THE CONTEXT a) Impressive Heritage b) Amazing History c) Imposing Society THE COMMENDATION a) Hard Work (v2) b) Patient Endurance (v2) c) High Standards of Holiness (v2) d) Spiritually Discerning (v2, 6) e) Faithful in the Fight (v3) THE CONCERN Abandoning Your First Love (v4) THE COMMAND Remember! – Repent! – Repeat! (v5) THE CONSEQUENCES…
1. TWO OPPOSITES! A Pharisee and a tax collector 2. TWO OFFERINGS! One of pride, one of brokenness 3. TWO OUTCOMES! One satisfied, one justified
Soak your minds in the truths of God’s Word Be constantly thankful Pray for wisdom, revelation and knowledge Pray for the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit Pray in the light of our glorious and certain future Pray regularly Recognise our unity and union Pray for strength and stability Pray in the light of…
Starts with a COMMAND: LISTEN! Ends with a PLEA: He who has ears to hear, let him hear Listening must be ACTIVE Faith must SERIOUS, PERSISTENT & PERCEPTIVE The Context – The Kingdom of God The Components The Seed – The Word of God The Sower – God making His Word known The Soil –…
PROMPT (v1-3) a) Situation 538BC – Regime change (v1) b) Scriptures “understood from the scriptures” (v2) c) Seriousness Intensity of a bereavement, fasting (v3) PATTERN (v4-14) a) Confession (v4) Agreeing with God about sin b) Contrast God’s character vs Judah’s conduct c) Consequences “You have fulfilled” (v12) PLEA (v15-19) a) Consistency With His great Name…
THREE DEMANDS You must love Jesus more than everything else including family (v26) If you are not willing to “bear your cross” you cannot be a disciple of Jesus (v27) You must not let your possessions be more important than Jesus (v33) TWO PARABLES Someone who is building a tower – a builder…
1. His Fund 2. His Farm 3. His Folly
Jacob: 1) HIS BURDEN! (v24) Loneliness, Guilt, Regret, Fear & Dread “And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day” 2) HIS BATTLE! (v24) Wrestling, Hurting, Pleading, Clinging 3) HIS BLESSING! (v27-28) Israel……Prince with God – Transformed
1) TRADESMEN! Mr Wise-Man & Sons Mr Folly & Sons Two World Views 2) TEMPESTS! Rain, Floods, Wind & Storms 3) TRUTH! On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand
God’s love Shown Through Jesus is: 1. A PRACTICAL LOVE Jesus was compassionate and it always led to action. “To see good put into action is what everyone needs.” 2. A PERSONAL LOVE Jesus met people in their own situations. He did not sit in the Temple and expect people to come to Him….