Bible Study Archive

EXODUS....NOT THE END OF THE STORY

 As we conclude Exodus it may help to scan over the previous weeks' studies and think about where you have been challenged or have something you don't understand; ask for the guiding and leading of God's Holy Spirit.

 Read Luke 9 v 28 - 36.

What are the links between the events of Exodus 40 at Mount Sinai and the events recorded by Luke on the mountain? In these verses "departure (v 31 ) means "exodus" and "shelters" v 33 means "tabernacles".

. Moses is an important figure in both events.

. Moses, through whom God performed the first "exodus" discusses with Jesus how he will achieve the ultimate "exodus " when he reaches Jerusalem.

. Peter suggests that they build "tabernacles''.......missing the point because the true tabernacle                      ( the presence of God in Jesus his son ) is already with them.

. As in Exodus 40, the cloud of God's presence comes down upon them.

. As he did at Sinai, God speaks from the cloud.

 Where is God's glory to be found according to God ( v 34 - 36 )?

It is to be found in Jesus. Moses, Elijah, and the cloud do not stay around....but Jesus does.                         The message from heaven is: Jesus - he is the place where God's glory is seen and experienced.

 Read Ephesians 2 v 21 - 22. How does Paul link the Old Testament tabernacle /temple with the New Testament church?

Paul says that Jew and Gentile are united in Christ within the church. The place where people can meet with God is no longer the tabernacle, nor the temple which replaced it. Your church is now the place where people meet with God as they proclaim and live out the gospel.

What is the church based upon what the tabernacle was.......

. Like the ark .......we are the place where God reigns.

. Like the table......we are the place God eats with his people in the communion meal.

 . Like the lampstand......we are the people from which the light of the gospel shines.

. Like the lampstand......we are the place where people can find guidance and clarity.

. Like the law.......we are the place where creation is being re-ordered.

. Like the priest......we can enter God's holy presence.

 Read 1 Corinthians 6 v 19 - 20.

How does Paul apply temple/tabernacle language here?

Here Paul goes even further, saying that individual Christians.....you and I are temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul invites us to think about the appropriate/inappropriate behaviour in the temple. You might like to think of the "atmosphere" in a cathedral, which often prompts people to a certain "reverence".                                The principle seems to be that if you wouldn't do it in the temple ......then you shouldn't do it at all, because you are now that temple; the place where God dwells.

How has the book of Exodus as a whole caused you to be ......

. more in awe of God?

. more understanding of who God is?

. more grateful that you are a part of God's people?

. more excited about your life, your future, and the church?

A CHALLENGE! Sum up the message of this part of Israel's history in eight words........and then memorise them.

 PRAY.........

 Use your answers to "How has the book of Exodus....." to praise God and pray......for yourself, and for the church.

 And so we conclude our studies in Exodus; we will be meeting as usual to discuss this study on Thursday, June 10 in the church hall.

 Next week we will be beginning a new study and looking at the first letter of the apostle Peter, which is entitled "Living well on the way home". This powerful epistle, written by the man who famously denied Jesus, but became one of the foremost leaders of the early church, gives hope to persecuted Christians, and gives guidance and advice, together with practical instruction on living life consistent with following Jesus. 

 See you next week!

                                    AT HOME WITH GOD   ( Part 2)   Read Exodus 35 - 40

 In Exodus 28 - 30 God moves on to describe the role of the priests, who will minister in the tabernacle.

 Read Exodus 28 v 1 - 29 v 46

 What must the priests wear ( 28 v 4 )?

A breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash.

What is the significance of the ephod and breastplate?

Ephod: The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are inscribed on the ephod. When the priest comes "before the Lord", in a sense, every Israelite is there.....

Breastplate: This is tied to the front of the priest over the ephod ( v 22 - 28 ). Sewn into it are twelve precious stones ( v 17 - 21 ), which again represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Again the point here is that the whole of Israel goes with the priest into the presence of the Lord. In the breastplate reside the "Urim and Thummim". It appears that these were a kind of "lottery stones" (remember that these were Old Testament times before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit). They were probably selected at random and used in making important decisions. It was a means by which God showed his will for his people ( v 30 ). Note the bells on the bottom of the tunic (those who remember the chorus book "Golden Bells'' ....this is where the title originated) which made a sound as the priest entered the "Holy of Holies " indicating that the priest was alive: such was the awe and fear at God's living holy presence who might strike him dead at any time.

 What does this tell us about the role of the priest?

He represents the people before God. It's as if he carries them into God's presence......where they cannot go by themselves ( think of that curtain of separation).

He represents God to the people. By using the Urim and Thummim he reveals God's will to the people, "making decisions for the Israelites" ( v 30 ).

How are the priests prepared for their duties ( 29 v 1 - 4, 10 - 28 )?

Through washing and sacrifice. Priests, like the rest of the people, are sinful beings. They have to be made fit for God's presence by being "consecrated" ( v 1 ). The priests are symbolically washed clean and have to lay their hands on the animals to be sacrificed ( v 10, 15, 19 ). They symbolically transfer their sin to the animal who then dies for it.

 What will the work of the priests enable them to do  ( v 42 - 46 )?

Offer the burnt offering.......a sin-bearing sacrifice made on behalf of the people in which the whole animal was burned. ( v 42 )

Meet with God and hear from him. ( v 42 ) and through the priests, the Israelites will also meet with God.     ( v 43)

 God continues to dwell among the Israelites because of the sacrifices made by the priests on their behalf.  ( v 45 ) . Ultimately all this maintains an ongoing relationship with and worship of the God who has rescued his people.

 Read Hebrews 9 v 11 - 14, 23 - 28.

How is the work of the Old Testament priests a picture of the greater work of our priest .....the Lord Jesus?

. v 11, 24: The tabernacle is a picture of the "more perfect tabernacle" outside creation ....the place of God's ultimate, full presence: heaven.

. v 12 - 14: Christ did not enter this heavenly tabernacle through sacrificing an animal, but " by his own blood ". His sacrifice "cleans us" completely.

. v 24 - 27: The priests had to keep offering sacrifices ......both for themselves and for the people. Christ is our great high priest who offered himself "once and for all " to take away the sins of many. ( v 26, 27)

Christ as our high priest now stands in God's presence in the heavenly tabernacle, having completed his work of sacrifice " once and for all", so that as cleansed sinners we can stand with him too.....just as Israel was brought into God's presence by the priest.

 Read Exodus 40 v 34 - 38 .

 How are these verses a fitting end to the book as a whole, and to the chapters detailing the design and building of the tabernacle?

The book ends with "the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle '' ( v 34, 35 ). From now on, God's people will live with the presence of God among them. ( v 37 - 38 ) until Ezekiel 10, centuries later).

 The glory is the climax of the construction of the tabernacle, and it's the climax of the story of Exodus. God has rescued his people from slavery and death so that they can enjoy his presence and see his glory. Everything so far has been leading up to this moment. Of all the blessings God gives ( and there are many), this is the greatest: God himself, in his glory.

 What is the only problem with the presence of the cloud of glory( v 35 )?

No - one can stand in it .....even Moses! God's glory is something that even the greatest of Israelites, and of humanity cannot dwell in.

 And so Exodus leaves us wanting and needing more. A tabernacle, and later a temple, full of God's glory but without any people in it is not the scenario that God is after. The Good news is that Exodus is not the end of the story..........

 There will be a meeting on Thursday, June 3 for a resume of this study together with a discussion .......and maybe a coffee (!) in the Parish Church Hall. 

Next week's online study will be a summary of all we have learned from Exodus and conclude the series.

 AT HOME WITH GOD      PART 1

 Exodus 25 - 31 ; 35 - 40

 Some big swathes of scripture here which we are tackling in two parts; you might like to read the second part next week.

 It is time to rewind our focus a little, and rejoin Moses during the forty days he spent on the mountain- top; at the end of which as we've seen, the people worshipped a golden calf instead of (or as well as ) the Lord. It is worth noting here that in scripture numbers are often symbolic such as seven (the number of perfection). Here the number forty represents the time it takes for God to teach someone something.........think Jesus 40 days in the wilderness, and Noah's ark 40 days on the water.

 Read Exodus 25 1 - 26 v 30.

What do the Israelites need to offer to God, and what are these offerings for ( 25 v 1 - 9 )?

The offerings are listed in v 3 - 7 ....precious metals and stones, fine embroidery materials, skins and leathers ......the people are to give their very best. They are all to be used to make God's sanctuary ( v 8 ) called a "tabernacle" ( v 9 )  which was a special kind of tent, and in their wilderness wanderings, it was somewhere that they could call "home". See a diagram of the tabernacle pictured below.

What is exciting about verse 8?

" I will dwell among them ". Moses had encountered the presence of God in Exodus 3, and the people had seen the presence of God at the top of Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 - 20. Now God will come to dwell among his people.....he was moving into the neighbourhood.

                                                                            

 So what was God's home like? It is actually a picture of the Garden of Eden.......

Compare these verses in Genesis and Exodus and find the link.......

Genesis 2 v 12 ............Exodus 25 v 3 - 7       (1)

      "       2 v 9 ..............     "      25 v 31 - 39    (2)

      "       1 v 3 , 6 , 9 , 14, 20 , 24, 26.........Exodus 25 v 1; 30, v 11,17 22, 34 ; 31   

               v 1 , 12.    (3)

      "       2 v 1 - 3.........Exodus 31 v 12 - 17      (4)

      "       2 v 21 - 22; 3 v 8 ...........Exodus 25 v 8.     (5)

 The Links............

1. The materials used (notice the repetition of  gold and onyx)

2. The lampstand's details are tree-like.

3. And the Lord said/the Lord said.

4. God is present.

 What does the furniture in the tabernacle tell us about God and his home?

The Ark. 25 v 10 - 22

The ark had the same proportions as the footstool of an ancient king. Israel's king is God.....reigning from heaven ,seated there with the ark as his footstool on Earth. This is the point where God's throne in heaven touches the earth ( see 1 Samuel 4 v 4; 2 Samuel 6 v 2 )

                                                                                           

 The Table  25 v 23 - 30

This is a meal table, laid up ready to be sat around. God is inviting people to come and eat with him, to live as a family and share food and fellowship at his table. Think Holy Communion in the New Testament.

                                                                                        

 The Lampstand. 25 v 31 - 40

Read Psalm 119 v 105 and think about what light does. Light guides the way . God's home is a place of guidance, truth and clarity.

                                                                                      

 Read Exodus v 31 - 37

What is to be woven onto the curtain ?

Cherubim ( v 31 ) ....angels. These are not childlike beings but God's mighty warrior messengers.

Where is it to be hung?

(see the diagram) separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Read Genesis 3 v 24 What is the significance about the picture of the cherubim on the curtain, and its placement in the tabernacle?

The cherubim in Genesis 3 were placed on the edge of Eden after the first humans sinned to guard the way back to God. They were a sign that humanity was exiled and that there was no way back to God. Here embroidered in the tabernacle was this symbol of God's inaccessibility.  As you stood before the curtain on your right was "the bread of the Presence" and on your left was the lampstand, both promising a relationship with God.......but in front of you was the curtain preventing that relationship. It hung there in order to protect you from an encounter with a holy God. As you stood before the curtain home was so close yet so very far away.......

 As you think about the presence of God in the tabernacle take a look at this video....https://youtu.be/uORftJ2jDnI

 Read John 14 v 2 - 3

As Jesus talks on the night before he died.....how does the tabernacle layout and furniture help us to appreciate the wonder of his promise?

Jesus promises us that "one day we will be with him in his house". This would all be achieved by his death and resurrection, ascension and return. Through all this, we will be brought into God's presence to enjoy life with him forever. Jesus is the way home.

 Read Matthew 27 v 50- 51

What did Jesus' death achieve?

As Jesus died the veil of the temple was torn in two (the temple layout was similar to that of the Tabernacle). Jesus' death radically rearranged the layout of the temple ......now the way home to God was open.

 How can knowing what God's home is like help you to know more joy in the ups and downs of your journey home?

 PRAY...........

 Read Hebrews 10 v 19 - 22

 Praise God that he has made our "way home" possible through the atoning work of Jesus.

 Ask God to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith".

 Seek God's forgiveness for when you have taken your eyes off him.

 As the church opens again for worship on Sunday, May 23, we will, for the time being, still have the bible study each week online with a follow-up meeting for a resume of the study, with time for questions and discussions, in the Parish Church Hall on Thursday, May 27 at 10.00 am.

 This will replace the Thursday Zoom session, to which all, of course, are invited; the meeting should last for around 40 min.

 

                                                                               Exodus 32 - 34

Read Exodus 32 v 1- 6

What do the people do?

They ask Aaron to make them "gods who will go before us “and give him their jewellery so that he can make " an idol cast in the shape of a calf", they then worship the calf and present offerings to it, holding a feast and indulging in "revelry" ( a name which implies "orgy" v 6 )

Why ?

Because Moses was so long coming down the mountain. (He had only been gone forty days).

What does Aaron do?

He takes their jewellery ( v 2 ) and makes the calf ( v 4 ). He then builds an altar in front of the calf announcing that "there will be a festival to the Lord" ( v 5 ) that is centred on worshipping the calf.

Why ? It seems that Aaron is responding to the people with a compromise......attempting to find a compromise between the peoples' wish for a different god, and the right course of action, which is unswerving loyalty to the Lord.

What do you make of the decision of the people,and of Aaron?

God had rescued his people from slavery ( 20 v 2 )and then given them the ten commandments. Aaron now uses the same language about a golden calf! ( 32 v 4 ). The people want gods "who will go before us"             ( v 1 ).....but God has already done this ( 14 v 9 ; 23 v 23 ). The people are robbing God of his glory, exchanging it for a lifeless lump of shiny metal.

The people appear to want to break the first commandment, but Aaron's compromise means breaking the second commandment in order not to break the first. What does this reveal about them? After all, God has done for them rescue/provision/new life ......and eventually a new land, the people are ultimately sinners.

 

                                                                                                  

 

Read Exodus 32 v 7 - 35

Why does God not destroy his idolatrous, adulterous people ( 32 v 7 - 14 ,30 - 34 ) ?

Verses 7 - 10 sound like the end of the story for Israel ( v 9 - 10 ). However, one man is not a part of this sinful compromise......Moses. God announces that he will fulfil his promises through this                                     single Israelite ( v 10 )

Moses intervenes, praying on the peoples' behalf......he pleads with God on the basis of God's glory.....

. v 11 - 12 : Destroying Israel will damage God's reputation.

. v 13 : Destroying Israel will break God's promises.

. v 14 : God hears Moses' prayers and relents.

Moses offers to atone for their sins himself, but God says he cannot( v 33 ). Judgement will come                   ( and it comes in part through the plague in v 35 ). Note here that sin ALWAYS pays a price.

How do the events of verses 15 - 30 show the seriousness of idolatry?

. v 15 - 16, 19 : Moses smashes the two tablets indicating that Israel's idolatry has broken the covenant relationship between them and God.

 

                                                                                                                            

 . v 20 : In destroying the idol and making the people drink the remains he is showing the idiocy of their idol worship .....that they are worshipping something which is effectively excrement.

. v 25 - 29 : The people are running wild and Moses gives them a choice; the world or God? This passage makes it uncomfortable reading as the people are made to feel the depths of their sin....3,000 people are killed; it is brutal, but sin is brutal and it's deadly serious. Temptation makes sin look attractive and harmless ......but in reality, sin looks like 3,000 rotting corpses. Death is sin made visible.

. v 30 : Idolatry severs relationship with God and requires atonement, and this is not automatic.

 

The choice of the idol shape is not arbitrary. The word "calf" here can be translated as a young cow, and psalm 106 describes it as a bull. A bull was a common symbol of strength and fertility in the surrounding nations. Here Israel is adopting the images of the surrounding cultures to re-imagine God.

 

The people want to worship God on their own terms, combining this with worldliness and indulgence......a god who is visible and manageable.

 

How does Exodus 32 show us ........

. the different way in which we might compromise in our relationship with God ?

. the dangers of doing this?

 Read Exodus 33 v 1 - 17

What will God do for the people and what won't he do?

. v 1 - 3a : God says that he will fulfill his promise to Abraham by giving the Israelites the land of Canaan.

. v 3b , 5 : God will not go with them.

How do verses 7 - 11 show why the people "began to mourn" ( v 4 ) when they heard what God had said?

Although God will give the people the promised land, he will not go there with them.  These verses show a sense of what's being lost. God has been amongst them as their friend, leading them by pillars of cloud and fire......now he is their enemy.

 

                                                                                 

 What is amazing about Moses' response in verses 15 - 16 to God's promise to him in verse 14 ?

Here Moses enters into conversation with God on behalf of the people. The word " you " in verse 14 is singular.

Moses turns down God's presence and blessing if it's for him alone. He comes before God to argue for God's presence to go with all of them.

What does it tell us Moses cares about most?

His only aim is the ongoing presence of God among the people of God. He cares about them more than he cares about himself.

 Read Exodus 33 v 18 - 34 v 7 .

Moses wants God to show him his glory ....his " God-ness ". he wants to see what God looks like. Instead, God proclaims his name and his character .......because these describe the way he is......full of mercy, compassion, love and forgiveness. He burns with anger but is slow to anger. He does not ignore sin but forgives sin.

 Read Exodus 34 v 8 - 28

God tells Moses to take two new tablets of stone up the mountain with him because God is going to reaffirm his covenant ( 34 v 1 , 4 , 10 ). In verses 10 - 28 , God repeats a selection of laws that are all designed to help Israel live as his people, faithful to him.

 Read Exodus 34 v 29 - 35

What effect does "seeing " God's glory, through hearing God's words on the mountain and in "the Lord's presence" in the tabernacle have on Moses?

His face is radiant........he is transformed by seeing God's glory.

                                                                                                                                                                  

How can we use this glimpse of the glory of God in Exodus 34 , and the greater sight of the glory of God in Jesus,to undermine the attraction of compromise?

Try not to think in negative terms ( "I must not do this because it is spiritual adultery") but in positive ones ......." why would I want to worship anything other than my glorious Lord Jesus??

 PRAY............

 Use Exodus 34 v 6 - 7 to praise God for his glory.

 Confess to God the created things that you tend to turn into an idol and worship.

 Thank God for the ways in which Moses' conduct in these chapters point to Christ's work for you.

 There will be the usual zoom session next Thursday, May 20 at 10.00 to which all are very welcome.

Zoom ID 737 2295 9656.

 Password 3NZjXF.

