BSF Exile and Return: Lesson 3

Daniel's devotion to God in his teens years cemented who he became and with Whom he aligned with all his life.

OUR TIMES OF TESTING REVEAL two important things about us:

Who we are 1, Daniel’s faith was tested in a personal, private way — what he would eat, who he would obey and how he would live when no one back home was watching.

Whose we are 2, the testing was public, even life-threatening — an impossible demand from a ruthless king who was ready to execute all his wise men if they couldn’t perform.

In both situations, Daniel could have panicked, compromised or looked for a way out. But instead, he showed us that God Himself provides His people with the strength they need.

Aim: Knowing God is on His throne, His people can live faithfully as His People.

When we read news headlines or experience personal hardships: 

Where is God?

• I. Where is God in exile, displacement, challenge? Ch 1     God is:

1. Working out His purposes, both judgment (Deut 28) and blessing (Jer 24, 27) 1-7  (doctrine)
2. Granting favor to His people 8-16
3. Positioning them for service 17-21

Principle: Knowing God is sovereign, His people can live with confidence in a world that is ignorant of His ways and principles.

• II. Where is God in crisis, confusion, and dismay? Ch.2      God is:

1. Available through prayer 1-23
2. Revealing the mysteries of His kingdom 24-45 (doctrine)
3. Revealing His greatness in ways we had not known 46-49

Principle: Knowing God is sovereign, His people can live with courage in times of crisis.

This week, BSF president Hollie Roberts is again our guest lecturer to give us a roundup on Lesson 2, Ezekiel's three profound visions which gives us our spiritual prognosis and need for the Great Savior and LifeGiver.

The Lecture Talk for Lesson 1 and 2 are provided by BSF Global HQ.

Presented by BSF President Hollie Roberts.

Hollie joined the BSF Headquarters Staff in 2018. She served as a Regional Director and Chief Field Development Officer before becoming the Executive Director. Hollie first attended BSF in Amarillo, Texas, where she began serving in leadership as a Children's Leader (CL) and Group Leader (GL).

Welcome back to our new BSF Study on the OT prophetic books during and after Israel's exile leading up to the arrival of the Messiah.

This lecture is a short overview of the season and the main themes for us to remember around God's faithfulness and trustworthy promises to His people.

BSF Global Lecture provided by BSF HQ.

These words in Revelation are works of hope and a future. They are for the believers, not the world. These are not for those who do not know Jesus, who do not have a context for understanding why this message is a message of joy, of hope, and of confidence that God’s justice and righteousness prevails. It is meant as it says in vs 16 as a testimony for the Churches.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
Jesus calls us His friends, and He reveals to us all that He has planned for us, His Bride, in His eternal gloried Kingdom.
 Revelation is a book of encouragement for God’s people regarding significant things to come for which we pray with Him, Thy Will Be Done. Come, Lord Jesus, We work and testify as we await His return!

AIM: Believers are called to be prepared for Christ’s imminent return.

I. Prepared Hearts Revere God's Word (22:6–11)

A. True and Reliable Word (6–7)

B. A Response of Worship (8–9)

C. Real Change happens through Gospel, not by knowledge of revelation (10–11)

Principle: Believers prepare for Christ’s return by believing and obeying God’s Word.

II. Prepared Lives Reflect Christ’s Work (22:12–21)

A. Work of Becoming like Him (12–16)

B. Work of Invitation/our lives as witnesses proclaiming (17)

C. Work of Unadulterated Discipleship, Learning and Teaching (18–19)

D. Work of Faithfulness, just as He is Faithful and True (20–21)

Principle: Prepared lives reveal Christ, share hope, and guard truth.

This is the Global Lecture from Bible Study Fellowship provided by the staff at BSF Headquarters.

Doctrine: New Heaven and Earth

Aim: CATL...God’s heavenly promise for tomorrow motivates His people to live for Him today.

I. Heaven Tomorrow

A. Eternal City (Hebrews 11, Revelation 3:21)

B. Eternal People (Genesis 17:5, Matthew 28:18-20, John 17, Revelation 7:9)

C. Eternal Temple (Exodus 25:8, Revelation 3:12)

D. Eternal Worship (Revelation 4-5)

Principle: Heaven most important characteristic is that God is central to everything over there. God’s heavenly presence creates perfect unity and a ceaselessly worshipful life.

II. Heaven Today

A. Earthly View (Exodus 24, Isaiah 6, Acts 11, Revelation, John 14:2, Matthew 25)

B. Heaven’s Reality and Promise (2 Cor. 5:8, Philip.1:22-23, Matthew 17:22, Rev.6:9, 21:22)

C. Garden to Garden (Genesis 1-2, Romans 8, Revelation 22)

D. Heavenly Minded (Genesis 1:28, John 17, Colossians 3:1-2)

Principle: God’s heavenly presence generates passionate and productive people that expands and extends all the wonder of God's nature into the expanse of eternity.

The City of God - Revelation 21:9- 22:5

Have you been in a place that felt like home? People find it hard to imagine home in heaven because heaven is so unfamiliar to our minds rooted in this things we cling to in this life. But God wants us to know when God's people live in the City of God, we will be living into a place with Him that feels the most like home, the most we ever felt in the embrace of love, peace, joy, hope, and gladness. We were made for Him. He built into our lives the purposes for which we were to live into. And He has made a place for us perfectly suited to carrying out our purposes under His loving care. Let's look at what this means in this week's lesson.

