Heritage Baptist Church of Frankfort IL

This psalm looks at the injustices of political leaders. The psalmist prayers to God for the stopping of the violence of leadership. His major illustration of these leaders is that they are snakes that kill while being deaf to to pleas of the innocents.

Melchizedek is a relatively unknown individual in the Old Testament. The details about him are found in Genesis 14. The details of that story are significant in pointing out that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and the priests of Levi, thus he is a better priest. This is why it is important that Jesus is a priest of the order of Melchizedek. He is a better priest.

Jesus clarified the seventh commandment and made clear that the battle against immorality starts in the heart. His solutions for protection seemed radical. However, He was not promoting self-mutilation, but mortification of the flesh. The main solution in the battle is not to feed the flesh. This requires the believer to either flee when temptation comes, or remove the source of temptation.

David experienced the overshadowing wings of God as he fled his deadly enemies. The obvious working of God's steadfast love caused David to exalt God, especially through the means of song. He serves as an example for believers today.

Many believers struggle with assurance of their salvation. However, salvation does not rest on us. God has made both a promise and an oath that Jesus is our high priest. We can hold in faith to God's promise and oath that Jesus allows us to enter into the presence of God. This is an anchor, sure and steadfast.

Jesus begins to clarify what righteousness greater than the Pharisees looks like. The first issue he deals with is "Thou Shalt Not Kill." The Pharisees had a narrow understanding of the command that it it forbade physical murder. Jesus gives the intent of the law. The believer is to stop murder from coming out of the heart and being found in our speech. In fact, the Lord challenges believers as peacemakers to proactively meet warring situations and try to get them to cease before more harm occurs.

David's time in Gath caused him a great deal of fear about what men might do to him. However, in this psalm he rehearses and declares his faith in God to himself. This psalm is one that finds echoes in other parts of the Scripture due to the comfort it provides for believers.

This passage is one of warning. However, the difficult question is "Who is it warning?" Much discussion has been given to this passage with a variety of interpretations. In the end it seems to be warning those who have been surrounded by Christians and the church yet at some point fall away because they are not saved. It is impossible from a human standpoint to bring someone back who has left the faith. Can a person like this be saved? With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

In the book of Acts a commission is given to reach all of the world. In reading the book that commission is not accomplished as quickly due to wrong thinking and attitudes in the church. These attitudes can show up in churches and hinder the growth of the gospel in the world.

Jesus did not come to get rid of the Old Testament but came to give it fullness. Teaching of the OT and prophecies find fullness in Christ. The citizen of the kingdom takes great care to declare and live out what is found in the whole of Scripture. Their righteousness ought to be greater than the Pharisees.

The believer often finds themselves in turmoil both physically and spiritually. This turmoil is caused by multiple sources. However, the believer cannot stay in this depressed state. He/she must communicate to the soul truths about God and place trust in Him.

These section is warning for people who check out when a topic of Scripture seems unnecessary or boring. The topic of Jesus as High Priest was started earlier in the chapter. The discussion will go on two more chapters. Some in the congregation were lazy. The danger of not hearing the word and doing something with it is stunted growth. Some Christians are still like spiritual babies because they do not consume the word of God and use it. They are not ready for stronger doctrines because they have not bothered with the easier ones.

The reason that the citizens of the kingdom of heaven will be persecuted in this world. This is because they are salt and light in the world. They are to stall and reprove evil while pointing the world to Christ.

David had enemies on every side that he had to deal with. They caused him fear. However, the enemy that caused him to be furious was the one that had been his closest friend. This friend was out to hurt David. In the end David gives an example to believers of having a faith that casts burdens upon God.

The priests of the Old Testament had to meet certain requirements. No got to chose to be a priest. The writer of Hebrews discusses 3 requirements for the priests and how Jesus meets and exceeds those requirements.

This beatitude is shocking because initially it seems like no one would want persecution. However, persecution is something that citizens of the kingdom of heaven should expect in this world. The believer can rejoice in persecution knowing that God has prepared greater things for believers in eternity.

David was betrayed from people in his tribe that he described as strangers, people who were foreign to him. They joined with Saul and others who were out for his destruction. The question is "Why would they do such a thing?" The answer is that they do not set God before their eyes. David turns to God and focuses on His name. He looks for God to respond in correspondence to His name.

The Beatitudes in this section are ones that display themselves in everyday life. The believer shows these characteristics in their dealing with others. Each one, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemaker, require divine help.

The fool is a fool because He assumes God is not involved in the affairs of men. His statement of "There is no God" is an affirmation of this thought. However, God is involved in the affairs of men, especially when it comes to His people. He will not let wicked men destroy them.

After a section about searching to see if you are in the faith, the author of Hebrews reminds those who are in the faith that they have a high priest, Jesus the Great High Priest. He was went through our difficulties as a human and now is before the throne of God. You can bring your requests to this throne and find help in the nick of time.

The readers of Hebrews are challenged to see if they have faith in Christ. They do not want to be like the Israelites who missed out on the rest that God had planned for them in the land. Unbelief will cause people to miss out on God's eternal rest. The Word of God is given to enlighten individuals to see if they are in the faith.

