May I have a WORD with you?

References:

• Geographical and Ethno-Historical Context
  • Who were the Galatians?
    • The cities of Galatia
      • Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, etc.
      • Modern day Turkey
    • The people of Galatia
      • Stereotyped as brave, impulsive and superstitious
      • Foolish - ἀνόητος (an-o'-ay-tos) 3:1
  • Acts 13-15 - a new world for God’s Chosen people.
    • 13: Consider Saul’s (Paul’s, vs 9) command of the Scriptures
      • Acts 13:10 - Gen 3:15
      • Pay attention to the footnotes. Paul references or quotes from Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim TaNaK
    • 14: Consider the works of power through the Spirit
      • Vs 3 - God proved their message by the signs and wonders
      • Vss 8-12 - Paul heals a man crippled from birth and the people think he and Barnabas are Greek gods!
    • 15: I side with Galatians written before Council
      • Before Acts 15 (Early Date, c. AD 48-49)
      • The Council’s decision aligned with Paul’s argument in Galatians
• Galatians 1:1-10 - Greetings and the Gospel
  • Vss 1-5
    • Vs 1 - Paul’s credentials
    • Vs 2 - the community who care
    • Vss 3-5 - Blessing, truth and praise
  • Vss 6-10
    • Vss 6-7 - Paul’s dismay at the actions of the Galatians
      • Turning away - μετατίθημι (met-at-ith'-ay-mee)
      • Gospel - εὐαγγέλιον (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on)
      • Twist - μεταστρέφω (met-as-tref'-o)
    • Vss 8-9 - ἀνάθεμα (an-ath'-em-ah)
    • Vs 10 - Paul is not pulling punches

References:

• Romans 1:16-17
  • Gospel - εὐαγγέλιον (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on)
    • A reward for good tidings - see 2 Samuel 4
    • Good tidings - 2 Samuel 18
    • Mark 1:14-15 - the good news about
    • Philippians 1:5-27 - 7X in 22 vss
  • Not Ashamed - ἐπαισχύνομαι (ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee)
    • The world’s opposition to the Gospel
    • Unashamedness
• Galatians 1-2
  • Another Gospel?
  • False Gospel μεταστρέφω (met-as-tref'-o)
    • turning 2X - Acts 2 quoting Joel, James 4:9
    • Corrupted, twisted, distorted - Gal 1:7 
• 1 Thess 1:4-7
  • Power in suffering
  • vs 6 - joy with trouble, affliction, severe suffering
• Justification - Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession
  • “We teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who by His death has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God accounts as righteousness in His sight, Rom. 3 and 4.”
  • Solas - by grace alone, through faith alone, according to the Word of God alone (two others)
  • Grace - God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
    • Mercy - not to receive what I deserve
    • Grace - to receive what I don’t deserve

References:

• The Command - Isaiah 55:6-7
  • Seek - imperative (command)
  • Call - also imperative
  • Steps of repentance
    • The urgency of “while you can find Him,” and “while He is near.”
      • If you feel far from God, who moved?
      • He will never leave or forsake
    • Forsaking of wicked ways - see ESV
    • Banishing of evil thoughts - see NLT
    • Receiving the abundantly generous forgiveness
• Our Transcendant God - Isa 55:8-9
  • Reality Check - don’t project your constraints, opinions or hurts onto God
    • Thoughts - מַחֲשָׁבָה (makh-ash-aw-baw')
      • Gen 6:5
      • 1 Chron 28:9
      • Ps 94:5-12 MSG
    • Higher - גָּבַהּ  (gaw-bah')
      • Exalted - God’s ways
      • Haughty - human ways
  • The Majesty of Mystery
    • We squirm when God and God’s ways don’t make sense to us.
    • But rejoice that God’s mercy and forgiveness are so far above our ability to be merciful and forgiving
• God’s Word is Powerful!
  • Agricultural example
    • As rain and snow are to physical life
    • So is God’s word to spiritual life
  • Promised Power
    • It produces fruit
    • It accomplishes God’s intended purpose
      • God is not into idle talk
      • His words are intentional
  • Purposeful Sending
    • It is prosperous
• Application Challenge:
  • This week, identify one "thought" or "way" that you need to surrender to God's "higher way." 
  • Spend one minute each morning reading these six verses slowly, asking God to let His Word "water" your heart like rain on dry ground.
  • Then spend another four minutes reading a paragraph or two in the New Testament. 
  • See what fruit comes in your life from the practice

References:

