2018-05
2018-05
Wednesday May 23, 2018
The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 4: The Ideal Jerusalem, Lost and Found (Isaiah 2:1–4:6)
Wednesday May 23, 2018
Wednesday May 23, 2018
The Ideal Jerusalem, Lost and Found (Isaiah 2:1–4:6)1
1. The Heading (2:1)
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: (Isaiah 2:1, NIV)
2. The Ideal Jerusalem: The Great ‘Might Have Been’ (2:2–4)
2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:2–4, NIV)
a. The Lord’s Temple (v. 2)2
b. The Lord’s People and His Word (v. 3)
c. The Lord’s Peace (v. 4)
3. The Actual Jerusalem: The House of Jacob Forsaken (2:5–4:1)3
a. Trusting in Mankind (2:5–22)
i. Full, but Empty (2:5–11)
5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. 6 You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs. 7 Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. 8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. 9 So people will be brought low and everyone humbled— do not forgive them. 10 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty! 11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:5–11, NIV)
ii. High, but Low (2:12–18)
12 The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), 13 for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan, 14 for all the towering mountains and all the high hills, 15 for every lofty tower and every fortified wall, 16 for every trading ship and every stately vessel. 17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, 18 and the idols will totally disappear. (Isaiah 2:12–18, NIV)
iii. Reduced to the Caves (2:19–22)
19 People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. 20 In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. 21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. 22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? (Isaiah 2:19–22, NIV)
b. The Folly of Human Dependence (3:1–4:1)
i. Boys for Men (3:1–7)
1 See now, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, 2 the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, 3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. 4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.” 5 People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored. 6 A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!” 7 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.” (Isaiah 3:1–7, NIV)
ii. Plunderers for Leaders (3:8–15)
8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. 9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. 10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. 12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. 13 The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. 14 The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 3:8–15, NIV)
iii. Shame for Beauty: The Humiliation of the Haughty Daughters of Jerusalem4 (3:16–4:1)
16 The Lord says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. 17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.” 18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. 24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding. 25 Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. 26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. 1 In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” (Isaiah 3:16–4:1, NIV)
4. The New Jerusalem: The Greatness that Is ‘Yet to Be’ (4:2–6)
2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:2–6, NIV)
a. The Branch (v. 2)5
b. The Lord’s Cleansing and Protection (vv. 3–6)
Notes:1 The main structure of this outline is derived from J. Alec Motyer’s two commentaries on Isaiah.2 See Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah for these subpoints.3 See. John N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT) for point 3 and subpoints.4NIV Zondervan Study Bible.5 See Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah for these subpoints.
Sunday May 20, 2018
“Believing, Loving, Working, Persevering” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)
Sunday May 20, 2018
Sunday May 20, 2018
“Believing, Loving, Working, Persevering” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, May 20, 2018 (Senior Saints Day and Honoring Graduates)
2 Thessalonians 1:3–12 (NIV) 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.1. Believing (vv. 3–4)
a. Cause for thanksgiving (v. 3)b. Evident to all (v. 3)c. Growing more and more (v. 3)d. Worthy of imitation (v. 4)
2. Loving (v. 3)
a. Love for one another rooted in faith (v. 3)b. Increasing love for one another (v. 3)
3. Working (vv. 11–12)
a. Living worthy of God’s calling by his grace (v. 11)b. God may bring to fruition by his power: (v. 11)
i. Your every desire for goodnessii. Your every deed prompted by faith.
c. For the glory of the name of Jesus (v. 12)d. So that you may be glorified in him (v. 12)e. All Christian work is through faith and accomplished by the grace of God (v. 12).
4. Persevering (vv. 3–10)
a. Growing faith is tested through trial but perseveres (vv. 3–4).b. Growing faith produces love for one another that endures through trials (vv. 3–4).c. Growing faith continues to do good works in the face of persecution and trial (vv. 11–12).d. Growing faith trusts God to make all things right on the last day (vv. 5–10):
i. To reward his children with his eternal kingdom (v. 5).ii. To comfort and give relief to his suffering children (v. 7)iii. To justly dispense justice to wrongdoers (v. 5–6, 8–9)iv. This will all happen on the day of Christ’s return, so we must continue to endure in faith, love, and good deeds—even in the face of intense persecution and trials.