This psalm is appropriate for the unreasonable violence that has been afflicted on innocent people. This psalm uses the tragic events of Doeg's slaughter of innocents to make clear that God will bring justice upon individuals who think they can get away with violence. The righteous can be secure like a healthy tree in the house of God forever. God's loyal love never leaves His people.

This lesson focuses on the 2nd set of Beatitudes, the meek and the hungering and thirsting. Both of these Beatitudes give the requirements for gaining citizenship into the kingdom of heaven.

This psalm occurred after David's greatest sin. David acknowledges the depths of his sin. He had offended God. However, God was the only one who could forgive and do a supernatural work to restore the emotions and opportunities that sin had damaged.

The author of Hebrews uses Psalms 95 to remind and warn his readers that unbelief has been a problem for generations. The children of Israel saw God's power and presence, yet because of unbelief they missed God's rest. In today's church there are people who have heard the truth but are falling away from that truth. They have unbelief and are in danger of missing God's eternal rest.

The first two beatitudes give some of the entry requirements for being a part of the kingdom of heaven. Both show the failure of man to please God and his righteousness. Humility and repentance are the proper response to this reality.

Paul said some strong things to the church at Corinth. In this section Paul displays tact and care for these believers as he closes out this letter. He narrows down his desires for the church.

After showing that Jesus is better than angels and any man, the author of Hebrews moves to the fact that Jesus is greater than the greatest lawgiver, Moses. Moses was faithful in his task of leading the nation of Israel. Jesus is faithful in all His house of leading many brothers and sisters to glory.

This introduction to the Sermon on the Mount encompasses the whole of the book of Matthew and then focuses on the immediate context before the Sermon. The emphasis of John and Jesus' preaching before the Sermon was to preach repentance. As you enter the Sermon, righteousness and the need of it is emphasized. Without righteousness one cannot be a part of the kingdom. A recognition of sin in repentance would lead one to look for a righteousness outside of oneself in order to be able to enter the kingdom.

Paul was coming back to the church at Corinth. He prepared the Corinthians for his visit. If they did not take care of the sin that was ruining the testimony of the church and of Christ, Paul would be forced to administer discipline himself. Paul wanted the church to take care of this discipline but they had not yet done it. The goal of discipline is hope of restoration for the erring believer.

Jesus took on humanity for multiple reasons. His main desire was to bring many brothers and sisters with Him to glory. His humanity allowed him to defeat the one who has the power of death and deliver mankind from bondage to sin and death. He also serves as mankind's high priest before God.

This last lesson reminds us that humility is key in dealing with any kind of sin. This lesson reviews the sins that have been seen over the last few weeks, and concludes with pattern to battle sin in our lives.

Paul spent the last two chapters putting out a "fool's" speech to combat the super apostles. They gave their resume to attract followers. Paul gave all of his credentials, though all of them point to suffering and difficulty. Paul should have had to defend his character or impact. The Corinthians should have done this for them. He had not taken anything from them, but had been like a parent to them.

This message reminds us that the position of a deacon is not necessarily a position of leadership, but an official recognition of a call to service.

This is part 2 of the lesson on worldliness. It does review the previous week and definitions of worldliness. Three examples are given of worldliness in the church. Last lesson dealt with money. This lesson deals with vicarious immorality and idolatry.

Mankind is seemingly insignificant in comparison to the universe and the angels, yet mankind was created in the image of God and given responsibility to rule over the earth. Mankind gave up the opportunity to rule well, when they listened to Satan and fell into sin and death. The Son came into the world to be a man who was sinless that could take up the responsibility of rule. By His death, he makes it possible for all mankind to experience salvation and take part in ruling the world.

This section contains the last and the greatest passage emphasizing the rule of Son. The passage quoted is from Psalm 110:1. The Son rules while the angels serve. The angels served as messengers. Their messages were communicated in the OT. However, now the Son has come in miraculous power and with the offer of salvation. To ignore this message or let it drift away is to bring one into eternal condemnation.

Paul contrasts himself with the "super" apostles by giving a resume of who he is and what his accomplishments have been. However, must of his entries into his resume list his sufferings and difficulties. His ministry was not impressive, but from a human perspective was a failure. However, Paul's weakness was able to reflect God's grace and power.

Our tongue is the most offensive member of our body. Through it we can slander, gossip, lie, criticize, and cut down. What comes out of our mouth is an issue of our heart. We need to evaluate what in our heart caused the issues of our mouth.

Paul challenged the church to consider the danger of false teachers. They have all the subtilty of the devil and can make themselves look like light while directing people to darkness. They challenge truths about God and attempt to paint the picture of man's condition in rosy colors.

In starting Hebrews the author piles up Old Testament passages to reinforce the truth that Jesus is better than the angels. They worship and serve Him. His rule over creation, including the angels, is eternal. Even the fallen angels are under His rule.

All humans are competitive. However, we can become envious and jealous because someone becomes our rival. We do not trust God's providence that places others in positions of opportunity. The problem of envy if left unchecked will lead to murder.