Entertaining Angels

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Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 

Commentaries cross-reference this verse with Genesis 18:1-15

Genesis 18:1-15 (NLT)
A Son Is Promised to Sarah
1 The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
3 “My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. 4 Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. 5 And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”
“All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”
6 So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” 7 Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.
9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”
But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 18:1-15 (NLT)
A Son Is Promised to Sarah
1 The Lord appeared again to Abraham

 The Lord and two angels.  (This will be clear shortly.)

  • The Lord and two angles appeared to Abraham and Sarah in human form.

God came to Abraham.

 Various roles of angels in the Scriptures:

Communicate information

Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

John 20:11-12 (NLT)
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

Matthew 28:6  (NLT)
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Accompany Jesus

Matthew 16:27 (NLT)
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

 2 Thessalonians 1:7 (NLT)
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

 Protection/Care

Matthew 4:11 (NLT)
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Luke 4:10 (NLT)
For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.

Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)
Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

 Psalm 91:11 (NLT)
For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.

 Matthew 18:10 (NLT)
“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

 Matthew 26:53 (NLT)
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?

Worship/Praise God

Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Revelation 5:11 (NLT)
Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.

Luke 15:10 (NLT)
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Gather the chosen

Matthew 24:31 (NLT)
And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

  • Angels are real and play many different roles throughout the scriptures.

 near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.

This is where Abraham moved to after he and Lot split up.

Genesis 13:18 (NLT)
So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.

 One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby.

 In previous encounters, the Lord simply “appeared”.

 When he saw them, he ran to meet them

 1 Peter 4:9 (NLT)
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

 He ran – In the Middle East an elderly socially prominent man normally would not run

  •  Abraham did not hesitate to show hospitality to his three visitors.

and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.

 3 “My lord,” he said,

             A common way of speaking to special guests.

  •  Abraham treated his guests with respect.

 Refer to the use of “Lord” later in the chapter.

Initially, Abraham may or may not have known this was Yahweh but he certainly knew before too long.

Genesis 18:22 (NLT)
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.

Genesis 18:30-31 (NLT)
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

  “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. 4 Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. 

 Typical greeting.

 5 And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”

 In reality, what happened here was that the Lord came to Abraham.

 Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

 Share a meal as friends – more intimate

  • Jesus makes it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with Him.

 Jesus comes to us.

How do we respond?

Do we even recognize Jesus?

 “All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” 7 Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. 

  •  Abraham was generous with his guests.

A period of time to “visit”.

 8 When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.

 A significant amount of food.

 Abraham had servants, but here he did the serving.

  • Abraham displayed a servant’s heart.

 The reason for the visit.

 9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.

10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”

 A repetition, with more details, of the promise made in 17:16.

God was making his message crystal clear.

 Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 

 Long past the age of having children.

 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said,

 Genesis 17:17 (NLT)
Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”

 “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 

Sarah was still not receptive to God’s plan for her life.

There is a lesson here for us.

 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 

 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

 Repetition of the promise.

  • Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”

 Repentance vs. denial

 But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

  •  It doesn’t make sense to lie to God. He knows our hearts.

The High Cost of Violating Biblical Principles.

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1 Corinthians 6:15-20  (Part two of 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Review:

Who said, “I am allowed to do anything”?

Paul is addressing sexual immorality. The Corinthians wanted to argue that sexual immorality was o.k.

Sexual immorality.

  • Sexual immorality was taking place in the Corinthian church.
  • Sexual immorality has no place in the life of a Christian.
  • No other sin so clearly affects the body as sexual immorality does.
  • Sexual immorality is very much a part of the world we live in.

 “TV shows are going way too far to attract viewers.”

“Parents are failing in their duty towards their children. Children have the opportunity of watching “porn movies” for instance, because there is little or no parental mediation. Some parents are so busy nowadays that they hardly have time to find out the type of films their children watch.”

 The internet is easy access to inappropriate content.

  • As parents or teachers, we need to be teaching values that are counter to or in opposition to many of the values taught by the world.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NLT)
15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” 17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NLT)
15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

  • Christians, and their bodies, are part of Christ. (verse 15)
  • Christians were bought by God and belong to God. (verse 20)
  • The body of a Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (verse 19)

Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute?

Last lesson:
Paul argues that the argument supporting sexual immorality cannot be compared to the hunger experienced by the stomach.

The body in this context meant more than the physical frame.  It referred to the whole person, composed of flesh and spirit.  The body was not perishable, but eternal and was not meant for sexual immorality, but for union with the Lord.

 Never! 

 This behavior may be o.k. in the eyes of the world, but it is never o.k. in the eyes of God.