 Next week we will begin our finale of studies in Exodus looking at Exodus 25 - 31; 35 - 40 under the title "At Home with God".We will begin next week and conclude the following week.

 

                                                                               Exodus 19 - 24

 Five chapters here so take your time........

 Read Exodus 19 v 1 - 25

 Read Exodus 3 v 11 - 12

What is the huge significance of the details of 19 v 1 - 2 ?

19 v 1 - 2 is the moment that God keeps his promise made to a single man in 3 v 12 God always keeps his promises to his people.

What has God done for his people?

God has judged Egypt and has rescued his people.

What does God call his people to do in response?

v 5. "Obey me fully and keep my covenant."

How does God describe Israel's identity ( v 5 -6 ) ?

. God's treasured possession. ( v 5 ). This phrase is used elsewhere of a king's private treasury. God's people belonged to him and were both valuable and loved.

. A kingdom of priests. ( Exodus 19 v 6 ). Israel were to be a kingdom of priests who represented the Lord......and they in turn were represented by the High Priest Aaron when he entered the Most Holy Place. Aaron's ephod carried stones that represented the 12 tribes of Israel. As a priestly Kingdom ,Israel was to represent God to the world through mission ,and represent the world to God through prayer.

. A holy nation. ( v 6 )

As God's people they were to reflect God's distinctive character in their distinctive life in order to be a light to the nations.

 What do the instructions of verses 10 - 15 and 20 - 24 ,and the experiences of v 16 - 19 ,show whether and how God can dwell near people?

Here we see that God wants a relationship with his people ,but God is also dangerously holy.

. The people had to wash their clothes as an act of consecration.

. Consecration also meant abstaining from sex.

. They must keep their distance from God or they will die.

In v 16 - 19 God comes close ......there is thunder, lightning, thick  cloud, smoke and fire! The mountain trembles ....and so does everyone else. ( v 16 ).

 The new Testament uses some of the events and words of Exodus 19 to describe God's people after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

What has not changed for us ? Read 1 Peter 2 v 9 - 11.

Here we read the language of Exodus 19!  The missional identity which Israel received at Mount Sinai is fulfilled in the church. The church are the people of God chosen to be a kingdom of priests who make God known to the world.

What has changed for us ? read Hebrews 12 v 18 - 24 .

Neither God nor people have changed. .....but we still need to be consecrated and made holy, and in order to fulfill this Jesus died in our place.....the holy dying for the unholy. We have not come to Mount Sinai ....but to Mount Zion, which is a picture of heaven. Each Sunday we step into a heavenly gathering ( Hebrews 12 v 22 where "assembly" means "gathering"). By faith we step into heaven and are surrounded by thousands of angels and those who have died in the faith......and we gather in the presence of God ,not with fear and trembling ,but with joy.

 If we love God, we will desire to obey him ......and so we will read chapters like the ones that follow asking........

. Should Christians obey these commands ?

. Should we try and enforce them in society ?

. How should we relate to the law of Moses ?

Note that ........

. These laws were given to a people at a different time in a different culture ,which was based on an agrarian economy.

. The law was given to people as part of the "old covenant". We live now under the "new covenant" ( Luke 22 v 20).

Read Hebrews 8 v 7 - 13 ,Romans 7 v 6  and Galatians 6 v 2.

What difference does the new covenant make?

 So does this mean we can ignore the pages of the Bible that set out God's Old Testament law? The answer is emphatically no.

We may not have to obey the letter of the law ,but the law still matters ( Romans 15 v 4 )

Read Exodus 20 v 1 - 21 and Mark 12 v 28 - 34.

How do the two greatest commandments lie behind the ten commandments ?

Numbers 1 - 4 are mainly focused on our love for God ,rather than our neighbour, whereas each of numbers 5 - 10 express our love for God because in obeying them, we are obeying him and demonstrating love for our neighbour.

Read Exodus 21 v 28 - 29 .

How do the two greatest commandments lie behind this command ?

Israelites were told not to hold someone accountable for something that was clearly an accident......and equally they had to take responsibility for something they could have prevented. Here they were showing their love for God by loving their neighbour.

We might not own a bull ( who would want to except a farmer! )but .......

. We shouldn't blame someone for an accident.

. We should take steps to prevent an accident.

                                                                                    4

 Re - read Exodus 20 v 2 - 17 as a checklist by which you can assess your life as compared to the life of Jesus....how does this cause you to appreciate the holiness of Christ ?

 So what are the timeless lessons of God's law.......

It points us to....

. God's timeless will.

. Our need for a Saviour.

. The perfection of Christ.

 Read Exodus 24 v 1 - 2, 9 - 12.

What is the climax of this giving of God's law to God's people ?

A meal at which the representatives of Israel eat and drink in the presence of God.

How did Moses prepare for this ( v 4b - 8 ) ?

He.....

. Organised sacrifices to be made on behalf of the people.

. Read God's covenant laws to the people so that they could commit to obedience.

. Confirmed that the sacrificial blood had made the people holy.

 Read Luke 22 v 14 - 20.

How are we, once again ,being pointed to the Lord's supper?

. Jesus is our sacrifice

. Jesus is the one who obeyed the law perfectly for us.

. Jesus' Blood makes us holy.

. We eat and drink in his spiritual presence now in anticipation of one day eating and drinking in the presence of God in his heavenly kingdom.

 Pray...........

 Think of each commandment in turn and briefly ....

. thank God for what it reveals of his will and his Son's perfection.

. acknowledge what it reveals about your own sinfulness and need for salvation.

. ask for grace to live more according to God's will.

 Next week's study takes us to the story of the Golden Calf :Tragedy and Mercy. There will be the usual Zoom session on this week's study on Thursday May 13 at 10.00.

 Zoom ID 737 2295 9656.

 Password 3NZjXF.

   Exodus 15 v 22 - 18 - 27                                                                                                                                                          

 The Israelites have been delivered from Egyptian slavery in the most dramatic fashion. They have seen the hand of God parting the Red Sea and defeating the Egyptian army. They have sung "The Lord is my defence......In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed" ( 15 v 2 , 13 ). However all that was three days ago .............

Read Exodus 15 v 22 - 27

Why do the people grumble?

.....Because they don't find water for three days ( v 22 )....and then the water they find at Marah is bitter ( v 23 )Marah means "bitter" and the people are bitter too.

How does God respond?

He shows Moses a piece of wood which makes the water fit to drink ( v 25 ) As the people obey and trust God he promises to heal them as he "healed" the water          ( v 26 ).

Is the Israelites grumbling justified? It is only 3 days since they were rescued from Egyptian slavery in the most dramatic fashion; now 72 hours later ,they are thirsty and grumble about their lot.

Read Exodus 16 v 1 - 36

How is the grumbling in this desert worse than grumbling at Marah?

Now they are saying that the Exodus has made things worse, and that they were better off in Egypt.....

How does God respond?

He generously provides for his ungrateful people...promising to "rain down bread from heaven" for them ( v 4 ). He provides quail and then "flakes like frost ( v 13 - 14 ). Everyone can gather all they need (v 15 16, 18 )

 Is this grumbling justified? They are questioning God's character and intentions. They seem to have forgotten the Egyptian slave traders and now claim that Egypt was a wonderful place to live.

God only gives enough for today ,and not for tomorrow as well. In what way is this designed to cause the Israelites to trust him ?

God is teaching them to trust him to provide for them one day at a time. However with the manna, there is to be no alternative but to trust God that he will provide for tomorrow.

God instructs the people to gather double the day before the Sabbath ......and not on the Sabbath . How will this cause the Israelites to trust him?

God calls his people to rest one day a week and to rely on his provision rather than their own efforts......to trust him in how and what he provides.

What does Israel's response show about their view of God ( V 19, 20 23 - 27 ) ?

This was a hard lesson to learn! Some people just felt the need to "gather that bit more......in case God does not get it right".. They are relying on their own work and provision rather than God and what he has promised, and are actually just not satisfied. God always provides for our "needs" and not our "wants" . The pots of manna gathered the night before had really "gone off " in the morning.

Read Exodus 17 v 1 - 7

How is this episode similar to the previous two?

It's all about grumbling again.....demanding water and wanting to return to Egypt. Again God patiently responds by providing water for them.

When the people grumble against Moses.....how are they treating God ( v 7 ) ?

They are putting God in the dock and testing him.....accusing him of not giving them the life they want. When we grumble we are judging God.

Let's look at a layout of the scene described in v 5 - 6.......

 Who should be struck by God's judgement?

The Israelites. Even now on the Eastern shore ,they are failing to trust and obey God.....and are even accusing God of having murderous intentions towards them. They deserve judgement.

Who is struck and with what results?

The rock. ......it is where God is standing.( v 6 ).We would expect him to say "strike the Israelites" instead he says " Strike the rock". God takes the punishment that his people deserve( because of their grumbling) as Moses strikes the rock with his staff( remember that this is the staff that brought judgement on Egypt [v 5] )...... as a result blessing flows to the people as the water comes out of the rock to quench peoples' thirst.

Read 1 Corinthians 10 v 4

In what sense is Christ our rock ?

Read Romans 8 v 28 - 32

What is the Christian antidote to grumbling given in these verses?

Now two nations enter the story: the Amalakites and Jethro ,Moses' father-in-law ...representative of the Midianites.

Read Exodus 17 v 8 - 18 v 27

How do the Amalakites react to Israel's appearance (v 8 )?

They attack the Israelites.

What does Moses know is really going on behind their decision ( v 15 - 16 )?

Their "hands" were lifted up before the throne of the Lord." They were opposing God by opposing Israel.

What is the result for the Amalekites ( v 13 - 16 )?

They are defeated in Battle. As they had lifted up their hands against God......so Moses, as God's servant, lifts up his hands against them. Tragically the result of all this is that they are blotted out ( v 14 ).

.....so chapter 17 ends with God acting in judgement. In contrast Chapter 18 gives one of the most amazing account of conversion in the Old Testament........

How does Jethro react to Israel's rescue ?

We know little of the Midianite religion( of which Jethro was a high priest),but it would certainly be radically different from Israel's belief in the Lord. .Jethro shows no sign of scepticism....he is "delighted" (v 9 ) and praises God for rescuing Israel ( v 10 ) ( he must have heard about the Red Sea incident) acknowledging that "the Lord is greater than all other gods" (v 11).

What do the Israelites and this Midianite do together (v 12 ) ?

Jethro offers a burnt sacrifice to God. This was the most important sacrifice as all the animal was consumed, signifying that Israel belonged totally and completely to God ......and now Jethro was acknowledging the same......that he was dedicating his life to the God of Israel; the one true God.

..........and now we have the climax of the Exodus  . It was not the spectacular plagues ,the tragedy of the death of the first-born,the pillars of cloud and fire,the road made through a sea ,or manna appearing from heaven.......

The climax of this astonishing drama is a meal......a meal in the presence of God to which all the nations are invited. And this is the climax because this is what endures. The dramas come and go . They live on in the memory .......but the meal continues. The presence of God continues.

Read Matthew 26 v 26 - 29

What did Jesus encourage his disciples to look forward to as they shared this Passover meal ?

PRAY.............

Thank God........ that because you have all you need in Christ, that there is no need to grumble.

Ask God.........to show you where you have a grumbling attitude, and to help you work to know joy and contentment instead.

Thank God.......that he calls unlikely people in unlikely places to become part of his people.

Ask God.......that you would have an open and loving heart to those who are not following Christ.

Next week we shall be studying Exodus 19 - 24 ,which includes the ten commandments ,under the title               "You  Shall.........".

The usual Zoom discussion on this week's study will be on Thursday May 16 at 10.00.

 Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

 Password is 3NZjXF.

 Exodus 13 v 17 - 15 v 21

  God's people will end this section singing .......but first they need rescuing.

 Read Exodus 13 v 17 - 14 v 12

Why does God tell his people to turn back and camp on the edge of the Red Sea ( v 1 - 4 )?

. So that they will be hemmed in against the sea ( v 2 )  and Pharaoh will think that they are confused and trapped ( v 3 ).

.So that Pharaoh will then pursue them and God will gain the glory in showing once and for all that "I am the Lord" ( v 4 )

 What does the Egyptian response show about how much they have learned in the plagues (v 5 - 9 )?

They have learned nothing . In v 5 Pharaoh changes his mind about releasing the Israelites as he wants to retain their "services". He wants them to serve him and not the Lord. Nothing has changed. ( 14 v 8 )

 What does the Israelite response show about how much they have learned ( v 10 - 12 )?

They have not learned much either. They are terrified when they see the Egyptian army (v 10 ) and are filled with doubt and despair. They take their gaze off God and assume that they will die ( v 11 ).Once again they think that they would have been better off by not being rescued by God, although they have witnessed both the plagues and the Passover. They still have not learned to trust God when trouble comes and times get harder.

 Read Exodus 14 v 13 - 31

How does God both save his people and judge his people's enemies ( v 15 - 30 )?

God provides a "strong east wind" ( v 21 ) which separates the waters so that the Israelites can pass through on dry ground ( v 22 ) to the other side ....the side of the promised land ( v 20 - 30 ).

The same waters became judgement for the Egyptians ( v 19 - 20, v 24 - 25 )as the waters closed over them.

Note here that judgement took the form of " un- creation ". Water and land were separated to allow the Israelites to pass through , just as they did in the time of Noah ( Genesis 7 v 11 - 24 ). Judgement takes the form of water . Salvation means being given a way through that water.

 Read Isaiah 43 v 16 - 17 . Isaiah is prophesying around 700 years after the Exodus. What does God ,through him, point the people back to ? Then what does he tell them to do ,and why  ( v 18 - 19 )?

Isaiah reminds the people of how God liberated the Israelites through the sea .....but then God says ,in effect,           Forget about that as I'm going to do it again ,only this time bigger and better.

 In Mark 10 v 38 Jesus describes his death as "the baptism I have been baptised with ",picturing his death as immersion in water .

How does Jesus' death and resurrection mirror both the experience of the Egyptians and the Israelites at the Red Sea. ?

Water is the symbol of judgement ,but the cross is the reality. At Calvary ,the waters of judgement engulfed Jesus,       and as he died the land was covered in darkness. However God brings life out of death .....and on the third day Jesus rose from the dead.....light out of darkness. Just as the Israelites passed through judgement so did Jesus.....and came out on the other side. As Moses  led his people through ......so does Jesus.

 Let's pause and think..........

Imagine the walls of waters collapsing in on one another ,with people and horses being tossed about and dragged down into the depths .This is what Jesus stepped into on the cross . Jesus plunged into the chaos of the waters of judgement so that we can walk through on dry ground.

Imagine the people of God standing ,safe on the shore, watching God's judgement unfold before their eyes.                This is what you are doing ,as you watch ,with the eyes of faith ,God's son hanging on the cross.......

How does thinking about the cross make you feel :

. about  Jesus ?

. about yourself ?

. about your future ?

 How did the Israelites respond to what they saw at the Red Sea ( Exodus 14 v 31 ) ?

As they looked at God's judgement on his enemies they ......

. "feared the Lord ".

. "put their trust in him and in Moses his servant".

What does this look like for God's people today ?

We, too, should fear God as we see the judgement and deliverance of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.                      We express our trust in God by trusting his son as our rescuer and ruler.

 Read 1 Corinthians 10 v 2

Here Paul talks about the Israelites ,led by Moses, passing through the waters of death and coming out to freedom.

Our baptisms are the same. 

Read Romans 2 v 3

Our baptisms are the same . Jesus has passed through the waters of judgement on our behalf......we stand on the eastern side of the sea with our judgement behind us.

Read Revelation 15 v 1 - 4

Where are God's people standing?

As in Exodus 15 ,they are standing beside a sea.

Who has been defeated?

The beast and its image. The "beast " is the personification of ant-god state power. The power of the Red Sea defeated the most powerful state in the world at that time, whose ruler sought to defy God.

How do God's people respond?

By singing !.....and tellingly the song they sing is "the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb". They sing Moses' song ,but about the rescue through judgement that the Lamb, the Lord Jesus ,achieved on the cross.

Whatever our circumstances ,we can still sing of God's goodness, for we stand on the eastern side of the sea.......

 Pray basing your prayers on the three commands of Moses........

.That whatever the circumstances, you will not be afraid.

. That God will help you to stand firm.

. That you will be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46 v 10)

 Thank God for what he has done to enable you to live this way and ask him to help you in the moments when you struggle.

 Next week's study is entitled "Trouble on the Road" and we shall be looking at chapters 13 - 18 of Exodus. The usual Zoom session for this week's study will be on Thursday April 29 at 10.00.

Zoom ID is    737 2295 9656

Password is  3NZjXF. Anyone is very welcome to join whether they are members of All Saints, Walton or not. 

                                                                                                    Exodus 7 - 13

More swathes of scripture in this study so take your time ; try and read it like an on-going story ( which it is) of  God's dealings with his chosen people.

 Read Exodus 6 v 28 - 7 v 13.

 How has Pharaoh challenged God ( 5 v 1 - 2 ) ?

God has told Pharaoh to let his people go ,and Pharaoh has responded that he does not know God and doesn't recognise his authority. He defies God, unwilling to be told what to do.

What has God promised about Pharaoh and his people ( 7 v 5 ) ?

God's authority and identity will be revealed through his mighty deeds....so Egypt will know that "I am the Lord ".        God makes himself known through the plagues.....

 Look at the first nine plagues as described in Exodus 7 v 14 - 10 v 29, 11 - v 3.

As you read about each plague, ask yourself....

. Is a warning given ?

. How does the Egyptian court respond ?

. Is Israel protected ?

. What are we told about Pharaoh's heart ?

 Each plague was a challenge against a particular Egyptian god......the god Heket had the head of a frog and the god Hathor ,the head of a cow. Uatchit was the fly god  and Serapia the god of protection from locusts. Nut was the goddess of the sky and Ra was the sun god.......the list goes on.

How are the plagues an answer to Pharaoh's way of thinking?

God is declaring that he is the only true God and the only relevant God. He is the only God worth obeying. As God goes head to head with each Egyptian god he is saying "There is no one like the Lord ( your ) God" (8 v 10). In the plagues " the Lord..... brought  judgement on their gods " Numbers 33 v 4.

The ten plagues systematically undermine Egypt's pluralist claims....they are a lecture against religious pluralism ( best expressed today in Hinduism ).....the belief that all religions are valid ,and personal autonomy ( the belief that I have the right to live as I like.). The message is clear....there is only one God.

 Read Exodus 11 v 1 - 12 - 39.

 Which families face death and why ?

