May I have a WORD with you?

References: Quick Review Gal 4:21-31 Lesson from the Torah in allegory Sarah, the mother of the promise, heavenly Jerusalem Hagar, the mother of slavery, Mt Sinai, the Law Being children of the promise, of freedom, of the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Remember the limits of allegory What’s next? Gal 5:1-15 Vs 1 - for freedom Christ has set us free Freedom from slavery to the law does...

References: Quick Review Gal 4:1-20 Being on guard against the elemental principles that reduce us to children of the universe rather than living in the power of the Spirit as children of God. The true powerlessness and poverty that leads us to humbly receive the truth The travail of childbirth that brings forth new children of promise What’s next? Galatians 4:21-31 Vss 21-23 Genesis 15 through 18...

References: Quick Review Gal 3:15-29 Seed vs seeds Abraham vs Moses (heir vs slave) Jesus our mediator & the law our tutor Promise vs keeping the law What’s next? Galatians 4:1-20 Vss 1-7 Heir, child, slave, guardian, manager Remember the vineyard and tenants (Mt 21; Mk 12; Lk 20) Consider 1 Cor 13:11 - gives new meaning δοῦλος - servant, slave - very common in NT Guardian = steward Basic spir...

References: Quick Review Gal 3:1-14 Vss 1c-4 - the picture of the Gospel and question - προγράφω (prog-raf'-o) - recall Rd to Emmaus Vss 5-9 - faith before works, (promise before law) Vss 10-14 - the curse and the removal of the curse What’s next? The basis of Paul’s argument. Galatians 3:15-29 Vss 15-18 -  an example of a “last will and testament” Vs 16 - σπέρμασιν vs σπέρματί Plural vs sing...

References: Quick Review Gal 2:11-21 Confrontation Clarifying and righting the Gospel Spiritual battle for the Body of Christ (including Peter and Barnabas) Justification by faith Mnemonic - justified = “just as if I’d” never sinned. By grace through trusting God’s Word of promise Going forward - hang on Gal 3:1-14 Vs 1a&b - “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a spell on you?” MSG ἀνόητος (a...

References: Quick Review Gal 2:1-10 The question? The ill-intentioned skeptics who want others to miss the goal (see Phil 3:14) The right hand of fellowship Recalling Acts 10 Gal 2:11-21 - the core and foundation of the Gospel 2:11-15 - Paul fights for Peter. (?) Opposing him to his face - ἀνθίστημι (anth-is'-tay-mee) This was the fourth of the five smooth stones series.  (Ep 055 (S3E11) Five...

References: Quick Review Former Saul - Gal 1:13-14 See Acts 7:57-8:1 See Acts 26:9-11 Redeemed and restored Paul - vss 15-16a See Eph 1:3-14 Compare 1:Pet 1:18-20 The Christians in Judea praised God because of Paul (1:22-24) Paul receives acceptance and recognition 2:1-10 Pre-2:1-10 background Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-25) Saul sent to Tarsus (9:26-31) Barnabas and Saul team up (Acts 11:19-30) 2...

References: Quick Review The churches of Galatia to whom Paul was writing are the subject of Luke’s telling of Acts 13 & 14 Antioch of Pisidia - near modern day Yalvaç, Turkey Iconium & Lystra - near Konya, Turkey Derbe - near Karaman, Turkey Paul starts the letter with both barrels blazing I’m shocked! You are abandoning the true Gospel for a twisted one, a false Gospel Curses! Anathema!...

References: Geographical and Ethno-Historical Context Who were the Galatians? The cities of Galatia Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, etc. Modern day Turkey The people of Galatia Stereotyped as brave, impulsive and superstitious Foolish - ἀνόητος (an-o'-ay-tos) 3:1 Acts 13-15 - a new world for God’s Chosen people. 13: Consider Saul’s (Paul’s, vs 9) command of the Scriptures Acts 13:10 - Ge...

References: Romans 1:16-17 Gospel - εὐαγγέλιον (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on) A reward for good tidings - see 2 Samuel 4 Good tidings - 2 Samuel 18 Mark 1:14-15 - the good news about Philippians 1:5-27 - 7X in 22 vss Not Ashamed - ἐπαισχύνομαι (ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee) The world’s opposition to the Gospel Unashamedness Galatians 1-2 Another Gospel? False Gospel μεταστρέφω (met-as-tref'-o) tu...

References: The Command - Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek - imperative (command) Call - also imperative Steps of repentance The urgency of “while you can find Him,” and “while He is near.” If you feel far from God, who moved? He will never leave or forsake Forsaking of wicked ways - see ESV Banishing of evil thoughts - see NLT Receiving the abundantly generous forgiveness Our Transcendant God - Isa 55:8-9 Real...