Main Idea: This is Paul’s prayer, and it is mine for us today as well: that we would be the people of Christ characterized by growing faith, increasing love, good desires and deeds, and enduring perseverance in trial. These are the marks of Christ’s people; may they be evident in us.
Wednesday May 16, 2018
The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 3: Chapter 1: The Failure of God’s People
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Isaiah Chapter 1: The Failure of God’s People
Title (1:1)
1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1, NIV)
Isaiah’s Opening Words to God’s People (1:2–31)**
1) God’s Witnesses against the People (1:2–3)
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:2–3, NIV)
2) God’s Description of the People (1:4–9)
a) The People (1:4–6)
4 Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. 5 Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil. (Isaiah 1:4–6, NIV)
b) The Land (1:7–9)
7 Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. 8 Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. 9 Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:7–9, NIV)
3) God’s Indictment of the People (1:10–15)
a) The Situation (1:10–14)
10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. (Isaiah 1:10–14, NIV)
b) The Result (1:15)
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! (Isaiah 1:15, NIV)
4) God’s Solution for the People (1:16–20)
a) God’s Commands (1:16–17)
16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:16–17, NIV)
b) God’s Promises (1:18–20)
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18–20, NIV)
5) God’s Lament over the People (1:21–26)
a) Jerusalem’s Sinful Condition (1:21–23)
21 See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! 22 Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water. 23 Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. (Isaiah 1:21–23, NIV)
b) Jerusalem’s Coming Purge (1:24–26)
24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. 25 I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. 26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” (Isaiah 1:24–26, NIV)
6) God’s Promise to His People (1:27–31)
a) Blessing to the Repentant (1:27)
27 Zion will be delivered with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. (Isaiah 1:27, NIV)
b) Judgment to Transgressors (1:28–31)
28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish. 29 “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. 30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. 31 The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.” (Isaiah 1:28–31, NIV)
** The outline for this lesson is from Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah: A Historical and Theological Survey, Encountering the Bible Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007).
Sunday May 13, 2018
“The Genesis of Motherhood” (Selections from Genesis 1–4)
Sunday May 13, 2018
Sunday May 13, 2018
“The Genesis of Motherhood” (Selections from Genesis 1–4)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, May 13, 2018
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26–28, NIV)
1. The grand purpose of motherhood in God’s world.
2. The great pain of motherhood in a sin-cursed world.
16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16, NIV)
3. The gracious privilege of motherhood in a sin-cursed world.
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:20–21, NIV)
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. (Genesis 4:1–2, NIV)
25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 4:25–26, NIV)
4. God’s gospel plan for motherhood to rescue a sin-cursed world.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, NIV)
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1–3, NIV)
4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. (Genesis 17:4–7, NIV)
15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” (Genesis 17:15–16, NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Galatians 4:4–5, NIV)
Wednesday May 09, 2018
The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 2: Structure and Themes
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Wednesday May 09, 2018
The Prophecy of Isaiah
Lesson 2: The Book’s Structure and Main Themes
Structure of the Book of Isaiah
Importance of chapters 36-39Form a historical interlude between chapters 1-35 and 40-66.
Chs. 36-37: the defeat of Assyria, which is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies in chs. 1-35.
Chs. 38-39 predict the Babylonian captivity, which is the dominant theme of chs. 40-66.
Chapters 1-35Chs. 1-6: Opening Messages and the Call of Isaiah
Chs. 7-12: The Rule of Assyria and the Messiah
Chs. 13-23: Oracles against the Nations
Chs. 24-27: The Apocalypse
Chs. 28-35: Book of Woes and Restoration
Chapters 36-39: Historical InterludeChs. 36-37: The Fall of Assyria
Chs. 38-39: The Rise of Babylon and Prediction of the Babylonian Captivity
Chapters 40-66Chs. 40-48: Deliverance from Babylon
Chs. 49-57: The Ministry of the Servant of the Lord
Chs. 58-66: Ultimate Blessing for God’s People
Isaiah’s Main Themes
Standard pre-exilic message:You’ve broken the covenant (through idolatry, social injustice, religious ritualism) so repent!
No repentance? Then judgment! Judgment will also come for the nations.
Yet there is hope beyond the judgment for a glorious future restoration both for Judah/Israel and the nations.
Remnant
Recurring theme word (šeʾār, šeʾērît)
“Remainder,” “rest,” or “residue.”