Every family.....because "every firstborn son in Egypt will die" ( 11 v 5 )

The reason why " the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel " ( v 7 )is because Israel are those who listen to him ,and obey his rescue plan. Note that the Israelites deserve death as much as the Egyptians .....and so do we! However, there is an escape plan..........

Which families escape death and how ? Trace the exact details........

. 12 v 3 - 5 : Take a perfect lamb....the best in the flock ,sufficient for the number in each household.

. v 6 : Having cared for the lamb ,slaughter them on a particular day .

. v 7 : Take some of the lamb's blood and put it around the door frame of the house.

. v 8 - 11 : Eat all the lamb ,dressed and ready to leave Egypt.

. v 12 - 13 : When God sees the blood  " I will pass over you " and not strike down the  firstborn in that household.

In what sense was there " not a house without someone dead" ( v 30 )?

In every household, both in Egypt and Goshen there is a death......either a child or a lamb.

Read Mark 15 v 25 - 39 ; John 19 v 28 - 37.

At the beginning of John's Gospel , John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God " ( John 1 v 26 ). Look at these two accounts of Jesus death and consider Jesus as the sacrificial lamb........

. Jesus died in darkness. ( Mark 15 v 33). Just as in the ninth plague God expressed his judgement on Egypt ,God's judgement now falls on his Son.

. The soldiers used hyssop.  The plant that was used to daub the blood on door frames was used to lift a sponge to Jesus' lips....a hint of the first Exodus ( John 19 v 29 )

. Jesus' bones were not broken . He died like an unblemished lamb as in the Passover meal.

 Jesus has died in our place.....his blood daubed all over our lives so that god will "pass over us" when it comes to judgement.

 What were the Israelites enabled to do?  ( Exodus 12 v 31 - 32 ) ?

Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and pretty much commands them to leave just a Moses had requested. Note here that the Israelites were able to "plunder" the Egyptians ,who gave them silver and gold , and clothing.                     ( Exodus 12 v 35 - 36 ). These would prove to be a wonderful provision in the wilderness, the silver and gold eventually being used in the construction of the Tabernacle.

 The night before he died Jesus redefined the Passover meal as being a meal about him and his death. Read Exodus 13 and think about why we share the Lord's Supper, and what we should be thinking about and speaking about as we do it.

. The Lord's Supper is the fulfillment of the feasts of Passover and Unleavened bread.

. Just as the Passover shaped the identity of the Israelites ,so the Lord's Supper shapes our identity as Christians .

. Communion is our aide-memoire. It helps us to remember that in Christ, we died to the reign of sin ......it is no longer our master and we no longer obey it's commands.

 PRAY..........

Thank God ....

. that his plans always prevail and that his promises are always kept.

. that the lamb's blood on the doors was a preview of the blood of the Greater Lamb......shed for you on the cross.

. that God has designed you to experience the freedom of obeying him.

Ask God......

. to mercifully soften those you know who are hard hearted.

. to enable you to have an even greater sense of awe and joy when you next celebrate the Lord's Supper.

. to remember that obeying God is true freedom next time you are tempted to disobey.

 There will be the usual Zoom session to discuss this study on Thursday April 22 at 10.00 . 

Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

Password 3NZjXF.

Next week's study will be Exodus 13 v 17 - 15 v 21 and the title is "Through the Sea",so if you know your Exodus ,you can guess what is going to happen!

Exodus 3 - 6

 These three chapters contain a large amount of Old Testament history and teaching .......a lot to digest in one session,so you might like to take it in small chunks......

 Read Exodus 3 v 1 - 22

 What does God promise in this meeting with Moses?

. v 7 - 10,17: That he is a God who sees,hears and is concerned about his people ( v 7 ); he has begun to rescue them ,and will bring them into a good, plentiful land ( v 8 ,17).

. v 12: That he will be with Moses and that the people will worship God at the mountain at which this meeting is taking place.....Horeb ( v 1 ) or Sinai.

. v 18: Israel's leaders will listen to Moses.

. v 19 - 22: Pharaoh will not listen ( v 19 ) , but after God acts to show his power , " he will let you go " (v 20 ) and the Egyptians will give the Israelites items of value and clothing ( v 21 - 12 ).

 What do we learn about who God is and what he is like?

. v 2: A fire often draws us towards it ( v 3 ), but we know we must keep our distance from it. Here God highlights that as we are drawn to him in our need, we must also keep our distance. This is a key theme in Exodus.

. v 5: God is holy .....he is not like us.

. v 7: God is close enough and cares enough to be concerned about us. Although he is holy he is still among us and is transcendent and immanent..

. v 12: He is utterly holy and different to us yet with us and close to us.

. v 14: This is one of the key verses in the whole bible as God reveals his "personal name"........"I AM WHO I AM" or "I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE". This is a statement designed to burst our definitions as it circles back on itself. God is not defined by anything outside himself. The Hebrew verb used here can refer to past, present or future action. God's identity is unconstrained ....he will be what he decides to be and will do what he decides to do.  God is unconstrained by an external factor, but is constrained by his own character and promises. This means that he will always act in a way consistent with his holiness and word. This is our great hope: our God is totally trustworthy, proven by his actions throughout history, and always keeps the promises he has made.

Note that when Jesus says "I am he " in John 18 v 14 - 15 people fell to the ground because they knew who Jesus was claiming to be, and he quoted the personal name of God.

. v 15: God is eternal and unchanging.

 What is Moses' worry in verse 11?

Moses feels inadequate because of his weakness, Pharaoh's power, and the scale of the task.....it is very understandable.

How is God's response in verse 12 both not the answer to Moses, and also the best answer to Moses?

It is not an answer because it fails to answer......God does not tell Moses anything about himself, his abilities or character BUT he does say " I will be with you". God is the one who will make the difference. God doesn't give Moses greater self-esteem or confidence but assures him that he will be alongside him.

 Read John 8 v 54 - 59.

What is Jesus claiming about himself here?

In this argument between Jesus and the Jews, the key verses are 56 and 58.

. Jesus claimed that Abraham looked forward to Jesus' day, and rejoiced about it.....that was when all God's promises to Abraham were fulfilled. (eg. Genesis 12 v 1 - 3)

. When the Jews point out as to how could Jesus know what Abraham thought, and how could Abraham have known about him, Jesus answers "Before Abraham was, I am ". He claims to have been in existence before Abraham and uses the divine name. Jesus is claiming to be the eternal I AM. Abraham knew him because Abraham knew the Lord, and Jesus is the Lord.

 Read Exodus 4 v 1 - 23

 What problems does Moses have with what God has asked him to do ( 1 , 10, 13 )?

. What if Israel's leaders don't believe in him?

. He is not a good public speaker.

. He simply doesn't want to do it.

 What do God's responses show about himself ,and about how he deals with his people?

. In response to Moses' first question, God offers him three signs......

1. A staff that turns into a snake.

2. A hand that turns leprous.

3. Water turns to blood.

......these signs anticipate some of the events of the plagues and exodus.....signs of God's identity and power as expressed in exodus and ultimately in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

. In response to Moses' second question, God points out that he is sovereign over peoples' ability to listen and to speak, and promises to help him.

. And in Moses plea to send someone else......God becomes angry ( v 14 ) as he expects obedience and trust. However he graciously allows Aaron to be his spokesperson.

 Verses 24 - 26 relate to a strange episode. This is hard to answer some 3,000 years on. God has just drawn a line between the first-born of God and the first-born of Egypt. Circumcision was a sign that someone was a part of Israel, God's firstborn (Genesis 17 ). By not circumcising Gershom Moses was treating him as an Egyptian, and therefore not a member of God's people. God's attack anticipates his attack on Pharaoh and Egypt. The only hope is to cross the line in order to enter God's people .........which is what Zipporah does when she circumcises Gershom.

Today baptism is a sign (or sacrament) that you have crossed the line and are united to God's "firstborn and eternal son" ....the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Read Exodus 5 v 1 - 23.

What difference does God becoming involved make to his peoples' lives ( in 5 v 1 - 23 )?

None,  because Pharaoh does not recognise God's authority. Things then get worse as the people are told to work harder, and have to maintain their output of bricks, without being given the raw materials.

 What does God add to his promises in 6 v 1 - 8 ?

. v 6: God will rescue his people through "mighty acts of judgement".

. v 7: They will be rescued so they can become his own people.

 How do verses 6 - 8 show us what it means to be redeemed?

It means........

. someone else acting for you freeing you from slavery. God will act for his people to free them from the Egyptian yoke.

. being freed for something......to enter into a new relationship with your redeemer. ( v 7 )

. to live with your redeemer....God will bring them to the promised land and give it to them ( v 8)

 How does this apply to God's people today?

. God acted for us in Christ to redeem us.....to free us from slavery to sin and death.

. God freed us to be in a relationship with him.....serving him joyfully.

. God is bringing us to his promised land ....and one day will give us the new creation as a "possession".

 All this shows who God is .....so he says "I am the Lord " in verses 2 and 8......as if to say .......here is what I will do to show you what I mean when I say I AM WHO I AM.

 Pray..........

Spend time praising God for who he is ..........

 Praise Jesus, God's Son, for being the great " I AM".

 Pray about ways in which life has got harder because you are following Christ.

 Ask God to give you grace to praise and trust him rather than complaining.

 Next week we shall be studying Exodus 7 - 13. It has been suggested that reading a chapter a day and thinking about it is a good idea, especially when there are a number of chapters to read. The title is "God v Pharoah". Who will come out as the winner; I think we all know! The usual zoom session to discuss this week's study will be on Thursday April 15 at 10.00.

 Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656 

 The Password is 3NZjXF.

                                                                                                   Exodus 1 - 2                                                                             

 Read Exodus 1 v 1 - 7

Abraham's son was Isaac ,and his son was Jacob, which brings us to Exodus 1 v 1.......

 How is God keeping his promise in Exodus 1 v 1 - 7 ?

At the beginning of the book of Exodus ,the promise of a nation is being fulfilled. Verses 1 - 5 list the sons of Israel who came to Egypt. The total number who made that original journey 400 years ago was just 70 ( v 5 ). Now those 70 have become a great nation and they fill the land (v 6- 7 )

 Read Exodus 1 v 8 - 21 )

How is God's promise keeping threatened in these verses ?

Trace the rising threat......

. v 8 - 11: Oppressive measures are imposed to prevent the Israelites becoming "even more numerous".....the people are enslaved.

. v 12 - 14: Pharaoh works the Israelites ruthlessly, so they will have no time for plotting rebellion or becoming numerous.

. v 15 - 16: Pharaoh tells the Hebrew midwives to kill every new born baby boy. If his plan succeeds Israel will be wiped out in a generation.

. In what ways is Pharaoh's plan thwarted ?

. v 12: The plan does not work; the Israelites remain fruitful and so their numbers increase.

. v 17 - 19: The midwives defy the authority of Pharaoh,letting the boys live. When challenged they claim that the Hebrew women give birth before their midwives arrive.

 Read Exodus 1 v 22 - 2 v 10

How does Pharaoh raise the stakes ?

He turns to genocide, ordering the execution of all infant Israelite boys, conscripting Egyptians to drown them in the Nile.

What is ironic about the way his plans are thwarted (2 v 1 - 10 ) ?

. This baby is placed in a basket on the river Nile ( v 3 ),and is rescued from there( v 5 ) The river that Pharaoh wanted to bring death is the path to life.

. Pharaoh's own daughter rescues the baby ,rather than killing him as ordered by her father. ( v 5, 10 ). Moses ends up living in the family that wanted him dead.( v 10 ).

. Moses is cared for by his own mother ......and she is paid to raise her own son ( v 7 - 9 )

 This baby Moses ,now being raised as a Hebrew but with all the privileges of Egypt, will become the Hebrews' greatest liberator. All his experience of life at the Egyptian court....their culture and their ways, will be greatly used by God when Moses confronts Pharaoh in the future.........

 Read Exodus 2 v 11 - 25

How are Moses' actions in 2 v 11 - 12 more "Egyptian than Godly" ?

Moses treats another with violence, responding to injustice with a greater injustice......behaving like an Egyptian slave master. Moses has to "unlearn "these ways of the Egyptian court.....we cannot do God's work in worldly ways.

How do they undermine Moses' ability to lead Israel ( v 13 - 15 )?

He loses the respect of the people( v 13 - 14 );they don't recognise his leadership ( v 14 ) forcing him to flee from Pharaoh, who wants to kill Moses ( v 15 ).

Moses ends up living as a Midianite....who were nomads. They wandered all over the Sinai peninsula and the land of Canaan.....all areas of land promised to Abraham. And in Midian ,in contrast to Egypt ,the Lord was worshipped freely.

 So in what sense has Moses left home and in what sense has he come home ?

He has only known life in his mother's house in the Egyptian court. Now he has to flee to another country. However.......he lands up in the area that God had promised to Abraham's descendants, living with people who worship God. He is in the "home" that God has promised to give his people. In leaving the only home he has ever known ......Moses has come home. Moses calls his first son "Gershom" which means "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land".

 By the end of Chapter 2 ,to what extent has God kept his promises ? What remains to be fulfilled?

. His people remain numerous, despite all Pharaoh's genocidal efforts. The promise of a great nation has come true.

. Moses has found a home in the promised land. The promise of the land is true for him.......but the rest of the people are hundreds of miles away from it .......in slavery.

. Moses has found blessing.....safety and security, family and friendship in God's land. However.....the rest of God's people are far from blessing working as slaves for a ruthless King who wishes to wipe them out.

 How do verses 23 - 25 suggest God is about to intervene in Israelite History ?

God "remembered his covenant with Abraham''. "Remembering " is a covenant term meaning " to act  in order to fulfill a covenant ".God is about to take the next step in the fulfillment of his promises". Verse 25 is literally "God saw the people of Israel and he knew......" . He knew their suffering ,and he knew his promises,and so now he would act on them.

 Read Hebrews 11 v 24 - 27 . Why did Moses choose to live as an Israelite ,rather than an Egyptian? What did he give up in order to do so ?

. He knew that the "pleasures of sin " are " fleeting " . All the luxuries of the Egyptian court would not last.

. He was "looking ahead to his reward". He knew God's promises, trusted them ,and knew that he knew better times were ahead of him than behind him.

. He saw "him who is invisible".....living "by faith, not by sight" ( 2 Corinthians 5 v 7 ). Although Moses could not see God, he knew he was there and was totally trustworthy.

 Re-read Exodus 1 v 15 - 18. Why did Shiphrah and Puah not obey Pharaoh?

They "feared God" holding him in higher awe than the ruler of the superpower of the day, and trusted him to keep to his plans......so they were prepared to defy Pharaoh.

What were they risking in order to disobey him ?

Don't underestimate the pressure they were under to conform to the will of Pharaoh; huge risks were involved. They stood to lose their lives.........

 To think about .......

Are there ways in which you fear people more than God ? What would happen if you trusted in his promises rather than being swayed by human plans? How will you remember to fear and trust God?

 Pray.........

Thank God that he is both a promise-making and promise-keeping God.

 Thank him for the confidence and assurance that can give you as you walk through life.

 Pray about the times when you must choose between fearing God or fearing man.....think about the position of Moses and the midwives ; for both it involved great risk and great cost.

 Next week we will be looking at Exodus 3 - 6 under the title "When God gets involved". As always we will be having a  zoom session on Thursday April 8 at 10.00am......to which all are invited. Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656 and the password is 3NZjXF

                                                                                            SETTING THE SCENE  

                                                                             Liberating Love

Introducing the book of Exodus.

 Exodus ......or departing ...leaving. We are all aware of the meaning as it is often used today ...."there was a mass exodus.....!". In the original Hebrew the book of Exodus actually begins with the word "and",which immediately alerts us to the fact that this story is part of a bigger story..........

 A princess goes to bathe in the river and has her heart won by an abandoned baby. A  bush on fire never burns up and a voice speaks from it that will change history. An unarmed shepherd walks out of the wilderness to do battle with the most powerful man on earth. Loud wailing erupts throughout the land as one cry of a bereaved mother leads to another. A whole nation walks through a sea with walls of water on either side ,to liberation on a far shore. The voice of God booms across a plain accompanied with thunder, lightning, thick cloud and an earthquake. A man argues with God about the future of a people and God relents. The glory of God so fills a tent that everyone must evacuate.

 All this is the dramatic stuff of Exodus, beloved of film makers with its drama and excitement. It is God's story of the rescue of his people, played out against the background of ancient Egypt with its palaces, courts and pharaohs......but this is our story ; the story of a new exodus on a trajectory that comes to a climax with the life, death, and resurrection  of Jesus. Exodus is the key to understanding the person and work of Jesus ,and appreciating the liberating love that brought him into this world......and took him to the cross.

 Read Genesis 12 v 1 - 7 ; 15 v 1-21 ; 17 v 15 - 22.

 What did God promise and to whom?

. 12 1 - 7 : God promised Abram that he would be made into a great nation ,would be blessed ,and would be the source of blessing to others ( v 2 - 3 ); and that he would be given the land in which he was in. ( v 7 )

. 15 v 1 - 21 : God promised Abram that his descendants would be numerous ( v 5 ),that the land would be given to him  ( v 7 ) and that his descendants would be ill-treated slaves in a foreign land before being rescued by God and enabled to return to this "promised" land ( v 13 -16 ). The extent of the land is described ( v 18 - 20 )

. 17 v 15 - 22 : God promised Abraham a son by his wife Sarai/Sarah ( v 15 - 16 ) and that her descendants would be kings ( v 16 ). The covenant God had made with Abraham ( chapter 15 ) would also hold for his son and further descendants  ( v 19 , 21 ),but not for Ishmael ( Abraham's son by his wife's slave girl, Hagar (chapter 16)

 So in Genesis 12, 15, and  17 God had made a promise to Abraham and sealed that promise in a covenant ( binding agreement ). There were two key components to God's promise...........

1. The promise of a people .....Israel would become a great nation .

2. The promise of a land......Abraham's family would inherit the land of Canaan.

And God would bless all nations ,by fulfilling all his purposes ,through Abraham's family.

 Read Genesis 1 v 26-29

God had commanded humanity to be fruitful ,increase in number and fill the Earth( v 28 ....he repeated this when Noah left the ark, 9 v 1 ). As we move into Exodus 1 we will learn that Israel were " exceedingly fruitful " and that God's people fulfilled God's command.

 Read Genesis 3 v 8 - 15

What has God promised would be the relationship between the snake and the woman ( v 15 )?