• Grief, suffering, hardship, pain… These are not signs of God’s abandonment or condemnation.
  • Romans 8:35, 37-39
    • Counter cultural 
    • The promise that allows people of faith to grieve differently
  • Paul’s last letter, near the end of his life (martyrdom)
• 2 Timothy 2:1-14
  • The reality of discipleship
    • What witness do you bear when you are suffering?
    • Endurance - κακοπαθέω (kak-op-ath-eh'-o)
      • to suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles), to be afflicted
      • Used 4 times in NT
        • 3X in 2 Tim
        • 1X in James 5:13
  • Three images, metaphors
    • Soldier - command and obedience
    • Athlete - coach and training
    • Farmer - bearing fruit and receiving the blessing
    • Vs 7 - Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
  • The trustworthy saying - vs 11-13
    • If we die with Him… - baptism?
    • If we endure hardship… - the Christian witness?
    • If we deny Him… - a full comprehension of and rejection of grace?
    • If we are faithless… - even when I can’t trust Him, He remains trustworthy.
  • 2 Tim 2:14’s words!
    • λογομαχέω (log-om-akh-eh'-o) logomachy
      • Logomachy - a dispute, argument, or "war of words" centered on the meaning, usage, or interpretation of words rather than on substantial issues.
      • A compound of logos (words) and machomai (strive or fight)
      • A NT hapax legomenon
    • καταστροφή (kat-as-trof-ay') catastrophe
      • In 2 Timothy 2:14 and
      • 2 Peter 2:6
• 2 Timothy 4:9-18
  • Paul is suffering
  • But not despairing
  • What about you and me?

References:

• Still being in the season of Easter I wanted to share with you some powerful insights the Lord laid on my heart that I shared with people at our late Good Friday Service.
  • Reading the Passion According to St John 18:1-19:42
  • Three images of power
    • John 18:3-9
    • John 19:5-11
    • John 19:25-27
• The display of worldly power met by True Power
  • As the contingent arrived with torches, clubs and weapons, Jesus “stepped forward.”
  • Jesus interrogated this group, “who are you looking for?”
  • When they said Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus said 
    • “I Am.” - Ἐγώ εἰμι - ego eimi
    • Moses asking God at the burning bush “Who should I say sent me?” God responded with “I Am that I Am. Tell them ‘I Am’ sent you.”
    • At Jesus’ declaration of the divine name, the one’s who thought they had all the power were defeated, knocked over.
• The person who had the worldly power in that entire region is corrected by the I Am with all the real power.
  • Pilate brings the scourged, abused, bloodied, thorn crowned Jesus out to the people following the strong-arming of the soldiers.
  • The religious leaders say Jesus deserves to die because He claimed to be “son of god.”
    • I put son and god in lower case to suggest how Pilate may have heard these words.
    • That would have reminded him of how the Roman Emperor would take the name “divi filius,” Latin for son of god.
    • Pilate plays his last power card.
      • Don’t you realize I have the authority to set you free or crucify you?
      • Jesus corrects Pilate. You have no authority except what has been given to you from My Father.
• In Jesus’ final sayings from the cross He demonstrates the power to still obey His Father by keeping the 5th of the 10 commandments.
  • Honor your father and mother.
  • Jesus saw to the completion of His obedience by entrusting John with it’s fulfillment.
  • He calls us to fulfill His love for others by the new commandment to love others as we’ve been loved by Jesus.

References:

• The Passover is a time when Jewish households do a thourough cleaning of the home to be sure all leaven is removed.
  • Deep Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned, including searching for and removing all crumbs of chametz.
  • Symbolism: This process represents cleaning out the spiritual "leaven" (pride or sin) from within.
  • Bedikat Chametz: A ritual search for the remaining leaven occurs on the night before Passover, followed by burning the collected items.
• Jesus told his disciples to “beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees.”
  • Matthew 16:1-12 - v 6: προσέχω (pros-ekh'-o)
    • to bring to, bring near
      • to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive
      • give attention to, take heed
      • to devote thought and effort to
  • 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - ζύμη (dzoo'-may)
    • leaven
    • metaph. of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendency to infect others
    • See also Gal 5:2-10
• Jesus also used ζύμη to teach about the Kingdom of heaven (God). Matthew 13:33 & Luke 13:20-21
  • The Kingdom is like… a simile (yeast in dough) 
  • Only used here in Mt and Lk σάτον (sat'-on) - measure
    • a kind of dry measure, 3 gallons (14 litres)
    • 14 liters of all-purpose flour is approximately equal to 16.33 pounds.
    • 50 lbs of flour!!! Jesus is making a point here.
  • Think: the dough is our world represented by the 50 lbs of flour, and God’s Kingdom spreads through it all as represented by the leaven. 
• So, beware, but be aware.

References:

• The “Holy”
  • Holy - ἅγιος (hag'-ee-os): most holy thing, a saint
    • 229 times in 219 vss in NT
    • Often associated with the Spirit (Holy Spirit)
    • Sometimes with places
      • The holy city, being Jerusalem
      • The Holiest place in the tabernacle 
      • The Holy of holies in the Temple (Heb 9)
  • Hagiography vs damnatio memoriae
  • The Holy “Triduum” -  not a Biblical word. Latin for three days (Maundy Thu, Good Fri, Holy Sat)
• History that impacted our history of the Holy Triduum
  • The Gospel’s story in relation to the Passion Narratives
    • Matthew - 28.6%
      • Total chapters = 28
      • Chapters focused on Holy Week = 8
    • Mark - 37.5%
      • Total Chapters = 16
      • Chapters focused on Holy Week = 6
    • Luke - 23%
      • Total Chapters = 24
      • Chapters focused on Holy Week = 5.5
    • John - 47.6%
      • Total Chapters = 21
      • Chapters focused on Holy Week = 10
    • All total, the narrative of the last week of Jesus’ life through the resurrection makes up over one third of the total Gospel witness.
    • Many scholars have quipped that the Gospels are about the last week of Jesus’ ministry with an extended introduction.
  • The Early Church (1st–3rd Century)
  • The Fourth Century Expansion
  • Medieval Shifts
  • 20th Century on
• Theological Significance
  • The Counting of the "Three Days": Following the Jewish liturgical tradition, a day begins at sunset.
    • Day 1: Thursday evening (The Last Supper, foot washing and the “new” command).
    • Day 2: Friday evening (Crucifixion, death and burial).
    • Day 3: Saturday (Quiet, waiting, pause).
  • Continuous Liturgy: Liturgically, it is treated as one event. 
    • There is no final blessing on Holy Thursday
    • No opening greeting on Good Friday. 
    • The comemoration that begins Thursday evening does not formally conclude until the end of the Easter Vigil.
• Application
  • 1. Holy Thursday (The Lord's Last Supper, Holy Communion )
  • 2. Good Friday (Celebration of the Lord's Passion)
  • 3. Holy Saturday & The Easter Vigil

References:

• Review
  • Setting and background/context of Joel
  • Structure
    • Poem 1 - 1:1-20
    • Poem 2 - 2:1-17
    • God’s response - 2:18-27
      • God will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21
      • God will restore the land - 2:22-26
      • God will dwell with His people - 2:27
    • THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16
• THE Day of the Lord in three mirrored parts begins with God’s presence
  • God with us - 2:28-32 (Chapter 3 in the Hebrew text)
    • “I will pour out my Spirit…” 
      • Not just fill the Temple, but …
      • Upon all people: young & old, male & female, sons and daughters & servants
      • Old will dream, young will prophesy & see visions
    • Acts 2, Pentecost and the beginning of the end
    • Cosmic signs, including a blood moon (3/3)
      • blood and fire and columns of smoke
      • ἡμέρα (hay-mer'-ah) יוֹם (yome)  
        • a day
        • any part of a day (thus three days could be one whole day and a part of the day before and after)
        • of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom
    • Salvation for those who call on the Name (Yahweh)
  • God will confront evil - Joel 3:1-16
    • Vss 1-8 - The word of the Lord against those who oppose God and God’s people
    • Vss 9-16 - a poetic picture of God’s judgement on evil
      • Compare v 10 with Isa 2:4 and Micah 4:3-4
      • Compare v 13 with Isa 63:3-6 and Rev 14:19-20
  • Restoration of everything - Joel 3:17-21
    • Compare v 18 with Ez 47, Zech 14 and Rev 22
• Conclusion

References:

• Review
  • Setting and background/context of Joel
  • Structure
    • Poem 1 - 1:1-20
    • Poem 2 - 2:1-17
    • God’s response - 2:18-27
    • THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16
• Joel 2:18-19 - God will take pity
  • A turning point - upon repentance God shows love for the land and His people
  • Answered prayer - grain, wine, oil = satisfaction
  • Shame removed - the surrounding nations that once mocked Israel will be silenced
• God’s response in three parts
  • God will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21
    • From the north? Assyria? Babylon? 
      • Northern armies   צָפוֹן  (tsef-o-nee') from   צְפוֹנִי(tsaw-fone')  
        • The call of Jeremiah Jer 1:13-14
        • Calling the northern kingdom (Israel) back Jer 3:11-13
      • possibly how people moved along the fertile crescent.
    • Into the eastern sea and the western sea (Dead & Mediterranean) - meaning complete victory
    • The stench of death as a great reminder
      • Stink בְּאשׁ (be-oshe') foul odor
      • Stench צַחֲנָה (tsakh-an-aw') only here in Joel 
      • Poetic way of saying total annihilation of the enemy  
  • God will restore the land - 2:22-26
    • Restoration to the animals and trees
    • Restoration to the threshing floor and wine & olive presses
    • Restoration of what the locusts stole (remember four locusts from 1:4
      • Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)
      • Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OT
      • Locust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locust
      • Locust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') 
  • God will dwell with His people - 2:27

References:

• Review
  • Setting and background/context of Joel
  • Structure
    • Poem 1 - 1:1-20
    • Poem 2 - 2:1-17
    • God’s response - 2:18-27
    • THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16
• 2nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17
  • Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11
    • The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far')
    • The Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalom
    • Descriptions of the judgement forces
      • We’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (think Rev 9)
      • What to think of current events in light of these prophetic words?
    • God’s army - 2:11
      • The Lord is the One pronouncing judgement
      • The Day of the Lord is a terrible thing
      • Who can survive?
  • A call to repentance - 2:12-14
    • Repent while there is time
    • Rend not clothing (an outward show) but hearts (an inward sorrow for sin)
    • God’s character (2:13)
      • Ex 34:6
      • Psalm 103:8
    • God’s mystery (2:14) “who knows” 🤷
  • An act of repentance - calling out to the lord - 2:15-17
    • The shofar again, this time not for warning but for assembly
    • Gather ALL people - see description in MSG
    • Pray: spare your people O Lord