Theologically it refers to the faithful remainder of people that God has chosen, people who are looking to God to work his will in and through them.
They return to the Lord and experience the fullness of salvation when others don’t.
The Sovereignty of God
God is the sovereign Lord of the universe, and as Sovereign, he is actively at work in the world, guiding all history in accordance with his grand purpose.
“The Lord has spoken” – when the ruler speaks, the matter is settled.
God’s sovereignty does not end at the borders of Israel or Judah. He is the Lord of all nations, whether they know him or not.
Even though Isaiah ministered primarily to Judah, he understood the universal sovereignty of God.
Many people from many nations will recognize God’s sovereignty one day, while others never will, but God nonetheless remains sovereign (10:5–7; 37:24–26).
The Servant
“Servant” (ʿebed) occurs 39 times in Isaiah.
Servants are slaves to their master. Their duty consists totally of doing their master’s will.
In Isaiah, the term “servant” occasionally describes God’s people as a group (41:8; 54:17) but usually denotes individuals who fully follow God’s will and serve his people faithfully (22:20; 42:1; 52:13).
Serving their master faithfully fulfills God’s will for their lives.
The NT makes much use of this “servant” concept, using the Greek equivalent (doulos) 122 times.
The OT “servant of the Lord” becomes “servant of Christ” in the NT.
Paul argued that slavery to God brought people true freedom—freedom to become all God has created them to be.
The Holy One of Israel
“Holy One of Israel” occurs 31 times in the OT, and 25 of those are in Isaiah.
The words of the seraphim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty . . .” (Is 6:3), profoundly affected Isaiah’s thinking and theology.
God stood utterly apart from his creation, including his people.
His holy nature clashed with his people’s sin. Yet he loved them, desired fellowship with them, and called to them through the law of Moses, as well as through Isaiah and other prophets.
The expression “Holy One of Israel” occurs in both judgmental and redemptive contexts.
The Holy One of Israel has experienced rejection from his people, who have resisted his sovereign purposes (Is 1:4; 5:19, 24).
He also will judge nations who oppose him (37:23).
But the Holy One of Israel also stands as Israel’s Savior (43:3) and Redeemer (43:14), who delivers them from exile and establishes his kingdom.
The Messiah
The word “Messiah” comes from the Hebrew māšîaḥ, which means “anointed one.”
Kings, priests, and prophets all experienced God’s anointing, which symbolized God setting them apart for special service.
The term māšîaḥ and the corresponding verbal form māšaḥ occur only twice in Isaiah (45:1; 61:1 respectively).
One of the most interesting usages appears in 45:1, where Cyrus, king of Persia, is so designated.
We do not know to what extent Cyrus understood his mandate from the Lord (Ezr 1:1), but the Bible is clear that God set him apart for a special work: to bring his people back to their land.
The Messiah is God’s chosen instrument to bring about his kingdom.
Even though the word does not occur regularly in Isaiah, the concept of messiah lies beneath the surface of many prophetic utterances (9:6–7; 11:1–10; 32:1–4; 42:1–4; 52:13–53:12).
God’s chosen instrument works faithfully to bring about God’s earthly and heavenly kingdoms.
Though many prophets, priests, and kings carried the title māšîaḥ in Old Testament times, the New Testament points to Jesus, God’s Son, as the ultimate Messiah (Gk. Christos).
As we will see, many of Isaiah’s prophetic utterances point to this Jesus.
Resources used for this lesson:
Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah
J. Daniel Hays, The Message of the Prophets
Herbert M. Wolf, Interpreting Isaiah
Sunday May 06, 2018
"The Sabbath in the New Testament" (Exodus 20:8-11)
Sunday May 06, 2018
Sunday May 06, 2018
“The Sabbath in the New Testament” (Exodus 20:8–11)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, May 6, 2018
Exodus 20:8–11 (NIV)
8“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
1. What did the Sabbath command mean for an OT Israelite?
a. The 7th day (and uniquely the 7th day) was holy, because it was the day on which the Lord rested after Creation.b. The 7th day was a day for rest from all ordinary work and labor – from the head of society down to the lowliest animal of burden.c. The 7th day was a day of worship and community praise and sacrifice to the LORD.d. The 7th day rest was an opportunity to trust God and remember that they were ultimately dependent on him not on their own labors.e. The 7th day was a gift from God for the good of his people.f. The 7th day rest was to be shared with everyone in the land, even those not born as Israelites.g. The 7th day Sabbath was a special covenant sign given to the Nation of Israel, to specially remind them of God’s unique covenant with them separate from all the other nations on earth. As the rainbow was given to Noah and as circumcision was given to Abraham, the Sabbath was given to Israel at Sinai as a covenant sign.
