The Tabernacle Today

The Vision of Jesus5 G Living:Do everything you do for the Glory of GodDo everything you do for the Good of your fellow manDo everything you do for the Growth of your fellow believers in ChristDo everything you do to get the Gospel to unbelieversDo everything you do with a grateful heartMatthew 14:13-21The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. - Moses in Deut. 29:29Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Shlomo (Solomon) in Proverbs 3:5-6The compassionate vision of Jesus - V. 13-14May it be said of us that we saw, we had compassion, we acted to help meet physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs – just like Jesus.The creative envisioning of Jesus - V. 15-18What the disciples said about sending the people away made common sense and fit conventional wisdom, but Jesus often challenges what makes common sense and what fits conventional wisdom!The word envision means “to picture something in your mind.” They could not envision meeting the crowd's needs – they only saw what they lacked. They forgot that Jesus was with them, and He can do anything!When a faithful follower of Jesus devotes 100% of themselves and their resources to Jesus, He multiplies their little into enough. Of course He can do it without us, but He loves to include us in what He's doing!The miraculous provision of Jesus - V. 19-21Here we read of Jesus doing by far the greatest food miracle in the Bible. You might object about the time Moses gave the people manna. But Moses didn't give the people Manna, God did (John 6:32)!Elisha took 20 barley loaves and fed 100 men, with some left (a miraculous fivefold increase). Jesus took 5 barley loaves and fed 5,000 men, with enough left over to feed the 100 men Elisha fed (a miraculous thousandfold increase). It was truly a miracle worthy of Immanuel.

Bad Mom Good Mom - Matthew 14:1-12Welcome to Real Housewives of the Roman Empire. I changed the names a little, but that's the background for today's Bible passage in which we will sadly read of the death of John the Baptist.Matthew 14:1-12As Matthew 1-13 relate to John the Baptist, he was like a booster that helps launch a rocket into space. Once the rocket gets up, the booster has done its job and falls back to earth. One stage is over and another begins.Bad moms are offended by preaching that calls them to repentance.Herodias was offended by the preacher because he called out her sin. I sure wish she had done what I have seen many guilty sinners do over the years -Repent of their sin, receive God's forgiveness, and rebuild their lives around God's truth, as David and Bathsheba did in their generation.Bad moms fail to protect their children and instead influence them to sin.Now before looking at the good mom, let me state clearly that we are all sinners who need to turn to Christ for salvation and forgiveness. All sin deserves judgment, and God can forgive any sin except refusing to repent and turn to him. So repent, receive forgiveness, and rebuild by faith.Good moms seek Jesus and pray for their children.Canaanites were the peoples Israel had been commanded to dispossess when they entered the Promised Land. But even though they were enemies of Israel, God still worked among them. Rahab was a Canaanite woman, so Jesus the Jew had a smidge of Canaanite blood in Him.I believe Jesus was testing this woman to see how she will respond. Will she be offended like Herodias, or will her faith overcome offense and discouragement.Good moms worship Jesus and model for their children perseverance.I want to guarantee you that if you humble yourself before Jesus and pray, “Lord, help me” Jesus will hear that prayer and do what's best for you.She is acknowledging that Jesus is her Lord and Master, and she is staying where Jesus is, even if all she gets is crumbs. Better to eats crumbs on the way to Heaven's throne than have a feast in Herod's hell-bound palace.

Psalm 89 WorksheetPsalm 89 is the ___________________ Psalm of Book 3 of the Psalms.Only 4 Psalms have 50 or more verses. Psalm 89 is the ____________________ longest.Which Psalm has the most verses? Psalm 119, with 176 verses. Then comes Ps. 78, with 72 verses. Then Ps. 89, with 52 verses. Ps. 18 has 50 verses.Psalm 89 remembers the LORD's unconditional ________________________ with David that because of God's mercy (hesed) and faithfulness (emuna and emet) David's descendant the Messiah will rule Israel forever, even though it doesn't seem possible to Israel's exiles when the Psalm was written.As we read Psalm 89, look for the occurrences of mercy (or steadfast love) and faithfulness.There are _____ occurrences each of Hesed and Emuna in Psalm 89, and they are together in 5 verses. Hesed and Emet occur together in verse 14.

The Why the What and the HowThis is the annual time when I get to urge our Tabernacle Family to live by the collective purpose that God has given us in God's word.The why our church does what it does is the same why every individual Christian is to do what they do – for the glory of God – to seek to bring God the love and praise He so richly deserves.The Mission of the Tabernacle is to reproduce faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus Christ.The How is our TABERNACLE AcronymTeaching of ScriptureAdoration and PrayerThe 8-week prayer challenge: For the next 8 weeks (until VBS), fast through at least 1 meal a week as you pray for many people to be saved in church and at Vacation Bible School).Baptist PrinciplesEvangelism and MissionsEven with the Pandemic stall, we have baptized 113 people since 2017; In the comparable time before I came the Tabernacle baptized 101 people. I baptized 216 people in my first 8 years at my previous church.We budget roughly $8,250 a month for our church ministries; $6,500 a month for missions we support within a 2-hour drive; $3,600 a month for missions in North America; $6,500 a month for global missions.Including our Christmas Offerings, we have given over $2,250,000 to missions since 2017 and taken 137 mission trips; In the comparable time at my previous church it was $750,000 and 119 trips.Radical GenerosityHere's where our giving stands after the 1st quarter:1st quarter 2025 budgeted: $280, 2511st quarter 2025 received: $280,0871st quarter 2025 spent: $265,528Tabernacle Board: Richard Chivvis, Chair; Duane Adams, Dan Harper, Stacy Morris, David Thompson, J.J. Vogltanz.Nurtured PartnershipsWe mean two things by “Nurtured partnerships.” We mean the sense of partnership we have with each other in the church family. But we also mean the sense of partnership we have with the ministries we support.Age-Appropriate Ministries42 Babies dedicated since 2017/ 40 in comparable time at previous church.Congregational Love and EncouragementWe have had 120 deaths since 2017/ it was 44 in the comparable time in my previous church.Leadership DevelopmentExcellence and FunLet me urge you to join me in being grateful for our past; sober-minded about our present challenges; and looking forward in faith to all God has for us!

The Passion Prayers of Jesus“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow and improve productivity.” - Michael KratsiosIf you are a born again believer, there are two ways that you have already experienced spiritual time travel.The first way is that the Bible teaches that if you are a believer, you were crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), died with Christ (Rom. 6:8), buried with Christ (Col. 2:12), raised with Christ (Col. 2:12), made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5), raised up with Christ to heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), are one spirit with Christ (1 Cor. 6:17), will be with Christ after death (Phil. 1:21, 23), will return with Christ when He returns to earth (Rev. 17:14, 2 Tim. 2:12).The second way is that in the last 72 hours of Jesus' passion week, He prayed many specific prayer requests that still get answered today 2,000 years after He prayed them!The prayer of restoration for believers.“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32The prayer of thanks despite an impending ordeal (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)The prayer for basic discipleship commitments of followers (Jn. 17:1-26). -That Christians will grow in their relationship with God (v. 3, 5)-That Christians will be good stewards of God's words (v. 8) -That Christians will know their eternal security in Christ. (v. 9-10)_-That Christians will experience unity (v. 11, 22-23)-That Christians will experience the fulfilling joy of Jesus (v. 13)-That as Christians live in the world they will be protected from the Evil one (v. 15)-That Christians will ‘bathe' regularly by obeying the Bible's truths (v. 17)-That Christians will reproduce as they go out into the world (v. 18, 20).-That Christians will be with Jesus and behold His Heavenly glory (v. 24)-That Christians will be known for having the love of Jesus within (v. 26)The prayer of surrender despite personal anguish (Mark 14:36)He was pierced for our transgressions. - Isa. 53:5aWhen they look on Me, on Him whom they pierced. - Zech. 9:10bIt was the most unusual trial outcome ever – Jesus was proclaimed innocent, yet executed as if He was guilty.The prayer of forgiveness (Luke 23:34)The prayer that our sin caused (Matthew 27:46)The prayer of completion (Luke 23:46; John 19:30)The prayer of blessing over a meal (Luke 24:30-31, 35)The prayer of blessing (Luke 24:50-52)Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Heb. 7:25

