We're going to talk this morning about criticism, or, as the Bible calls it, judging.  While it is true that some criticism is helpful (we call this type of criticism "constructive criticism"), most criticism is destructive.  We hear criticism all the time:  People criticize their boss, thier pastor, the government, etc.  Paul is going to address this in this chapter.

Download | Duration: 00:43:45

The story of Ahab and Jezebel, as we saw last week, is a pretty gruesome one.  But, we're not through with them entirely yet.  Jehu had eliminated all of the line of Ahab from the northern kingdom of Israel, as Elijah had prophesied, but a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel had married into the southern kingdom of Judah, and was, at this time, the "queeen mother".  Her name was Athaliah.  She took after her mother and father, Ahab and Jezebel, and was the meanest of them all.

Download | Duration: 00:45:50

There are common misconceptions among Christians that, as members of the body of Christ, we don't have to obey the laws of the land.  Back in Chapter 12 of Romans, Paul gave us a "quick start" guide for how the individual is to live with God, with himself, and with those around him.  Now, in Chapter 13, Paul talks about how the Christian, with the renewed mind that he spoke of in Romans 12:1-2, is supposed to live in society today.  Not only does Paul say that we should obey the laws of the land, but we are to even obey thoses laws that don't seem to make sense to us - with some exceptions that we'll discuss.  In the process, he reveals principles for getting along in the world.   Remember, we are to be in the world, not of the world.

Download | Duration: 00:51:21

Chapter 12 of Paul's Epistle to the Romans begins the final section of the Book, in which Paul speaks of "service in the body of Christ" - Chapters 12 through 16.  Paul tells us how to put the learning that he's given us in the previous 11 Chapters into practice.  And, in this Chapter, Paul gives us pictures of the Christian, and reminds us of our spiritual duties within the body.

Download | Duration: 00:44:36

Remember back in Chapter 4 of 2nd Kings, when the Shunammite woman made a place for Elisha to stay when he was in Shunem?  Elisha, becasue of the kindness of this woman and her husband, wanted to bless her.  He asked if she would like him to put in a good word with the king, but she declined.  Well, here in Chapter 8, it seems that Elisha time has come, and the woman is now in need of such a word.

Download | Duration: 00:43:27

This Chapter concludes Paul's three-chapter discussion of Israel Past (Chapter 9), Israel Present (Chapter 10), and Israel Future (Chapter 11).  In Chapter 11, Paul discusses Israel's future and answers the question:
        
                   "Has God permanently cast aside His people, or is there a future for Israel?"

Paul's answer is a resounding "Yes!  There is a future for Israel!", and he presents proofs.

Download | Duration: 00:51:05

There are four stories in Chapter four of Second Kings.  They involve God providing for someone who does not have, or for someone who has lost something of great value.  These are mostly personal accounts, showing that our Lord does, in fact, care for the individual need.

Download | Duration: 00:50:26

Most Americans are proud of their heritage, especially here in Minnesota/North Dakota.  These are pioneer states.  We are fiercely independent, stating that "things are different here".  Some might call this attitude tenacious, but when it comes to serving God, it may very well be nothing more than obstinate pride.  This week we find Paul dealing with that same kind of 'pigheaded' attitude among his people, the Jews, and it serves as a picture for us as we also choose stubborness or submission.

Download | Duration: 00:42:13

The 2nd Book of the Kings continues the drama of 1st Kings.  They are basically the tragic history of two nations on a collision course with captivity.  Nineteen consecutive evil kings ruled in Israel, the northern kingdom, until their captivity by Assyria.  In the southern kingdom of Judah, godly kings occasionally ruled, but, in the end, sin outweighed righteousness, and Judah is taken captive by Babylon.

Download | Duration: 00:42:59

The next three Chapters in Romans, Chapters 9, 10 and 11, deal with Israel's spiritual history:

• Chapter 9    - Israel past;
• Chapter 10 - Israel present;
• Chapter 11 - Israel future

Paul's purpose here is to explain how God could set aside His chosen people, and save Gentiles, and how He will restore the nation at a future time.  Paul is expounding on the closing verses of Romans Chapter 8, and also on Romans 3:1-3. 

