1. The Lord’s Unsettling Greatness (44:24-45:8)
Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, Saviour
2. The People’s Unacceptable Grievance (45:9-13)
I’m your God, not your puppet”
3. The Lord’s Unending Grace (45:14-25)
Universal Invitation; Personal Application; Missionary Implication
1. Be Strong… in the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:1-12) 2. Stand Firm (2 Chronicles 20:13-22) IS BEING A CHRISTIAN EASY? 1. Expect Opposition 2. Don’t underestimate the spiritual forces of evil. 3. Fight the spiritual battle with spiritual weapons
1. BE JOYFUL! (v4-5) Rejoice in the Lord, He is near 2. BE PRAYERFUL! (v6-7) Choose prayer not despair Let peace guard your heart & mind Pray about everything 3. BE THOUGHTFUL! (v8-9) Practise thought management by the power of the Holy Spirit: Truth, honour, justice, purity, loveliness, commendation, excellence & praise Emulate, demonstrate
THE BACK GROUND OF THE LETTER The poor and persecuted Smyrnean Christians THE MESSAGE OF THE LETTER I know your suffering and poverty – Yet you are rich! I know about the slander you suffer – Do not be afraid You will suffer persecution for a time – Be faithful, even unto death, and…
1) SOVEREIGNTY! (v1-6) The sovereign Lord permits a wicked foe to strike a faithful servant 2) SUFFERING! (v7-10) The torment of body, mind & soul 3) SILENCE! (v11-13) Of Job Of his friends Of God
1. WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Simplest definition: ‘God with us’ Starting at the beginning: ‘God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s blessing.’ Heaven (God’s space) & Earth (our space) 2 Kingdoms: God’s Kingdom & Human kingdom Jesus comes to: Make us God’s people (1 Peter 2:9) Transfer us to God’s place (Colossians 1:13)…
1) ITS FOUNDATION! (v3-5) “A Family”, “In Christ”, “Loved by God”, “Chosen out of the World”, Transformed by the Gospel 2) ITS FERVOUR! (v6-9) For: Christlikeness (v6), joyful perseverance (v6), exemplary behaviour (v7), passionate evangelism (v8), repentance (v9), service (v9) 3) ITS FUTURE! (v10) Rapture with the risen deliverer