LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

This teaching is relevant for us today. Although the underlying elemental principles of our day manifest differently, they nonetheless enslave us the same. Cultural currents like hyper-individualism, careerism, aestheticism, consumerism, technological optimism, inclusivism, polarization, and coercion are always pushing and pulling us along. Let us instead imitate our Father as dear children, looking to the teaching and example of His Son, Christ Jesus.

Galatians 4:1-3   Before Christ, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world—powers behind the way the world works.

Galatians 4:3-5   Because of Christ, there’s been a fundamental change in how people relate to both God and the world. God has adopted us into His family.

Galatians 4:6-7   God’s spirit inspires us to cry out, “Abba! Father!” This way of addressing God comes straight from Jesus’s private prayer life. (See Mark 14:36.)

Galatians 4:4-11   God has redeemed us from slavery, set us free, and adopted us, making us heirs of a mighty inheritance. As His children, we address Him as “Abba Father”. In such a state, how could we go back to slavery? How could we return to the old way of relating to God and the world?

Throughout history, God has chosen individuals that no one would expect. But nonetheless, that is who God wanted. Likewise, God decided in advance that he would choose all those who put their faith in Christ. Being chosen by God means that God wants YOU! But to be chosen by God requires that you respond to his invitation in the good news of Christ. God’s chosen ones are those who choose God.

God desires for everyone to be saved.

John 3:16-18; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9

Revelation 22:17

The invitation is for all who “want” to drink the water of life.

Colossians 3:12-13

Being “chosen” means that God wants YOU! You are special to God. God has a plan and a purpose for His chosen ones.

But what does it really mean to be “chosen” by God? And why are some people said to be “chosen” and others are not?

2 Thessalonians 2:13

1 Peter 1:1-2

Being chosen means that you made a choice! God’s “chosen” are those who chose God.

Matthew 22:1-14

Being “chosen” is conditioned upon our response (i.e. choice). So, let’s help others choose God in their lives and become one of God’s CHOSEN ONES!

Justification by faith is a key concept in Christian salvation. The idea is simple. We believe in the gospel message; God justifies us, making us right with Him. To further understand this, we’ll consider two examples: Abraham and David, both mentioned in Romans 4.

Romans 3:21-26   God’s righteousness is a big topic. To understand it, we need to reflect on how God created our world, how humans have repeatedly rebelled, and how God has devised a solution to these problems.

Romans 4:1-8   To understand justification, the Apostle Paul points to two examples: Abraham and David.

Genesis 15:1-6   Although Abraham failed repeatedly throughout his life, he was a believer. When God promised him a child, he trusted in that promise.

2 Samuel 12:1-9   David’s sins with Bathsheba and Uriah were so severe and deplorable it’s hard to believe that he could ever become justified. Even so, after Nathan confronted him and he repented, he wrote a psalm, celebrating the blessing of forgiven sins. (See Psalm 32.)

1 Corinthians 1:26-29; James 2:5; Matthew 11:25   Justification by faith makes salvation available to everyone. Rather than choosing the wealthiest, most intelligent, or most beautiful people, in His wisdom God decided He wanted believers. What a magnificent truth!

Leviticus 25 and the book of Ruth lay the foundation of understanding our spiritual redemption that we have in Christ. We will be returned to our spiritual family and inherit the land. We are part of the new Israel therefor included in the promises made to Abraham.

Leviticus 25:1-7   The 7th year sabbath would provide rest for the land, the people, and the animals plus build their faith and confidence in Yahweh.

Leviticus 25:8-9   This was the only day the high priest entered the holy of holies for the forgiveness of sins.

Leviticus 25:10   In the 50th year, year of jubilee (lobel – ram’s horn), they were to return to land and family.

21   Deal honestly and obey God, and He will provide blessing for 3 years (6, 7, 8).

28   Kinsmen – redeemer

Leviticus 26:34-35; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21   Israel never kept the sabbaths.

1 Corinthians 15:5:2; Revelation 11:15   When the last trumpet is sounded, Jesus will return, the dead will rise, the day of jubilee will begin, Israel will finally return to its land and family. The prophets foretold of Israel’s redemption.

Ruth 3:11-13; 4:3-6   Redemption was for Ruth because she was a barren widow and for her husband’s land.