 Here is the argument from a Biblical (Paul’s) point of view.

 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her?
For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” 

  •  Sex in marriage was designed by God to create a very special and unique relationship between a man and a woman. (Genesis and Ephesians )

Ephesians 5:31-32 (NLT)
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

 This is a great mystery, therefore we won’t understand everything there is to understand about this union.

Genesis 2:24 (NLT)
24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

A very unique relationship is formed between a man and his wife.

A similar unique relationship is formed between a man and a prostitute. (Verse 16)

  • Sex with a prostitute makes the prostitute a part of a unique relationship between a man and a woman.

 17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

 Ephesians 5:31-32
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

  • Christ and the church are one.

Add a prostitute to this mix.  Never  (verse 15)  It just doesn’t work.  This is no longer an illustration of Christ and the church.

  • Sexual immorality destroys the relationship between Christ and the Church.

 18 Run from sexual sin!

 Ephesians 5:3-9 (NLT)
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 

 Venereal disease and HIV

 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Who said, “I am allowed to do anything”?

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1 Corinthians 6:12-14

Part One – Part Two next lesson

Who said, “I am allowed to do anything”?

Paul is addressing sexual immorality. The Corinthians wanted to argue that sexual immorality was o.k.

Are you surprised?

(Next lesson will deal more with the sexual immorality.)

The Biblical principle applies to sin in general.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NLT)
I Am Allowed To Do Anything.
12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.

 Examine the scriptures:

Who said, “I am allowed to do anything”?

1 Corinthians 6:12-14 (NLT)
12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”

 You say

 A quote used by the Corinthians.

We can use scripture to support this quote.

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Romans 8:1 (NLT)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

 John 8:36 (NLT)
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

  •  If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Consider the truth in the following statements:

Our freedom in Christ means that we do not have to keep the law in order to be saved nor are we obligated to be morally perfect before people.

“Jesus died for you—He has done everything.”

“You have forgiveness, no matter how much you sin.”

“Once saved, always saved.”

God forgives but …

Our freedom can be used properly or it can be abused.

Is grace a license to sin?

Romans 6:1-2 (NLT)
Sin’s Power Is Broken
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Galatians 5:13 (NLT)
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

You have a choice.

Use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature or use your freedom to serve one another in love.

  • Don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

 —but not everything is good for you.

 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT)
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.

 Sin has consequences

Rubber band illustration.

  •  Sin has consequences.

 And even though (you say) “I am allowed to do anything,”

 I must not become a slave to anything. 

Romans 6:16-22 (NLT)
16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death (separation from God), or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

  •  You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.

My paraphrase: You become a slave of the lifestyle you choose to live.

Romans 6:12 (NLT)
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

Romans 7:6 (NLT)
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

  •  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

Corinthian argument:

 13 You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.)

 Biological examples used by the Corinthians:

Food was both pleasurable and necessary.  When the stomach signaled hunger, food was eaten to satisfy that hunger.

 Sex is both pleasurable and necessary.
When their bodies signaled sexual desires, they needed to be satisfied.

But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality.

 The specific sin that Paul is addressing is sexual immorality.

 They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 

 Paul argues that the argument supporting sexual immorality cannot be compared to the hunger experienced by the stomach.

The body in this context meant more than the physical frame.  It referred to the whole person, composed of flesh and spirit.  The body was not perishable, but eternal and was not meant for sexual immorality, but for union with the Lord.

 1 Corinthians 15:35-54 (NLT)
The Resurrection Body
35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. 39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

  •  Our bodies were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.

14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.

 

God tells of His plans for Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael.

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Previous lesson:

the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

“I (God Almighty) will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants ….”

  • God is omnipotent.
    •  God is “The Overpowerer,” meaning He will do what He purposes to do, overpowering   all opposition.
    •  God is “The All Sufficient One…” He doesn’t need our help!
    • God is the Almighty One who supplies and satisfies our every need.
    • God nourishes and supplies the needs of His people.
    • God is more than sufficient to meet any need. He is power and provision.
    • God would be sufficient for Abram’s every need.

Today’s lesson

God tells of His plans for Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael.

The sovereignty of God: all things are under His control.

Genesis 17:15-27 (NLT)
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.
23 On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 17:15-27 (NLT)
Sarai Is Named Sarah
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 

“my princess” changed to “princess”

Princess – one whose seed would produce kings.

 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her!

Genesis 21:2-3 (NLT)
2 She (Sarah) became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac.

 Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

Sarah is blessed with a son.

Sarah is richly blessed by becoming the mother of many nations.  Kings will be among her descendants.

Much like the promise made to Abraham.

Genesis 17:5 (NLT)
What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief.