Psalm 88 WorksheetOne of the most interesting things about this Psalm and the next is that they are written by 2 men named Heman the Ezrahite and Ethan the Ezrahite. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were each descendants of Levi's sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Asaph was from Gershon; Heman from the line of Kohath; Ethan from Merari (1 Chr. 6:31-48). Heman has the added distinction of being the grandson of _______________________ (1 Chr. 6:33).Asaph wrote 12 Psalms, 11 here in book 3 of the Psalms; Heman wrote Psalm 88 and Ethan wrote Psalm 89. So 13 of the 17 Psalms of Book 3 are attributed to David's key music leaders from the tribe of Levi. The tone of Psalm 88 is very much one of _____________________________. It appears the Psalmist is facing suffering and death is very discouraged. It is not regarded as a Messianic Psalm, but several verses remind me of the suffering Jesus endured. As I read Psalm 88, look for the different ways death is referred to. Also look for the 3 times he speaks of calling out or crying out to the LORD. A man _______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 1-9This man is despondent, but at least he is __________________________. Be honest with God in your prayers like in Psalm 88, and then go on to the kind of perspective that Psalm ____________ gives! The first reference to death is in verse 3, the word grave or Sheol. Sheol occurs 64 times in the Old Testament. The second reference to death is in verse 4, the word pit or bor. Bor occurs 61 times in the Old Testament. The third reference to death is in verse 5, “adrift among the dead.” The word for dead is mut, which occurs 693 times in the Old Testament. The sixth and seventh references to death are the words darkness and depths in verse 6.The word “wrath” in verse 7 reminds me of when Jesus was bearing our sin on the cross and cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me” (2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:36). Verse 8 reminds me of Jesus “shut up” on the cross, with so many of His followers not there to support Him. Jesus can identify with the Psalmist and any of us who feels neglected or forsaken by _____________. Verses 1 and 9 begin and end the first section by crying out to the LORD in the midst of this man facing death. A man ______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 11-18Verses 10-12 feature 6 questions that it appears the Psalmist fears the answer is no but Christians now know the answer is ________________ in Christ!Let's not forget our count of references to death – verses 10-12 have the eighth through ________________ references to death! Verse 13 gives the one note of hope that after death, the “___________________________” will come. We borrow that hope from this being near to Psalm 86 by David.“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” -Psalm 86:11-12Back in Psalm 88, the Psalmist wants to know, he wants to feel what David feels and __________________ in Psalm 86, but he is on the struggle bus. Verses 15 to the end make that struggle clear.Verse 15 gives us at least the 14th reference to death. With other references to being “cut off”, “wrath” and “terrors,” we may get all the way to ________________ references to death. Why is this discouraging Psalm in the Psalter, meant to be sung by the people? Sometimes getting the way we feel out there begins the ___________________________. Psalm 88 is like parts of the book of Ecclesiastes, that really describe the emptiness in life without God. Ecclesiastes brings to despair to then drive to faith in God (Ecc. 12:13-14). Psalm 89 does that for book 3 of of the Psalms. After the discouraging note of Psalm 88, Psalm 89 includes this thought to God's people when they feel discouraged:Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. -Psalm 89:33

Give All to Gain All - Matthew 13:44-58When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God- Warren WiersbeWhen King Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He was offering Himself up as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.Jesus came into Jerusalem on the very day the sacrificial lambs that would become the Passover lambs were brought into Jerusalem from Bethlehem. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).Psalm 118:25-26a (ESV)25Save us, we pray, O Lord!O Lord, we pray, give us success!26Blessed is he who comes in the name [authority] of the Lord!Let's do the math: 10 sins a day x 365 days = 3,650 sins per person per year; Multiplying that by 30 years per person equals 109,500 sins per person in a lifetime. Multiplying that by the 117 billion people who have lived in history = 12 quadrillion, 811 trillion, 500 billion sins.- Jim Denison2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Matthew 27:46 (ESV)46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”John 19:30 (ESV)30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished [Tetelestai]," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Two little parables about the Kingdom's inestimable value - V. 44-46What is the point to us of the parables in verses 44-46? To get the greater treasure the man had to first give up everything he previously treasured. And for us to really get Jesus we have to do the same. But when we give our all to get Jesus, two things happen: we gain more than we could ever imagine, and we also gain what was ours back better than before.Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. - Isaac Watts, Verse 4 of When I Survey the Wondrous CrossLearn to know Christ and Him crucified. Learn to sing to Him and say, “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon Yourself what is mine and given me what is Yours. You have become what You were not so that I might become what I was not." - Martin LutherAnother parable about the great ‘sorting' to come - V. 47-50Are you ready for the ‘great sorting' to come after Christ returns?Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.Remember from Matthew 13 that we are called to be sowers not sorters! Catch all the people you can for Jesus – He will sort out whether they were truly saved or not. True Disciples will bring forth Scripture treasure - V. 51-52In chapter 13 Jesus spoke of making what was a mystery in the past known now. Those who love Jesus will be able to explain how New Testament truth comes out of Old Testament truth.If you don't take who Jesus is, what He has taught, and what He has done for you seriously, you won't see God do much either. But if you recognize how valuable this faith is, you will give up everything to gain Jesus!

The Certain Growth of Both True and False Christianity - Matthew 13:24-43The different branches of Christianity are like that air-conditioner unit – great when working biblically, but troubled by holes that arise in the unit. Some sin and false teaching problems are like bigger holes that reveal problems quicker, but even little problems cause eventual trouble. In today's parables Jesus warns us to expect this troublesome reality.Matthew 13:24-43In Matthew 13's parables of the Kingdom, Jesus reveals that His spiritual kingdom will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. In the ‘church age' we are now in local churches become spiritual ‘embassies' of the coming Kingdom.Last week we studied the Parable of the Sower. The Parable of the Sower shows 4 different responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Parable Jesus urges us to make sure we truly understand repentance and faith as we crown Jesus the King of our life and go on to bear fruit as His subject.The Parable of the weeds in the field - V. 24-30, 36-43So far we have learned that God is actively working in the world to bring people to Himself, and Satan is actively working to keep people lost.Here we read that Satan has another strategy to keep people lost – outward forms of religion without the true new birth in Jesus experience. Verse 38 says the Devil is the one who sows the weeds among the wheat.The Greek word for weeds/tares is zizanium. Scholars believe Jesus was referring to darnel (lolium temulentum), a poisonous weed that bears a close resemblance to wheat right up until the ears of grain appear. It is actually called “false wheat” by those who have had to deal with it.The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10These verses do not mean there is not a place for church discipline – in Matthew 18 we will see that there is. But it should serve as a rebuke to the growing number of zealous Christians who spend more time ‘weed-eating' then they spend sowing, planting, and watering wheat.Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” - Matt. 19:28In the parable of the weeds, Jesus makes clear that outward forms of Christianity will include both true and false Christians. Make sure that Jesus really is your Lord and Savior. The Parables of the mustard seed & the leaven - V. 31-33Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of true Christianity; Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of false Christianity; And many, like me, take the first to illustrate the phenomenal growth of outward forms of Christianity in churches and denominations, and the second to illustrate the pervasive inward growth of false teaching in those churches and denominations.What Jesus said in the parable of the mustard seed has become true – the few dozen people gathered around him as He gave the great commission in Matthew 28 have grown to over 2.4 billion people on earth.In the parable of the leaven, Jesus is warning about how false teaching will also be a formidable problem as outward Christianity grows.Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” - Matthew 16:6Evangelical beliefs include those who testify of the new birth in Jesus and who believe the Bible is totally trustworthy and is our final authority.Jesus told us that false believers and false teaching would proliferate even as true Christianity grew. So don't be surprised and don't be Barney Fife as you interact with others. But do keep personally growing in grace and truth, and speak the truth in love to others.

