LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

Luke 1:18-23; 57-66 -- Elizabeth’s pregnancy as well as John’s muteness and his ability to speak after the birth were miracles. All happened openly and drew attention to John.

67 -- “Filled with the spirit” always implies what is said or done is God’s doing. His prophecy is not only regarding John but more so Jesus. See verses 15 and 41.

68 -- The phrase “Lord God” occurs almost 450 times in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, “LORD God” is Yahweh God and “Lord GOD” is Lord Yahweh. In the New Testament, the Greek makes no distinction so we determine from the context.

Redemption for His people is not from John, rather from Jesus the Christ.

69 -- Zacharias and Elizabeth are both from the house of Aaron (verse 5). Jesus is from the house of David (1 Chronicles 17:1-15).

Psalm 18:1-3; Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5 -- Horn of salvation

71 -- The great promise is we will be saved from our enemies (quoted from Psalm 106:1-11 - “not one of their adversaries were left”). This is a type for what will happen.

Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17 -- For Abraham, the father of faith, his enemies were God’s also.

Exodus 23:22 and 27 -- The great promise to Israel

Psalm 27:1-ff -- Throughout life, Yahweh will help us defeat our enemies with total victory promised in the end.

Psalm 110:1-ff -- The great prophetic prophecy about the Messiah is the destruction of all our enemies. Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34, 35; Romans 5:10; Hebrews 1:13; 10:12-14

1 Corinthians 15:25 -- Death, our greatest enemy, will be destroyed.

Ephesian 2:1-3; 6:11 and 12 -- Our true enemies

Luke 1:72-80

Ecclesiastes 7:29 ...God made man simple, his complex problems are of his own devising. (Old Jerusalem Bible)

Psalm 11:7 The upright [YaSHaR, same as above --straightforward, simple, childlike] will see his face.

Mark 10:15/Luke 18:27 Receiving the Kingdom of God as a child

GOD SIMPLICITIES:

Genesis 1:1-31 “In the Beginning God...” compare DNA, ACTG + sugar and phosphate bands

It Was Very Good

Deuteronomy 6:4/Mark 12:29 YHWH ELOHENU YHWH ECHAD - The LORD our God the LORD is one

Exodus 6:7 ...You shall know that I am the LORD, VYadaTeM ANiY YHWH 77X Hebrew, KJV, NASB

JESUS SIMPLICITIES:

Psalm 110:1 The LORD said to my Lord - 22x NT references

Mt. 3:17; 17:4; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17 The VOICE! This is my beloved Son

Matthew 16:16 You are the Christ... (Compare John 20:31 - These are written that you might believe...)

John 10:36 I SAID, I am the Son of God, UIOS TOU THEOU EIMI

LIFE SIMPLICITIES:

Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom, Funafunani Ufumu wa Mulungu

John 14:1-3 I will come again...

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus...

Revelation 21:4 God Himself!!! In the beginning God; in the end God

Revelation 22:4 They will see His face!!!

"Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near!"

The Prophecy of Isaiah the Prophet

Matthew 3:1-3

From Isaiah the prophet “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘make ready the way of the LORD, make his paths straight.’” This prophecy about John the Baptist is in all four Gospels (Mark 1:3).

John 1:15-23

The priests and Levites asked John, “Who are you? What do you say about yourself?” He responded with the prophecy from Isaiah.

Luke 1:80; 3:4-6

John lived in the dessert, the wilderness, until his ministry began.

Isaiah 40:1-10

The voice in the wilderness announced the time of comfort for Jerusalem. The one coming would bring Yahweh’s salvation, end iniquity, end warfare, and “His arm” would rule for Him.

The Book of Malachi and the prophecies about John

Malachi 2:5-7

The name “Malachi” means My messenger. The book of Malachi gave strong reproof against the priests and Levites. The mouth of the priest or the Levite should speak true instruction which “turns many back from iniquity.” He is supposed to be the “Messenger of Yahweh of hosts.”

Malachi 3:1

God would send “My messenger” that would clear the way for Yahweh. And the Lord (Adonai), whom they sought, would suddenly come to the Temple.

