the Bible clarify it for us.
When we consider the essentials (a thing that is absolutely necessary) of our individual faith and our church life, we cannot go far without answering questions about authority. What is the final authority of our belief and practice? Fortunately, we have a very clear answer. Part of what sets us apart from catholic and even other church traditions is that we believe the Bible is our “sole authority” for faith and practice. No human or church decree can override the rule of God’s Word in our lives. The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. 2 Timothy 3:15-16, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:3,20-21
Evangelism has always been part of the Bible-believing Christian church. Jesus final and primary command is to make other disciples. As recipients of God’s grace, we are motivated to be outward facing with the message of Christ. We should be intentional in our decisions to maximize our opportunities to declare the Gospel locally and around the world. We are not called to preach ourselves but Jesus Christ the Lord. The Great Commission calls us to an intentional and sacrificial life. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – We have an opportunity and responsibility to be making disciples of Jesus.
Proverbs 4:23 - "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." The heart that Solomon wrote about is not the physical organ beating within our chests. He is speaking about that invisible seat within our soul from which our emotions, desires, affections and intents flow. The heart is the cockpit or dashboard of the soul. The writers of the Bible refer to this part of our lives as "the heart" because it mirrors the importance of our physical beating heart. Everything else in life flows out of it. All aspects of our lives rely on a healthy spiritual heart, and Solomon tells us that we should be guarding our heart. We are to guard our hearts because the "issues of life", pour out of it. The word used for "issues" here refers to anything that comes from or out of another thing. The importance is clear when he says everything else comes out of the heart. As believers, how should we handle our heart and why?
Tonight’s lesson from Proverbs deals with a topic on which there is no shortage of advice or information. Books about parenting children have been published for close to 400 years now. The English verb “to parent” was first used around 1660, and there has been an industry building around teaching people how to parent ever since. Of course, the Bible has much to say about the role of parents and children. There is no shortage of thoughts about how to parent, and it can even be a controversial subject. Though none of us will ever be perfect parents or grandparents, we can place our confidence God’s Word when we follow its teaching on any subject. What does Proverbs teach us about parenting and guiding children in general.
When I was a teenager, God used certain people to help direct my life toward Him. One of these people was the program director of the Wilds at the time, Rand Hummel. During messages, prayers, and counseling sessions, I heard him say many times, “Love what God loves, and hate what God hates.” This evening, we are going to look at a list that Proverbs gives us of things that God hates. The word hate is a common word, and it is one that I think we all can understand the basic sentiment. In the Bible, this word is most often translated as “hate”, but it often carries with it the thought of being directed toward an enemy. This list can be regarded as things that God sees in those that are enemies against Him. Let’s purpose to hate what God hates and love what He loves. We can note that these things encompass different of the body, heart, and thoughts: eyes, mouth, hands, heart, and feet.
Proverbs 3 is written as an endearing admonition from a father to a son. Particularly, from Solomon to his son, but in a broader sense it is God’s Word to His children. The first two verses tell us not to forget the teaching and commands that have been given. There is a unique assurance given with this. It says “length of days, long life, and peace” accompany these principles. This entire portion of his teaching is rooted in verses 5-6. There is a trust and submission that God desires us to surrender to Him. It encompasses all of life. Here, he communicates a few of the areas that we are to trust and submit to God. We our lives “with confidence”, but that confidence must be in the Lord.
Shakespeare is credited with the creating of the “green-eyed monster” of jealousy. During the Renaissance, colors were used to describe different emotions, and green was matched with envy and jealousy. In the tragedy called Othello, the primary character has seeds of doubt planted by others about his wife. The jealousy that he allows to consume his mind unravels his life one strand at a time. Othello was not defeated by an outside enemy but by a monster within. A striking quote from Act 3 Scene 3: ““O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” We can all think of circumstances when jealousy has destroyed from within. Friendships, romances, marriages, families, businesses, sports teams, political administrations, and even neighborly acquaintances: there is seemingly no where that it cannot creep when given an opening. Jealousy is slightly nuanced in comparison to envy. Jealousy has been defined as follows: - hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage - zeal or vehemence of feeling against some person or thing - the state of mind arising from the suspicion, apprehension, or knowledge of rivalry. Fear of being supplanted in the affection, or distrust of the fidelity of a beloved person - resentment or ill will towards another on account of advantage or superiority, imagined or real. It is that which expresses itself in envy or in a grudge We all certainly understand and have felt this thing called jealousy inside of us. Proverbs and the Bible actually has a lot to say about the topic.
Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The word "beginning" (reshith) refers to the chief principle or the first and controlling idea, rather than a stage which someone leaves behind. The fear of God is nor simply an action of the heart and mind, but it is about a right relation to God. When we have this right relation to God, then all we know about life is placed into the proper context. This phrase can be called the motto of the wisdom writings of the Bible. It speaks to an outlook on life, and it drives our view of all other topics. Derek Kidner said of Proverbs, 'It's function in Scripture is to put godliness into working clothes; to name business and society as spheres in which we are to look for training." Understanding and applying the fear of the Lord will not simply be a nice addition to our lives. It must be the core of our lives.
Most of us have probably read Christian books about marriage, parenting, business, finance, leadership, and a variety of topics. However, friendship is probably not one we focused on very often. Friends help produce some of the greatest memories, joy, and support in life. They can also produce some of the greatest hurt and pain when relationships are not handled properly. The absence of friendship can also produce great loneliness and magnify our sorrow. I believe one of the greatest gifts that God intends for us to find in a local church congregation is the blessing of friendships. Relationships and friendships have seemed to shift and change in the last twenty years. Human beings are more mobile, more virtual, and committed to more responsibilities than we ever have been. We have been acquaintances, but not always very many friends. The book of Proverbs has a surprising amount to say about friendships. It speaks to the good and bad nature of different types of friends. From Proverbs, let's look at the type of friends we should be.
For the summer months, we will be looking at select passages from another Old Testament "wisdom book", the book of Proverbs. Studying the book of Proverbs is a wise thing (pun intended), but it is important to always keep the proper perspective on the book. The book of Proverbs is different from the other wisdom books (Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) that offer more abstract wisdom to handle issues broader than general human experience. Proverbs focuses on practical wisdom handling everyday issues and experiences of life. However, it can still be challenging to develop a proper understanding of its teachings.
The world population is quickly closing in on 8 billion people. We should pass that threshold in a matter of months. That number is kind of hard to fathom, but it is growing rapidly. The year I was born (1987) the population rose to 5 billion for the first time. 1960 marked the first time it ever went above 3 billion people. With this vast number of people, the world has become a busy place. It is a distracting place. Nearly 8 billion minds full of differences in opinions and focus. Everywhere you look, someone or something is vying for attention. However, all 8 billion of us were created with the same singular purpose in mind: to glorify God in loving relationship with our Creator. How can we stay focused in a world where billions are not focused on their real purpose in life. Jeremiah was a man who seemed to remain constantly focused on the task of serving the Lord regardless of life and those around him. Ridicule, invasion, mockery, imprisonment, exile, abuse, mistreatment, heartbreak, embarrassment: these are just a few ways to describe the life events we have seen in Jeremiah. God remained faithful to Jeremiah and thankfully Jeremiah set an example of being faithful to Him. Jeremiah 9 presents a simple challenge to remain focused on God even in a distracting world. Jeremiah 9:23-26 is a message from God Himself to a people that had been allured by idols, focused on political alignments, broken by disappointment, and grieved by destruction. It seemed they just wanted what any other self-respecting nation could want: freedom, independence, strength, resources, power, security, and influence. The problem was that they had forsaken their relationship with God to get these things. They had become utterly distracted in doing so.
We naturally want life to come in big strides. Especially when we face a difficult circumstance or seemingly long and difficult season of life, we just want to be swept from one phase right into the next. However, we know that God has chosen not to work this way. Most of our lives are spent making small steps, not huge leaps. God calls us to faithful obedience in each of these. We can see faithful obedience in Jeremiah’s life happened on a day-by-day basis regardless of what circumstances each day brought.
Life can often feel like a paradox: a set of opposite circumstances or contradictory truths that when examined are found to both be proven true. Our desires can feel conflicted. Our emotions can feel unstable. Our thoughts can battle one against the other. This is certainly the case with Jeremiah in our passage for this evening. Jeremiah is a servant of the almighty God of the universe, but he is experiencing some of the most difficult and degrading circumstances that human life could offer. In Jeremiah 20, we will see the heart of a man who finds his relationship with God to be his source of encouragement in an extremely discouraging life.