The Sower the Seed and the SoilWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeEvery one of the seeds in the pack I gave you can become the flower it was meant to be if it finds receptive soil as it is planted. In today's passage we see Jesus tell a little story about the different responses there will be to His gospel during the church age we now find ourselves in.Matthew 13:1-23 Introducing the parables of the Kingdom - V. 1-3, 10-17But Matthew 13 features the first occurrence of the word parable(s) in the New Testament, and the most occurrences of the word in the Bible. The word Parable(s) occurs 48 times in the Bible, 12 in this chapter alone.The 35 Parables that Jesus told in the New Testament are little stories with big meaning comparing God's activity in the present age to everyday matters we can relate to. Jesus' parables often paint a picture of a wrong response from His critics and a right response by His followers.In the 7 parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13, Jesus for the first time reveals the secret (the mysterion) of the spiritual kingdom that will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. The secret includes the church age we are now in where local churches become spiritual ‘embassies' of the coming Kingdom.The word for secret is the Greek word musterion (G3466-27x); it means that which is known to the ‘initiated' (mustos). That which was not fully revealed to O.T. saints has now been revealed to Jesus' followers.Matthew 13:13-17 uses the Hebrew poetry device of chiastic structure, where the first and last points echo each other and so on toward the big point in the middle.Jesus explains the parable of the Sower - V. 3b-9,18-23The 4 different responses to the gospel:The Not-now response (rejection) - V. 19The Shallow response (belief without repentance) - V. 20-21The double-minded response (distraction) - V. 22The Devil got the wayside folk, the flesh took care of the rocky-ground folk, but the world chokes out the word for the thorny ground folk.” - J. Vernon McGeeThe fruit-bearing response (this one understands) - V. 23The Jewish poetic device of chiastic structure in Matthew 13:13-17:

Psalm 86 Worksheet After the majority of Psalms being by David in Books 1 (Psalms 1-41) and 2 (Psalms 42-72), this is the _________________ Psalm by David in Book 3 (Psalm 73-89).This Psalm is very personal and touching, with _____________% of the verses being directly spoken to God. The Psalm is filled with 15 verbs in which David is asking God to act in his life.As we read the Psalm, look for a change around verse 7 in the way David approaches God.The earnest pleas of God's man trying to do God's ____________ V. 1-5Notice in these first five verses David makes 8 pleas to God while citing 5 present needs and/or commitments to the Lord.Since David has just said he is poor and needy, David saying he is holy in verse 2 should not be viewed as a claim to being without sin, but “set apart” for God. David trusts God and views himself as God's ___________________.The word for merciful in verse 3 is the Hebrew word Hanan (H2603a), which occurs 72 times in the Old Testament, 41 of which are in the wisdom books. It means to show favor, be gracious, even pity. In Philippians 4:4 Paul commands believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!” That's hard to accept when the circumstances of life weigh on us. I love the poetic way David asks for God's ___________________ in this as he says “Rejoice the soul of your servant.” I have found the only way to really let that happen is to what the second part of verse 4 says, look away from our circumstances and “lift up” our souls.David ______________________ to himself in verse 5 – He knows God is good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in Hesed. David knows God will hear and act for the best not so much because of who David is but because of who God is! The earnest pledge of God's man who wants God to be ____________________ V. 6-13What is different in David's approach in verse 7?He now says “I will,” pledging to continue to serve God. Verses 1-5 contained 5 things David presently does, whereas verses 6-13 have 4 things David “_______________ do.”David gushes with praise and __________________________ in God in verse s 8-10I WILL pray to you because you are the greatest; You WILL answer because there is none like You; the nations WILL come and worship You! David ________________________ the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 and the Great Multitude of Revelation 5:9-10 and 7:9-10!Verse 11 is a wonderful mixture of prayer and pledge. And what a _________________________ phrase – unite my heart to revere your name. O God, unite the Tabernacle's heart to revere Your name in 100% of what we say and do! Again, David finishes the section by grounding His requests more in who God is than who he is. What group of Jews take their name from a sister word of the word Hesed?_____________________ Jews, expressing their love for God and His commands. David's final pleas are based on the upholding of God's _____________ V. 14-17Like the first section (that had 8 requests in 5 verses), this last section has 5 requests in 4 verses. Verse 14 reminds us we are to pray to God to _______________________ against the counsels and actions of the wicked. Verse 15 again goes over some of the great truths about God. David is praying back what God taught ______________________ about His name in Exodus 34, and what Solomon will later use in his prayer dedicating the Temple in 2 Chr. 6.David ends by gently asking God to give him a good sign that God is still at work in his life. David isn't asking this of God to help him believe and trust (like the unbelieving Pharisees in Matthew 12:38), but just for a little _________________________. Perhaps we could pray it this way, “God, today in some way please remind me of why I trust you and love you so much!”

The Greatest Sign - Matthew 12:38-50The Greatest SignWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeSigns are important because they give us the information we need to make right choices. When the meaning of the sign is obvious, we don't need another sign, we need to act on the information the sign conveys. - Matthew 12:38-50The Sign that saves - V. 38-42They asked for a sign, Jesus gave them a sermon – about the greatest sign to come – His resurrection.Matthew's first audience was his fellow Jews, and only he repeats the Jewish idiom Jesus used, “three days and three nights.” The other gospels use the other way Jesus said it, speaking of rising on the “third day.” The accounts complement one another.It must have irked these Pharisees to hear Jesus preach that God had justified pagans from what is now Iraq and Arabia because they had repented and believed, yet they would be condemned for their unbelief!Crucifixes emphasize a perpetually suffering savior; but empty crosses emphasize our victorious risen Lord!“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me!” - Matthew 27:46“It is finished!” (Tetelestai) - John 19:30Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25The Situation that doesn't save - V. 43-45The key to understanding verses 43-45 is that last statement – so also will it be with this evil generation. Jesus is saying this situation adequately describes that generation in Israel who rejected Jesus.To their credit, the Jews had rejected pagan idolatry when they came back from the Babylonian captivity hundreds of years before. That idolatry had been fueled by the kind of demonic spirit that had left the house. Like the house in the story, they had put in order matters of external worship, but still had not filled the house with true internal worship of God. When the spirit of idolatry came back, it brought different demonic spirits with it: pride, unbelief, ingratitude, self-righteousness, a judgmental spirit, contempt of others, and lack of love. Their condition was worse than the days of overt idolatry.Changes you make on your outside will not help you in the long run if Jesus is not on your inside!The Sibling that sticks closest - V. 46-50John 7:5 says that Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him. Mark 6:3 tells us some of Jesus' brothers' names – James, Joses, Judas (Jude) and Simon, and also tells us he had sisters. Just before Mark tells us the same thing Matthew 12 does, it says, “When his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” - Luke 11:27-28Jesus is not telling us here not to take care of family priorities, but He is making clear that believing in Him and doing what He says is every believer's highest priority.If you part of God's family through faith in Jesus, begin regularly praying “Yes, Lord,” in every area that is clear in the Bible.

God Desires to Save You! - John 3:16-18... Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:4For God – the greatest loverSo loved – the greatest degreeThe world – the greatest companyThat He gave – the greatest actHis only begotten Son – the greatest giftThat whoever – the greatest opportunityBelieves – the greatest simplicityIn Him – the greatest attractionShall not perish – the greatest promiseBut – the greatest differenceHave – the greatest certaintyEverlasting life – the greatest possessionJesus loves me this I knowFor the Bible tells me soLittle ones to Him belongThey are weak but He is strongYes, Jesus loves meYes, Jesus loves meYes, Jesus loves meThe Bible tells me so!Now to best understand John 3:16, we need to see how it ***fits*** in the great chapter that is John 3. John 3 shows not only that God is love (1 Jn. 4:16), but also that God is holy (Psa. 99:9) and that God is good (1 Pet. 2:3).“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - Jesus in John 3:3For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. - Romans 3:23-24Because God is holy, He must ***judge*** our sin. Had Jesus never come to deal with our sin, 100% of us would be going to Hell because of our sin.As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.Because God is holy, God must judge sin. Because God is good, Jesus was ***able*** to take our sin upon Himself.Because God is love, He offers salvation to all who ***turn*** to Him and believe.Now when someone gives you an awesome gift, what do you want to do for them in return?“He must increase, but I must decrease.” - JTB in John 3:30Dakota's mom said, “I have always been prepared to answer your questions – I was simply waiting for you to ask!”“Son, I am proud of what you have become. I am going to love you well.”To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12

Psalm 85 WorksheetOf the sons of KorahPraise to God for ________________________ of the people to the land V. 1-3How many “you have” statements are in verses 1-3?There are _____________ “you have” statements of what God has done in verses 1-3. Verse 1 lets us know this Psalm comes after the time of captivity when the Jews were allowed to return to Israel.Far better for the people is to have their sins ______________________ and atoned for, reminding us of David's words in Psalm 32. 2 Corinthians 5:21 John 3:36Prayer to God for _______________________ among the people of the land V. 4-7The last thing the people who returned post-exile needed to do was take God for granted, return to sinning against God and bring ______________________ judgment on themselves and their fellow Israelites. 1 John 1:9How many prayerful questions does the Psalmist ask in verses 5-6?__________________. These are of course rhetorical questions as much for the people as for God. Any well trained Jew would know that God _______________________ mercy to them if they would confess their sin, repent and turn to God. “Various uses of the root “turn” occur throughout this Psalm. It describes the return from captivity (v. 1); God's change of attitude (v. 3); our conversion (v. 4); our revival (v. 6); and our possible backsliding (v. 8).” -Bob AldenProclamation of what God __________________ to do for His people V. 8-13 Notice the beautiful way he puts great images in our heads in verses 9-11.What is the best example of God's attributes coming together?The ___________________. Romans 3:23-27 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Hesed, truth, righteousness, peace – these things will all _____________________ the future millennium when Jesus reigns from Israel. Acts 3:19-21Many passages speak of an increase in the Holy Lands fertility and productivity in Messiah's future kingdom (Is. 30: 23-26; Jeremiah 31:12; Amos 9:13-15; Zecheriah 8:11-12).John 14:6 1 Cor. 11:1 John 13:34-35Let's be like the Psalmist and desire to walk in the imprinted footsteps of our Lord! May His steps be ________________ steps!

