We continue our study in chapter thirty-six where we see the prerequisite regeneration which Israel will experience before they can nationally enter into the promised blessings. This speaks of a literal Israel, land, and regeneration and leading to a literal kingdom under Messiah yet to come.

We continue our study in chapters thirty-three and thirty-four where we see God calling Israel to repentance along with a future restoration. God holds Israel's leaders (shepherds) responsible by "hearing and not doing". Here was a message to exiles, who had no intention of obeying the prophet's messages. They liked to listen, but not apply the prophet's messages. They finally knew by bitter experience that he had spoken the truth of God. The people appreciated the eloquence of Ezekiel, but not the realty of his message. From chapter thirty-four on, Ezekiel's messages are mostly comforting, telling of God's grace and faithfulness to His covenant promises. In Chapter thirty-five we see God making sure the Earth knows He is the Lord by 1) the blessing of Israel, 2) the curse on Israel, and 3) judgement of the other nations.

Our Scripture reading was found in 1 Kings 8:33-66.

Paul expounded the whole counsel of God to the church and taught the Corinthians the Word of God, the focus of his preaching and teaching to unbelievers was Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin on the cross. In weakness, Paul was most powerful. There were no theatrics or techniques to manipulate people's response. His fear and shaking were because of the seriousness of his mission.

Our Scripture reading was found in Numbers 32:1-42.

This morning we see Amos warning Israel to turn from all the idols they placed before God, all these efforts to serve to masters. God says away with it as judgement will fall upon you! But if there is repentance turning to God, He will be gracious and able to spare his wrath.

Tonight we review several popular tenants of the new perspective on the Apostle Paul:

In Ezekiel chapter twenty-three we see God explains what is happened with the northern and southern kingdoms using the figure of two immoral sisters. The older is Samaria and the younger Jerusalem, expresses these nations as idolatrous and we see God's judgement on both. In chapter twenty-four we see two components, judgement on Israel (symbol of the cooking pot) and the thoroughness of God's judgement on Israel through Babylon. In chapters twenty-five through thirty-two, we see prophecies of retribution to the nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Excurses (the restoration of Israel), and Egypt. In chapters thirty-three and thirty-four we see God calling Israel to repentance along with a future restoration.

Our Scripture reading was found in 1 Kings 8:1-33.

There are two groups of people in the world: those who are perishing, and those who are being saved. The unsaved view the cross as foolishness. The saved understand the cross is not ultimately a sign of weakness, but of power. With all the world's wisdom and knowledge, it cannot come up with its own way of salvation. Through worldly wisdom, you cannot be forgiven, you cannot know God, the world's problems cannot be fixed - all these are impossible on the strength of human intellect. Human smarts and "righteous" works are but filthy rags before God when it comes to relating to Him. They have their place - but not in boasting. Their proper place is in service to God. But salvation in all its aspects is available in Christ, despite how the world sees Him and His work. This is to the glory of God in Christ.

Our Scripture reading was found in Numbers 31:1-54.

For Sunday school, we celebrated the Lord's Table with a reminder that the believer should not wish to have a guiltless conscience when they have sinned. This leads to repentance. Personal guilt should be lifted up to God, that He may forgive you seeing as all sins have been forgiven through Christ's suffering on the cross.

Tonight, we held our annual business meeting. In addition to handling matters of reporting and planning for 2020, we had a prayer time and a short message from Pastor Postiff. The text for the message was drawn from Acts 14. Pastor Postiff encouraged the church to continue in faithfulness and to abound more and more in it. After that, we prayed for members, ministries, and missionaries. This takes the listener up to the last minute of the message. There is a pause in the audio where we prayed for over a half an hour. In the last minute of the message, then, Pastor concludes the prayer time by showing how we illustrated an important point: prayer is the business of the church. It is not just budgets and planning, reports and goals, but prayer has to be a central aspect of the church work.

In chapter twenty we see the prophet Ezekiel responds with a message from the Lord that gives a historical survey of Israel, featuring its uniform pattern of sin. Israel rebelled in Egypt, then in the wilderness trek, and the entry into the Land of Promise. Through all this, God kept delivering them to save His reputation. Yet sinful obstinacy finally led to His judging them. Verses 33-44 speak of His regathering Israel to their land in the future time of Christ's Second Advent. In chapter twenty-one, we hear of the parable of the sword of the Lord. Ezekiel brandished a sharp sword and struck his hands together leading into chapter twenty-two where we see him portraying Israel in the smelting furnace.

Our Scripture reading was found in Proverbs 13:1-25.