SBF Notes - The Liberator

ZECHARIAH 9:9-12

Review

3 weeks ago: Zephaniah – Prophesied in the Southern kingdom (Judah) when Josiah reigned. Judgment (The Day of the Lord) was coming universally and locally.

2 weeks ago: Zephaniah – A remnant remains that will be delivered from the judgment (Judah from Babylon, us from sin). Jesus, our warrior, saves us from judgment.

Last week: Obadiah – Babylon conquers Judah and Jerusalem. The Edomites (related to Judah through Esau and Jacob) helped Babylon so they would be judged.

Context

Set in context of whole Bible with “Kingdom of God”. King Cyrus of Persia, as prophesied 200 years before (Isa. 44:28, 45:1), conquered the Babylonians, so the Jewish nation returned, with his permission and began rebuilding the temple. We met Cyrus in Ezra. Zechariah wrote to rouse people from their indifference in building the temple. They weren’t just building for the present but for a future Messiah. After the exile God is renewing his commitment to restore Judah as his people. They will suffer more distress but in the end God will judge the oppressors and Judah will produce the Messiah.

Intro

When was the last time someone encourage you? Did it motivate you?

Verse 9

Why are they rejoicing? A king is coming! They were in exile and had no king for some time. It wasn’t just any king but one with character. They had many with bad character.

What character traits will he have? He will be righteous, victorious and humble.

How righteous? He was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15).

How victorious? He destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

How humble? He humbled himself by dying on the cross (Phil. 2:8). Why a donkey? It emphasized humility because he didn’t enter on a powerful warhorse.

Do we see this king coming in the New Testament? Matt. 21:5, John 12:15, Luke 19:28, Mark 11:4. So Zechariah’s prophecy fulfilled 500 years later.

Verses 10

What will this king do? He will bring peace. The triumphal entry on the donkey was a prophecy of his first coming. This is a prophecy of his second coming.

How far will this peace extend? From sea to sea which means not just Israel but all the nations. Euphrates was northern border of Israel but symbolic.

Verse 11

Why are the prisoners released?  Because of the covenant God had made. Applies to Israel then and us now (Mark 14:24, Matt. 26:28).

Verse 12

What is Zechariah’s encouragement? Have hope! They were still under Persian rule but they were still free. Freedom is not a location but a position. They could live in freedom even in the midst of Persian rule. We are still prisoners of this world and under the curse of sin but, in Christ, free from the power of sin. Jesus is the King who sets the prisoners free.

He is encouraging them to continue work on the temple. The temple was God’s visible presence in the midst of his people. There is therefore a distinction between those who have God and those who don’t, i.e. no temple = no God. The temple pointed to the ultimate temple – Jesus (John 1:14). He became the place where God was dwelling in our midst. He is gone so we are now “pieces” of that temple (1 Cor. 3:16). We are the place where God dwells through the Spirit. When people get saved and join the church the temple is being built (1 Peter 2:4-5). We have the privilege of participating in a construction project of the King in expanding the temple.

Apply (What now?)

What are you doing on the job site? Are you watching everyone else build or are you a builder?

Are you encouraging others by participating and encouraging each other as you work?

Our words are a powerful tool (Prov. 18:21, Prov. 12:25).

How can we encourage one another? Commend each other (wisdom, helpfulness, kindness, compassion, etc.), don’t talk down to each other (Phil. 2:3), show confidence in each other (loan them something), notice character qualities, serve people, ask advice, etc.

Pray

Thank you for setting us free. Give us strength and desire to continue the building project you have for us. Show us how we can encourage one another.    

SBF Notes - Mighty Warrior

ZEPHANIAH 3:9-17

Review

The northern kingdom (Israel) conquered by Assyria. The southern kingdom (Judah) not been conquered but influenced and were worshipping pagan gods (Molech and Baal) until Josiah found the book of the law. The prophet Zephaniah warns of a coming judgment – The Day of the Lord.

Context

Set in context of whole Bible with “Kingdom of God”.

Intro

Is there a positive or negative tone in these verses? Last week was decidedly negative. There is a glimmer of hope here.  

Verse 9

What happens to the people when they are restored? Pure speech. What proceeds from the mouth is what is in man’s heart (Matthew 12:34). He changes our speech with a changed heart.  

Verses 10-11

Beyond the rivers of Cush = South of Egypt. Would have been understood to be universal.