They would be in hostility to one another ….and so would their " offspring "be. There would always be rivalry between those who trust in God's promises (his people ) and those who listen to the snake ( everyone else ). And one day, one of those who trusted God's promises would both be struck by ,and would strike down ,the snake.

 Promise fulfilled........( Genesis 3 v 15 )

As we begin reading Exodus ,we will see that Pharaoh's hostility is one manifestation of the ancient hostility between the woman's offspring and the snake's  " offspring ". Pharaoh tries to impede Israel's creatine fruitfulness ....setting himself on a collision course with God. Both Pharaoh and God lay claim to Israel ,though the nature of their respective rules is very different. One rule is oppressive and deadly .....the other liberating and lifegiving.

What significance does this add to the coming showdown between Israel  and Pharaoh?

It shows us who wins and whether or not God can be trusted to keep his promise of Genesis 3 v 15 and fulfill his purposes for humanity, such as multiplying and filling the earth.......... Exodus is not simply the record of the way in which two people groups treated each other and which "won". It is an account of how God and the most powerful ruler in the world     ( at that time) confronted each other....how in fact God and the snake confronted each other ......and who won .

And so the scene is set for our first study in Exodus......."People with a Promise". Hope this whets your appetite for next week !

 Pray...........

Thank God......that he is faithful and true to his word ,and that he has a plan and purpose for all his people.

 Ask God......to keep you trusting him however dark and difficult life might be ......that he will "get you through ".

 Praise God......that he is always true to his word and that he never changes.

 The usual Zoom session will be on Thursday April 1 at 10.00 as usual.....and yes it will happen ,this is not an April 1 joke!

Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

 Password is 3NZjXF.

 Anyone is free to join ,even if you can only make it by audio. Next week we will be looking at Exodus 1 and 2 under the title "People with a Promise".

 We have finished our rapid tour of God's word .......the bible. This is our last and re-cap session of all we have learned. Let's take a look at where we have been on this journey.......

 What promises has God made through the Old Testament?

 1: To make a very good world, with people living under God's loving rule.

2: To send someone to defeat the devil and death.

3: To bring blessing to people from all over the world.

4: To deliver God's people from judgement by providing someone/something to die in our place.

5: To give his people an eternal king,to lead his people in obeying him.

6: To bring his people to a wonderful life beyond judgement.

We see these promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Read Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 to see how the Old Testament predicted Christ's suffering and death.

Look at Acts 2 . What are the key points of the witness statement we're given about Jesus ( v 22 - 24, 36 , 38 )?

. Who he is: a historical man, chosen by God as the Messiah, proved by miracles.

. What he did: he died as part of God's plan, rejected by humanity. He rose again, triumphing over death.

. How people need to respond: repent......turn back to God......and make a public declaration of loyalty to Jesus. This brings forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit.

Can you remember the title of each session......they begin with successive letters of the alphabet!

Can you remember how Jesus is the way God keeps each promise in his first and second comings?  

He is the One who began the re-creation when he came 2,000 years ago and will finish it one day.

He is the One who crushed the devil on the cross by removing his claim on us as sinners and will throw him into hell.

He is the One who makes us God's people, and who will bring us to God's ultimate place of perfect blessing.

He is the One who dies in our place, taking God's judgement that we deserve.

He is the One who is the perfect Ruler, who leads his people in obeying God.

He is the One who, having taken our judgement, takes us to a place where we enjoy amazing blessings in this world.

 Read 2 Peter 3 v 2 - 14.

One day Jesus will return in triumph; we are not told when, but there are more predictions about his second coming than there are about his first. We should be ready for that coming, which we are told will be "like a thief in the night". So what should we do as his followers until he returns?

. v 2: Read and remember the Old Testament ( prophets ), and the New Testament (apostles)......what we've been doing over these sessions!

. v 11 - 13: Live holy ( distinctive, different and pure ) and godly ( like God ) lives.....and look forward to Jesus' return.

. v 14: Be " spotless " and " blameless "......that is living good lives and seeking to rid ourselves of sinfulness; be at peace with God and in a right relationship with him ( living under his rule and repenting when we don't ).

 Here are the "fruits of the Spirit" which we should all be displaying in our lives. You can read them in Galatians 5 v 22 - 23.

 Pray............

 Thank God.......that he always keeps his promises.

 Ask God.......to daily remind you of his faithfulness and constant love, and that he will give you grace and the ability to display the fruits of the Spirit in your life.

 Trust God ......that he knows what is best and right for you, will provide for your needs, and will guide and lead you into the future.

 Next week we begin an exciting new bible study series on the book of Exodus......with its glorious overtones of Passover and the story of Easter. We shall be using a book by one of our favourite "Good Book Company" authors.....Tim Chester. The studies are under the umbrella title of "Liberating Love ", and we will begin with a general introduction. The usual ZOOM session to discuss the recap session will be on Weds March 24 at 10.00 am.

 Zoom ID 73722959656

 Password is 3NZjXF.

                            JESUS' RETURN - Revelation 20 - 22

Here in the bible's last book, Revelation, a vision is given to the apostle John. This is not an easy book with its apocalyptic style....but it is fascinating, strange and exhilarating. The early church would have found much encouragement from it, as it spoke directly into their situation of persecution and suffering.  In chapter 20 the focus shifts to what the world will be like when its Creator returns......the final act of God's plan.

 Read Revelation 20 v 11 - 21 v 5.

 What is at the centre of this scene ( 20 v 11, 21 v 5 )?

A throne ( white = pure ). On the throne is God; Father and Son, who has power over all creation and is making "everything new".

What will God shut out of his world? Why is this necessary for the world to be made perfect?

. 20 v 14: Death and Hades. Hades is Greek for "place of the dead. Here John underlines that there is no more death.

. 20 v 12, 15 ; 21 v 8: Basically ....people. here are " types "of people who face eviction from the world....as we look at those mentioned we will know that we have been there.....

. Look back to 20 v 10: The devil, the beast and the false prophet. These represent all evil spiritual powers, including the most powerful....the devil.

. 21 v 4: Tears, death mourning, crying, pain......all signs that life isn't as it could be. One, death, is the end of life in this world.

 Re-read 21 v 2 - 7. How is this future event the complete fulfilment of God's promises.......?

. that creation will be "very good" ( Genesis 1 v 31 )? The new heavens and the new earth are amazing .....with nothing bad in them!

. to Adam and Eve, of someone to crush the devil and conquer sin and death ( Genesis 3 v 13 )? The devil, death and sin have all landed up in the lake of fire.

. to Abraham, of a people in a land enjoying God's blessing ( Genesis 12 v 1 - 3 )? This is the ultimate "place" where God blesses his people....drawn from all nations.....as promised to Abram.

. to David, of an everlasting, perfect ruler ( 2 Samuel 7 )? In the new world, Jesus is King, seated on the throne at the centre of both judgement and renewal.

. to the prophets, of a wonderful future beyond judgement (eg. Amos 9 v 11 - 15 )? This is the place that was foretold by the prophets; a place of peace, plenty, and prosperity....together with an unimaginable blessing.

 What does verse 15 suggest is the only way out of this eternal misery ?

By having our name in another book.....the " book of life ". Only if our name is found here can we avoid hell.

Read 13 v 8; 21 v 27.

This book belongs to "The Lamb who was slain".....Jesus. How is this the ultimate fulfilment of God's promise to Moses?

Here is the Lamb whose people are not rescued from Egypt but from hell......whose people are to the Eastern Mediterranean seaboard, but a perfect world. The names he died for are all found in this "book".

 Read Revelation 22 v 1 - 5

Let's compare this future eternal city to God's original garden creation. How is it similar......or even better?

Garden

. Gen. 2 v 9 : Tree of life

. Gen. 3 v 8a, 2 v 15 - 16 : God is very present

. Gen. 1 v 26 - 28 : Made in God's image to rule over his creation.

. Gen 1 v 14 - 16 : Sun created to give light.

 City

. Rev 22 v 1 - 2 : Tree of life....now for the healing of the nations and replaced by God's throne, because everyone there has accepted his rule.

. Re 22 v 4a :  We will see God's face.

. Rev 22 v 3b,5b : We will reign as God's servants.

. Rev 22 v 5 : Light comes directly from God.

SNAPSHOT: Revelation 20 - 22

When he returns, Jesus will judge and punish all that is wrong in the world, including sin, death, and the devil. The world will be recreated perfectly , and God will live with his perfect people as their King in this perfect eternal place.

 Read Revelation 1 v 12 - 19

This is the beginning of John's vision . How does it give us the certainty that what he has written down is true?

The vision is given to John by Jesus. And Jesus is all-powerful. v 18 points us to the fact that he "was dead.......and is alive forever". The resurrection is where we can find certainty that this Jesus does exist, and that this vision is true and trustworthy. We find reassurance of this throughout Revelation. eg. 21 v 5 ; 22 v 6, 16, 20.

What is the one right response to knowing that this is the future ( 22 v 20b ) ?

"Amen " .....this is true, I believe this, this will happen."Come, Lord Jesus "....the greatest event of any Christian's life will be the day that Jesus returns.

What difference will saying and meaning this make to life now?

This is what Christians are looking forward to and living for .....it gives hope in difficult times, perspective in joy and mourning, motivation to share the gospel.

 If you would like to explore more........

Read 2 Peter 3 v 2 - 14

What will happen between Jesus' ascension and return ( v  3 - 6 )?

How does Peter answer these "scoffers"? ( v 8, 10 )

Why has the Lord not yet fulfilled his promise to return ( v 9 )?

What should the Lord Jesus Christ's followers do until he returns v 2, v 11 - 13,v 14.

Pray...........

Spend time...........giving thanks for who Jesus is, and then for the future, he has given his people.

Ask God ...........to remind you of your glorious future, when you have a painful or difficult day.

Trust God .........to let the promise of a wonderful future make a difference to your emotions and your actions.

This is our final study in the series......but next week we will be having a recap on all that we have learned on our whirlwind tour of scripture. As always we will be having a Zoom session to discuss this week's study on Thursday, March 18 at 10.00.

 Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

Password 3NZjXF.

All comers are very welcome, whether you are a member of All Saints, Walton, or not.

                                                                                                            6.3.21

Today

                                                                                                            Acts 1 - 2

  At the end of Luke's Gospel ,we left the risen Jesus speaking to his followers ,promising them the Holy Spirit .....   "power from on high " (Luke 24 v 49 ). Luke wrote a second volume ,which we call Acts. If the subtitle to Luke's Gospel could be : "What Jesus did on Earth", then Acts would be subtitled "What Jesus did next".

 Read Acts 1 v 7 - 11

 Look at the map pictured below and note the Areas Jesus mentions in verse 8.

 Imagine you are one of the handful of followers Jesus has at this point. How would you feel about the prospect of obeying the second half of verse 8 ?

Here are a few Christians who have probably never left Israel ,who have seen their Master horribly tortured and executed while they deserted and denied him. They are a tiny minority living in Jewish-dominated Jerusalem and are now being told they are about to start the process of Jesus to the whole world. Terror, inadequacy, hopelessness.......spring to mind!

Why would the first half of verse 8 be a great comfort to you?

They are not to have to do this seemingly impossible mission alone, God himself, in the presence of the Holy Spirit      will come to them and give them power.

What do the men "dressed in white" say is the next major event in God's plan following the "ascension"?

Jesus will return from God's presence in the same way he entered it . The next event on God's timeline is the return of the Lord Jesus.

Read Acts 2 v 1 - 15 , 22 - 24, 37 - 41 .

 In verses 1 - 4 the Holy Spirit comes to these Christians. What do these verses tell us about who he is and what he does?

. A wind-like sound comes from heaven ( v 1 )....the Spirit comes from God.

. The Spirit fills the house ( v 2 )......while he does dwell in Christians ,he is also at work throughout the world.

. They see tongues of fire ( v 3 ). In the Old Testament ,fire is a sign of God's presence ( see Exodus 13 v 8 ).

. The fire rested on each Christian. ( v 3 )and He dwells in all Christians ( there were 120 of them at this point)        The fire  rests on the Christians ,and yet they survive, unlike in the OT which they could not survive ( Exodus 19 v 20 - 21 ).          The difference has been made possible by Christ's redemptive work on the cross, as shown by the veil of the temple tearing (Luke 23 v 44 - 46 ).

. All of them were filled with the Spirit, as is every Christian.

. The Spirit enables the believers to speak in tongues ie. foreign languages. ( v 4 , v 7 - 8 )

 How does the Spirit- filled Peter start doing what Jesus had asked in 1 v 8?

He begins to tell people about Jesus .

How do people respond to Spirit-filled Christians?

. v 12 : they are intrigued ,but would like to understand.

. v 13 :they laugh at them.

. v 41 :they listen to what they say about Christ, repent and are baptised, which is a public declaration of their new loyalty to Christ . They have been forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit as a seal of their new life in Christ .......they have become Christians!

 Read Acts 2 v 42 - 47.

 This is the first Christian church . What do we see here about what church is ,and what church does?

. v 42 : Church is a group of people who listen to the apostles' teaching .

. v 42 : Church is about fellowship ,a family .

. v 42 : Church shares communion and prays together.

. v 43 : The is full of awe at how God works.

. v 44 - 45 : Church members are united sharing everything they have ,and will give up anything they have in order to support one another.

. v 46 : Church meets together publicly , regularly ,and privately .....in church buildings and in peoples' homes.

 What is challenging about the word "devoted" in v 42?

This is the Spirit inspired attitude Christians have to their church community.....nothing is half-hearted or moderate and nothing is held back. Church is a priority in the life of the Christian and we should all be a part of a church family.

 What does verse 47 tell us about the way God works through his people....and why is this exciting?

As a church worships God and serves one another people are drawn in as they see God at work and through his Spirit people are saved......all very exciting.

 So far we've seen God's Spirit -filled people witnessing about his son in Jerusalem . Now read these verses in Acts and trace the progress of the message about Jesus.......

You'll find each on the map above.....

. 8 v 1b - 8 : Judea and Samaria.

. 11 v 19 - 21 : Antioch ....a major city.

. 17 v 13 - 15 , 32 - 34 : Thessalonica and Berea ( large Greek towns). Athens ( capital of Greece and the centre of academia and philosophy in the ancient world. .

. 28 v 11 - 16 , 30 - 31 : Rome ( the capital of the greatest empire the world has ever seen; the centre of the then-known world).

 How does Acts show God's people obeying his mission command from 1 v 8 ?

 They take the gospel message from Jerusalem ,first from a handful ,and then from a few thousand believers throughout the known world .

How does Acts show God's promise to Abram being fulfilled?

God had promised to Abram ( Gen 12 v 3 )that the blessing of living as a part of his people would come to "all peoples"; in Acts we see this promise being fulfilled, as many nations come to faith in Christ.

 SNAPSHOT : Acts - Revelation 19

God has sent his Spirit to live in his Son's followers ,enabling them to tell people about his Son. His church has spread from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. The mission of God's people today is to be devoted to each other and to witness about his Son throughout the world.

 If you would like to explore more.......

We've seen that the Spirit lives in Christians to help us to change the world by talking to people about Jesus the Messiah, but he dwells in us to change us too........

Read Galatians 5 v 16 - 25.

Paul is writing to a church in modern-day Turkey.

What fight is going on inside every Christian ( v 17 ) ?

What kind of things are examples of a lifestyle which is rebelling against King Jesus ( v 19 - 21 ) ?

With what does Jesus Spirit work to replace those things ( v 22 - 24 ) ?

How should Christ's followers try to live ( v 16 , 25 ) ?

How do these verses challenge you ?

How do they encourage you ?

 Pray ........

 Thank God .......

.....for giving you a place in his mission to have the whole world hear the message about Jesus the Messiah.....and for the power of his Spirit to enable you to do your part.

......for giving you a church to which you can be devoted.

 Ask God.........

........to give you opportunities to talk about his Son ,and the courage to take them.

 Commit to ......

.......praying for people by name that you would like to tell about Jesus.

 Next week we will be looking at Revelation 20 - 22 and studying some exciting apocalyptic scripture under the title "In a Perfect World ". There will be the usual Zoom session to discuss this week's study on Thursday March 11 at 10.00pm.

 The Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

 Password is 3NZjXF. As always everyone is most welcome.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Jesus of Nazareth

                                                                        Luke 9,24.

What we've missed...........

After Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet ,God's people heard nothing from God for 400 years. In that time the land was conquered by the Romans.

Then in about 30 AD, a new prophet arrived by the name of John. many wondered if he was the promised Messiah . John wasn't the Messiah ,but was sent by God to announce that the Messiah was on his way......

 Read Luke 9 v 18 - 22

 What are the options as to who Jesus is ( v 19 - 20 )?

. John the Baptist (Jesus' cousin who announced Jesus' arrival).

. Elijah ( a very important OT prophet)

. another prophet.

.......all of these mean a holy man who is close to God.

. the Messiah;God's chosen ,all-powerful ,eternal ,promised King.

 Look at these passages and think about........

. how they suggest that Peter's verdict is the correct one

. how they show Jesus fulfilling a promise of God.

 Luke 4 v 33 - 37

Jesus has power over evil spirits. The evil spirit knows that "he is the holy one of God".....the promised "devil crusher".

Luke 5 12 - 16

Jesus can heal effortlessly. Leprosy was a disease which excluded people from the people of God (Leviticus 13 v 42 - 46). Jesus reverses this bringing the leper the blessing of being part of God's people.

Luke 5 17 - 26

Jesus can forgive sins, and proved he has this authority by performing a visible healing.

Luke 7 v 1 - 10

Jesus can heal from a distance!. He does it for a hated occupier...a Roman ,demonstrating that he brings blessing to people from all nations.

Luke 7 v 1 - 10

Jesus can raise someone from the dead in his own power. He can defeat death.

Luke 8 v 22 - 25

Jesus has power over creation; his word controls the weather. He brings this chaotic and imperfect world into calm, peace ,and perfection.

 What four things does Jesus promise will happen to him( v 22 )?

. Suffering

. Rejection by the leaders of God's people Israel.

. Suffer death.

. Rise again 3 days later.

Note:in  first century Israel,part days counted as whole days....so Jesus rose three days after dying . ie. Friday,Saturday,Sunday.

Read Luke 9 v 23 - 26

How is the life Jesus' followers experience similar to his own?

. They will deny themselves.....following God's way and not their own.

. They will take up a metaphorical cross ( v 23 ) and be rejected by the world.

. They will "lose their life"( v 24 ),being willing to give up anything in life...even life itself, to follow Jesus.

