1. Surrender provides us joy, not self-service.

2. If your understanding of the Gospel is not personal, you do not understand the Gospel.

3. Jesus calls you to live your life as it was meant to be lived.

John identifies the difference between true and false doctrine by the attitude and intentions of the ones sharing it. People who don’t know Jesus will preach themselves with Him as a means of getting attention. The real deal with simply point people to Jesus.

1. Don’t dismiss spiritual input. Test it.

2. Knowing what God has actually said helps when testing what else He’s claimed to have said.

3. You can’t fake the real deal.

Ezra’s record of his return from Babylon begins with the fundamental traits of a work of God in any generation. His Word is proven true, the necessary participants and factors are all taken care of, and those who are a part of that work are filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish everything He’s called them to personally.

1. The reason we trust God regarding our present is because He has an unbroken track record of talking about the past and future.

2. God personally provides Himself to equip us for what He calls us to.

3. Those who are the most heavenly minded are the most earthly good.

John explains the greatest assurance we have of our salvation. We belong to Jesus because of what He's done for us, not what we do for Him. One what He has done sets into our hearts and minds, we will want to do for Him what He can only do through us.

1. We can examine what we love most by what we invest our time, talent, and treasure into.

2. Jesus' Commandments are to Believe in who He is and love like He loved us First.

3. Jesus is the only One who can love like He does, and does so through those who belong to Him

Nahum concludes with a final condemnation of Assyria’s crimes. What they have done against God and His creation would be answered for. It wasn’t immediate, but it would be ultimate.

1. Evil exists and has to be answered.

2. Pleasure apart from God has a payday.

3. The patience of God has a limit.

John defines biblical Christian love off of the historical example of Jesus and His motivation for redeeming us from the ultimate consequences of our sin.

1. The only joy Jesus experienced on the cross was the possibility His enemies would be saved.

2. The definition of love for Christians was demonstrated by Jesus historically.

3. God doesn’t expect a lot of faith, but He does require it to be in the right place.

John describes a right relationship with God proven and demonstrated through the Love of God at work in our lives. He demonstrates this through a contrast between the character of Jesus and the murderer Cain.

1. People who know God love His creation like He does.

2. The Love of God apart from a relationship with God is impossible.

3. A heart that rejects God won’t act like Him.

The destruction of Assyria is graphically described in the way only ancient warfare could be. With descriptions of nature itself turning against them, they only had themselves to blame.

1. The Judgment of God is not something to be taken lightly.

2. The Gears of God’s Justice grind slow but exceedingly fine.

3. It’s God’s job to judge. It’s our job to love.

John makes a point about the difference between a heart that belongs to God and one that doesn't. The heart that knows God has God and can't help but become more like Him over time. The alternative is a heart that has no place for God and naturally replaces Him with the things that are contrary to Him.

1. Sin means to miss God's nature in action or attitude.

2. A relationship with Jesus makes a big difference in the lives of those who receive it.

3. God hates sin because He knows what it does to those He loves.