The Knew Kingdom: August 2007

Acts 14:1-28

Acts 14:1-28

Iconium (14:1-7)
~ They went to the Jewish Synagogues
~ They spoke effectively and a great number believed
~ Some Jews stirred up opposition to the missionaries
~ Signs & wonders confirmed the message
~ The message brought division to the city
~ The missionaries fled a plot to stone them
~ The missionaries continued to preach the good news

Lystra & Derbe (14:8-21)
~ Paul commanded a faithful cripple to stand, and he did
~ There was a significant matter of miscommunication
in that the people believed they were gods
~ The missionaries had to teach in order to straighten
out the confusion that resulted from the miracle
~ God has nowhere left Himself without testimony
~ Some Jews traveled to stir up the crowds
~ Despite previously thinking he was a god, the people
stoned Paul and left him for dead
~ Paul was alive and ministered 1 more day in Lystra
~ Their preaching won a large number of disciples in Derbe

Follow-Up & Other Church Plants (14:22-28)
~ These 3 stops were to strengthen the disciples
~ They encouraged them to stay true despite hardships
~ They appointed elders in each church
~ They committed these new believers to the Lord
~ They preached the word in Perga
~ They sailed back to Antioch and shared of their journey
~ Their report focused on the open door to gentiles
~ They stayed in Antioch for a long time

Acts 13:1-52

Acts 13:1-52

Antioch: The ‘Missions’ Church (13:1-3)
1. It was an ethnically diverse church
~ Barnabas was from Cyprus
~ Simeon was probably from Africa
~ Lucius was from Cyrene
~ Manaen was probably from Rome
~ Saul was from Tarsus
2. They were active in short-term missions
~ They were fasting for more
~ They were listening for the Spirit
~ They were willing to let go of their people

Cyprus (13:4-12)
1st Stop: Salamis
~ They went to the Jewish Synagogues
~ They proclaimed the word of God
~ We aren’t told of the people’s reaction
2nd Stop: Paphos (capital city of Cyprus)
~ Having traveled through the island, they came to Paphos
~ Rebuked a Jewish false-prophet (Bar-Jesus)
~ Converted the proconsul (Sergius Paulus)

Pisidian Antioch (13:13-52)
3rd Stop: Pisidian Antioch
~ They went to the Jewish Synagogue
~ They waited until they were invited to speak
~ He recounted Israel’s history w/Jesus as the climax
~ Most of the people responded very positively
~ Some Jews were jealous and criticized the message
~ The region was reached, but persecution pursued

Psalms 3-7

PSALM 3
~ Written by David when he fled from Absalom
~ Historical context found in 2 Samuel 15-19

Categories of Opposition
1. Your enemies gang-up on you
2. Your allies turn against you
3. Your spiritual status is questioned

Combating Opposition
1. Depend on God to defend you
2. Maintain honest communication with God
3. Truly cast your cares to Him (be at peace)
4. Let God be the Judge of the wicked

PSALM 4
~ Written by David for the Director of Music
~ Probably written soon after Psalm 3

How to Pray for your Enemies
1. Pray that they will see their sin
2. Pray that they will sense their separation
3. Pray that they will search their hearts
4. Pray that they will sacrifice their will
5. Pray that they will seek the Lord

PSALM 5
~ Written by David for the Director of Music

The Wicked (arrogant, liars, etc)…
1. Cannot dwell in God’s presence
2. Are destroyed by God’s judgment
3. Cannot be trusted b/c they speak lies
4. Are in rebellion against God

The Righteous (humble, dependant, etc)…
1. Come into God’s presence with humility
2. Are given direction from the Lord
3. Can be glad as they sing for joy
4. Are in the favor of God

PSALM 6
~Written by David for the Director of Music

3 Steps to Overcoming Obstacles
1. Recognize that you need mercy too
2. Cry out for the mercy that you need
3. Trust in the Lord for deliverance

PSALM 7
~ Written by David when he was falsely accused
~ Historical context found in 1 Samuel 24:9-11

How to respond to false accusations
1. Let God defend you
2. Check your heart
3. Look forward & Pray for Divine justice
4. Recognize the justice that you see daily
5. Praise God no matter what