. They will know that by losing their life for Jesus ,they will save their life eternally. ( v 24 )

. They will not be ashamed of Jesus and His words in a world which constantly rejects him ( v 26 )

What promise does Jesus make ( v 24 )

Whoever loses their life for Jesus and letting him be in charge of it .......will save it and with it will have eternal life.

 Jesus' prediction began to come true. He was arrested, trie , mocked and beaten, rejected and killed.......but he also predicted that he would rise from the dead............

 Read Luke 24 v 1 - 12, 36 - 49.

 Jesus has been buried,but his tomb is empty. Why according to the angels ( v 5 - 6 ) ?

He isn't dead ,he's living  ( v 5 ); He is risen !

In these two passages, what gives us confidence that Jesus had really risen from the dead?

. v 3 : His body was not in the tomb.

. v 5 - 6: The angels said he'd risen.

. v 6 - 8: He predicted it would happen.

. v 11:The disciples were in no mindset to steal the body......they didn't  believe at first.

. v 12: The grave clothes were left behind.

. v 39 : The risen Jesus had flesh and bones and could be touched.

. v 42 - 43: The risen Jesus ate food.

 Why should the women at the tomb have known Jesus would rise ( v 6, 7 )?

Because Jesus told them he would...Jesus always keeps his word.

Why should the men in the room have known he would rise. ( v 44, v 46 )?

Because the "Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms" ( the Old Testament) predicted Jesus' suffering and resurrection.

Take a look at Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 and see how they predict Jesus' suffering and resurrection.

 What does Jesus promise his followers is now available ( v 47,49 )?

. v 47 : Forgiveness of sins......for all people.

. v 49 : "Power from on high". This is a reference to the Holy Spirit. ( Acts 2. 1 - 4 )

 What does the resurrection prove about ..........

. Jesus' identity ? He is who he said he was......Messiah and Emmanuel ..." God with us ".

. Jesus' words ? What he says is true.....and we can trust every word.

. Jesus' promises ? What he promises he will do.

 SNAPSHOT: Matthew - John.

Jesus is the one who fulfills all God's Old Testament promises. He calls people to live under his loving rule and brings God's blessing on those who follow him. He has defeated the devil, death and sin. He has risen from the dead to prove that he is the Messiah and to offer a future beyond judgement.

 If you would like to explore more........

Jesus said that he would be "rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law" ( Luke 9 v 22 ).....that is ,the leaders of Israel, the people who were supposed to love and obey God. God's Messiah ended up being put to death in Jerusalem ,the capital city of God' ancient people.

Jesus told a story ....a parable....which explained what Israel was doing ,and what God would do in response.......

 Read Luke 20 v 9 - 19 .

The vineyard is Israel; the tenants are the Jews .and the owner is God.

What has God asked for ,and how has Israel responded ?

What awful decision does Israel then make ?

What will God do next ?

Jesus' crucifixion is what's being talked about in verse 15.

What should we expect to see happening next ?

How is the story both a warning and an exciting promise ?

 Pray............

Read 2 Corinthians 1 v 20

Choose a particular promise of God and then spend time thanking God that those promises have been made "yes" for you in Jesus.

 Tell God how you are struggling to deny yourself to follow his Messiah. Ask God to help you to give up your "wants"in order to live as Jesus "wants".

 Our next Zoom session will be on Thursday March 4th at 10.00 to discuss this study as always everyone is very welcome. 

Zoom ID is 73722959656

Password is 2NZjXF.

 "Hear the Message "will be our next topic ,when we will be looking at the Acts of the Apostles and the early church; as always the study will be available online from Saturday March 6th. 

.

 Amos 8 - 9 ; Luke 23

 ........Once again some long chapters to read this week ; consider doing them one at a time ......meditating as you go.

 The Story so far.........

In God's land ,God's people keep rebelling ,and so kept being invaded instead of enjoying blessing. God gave them judges to rescue them ,and has now appointed King David ,who has led the people into obedience and blessing.

 What God promised.......

What we've missed: David's son Solomon ,worshipped other "gods" ,not the real one. Sin brought judgement: when he died the kingdom split in two - "Israel" in the North ;"Judah" in the South. Most kings did as Solomon had done and the people increasingly rejected God and his ways.

So God spoke to them through his prophets. There were dozens of them (the bible talks about "schools" of prophets),and the messages of 16 of them are included in the Old Testament. They were all very different, but in different keys, tones, pitches ,and lengths, they all sang the same basic song.

In this study we are going to focus on the message of Amos, a shepherd from Judah who spoke God's word to Israel in around 750 BC

Read Amos 8 v 4 - 14

How does Israel treat obeying God's laws, such as resting on the Sabbath ( v 5 )?

They pay lip service to them ,but their hearts are on other things, namely making money. Their obedience is minimal with no difference beyond the Sabbath and festival days.

How do those with more wealth treat those with less ( v 4, 6 ) ?

They happily tread on them to get themselves to the top ( v 4 ). They see them as items to be bought and sold. (v 6 )

Sum up what God tells Israel he'll do:

. v 10 :He will turn celebrations into times for mourning. : "an only son " would be the great hope of the family .....         so this pictures a time when there is absolutely no hope.

. v 11 - 12: He will withdraw knowledge and understanding of his word. People will realise that they need to hear from God - but it will be too late. Part of God's judgement on a nation that does not want his word is that they won't have it!

. v 14: Death will come to those who worship other gods.

What will be the sign that "that day " of God's judgement has arrived ( v 9 ) ?

The sun won't shine in the middle of the day - all will go dark.

 Amos' song to Israel ,part one: judgement is coming.

 Read Amos 9 v 11 - 15

What will God do to David's fallen kingdom "in that day " ( v 11 ) ?

Restore it, repair it ,make it as it was before his judgement came.

What will be different about the extent of that kingdom ( v 12 )?

It won't be limited to the borders of Israel . Edom was a nation to the North of Israel (and one of its greatest enemies). God's people will "possess" it - that is live there too .....and they will live throughout the world, in every nation.

What will life be like for God's people ( 13 - 15 )?

Verses 13 - 14 give a picture of plenty and abundance , of the world working for mankind rather than against them         (a reversal of the curse of Genesis 3 v 17 - 19). v 15 introduces the whole idea of eternity ,that there will be no more struggle or exile. Clearly by this stage the issue of the peoples' constant sin will have been completely and finally dealt with, though we are given no idea how.

Amos' song to Israel ,part two......Salvation will follow.

 Notice it's God who will do these things ....it's God who brings his people there ,and keeps them there. Heaven comes to earth through God's actions, not humanity's.

Three decades after Amos' message ,Israel was invaded by Assyria ,and the people taken into exile. Judah limped on for another century, before it too was obliterated, its people exiled to Babylon. There were few of them ,far from the land and without God's blessing judgement had come.

Yet two generations later ,a few were able to return to the land to rebuild their homes. Salvation had followed ,but the full promise of Amos 9 v 11 - 15 ,and of the whole Old Testament ,remained unfulfilled. The people were few. they had no king. They did not experience the blessing of a life of plenty in God's land.....and they kept on Sinning. The Old Testament finishes with the people still facing judgment for sin ,and still waiting for God to bring them the future he'd promised.

 SNAPSHOT :  1 Kings 12 - Malachi

Gods' prophets warn his sinful people that judgement will come....but that salvation will follow. In the exile ,the people will have to leave the land. They return .....but are still waiting for the amazing future beyond judgement that God has promised.

 He has fulfilled.........

 Read Luke 23 v 38 - 46.

 Why is the mocking sign above Jesus' head both ironic and tragic ?

It is because he was the King of the Jews!. He was the perfect Jew who always lived God's way ....and the chosen Jew, God's Messiah. Tragically God's people decided to kill the Messiah.

How does Amos' prophecy help us understand what's happening in v 44 - 45a ?

The sixth hour (in our timings) is midday and this is exactly what Amos 8 v 9 foretold. Ot is a sign that God's judgement has come. A time of hopelessness, withdrawal of his presence (or word)and death has arrived. The shock is , that it is God's Messiah ,Jesus dying under his judgement.

Look at verse 45. What does this show Jesus' death has achieved ?

Everything that was blocking a relationship between God and people ....our sin.....has been dealt with.......

What does the second criminal dying next to Jesus recognise about him and ask him to do ?

That Jesus (unlike him) is innocent and not deserving of death (neither Roman crucifixion ,nor the judgement of God). He asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. The dying thief recognises that Jesus is a King and that his kingdom lies beyond death. Note here that to "remember "in scripture means to act upon it. So here the criminal is saying "Please act to bring me into your kingdom".

What does Jesus promise about his future ?

He will do what the criminal asks for ......to bring him into his kingdom, paradise ,with him.

 How can someone experience the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the prophets ,such as Amos 9 v 11 - 15 ?

By recognising that Jesus is the King of God's kingdom, the ultimate descendant of David ,and by asking him for a place in that kingdom. All that God has promised throughout the Old Testament  is fulfilled in the kingdom-beyond-death of Jesus Christ......so that all God has promised can be experienced and enjoyed by anyone who trusts Jesus to take them there to be with him.

 If you would like to explore more........

Read 2 Kings 17 v 1 - 13,18 - 20

What happened ( 2 Kings 17 3 - 6) ?

That's the human perspective, but what was going on under the surface ( v 18 - 20 )?

How is what is happening here the opposite of God's promises to Abraham of people, land and blessing.?

And to David, of a King who would rule under God for ever?

How does this section underline how awful it is to face God's judgement?

 Pray...........

 Thank God.......that through the Death of his son Jesus Christ ,you have a home with him in heaven for all eternity.

 Confess to God that ....... you have often forgotten what it cost Christ to die in our place.

 Ask God for his help with ......putting in place some practical things that will ensure that the future the Lord won at the cross becomes something that dominates your thoughts, emotions and decisions each day .

 Next week we will be looking at Luke 9,24 and studying the person of Jesus Christ with the title 'God in his world .'

 The Zoom session to discuss this week's study will as usual be on Thursday Feb 25 at 10.00......to which of course    all-comers are very welcome.

The Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

The password is 3 NZjXF.

                                                                           Judges 2 ; 2 Samuel 7; Mark 8 - 9

 This is a long study with 4 chapters of scripture to read, so you might like to break it into "bite-size" chunks.

 What God promised.......

 What we’ve missed : Under Moses’ leadership ,God brought Israel to the brink of the land He’d promised to give them. God kept them from entering that land for 40 years because of the peoples’ refusal to trust and obey him. Joshua became Moses’ successor and led Israel into the land, defeating the people who were living there….......

God’s people are now in God’s land enjoying the blessing of living under his rule and things are going really well.

Read Judges 2 . 6 – 19.

 What happened after Joshua died ?

 . v 10 - 13 Israel turned away from God and worshipped the "gods" of near-by nations........angering the true God.

. v 14 - 15 God gave them into the "hands" of their enemies.....and they were defeated.

. v 16 God raised up "judges" ( or leaders ) to save Israel from their enemies.

 What was the advantage of having a God-given judge (v 18 )?

 The judge was the way God had compassion on his sinful, suffering people. During a Judges life,the people were safe from their enemies.

 What was the problem (v 19 - 21 ) ?

 " The judge died"......and then the people returned to sinning again ( v 19 ),so God responded in judgement (v 20 - 21 ).

 In the book of Judges, this cycle repeats itself time and time again. The people sin.....God allows their enemies to occupy the land.....the people cry out to God......he raises up a judge to rescue them .......they enjoy God's blessing under the judge......the judge dies......and the cycle begins again. Each time the cycle goes round, things got a little worse and never quite return to being as good as they were.

 Read Judges 17 v 6; 18 v 1 ;19 v 1; 21 v 25.

What does the writer suggest is the basic cause ,and the solution to ,Israel's troubles ?

 . Everyone did as they saw fit.

. Israel had no king.

The solution is to have a king powerful enough to lead the people effectively in obeying God and to rule as God wanted.....so that everyone simply did not simply do as they wanted, or thought best.

 What we've missed..........

God gave his rebellious people a king .The first Saul, rejected God's commands, but the second, David, was truly God's "anointed one". David loved God and sought to obey him ,when he sinned and failed, he sought God's forgiveness. He led the people in trusting and obeying God.

Under King David, Israel enjoyed God's blessing in God's land under the rule of God's chosen king. This is seen to be the high point of Israel's history.

 Read 2 Samuel 7 v 4 - 16.

 What will happen to David himself (2 Samuel 7 12a )?

 He will die;the "days" of his rule will be "over".

 Why does this matter ?

 We need a ruler who won't be replaced and won't die. Someone who will have a perfect and unending rule under which God's people will be blessed. David (although great) is not the ultimate solution..

 What does God promise about one of David’s descendants?

 . v 12. God will establish his rule/kingdom.

. v 13,16. His throne will be established forever. God says David's descendant will " build a house for my Name " ( v 13 ). That is a temple where God is particularly present. This was partly fulfilled by David's son Solomon, who built the Jerusalem Temple. This was destroyed 400 years later, so wasn't the final fulfilment. The ultimate fulfilment was Jesus, who talked about himself as the temple (John 2 19 - 22 ).

. v 14 - 15. This successor will have a unique father-son relationship with God. He will be punished "for doing wrong".......and this is Jesus ,who took our sin upon himself on the cross, although he himself was without sin.( 2 Corinthians 5 v 21 )

What else does God promise David ( V 10 - 11 ) ?

 He will give his people ,David's subjects ,an undisturbed home ( v 10 ) and rest from their enemies.

Verses 10 - 11 are a promise God partially fulfilled in David's time.....but they were also pointing forward to what God's people would enjoy under David's never-dying descendant, the "Messiah" or "Christ" of God in his never-ending kingdom.

 SNAPSHOT: Joshua - 1 Kings 11. God's people are living in God's land,under God's king , who leads them in living under God's rule. However ,their persistent sin prevents them from fully enjoying God's blessing.

 He has fulfilled.........

 Read Mark 8 v 27 - 29,9 v 2 - 10.

 What does Peter recognise about Jesus ?

 "You are the Messiah" or "Christ " (Mark 8 v 29). David's descendant promised in 2 Samuel 7

 Read Matthew 1 v 1 - 17. Here we see that Jesus was in David's family tree as well as Abraham's.

 How does 9 v 2 - 8 show that Peter is right ?

Jesus is briefly seen in all his heavenly power and glory ( v 2 - 3 ). A cloud, signifying God's presence, appears and the Father confirms that this is his Son (v 7 ),who should be heard and obeyed. God is confirming that Jesus is the Messiah.

 Given what God promised David, why is this seriously exciting?

 Jesus is the one Israel had waited for ,for 1,000 years. He is the one who will rule perfectly ,forever ,as God's Son and Messiah, rescuing and ruling his people under God. He is the central figure of history.

 Remember, the central flaw with both the judges and with David is that ,though they may lead God's people to obey God for a while, eventually they die. Why is what Jesus predicts in v 9 so crucial?

 Jesus (referring to himself here as "the Son of Man") would rise from the dead.

Death would not be the end of his rule......his rule will continue into eternity.

 If you would like to explore more.......

 Solomon ,David's son ,succeeded him as king.

Read 1 Kings 4 v 20 - 34

 Pick out the verses which suggest Solomon might be the Messiah ,the fulfillment of God's promises.

 Read 1 Kings 11 v 1 - 13

 What happened to Solomon ( v 1 - 8 )?

How did God react ( v 9 - 13 ) ?

 Pray.........

Thank God....

 . That he does not give his people what they deserve ,but rescues them.

. For the leaders of your church ,denomination and state. Pray that God would use them to implement his laws ,to protect the vulnerable ,and to enable his word to be heard.

 Ask God.....

 . To help you not make too much of leaders ,nor too little of them.

. To show you where you are living as you "see fit " ,instead of how he commands, and to change you so that you would know the blessing of obedience.

In our study next week we will be looking at the prophets (not all 16 !) and their role in scripture under the title "Future Beyond Judgement".

 There will be the usual Zoom session to discuss this weeks' study next Weds Feb 17 at 10.00 to which ,as usual, all are very welcome. 

 Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656

 Password is 3NZjXF. Looking forward to seeing you !

                                                                                                                     The Exodus

                                                                                                               Exodus 12 ; Luke 22

What God promised.........

 What we've missed : Abraham's grandson was Jacob and one of his sons was Joseph, who ended up as                              second-in -command of Egypt. After a while, Joseph's whole family joined him there.......

In Exodus 1 a new king (or Pharaoh) came to power .He saw that the Israelites (Jacob's family) had become "exceedingly fruitful and "numerous "( v 7 ),and he viewed them as a threat, so he enslaved them and killed all their first born sons.

One boy Moses ,escaped the killings. As an adult, God appeared to him and made him a promise…...

 Read Exodus 3. 7 – 10

 What does God promise Moses he will do ?

 Rescue them from the Egyptians and bring them to a very good land....and he'll do that through Moses. ( v 10 )

 What does the Israelite’s problem appear to be and what solution does God offer?

 Their oppression and suffering under the Egyptian slave drivers .The solution is that God will free them.

Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses  ( 5.2). Even though God demonstrated his power by sending nine plagues,      Pharoah still resisted. So God sent a final plague ( 11. 1). We pick up the story as Moses tells God's people what God has commanded him to tell them.......

 Read Exodus  12 v 1 - 13.

 What do the Israelites need to do ?

 . v 3 - 5 .Take perfect year old lamb (the amount is dictated by the size of the family ).

. v 6 - 7. Take care of the lamb and then kill it. Put some of the blood on the door frames of the house.

. v 8 - 10. Eat all the lambs meat, together with bread without yeast in it.

. v 11. Eat the meal standing up,having made yourselves completely ready to leave Egypt.

 Why do they need to do this? ( v 12 - 13 )

 Because the night they do this God will kill every firstborn son of every family (human and animal) in judgement on peoples' rejection of him and worship of other " gods" ( v 12 ) . When God sees the blood on the door frame, he won't kill the firstborn son.

 So what is the Israelites' greatest problem? What is the solution?

 God's judgement. The solution is the rescue plan of the lamb that God has provided. Note that the Israelites need rescuing from God and they are rescued by God.

 Read Exodus 12 v 28 - 30

 What do the Israelites do? ( v 28 )?

 Exactly what God has told them to do.

 What does God do ( v 29 )?

 Exactly what he said he’d do. All the first born not covered by the blood of a lamb…..die.

 What does Pharaoh do (  v 30 -32 )?

 Exactly what he’d said he wouldn’t do ! He finally allows God’s people to leave.