The Upper FixerWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeIn today's passage we will see that Jesus loves to fix “fixer uppers” who know they need Him. Instead of rejecting and blaspheming Him, we need to turn to Him as the ultimate “Upper Fixer.”Matthew 12:15-37Jesus came to fix people, not to argue with them - V. 15-23Verse 15 tells us that Jesus was aware of what they were thinking about Him. Jesus is also aware of what you and I are thinking, because He knows all things (John 2:25).In instructing them not to make Him known (we might add ‘yet') Jesus was buying Himself more time to meet needs and teach His disciples what they needed to know to serve Him.The word for justice in verses 18 and 20 is krisis (G 2920). It the word used to describe the judgment (Heb. 9:27) and judgment to come (Jn. 16:8). In other words, Messiah will proclaim the need for sinners to be ready for the coming judgment (v. 18) and gives victory over judgment (v. 20).Jesus wants you if you are broken – He won't break you any more – with Him the healing will begin!He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Heb. 7:25The one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out. - John 6:37bThe Pharisees hated Jesus and blasphemed Him - V. 24-30God was on earth, lovingly working restorative miracles right in front of them, bringing joy to the multitudes. But they had the nerve to say, “The Devil made Him do it!” In other words, they were attributing the very work of God to Satan. Their hatred of Jesus made them guilty of blasphemy.Judgment day is coming for those who continue to reject Jesus - V. 31-37Do you see God's grace in verse 31? God would much rather save you from your sins than judge you for your sins rooted in pride and unbelief.To understand what the unforgiveable sin is, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, we first have to understand God the Holy Spirit's main role now.To blaspheme the Spirt is to remain an unbeliever despite all the ways the Spirit has convicted you of your sinful rebellion against God and your need to turn to Jesus for salvation. Every other sin is forgivable, but the sin of unbelief is unpardonable.Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - 1 Timothy 1:13-14When sinful words come out of your mouth it shows the sinful stuff in your heart. Get it forgiven through Jesus and let Him keep changing what comes out of your mouth!So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in Heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in Heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33

Psalm 84 WorksheetWhat is different in the heading of Psalm 84 from others we have read so far in Book 3 of the Psalms (Psalms 72-89)?4 of the last 6 Psalms in Book 3 of the Psalms will be by the Sons of Korah. They had written 7 of the Psalms that appeared in Book 2. Some of them were the ______________________________ for the Temple (1 Chronicles 26:1). Psalm 84 reads like the Psalms of _______________________ we will come to (Psalms 120-134). Perhaps it too was sung on the way to worship at Jerusalem! Psalm 84 easily divides into three 4-verse stanzas marked by the Selah divisions. As I read the Psalm look for a name of God that occurs 4 times in the Psalm. Also look for another word that occurs in each of the 3 stanzas.The word for ______________________ opens Psalm 1 and closes Psalm 2, another “call-back” to those foundational Psalms! __________________________ devotion for God and His house V. 1-4Heartcheck time: Do verses 1-2 come anywhere close to expressing the feeling you have when you think about coming to church? The Psalmist didn't go to the Temple with a sense of “have-to,” but “____________________ to”!And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. -John 17:3I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD!” -Psalm 122:1Perhaps in verse 3 the Psalmist is reflecting on getting to see birds flying and in their nests with their young as they walked to Jerusalem. They are saying that their home is with God! Verse 4 makes you wonder if the priests and the singers and the gatekeepers often heard _______________ exclaim how fortunate they were to get to live and minister at the Temple complex. Psalm 134, the final Psalm of Ascent. ___________________________ to worship God at His house V. 5-8What does he have in mind by pilgrimage?Going from wherever he lived to the Feasts in Jerusalem, or any other time he was able to go “________” to worship there. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem is “up” above every other place, so it was called going “up.”Baca means “weeping” or also balsam trees. Coming into Jerusalem from the west you'd see some balsam trees. Perhaps the Psalmist had passed through rain as he went to Jerusalem. Weeping also makes us think of the many times we are going to church after it has been a ____________________ week. Verse 7 contains some irony – the longer walk the more weak and weary you become. But when you greatly anticipate what _____________________ you when you arrive, you actually feel stronger as you get close to arriving. In this case, arrival means getting to appear before God in the place He is worshipped in a special way!But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of God. -2 Cor. 3:18 Verse 8 ends this stanza with a personal prayer for this strength that comes from God! More gushy ____________________ to God V. 9-12Verse 9 is a corporate prayer that celebrates the _________________________, the one who will cause us to go from strength to strength, from glory to glory! Verse 10 should be all of our heart's cry – that we would be found ministering in God's house and for Him _______________________ than found in sinful places pleasing Satan. God gives us grace now – common grace as we live, saving grace to have faith in Jesus. One day we will be with Him in glory!But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. -1 Peter 5:10This delightful Psalm ends the same way Psalm 2 does – Blessed is the person who _______________ in God!

Welcome to our Sunday Service! Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to the Tabernacle family. Please connect with us via our website (link below). We hope to see you next Sunday!Join us as we welcome guest speaker Jon Baker!_____________________________To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at: youtube.com/@tabdanva  

Psalm 83 WorksheetA Psalm of AsaphIsrael's ___________________________ against her enemies V. 1-8Asaph does not use any high language as he begins this Psalm, he goes right into asking God to act against the enemies of His people.God's enemies are often consumed with ______________________, lifting up their heads (and shaking their fist) at God's people. I love that phrase in verse 3, that calls Israel God's ‘sheltered ones.' The nations around them then (and now) often make craft counsel against them, and ‘team up' to hurt them. I think of how often the United Nation passes evil resolutions against Israel. But God shelters His people.When a person or nation plans evil toward Israel, God takes notice and puts that nation on notice that they will be ________________________ unless they repent. Genesis 12:1-3For the Day of the LORD upon all nations is near; As you have done (to Israel), it shall be done to you. -Obadiah 15Beginning in verse 6, Asaph gives a kind of “Hall of ______________________” for Israel's enemies, beginning with Edom. What person do the Edomites go back to?Gen. 36:12 1 Samuel 15:8 Esther 3:1So Amalek also goes under Esau, You may remember that the Amalekites attacked Israel on the way to the Promised Land, and were under a pronouncement of God's impending judgment (Exodus 17:8-15). Who was the mother of Abraham's son Ishmael? God does give notes of _________________ in the midst of hurtful circumstances – both Isaac and Ishmael were present to bury Abraham (Genesis 25:9), and both Jacob and Esau were present to bury Isaac (Genesis 35:29). Which two listed here were the incestuous children of Lot?Genesis 19:36-38. Genesis 11:31-32Hagrites is probably a reference to the descendants of Hagar, who lived among the Moabites (1 Chr. 5:10). That makes them an _______________________ or Aramean tribe living east of Gilead. Gebal is a city north of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. Tyre's King Hiram had been a friend of David and Solomon, but they and Gebal later cheered when _______________ took over Israel (Ezekiel 27; Amos 1:9).The Philistines of course were ancient enemies of Israel (think of _______________________). Israel asks God to deal with current enemies like ______________________ ones V. 9-18Can you remember what happened to Midian?Judges 7Who killed Sisera and what did she use? Judges 4What happened to Jabin at the Brook Kishon?Judges 4Who were Oreb and Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna?Judges 7-8 What are the kinds of judgments called for in verses 13-17?Verse 18 ends by a prayer that one way or another God will be ________________________ and that these enemies might know He is God over all the earth – either in judgment, or salvation!God is glorified when repentant sinners turn to Him in salvation; but He will also be glorified by judging unrepentant sinners.