2. What does the Sabbath command mean for a NT Christian?
a. When Jesus came, he rescued the Sabbath from its legalistic distortion and restored its original gracious purpose.b. When Jesus came, he was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses given at Sinai.
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17–18, NIV)
"The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it. (Luke 16:16, NET)
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4, NIV)
For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (Romans 10:4, NLT)
c. What do the apostles/NT writers say about Sabbath?
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. (Acts 20:7, NIV)
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:2, NIV)
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17, NIV)
1Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:1–6, NIV)
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10, NIV)
3. What are the principles of the Sabbath that can still be applied today?
⦁ God is Lord of Time. The Lord is sovereign over our time.⦁ Man is to be a working people. Human beings have a responsibility to work and to use time wisely and industriously. ⦁ A time of rest is a gift of God to human beings, and regular rest should be taken (the principle of 1 day in 7 is set forth in Creation).⦁ All time should be set aside as holy to God. When Romans 14 talks about “a person regards every day alike” – this does not mean that every day is regular or profane, but rather that every day is holy for the worship of God.⦁ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1, NIV)⦁ Sabbath teaches us to express our dependence on God and not on our self-sufficiency. This is still true today. We ultimately depend on God for our needs. Jesus, the fulfillment of the Sabbath, reminds us that we cannot depend on our works to get us to God, but rather we must rest/rely on Christ and trust his provision.
Sunday May 06, 2018
"The Security of the Believer" (Romans 8:38-39)
Sunday May 06, 2018
Sunday May 06, 2018
"The Security of the Believer" (Romans 8:38-39)Pastor Cameron JungelsEastside Baptist ChurchSunday AM, May 6, 2018Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8:9-11 ... And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:14-17 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:29-30 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Wednesday May 02, 2018
The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 1: Introduction
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Isaiah: Lesson 1
Introduction to Isaiah*
Isaiah the Man
Isaiah’s Times
Authorship and Date of the Book
Date of Isaiah’s Ministry
Isaiah’s Message
Isaiah the Man
His Name“Yahweh Saves”
His FamilySon of Amoz
Royal lineage
His DeathMartyr’s death
Isaiah’s Times
1The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Isaiah 1:1)
Uzziah2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 26:1-23
792-740 B.C.
Also known as Azariah
Characterized as a good king
King at age 16 and reigned 52 yrs.
Pride – died a leper
Jotham2 Kings 15:32–38; 2 Chron. 27:1–9
750–732 B.C.
Good king
Co-reigned with father for 11 yrs.
Pressure from Israel/Syria alliance
Ahaz2 Kings 16:1–20; 2 Chron. 28:1–27
732–715 B.C.
Evil and idolatrous king
Forced to choose between Israel/Syria and trusting God.
He chose to ally with Assyria and faced the consequences.
Hezekiah2 Kings 18:1–20:21; 2 Chron. 29:1–32:33
729–686 B.C.
Good king; cleansed the temple
N. Kingdom fell to Assyria in 722
Lord delivered him from his foolish choice to rebel against Assyria.
Manasseh2 Kings 21:1–18; 2 Chron. 33:1–20
696–642 B.C.
Evil and idolatrous
Tradition has him putting the prophet Isaiah to death.
Spiritual damage was irreversible after Manasseh’s reign.
Author and Date
Traditional ViewIsaiah – one author
8th century B.C.
Critical ViewMultiple authors
Others finished the book after Isaiah died.
Dates of Isaiah’s Ministry
Most scholars believe Isaiah 6:1-8 describes his divine call to become a prophet of God.
Isaiah 6:1–8 (NIV)
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Began ministry around 740 B.C., the year of King Uzziah’s death.
Possibly put to death during early part of Manasseh’s reign.
Possible dates of 740-690 B.C. for Isaiah’s ministry.
Isaiah’s Message
Forthtelling
Foretelling
Focus on Judah
Global in Scope
*Two primary sources were used for this lesson: Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah, and Richard J. Schultz, “How Many Isaiahs Were There and What Does It Matter?”