Abraham laughed in disbelief.

Review: the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

 Abraham did not fully grasp what God was telling him.  Isn’t this also true for us?

He (we) had a partial understanding of what God was saying.

 

  • Abraham did not fully grasp all that God was telling him.

This all sounded incredible to Abraham.  He had assumed that his descendants would come through Ishmael.

Abraham knew (believed) that he would be the father of many nations.  This was the first mention that his barren, old wife was to be the mother.

 “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 

 Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT)
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.

  •  God does what He says He will do.

 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

Abraham still saw Ishmael as special.

Abraham asked that Ishmael would receive the special blessing from God.

Still willing to help God with an alternate solution “to the problem”.

 19 But God replied, “No—

  •  God often says “No” to His people.

Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 

God’s plan

Isaac means “he laughs”

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

  • God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Mark 10:27 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 

God partially honors Abraham’s request in verse 18.

21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 

 God’s covenant will continue through Isaac.

 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

23 On that very day

 Obedience

 Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

 Trust and obey

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 16:20 (NLT)
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

  • Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Don’t Fool Yourselves.

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1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Don’t Fool Yourselves

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Not everyone will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

 John 3:16-21 (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

  •  Not everyone will spend eternity in heaven.

 Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

These verses describe the true nature of the lost.

These behaviors certainly do not display the true nature of the saved.

Believers can and do commit these sins, but these verses do not describe the character of someone who has been born into God’s family.

1 John 3:7-10 (NLT)
7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Key phrase:  Don’t fool yourselves.

  •  Don’t fool yourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you (is in you,); if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

 Galatians 5:19-23 (NLT)
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

  True believers who do sin, resent that sin and seek to gain victory over it.

 11 Some of you were once like that.

 Romans 3:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

  •  Everyone has sinned.

 But you were cleansed; you were made holy;

 Titus 3:5 (NLT)
he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:13 (NLT)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

  •   Christians have been rescued by God from the kingdom of darkness and have been transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

 you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

 John 3:16 (NLT)
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 3:22-25
22  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. 

  Romans 10:9-13 (NLT)
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 Acts 2:21 (NLT)
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’

Romans 8:33 (NLT)
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.

  • We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I (God Almighty) Will Confirm My Covenant – Genesis 17:1-14

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“I (God Almighty) will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants …. ‘

Genesis 17:1-14 (NLT)
Abram Is Named Abraham
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

The Mark of the Covenant

9 Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 17:1-14 (NLT)
Abram Is Named Abraham
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,

 13 years after the birth of Ishmael.

Sarai had not yet given birth to a son.

the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

One of the most well-known names for the Lord, El Shaddai,

English as “God Almighty,” and it is found in Job more than any other book in Scripture.

This title would be used to describe His power.

  • God is omnipotent.
    • God is the Almighty One who supplies and satisfies our every need.
    • God nourishes and supplies the needs of His people.
    • God is “The All Sufficient One…” He doesn’t need our help!
    • God is more than sufficient to meet any need. He is power and provision.
    • God is “The Overpowerer,” meaning He will do what He purposes to do, overpowering all opposition.
    • God would be sufficient for Abram’s every need.

Exodus 15:6 (NLT)
“Your right hand, O Lord,
is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord,
smashes the enemy.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Luke 1:37 (NLT)
For the word of God will never fail.”

Psalm 115:3 (NLT)
Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.

Job 42:2(NLT)
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.”

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT)
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”

  •  God’s power is a resource for Christians.

Ephesians 1:19-23 (NLT)
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

 Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

 Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 

 Expectations for Abram.

Called to a higher standard of living.

Expectations for Christians.

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

 Philippians 1:9-10 (NLT)
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Holy, without fault, pure, and blameless.
(What God has begun in the past will be completed in the future.)

Holy- set apart

Pure – Not weakened or diluted (metal – wine)

Blameless –Free from accusation. Used to describe sacrificial lambs.
Above reproach
Right relationship with God and others.
Not causing others to stumble.

2 Peter 3:14 (NLT)
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Desire to live the life God called you to live. (Remember God’s power.)

  • God chose us (Christians) to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

 3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,

 Postures give expression to the attitudes of our hearts.

 4 “This is my covenant with you:

 I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 

 Previously
Genesis 15:5 (NLT)
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 

Abram –      High father or “exalted father.”

Abraham – Father of many, father of a multitude

Romans 4:17 (NLT)
That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

 Belief vs. keeping the law

6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!

 7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation.

 God confirms His covenant.

God repeats His covenant.

God’s covenant is everlasting.

 This is the everlasting covenant:

 I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 

 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

 The Mark of the Covenant

9 Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant.