 Verse 30 tells us “there was not a house without someone dead”,but in the Israelite houses the first born sons had been spared…..so how is this verse correct?

 In any house with a living first born son, a lamb had already ......died taking his place. In that there had to be a death    in every house ......a son or a lamb.

 What does this show about how God rescues people from Judgement?

 Through someone dying in their place....often called "substitution". In the case of the Israelites a lamb was substituted and died in place of a son. This is how God rescues people from his judgement.....by offering something or someone to take the place of the one who deserves it.

 SNAPSHOT. Exodus - Deuteronomy. God has rescued Israel from Egyptian slavery and from his judgement, making them his people and leading them to the place he has promised to give them.

 Read Exodus 12 v 14 - 27

 What should the people do after their rescue ( v 14, 17, 24 -25 )? Where will they do this, and what should they remember? ( v 25 - 27 )?

 Hold a festival which commemorates what God did,in the land God is going to bring them to ,remembering that  God rescued them from his judgement and from Egyptian slavery. This festival has two names: Passover  ( v 11 ) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread ( v 17 ).

 For 1400 years ,God's people living in this land  ( which came to be called Israel) shared this festival meal every year at the same time. The same words were said when the bread was eaten and the wine was drunk.....all looking back to God's amazing rescue of his people from Egypt........

 .......until at a Passover meal in Jerusalem ,a descendant of Abraham said some different words.......

 .......He has fulfilled.

 Read Luke 22 v 7 - 20.

 How many times is the word "Passover" mentioned in v 7 - 13 ?

 Four

 Why does Luke do this?

 Luke wants us to think about what the Passover meal was all about…....God’s rescue for his judgement and Egyptian slavery.

 During the meal Jesus takes the bread ( v 19 ) and the wine ( V 20 )…..but what does he now say they represent?

 His broken body and his poured out blood.

 Whose blood does Jesus point his followers to…...?

 His blood.

 Link this back to the events in Exodus. What does his blood achieve?

 His death achieved what the lamb's death achieved....the rescue of God's people from God's people from God's judgement. As the lamb took the judgement of death that the first born deserved, so Jesus takes the judgement of eternal death that we all deserve.

 Where is the "land" where Jesus is looking forward to eating the Passover meal (v16,18 )?

 'The kingdom of God" when it comes in all its fullness( v 18 ). He's looking forward to eating and drinking in a world where God is once more completely recognised as king.

 What does Jesus tell his followers to do  ( v 19 )?

 To "do this " (share bread and wine)"in remembrance of me" and what he was about to do in dying.

How do his people put this into practice today ?

 Just as God's people were to look back to Egypt by sharing a meal together, so now God's people should look back to the cross by sharing a meal together. We do this every time we share bread and wine in a way which consciously remembers Jesus' broken body and poured out blood.......whether we call it Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist. However frequently and in what situation we celebrate this meal, the crucial thing is to focus on what Jesus has done in dying on the cross for us ,consequently rescuing us from God's judgement.

 The Passover in Moses' day was a wonderful shadow ......but still only a shadow  of the Passover achieved by Jesus.

 If you would like to explore more.........

 God, just as he had promised ( 3 v 12 ) brought his people to Mount Sinai (also called Horeb) on their way to the promised land. And there God spoke to Moses.......

 Read Exodus 20 v 1 - 17

 This section contains the ten commandments......but before telling the people what he wants them to do . God first points out something that he has already done....

What is it ( v 2 )?

What comes first .....being rescued by God, or obeying him ?

Why is this crucial to remember ?

Read through the Commandments . Which does your society generally agree wit , and which does it reject ?

 Next week our letter is " E " and we will be looking at "Ever - reigning King " the story of King David. There are 4 chapters to read for next week, so you might like to get ahead and look at them now; they are Judges 2; 2 Samuel 7 ; Mark 8 - 9.             There will be the usual Zoom session to discuss this weeks' study on Thurs. Feb. 10 at 10.00am,to which all of course are very welcome. 

Zoom ID 737 2295 9656. 

Password 3NZjXF.

                                                                                                          Abraham

                                                                                               Genesis 12, 21 ; John 8

What God promised...........

Read Genesis 12 v 1 - 7

What did God tell Abram to do ( v 1 )?

Leave his country ,community and extended family and go to a land that God would show him.

What did God promise to Abram ( v 1 - 3 )?

. He would show him a land to live in. ( v 1 )

. Abram would become the father of a great nation.( v 2 )

. Abram would be blessed and would be a blessing to others. Every nation on earth will know blessing through Abram (or his family. ( v 3 )

Since Genesis 3 ,humans have been waiting for the man who will defeat the devil, returning humanity to a blessing.    God makes promises to Abram (called a covenant and which is a binding agreement).This involves using a member of Abram's family to bring that blessing to "all peoples on earth".

From this point in history we look to Abram's descendants for the one who will fulfill the promises in Genesis 3.             The rest of the Bible story is about Abram's family and how God blessed all peoples through one of his descendants.

As we continue our studies through the Old Testament ,wherever we read we should ask what is concealed ?

. How is God working to bring his people (Abram's descendants) to his land to live under his blessing?

. Are we being told anything about what the blessing -bringing descendant will be like and what he will do ?

How does Abraham respond ( v 4 ) ? How is this an example of real faith ?

He goes because God told him to and because he trusts God's promises.Abram's security is simply in trusting and following God.

Look back at Genesis 11 v 29 - 30,and compare with 12 v 2. Why is Abram's response to God's promises particularly impressive?

God promised Abram a vast family and yet his wife Sara could not have children. Abram trusted God to do what was humanly impossible.

Abram made many mistakes,but he continued to trust God and believe his promises. Genesis 15 v 6 says "Abram believed the Lord  and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Years pass and Sarah,Abraham's infertile wife reaches her nineties (Genesis 17 v 17 ) ........

Read Genesis 21 v 1 - 7

What do we learn from this passage about how God works?

He fulfills his promises ,but in his own time. Abraham and Sarah had to wait years.

A note here.......many years ago I picked up a good quote from "Better than the witch doctor, the autobiography of a missionary working in Nepal. She said "God often catches the last train .......but he never misses it !"

SNAPSHOT : Genesis 12 - 50. From Abraham God will make a people ,living in his land,under his rule and blessing.Through one of his descendants God will bless people throughout the world.

He has fulfilled..........

Read John 8 v 31 - 44.

It's now 1800 years later ,and Jesus is talking to members of Abraham's family.....but they have a problem (v 34 - 35a ). What is the problem?

They are all "slaves to sin " and couldn't stop sinning even if they wanted. Although physically descended from Abram they cannot be a part of God's family. ( v 35a )

What do they need Jesus to do for them ( v 36 )?

To set them free from their slavery to sin so that they are free to belong to God's family again (v 35b )

What do they want to do with Jesus and what does this reveal about them ( 39,40 )?

They want to kill him revealing that they are not Abraham's children at all.

How are they different to Abraham (v 40 and look back to Genesis 12 )?

Abraham heard God speaking to him ,he believed his word and acted accordingly. These men want to kill the Word who has come from God in the flesh ( John 1 v 14 ).

What does Jesus say Abraham did while he was still alive (v 56 )?

He rejoiced at the prospect of "my day".....that is the time when Jesus would be alive on earth.

So what claim is Jesus making for himself in John 8 v 56?

That he fulfills the promises of Genesis 12.Jesus was the one that Abraham was looking forward to.....

So who today are the children of Abraham (v 39, 56 )and Galatians 3 v 29.

v 39 ;Those who trust God's promises and obey them.

v 56 ;Those who rejoice at the day God's promises are fulfilled to Abraham in Jesus.

Galatians 3 v 29 ; Those who "belong to Christ".

To think about ........

Imagine someone says to you "Of course I'm a Christian . I've been baptised and I was born into  Christian family .....and I go to church ". What does John 8 have to say to that view?

Being a Christian is not about being part of a particular family, or community, or having gone through a particular rite such as baptism,or in the Old Testament ,circumcision (Genesis 17 v9 -14 ). By nature we are all slaves to sin and we need to ask Jesus to set us free from that life of sin and to bring us into God's family.

As we trust in him we can rejoice and look forward to life in God's perfect world.

If you would like to explore more.......

Read Genesis 15 v 1 - 21.

Which two of his promises does God underline here(Genesis 15 v 4 - 5, 7)?

What further prediction and promise does God make ( 13 - 15 )?

What does the writer call this binding agreement God makes with Abraham ( v 18 ) ?

Pray.......

Thank God......

For his covenant plan fulfilled in Jesus......and for all that means to us today.

Ask God for help with.........

Following him faithfully, as did Abraham. To stand strong against sin in our lives. To be a blessing to others and we daily serve Christ.

Next week it will be "D" as we look at "Delivered from Judgement" and the story of Passover in Exodus.  There will be the usual follow-up Zoom session on this week's study next Thursday Feb 4 at 10.00. This session will be hosted by Peter Edwards so please note the change of log in details......

Zoom ID 954 5558 2174 

Password 1PBmV1.

As always everyone is very welcome whether you are a member of All Saints, or of another church ........or if you don't normally attend a church,or are just exploring the Christian faith.......it would be lovely to see you !

                                                                                                     An Introduction

Why study Promises Kept ?

One Saturday, less than a decade after the death of Jesus of Nazareth, a man named Paul stood up in a Jewish synagogue and proclaimed a mind blowing message.

"We tell you the good news ',he said." What God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us,their children ,by raising up Jesus". (Acts 13. 32-33)

 These two sentences summarise the whole bible.

 The God Paul was talking about is a promise - making  God. Throughout history he has made huge, extravagant ,wonderful promises to humanity, to the Israelites and to men such as Adam, Abraham ,Jacob and David. As we see what God did we see the shape of how he will fulfill what he has said, because our God is also a promise keeping God and what says he does. At a particular point in history he fulfilled all of his promises in the life, death and resurrection and rule of one man.....Jesus ,a carpenter from a small Jewish town.

 The Bible tells the story of what God promised ,and of how he fulfilled all those promises

 Our Study..........

will be a whirlwind and breath-taking tour of the whole bible......Genesis to Revelation.

 There will not be time to stop at every sight ......only to point out some of the highlights. Over 10 sessions we'll travel from the beginning of the past ,through our present, to the future. Each week there will be passages from the Old as well as the New Testament, this will help us see how the "Old" conceals the " New " and the " New " reveals the " Old ".

 Each session we will see what God promised and something of how his promise was fulfilled......

What God has promised ......

 We'll look at an Old Testament passage ,seeing what happened in that period of history ,and a promise God made.

.......he has fulfilled.

 The study moves to a section of a Gospel ,to see an aspect of how Jesus is the One who keeps that particular promise of God.

 Each session will include a "snapshot" ,which sums up what has happened in the period of history at which we are looking.

 At the beginning of each session there will be a "Timeline". 

This will be familiar to all those who came to the Bible Studies when we could meet in the Parish Church Hall. For each bible study series we had, there was always a timeline on the information leaflet. For this series there will be one for each session so we can recap on what we have seen in previous sessions. We will see the point in history on which the study focuses, the Bible books that cover that period and who the "famous " bible characters are in that particular period. For some sessions there will be a map showing where the action is taking place.

 At the end of each study........

 There will be some suggestions to explore more.  Here we pick up on a part of the bible that lies between the current session and the next .

 Some tips........

We need to keep on course.

 We will all have questions ,(and hopefully some of these can be discussed at our Wednesday Zoom sessions) ,but do remember that we cannot unpack everything in the passage.

We need to keep it simple.

We will pass by some of the important Bible themes ,because we cannot do too much . "Spiritual indigestion" can be very real if we overload the study.

Some of the passages are long.......

This will be a good exercise for us in getting to grips with some of the "big landscape pictures " in scripture, rather than curtailing ourselves to a few verses. It will also help us to see things "in context", a very important issue when it comes to reading and studying scripture.

So let us pray as we prepare for the next few weeks of study......

Let us thank God.......

. for His word, the bible which speaks His truth to us ,both is the Old and New Testament.

 Let us confess to God.......

. our failure to take His word seriously and for not trusting His promises to us in that word.

Let us praise God.....

. for Jesus ,that he was willing to come into this world to fulfill God's promises to us.

Let us ask God.....

. To speak through His word by the Holy Spirit ,to each one of our hearts ,that we might become more aware of His faithfulness ,fulfilled in His promises and trust Him more with our lives.

 Next week we begin our studies with "A Very Good World" when we will look at Genesis 1 and John 1. We will be restarting our Zoom sessions next week  on Thurs Jan 14 at 10.00am, looking at what we are expecting to discover looking at God's promises to each of us; do join us ......the Zoom ID is 719 2295 9656 and the password is 3NZjXF.

                                                                                                  Revelation 21 - 22

John has revealed many things to us: the glory of Jesus ; the sovereignty of God over all that happens; the wickedness and evil of the world systems under which we live; the need to remain faithful to Jesus, and our task of world mission and the ultimate judgement of the world when Jesus returns. In this study of the last two chapters in the bible we learn that we will not go to heaven.......heaven will come to us. God will establish his perfect kingdom; the old world will be judged, but those who have been faithful to Christ will enjoy reigning with him for ever.

Read Revelation 21 v 1 - 22 v 5

What is new ,and what has passed away (v 1 - 4 )?

Everything is new, including heaven, earth and Jerusalem. The first heaven and the first earth together with crying, pain, death and illness have all gone. Just think of it ....no need for hankies, hospitals or hearses!!

 What will be at the heart of our experience of eternity ( v 5 - 9 )?

Our relationship with Jesus. We will be honoured, celebrated and cared for like a bride. We shall each be comforted and showered with grace. (v 6 )

What is the significance of each element of the description of the new Jerusalem ?

The numbers are staggering . The city is 1,400 miles square and 1,400 miles tall! Everest is 6 miles high. This cube echoes the most holy place in Solomon's temple ( 1 Kings 6. 20). The walls are 144 cubits. Here the point is being made that once persecuted Christians will be eternally secure within these walls. Angelic watchmen are on          every gate ( v 12 ) . The jewels reflect the stones in the breast piece (ephod) of the high priest in 

Exodus 28. 17-20.Each element speaks of immense wealth.

The picture below depicts the High Priest; Note the 12 precious stones on the ephod ......each one depicting a tribe of Israel.

What is not present in the new Jerusalem ( v 22 - 27 ) and what is the significance of each thing mentioned that will be absent ?

. There is no temple. No need for separation or sacrifice. The Father and the Son are totally accessible. The new Jerusalem is in fact like one gigantic Most Holy Place......where God dwells.

. No sun or Moon. We will have no need of them because God is present to light our path.

. No night and the gates are always open. Closed gates protect from intruders: no need for  that here as evil has been dealt with forever.

. Nothing impure. Nothing will be allowed to enter that will spoil it.....for ever.

Look at and think about the significance of v 26.

There is no room for sin ( v 27 )but somehow the glory and wealth of the nations will be incorporated into the new creation. There seems to be some sort of continuity here and that there are redeemable value in aspects of human art and culture.

What is the conclusion to the vision in verse 6? What do you think it will be like?

We will reign for ever and ever with Christ and this will involve engagement and work.

How do people come to be in the new creation (v 27 ) and what does that encourage us to keep doing?

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will be there; those who have received forgiveness through the death of Jesus. It encourages us to ......

. Keep on praying for others.

They will only get to be in the new Jerusalem through God's grace, not  their own efforts.

. Keep sharing the gospel with everyone.

The repeated theme of Revelation is to bear the testimony of Jesus.....to proclaim the good news of God's salvation to others.

Read Revelation 22 v 6 - 21.

What phrase is repeated in verses 7 and 12 ? How could this have been true when John wrote Revelation 2,000 years ago?

Jesus still has yet to come some 2,000 years later, but Christians are meant to live knowing and thinking that Jesus will return at any moment (like a "thief in the night"). Yet every day that he delays is another day of mercy and gospel opportunity. Remember that with the Lord " a thousand years are as a day". (2 Peter 3 v 6 ).

What are we to think about the teaching in Revelation ,and what are we to do with it (v 6-16 ) ?

. These words are true. (v 6 )

John's angelic guide says that these words are "trustworthy and true" because they have come directly from God. John also refers to himself by name ( v.9 )because this is a first-hand apostolic report which he both saw and heard.

. These words are to be kept. (v 7 - 9 )

Jesus himself speaks and calls on us to keep his words.....and then we receive the key message.....the command to "Worship God" (v 9 ). This is at the heart of Revelation ;we are to worship God in the face of both the seduction and threat of idolatrous power.

. These words are to be read.  (v 10-11 )

Daniel was told to seal up his prophecy because it describes a future time. In contrast John is told not to seal the scroll for the  "time is near". In other words, this is not a message for some far off future......this was for John's and for our generation.

. Continue doing right.(v 11 )

Wrongdoers have their end in sight ....let us continue to do what is right.

What final appeal does God want to impress on us( v 17 ) ?

These words are the gospel (v 12-17 ). Jesus will reward everyone "according to what they have done" (v 12 ). 

What hope is there for guilty sinners? Certainly not in our own righteousness, but in Christ alone: by faith we wash our guilty stains in his blood and clothe ourselves with his righteousness. Through Christ the invitation comes to us from the Spirit speaking through the church ("the bride").He bids us " Come" ( v 17 ).

To think about ..........

One helpful way to summarise the message of Revelation is to think about the contrast between the two women.......

Babylon the prostitute  (chapter 17) .......destined for destruction.

Jerusalem the Bride (chapter 21 )..........destined for glory.

And yet more to think about..........

Do you want Christ to come soon, as he promises to do in 22 v 20?

Do you pray , "Come Lord Jesus" as John does?

 Pray.

. Praise God for the new creation that you will be a part of if you are in Christ.

. Bring before him the things that make you cry or grieve, or give you pain......and praise him that these will be taken away in God's new creation.

. Pray the words of 22 v. 20. Ask that Christ will come soon.

. Thank God for all that he has taught you from your study in Revelation; be specific about what you have learned.

This is our final study in Revelation ,but there will be a follow up Zoom session on Wednesday Dec 23 to discuss this study ;

Zoom ID 737 2295 9656 ,

Password 3NZjXF.

As always ......everyone is very welcome.

We shall be taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period ,with the on-line bible study resuming on Sat Jan 9. We are hoping that with the rollout of COVID-19  vaccines that we will soon be able to meet again in person in the Parish Church Hall, but until then we will continue on-line.