Romans 3:10-24; 6:1-6   We are no longer slaves to sin.

Ephesians 1:7; 2:1-10   We are no longer slaves to the lust of the flesh and mind.

Ephesians 1:13-14   Our future redemption includes returning to God’s original family plan and inheriting the land.

The outpouring of God’s spirit on Pentecost marked a massive step forward in God’s plans to redeem the world. At Babel, He had divided up humanity, confused the languages, and assigned the nations deputy rulers from His divine council. Through the work of His Messiah, Jesus, and the outpouring of the spirit, God has begun the process of taking the nations back that will ultimately culminate in His Kingdom coming on earth.

Acts 2:1-12 Fifty days after Christ’s crucifixion, his followers waited in Jerusalem for the promised spirit. Jews from many nations around the world were present.

Genesis 10:1-12 The table of nations includes seventy names of individuals who descended from Noah’s three sons.

Genesis 11:1-9 The world had united and cooperated to build a tower to make a name for themselves. God spoke to His divine council and then confused the languages.

Deuteronomy 32:7-9; 4:19-20 Centuries later, Moses referred to the Babel incident and said Yahweh divided up humankind according to the number of the gods.

Psalm 82:1-8 The gods that Yahweh put in charge of the nations acted corruptly and showed partiality to the wicked. They are under God’s judgement.

Acts 2:1-12 Pentecost marked the moment when God began to dwell within His people via the spirit. Furthermore, it initiates His effort to take the nations back.

Revelation 5:9-10 In the end, God will succeed. His kingdom will have saints from every tribe, language, people, and nation. They will reign as His priests upon the earth.

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God. There are numerous stories in the Bible about mothers who were good women such as Hagar, Hannah, Esther, Ruth, and Elizabeth, alongside stories of non-mothers, those spiritual good women such as Miriam, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. In this sharing, the “mother of all the living” – Eve, the Proverbs 31 woman, and Abigail will exemplify God’s perspective of “a good woman”.

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God.

Psalm 139:13-14

These are beautiful words to think about (as David did) of how God wove us in our mother’s womb, and we can give thanks for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Ephesians 6:1-3

There is a spiritual and physical consequence to honoring our mothers and fathers. It does not say honor your mother only on a designated day, but we are to give honor to our mothers every day.

Proverbs 31:10; 25-26; 30

This proverb of wisdom and instruction: Who can find a good woman? She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. This woman who fears the LORD shall be praised.

Genesis 1:1, 3, 10, 12;18, 21, 26, 31

Genesis 2:21-24

Genesis 3:20

Eve was very good in God’s creation and the mother of all the living.

The word “good” in the verses in Genesis are the Hebrew word tob. In the Greek, “good” is kalos agathos, chrestos and often appears in a nonmoral sense in Scripture, like in a good appearance, good land, good gold, good soil, good wine. But most of the biblical uses of the word “good” have to do with moral qualities.

Psalm 86:5   For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon You.

Psalm 34:8   O Taste and see that the LORD is good, how blessed is the man who takes refuge in him;

In Scripture, His goodness appears most clearly in His dealings with people.

Psalm 26:3   Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Romans 2:4   Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerable and patience, not knowing that the kindness (goodness) of God leads you to repentance?

In the Scripture, goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good, He is good to His people; when people are good, they behave decently toward each other, based on God’s goodness to them.

Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

In Galatians 5:22, goodness is a fruit of the Spirit.

1 Samuel 25:3, 10, 18-19, 22-33, 39

We have the biblical record of Abigail, a good woman of understanding. She trusted and had faith in the goodness of her God, Yahweh. Abigail ended up marrying King David and gave birth to their son, Chileab.

God invites us to join him in the work he is doing in the world. He equips us for good works by bestowing God-given talents, resources, and a heart to serve. Paul encouraged Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6 ESV). What gifts has God entrusted you with? How can you use them for his glory?

Ephesians 2:10 We aren’t saved by works, but we are saved for works. God invites us to join him in the work he is doing to repair the world.

Matthew 25:13-30 Like the master in the parable, one day Jesus will return to rule the world. When he comes, he will reward or reprimand his servants based on what they did with the resources entrusted to them.