Download | Duration: 00:45:35

We serve an awesome God!  What lengths will God go to in order to get someone's attention and draw them to Himself?  It isn't that God needs us, He certainly isn't lonely up there in heaven and begging for someone to fellowship with.  But, the Lord knows that having a relationship is what we were created for, and His love for us is so great that He will go to great lengths to gather us to His side.  We'll see a little of this as we wrap up our study in First Kings.

Download | Duration: 00:51:33

On July 4, 1776, a document written by Thomas Jefferson was adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress, declaring the thirteen colonies free and independent of Great Britain.  This document was the Declaration of Independence.  In Romans Chapters 7 and into Chapter 8, we'll see Paul's declaration of independence - a declaration for freedom in Jesus Christ.  This is the Christian's "Declaration of Independence", and we'll see that Paul declares that Jesus has set us free from three things.

Download | Duration: 00:49:08

With the ministry of Elijah, there is a shift in the prophetic ministry.  Guys like Ahijah and Jehu made proclamations of what God was going to do, which, of course, came about.  Elijah was much stronger in his pronouncements from God - that at His Word, rain would be withdrawn or given to the land.  Elijah also got his hands dirty in fighting rampant idolatry, and especially the worship of Baal in the land.  Elijah also suffered more personally for coming against king Ahab directly.

Download | Duration: 00:51:20

Chapter 5 is an explanation of the last word in Chapter 4:  "Justification".  A Clear understanding of Paul's argument is essential if we are to grasp the meaning of justification by faith.  This is one of three books of the New Testament which deal with the Old Testament verse "The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).  These from a tirlogy around this verse.

• Romans deals with who the "just" are
• Galtians deals with "how" the just shall live
• Hebrews defines "faith"

Download | Duration: 00:44:10

In Chapters 15 & 16 we focus on the kings of Israel and Judah, and see men leading the people of God further and further away from God, and becoming more and more like the corrupt nations and peoples around them.  In Chapter 15, two of Judah's kings are mentioned:

• Abijam, a sinful king, and;
• Asa, a good king

We will also see the reigns of two of Israel's kings:

• Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, who walked in the sins of his father, and;
• Baasha, who murdered Nadab, and took the reign as king

Chapter 16 then continues the history of Baasha, then four other kings of Israel - each more wicked than his predecessor.

Download | Duration: 00:38:09

The Epistle to the Romans is the most comprehensive book of truth and doctrine in the whole Bible. 

• Chapter 1 deals with pagan man's relationship;
• Chapter 2 deals with moral man's relationship;
• Chapter 3 deals with religious man's relationship;
• Chapter 4 deals with God's greatest gift - salvation by righteousness apart from works

Only by faith is the Holy Spirit released in the believer to do His work.

Download | Duration: 00:45:10

In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus sums up the Law and the Prophets by saying that we should love God with everything we have, and love others as we would love ourselves.  That's interesting, since in 1 Kings 12 we see, by contrast, how two leaders of Israel did the exact opposite. 

• Jeroboam, reigning over the northern Kingdom of Israel, the ten tribes, loves others, but not God; and
• Rehoboam, Solomon's son, shows his disdain for the people and for God

In Chapter 12, we have two men, neither of them is following God, one is a political nutcase, and the other is politically shrewd.  Kind of sounds like our government today!

Download | Duration: 00:49:46

Advertising is a good thing, in and of itself - it's simply a way for us to find out about products and services in the marketplace.  But, today in America, each of us is bombarded with at least 3,000 advertising messages each and every day - Radio, TV, newspaper, magazine, billboards, store signs, etc.  Many of those messages entice us to buy certain products, not by telling us the features or the price, but by telling us what it will do to our prestige if we buy it.  So, we think that if we buy the right products, or belong to the right group, then we are better people.  That was the thinking and teaching among the Jews of Paul's day.

Download | Duration: 00:44:18

Unlike David, we don't know very many details of Solomon's life as king.  His major accomplishment was to build the temple, and his major characteristic was great wisdom in administering God's nation of Israel.  In a way, he was what a successful king, that also serves God, might look like - successful, but in a worldly way.  While David's life focused on struggle and reliance on God, worship of the Lord, and fierce loyalty, Solomon's likfe is typified by worldly success, money, intelligence, beautiful women, possession, leisure and power.

Download | Duration: 00:48:20

What would your answer be to the question:  "What is the greatest thought that ever entered into the mind of man?"  Daniel Webster responded to this question with the following answer:  "My responsibility to my Maker!" 

