Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Deuteronomy 2 - Isaiah 20 – 2 Corinthians 3 – Revelations 2

Deuteronomy 2
- They went toward the Red Sea and went around Mount Seir
- God told Moses to head north through the country of Esau, but be careful because they are afraid of you.
- They were not to contend with them because God wouldn't give them any of the people of Esau's land.
- They shall buy food and drink their using money
- They lacked nothing for 40 years because God provided
- They left land of Esau and headed into the wilderness of Moab
- God said they wouldn't get any of Moab's land either so not to fight for it.
- God had given Ar to the people of Lot.
- The Emim formally lived in Moab
- The Horites formerly lived in Seir
- God sent them over the Brook of Zered
- From Kadesh-barnea to the brook of Zered was 38 years total.
- By this time all the men from the wicked generation had died as God promised
- Then God sent them in Ammon again saying He would not give them any of this land
- This land belonged to the sons of Lot.
- Rephaim formerly lived there
- The Anakim tribe was a very tall tribe
- The Caphtorim destroyed the Avvim
- God sent them to the Valley of Arnon
- Here the Lord gave them the land of Sihon, the Amorite king of Hesbon
- From this day on God would put the fear of them into other people's hearts.
- Moses sent a messenger to Sihon with words of peace, saying they'd pass through his land and pay for food.
- God hardened the king's heart and he wouldn't let them through
- This was the Battle of Jahaz and Sihon was defeated
- They captured all the cities and destroyed everything, leaving NO survivors, not even women or children.
- They only kept the livestock as spoil.
- God gave them the cities from Aroer to Gilead
- God forbid them to take the land of the sons of Ammon by the Jabbok River

Isaiah 20
- The year that the commander in chief was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria and he captured Ashdod.
- Then God spoke the Isaiah.
- God told Isaiah to walk around naked and barefoot
- Isaiah did this for 3 years as a sign that the king of Assyria will lead away those from Egypt and Cush naked and barefoot
- They shall be ashamed because Cush was their hope and Egypt their boast.
- Those that fled to Cush and Egypt will be dismayed when those countries themselves are captured.

2 Corinthians 3
- Paul say that the people are his "letter of recommendation"
- They are a letter to those around them "written by Spirit not with ink", not on tablets but on hearts
- We aren't sufficient alone to claim anything, but our sufficiency is from God.
- God made them ministers of a new covenant
- The letter kills but the spirit gives life
- The "ministry of death" (stone tablets) came with so much glory that the people couldn't look at Moses
- The ministry of the Spirit will be even more glorious.
- Ministry of righteousness far exceeds that of condemnation.
- The stone tablet that once had "glory" now has been surpassed and now has no glory at all.
- We can be very bold because of this new hope.
- Not like Moses who veiled his face
- Their minds were hardened when they read the old covenant because only Christ can take that veil away.
- Reading about Moses = veil over your heart
- Reading about the Lord = veil removed
- The Spirit of the Lord brings freedom
- Believers can behold His glory and are being transformed into the same image from "one degree of glory to another"
- This transformation can only come from God

Revelations 2
1) John was to write to the angel of the church of Ephesus
- He knows their patient endurance and toil and how they have tested and found out false apostles.
- They have not grown weary of enduring patiently for his name's sake.
- Bad things - they have abandoned their first love
- John reminds them to remember where they have fallen from and to do the works they did at first
- Unless they repent, their lampstand will be removed
- Good Things: They hated the works of the Nicolaitans
- John encourages them to hear what is being said to the churches
- The one who conquers will eat of the tree of life
2) Written to the angel at the church in Smyrna
- written to those who have died and came to life (believers?)
- He says he knows their poverty but reminds them they they are in fact rich!
- He is also aware of slander/blasphemy of those who are in a "synagogue of Satan
- They are not to fear what they are about to suffer
- The devil will throw some in prison to be tested for 10 days under great trial.
- They should be faithful unto death and receive the crown of life.
- The one who conquers will not be burnt by the second death
3) Church of Pergamum
- Satan throne dwells close to them but they hold fast to Christ's name and didn't deny their faith.
- Antipas was a false witness among them
- Bad Things: some follow teachings of Balaam who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before Israel, so they might eat sacrifices to idols and practice sexual immorality.
- Some of them, like those in Ephesus are believing teachings of Nicolaitans.
- They need to repent or God will come against them with "the sword of His mouth"
- If they repent they will receive manna and a white stone with a new name on it that no one knows except those who receive it.
4) The Church in Thyatira
- sent by the Son of God who has fiery eyes and feet like burnished bronze
- Christ knows their love, faith, service, and patient endurance and that their works are increasing.
- Things against them: They are listening to Jezebel, a prophetess who teaches them to practice sexual immorality and eating idol food
- She refuses to repent of her sin, even though He gave her time
- Christ will throw her and those with her onto a sickbed with great tribulation unless they repent
- Her children will be struck dead
- Christ is the one who searches minds and hearts
- He will give to each as the works deserve
- Some in Thyatira do not listen to her and aren't being addressed in the warning
- He tells them to hold fast to what they do have until He comes
- Those who keep His works will have authority over nations
- He will receive the morning star, if they listen to Him
- Christ's authority comes from His Father

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