Division I: Made for Him Revelation 21:9-21

A. 9-11 Reflective of God’s glory

B.12-14 Structured by God’s plan

C. 5-17 Measured by God’s perfection

D. 18-21 Decorated with God’s splendor

Principle I: The ultimate motive of God’s City and Citizen is the worship and glory of God

Division II: Made for us 21:22-22:5

A. 22-24 The Temple and the Light

B. 25-27 The Nations and the Citizens

C. 1-2 The River of Life and the Tree of Life

D. 3-5 The Freedom to Serve and Live

Principle II: God’s constant abiding presence gives clarity, light, life, hope, and joy.

Aim: God’s people will dwell with Him in a new city and creation forever.

Doctrine: Humanity: Creation and Purpose

Revelations 20:11-21:18

If you're watched enough real crime shows, you know people are very delusional when it comes to their own innocence. People have an overly exaggerated view of their own goodness and regularly blame or find fault in others for their problems. That's makes human courts and investigation very difficult. But in at the great and final judgment of God at his Great White Judgement Throne, the books will be open and people won't need to say a word. Instead God in His omniscience will explain to them who they've been and what a they've done. And unless Jesus was their Atonement into a repentance in Jesus that surpasses the righteousness of human action, they will be disqualified from being included in God's Book of Life. Let's look at what comes next in the His New Beginning.

AIM: God’s final judgement will bring His promises to their long awaited fulfillment

I. Judgment Day: The Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:11-15)

a. The Final Accounting, whose book (Rev 20:11-12)

b. The Sentence Executed (Rev 20:13-15)

Principle: In the face of God’s inescapable justice, Christ is our only hope. OR You’re either writing your own book, of you’re going to be part of Jesus’s Book of Life.

II. New Beginnings: All Things Made New (Rev 21:1-18)

a. New Creation for the Redeemed (Rev 21:1-2)

b. God’s Presence Restored (Rev 21:3-5)

c. A Sure & Eternal Inheritance (Rev 21:6-8)

Principle: Only the redeemed of God will dwell with Him forever in perfect joy. OR All things are dispensable and unworthy of God’s future plans, except those who are entirely made indispensable in Jesus.

Revelations 20:1-10 BSF Global Lecture Talk

Local SF Lecture will be provided mid-week. Please check back then.

Key Verse: Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with im for a thousand years. (Rev 10:6)

Outline:

Aim: Whether people live in good or bad empires, superficial belief or acceptance of God is no substitute for real worshippers and lovers of God in Christ

I. The Temporary Chaining of Satan, restricting his influence (20:1-3)

Principle 1. God’s sovereignty and infinite power prevails over Satan.

II. Christ’s Righteous Reign through His People (20:4-6)

A. God’s People Raised to Life (20:4-6)

B. God’s People Reign in Christ (20:6)

Principle 2. Jesus’ faithful believers are priests mediating His rule over the earth

III. Satan’s Eternal Defeat (20:7-10)

A. Satan's deceives and enlists the nations to Gog and Magog (20:7-8)

B. Fire from heaven devours myriad readily deceived by satan (20:9)

C. Satan’s Eternal Condemnation (20:10)

Principle 3. Satan and his followers are destined for final and eternal ruin.

This is the Local San Francisco BSF Lecture to accompany Lesson 24

Have you ever arrived someplace where people were celebrating something but you had no clue what all the joy and gladness was about? There are people dancing in the streets, cheering, climbing trees and statues singing their hearts out. Others waving flags and hugging strangers and joining hands. What’s going on? What’s all the hubbub about? If you’re not invested, you’re just a spectator.

If you’re not affected by it, such a grand and joyful occasion can feel irrelevant to you. Sure, you can smile and be happy for them, but you’re not really invested in the celebration as they are. Are you aware of the concerns of Christ in the world in these present times and participating in what God is doing? Are you so invested in the work of Christ today, so that in the day of victory your rejoicing arises as a participant and not a spectator to God’s Rule and Reign over the World?

Aim: Jesus will return to conquer His enemies and claim His people as His bride.

Attribute of God: Glorious, Worthy of our Praise

I. Here Comes the Bride! (Rev. 19:1-10)

A. Resounding Praise to God (1-5)- God paves the way for his bride through judgment

B. Robed in Christ’s Righteousness (6-8)- Jesus clothes His bride “given for her to wear.”

C. Reserved for Jesus (9-10)- God alone is worthy of praise

Principle: Christ’s bride will revel in the brilliance of God’s glory forever.

God deserves all praise because all of God’s actions are just and true.

II. Here Comes our King! (Rev. 19:11-21)

A. Contrast with His 1st Entrance (v 11) doctrine – it's always gloriously unexpected!

B. Contrast with His Earthly Life (v 12-16) – see the full sum of His glory!

C. Contrast with Supper of the Lamb (17-21) –reminder that the church today feeds on the body and blood of Christ, see how He gave all to conquer all?

Principle: King Jesus gave His all in order to reign over all who believe on Him.

The certainty of Jesus's return and victory is the source of all believers' hopes.