Making the Most of SONdays - Matthew 12:1-14When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeMatthew 12:1-14Jesus gets hassled on the way to worship - V. 1-2If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain. - Deut. 23:25You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; but it is they that bear witness about Me. - John 5:39The Old Testament said the Sabbath was to be a day of solemn rest. No work or gathering was to be done on that day. (Ex. 16:25-26). It was to be kept holy, or set apart for worship of God (Ex. 20:8-11).Jesus answers their criticism from Scripture - V. 3-5For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - Romans 15:4There was no common bread available for David and his men to eat, but there was the holy showbread that only the priests could consume. The priest recognized this was a time for an exception to the rule based on necessity, and let David and his men eat the holy bread, as long as they were not currently sexually impure (1 Samuel 21).Jesus states that the priests on duty work every Sabbath they serve. They labor by removing the showbread, preparing fire for the sacrifices, and performing all their Temple service. The point Jesus is making here is that the Law ordains labor for some on the Sabbath as a duty.Jesus makes 3 key statements about worship day - V. 6-81. From verse 6 we see that God is greater than the buildings He is worshipped in during our SONday gatherings!For I desire steadfast love (HESED) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6:62. From verse 7 we see that loving God and others must be prioritized in our SONday gatherings!And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” - Mark 2:273. From verse 8 we learn that Jesus is also the Lord over the realm of time – He is Lord over the rhythm in our lives involving cycles of work and rest. The misuse of the Sabbath by the Pharisees should not keep us from honoring God's seventh day rest principle.Note that God commemorated a day of rest and worship to bless mankind BEFORE He gave Israel the Law. The Sabbath was the way Israel was commanded to observe the 7th day principle; Most Christians observe it on Sundays, the day Jesus rose from the dead!Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. - Matt. 28:1On the first day of the week, when we were gathered to break bread, Paul talked with them… - Acts 20:7aNow concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are also to do. On the first day of EVERY week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I arrive. - 1 Cor. 16:1-2Jesus makes the most of His SONday - V. 9-14I love Jesus' statement in verse 12 – Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” People then and far too many people now treat their animals and their possessions as more important than people God calls them to minister to. But Jesus places the highest value on seeing people get ministered to. “When it came to his own glory, Liddell would surrender it all rather than run on Sunday. But when it came to the good of children in a prison camp, he would referee on Sunday. Liddell would sacrifice a gold medal for himself in the name of truth but would bend over backward for others in the name of grace.” - Randy Alcorn, page 79, The Grace and Truth Paradox

Psalm 82 WorksheetAnother psalm of Asaph.God is the ______________________ judge over all other so called ‘gods' V. 1-2Verse 1 is so intriguing, and made more so in the Hebrew language, where the same Hebrew word Elohim (H430) is translated ‘God' at the beginning of the verse and ‘gods' at the end, with the word El (H410) in the middle translated ‘mighty.' It is a great reminder that the ______________________ a word appears in often forces our interpretive options. Anyone want to guess what the 4 interpretive options for “gods” at the end of verse 1might be?Whatever is meant by “gods” in verse 1, the point is clear – God is the Ultimate Judge over all of those who are put forward as rulers and judges over others. In the end those ________________________ ‘judges' will be judged by Him! God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. -Ps. 7:11The one true God does not side with the wicked the way these bad rulers do; no, He will judge the unrepentant wicked and unrepentant evil rulers who let the wicked prosper under their wicked rule.What God ______________________ of ‘god-like' rulers V. 3-4God expects ‘godly' rulers to defend and deliver the most vulnerable among the people they rule. Who are among the most vulnerable according to verses 3-4?What are the 4 commands in verses 3-4?In the beautiful Torah of the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy, caring for the most vulnerable among them was a consistent expectation of God's people. The message of the prophets was often a _________________________ of leaders and people alike for failing to lead well. Isaiah 1:16-20 In Psalm 82 God is kind of sarcastically rebuking those who fashion themselves god-like leaders of others! It's as if He says, “Some kind of ‘gods' you are! You judge unjustly, you favor the wicked, but you don't defend, deliver, and do justly toward those who need you to do those things the most!” God states the truth about ‘_______________________' gods V. 5-7In v. 5 God _____________ all godless idols, people, and the demons backing them as being truly ignorant, foolishly walking in darkness and destabilizing the earth the way Satan did in the Garden of Eden. Who do you think God is going after in verses 6-7?The true problem behind all false ‘gods' is _______________________!Isaiah 14:12-21 Ezekiel 28:11-19Note what verse 7 teaches – the Real God will _______________________ fall or die, but false rulers, false prophets, false gods, and false angels (demons) all will! John 10:31-39In John 10:34 Jesus cites Psalm 82:7 as He chastises the Pharisees for their pride and acting as the religious judges of Him. They were acting like ‘gods' and were even trying to ____________________ to death Jesus their true God. That's what pride does – misses worship of the one true God, and sets up god substitutes that allow all manner of sin to follow. The Psalmist ends with a prayer for God to rule on earth V. 8Verse 8 is a “a call back” to Psalm 2! Remember that Psalms 1-2 set the _____________________ for every Psalm that follows. Psalm 2 Questions?

Choose Rest not Wrath - Matthew 11:20-30When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeI brought up Warner Sallman's “Head of Christ” to point out that our image of Christ needs to be shaped by what we read of Jesus in the Bible, not in popular images of Jesus. In today's passage we find images that remind us that the Bible speaks of Him as being like BOTH a Lamb and a Lion.“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (the Messiah) the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:6Jesus speaks stern words to those who won't repent - V. 20-24The people of this triangle of cities had seen Jesus work many mighty miracles, but Jesus denounced them because they did not repent and turn to Him. They wanted physical blessings, not Jesus' rule in their life.Woe is a judgment word making us think of how unbelievers will fare on the Day of Judgment. In Matthew 23 Jesus “ROARS” woe to the hard-hearted Pharisees – but here it is used of people who had more exposure to His teaching and miracles than anyone else during His earthly ministry. His ROAR still needs to be heard by those who have often heard the gospel but refused to believe in Jesus and follow Him.The day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. - Jer. 47:4 (see also Ezekiel 26).Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and all surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. - Jude 1:7Earlier in Matthew we saw that God promises degrees of reward for Christians who love and serve God now. Remember Matthew 6:20, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.” Now we see that there will be degrees of punishment in Hell for those who never repent based on how much teaching they rejected (Revelation 20:11-15).Jesus speaks comforting words to those who come to Him - V. 25-30God would rather save people than judge them. God has to judge unrepentant rebels, but He would rather transfer their sins to the cross and forgive them.

Psalm 81 WorksheetAs we read Psalm 81, look for clues about what this Psalm was written for. Also look for the place the Psalm switches to God being the one speaking.Asaph's call to Festival worship V. 1-3The opening 3 verses have ______ commands calling the people to the praise of the Festival, making this a Praise psalm.When Jacob is used for Israel instead of Israel, it is often a not so subtle _________________________ of where they came from – sinful Jacob became Israel because of what God had done in his life.Jacob's name can mean to be behind or supplanter. It was given to him at birth when he grabbed his twin brother's heel in the womb as they came out; That's a great name for one who later wrestled with God and had his name changed to Israel, which means “one who struggles with God.” The root consonant of ‘struggle' in Hebrew is SYR; For Israel it is ‘YSR.'Israel's lunar calendar meant their festivals coincided with moon ________________. The new moon was by definition the first of the month.Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. -Numbers 10:10Yahweh's _________________________ of His deliverance V. 4-7Verses 4-5 seem to confirm the statute referred to is the ______________________ Festival, since it was actually commanded before they actually left Egypt (Exodus 12). That would mean “He” going throughout the land of Egypt would be a reference to the LORD's judgment in the tenth plague.The reference to Joseph in verse 5 seems to be a reference to Joseph's role in preserving Jacob's sons/ Joseph's brothers in Egypt during the famine described at the end of Joseph. Alternatively, it could mean this Psalm was written with the Northern tribes in mind during the time of the divided kingdom (922-722 B.C.) That would mean the Psalm is urging the north not to reject God's design for the entire country.Verse 7 covers the time that Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. God led them, even though they were often stubborn and ungrateful. Time after time He delivered them and answered them “thunderously.” They tested Him and He proved Himself faithful and holy. He tested them and they showed themselves ______________________ and sinful.These are the waters of Meribah, where the people quarreled with the LORD, and through them He showed Himself holy. -Numbers 20:13Yahweh's ___________________________ to His people V. 8-16In verses 8-9 God reminds Israel of the call in the 10 commands to worship Him alone, not ________________________.In verse 10 God is telling them that He delivered them in the past, and provided for their needs – He is the _________________________ God who did that!Verse 11 has to be among the saddest statements in the Bible. No doubt they wanted God's protection and blessing, but they didn't want God _______________________. I wonder how many professing Christians that is also true about.Where in the New Testament do we read the words, “God gave them over?”___________________________God's judgment of sin begins by letting people do the sinful things they are bound and determined to do, and experience the built-in ___________________________ of those sins.Proverbs 14:12God makes clear in verse 14 that if they return to Him He will take care of their ___________________.Verse 15 is a good Old Testament verse for the _______________________ punishment of the those who don't turn to God.The Psalm ends with an additional blessing promised – If people listen to God, turn back to Him, and walk in His ways, He won't just take care of their troubles but He will provide for their needs, fully _________________________ them.