Just to whet your appetites.......our next study series will be "Promises Kept", and we shall be using a Good Book Guide of the same name by Carl Laferton. Our God is a promise making and a promise keeping God and this series will cover the whole of scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The study is open to everyone ; you do not have to be a member of All Saints ,Walton: we do hope that you will be able to join us in the new year.

Revelation 17 - 20

 Four more chapters and some pretty terrifying images. Pertinent to John's era the glittering, powerful and immensely wealthy culture of Rome is revealed for what it truly is; evil and opposed to God and his people; motivated by Satan. However, God's judgement is coming and will be terrible, complete, and utterly fair.

 Read Revelation 17

 What clues are there in this hideous description as to what the figures of the beast and the woman represent?

 Cities in John's time were often personified as women. Rome was worshipped as a goddess, but in Revelation she appears as a prostitute, ( v 1) who seduces the world drawing people into her idolatry(v 2). The fact that John is introduced  by one of the angels who had one of the bowls suggests that we are about to see the reason for  God's wrath.Babylon persecutes God's people ( v 6). She is the manifestation of the power of the dragon, the beast            and the false prophet (v 3). A name or mark on the forehead in Revelation indicates a person's true character and hers is clear.....she is the "mother of prostitutes", because her children (inhabitants) share her spiritual adultery.

What is John's reaction to this vision and what's the reaction of those who are not saved? (v 6, 8 )

 John appears astonished by the vision and the image of this beautiful, beguiling, bejewelled woman with ruthless, bloody intent. However, John's angelic guide will expose her false glory. The unsaved are also astonished,                but maybe adore the strength and power of the beast and the woman.

........and what is your reaction?

What is meant by the phrase "once was ,now is not and yet will come........?"  (v 7,8 )

 Twice in Revelation 17 . 7 - 8  we're told the beast "once was ,now is not and yet will come" . In other words,            the beast manifests itself in one form .......and then passes away and "is not". Throughout history the beast then returns in other guises: Kingdoms rise up and seem solid for a time ( think of the third Reich in Germany/ Communism),then they decline and fall (as did Rome).This phrase is yet another parody of the living God "who is and who was and who is to come" (1 v 8,4 v 8,11 v 16,16 v 5). However God always is.

 What becomes of the beast and the woman in the end (v 10-12 ,v 16 )?

 They are destroyed by a toxic mixture of internal strife and external rebellion. In 17.10 - 12 the angel speaks of coming kings and transfers of power. This might be confusing , but step back and we see the bigger picture. In Daniel 7 the same language is used to describe successive empires. The symbolic numbers seven and ten in Revelation 17 v 3 and 10 - 12 probably don't refer to specific kings , instead John highlights the way the beast manifests its power in recurring political empires and systems throughout history. The woman "rides" on the beast and "rules" over kings  (v 7, 18) . In verse 16 they turn on her and destroy her. The city of Rome was destroyed by the very empire it built in fulfilment of God's word of judgement (v 17). In AD 410 Rome was sacked by the people it once had ruled. This can be applied through successive ages ( think of the falling of the Berlin wall).

Let's apply these truths to today.........

 At the end of the day, the world is a prostitute whose calls we must resist. There is only one destiny for those who  follow her. We fix our eyes on a different prize.

If you would like to explore more.........

Read Revelation 18

 The orgy of chapter 17 has become a wake, as kings, merchants and sea captains, who all grew rich from "Babylon", mourn her destruction.

What is the verdict of Heaven (v 4 - 8 )?

18 v 4 commands Christians to "come out of her" . What do you think that might mean in practice?

 Read Revelation 19 v 1 - 10.

The study began with an invitation from the great prostitute to join her in sexual immorality and get drunk on her wine (17 v 1 - 2 ).It ends with a very different invitation.............

What invitation are we given in v 5?

We are called to sing praise to God ( v 5 ) for his acts of judgement and salvation. Every act in the drama in Revelation is accompanied by worship in heaven and 17 v 1 - 19  v 10 is no different, Its focus had been on earth but its climax is in heaven. In 19 v 5 we're to join the song of praise. Whether we choose to mourn or sing reveals our ultimate allegiance.

How should Christians respond to seeing both salvation and judgement?

 By rejoicing, which is a theme throughout scripture that judgement, even though it is described in horrific terms, is not something that the people of God should find abhorrent, but will rejoice in. The right thing will have been done by a righteous God.

 What invitation are we given in verse 9? What does this mean?

 The song of heaven turns into the second invitation which is to the marriage feast of the Lamb. We are invited to be the bride of God's Son. Instead of a woman clothed in the purple of empire (17 v 4), we see a bride clothed in the fine linen of righteous deeds. ( 19 v 8 ). Instead of an invitation to immorality ( 17 v 2) ,we're invited to a marriage    (19 v 7 ).  In 19 v 9 the angel says to John "Write this".....emphasising that this part of the vision must not be missed; "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!". As the angel adds that "these are the "true words of God " he is declaring that I'm not making this up !

How does verse 10 underline the response we are called to make?

 John is totally overwhelmed by what he has seen and heard and the incredible invitation he has received. Understandably he falls before the angel but receives a sharp rebuke......only God is to be worshipped!

What are the signs that someone has accepted the invitation to the marriage feast of the Lamb?

v 8.......Praise and glory given to God and performing righteous deeds.

Pray.......

 Ask God to help you see the world as it really is; enjoy the good things, but not fall in love with them, or be distracted or compromised by them.

 Pray that God would have mercy on our lost world and that we would remain faithful witnesses whatever our circumstances.

 Give thanks that we have been given the gracious invitation to be a part of the marriage feast of the Lamb.

 Why not use the songs of praise in chapter 19 to express your thanks to God.

A note on Revelation 20 v 1 - 6

 The Christian church has always differed in their explanation of these verses with particular reference to the "millenium", basically dividing into "premillennialists", "postmillennialists" and "amillennialists". They differ as to when they think Christ will return......either before or after the millenium (the 1,000 years).

In preparing this overview of Revelation I tend to go for "amillennialism" ; seeing the millennium as describing the present age of the church. The millennium is therefore the period in between the first and second comings of Christ. Amillennialists interpret Revelation 20 in the light of the broader picture presented in the scriptures.

Well done if you have stuck with us as we have dealt with some pretty nightmarish situations in Revelation. Next week we shall have our last study from this amazing book, when we shall be looking at "The Reign of the Lamb",a glorious prospect !. Meanwhile there will be the usual Zoom session to discuss this week's study on Weds Dec. 6 at 10.30 pm .

The Zoom ID is 737 2295 9656 and the password in 3NZjXF. Please note that this is different from last week.

                                                      Revelation 12 - 16

Yet again another large chunk of scripture to read with some amazing images! Why not sit down and read it in one go and then think and pray about what you have read before getting down to the detail. Once again we are looking at the "big picture" as described by John. This is also a long study ,so you might like to take it in "small chunks".

Revelation 12 retells the whole of human history as a drama involving three characters: a woman ,a child and a dragon.

Remember that apocalyptic literature is full of symbols.....things that are to be taken figuratively. A symbol can stand for a particular event, person or place and for a more general principle that holds true for more than one event, person or place.

Read Revelation 12.

Who do the characters represent ,and what is their motivation  

. The woman could be Mary since she gives birth to Jesus.

. The woman is more likely to represent the people of God as a whole. Isaiah portrays Israel as a woman in childbirth, waiting to bring forth the Messiah. She spans the whole history of redemption. Revelation 12 v 17 refers to Christians as "the rest of her offspring".....the product of the mission of the church .The child is Jesus. Verse 5 quotes Psalm 2 v 9 where God's Messiah receives an iron sceptre to rule the nations. The dragon is Satan (v 9) and is portrayed as terrifyingly dangerous, strong, clever, murderous and with enormous power. However, his vindictive power is channelled through the mechanisms of the state. Such regimes are satanic when they attempt to suppress the word of God, the gospel and to persecute God's people.

It is worth mentioning here, that although Satan is so incredibly powerful, God is all Powerful and that Satan is only a created being.

What does the dragon try to do to the child and the woman's other offspring and how is he thwarted?

He attempts to murder the child and thus thwarts God's plan of redemption. When this fails he endeavours to threaten and destroy the "other children" Ie. the church. However, God protects them and the scene ends with the dragon on the seashore breathing threats fire ,but ultimately unable to do anything.

Does this remind you of incidents in the life of Christ and of the church ?

Verses 1 - 5 refer to the first coming of Christ as a single vent, encompassing his birth, the cross (Satan's attempt to devour the child) and his resurrection and ascension(the child being snatched up to heaven),Throughout history Satan has opposed God’s people and sought to destroy them.

When does the angelic war in verses 7 – 9 take place? What do you think it refers to?

Job 1 suggests that before the coming of Jesus.(It is worthwhile reading this chapter as it is so revealing and unlike any other in scripture).Satan had access to heaven and what he did in heaven was to accuse God's people. He and his angels have now lost their place in heaven ,and Satan can no longer accuse us because God's people are now righteous through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We shouldn't focus on Satan's location but on the death and resurrection of Jesus which has changed the nature of the heavens and the earth forever.

What can Satan no longer do according to verse 10? Why?

Satan can no longer accuse because God's people are now righteous through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The verdict has been given in the high court of heaven; Jesus our advocate (Romans 8.34) has declared us not guilty and there is no condemnation (Romans 8.1).If Satan had won the saints would have been cast out of heaven,but Christ is victorious ,so it is Satan who is cast out  and we who are vindicated in Christ. Satan loses his "place" (Revelation 12.8) because we have gained a place.

What is Satan doing now according to verses 13-17?

Verses 12-13 tell us that Satan has been thrown down to earth in a great rage. He is doomed but dangerous. He tries to inflict damage on the victorious Christians and focuses on "The word of testimony" given by God's people which draws others into Christ's forgiveness. As the saints bear faithful testimony through persecution and suffering, they are brought, like their Saviour, at last to heaven.

The one command in the chapter is in verse 12 "Rejoice!". There is no place for apathy and no place for despair.

If you would like to explore more.........

Read 1 Kings 19 v 1- 8. How does Revelation 12 allude to this story and to Israel's 40 years in the wilderness? What does it show us about God's care for us?

Read Revelation 13

What do you think the two beasts represent ,from their description ?

Together they represent the political  and military power of empire. In John's case this was seen as the arrival of the Roman armies to conquer Asia Minor. The ten horns, seven heads and ten crowns are a reworking of the images in Daniel 7,in which Daniel saw successive empires. Although the image of the beasts portrays the Roman Empire, it could be applied to any empire throughout history.

What does the first beast do ,and how does the world respond to it ?

This empire utters "blasphemies" (v 5 - 6). It takes the place of God, redefines morality and demands ultimate allegiance. (v 8). Whilst noting that not all power is bad and not all empire evil, I am sure that we can all think of blasphemous empires that have, and still do exist, in our day.

What is confusing about the second beast in verse 11?

He looks like a lamb.....innocent and harmless, in a twisted parody of Jesus. However it speaks the words of the dragon, Satan.

How does it secure it's following?

It is a propagandist, producing signs and images to seduce, threaten, impress and overwhelm the people of the earth. ( v 13 - 15 ). The Roman Empire exercised "soft power" to win over hearts and minds.

How do the two beasts combine to oppress people ......and God's people in particular?

The beasts demand allegiance and that inevitably brings them into conflict with God's people, for we have a competing allegiance. They wage war against the beast (v 7 ).Inevitably Christians are imprisoned and martyred.( v 9 -10 ).The two beasts show how dominating cultures shape their citizens by using both carrot and stick.....acquiescence and you share in the bounty, resist and you're excluded. John's vision invites us to question the propaganda of the second beast and see through its images. It parodies God's wonders. The triumvirate of the dragon and the two beasts form a parody of the Trinity. Through a thousand adverts and glossy magazines the beast says , "All this will be yours if you will bow before me". 

What do you think is the significance of the marking on the forehead or hand (v 16 )?

A mark is a sign of ownership. Jesus marks or "seals" his people with his Holy Spirit to show his mark of ownership. (Revelation 7.4,Ephesians 1.13-14,2 Corinthians 1.21-22). Do not look for literal marks such as barcodes or embedded chips as the point is that the beast demands our allegiance, wanting to "own" us.

What do you think is the significance of the number 666 (v 18)

. 666 is the sum of Nero's name in a Hebrew system in which letters were assigned numeric values. If so, John is saying that the wise person realises Nero and his successors are the latest manifestations of Satanic power.

. It may represent one less than the perfection represented by 777. If so, John is saying that the wise person recognises imperial power is not good nor the final word in history. It portrays itself as perfection ....but constantly falls short.

If you would like to explore more..........

Read Ephesians 1. 13-14; 4.30. How does God mark or "seal" those who belong to him? How do we know we are sealed ?

To think about.......

When and where do you feel the seduction of the culture most keenly? What do you find more exciting or thrilling than Jesus? Where do you feel the threat of exclusion most powerfully?

Pray............

If you are facing Satan's hostility , ask the Lord for the strength to love him and the gospel more than your life.

Pray for your brothers and sisters in parts of the world where being a faithful witness can lead to physical harm and death.

Pray that you would resist the seduction of the world and that your church fellowship would be supportive and nurturing of those who feel this pressure most strongly.

Next week we will be looking at chapters 17 - 20 of Revelation with the title " The Justice of the Lamb". There will be the usual Zoom session on Wednesday Dec 9 at 10.30 to discuss the current study . Do feel free to join us; we usually chat for around 30min before praying about the topic.

Zoom ID is 954 5558 2174 and the

Password 1PBmV1.

We have found it helpful to talk through the imagery in Revelation, as it can be quite scary.

                                                        Revelation 6 - 11

Yes there are 6 chapters of Revelation to read in this study! As you will see, they are full of the most amazing imagery ; it is best to see this section of Revelation as a whole series of overlapping visions. Like me, you might like to read these chapters at one sitting allowing them to capture your thoughts and imagination as you mull them over , before going on to the study. As I read the introduction to this section by Tim Chester he says " a Pandemic strikes panic into us all". Tim was writing in 2019; his words therefore are quite prophetic..........

Read Revelation 6

 The opening of the seven seals is the first of several cycles of seven that portray the world's history and its end.

The first four seals : What do each of these four horsemen so (v 1 - 6 )? How many people are affected?

 In modern, peaceful democracies this picture might seem very distant, but in many parts of the world today we see external (v 1 - 3), internal conflict (v 3 - 4 ), famine and rampant inflation  ( v. 5 – 6 ),and widespread death (v 7- 8).

How does the colour of each horse reflect the activity of its rider ?

White…....suggests conquest (as a white flag symbolises surrender).

Red ….....suggests blood.

Black …...suggests death.

Pale….....suggests a sick complexion of a corpse.

What repeated phrase ( v 2,4, and 8) makes it clear who is in charge?

 The Lamb opens the seals. It is Jesus who is in charge of all these things. The way it is expressed here shows that they are the result of his "permissive will ".He opened the seals and gives power to the horsemen to unleash their horrors on a restricted portion of the world's population. Even as these consequences of the fall are permitted to rage throughout the world, their effect is moderated and held back from what it might be......it is the same principle we see outlined in Job chapters 1 and 2.

The fifth seal: what is the significance of who we see in verse 9 and where they are ?

 Martyred Christians are seen under an altar in Heaven. Heaven was often seen in Jewish thought as the temple of God ( Habakkuk 2.20). Indeed Hebrews 9 says the earthly temple was a copy of the heavenly one. The altar shows that the martyrs' deaths are seen by God as a sacrifice......they are not "murders" but offerings to God (2 Timothy 4 v 6 ). The martyrs are given a white robe, symbolising their vindication and victory.

What do they pray for  (v 10) and what must they wait for ( v 11)?

 " How long ?" they cry......but the time has not yet come and there are more martyrs to come: it's a reminder that we are still at war and that we need to live on a war footing.. the weapons of the martyrs in this war are "the word of God and the testimony they had maintained". (Revelation 6.9)

What event is portrayed when the sixth seal is opened (v 12-17 )?

 The sixth seal is about the end of the world, the judgement of God on the wicked and the vindication of God's people.

What two reactions are there to this event ( v 10 implied and 15-17 ) ?

 The faithful long for it. Those who oppose God will flee in terror, but find no place to hide.

What is the implied answer to the haunting question in verse 17?

 No one. When Christ returns in judgement and the sixth seal is opened, all who have rejected and opposed him will fall; all who fear the judgement will wish that they were killed by rockfall, rather than face the living God.

Read Revelation 7

 John sees the scene from a different perspective …..the four winds are best seen as the equivalent of the four horsemen…...but here the focus is on the security of God’s people.

How do we know that the number of people “sealed “is symbolic (v  4 – 8, 9) ?

 The countless multitude (v 9) shows that these numbers are metaphorical and not (as Jehovah's witnesses teach) literal. The point is, that God's followers are known and numbered and that they will be "marked " or sealed by the Holy Spirit. If we belong to Christ we are utterly safe and will not be forgotten.

What is the significance of their clothes ,and how have they got to a place of safety?

 They wear the white robes of the righteousness of Christ and carry palm branches of victory. Despite the immense effort to remain faithful ,they know that by God's grace alone they are saved. The only way to have the "right clothes for heaven' is to ask Jesus to wash our dirt away through his death on the cross. Only the pure and holy can enter into the presence of a pure and holy God.

What blessings do God's people enjoy both now and in eternity?

 Confidence and forgiveness, together with the assurance that God will never let us go.

An interesting note on Revelation 8 v 10 - 11.

Quoting from "Chernobyl.....history of a tragedy " by Serhii Plokhy.

 The settlement of Chernobyl was first mentioned in a Kyivan chronicle in 1193.It stood on the hunting grounds of the Kyivan princes. Here there grew an abundance  of Artemisia vulgaris ,    a shrub with black or dark red branches.  Chornyi is Ukrainian for "black". The shrub gave its name to Chornobyl or Chernobyl.

The common name for Artemisia is .........Wormwood. Reading verses 10-11, many have concluded that this was a prophecy regarding the Chernobyl accident.

The camera angle changes once again. In the sequence of the 7 trumpets we see the same scene in close-up focusing on the experience of God's people in a world where the four horsemen ride........

Read Revelation 11 v 1-13.

Who do you think the two witnesses represent? ( also referred to as olive trees and lampstands, v 4 )

 The two witnesses of v 3 are God's people: his royal priesthood. Mission is….....

. a priestly activity ( representing God to the world).

. a royal activity (extending Christ’s reign by calling on people to submit to his authority)

What power has God given to them? Does this remind you of anything from the Old Testament?

