Testimony and Reflections Season 5

Jacob and his wife Cayla had just bought a new house and it was moving day. There was so much to look forward to on a bright and beautiful summer morning… and then tragedy struck. Jacob recalls the accident, the need for faith to endure through trial and the powerful hand of God through it all.

Key verse: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

The Work of the Angels

The Bible mentions angels at work from Genesis to Revelation. What are they doing? Turns out they’re doing a lot. Jay joins Tim to summarize the important role that the angels fulfill to bring about God’s will.

Theme Verse – Psalm 103:20

“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”

Re-cap from “Equal unto the Angels”

  • Why study angels? (Luke 20:35-36)
  • They represent and reveal God – “God manifestation”. They bear his name (Exodus 23:20-21)
  • We are made in the image of God/Elohim/angels (Genesis 1:26 cp. Heb. 2:7)

What they are called

  • Angels, ministers, eyes, watchers (2Ch. 16:9; Da. 4:17)
  • Destroyers (1Co. 10:10), flaming fire (Heb. 1:7)… burning bush (Ex. 4)

How they do it

  • Visibly – Abraham, Jacob, Exodus, Canaan, Daniel, birth and resurrection of Christ, book of Revelation
  • Invisibly – through most of history, even our day (Hebrews 13:2; Dan. 5)

What they are doing

  • Ministering to the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14)
    • Guardian angels (Matt. 18:10; Gen. 28:12; 48:15-16; Psa. 34:7)
    • Rejoice when men and women repent from their sins (Luke 15:10)
  • Obediently carry out the will of God (Psalm 103:20)
    • Strength is a notable characteristic: Elohim, inexhaustible energy, read thoughts, blind or destroy armies, reveal certain future events, help the faithful (ESV Psalm 103:20)
    • They are limited in knowledge (Mark 13:32, 1 Peter 1:11)
    • Evil angels are not morally evil, but bring about the judgments of God – ex. wilderness wanderings, Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35; Psa. 78:49 “destroying angel”; Ex. 12:23)
  • Directing the affairs of the nations
    • Through their work, God exercises His dominion over the kingdoms of the earth (Psalm 103:19, Da. 4:17->Dan. 10)
    • Jesus Christ now has the authority to command all these beings (Mat. 28:18; 2 Thess. 1:7-8)

Lessons for Us Today

  • Today, the immortal heavenly angels follow the commands of Jesus Christ, working faithfully behind the scenes, invisibly preparing the earth for his return. They are involved in setting up and taking down governments, just as they were in the book of Daniel.
  • They also minister in more personal ways, working invisibly, but powerfully, to help the heirs of salvation.
  • We believe that great salvation is coming soon.

The Problem with Pride

A big part of what God’s word warns us about is pride. There is a problem with pride especially if it goes unnoticed in our lives. Join Steve and Tim as they highlight some of the key passages in the Bible about this particular sin and how to overcome it.

Key Verse: “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15

Introduction

  • Words and terms – arrogance, presumptuous, haughty, lifted up, puffed up, conceited, boasting
  • Opposite – humility, modesty, abase, make low, lowliness, contrite, broken heart

God’s assessment of pride

  • He hates it (Prov. 6:16-17) therefore so should we (Prov. 8:13)
  • Judgment because of pride (Prov. 16:18; Mal. 4:1; Isa. 2:12,17)
  • Key aspect of the flesh (Mark 7:20-22; 1 John 2:16; 2 Tim. 3:1-2)

The problem with pride

  • Pride is prevalent when God is not (Psa. 10:4).
  • Blocks our relationship with God by making us forgetful (Hos. 13:4-6)
  • Considers self more than God or others (Ezek. 16:49; Psa. 10:2)
  • Creates contention (Prov. 13:10)
  • Opposite of faith (Hab. 2:4)

Recognizing pride in ourselves and our lives

  • Individually – The love of praise (John 12:43), self-righteousness (Luke 18:9,14), lofty self-sufficiency (James 4:16)
  • Collectively – Nationalism, patriotism, racism, human rights, sports

The antidotes – the frame of mind needed, humility

  • God is big, we are small (Gen. 18:27; Psa. 8:4; Ecc. 5:2)
  • The servant mind set (Luke 17:10), being thankful
  • Being Kingdom seekers, not of this world (1 Chr. 29:11-14ff)

God is the one who exalts

  • If we try to do it ourselves God will oppose us (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6)
  • The greatest example in Jesus (Phil. 2:5-9)

Final conclusion

In Remembrance (Part 2) – The Cup

During the last supper, Jesus gathered with his disciples and shared bread and wine with them in a very significant way. He declared that the bread represented his body and the cup of wine his blood. This meal was not just a one time event but something Jesus commanded his disciples to do often. Nick and Tim continue the study by looking closely at the symbology of the cup and the importance of the new covenant.

Study aids

Bread & Wine Parallel Records Handout

Bread & Wine Summary Handout

Key verse

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””
1 Corinthians 11:25

Cup of Wine

Cup symbolizes ones portion or lot in life (Psalm 16:5; Psalm 11:6)

The word “wine” is never used… cup or fruit of the vine.

New Covenant

Christ said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood.

The book of the law was the book of the covenant (Ex 24)

But there was a problem, with the old covenant it could not save.  Gal 3:11,21

The new covenant was then established in Faith and could offer salvation. Heb 8:7-13

This cup of wine therefore spoke of this new covenant that could save and provide forgiveness of sins.

How was it possible?

Christ said, new covenant “in my blood”

Blood in scripture represents life Lev. 17:11-14. Could not eat blood under the law.

Christ lived a perfect life of obedience 1 Peter 2:21-24 cp. 1 Peter 1:19 “precious blood of Jesus Christ.”

Thereby we have forgiveness of sins 1 John 1:7 for it cleanses or purifies the conscience.

However not available to all

Must be in Christ Gal. 3:14

How? By baptism Gal. 3:27

Share in fellowship

1 Cor. 10:16

Fellowship with God Eph. 2:13