Do Everything You Do with a Grateful Heart - Psalm 107:1-3I am speaking of course about GRACE vision goggles! Those who have received God's grace through faith in Jesus are able to have a constant perspective that will help them serve God with clarity and confidence.5 G Living: Do Everything you do:For the Glory of GodFor the Good of your fellow manTo get the Gospel to non-believersTo help your fellow Christians GrowWith a Grateful HeartThe Hebrew word for Give Thanks is yada (H3034), which occurs 114 times in the Old Testament. It literally means “to throw” or “to cast.” Used toward God, it means “to praise” or “to give thanks.” But it is also used toward ourselves to confess our sins to God (Psalm 32:5).I acknowledged (H3034) my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess (H3034) my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” - Psalm 32:5The word benefit in Luke 6, verses 32-33, and credit in verse 34 is actually the great word charis, the word for grace and favor but also a word translated benefit, credit, thanks and gratitude in the New Testament.The word for steadfast love in Psalm 107:1 is the great word Hesed (H2617), which occurs 251 times in the Old Testament. It is translated steadfast love in the ESV, Faithful love in the HCSB, Lovingkindness and Mercy in the KJV. It is used of God's covenant love toward Israel. The closest New Testament word to it may very well be grace.For it is all for your sake, so that as grace (G5485) extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving (G2169), to the glory of God. - Romans 4:15Being grateful is all about recognizing God's blessing in your life, from His common grace to His saving grace. A grateful heart becomes the “Night vision goggles” of 5 G Living.I give thanks (G2168) to my God always for you because of the grace (G5485) of God that was given you in in Christ Jesus. - 1 Cor. 1:4Thanks (G5485) be to God for His inexpressible gift. - 2 Cor. 9:15Note that the word for grace is translated thanks in 2 Corinthians 9:15. A Grateful heart is a grace-filled heart!As each one has received a gift (G5486), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace (G5485). - 1 Peter 4:10For this is a gracious (G5485) thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows for while suffering unjustly. - 1 Pet. 2:19The benefits of gratitude go beyond the spiritual to the physical, psychological, and social.

Psalm 80 Worksheet The Heading reads “To the Chief Musician” – The Hebrew is Nasah (H5329). It occurs 65 times in the Old Testament, _____________ in Psalm Headings, reminding us the Psalms were written to be sung! The Greek Septuagint Old Testament added to the title the words, “Concerning Assyria,” which may place it as written after the Northern Tribes of Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:6). As I read Psalm 80, look for one repeated verse that will help outline this Psalm. The Hebrew word for “Restore” in verses 3, 7, and 19 is the word “Sub” (H7725). It occurs 952 times in the Hebrew O.T. It can also be translated return or turn back. It actually occurs as “____________________” in verse 14, helping us outline Psalm 80. First Verse and Chorus: God, please _________________ our country V. 1-3 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” -John 10:11 What is Joseph often a reference to? When the United Kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon became the _______________ Kingdom, there was Judah in the South and Israel in the North. Who did Ephraim and Manasseh descend from? In the Old Testament, sometimes the Northern Tribes are referred to by the names Joseph or Ephraim. Where does the reference to Benjamin come in here? Second Verse and Chorus: God, please turn Your anger away V. 4-7 What a picture verse 5 paints! __________________ over the consequences of our sins. 2 Cor. 7:9-10 Psalm 56:8 What is a big thing believers are to shed tears for? Psalm 125:5-6 Verse 6 has been true many times throughout world history as antisemitism rears its ugly head. Third verse and “Restore” word: Reminder that Israel is God's ‘___________________' V. 8-14a What two great events are referred to in verse 8? Isaiah 5:1-7 “You don't support the root, but the root supports you!” -Romans 11:18b What sea is he writing about? What river is he talking about in the context of the northern tribes? Fourth verse and chorus: Look down from Heaven and send Your __________________ man to save us V. 14b-19 One thing about God's great victories over bigger foes in the past is that it gives _____________________ that if you get right with God bigger foes can be defeated now! And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. -Luke 21:24b The times of the Gentiles are from the Fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Could have been the First Coming if Jesus Christ had been fully received when He came). Even now God isn't done with Israel yet! Acts 1:6-8 Romans 9-11 Verse 17 is a clear reference to _______________________________. Daniel 7:13-14 Daniel 7:21-27

Do Everything for the Growth of Fellow Christians The Normal Christian Life The reality is that the person right next to you in church is also struggling as they grow in their faith. And God's plan has always been for you to know you are not alone, but to grow up in the faith with other Christians in the body of Christ. 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Ephesians 4:11-16 We each have our part to play in the body of Christ According to Eph. 4:12, who does the work of the ministry in the church? Not just the leaders – the saints do the work of the ministry. According to Ephesians 4:16, what causes the growth of the body? When every part is working properly, when every part does its share. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - I Peter 4:10-11 We are called to build each other up in the body of Christ So the Pastor is to build us as a church with God's truth, but church members are also called to lovingly build up themselves and each other with God's truth. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:24-25 We are called to grow in our faith as individuals and together “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me, it has feet, it runs after me, it has hands, it lays hold on me.” - Martin Luther But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sin. - 1 Jn. 1:7 GROW UP – Godliness Ruling Over Worldliness Under Pressure Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. - James 5:16

Psalm 79 Worksheet Psalm 79 is a ________________________ lament after an enemy incursion along with imprecatory prayers for the enemy to get what's coming to them. Lament over ___________________________ in Jerusalem V. 1-4 This sure seems to fit with what Babylon did to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 2 Kings 25:8-21 What prophet wrote a book to describe his anguish after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem? And what's the name of the book? In verse 4, the Psalm begins to turn toward imprecatory prayer. Obadiah For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, so it will be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. -Obadiah 15 The Psalmist prays the ____________________ will get what's coming to them V. 5-7 Verse 5 is one of _____________ times in the Psalms the Psalmists cries out to God, asking “How long?” The Hebrew words are Ma Ad, which looks like our English word ‘mad.' God allows the Psalmist to cry out to Him in anguish about perplexing circumstances in their lives, even ones brought on by their own sin. Can you think of a place in the book of Revelation the words “How long?” appear? Revelation 6:10 Revelation 18:19-20 The Psalmist asks for forgiveness for God's _______________________ people V. 8-9 On what 4 grounds does the Psalmist ask for forgiveness in verses 8-9? 1 John 1:9 The Psalmist mixes the prayers for judgment to the unrepentant and mercy to the repentant V. 10-12 Verse 11 is a great verse for those of us trying to save unborn babies from ______________________. The Psalmist ends with ____________________ to praise God V. 13 The Psalmist declares in verse 13 that God's ____________________ people will once again give thanks and praise God. Habakkuk 3 :17-19 Lamentations 3:19-40

Do Everything to get the Gospel to Non-Believers 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Luke 24:44-53 Our message: We present Christ as the focal point of the Bible's message - V. 44-45 All we like sheep have gone astray, but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6 We present Christ's saving work for sinners - V. 46 For God so loved the world that He gave His one-of-a-kind Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 The gospel IS Jesus Christ – Who He is and what He has done to save repentant sinners! Run John run the law demands – but gives him neither feet nor hands. Far better news the gospel brings – it bids him fly, and gives him wings! - John Bunyan To become a Christian you must: 1. Repent – to repent is to change your mind. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. - Acts 3:19 2. Believe in Jesus Christ. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name written under given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12 3. Receive Jesus Christ by calling out to Him. As many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become a child of God. - John 1:12 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. - Rom. 10:13 4. Commit to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior from now on. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (or My Father's hand). - John 10:27-29 We challenge sinners to turn to Christ for forgiveness of sins - V. 47-48 “This generation of Christians is responsible to reach this generation of lost souls around the world!” - Keith Green We are together to take the gospel to the whole world - V. 47-48 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. - Acts 1:8 We rely on the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit - V. 49-53 Engel Scale of ‘Steps to Christ.' “When we bring someone to a decision to trust Christ in the course of a conversation or two, we can be sure of one thing: considerable preparation and laboring has already occurred in that life before we arrived on the scene.” - Jim Peterson But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. - Matthew 13:23 Some thoughts on you personally reaching out: Some thoughts on your Personal Missions Strategy