Acts 11:19-12:25

Acts 11:19-12:25

‘Christians’ in Antioch (11:19-30)

1. They were reached by men outside their comfort zone
2. They placed their faith in the Lord
3. They were discipled by Barnabas & Saul
4. They were set apart from the rest of Antioch
5. They began to give back to the larger church

Peter’s Prison Break (12:1-17)

1. Herod killed James, one of the 12 Disciples
2. Herod arrested Peter, the key leader in the early church
3. The Church was praying earnestly for Peter
4. Peter escaped from prison w/help of an angel
5. Peter shared the story of his prison break

Herod’s Death (12:18-25)

1. Herod executed the guards who had ‘lost’ Peter
2. Herod was struck by the Lord when he accepted worship
3. But the word of God continued to increase & spread

Esther 5-7

Whereas chapter 1 & 2 ended with 2 Jews in good situations...
1) Esther as queen
2) Mordecai as yet unrewarded for revealing a conspiracy against the King

Whereas chapter 3 & 4 ended with 2 Jews in bad situations...
1) Mordecai being the primary target of a decree to wipe out all Jews
2) Esther having to approach the King without being summoned

What comes next, in chapter 5-7, is surely the climax
Which set of situations will win out? Good or Bad?
The fate of Post-Exilic Israel lies in the balance

The problem of approaching the King without being summoned is quickly resolved, in chapter 5, when the King extends his golden scepter to Esther and asks what her request is. Esther, though, delays in telling him her motivations opting, instead, to invite he & Haman to a banquet. But even at the banquet, Esther again delays communicating her intentions, and invites them to yet another banquet the following day. We are not told Esther's reasoning for delaying. Some of the possible explanations are as follows:

1) Delaying communicated the gravity of the situation
2) Delaying expanded the time for prayer & fasting among the Jews
3) Delaying was due to fear, nervousness, etc
4) Delaying was the result of a leading from God

Whatever the reason, the delay has powerful results so far as the story is concerned. In the interim of the 2 banquets, Haman brags to family & friends about his wealth, sons, honor, position & prestige. Despite all of these worldly riches, though, Haman admits his misery of the fact that a lone Jew (Mordecai) still refuses to kneel before him (5:10, 13). His wife Zeresh suggests that a prominent gallows be built (and permission be asked) to hang Mordecai. Haman, believing that the elimination of Mordecai would deliver him from misery so that he could fully enjoy the banquet, liked the idea and couldn't wait to seek permission from the King.

That same night, the King could not sleep and requested a servant to read to him from the chronicles of his reign. In the course of the night, the reader read the event in which Mordecai had saved the Kings life. The king asked and discovered that Mordecai had never been rewarded for this great service to the king. Wanting to reward Mordecai, King Xerxes asked if any of his officials were in the palace court. Haman, having arrived to ask permission to hang Mordecai, was summoned to the King's presence.

Xerxes asked Haman how a man in whom the King delights should be honored. Haman, of course, imagines that the King must be talking about him and so shares his ideal vision for the reward he himself would like to receive. But when the King reveals that it is Mordecai that is to be honored, a shamed Haman is forced to parade Mordecai through the city streets, praising him for a job well done. Subsequently, Haman returns to his home with his head covered in grief. His advisers and wife were convinced that this turn of events was just the beginning of Haman's downfall, but before long Haman was summoned the the banquet.

At this point, Esther is finally ready to share her reason for initially seeking the King's presence. She informs the King of a plot to kill all her people. The King is enraged and demands to know who is behind such a scheme. Esther reveals that it is, indeed, their dining partner, Haman! (Neither Haman or the King had previously known that Esther was Jewish). As the King deliberated on what to do next, Haman begged the Queen for mercy. But the King, upon returning, interpreted his begging as a further attempt to harm the queen. Haman's fate was sealed. As fate would have it, a Eunuch recommended that Haman be hanged on a newly built gallows (the one Haman himself had made for Mordecai). The King agreed. Haman was hanged. The King's fury subsided.