 Acts 7:5 (NLT)
“But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.

 You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 

 Zephaniah 3:12-13 (NLT)
12 Those who are left will be the lowly and humble,
for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will never tell lies or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety,
and no one will make them afraid.”

 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 

Not a Hebrew invention – used in Egypt as an act of ritual purity

A new meaning here.

  • Physical circumcision was a reminder of God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

Separation

Purity (cut away sin)

Loyalty

  • True circumcision is a change of heart produced by the Spirit.

Deuteronomy 30:6 (NLT)
“The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Romans 2:28-29 (NLT)
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Romans 4:11 (NLT)
 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.

12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 

  •  Circumcision has nothing to do with racial purity.

13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

The Council of Jerusalem did not include religious male circumcision as a requirement for new Gentile converts. Acts 15.

 

How Dare You!

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How Dare You!

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (NLT)

Avoiding Lawsuits with Christians
1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (NLT)
Avoiding Lawsuits with Christians
1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 

  • Disputes between believers should be resolved in the church.

2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world?

 Revelation 2:26-27 (NLT)
26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,
To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.

 And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 

  • Christians are qualified to resolve conflicts.

4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 

 Resources available to Christians for conflict resolution that are not available to the unbeliever.

Wisdom

James 1:5 (NLT)
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)
 And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

John 14:26 (NLT)
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Example:

Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT)
15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

  •  Resources are available to Christians for conflict resolution that are not available to the unbeliever.
  • The Church is better equipped to resolve conflicts, within the church, than a secular court.

6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!

 Who should we go to for help in resolving conflict?

Do we seek help from those in the kingdom of darkness
or do we seek help from those who are living in the kingdom of  God’s son?

Colossians 1:13 (NLT)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

 John 15:19 (NLT)
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

How many Biblical principles are being violated when we sue another Christian in a court of law?

 7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?

How should we deal with conflict?

Love

Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

 Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Forgive

 Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

 Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.

  •  Disputes in the Christian community should be resolved using Biblical principles.

Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

September 20, 2018 PTF – Three Reminders

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Three Reminders

Reflections on trips to:

Denali National Park (this summer)
Grand Canyon National Park (March 2010)

Listened to some presentations by
Park Rangers.
Employed by our Federal government.
Paid with our tax dollars.
Clearly in positions of authority. (Uniforms and badges)

For the most part, their presentations contradicted everything taught in the creation account found in the Scriptures.

These individuals are described in Romans 1

Romans 1:25 (NLT)
They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

This is the world we live in.  This is the world our children are being raised in.

This is not just happening in the secular world.  This is happening in the church.

First reminder

There will be false teachers in our society, in the church, and in the schools cleverly promoting false philosophies.

2 Peter 2:1 (NLT)
The Danger of False Teachers
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.

Jeremiah 5:31 (NLT)
… the prophets give false prophecies,
and the priests rule with an iron hand.
Worse yet, my people like it that way!

2 Peter 3:3 (NLT)
Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

Biblical truths will be mocked by scoffers who are following their natural instincts.

Colossians 2:8 (NLT)
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

 

 Second Reminder

 Never stop praying.

 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
Never stop praying.

 Pray that your child will grow in spiritual knowledge, spiritual understanding, and spiritual wisdom.

Pray also that your child will know God’s will for their lives.

Prayers from the Scripture:

Philippians 1:9
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Colossians 1:9
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

 

 Third reminder:

Teach Biblical Truth to Your Children

Redeemer Day School Core Values
Christ-Centered
Redeemer Day School believes in nurturing students in the development of Christ-like character and a love for the Lord by hiding His Word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11). Our students learn about the Bible and that His Word is Truth. We teach them about God’s character so that they will understand what their character should be. Prayerfulness, love and respect for others, obedience, truthfulness, and good manners are all modeled and taught in the classroom.

Psalm 78:4 (NLT)
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NLT)
5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

  • We all need to learn and be reminded of the truths taught in the Scriptures.
  • Repetition enhances memory.

Review

First reminder
There will be false teachers in our society, in the church, and in the schools cleverly promoting false philosophies.

Second Reminder 
Never stop praying.

 Third reminder
Teach Biblical Truth to Your Children

 

 

 

Life Gets Complicated

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Life gets complicated when we do things our way rather than trusting God to do things His way.

Genesis 16 (NLT)
The Birth of Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!” 6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.
7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” 11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. 12 This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
13 Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” 14 So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.
15 So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.

Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 16 (NLT)
The Birth of Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him.
        More than 20 years

But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.”

Man’s way vs. God’s way.

***Galatians 4:22-23 (NLT)
22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

Sarai was impatient.