References: Grief, suffering, hardship, pain… These are not signs of God’s abandonment or condemnation. Romans 8:35, 37-39 Counter cultural  The promise that allows people of faith to grieve differently Paul’s last letter, near the end of his life (martyrdom) 2 Timothy 2:1-14 The reality of discipleship What witness do you bear when you are suffering? Endurance - κακοπαθέω (kak-op-ath-eh'-o)...

References: Still being in the season of Easter I wanted to share with you some powerful insights the Lord laid on my heart that I shared with people at our late Good Friday Service. Reading the Passion According to St John 18:1-19:42 Three images of power John 18:3-9 John 19:5-11 John 19:25-27 The display of worldly power met by True Power As the contingent arrived with torches, clubs and weapons...

References: The Passover is a time when Jewish households do a thourough cleaning of the home to be sure all leaven is removed. Deep Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned, including searching for and removing all crumbs of chametz. Symbolism: This process represents cleaning out the spiritual "leaven" (pride or sin) from within. Bedikat Chametz: A ritual search for the remaining leaven...

References: The “Holy” Holy - ἅγιος (hag'-ee-os): most holy thing, a saint 229 times in 219 vss in NT Often associated with the Spirit (Holy Spirit) Sometimes with places The holy city, being Jerusalem The Holiest place in the tabernacle  The Holy of holies in the Temple (Heb 9) Hagiography vs damnatio memoriae The Holy “Triduum” -  not a Biblical word. Latin for three days (Maundy Thu, Good...

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 God will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21 God will restore the land - 2:22-26 God will dwell with His people - 2:27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 THE Day of the Lord in three mirrored parts begins with God’s presence God with us - 2:28-32 (Chapter 3 in the Hebrew text) “I wil...

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 Joel 2:18-19 - God will take pity A turning point - upon repentance God shows love for the land and His people Answered prayer - grain, wine, oil = satisfaction Shame removed - the surrounding nations that once mocked Israel will be silenced G...

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 2nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17 Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11 The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far') The Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalom Descriptions of the judgement forces We’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (...

References: Review Setting and background/context of Joel Structure Poem 1 - 1:1-20 Poem 2 - 2:1-17 God’s response - 2:18-27 THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16 2nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17 Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11 The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far') Meant to trigger an immediate physiological response: fear (awe) and readiness.  Military Alert : It signaled that an invadin...

References: Setting and background/context of Joel Who was Joel? When did Joel work as God’s Prophet? Some suggestions from the text Temple - Jerusalem No kings - ? Most likely post-exhile in the time of Ezra/Nehemiah Joel shows familiarity with many other prophets Joel never identifies any specific sin on Israel’s part He announces God’s judgment, but doesn’t say why. Perhaps he assumes that the...

References: 40 Days of Lent A season of introspection, devotion and journeying to the cross and the empty tomb Consider Biblical 40 day/night periods Noah and the flood - Gen 7 (purifying) Moses on Mt Sinai - Ex 24 (law-giving) Elijah’s journey to Mt Sinai - 1 Kings 19 (preparing) Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness - Mt 4; Lk 4 (fighting for us) Sackcloth, dust and Ashes A sign of mourning - Esth...

References:  The Day of the Lord - v 1 Burning בָּעַר (bāʿar) - see Ex 3:2 Joel 2:28-32 Acts 2:16-21 The זֵד (zade') arrogant and the רִשְׁעָה (rish-aw') wicked Same words as in 3:15 - the reversal making evil good and good evil From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.  For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm. Not only consuming the arog...

References:  The sixth argument - 3:13-15 God says “You’ve been hard on me” v 13 The peoples’ typical response, “what are you talking about? How?” Vss 14-15 - “Why do the evil prosper and the righteous suffer?” A prominent question being wrestled out in Job The theory of “temporal retribution.” See John 9 - “Who sinned that this man was born blind?” The Scroll of Rememberance - 3:16-18 The remnant...

References:  The fifth argument - 3:6-12 Immutability of God - vs 6 See Hebrews 6:16-20 Also Hebrews 13:8 Therefore…  People referred to as children of, or descendents of Jacob Another point back to Genesis; Jacob as deceiver, cheater, robber. An unanswered question of the people? Vs 7 Consider God’s question to Adam “Where are you?” Gen 3:9 To Cain “Where is Abel?” Gen 4:9 Is it unanswered? God g...

References:  Review Malachi 1:1-2:9 Love vs hate Love = God’s covenant faithfulness Hate = God’s disdain for prideful self reliance Honor vs contempt Correcting from Part 1 - Mal 1:14 The “cheat” נָכַל (naw-kal') - to be deceitful, be crafty, be knavish Curse - Septuagint ἐπικατάρατος Jesus becomes the curse (Gal 3:10-13) NOT the “cheat” The third argument - Mal 2:10-16 Vss 10-12 Vs 10: Image...