Supplicant = prayed to the Lord for help.

Verse 12

Where else do we see “meek” mentioned in the Bible?  Matthew 5:5 (from Psalm 37:11). Meekness is humility toward God and toward others. It is having the right or the power to do something but refraining for the benefit of someone else.

“Refuge in the name” – He delights in healing those hurt by others who place their trust in Him.

Verse 13  

What are four characteristics of the remnant? No longer do wrong (still sin but aren’t bound by it), no longer tell lies (our speech changes, Psalm 5:6), rest in Jesus (friends with the Shepherd), live without fear (he is our Protector).

Verse 14

What are four commands for the remnant to obey? Sing for joy, shout loudly (intense gratitude is hard to keep in), be glad, rejoice!

Verse 15

What will He do for the remnant? He will deliver them (Judah from Babylon, us from sin).

Verse 16-17

Why do they not have to fear? God is in their midst.

How is God described? As a warrior who rejoices over us.

Apply (What now?)

Jesus is our warrior who saves us from judgment.

Have you ever been rescued? How does it make you feel that Jesus will fight for you?

The thing to apply today is to escape while you can and bring others! The judgment over Judah by Babylon points to a final divine judgment (Acts 17:31) over us.

Pray

Give us strength to be diligent to live our lives for Christ in a world that is adamantly opposed to His name. We will suffer because of that but we have a mighty Warrior who is among us and ready to save.   

Links for Parents of Young Men (February 20)

Top 10 Books For Dads

"Conviction to Lead, The: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters" by Al Mohler is one of my favorites.

The rules

One father and his take on rules for social media for his children.

Turning Boys Into Men

Evan Lenow from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary reminds us that we need to "set an example", "be there" and "teach them".

Links For Young Men (February 19)

What Joseph Can Teach Us About Biblical Manhood

"Joseph is a hero in Scripture who points us to the Hero of Scripture. May God give us the grace to follow in his steps."

How can I become a better man?

"...we want to make use of the "means of grace" God has provided to help His people grow spiritually - and much of it involves other believers."

Alex and Brett Harris Are Doing Hard Things

"Do more than what’s required. Find a cause. Be faithful. Go against the crowd. Be better than your culture expects."

Preparation for the Lord's Day of February 22, 2015

SBF

Review last weeks lesson. 

Read - Nahum 1:1-8

What does the word "refuge" mean?

What do these verses say about God's character? 

How has God provided a way for us to take refuge in Him? 

Worship

Read - Genesis 1-3

What is fellowship?

Sermon Notes – When the Church Doesn’t Work

When the Church Doesn't Work, Acts 2:42-47, Rickey Primrose, 2/15/15

The church only works when the people of Christ continue the work of Christ by the power of Christ. As you look at this passage you see that it becomes an unstoppable force when it works properly. External forces begin to come against the church here but the church grows even more. The only thing that can stop the church is the church itself. There are three internal diseases that harm the church.

The church will not work when hypocrisy replaces humility – Acts 5:1-6

We see at the end of Acts 4 that no one is commanding them to support the church. No one is forcing them to sell their property. Their sin was pretending to be someone they were not. They were frightened that others would think they were less spiritual so they told the church they were giving more. The response was dramatic to show that the church wouldn’t grow with hypocrisy in its midst. This is often manifested when we refuse to share our struggles and put on a mask so that we won’t feel shame. We are all broken yet we act as if we are unbroken. The solution is humility and confession.

The church will not work when self-centeredness replaces Christ-centeredness – Acts 6:1

“…the disciples were increasing in number…” Change is a natural result of growth. Selfishness often follows change because many times our expectations and preferences may not change with the growth. “We were here first and our widows needs should be met first.” Two options in regards to the complaints here: they could be seeing controversy where there is none or, it could be, that there is actual favoritism taking place. Either way the disease is the same – self-centeredness. There is only one cure – Christ-centeredness. The answer is not horizontal, focusing on others needs, but vertical, focusing on Christ. The key to unity is focusing on Jesus. We don’t come as consumers of church but “consumers” of God.

The church will not work when apathy replaces passion – Acts 2:42

This may be the most dangerous of all. Everything in these verses, and throughout, talks of their passion. You could call them a lot of things but never apathetic. They “devoted themselves” – they weren't complacent. To them, church was not a “category” of life that occurred on Sundays. It was the organizing piece of their lives. They didn't make it fit with their lives. They made their life fit with the ministry of the church. They waged war on the disease of apathy.