Malachi 4:5-6

The Old Testament Scriptures close out with this promise of the coming of Elijah the prophet.

Luke 1:5, 8-17

John’s parents were from the tribe of Levi. His father, Zachariah, was a priest. John was an Aaronite, a priest, of the tribe of Levi. This child would “go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.”

Matthew 11:7-15; 17:10-13

Jesus declared that John the Baptist is this Elijah who was to come.

Vince Finnegan, John and Mary McCave, Gaspar Garcia, Jillann Gonzalez, Bob and Kathy Mathieson, Luis and Ivelisse Carlo share from the Scriptures about what makes them thankful.

Exodus 3:7-8 God tells Moses His plans to deliver His people from slavery.

Exodus 6:5-8 God plans to rescue them so they can become His people and He can become their God.

Exodus 12:30-32 After the ten plagues, the Egyptians released the Israelites.

Exodus 14:27-31 God splits the Red Sea and then destroys the Egyptian army, freeing His people once and for all.

Exodus 16:2-4 Remember sitting by the meat pots and eating bread to the full?

Numbers 11:4-6 Remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt?

Numbers 14:1-4 Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt!

Numbers 20:4-5 Why have you made us come up out of Egypt?

1 Corinthians 10:1-14 Let’s learn from their example and not desire evil or give ourselves to idolatry.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” --Jesus (Mt 11:28-30)

John 8:29-44 The word will set you free. The religious zealots were convinced they had God and were living the good life, yet they were really living in slavery with no control over their lives. Hearing and doing the words of Jesus set you free.

Romans 8:1-6 The law of the spirit of life provides life and peace.

Galatians 5:1, 13-26 The good life comes with obedience to the words of Jesus.

James 1:22-25 Hear and do.

Isaiah 48:17 and 18 Abundant living for those who pay attention to God’s words

Isaiah 66: 1 and 2 God will look to those who tremble at His Word.

Mark 3:33-35 Jesus considers those who do the will of God to be his family, not those of a biological connection.

John 12:46-50 God’s commandment is eternal life. This is stated as a simile meaning if you hear and keep His commandments you will have eternal life.

14:21 Obedience is the evidence or proof of true love for the Lord.

Matthew 7:24-27 Storms come for everyone; no one is exempt. The question is will your foundations be strong enough to sustain the storms?

1 Corinthians 12:31 - Love is the more excellent way.

Matthew 22:36-40 The whole Old Testament depends on love.

Luke 10:25-27 What must I do to inherit eternal life?

1 Corinthians 13:1-ff - Godly love is based upon obedience to the Scriptures, while human love is conditioned upon the relationship held with others.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - God desires for His children to do all these things but not outside of love. Love is that which God wants first and foremost from us.

4-8 - God is the standard because, according to 1 John 4:8 and 16, "God is love." Agape, therefore, is supernatural love. It is doing that which is not natural to do.

4 - Love is Longsuffering

1 Peter 3:20; Exodus 34:6 - It is to be long on patience with others even if their actions are evil. God’s patience with humanity is mind-boggling.

2 Peter 3:9 and 10 - God wants His children to behave as He does.

Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 and 15; James 5:7-9

1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is Kind - Luke 6:35 and 36

Nehemiah 9:17 - That God did not forsake them was indeed great kindness.

Romans 2:4; Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 4:31 and 32; 2:7

The ugliness of envy stands out clearly in contrast to longsuffering and kindness. Envy is a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.

1 Corinthians 4:6 and 7 - Love does not brag and is not arrogant.

Knowledge can cause people to get puffed up. However, when knowledge is used properly, love and edification result.

5 - Does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own.

Philippians 2:2 and 3

Love Is Not Provoked - Matthew 5:38 and 39

Love Does Not Think Evil. Love rejoices not in iniquity; love rejoices in truth.

1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Corinthians 13:7 - All things according to the Word

1 Peter 4:8

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 - Love never fails; everything else comes to an end.

12 - The spiritual abilities we now have are like children’s toys compared to that which will be ours when Christ returns.

Verse 13 - Love is the greatest!