Psalm 78 Worksheet The Hebrew word for contemplation is Maschil (H4905). It is used in the titles of _____ of the Psalms. With 72 verses, Psalm 78 is the second longest of the Psalms. It still only has ______________% as many verses as the longest, Psalm 119 (176 verses). Two more things we know about Asaph: He liked his worship ___________________ (cymbals and trumpets) He influenced _______________________ after him to worship God! Psalm 78:1-8 is like 2 Timothy 2:1-2. There are at least ___________ generations of believers pictured in both passages. Why are we to rise and tell our children the things of the Lord? So they may put their __________________ in God (v. 7) Psalm 78:9-55 is a wonderfully poetic retelling of the Exodus and Conquest of Canaan. God took His people out of Egypt and ___________________________ them to the Promised Land. In these verses we see both God's ____________________________ and Israel's failures and fickleness emphasized. Psalm 78:56-72 celebrate the emergence of __________________________ as foremost of the tribes. Verse 59 speaks of the rejection of Israel, and abandonment of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. What tribe is Shiloh in? _______________________ Genesis 37-50 tells the story of the 12 tribes, and why the Messiah will be from the tribe of Judah not Joseph. In the rest of the Old Testament those 2 tribes _________________________ the others. Even before the Kingdon of Israel divided the basic division of Israel was Judah in the South and Joseph and the other tribes in the North. In the Old Testament, sometimes the _________________________ North is referred to as Joseph or Ephraim, as happens here in Psalm 78. Psalm 78 could also be a rationale around the time of the dedication of the Temple for why the ruling tribe is now Judah and why the Temple is ______________ Judah's borders in Jerusalem, not Ephraim's at Shiloh. Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited for, it is something to be achieved. -William Jennings Bryan

Do Everything for the Good of Others - Matthew 5:13-16 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart The power for 5 G living comes from the power of the triune God, accessed through the outlet of God's grace when we place our faith in Christ! When we are saved by God's grace through our faith, we get power for 5 G living. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10 “Common grace includes earthly blessings all people enjoy but that are distinct from the spiritual blessings that only believers enjoy. When we speak of common grace, we are speaking of God's kindness to all people during their time on earth, regardless of their present status with Him.” -Derek J. Brown Three Principles of doing good for others 1. We are to act for the good of others By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. - John 15:8 A phrase I love is the phrase, “Add value!” And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. - Titus 3:14 2. We are to do good for others as able in in concentric circles And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal. 6:9-10 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - I Timothy 5:8 Husbands, your first neighbor is your wife. Wives, your first neighbor is your husband. The first neighbor you are to show love and respect for is your spouse. Marriage expert Dr. John Gottman says the first key to making marriage work is to “embrace each other's needs.” When we experience God's saving grace, we gain the spiritual power to partake in Jesus Christ's Great Commission given in Matthew 28 to take the gospel to all peoples. But we also gain the spiritual power to partake in God's ‘cultural commission' given in Genesis 1 to be stewards of the earth's resources for God's glory, and be agents of common grace for the good of our fellow man. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” - Genesis 1:27-28 3. We are to view all we do for others as done for God And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. -Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of an inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24 There was another phrase that came out of the Reformation – all of life is to be lived Coram Deo – before the face of God! The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head. - Proverbs 20:29 “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” -John Wesley

Do Everything for God's Glory 5 G Living – Do everything you do… For the Glory of God For the Good of your fellow man To get the Gospel to non-believers For the Growth of your fellow Christians With a Grateful heart Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you do, from the simplest things to the most important, in private and public, at home, work, school, church, and in your spare time, do it all for the glory of God! The primary O.T. Hebrew word for glory is Kabod (Strong's 3519). It is best translated as glory, honor, or splendor. Some scholars have noted it includes the idea of weightiness, of importance worthy of reverence (a big deal!). The primary New Testament word is Doxa (Strong's 1391), from which we get our word doxology. It is also best translated as glory, honor, splendor, with the clear idea of praise included. In His temple everyone says, “Glory!” -Psalm 28:9 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” - Isaiah 6:3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. - Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. - Psalm 97:6 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. - Habakkuk 2:14 The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory. - Jeremiah 4:2 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. - Isaiah 60:1-3 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive to receive…glory! - Rev. 5:12 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. - Rev. 19:7 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light! - Rev. 21:23-24 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight." - Jeremiah 9:23-24 What does it mean to give God glory? Acknowledge God as the source of what has been entrusted to you Adore Him for who He is and what He has done in your life Applaud Him in thought, word, and deed Then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” - Deuteronomy 8:17-18 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. - Acts 12:21-24 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.- 1 Corinthians 10:31 To seek one's own glory is not glory! - Proverbs 25:27 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. - Proverbs 27:2 God gives grace to the humble so they can turn from pride, in which a person glorifies themselves, to the real opposite of pride, which is glorifying God!

A warm welcome to Dr. Paul Weaver as he preaches from the Gospel of John, reminding us of the uniqueness of Christianity as compared to all world religions and faiths. We serve a risen Savior! Welcome to our Sunday Service! Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to the Tabernacle family. Please connect with us via our website (link below). We hope to see you next Sunday! _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms! Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.org Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamily Check out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Welcome to our Sunday Service! We pray that this is a blessing for you. Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? Here are Pastor Eddie's sermon notes. Feel free to follow along! _____________________________ Don't you wish everyone used it? - Genesis 35:1-12 Reroute to the beginning (v.1) Rid yourself of idols (v.2a, 4) Robe yourself anew (v.2b) Reaffirm your commitment to the Lord (v.3,5-8) Recall the Lord's promises (v.9-12) _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms! Visit our website: www.thetabernaclefamily.org Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamily Check out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Christmas Means God Sent Salvation When you put together the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah the only person who could ever fulfill them all is Jesus Christ – out of trillions of beings who ever existed, only Jesus fulfills them all! In the gospels we then find the breathtaking material about the first Christmas when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!” The eternal Creator (John 1:1-3) became part of His creation to redeem us. One thing we don't cover as much at Christmas time is what the Apostles' letters tell us about Christmas in the decades after Jesus came. This morning we will look at Christmas according to the Apostle Paul. Galatians 4:1-7 Verses 1-3 show our need as sinners. Israel was under the Law of Moses the way a child was under their guardian's authority. The rest of us as Gentiles were under the moral law God put within us (Romans 1). Both laws convicted us all as guilty sinners before God who needed saving. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” -Ephesians 2:1 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23 Jesus came at just the right time! One advantage to Jesus being born when He was is that the world was still under 1 billion people. As the world grew in population, the influence of the gospel grew with it. Jesus came with just the right motivation! Two of the sweetest words in the English language have to be “God sent!” The concept that God the Father sent God the Son to earth occur at least 47 times in the New Testament reminding us of the best Christmas gift! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not SEND His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. -John 3:16-17 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By SENDING His own Son in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. -Romans 8:3-4a And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. -John 17:3 Jesus Christ came in just the right way! Sin came into the world through the first woman and the first Adam. Now salvation came into the world through a young virgin woman and this “Second Adam.” Jesus was born without sin and never sinned so He could save us from our sins. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” -Genesis 3:15 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. -1 Tim. 3:16 Jesus came to buy the most expensive gift! The Law of Moses let Israel know what God expected of them to bring Him the glory He deserves. It also revealed how Israel sinned and failed to bring Him that glory. According to Romans 1-3, the internal moral law does the same for Gentiles. I am not okay, and you are not okay – we are blaspheming liars, worshipers of idols, filled with disrespect for authority, consumed with lust, theft, and coveting – and God would be right to send judgment – Instead He sent Jesus to save us! Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! -2 Cor. 9:15 Those who receive Jesus receive more gifts as well! When you receive Jesus you receive the gift of adoption into God's family! When you receive Jesus you receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. When you receive Jesus, you now have relationship with God the Father. When you receive Jesus, you have a heavenly inheritance coming!