From these 3 chapters I see 3 key truths of God

1) Prayer produces providence
The unmentioned collective character of these 3 chapters is the body of Israel, fasting and praying for the situation. Who knows how many hundreds or thousands of Jews were intensely fasting (no food OR water, fasting day AND night) during this time. Whatever the number, their prayers seem to have been met with various instances of the provinces of God.

More than mere Coincidence
~ The King was pleased with Esther, even though she hadn't been summoned
~ Esther's delay provides time for Haman to, basically, set himself up (Ps. 7:15)
~ The King could not sleep that night
~ The specific story of Mordecai being unrewarded was read to him
~ Haman was the official present to imagine up a reward
~ Haman was the official selected to parade Mordecai through the streets
~ Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had had built

2) Worldy Wealth Won't Satisfy
Haman had an incredible amount of worldly wealth, but the fact the 1 lone Jew wouldn't kneel before him made him miserable.

3) Justice eventually Reigns
Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. In a sense, this was the reverse situation of the cross. The cross had been prepared for a wicked man (Barabbas), but ended up being the means of death for an innocent man (Jesus). This gallows was prepared for an innocent man (Mordecai), but ended up being the means of death for a wicked man (Haman). Whereas the cross was the great injustice of all-time, the story of Haman's death is one of the greatest cases of divine and ironic justice in history.

Esther 3-4

The first 2 chapters concluded with 2 Jews as the victors
1. Mordecai successfully saving the King's life
2. Esther successfully becoming the new Queen

So far so good! But, as expected, that's when things took a turn for the worse. The introduction, into the story, of Haman is significant insofar as he is an Agagite (Amalekite). The history between the Amalekites and Israel was one of conflict. The Amalekites had attacked Israel as they came out of Egypt for no apparent reason, inviting God's judgment. Israel's 1st King (Saul) was told to annihilate the Amalekites, but kept their King alive (1 Samuel 15). Through it all, some Amalekites, apparently, survived the years up to the days of Esther.

In fact, it is worth noting that there is a reversal of sorts in chapter 3. King Saul was a Benjamite/Israelite told to annihilate all Amalekites. Haman was an Amalekite wanting to annihilate mordecai (a Benjamite) and all of Israel. The conflicted history, quite certainly, had much to do with the actions of Mordecai & Haman in chapter 3. When everyone was supposed to kneel before Haman, Mordecai would not. This was not so much b/c Jews refused to bow in respect to foreign leaders (they didn't necessarily refuse this), but more likely because Haman was an Amalekite. When Haman, about to punish Mordecai, discovers that he is Jewish, he promptly decides to punish all of Israel!

Haman proceeded to convince King Xerxes that annihilation of the Jews was necessary because of their 1) different customs and 2) disobedience to the king's laws. There was some truth in these statements, but mixed with deception as the Jews were not really a threat to the Persian Empire. By the time the decree was written, about 11 months remained to the Jewish Massacre, which was to be as complete (3:13) as the massacre of the Amalekites was supposed to have been in Saul's day (1 Samuel 15:3).

As knowledge of the decree spread throughout the Empire, Jews, obviously, began to mourn and cry out to God and for justice. Esther, though a Jew herself and married to the King, was oblivious to the decree and wondered why her relative Mordecai was so troubled. Mordecai reported back to Esther, through her servant, the information about the decree and urged Esther to confront the King regarding this issue. But Esther was reluctant b/c Persian Law forbid anyone from approaching the King without being summoned. In the next round of dialogue, though, Mordecai convinced Esther to take the risk, reminding her that it may be by God's providence alone that she had arrived a such a pivotal position in the Empire at such a pivotal time in Jewish history. Esther, and all the Jews, began to fast and pray.