 To our priestly and kingly roles, we can add a prophetic role, since the two witnesses also allude to great Old Testament figures .......Moses and Elijah. Today we seek to proclaim the gospel which brings eternal life to those who accept it, or eternal death to those who reject;   we should not expect people to like us for it!

What happens to them and how do people react? ( v 9 - 10 )

They are killed by the beast from the Abyss......a reference to Satan, perhaps through his influence and control of the persecuting state. The people around treat these murders with celebrations.( This may cause us to remember the horror of the recent Islamic state videos on our TV screens.)

What happens next and how do the people react? ( v 11-12 )

 The resurrection of the witnesses in verses 11-12 should not be understood as literal. It presents the truth of history as a whole.....the church is persecuted, Christians are martyred and at times the cause of Christ seems defeated. However the church survives ( even as I type this, I picture the church in Syria and Iraq worshipping God amidst the ruins) and comes back with renewed strength and the cause of Christ continues. God's "secret weapon" in the face of hostile powers are His faithful people,sustained by His Spirit. The church has always been victorious through suffering. Life comes through death.

Where do the witnesses end up?

 Ultimately, faithful Christians end up alive in heaven; those who oppose them remain in the earthly city, which is still under God's judgement, as indicated by the earthquake.

What happens in response to the miracle of the raising of the witnesses? What is the significance of that ?

 The calamities of the seven seals and seven trumpets do not bring repentance. (Revelation 9 20-21). Instead, the nations fear God and give him glory in response to the faithful witness of God's people....to "the point of death" ( 2 v 10 ). Or perhaps it is the suffering witness of God's people combined with the calamities of history that brings people to repentance. The turmoil of history on its own, represented by the seven seals and trumpets, leads only to judgement. However, the turmoil of history combined with Christian witness leads some to repentance.

Chapters 10-11 take place in a pause between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The sixth event in each of John's sequences describes the return of Christ and the final judgement. The job of the church today is to faithfully bear the gospel message to everyone, as we wait for Christ's return.

Pray..........

. Pray for any situations you know where the horsemen ride through the world, or through your own life. Pray that God would have mercy and use peoples' experience of suffering to lead them to repentance and to faith in Christ.

. Thank God that those who belong to Jesus have been sealed for eternity. Praise him for the certainty of salvation, forgiveness and our ultimate home with him in heaven.

. Ask God to fulfill his purpose of gospel proclamation today. through your church, through missionaries.........and through you.

Next week we will be looking at the topic "Who do you worship" which is an overall picture of Revelation chapters 12 - 16. There will be a Zoom session  to discuss this session on Wednesday Dec. 2nd at 10.30am.

ID 954 5558 2174

Password 1PBmV1.

Many apologies if you tried and failed to make the Zoom session this week ;I had huge difficulties getting onto the site. Do please join us again next week.

                                                                          Revelation 4-5

Before you read these chapters and begin the study, why not turn to this wonderful rendering of "Is He Worthy" which is based on the theme we shall be studying . Here is the link    https://youtu.be/fs7Kah6wnY8

In these chapters we see some of what we mentioned in our introduction in that, unlike most of the New Testament, here in Revelation we have practical application first and the theology second. The letters to the churches were the application and now we get the big picture.

After relaying the words of Jesus to church in real trouble on earth, John is invited to step into Heaven to gain an eternal perspective on all the difficulties Christian believers face. Then John opens our eyes to an unseen world, just as Elisha prayed for his servant on Mount Carmel.        ( 2 Kings 6.14-17 ).We still see history from the perspective of the earth ,but now we can also see it from the perspective of Heaven. We do not have language to describe what heaven is like ,so we are given hints and symbols that hint at how immense and glorious it is The throne is at the centre ,and everything revolves around that .     Worship and praise of God is the constant theme that underlies everything.

Read Revelation 4

 Who and what does John see in this vision of heaven?

 John sees someone seated on a throne surrounded by 24 elders on their thrones. He sees seven burning lamps in front of the throne and four living creatures full of eyes.

What do the various people and objects in the throne room represent?

 . The person on the throne: God the Father.

. Seven torches: the Holy Spirit (7 = perfection).

. 24 elders : Symbol of both old and new covenants (12 tribes of Israel + 12 Apostles). Representing the totality of God's people throughout history.

. The four beasts: drawn from Ezekiel's vision of God's throne (Ezekiel 1), together with the 6 wings and songs of the seraphs in Isaiah 6.2-3 represent the praise of all animate creation.

What and who is at the centre of heaven ?

 A throne with God seated on it .God is at the centre and is supremely powerful.

What does the reaction of the others present tell us about who this is?

 They worship and adore him and give him all the glory. Even the creatures, who represent the idolatrous powers of the day, live in service to him and not themselves.

What do the two hymns that are sung in this chapter tell us about God?

. God is holy

. God always was, is present now and always will be.

. God is the creator of all things.

. He is worthy to receive glory and honour and power.

. Our very existence depends on God.

How would this vision have helped the churches in chapters 2-3?

 This is Jesus' response to the claims of "eternal Rome". Rome appeared to rule all the known world, but God rules in heaven.

If you would like to explore more.........

 Read Ezekiel 1 and /or Daniel 7.

What elements are the same as or similar to those in Revelation 4 ?

How are these ideas extended to the situation in which John finds himself?

Read Revelation 5

 Chapter 4 is like the scenery of a stage. In chapter 5 the drama begins..........

What does John see in v 1- 4? What do you think this might represent?

 John sees a scroll with seven seals in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. ( v 1 ). We are not told what it contains. Here Jesus is seeking to capture our imaginations. Like most of Revelation it is a multi-faceted vision with overlaid and overlapping images which convey multiple meanings at the same time.

Why does John react as he does ?

 John sees the mess of the world and there is no one to sort it out. He sees the glory of God in heaven ,but no one is able to unfold God's purposes in history on earth....which seems spinning out of control. Chapter 4 with its harmony of creation is left behind by the chaos of history.

How do the descriptions of the Lamb in verses 6-8 build to show us who John is talking about?

 . The Lion of Judah. Genesis 49.9-10

. The Root of David. Isaiah 11.1-10

......these point to the promised messianic King, who restores the kingdom of God. He is a Lion and a slaughtered Lamb. He is a King and a sacrifice.

. He has seven horns : he is perfectly powerful.

. He has seven eyes : He sees everything perfectly.

. The seven spirits (the Holy Spirit) are intimately connected with him.

The Song in v 9-10 explains how the Lamb became worthy . What did he do and for whom?

 He died to redeem his people.

How is the lamb different to the other creatures?

 Instead of the mighty creatures of imperial power, we have a Lamb. Instead of a victorious general we have the one who has been slain. Instead of the power, glory and wisdom of empire, we have the weakness, shame and folly of the cross. (1 Corinthians 1.18 - 2.5). The King reigns from the cross. The Lamb has all strength (seven horns), all knowledge (seven eyes) and is all present (the seven spirits or sevenfold Spirit). We worship the King who was slain and who has conquered through his victorious death.

What is the overwhelming response in v 11-14 to what the Lamb has done?

 The Lamb receives the acclamation of heaven. All creation takes up the refrain in verses 13-14 . The "failure of the cross has turned out to be the turning point of history and is the focus of heaven's worship." Suffering leads to victory .

To think about..........

John's vision reminds us that we are not the centre of the world. This is God's world, not ours. At stake is God's glory ,not mine. Everything exists to glorify God. God doesn't exist to serve me or follow my agenda. You are not in control of your life ......God is and he has the right to order your circumstances as he sees fit. Will you trust in the God who rules and give glory to him whatever happens?

Pray.........

Ask the One who sits on the throne to help you see the world, your life and your church from heaven's perspective.

Give thanks to the Lamb, who was slain and has purchased you for God with his blood and made you a kingdom of priests to serve him.

Commit yourself to serving the Lamb and reigning with him.....whatever that might involve.

There will be the usual Zoom session on Weds. Nov. 25 to chat about and discuss this study; every one is very welcome!  I D 954 5558 2174 and the Password is 1PBmV1 .Next week we shall be looking at Rev. 6-11 which is about "The Chaos of History". John's vision in these amazing chapters shows us that God is in control, and is the ultimate authority in the universe.

  Revelation 2-3

Note....this is quite a long and challenging study and requires a lot of thought and input, so you might like to attempt it over a period of time.

Read Revelation 2-3

These seven messages are rooted in the specific challenges faced by each congregation. However they are also a word for every church throughout time and today. They are not just what the Spirit spoke to the church then, they are what the Spirit says to the churches now.

Each letter follows a pattern, which starts with one of the elements of the description of Christ in  1.12-16. It is Jesus who walks among his people and who speaks words of encouragement or rebuke to them.

The seven messages have features which are common to most of them......

. a reminder of who speaks to the church.

. a commendation

. a complaint

. a command

. a call to listen to the Spirit.

. a promise to those who overcome.

They each end with a promise that points forward to some aspect of John's vision in the rest of the book. Some of John's readers were facing persecution. 1 v 9; 2 v 9,13. In part John's vision was preparing Christians for what might come, but it was also concerned about Christians who were compromising with the culture. These are " words " that we need to hear today.

Choose one or more of these messages to read and then ask the following questions.....

Ephesus. 2 v1-7

Pergumum .2 v12-17

Thyatira. 2 v18-28

Sardis. 3 v 1-6

Philadelphia. 3 v7-13

Laodicea 3 14-22

. Who is speaking ?

. What does he command ?

. What is his complaint ?

. What is his command ?

. What promise is given ?

What do you think it might have been like to be a part of the church you have chosen to think about? What would have been great? What would have been disquieting? What would have been bad?

How is the description of Jesus particularly relevant to the situation this church faced?

(Look back at the last study to see the meaning of the images applied there to Jesus)

How do you think individual church members might have reacted to the rebuke and the challenge presented to them?

How might the church as a whole have responded?

Read Revelation 2. 8-11

What’s different about this message to most of the others?

Jesus has nothing with which to condemn the church in Smyrna.

What three pressures do these Christians face?

Unlike five of the other churches there is no word of complaint.....just pastoral encouragement for struggling Christians who face the pressures of.......

. Poverty (v 9)

. Slander (v 9)

. Persecution (v 10)

What three assurances does the Spirit give them?

. Christ's presence (v 9)

. God's control (v 10). There is a battle between God and Satan in chapter 12, but God is in control. "10" in 2 v 10 symbolises fullness.

. Eternal reward. (v 8). The crown in v 10 probably refers to the royal crown ….the reward to faithful disciples ,who will rule with Christ.

Look again at Revelation 2-3

What were the different sources of the pressures these churches were under that led to their compromise or failure?

. Personal. A desire for comfort ,an easy life and a sense of pride about what we have, all feature in some of these churches.

. Internal. False teaching within the church, a culture of lukewarmness and immorality that is tolerated.

. Internal. Direct persecution; a culture of hostility.

A Note on Revelation 3.20.........

We cannot read through and study these chapters without stopping to think about this special verse, evoking the image of Holman Hunt's painting "the Light of the World" in our hearts and minds. (See the picture at the beginning of this study). Most of us are familiar with the image of Christ knocking on the door of the human heart. Note that it is dark (and the world is very dark at present) and there is fallen fruit on the ground denoting "harvest and end times". Christ is knocking very gently on the door which is covered in briars and thorns, denoting that the door has not been opened for some time. Can you see what is missing? The door has no handle and can only be opened from the inside.

Christ does not "barge" his way into our lives; he asks to come in as a welcome guest and to enjoy being our company (he wants to eat with us!) We have an amazing God!

Pray.........

Despite all the compromise, lack of love and failure of our churches, Jesus still holds us in his hands. We belong to him and our precious to him.

Give thanks that Jesus loves us so much that he will not abandon us and that he rebukes and encourages us to be faithful and to grow.

Pray for those churches, like Smyrna that are facing hostility and persecution. (Check them out on "Open Doors" website) Pray that they will know the Lord's comfort, presence and blessing.

Pray for your church .......asking God to grant you the ability to repent, both as individuals and as a whole, and to listen to what the Spirit is saying to you.

Our study next week will be based on Revelation 4 & 5 and is entitled "A Higher Throne". There will be a Zoom session on Wednesday Nov. 18 to discuss and share any thoughts on this passage......do join us!. Meeting ID 954 5558 2174.Password 1PBmV1

Everyone is very welcome!

Revelation 1

 Read Revelation 1.1-11

What is this a revelation of (v1,see also v19)

 This is a message from our Lord Jesus, through his servant John (via an angelic messenger), to each one of us who belongs to Christ, both back then when it was written and to us today. This revelation is not only about the future, but also about the here and now (v 19). The revelation it contains about our future impacts deeply on how we think and the choices we make now. However, essentially it is a revelation of who Jesus really is......and that is the focus of the first study.

What is the five-link chain that has led you to reading it now?

 God the Father has given the revelation to Jesus, his Son. Jesus gave it to angels (messengers) to give it to John. John wrote it down for us to read.

According to v 4, what will be the result of us reading this book ? How does this compare with your answer to question 1?

 We will be blessed by God as we read aloud these words of Revelation and as we hear them and keep them. As we read it's message we must obey and live out it's words                      The blessings we receive are both grace and peace.

How does verse 5 fill out our understanding of what being blessed by God's grace and peace mean for those who receive them?

 God the Father is the beginning and the end, the almighty one; and he has made Jesus "the ruler of the kings of the earth" (v 5).

If you would like to explore more..........

Read Revelation 22 v 16-19.

What is the big application of the whole book of Revelation ?

What should it cause us to do (v 17) ?

Sevens and symbols.

In this section we encounter the first example of Apocalyptic literature (see the notes in last week's introductory session). This, as mentioned last week, is something peculiar to Revelation and books like Daniel. We know that "seven" is the number of perfection or completeness. So 1 v 4 is simply a description of the Holy Spirit…all present and all-seeing….he is everywhere and sees everything.

What situation do John and the churches he is writing to face (v 9 )?

They are all suffering and he writes as a fellow sufferer in exile on the island of Patmos.

Given what we know about the number seven, what is the significance of the churches listed in verse 11?

 Although these churches are named the "seven" suggests that they are meant to represent the whole church. This is a word for all of us for all time.

The mighty Roman empire offered its citizens "peace": a freedom from warfare and a legal system that protected their rights. However "grace" was not evident.....if you opposed the might of Rome and did not give allegiance to its emperor ,you were in danger of being judged and rejected. John's readers found themselves in this situation with their loyalty and devotion to Christ as King and this theme underlies much of the book of Revelation.

Read Revelation 1 v 12-20.

Can you decode the symbolic meanings in this description of Jesus?

What Old Testament images do they bring to mind?

 "Someone like a son of man " is straight out of the book of Daniel 7 in the Old Testament. There are many other allusions to the Old Testament in this passage, with symbols designed to impress upon us Christ's authority, his ability to judge, his purity and glory and his wisdom and willingness to fight on behalf of his people.

Where is the figure that John sees?

What is the significance of that?

 Jesus stands “among the lampstands”…..not separate or distant from the beleaguered churches of ancient Rome. He is right there with them as they face the tension and pressure  of living in an hostile and aggressive world.

To think about …........

What opposition and pressure do you and your church face today?

Suggestion…...read and pray for the work of “Open Doors” in their mission to persecuted Christians.

How will this vision encourage you to be bold and to persevere in your struggle against these powers?

 If Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades, we should not fear death. If he is the giver of life we should not believe any other claims that offer a more fulfilling life.

Can you think of any others?

Why is John’s response the only appropriate reaction to seeing Jesus as he really is?

 When we see Jesus in all his glory ,our only reaction is to fall down and worship him in love and gratitude, if we have been forgiven and in dread fear ,if we have not. This vision and the feeling it evokes is similar to Isaiah in the temple (Isaiah 6.5) or Peter in the gospels (Luke 5 .8)

How is Jesus' response to John so encouraging for him and for us  ?

 Jesus' message is "do not be afraid "to His church, as it faces the might of the Roman Empire lined up against it. However note that John has not fallen before the Roman Empire.....it's not Rome that makes him afraid.....it is the risen Jesus. When you see Jesus as he really is you fall at his feet. It's not Rome or its modern equivalents that we need to fear .......it's the mighty Lord Jesus! 

How might each of the descriptions Jesus gives of himself encourage John and the churches  to whom he is writing as they face hostility and division ?

 The Lord Jesus Christ now holds the keys of death and Hades because he both died and rose again. (v 18). Keys are a symbol of authority. A keyholder has control over a building. Jesus has authority over death. He can unlock death and get you out. The state may lock you up and even kill you, but Jesus holds the keys that matter. Imprisonment and death should hold no fear for those who belong to Jesus.

What is Jesus’ relationship with his beleaguered people(v 20)?

 Jesus holds the precious stars that are his churches in his hand. He sees it when his people are struggling with threats from without ,or with divisions and fears from within. His angels move among the lampstands to guard and to guide. We are not abandoned, even when things seem at their worst.

To think about.....

What is there in your life that will last? What will truly make a difference in eternity?

Pray......

. Spend some time praising the risen Lord Jesus . Use some of the descriptions from this passage together with their meanings.

. Pray for yourself as you read the Father's revelation to you. Pray that you would read it rightly .and understand how it comforts, warns and encourages us.

. Pray that you would become faithful witnesses to the grace and peace to be found in Jesus. Ask the Lord to help you to use every opportunity to be a faithful witness to him.

Next week we will be looking at Chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation with their messages to the churches ( and to us today).The study is entitled "Seven Dangers Facing Your Church." As was mentioned last week, there will be no Zoom session next week because of the Remembrance service in the Memorial Garden. Zoom will return next week!

Why study Revelation? Do you consider it intimidating, a bit scary, or just plain confusing? There's no need to be scared, but every reason to be excited. In this introductory study to whet your appetite, I hope that you will see that Revelation's message is as relevant and applicable to our lives just as it was 2,000 years ago. As always we will be using a "Good Book Guide" by Tim Chester.

Who wrote it?

The Apostle John.

Where was it written?

On the Isle of Patmos where John is in exile for his faithfulness to Christ.

Date written.

About AD 95

To whom was it written?

The seven churches in Asia and all believers everywhere.

Setting.......

The persecution of Christians under the Emperor Domitian (AD 90-95) who were struggling to remain faithful to Christ in their idolatrous culture. The Roman Empire was seeking to push them to conformity and loyalty that were impossible for them to hold together with faith in Christ. Put yourself in their shoes and see how Revelation inspires them to remain faithful to Christ, before you apply it to yourself.