Is there any attitude in my heart that can potentially keep this church from working? 

SBF Notes - Live It Out

NEHEMIAH 10:28-33

Review

Last week the people confessed their sins, repented and prayed for God to remain faithful. He is faithful to forgive us and restore us to Himself.

Context

After this national confession of sin the leaders and priests signed an agreement vowing faithfulness. A contract of commitment to obey God’s law detailing specific acts to demonstrate devotion which is what we are going to look at today. We see in later chapters that Nehemiah returns to the palace of Artaxerxes. He visits again to find this commitment broken with some rooms of the temple re-tasked for a pagan god.

Intro

Is it easy for you to look at other people’s lives and see what they are committed to? What does your life reflect your commitment to? It is not because of our actions that we receive grace but it is because we have received grace that our actions should be different. It is a response to that grace, not attempt to get the grace. There is a moral responsibility when we do follow Christ.

Verse 28

What two things in verse 28 identified those taking the oath? It is for those who were able to understand and had separated themselves from the surrounding peoples (the pagans that lived around Jerusalem). To make a sworn oath was serious (Gen. 14:22). To not keep it leaves one guilty before God.

Verse 29

What are they including in the oath? What kind of commitment does this show? They were going to commit themselves to the commandments (God’s directives for life and worship), ordinances (God’s judicial injunctions) and statutes (laws of the legitimate ruler).

Verse 30

Why was it necessary for them to marry only those people within their nation? It begins with relationships. This is not an issue of race or culture. The point was to remain spiritually pure. This is not about ethnic differences but spiritual loyalty. It increased pagan influence and diluted the pure faith of families.

Do you know of leaders in the Old Testament who intermarried? What were the consequences? Solomon. Many of these people had already married outside their faith (Nehemiah 13:28).

What does this say to us today? We are not of the Jewish nation? We are not to date or marry those who are not Christians. Marry only those with the same beliefs.

Verse 31

What were they committing themselves to regarding the Sabbath? They committed not to purchase merchandise, or grain, or other commerce on any holy day. Without customers the pagan merchants would be forced to withdraw. They also committed to leaving the land uncultivated in the seventh year (Ex. 23:10-11) and cancelling every debt in that year (Deut. 15:1-2). They were showing faith that God would provide their needs reflecting their commitment to God.

Verses 32-33

What does it mean when it says they were going to impose commandments on themselves? What were they going to do? They were going above and beyond to show it wasn’t about them but God. When our view is that we owe Him everything then our lives and commitment will reflect that. When our view is that He owes us something then our lives reflect that also.  They gave an eighth of an ounce of silver.

Apply (What now?)

Our lives will reflect the truth we are committed to. Live it out.

If someone were to follow you for one week, what would they say you are committed to? What needs to change in your life for people to know that you are a follower of Christ? Remember, it isn’t performance that makes us right with God but what we do shows what we value. If we don’t value Him have our lives really been changed?  

What does a committed life look like?

First, acknowledge the fact that you are a wretch – a desperate sinner through and through.

Second, embrace the fact that we are justified before God solely on the merit of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross in our place for our sins and was raised from the dead three days later for our redeemed life (1 Cor. 15:1–3).

Third, ask God to convict you in the areas of your life where grace still needs to do its work.

Fourth, realize that growth in holiness is impossible in our own strength. The grace that justifies us is more than mere legal cleansing; it sanctifies us as well, teaching us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:12). Ask Him to change your heart desires. A good test is your reactions, not just your actions. “Spontaneous emotional responses are not morally neutral; they reveal the conditions of our hearts. When we spontaneously respond in rage to the rude driver, in condemnation to the fallen saint, or in lust to the attractive woman, we reveal that the agendas of our hearts are not as aligned with God as they should be.” (Gerald Hiestand)

“We are not our own. We bear the image of another, and the ownership of that image belongs to him. We must not act in ways that are inconsistent with the character of the one we portray. We must remember that every part of us, including our sexuality, has a higher purpose than merely our own pleasure, for every part of us was created primarily to image forth the glory of God. Life has a higher purpose than our autonomous satisfaction.” (Gerald Hiestand)

Pray

Show us the things that need to change in our lives. Give us the strength to walk away from relationships that are not spiritually healthy for us. We can’t do this in our own strength but only yours.