Whereas the first 2 chapters ended with good news for Mordecai & Esther
The second 2 chapters end with all Jewish lives in the balance

Acts 9:32-11:18

Acts 9:32 – 11:18

The Healings of Aeneas & Dorcas (9:32-43)

1. Aeneas was healed of paralysis in Lydda (9:32-35)
~ male believer
~ inactive for, at least, 8 years
~ resulted in many turning to the Lord
2. Dorcas was healed of death in Joppa (9:36-42)
~ female believer
~ active in good works, aid to poor
~ resulted in many believing in the Lord

The Visions of Cornelius & Peter (10:1-16)

1. Cornelius saw an Angel in Caesarea (10:1-8)
~ Praying Gentile
~ Full-time Centurion for Rome
~ Commanded to get Peter
2. Peter saw animals/reptiles/birds descending from heaven
~ Praying Jew
~ Full-time Apostle for Christ
~ Commanded to eat animals which he considered ‘unclean’

The Fulfillment of the Vision (10:17-48)

1. Peter didn’t understand the vision at first (10:17-22)
2. Peter began to understand that God loves Gentiles (10:23-33)
3. Peter presented the Gospel to the Gentiles (10:34-43)
4. Peter witnessed them being Spirit-filled & Baptized (10:44-48)
5. Peter shared God’s work with the Jewish believers (11:1-18)

Psalm 2

PSALM 2
~ Often sung at the crowning a new king

1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."

New Kings face external & internal resistance
~ The Nations/Kings represent the Gentiles
~ The Peoples/Rulers represent the Jews
The Reason for Rebellion is self-will

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

God is already the King where it counts
Any opposed to the true King face wrath
God had/has installed a King on earth

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

God & His Anointed share a special relationship
~ The Anointed can accomplish God-sized goals
~ The Anointed can access God-sized power

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

The Gentiles & Jews should reconsider rebellion
~ They should serve the Lord with fear
~ They should rejoice with trembling
~ They should seek right-relations to the Son

Psalm 2 in the life of David
~ David was anointed by God as King
~ David faced external & internal resistance
~ David accomplished God-sized goals
~ David accessed God-sized power

Psalm 2 in the life of Christ
~ Christ was anointed by God as King
~ Christ faced external & internal resistance
~ Christ accomplished God-sized goals
~ Christ accessed God-sized power

New Testament Quotations of Psalm 2
~ Acts 4:23-31, 13:32-37
~ Hebrews 1:1-5, 5:4-5
~ Revelation 2:26-27

Psalm 1

PSALM 1

1 Blessed is the man
who does not
walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

Blessed means better off
God is no respecter of persons

Slippery Slope of Wickedness
Sit-------Allow evil
Stand----Support evil
Walk----Participate in evil

Way(s) of the World
1. Deism
2. Naturalism
3. Nihilism
4. Existentialism
5. Pantheism
6. New-Age-ism
7. Postmodernism

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

8. Judeo-Christian Theism
Planted
Prepared
Persisting
Prosperous

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked
will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches
over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Wicked
Everything they have is visible
Everything they have is individual
Everything they have is destructible

Psalms

Below you'll find study notes through the Psalms

Acts 9:1-31

Acts 9:1-31

Who was Saul? (9:1-2)

1. Saul was a well educated Jew
2. Saul was a strict Pharisee
3. Saul was an antagonist against the early church
* How were YOU different before you came to Christ?

What Happened? (9:3-9)

1. He heard the voice of Jesus
2. He was given a command by Jesus
3. He was blinded
* What was YOUR conversion experience like?

What was Ananias’ Role? Barnabas? (9:10-19, 27)

1. He had ears to hear the Lord’s plan
2. He wasn’t afraid to ask a good question
3. He was willing to obey despite danger
* Who played a vital role in YOUR conversion?

Saul’s Early Ministry (9:20-31)

1. He waited for Jesus to do something (9:9, 12, 19)
2. He preached boldly that Jesus was the Son/Christ
3. He had to deal with death threats & his past
* How did YOUR life change after conversion?

Esther 1-2

The story of Esther takes place during the Persian Empire, the reign of Xerxes
Chronologically, it is placed b/w Zechariah's final prophecies & Ezra's leadership

From 1:1 - 2:4, we read nothing of Israel/Jews

Profile: Xerxes
--Head of Persian
--Ruler of 127 provinces from India to Cush (upper nile)
--Reigned from citadel of Susa
--Hosted extravagant 180 day banquet for all his officials
--Hosted a 7 day banquet afterwards
--His queen, Vashti, held a parallel banquet for the women
--Xerxes demanded that Vashti showcase her beauty at his banquet
--Vashti refused