• We are created in the image of God
• Since we are persons, so is He
• Since we have feelings, so does He
• For God to be God, He must be the judge of all - unquestionably

Everyone must meet God, and we will meet Him as He is, not how we might want Him to be.  We must really understand how He sees things.  What are His guidelines?  What is His yardstick?

Download | Duration: 00:44:47

Paul writes what most consider to be his greatest works.  It's placed first among his thirteen epistles (fourteen if you count Hebrews, which I believe Paul wrote).  The four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John - present the words and works of Jesus Christ.  Paul, in writing to the Romans, magnifies the significance of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross.  Paul will give us some of the most systematic exposition of doctrine and teaching found in the Bible.  Romans is a book of practical exhortation.

Download | Duration: 00:44:34

Chapters 5 through 8 detail the huge construction project of Solomon in building the Temple.  David wanted to build the Temple, but God told him that is was his son, Solomon, that should do it.  Besides, at the time, David was too busy fighting enemies of Israel to spend the required attention to such a massive project.  But, God gifted Solomon to do the task, just as God gifts us to do things that he has called us individually to do for Him.

Download | Duration: 00:49:48

We're going to speak to a topic that we touch on frequently as we study God's Word, but that we don't necessarily expound on - Angels!  There are a lot of myths and misconceptions regarding angels.  But, the Bible also gives us a lot of informattion about angels.

Download | Duration: 00:45:05

Last week, we saw the new king, king Solomon, in action, but this time we begin to learn about his character, his relationship with God, how God worked through that character, and we'll see some things that will definitely affect Solomon's later life in a bad way.

Download | Duration: 00:38:20

Last week we saw the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.  At the end, Satan was loosed for a time and the nations were again deceived.  Again, God's opponents were destroyed, then came the Great White Throne Judgment.  Chapters 21 & 22 of The Revelation give us about as much information as we know about heaven.  One of the reasons it's so hard to describe is that it is not just another place, but another dimension.

Download | Duration: 00:50:54

There are three sets of double-books in the Old Testament:

• 1st & 2nd Samuel
• 1st & 2nd Kings
• 1st & Chronicles

In the original Hebrew writings, these were all single books....one for Samuel, one for Kings and one for Chronicles.  When the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into the Greek - the Septuagint - in 285-270 BC, those translators made the divisions of these books, supposedly for the convenience of the reader.

Download | Duration: 00:47:39

In Chapter 20 of The Revelation, we are going to deal with the Millennium in relationship to:

• Jesus Christ
• Satan
• Mankind
• The Tribulation Saints
• The Resurrections
• The Earth, and
• The Great White Throne Judgment

Chapter 20 is a dividing point for three major schools of eschatology - the study of end times things, which concern specifically the Millennium.

Download | Duration: 00:54:22

Once we have discovered any of the physical laws of the universe, we can proclaim them with absolute certainty, and accept no other theories.  In school, we don't find one teacher saying that 2+2 is 4, and another that says that 2+2 is 5.  Once a physical law has been defined and established, we accept no other claims.  Yet, the human mind often refuses to grant that this hold true regarding the laws of the spiritual realm.  They prefer to accept the superficial assumption that all roads in the religious world lead to God and to heaven.

Download | Duration: 00:30:13

As we move into Chapter 19, and on to the end of The Revelation, we can breathe a sign of relief.  No more plagues or catastrophies, no more rebellion and evil ruling the plant.  We transition from what's going on in heaven and earth separately, to the two becoming one....as Jesus Christ returns to eatth, opening up the curtain to the spirit world, and giving the evil one, Satan, who inspired all this trouble, what he deserves.

Download | Duration: 00:46:05

The context of Deuteronomy Chapter 32 is when Moses was about to die, and he is going to give the nation of Israel his final blessings.  This is the song of Moses.  Joshua has been commissioned in Moses' place to lead God's people into the Promised Land, and Moses is going to sing his song in the hearing of all the people.  In Chapter 33, we'll see the blessings that Moses proclaims on the tribes of Israel.

Download | Duration: 00:42:52

There are those who believe that the church will go through the Tribulation.  Will the church go through the Tribulation?  Well, the answer is YES..........and NO!  The true church, the real bride of Christ, will not.  It will be Raptured out before the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel.  But, there is a "church" that is guaranteed to go through the Tribulation - the church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:22), which is symbolic of the Roman Catholic Church......the false church.

