SCRIPTURE READING: Ezra 7:10| Nehemiah 8:9–12| Isaiah 61:1-2| Hebrews 6:12| James 1:3

KEY DEFINITIONS:

PERSEVERANCE is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

HOPE The word hope in the New Testament is from the Greek word elpis (pronounced

ELpuhs.) According to Strong's Concordance, elpis means expectation, trust, and confidence. It comes from the root word elpo, which means to anticipate (with pleasure) and to welcome.

KEY POINTS OF INTEREST:

· The Start of the Intertestamental Period began after God stopped talking in around 433BC until

· Jewish and world culture after Malachi

· Living outside of God’s guidance and voice

· John call for repentance in the early 1st century AD

James 1:3

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Hebrews 6:12

That you do not become sluggish but imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

Isaiah 61:1-2

61 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,