Why did Vashti refuse?
1. For a woman to stand before men other than her husband went against her culture
2. He made his request in a drunken state
3. She may have been pregnant

Fearing that the other women of the Empire would follow Vashti's disobedience, she was put away at the suggestion of Xerxes legal experts. Later, however, Xerxes remembered Vashti and a search was made for a new queen. All the beautiful young virgins of the empire were to be brought to Susa as candidates. One such girl, already living in Susa, was named Esther. She gained the favor of the official Hegai. Her relative, Mordecai, forbid her to reveal her Jewish identity. Upon being presented to the King, Esther was selected as the new Queen. Meanwhile, Mordecai discovered a plot to kill Xerxes and reported it, saving the King's life.

Chapter 2 concludes with 2 Jews as the victors
1. Mordecai successfully saving the King's life
2. Esther successfully becoming the new Queen

Acts 8:4-40

Acts 8:4-40

Review (Acts 1-7)
1. Jesus ascended
2. Holy Spirit came
3. Peter led
4. Stephen stoned

Turning Point (Acts 8:1-3)
1. Saul introduced (8:1)
2. Believer’s Scattered (8:2)
3. Intense Persecution (8:3)

Philip (Acts 8:4-40)
1. We first met Philip as one of the seven (Acts 6:5)
2. Fleeing persecution, he proclaimed Christ in Samaria (4-5)
3. He performed miracles, creating an attentive crowd (6-7)
4. People were baptized under his ministry (12-13)

Simon (Acts 8:9-25)
A. He was a prominent sorcerer (8:9-11)
B. He and his followers became believers (8:12-13)
C. His previous ‘magic’ was either
~Skill/Sleight of hand
~Satanic
D. He thought he could buy the gift of God (14-21)
E. He, seemingly, repented of this wicked mindset (22-25)

5. He received communication from the Lord (26-29)
6. He led an Ethiopian official to baptism in the Lord (30-38)
7. He preached all the way to Caesarea (39-40)
8. He had 4 un-married daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9)

The Problem of Pain

The Problem of Pain is a major reason for atheism, agnosticism & doubt amongst Christians
The Problem of Pain is the #1 question people want to ask God
The Problem of Pain is both theological and personal
--If God is all-good & all-powerful, why pain?

Are there answers?

Charles Templeton said no
--1945, emerging evangelist
--Time Magazine cover
--1949 urged his friend to abandon faith

Henrietta Mears said yes
--1949 urged same friend to keep the faith

Mutual friend: Billy Graham
--Made decision to trust God & pursue understanding regarding the Problem of Pain

3 Keys to Surviving the Problem of Pain

GO WITH GOD THROUGH YOUR PAIN
* Templeton walked away ("cannot")

3 Objections

1. God CANNOT exist alongside the Problem of Pain
--Pain actually points to God's existence (standard, cookie illustration)
--Atheists don't do the reverse (believe upon 'good' news)

2. Why didn't God create a PERFECT world?
--He did create a 'very good' world
--4 options (no world, all good (robots), all bad, free will)
--How would you choose as a parent?

3. How can He just watch from heaven?
--He did not just watch from heaven but came down (Galatians 4:4)

*God is very honest about pain, with us through our pain
** Go WITH God, like Job

GROW THROUGH YOUR PAIN
* Henrietta Mears "My failing eyesight has been my greatest blessing"

God doesn't CAUSE pain
God does ALLOW pain for a PURPOSE

Very simple concept (work, exercise, athletes, pregnancy)
God simply does this on a larger scale (bear in a trap)

(Lay person interviews: What pain? Initial Reaction? What good has come from it?)

--2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (or the Story of Joseph)
--Cross: worst AND best event in history
--CS Lewis quote "God shouts in our pain"
--1 Peter 1:7

KNOW YOUR FUTURE THROUGH PAIN
* Billy Graham will soon experience an end to pain

--1 Peter 1:3-6
--Mother Theresa quote
--Revelation 21:1-4

God has answers to the problem of pain
But we've got to go WITH God to find them
We've got to GROW with God to understand them
And if we do...
We will someday KNOW the answer, God Himself

* The Bluffs