Exodus 35:10, 30-35 and 1 Chronicles 15:22 God gave talent in art, music, or craftmanship to specific individuals so they could do work related to the Tabernacle. Throughout scripture, God entrusted people with God-given talents. God did this for a purpose − so they would be equipped for the work he called them to do.

Psalm 37:4; Philippians 2:13 God helps us to do the work he calls us to do. Not only that, but he helps us to have the desire to do it. He changes our hearts and gives us the desire to do his will.

1 Corinthians 12:4-20, 27-31 and 1 Peter 4:10-11 Christ has ascended into heaven. Metaphorically speaking, we are his hands and feet in the world today. We are the instruments he works through. We are each gifted with unique talents, entrusted with different resources, and blessed with different life experiences. Do not compare yourself to someone else. Each individual has his/her own role in the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 We comfort others with the comfort we received from God. God redeems our life experiences for his glory. What experiences have you gone through that God can use to bring deliverance, healing, and hope to another person going through the same thing?

2 Timothy 1:6-7 Fan into flames the gift of God. Prayerfully consider what God may be calling you to do in this season.

We want to join God in what He is doing in the world and not expect Him to join us in our plans. To participate in His work we must have an awareness of Him and expectations based upon His Words.

Acts 1:4-5; Luke 24:49   Expectations based upon God’s Word

Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 27:14; 62:5-6   Waiting is not passive.

Acts 2:1-4, 37   As they were doing God-centered things

Acts 3:1-12   They were looking to see where God was working, aware of His presence, and expecting results based upon His words. John 14:12-14; 15:26-27

Acts 4:1-13, 18-21

Matthew 10:19-20   Expectations based upon God’s Word

Acts 5:16-42; Luke 6:22-23

Dangerously placed expectations:

Expectations that do not become a reality then diminish confidence and faith.

Acts 10:1-20   God is at work in the world. Join Him in what He is doing, not the opposite.

Build the habit of acknowledging the presences of God.

God will enable you to do His work.

Philippians 2:13

Hebrews 13:5-6, 20-21

Romans 8:31

Psalm 118:6

Acts 16:1   Paul embarked on his second missionary journey from Antioch in Syria to Derbe and Lystra, travelling over land.

Acts 16:6-8   As they travelled, God kept dissuading them from going to Asia Minor or Bithynia—places that were obvious choices for missionary work. Instead, they kept travelling. It took them 350 miles to get from Antioch in Pisidia to Troas.

Acts 16:9-12   Sleeping on the west coast of the continent of Asia, Paul’s dream convinced him they should cross the Aegean Sea into Macedonia.

Acts 16:13-15   Lydia was a merchant of purple cloth from Thyatira. After she believed in Christ, she invited Paul, Silas, Timothy, and probably Luke.

Acts 16:16-24   Paul cast the spirit of a python out of a fortune-telling slave girl, resulting in the city government beating him and Silas with rods and throwing them in jail.

Acts 16:40   After Paul and Silas had caused a riot, suffered a public beating, and spent a night in jail, Lydia still received them back into her house.

Lydia and the Philippians sent Paul money twice while he was in Thessalonica (Phil 4:15-16), when he was in Corinth (2 Cor 11:9), and when he was imprisoned in Rome (Phil 4:18). Because of these gifts, Paul could focus on evangelism, teaching, and writing his epistles instead of making tents.

People are “filled” with holy spirit when they believe in Jesus Christ and confess him as their Lord. But, a believer doesn’t receive only a portion or part of the spirit or even just most of the spirit—they are filled with the spirit to the fullest measure. There is no lack or deficiency. They are filled completely with the gift of the spirit.

Acts 9:17

Paul was “filled with the spirit” when Ananias laid hands on him, and he was delivered of his temporary blindness.

Paul received the gift of the spirit here when Ananias laid hands on him, but there are other ways that the phrase “filled with the spirit” is used that involve a believer experiencing the power of the spirit in various ways.

Acts 2:4

Being filled with the spirit led to speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 4:8, 31

Being filled with the spirit led to speaking boldly and proclaiming the good news.

Acts 13:9, 52

Being “filled with the spirit” led to condemning a “son of the devil” and denouncing his evil and wickedness. And being “filled with joy and the holy spirit” provided supernatural comfort and encouragement in the face of rejection.

Ephesians 5:18

Being filled with the spirit is accompanied by singing, praising, and giving thanks.