Download | Duration: 00:54:44

God gives His people His unconditional promise of a future blessing, and His promise that He will restore them back to their land - what we know as "The Palestinian Covenant".  There are, at times, events in our lives that are impossible to predict.  At other times, an event occurs because we have made a wrong decision, but we could simply not see into the future.  No so with God.  The future is know by God, even in the smallest of details.  God knows the end from the beginning. 

Download | Duration: 00:43:07

Chapter 15 is the shortest Chapter in The Revelation.  It serves as an introduction or prelude ot Chapter 16.  We will be looking at the seven bowls of wrath, or judgment.  As we've mentioned before, there are many "sevens" in The Revelation, as well as in the Bible as a whole.  "Seven" is the number of completion, or completeness - sometimes, but not always, divine.  We're moving into the climax of the final seven years of world history, which is the 70th Week of Daniel, outlined in Chapter 9 of The Book of Daniel.

Download | Duration: 00:46:09

This Chapter continues the section regarding the future of Israel.  Moses pronounces the "conditional" part of the covenant - that the people would be blessed only if they would obey God.  But, their disobedience would bring curses, which Moses spells out also.  Also, God is going to give His people their history in the land even before they enter it. 

• There are three prophesies of their dispossession of the land, which have all been fulfilled, and;
• There are three prophesies of their restoration to the land....two of which have been completely fulfilled, and the third which is presently being fulfilled.

Download | Duration: 00:45:56

Chapter 14 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a kind of "Table of Contents" for the remaining chapters in the book.  It's sort of a "preview" of coming attractions.  There are many sevens in the Bible, and indeed in The Revelation.  We have had seven seals, seven trumpets, and we're going to see seven bowls.  Between each seven, we have had kind of a "parenthesis", or a pause or break. 

Download | Duration: 00:55:24

This is the 3rd main division of The Book of Deuteronomy.  This section covers Chapters 27 through 30.  This may be the most critical section in the Book.  Before we venture into this section, it would be good to talk a bit about the word "covenant", and just what that means.  A covenant in a contract between two parties.  In the Hebrew, the word for covenant is 'berith'.  It is derived from a word that means "to cut", which is in reference to cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them in making a covenant....."cutting a covenant". 

Download | Duration: 00:37:43

Last week, we saw in Chapter 12 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the conflict between Satan and Israel.  The first sentence of Chapter 13 should more likely have been the last sentence of Chapter 12, because John is describing the dragon making war with the Jews and believers in Christ.  He is doing that while standing on the seashore.  What does this mean?

Download | Duration: 00:53:11

Chapters 25 and 26 of The Book of Deuteronomy conclude the section, as we spoke of a couple weeks ago, that outline the regulations for domestic and personal relations.  This section is Chapters 21 through 26.  Chapter 25 gives us God's concern for protecting the innocent by punishing the guilty, and by perpetuating a brother's family name in Israel.  The Chapter concludes with a command to blot out the name of Amalek from under the heavens, which we'll take a look at and see what that's all about.

Download | Duration: 00:41:27

Chapter 12 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ actually begins in Chapter 11, verse 19.  Keep in mind that chapter breaks and verse designations are man's ideas and were evidently not divinely inspired, since there are obvious errors in places where the chapter breaks are not correct.  The Temple of God is in heaven, not on the earth.  The real Ark of the Covenant is in heaven, not on the earth.  All that Moses was given on Mt. Sinai was a replica of the original.  This chapter gives us the final conflict between Israel and Satan after Satan is cast out of heaven.

Download | Duration: 00:50:39

Chapter 23 of The Book of Deuteronomy continues the section regarding regulations for domestic and personal relations, as we talked about last week.  This section is in Chapters 21 through 26.  The world, the flesh, and the Devil or Satan are three enemies a believer contends with daily at least, and moment by moment at times. 

• The World - James 4:4
• The Flesh - Romans 8:1
• The Devil or Satan - Ephesians 6:10-12

There are many places in the Word of God that deal with very personal issues.  Unfortunately, most churches generally avoid these areas and choose to speak to issues that make people feel good, but we shouldn't avoid these Scriptures because most of them hold some very practical lessons for us.....and maybe some conviction also.