Jesus and Pharisees

1. Mark 2.16-17 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

2. Mark 3.1-6 1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

3. Matthew 23.23-26 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

what do you think when you hear the Pharisees?

- “Yeah, Jesus, give it to those no-good Pharisees”

- “I can’t stand Pharisees”

- “nothing worse than a Pharisee”

- “man, I gotta watch myself, because I don’t want to fall into that same way of thinking”

history of Pharisees

- Pharisees were the separate ones--”those who dedicated themselves to taking God and his law seriously

- Shaye Cohen:* “Practically all scholars now agree that the name “Pharisee” ...means ‘one who is separated’”

- ancient Jewish historian Josephus:** “They are extremely influential among the masses”

- Josephus:*** “[T]he Sadducees are able to persuade none but the rich...but the Pharisees have the multitude on their side.”

- not professional hypocrites

- wanted to live according to God’s commands

- which is why, they couldn’t help but looking down on the poor unwashed masses, the am ha eretz

the dark side of holiness

- it’s so easy to slip into moral superiority

- to think other’s sins are worse than your own

- as you conquer sins, and put some time between you and them,... To read the rest of the notes visit lhim.org/sermons

Three points about the Scriptures: 1) God’s Word is His will; 2) it contains everything needed for life and godliness; 3) only the humble understand it.

God’s Word is God’s will:

2 Peter 1:20 and 21 The Scriptures communicate God’s Word and will.

Galatians 1:11 and 12 Man wrote it, but God authored it. Who the man was is not important.

Numbers 22:22-38 Speak only the word that God told me

23:7-12, 18-24; 24:10-13 Even though Balaam was a spiritist, he spoke exactly what God wanted spoken.

Contains everything needed for life and godliness:

Psalm 19:7-11 God’s Word is perfect.

2 Peter 1:2 and 3 Everything pertaining to life and godliness is found in the Scriptures.

The humble understand:

Psalms 119:12, 26, 33, 66; 27:11; 86:11 Without asking Yahweh to teach you, it is impossible to understand His statutes. God’s position or laws are made known by Yahweh to those who ask for Him to teach them. His statutes are written in His Word.

Psalm 119:27, 34, 73, 125, 144, 169; Proverbs 2:6 Many have tried to read and understand but have failed because they did not ask God for understanding. Colossians 1:9-12

Psalm 119:35 and 36 “Incline” means to be drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct. Far greater than intellectual understanding is experiencing the truth in daily living. Again, this happens as we ask for help.

37 and 40 God can revive us if we turn away from vanity, and we can turn away if we ask for help (119:25, 40, 107, 149, 154, and 156). We all need to be revived, and His Word is the way to do so but not without His help.

38 The great key to reverence for Yahweh

Luke 5:14-16 -- Prayer was vital to Jesus, and he made time no matter what.

6:12 and 13 -- Before making this important selection, he spent the night in prayer.

9:16-18 -- No matter the circumstance, Jesus had the disciples pray.

Matthew 14:23 -- No matter how strained or drained he was, he prayed.

26:36-39 -- His prayer gave him the strength to do the will of God.

Matthew 21:19-22 -- Jesus dynamically illustrated the effectiveness of prayer and vigorously encouraged his disciples to pray.

Matthew 7:7-11 -- Could Jesus be any clearer? Your Lord is telling you to pray for the Father will respond.

John 14:13 and 14, 15:7; 16:23-27 -- During his last teaching before his crucifixion, he gave compelling instructions about prayer.

Matthew 6:5 and 6 -- The first thing Jesus taught is not to be a hypocrite.

7 and 8 -- The concern is not repetition, but vain repetitions because elsewhere we are encouraged to persist. When we pray, we are to engage our hearts.

9-11 -- An outline of prayer for disciples

Luke 11:1-4 -- “Lord, teach us to pray...”

11:5-13 -- Persistence

18:1-8 -- Graphic illustration to drive home the point that we are to persist

INTERCESSION (prayer for others) is one great way that everyone can serve and minister to others. We all have limits in our service, but can all pray for others.

THANKSGIVING -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18 -- “In everything give thanks.”

PETITIONS (requests) -- Philippians 4:6