A custom of the day.  (Man’s way)  May appear to be a good solution.
This behavior was not wrong in the eyes of the secular world.
A barren women could give her maid to her husband as a wife.  The child would be regarded as the first wife’s child.
If the husband said to the slave-wife’s son, “You are my son” then he was the adopted son and heir.

  • Man’s efforts to resolve problems may appear to be good solutions.

God’s way

Genesis 15:2-5 (NLT)
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Throughout the scriptures multiple wives caused problems.

Jacob married Leah and Rachel

El-ka-nah married Hannah and Pen-in-nah

(and many others)

And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 

 Reminds me of Adam and Eve.

 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) 4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.

 Hagar’s status changes from servant to wife.

Genesis 2:24 (NLT)
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

  • Life gets complicated when we do things our way rather than trusting God to do things His way.

But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 

Conflict between Hagar and Sarai.

Sarai’s proposal brought about conflict.

 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Conflict between Sarai and Abram.

6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.”

             Abram transferred his responsibility to Sarai.

 Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

Hagar may have been heading back to her homeland of Egypt.

7 The angel of the Lord

 Messenger of the Lord

Preincarnate manifestation of Christ

The Lord Himself. (Verse 10)

 found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 

 An angel (God) found Hagar.

But she had obviously become a believer in the God of Abram, and she has a place in God’s Holy Word.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT),
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”  “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 

Submit to authority.

 In Genesis chapter 21, after Isaac was born, Hagar was sent away.

 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

 Genesis 17:20 (NLT)
As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

 Arabs (hostile to the Jews)

 Genesis 25:13-16 (NLT)
13 Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped.

 11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. 

  • God heard Hagar’s cry of distress.

 12 This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

 Arabs (hostile to the Jews)

  • There are negative consequences for doing things outside of God’s will.

 13 Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” 

 Hagar recognized God as the one who hears the afflicted and recognizes their needs.

Hagar renames God.

  • The living God sees and hears.

14 So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.

 15 So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael. 

Abraham named Ishmael, acknowledging him as his son and heir.

  • The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise.

 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.

11 years after Abram settled in Canaan.

  • God’s servants are to trust His Word and wait patiently for its fulfillment.
  • Human efforts will not help.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 5 – God holds Christians accountable for the behavior of other Christians.

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A five word review of 1 Corinthians.

Serious issues in the Church

Lesson:

God holds Christians accountable for the behavior of other Christians.

Examine the scriptures:

Who is being addressed?

1 Corinthians 1:2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

All of the people in the church.

1 Corinthians 5 (NLT)
Paul Condemns Spiritual Pride
1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do.

I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother. 

This is a serious violation of the Old Testament law as well as Roman law.

Leviticus 18:8 & 29 (NLT)
8 “Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.
29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel.


2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame.

See verse 9 (continuation of a behavior addressed in a previous letter from Paul)

Ephesians 5:3 (NLT)
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

 Ephesians 5:11 (NLT)
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

Apparently the church was showing no remorse for this behavior.

Indifference

Jonathan Edwards:
“The more a true saint loves God, the more he mourns for sin.”

 James 4:8-9 (NLT)
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

  • An appropriate response to sin in the church is sadness, mourning, and feeling shame.

 And you should remove this man from your fellowship.

Another example of removing a believer from the church.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT)
Correcting another Believer
15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

 3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. 5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.

  •  Sin in the church must be addressed.

 Destroy the sinful nature, not the man.

Thrust the believer back into the world on his own, apart from the care and support of Christian fellowship. That person has forfeited his right to participation in the church of Jesus Christ, which He intends to keep pure at all costs.

Thrust into Satan’s realm.

Many have supposed that by the “destruction of the flesh” Paul meant only the destruction of his fleshly appetites or carnal affections; and that he supposed that this would be effected by the act of excommunication.

The inner believer belongs entirely to Christ and we have the absolute assurance that he will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. But in the meanwhile the unrepentant believer may be turned over to suffer greatly at the hands’ of Satan.

The goal:

Ultimate purification of the person.

Preservation of a believer.

  • One reason to discipline those inside the church who are sinning is for the benefit of the individual.

6 Your boasting about this is terrible.

Blinded to their duty in regard to blatant sin that devastated the church.

Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you.

One bad apple in a basket of apples will eventually ruin the entire basket of apples.

  • Unaddressed sin will corrupt the local church.

Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 

 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

  •  Professing believers are held to a different standard than individuals outside the church.

12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

  •  The local church is responsible for judging those inside the church who are sinning.
  • A second reason to discipline those inside the church who are sinning is for the benefit of the Church.