Download | Duration: 00:40:54

I'll state right up front that today is "RESURRECTION DAY", not "Easter".  If I use the term "Easter", it will only be in the context of explaining what this day IS NOT.  The United States is one of the few countries in the world in which the customary "Easter" greetings contain no mention of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In the first century Greek-speaking church, the greetings would have been:  "Christos anastee!" which means "Christ is risen!", and the reply would be "Aleethoos anastee!", which means "He is truly risen!"

Download | Duration: 00:41:13

Chapter 21 of The Book of Deuteronomy concludes a section that began back in Chapter 8 which deals with religious and national regulations.  We will see in this Chapter laws regulating many different aspects in the life of the people of Israel.  Chapter 22 begins a new division in The Book of Deuteronomy.  The outline of the Book is:

• What God has done for Israel - Chapters 1-4
• A repetition and interpretation of the Ten Commandments - Chapters 5-7
• Religious and national regulations - Chapters 8-21
• Regulations for domestic and personal relations - Chapters 22-26
• What God will do for Israel - Chapters 27-34

 

Download | Duration: 00:52:58

Two weeks ago, in Chapter 11 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, we saw the measuring of the Temple in Jerusalem.  This measuring is the same thing as claiming it.  There was no Temple at the time that John wrote The Revelation, but the measuring he is doing is taking place at the beginning of the 70th Week of Daniel - The Great Tribulation - The Time of Jacob's Trouble.  It is certain that a third Temple will be built in Jerusalem.  I believe it would be a good thing to cover some of the details of the Temple, and how they might relate to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Download | Duration: 00:47:32

In Chapter 19 of The Book of Deuteronomy, we will see God's provision for the cities of refuge, the provision for the protection of property rights, and the severity of the Law which reveals God's concern for the innocent.  In Jesus Christ, we have refuge that is provided for those who flee to Him by faith.  But, as with the cities of refuge here in Deuteronomy, there is no refuge in Jesus for presumptuous sinners who continue in their sinful lifestyles.

Download | Duration: 00:42:10

We are in the "parenthesis" or "pause" between the sixth and seventh trumpets.  John's perspective has changed in this two-chapter  "parenthisis" from heaven to earth.  In Chapter 11, we're going to see John instructed to measure the Temple, we'll be introduced to the two witnesses, and we'll see that what God says is going to happen will happen.

Download | Duration: 00:46:27

In Chapters 17 & 18 of The Book of Deuteronomy, we come to a section in the Book that deals with regulations that God lays out for the control of kings, priests and prophets.  These were the three main offices in the nation of Israel, although the nation would not have a king for some time to come.  God sets forth rules and guidelines for these three offices.

Download | Duration: 00:47:28

Bad things happen.  Storms, earthquakes, tidal waves, epidemics, pandemics, wars - people suffer and mourn loss.  But, I often hear people console themselves by saying "It's just an act of God".  Most of what is happening, or has happened, is simply a result of the fall of man - of sin entering into this world - and we suffer the result of the curse.  Here in Chapter 9 of Revelation we are going to see a tragedy that befalls mankind that is far worse than any "natural disaster".  This Chapter records the releasing of forces bent on destroying all of mankind, or inciting them to destroy themselves.

Download | Duration: 00:47:25

God has a poverty program that He outlines in Deuteronomy Chapter 15.  We have a real mess in our economy today.  Unemployment is announced and published at about 10% right now, but the real number, after you include those who have dropped off the unemployment rolls or are only working part-time, the real number is probablly closer to 20%.  This means that somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 million people are unemployed or under-employed in our country today.

Download | Duration: 00:43:08

The entire rest of the judgments on earth are contained underneath the seventh seal of the scroll.  We are going to see seven trumpet blasts, seven plagues, and seven bowl judgments poured out with the opening of the 7th seal.  After this, God's judgment of the earth and it's ruler - Satan - will be complete.  There will be a lot of destruction on this planet before this happens. 

Download | Duration: 00:46:56

The admonition of the closing verse of the last chapter introduces a new series of warnings intended to serve as a further safeguard against violation of these duties.  "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."  (Deuteronomy 12:322)  The true types and forms of worship have been spelled out.  The next step is to set out rules and regulations against those who would tempt the people with false ones.

Download | Duration: 00:38:01