Welcome to our Sunday Service! We pray that this is a blessing for you. Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? _____________________________ To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website:www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/@tabdanva  

Psalm 76 Worksheet We come again to a question of whether or not Asaph or one of his descendants wrote this Psalm. The Greek Septuagint added the words “Regarding the Assyrian” to the title, suggesting this Psalm was written when Assyrian King Sennacherib was repelled from Jerusalem in the days of King _______________. (2 Kings 18:14-19:37; Isaiah 36-37). The famous Prisms of Sennacherib confirm the siege of Jerusalem but avoid claiming the destruction of the city or surrender of its king. The mysterious death of the Assyrian king is alluded to in the Rassam Cylinder where Ashurbanipal tells how he punished the murderers of his grandfather Sennacherib. Eusebius concurs. -Bob Alden Psalm 76 divides nicely into _______________ 3 verse stanzas; each begins with a note of praise and ends with notice of a deliverance. The God of Jerusalem is _________________________! V. 1-3 What is another name for Salem of verse 2? JeruSALEM means “city of __________________.” Who was a Priest from Salem in the Old Testament? Abraham met him in Genesis 14:18-24. What is Asaph the Psalmist doing in verse 2? The Psalmist is linking Israel's right to have Jerusalem as its capitol with Abraham's ancient meeting with _______________________. Hebrews 7:1-10 Psalm 110 Verse 3 could be a reference to a great victory like the one over Sennacherib, but it makes me think of David's ___________________________ conquest of Jerusalem. Who did David win Jerusalem from? 1 Chronicles 11:1-9 1 Chronicles 13-16 covers the saga of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and placing it in the Tabernacle. When he did, he got ________________ and others to lead out in perpetual praise there! God is more _________________________ than His enemies V. 4-6 Mountains here are a euphemism for proud foreign rulers who _______________ themselves against Israel, like Pharaoh, like Jebus, like Sennacherib. Israel's just cause in exiting Egypt goes along with the just cause of making Jerusalem its capitol. God is to be feared by His enemies but _______________________ the oppressed V. 7-9 The word for fear is the important Hebrew word yare, which occurs 308 times in the Old Testament. It can mean terror that evokes fear, and that's how its intended for God's enemies who refuse to repent. For those who honor God, it turns into reverence for our “__________________________” God. Verse 9 would of course fit with a great deliverance like the one in Hezekiah's day. But it also fits generally with the thought that God will have the ______________________ word in our lives – a comfort to the oppressed but a terror to the unrepentant. God is the King who will have the final word. V. 10-12 Verse 10 is the best known verse in the Psalm. People run their mouth about God all the time, but when judgment is final all will acknowledge that they were wrong and God was ___________________. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:10-11 Who does verse 11 make us think of here at Christmas-time? Who brought gifts to God and worshipped Him? Read Matthew 2:1-11 The last verse of Psalm 76 makes us think of pretend kings like King ____________________ who will wilt in the judgment. All wise rulers will turn to Jesus!

The Perplexed Prophet - Matthew 11:1-19 Today we will see Jesus explain His calling to John the Baptist; we will also see Jesus explain John the Baptist's calling to the crowds; and finally Jesus' call for everyone to walk in the wisdom of faith. Matthew 11:1-19 Jesus sent out the first ones, and began training the next ones – just like we do to this day! The next ones probably included men like Justus and Matthias, who later would be the finalists to replace Judas Iscariot. Jesus explains John the Baptist's calling to the crowds - V. 7-15 JTB was more than a prophet because he served as the Messiah's forerunner – His prophetic ministry stood at the end of the age of Mosaic Law and at the beginning of the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of sins. - Luke 1:76-77 And many came to Him (Jesus). And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this Man was true. And many believed in Him (Jesus) there. - John 10:41-42 In Old Covenant days believers went to the Temple; In these New Covenant days believers are each Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Thus every believer living in New Covenant days is ‘greater' than the greatest saint living under Old Covenant days. “You brood of vipers – who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our Father.” - Matthew 3:7-9 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. - 2 Tim. 3:12 JTB was the fulfilment of Malachi 4:5-6. John himself denied that he was Elijah (John 1:21), yet he came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Jesus explains His calling to John the Baptist - V. 2-6 John was probably both perplexed and perturbed! Perplexed because he had spoken of the Christ as bringing judgment to evildoers and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12). Perturbed because he was also related to Jesus (Luke 1:36), yet rotting in evil King Herod's prison while ‘cousin' Jesus was healing, not judging! Jesus answered JTB by citing the miracles He was doing, all in fulfilment of prophecies (see for instance Isa. 29:18-19; 35:5-10; 61:1). In his zeal for what we would call Christ's Second Advent (Coming) as Conquering King to bring absolute righteousness to Israel and judgment of God's enemies, JTB had minimized what we would call Christ's First Advent (Coming) to deal with both Israel and the world's bigger problem of spiritual lostness. No one will experience the physical external rule of the King who doesn't first experience the spiritual internal reign of King Jesus. What chokes every prayer and every hope is the memory of all the prayers H.and I offered and all the false hopes we had. Not hopes raised merely by our own wishful thinking, hopes encouraged, even forced upon us, by false diagnoses, by X-ray photographs, by strange remissions, by one temporary recovery that might have ranked as a miracle. Step by step we were ‘led up the garden path.' Time after time, when He seemed most gracious He was really preparing the next torture. - C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, page 30 What are you going to do when your expectations of God's work in your life don't match up with the way He actually works? Will you still worship and follow Jesus? Or will you choose to be offended at Him because of your unrealistic expectations. Some of you may be perplexed and even perturbed at Jesus right now. I hope you will go to Him in prayer and get back to a place of surrender to God and His actual calling for you rather than your unmet expectations. Jesus' call for everyone to walk in the wisdom of faith - V. 16-19

Precious Gifts - Philippians 1:29-30 James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Never in a million years would we consider suffering to be a gift, yet this, among other things, is exactly what Paul states. PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30 What has the Father of heavenly lights given us?  Gifts (v.29) “been granted” o The same root word from which we get “Grace” Why did He give them?  (v.29) “for the sake of Christ” o By definition, He alone receives glory. Remember: In the giving, God gets the glory; in our receiving, God gets the glory. Three Precious Gifts that Bring God Glory 1. Gift of Salvation Brings God Glory (v.29) o We did nothing to earn salvation  Isaiah 64:6  Romans 3; Ephesians 2:3  Ephesians 2:8-9 o Salvation is to God's glory and results in our joy!  Romans 14:17 Don't be distracted this Christmas by that which is here today and gone tomorrow! God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Savior Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy. 2. Gift of Suffering Brings God Glory (v.29) o 2 Corinthians 11; Hebrews 11 o Matthew 5:10-12 o Suffering does several things:  Confirms our salvation • John 16:33 • 2 Timothy 3:12  Purifies us • Romans 5; James 1; Job 13:15 3. Gift of Company Brings God Glory (v.30) o Suffering Bonds the Saints Together  Hebrews 13:3 Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface: O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy. o Suffering Permits Us to Share in the Suffering of Christ  Philippians 3:10 • “know” = experientially “If we were suffering for ourselves, it would be no privilege, but because we are suffering for and with Christ, it is a high and holy honor. After all, He suffered for us, and a willingness to suffer for Him is the very least we can do to show our love and gratitude.” ~Warren Wiersbe  Application o Romans 12:14  Bless • Luke 6:27-36  Do not Curse o Job 13:15 o Hebrews 11:1

Psalm 75 Worksheet The Psalm/ song was to be set musically to the tune “Do not destroy.” That same tune was used in Psalms 57-59. It is a tad ironic since the Psalm ends with the knowledge that God will destroy the __________________________. So many of the Psalms go back to the idea introduced in Psalm 1:6 – For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. -Psalm 1:6 Psalm 75 begins and end with thanksgiving and praise, making this a _________________ and praise Psalm. When the Psalmist says “God's name is near, it is the same thing as saying God's _________________ is near.” The Psalm shifts from the third person to the first person in verses 2-5 as God says what He will do. Verses 2-3 make such an huge point there is a Selah so that we stop and think about what God has said before we go on. We don't need to fret about whether God will judge the wicked and reward the righteous. God says He will at a time of His own ________________________! The God who gives and takes away (Job 1:21) can dissolve the earth as it is now, and set it back up on firm pillars. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. -Proverbs 16:18 God Himself _____________________ the boastful and wicked in verses 4-5. The concept of lifting up the horn occurs ________ times in this short Psalm. Animals with horns use those to fight other animals. When applied to people and kingdoms, horns represent strength or _________________________. So what is God saying when he warns the proud and boastful not to lift up their horns with a stiff neck? God is warning the boastful and wicked person not to take Him on, and explains __________ in verses 6-7. Israel was not to fear other countries, and those countries would not have the final word about God's people – God would! He always has the _____________________ word! Verse 7 makes me think about God's word to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. The words of Psalm 75 are prophetically pointing forward to how God will judge _______________ sin, either at the Cross or at the Great White Throne Judgment. The Prophets often spoke of God making the wicked drink a cup filled with ‘judgment' on their sins, like a man drinking ____________________ that would make him die (Job 21:20; Isa. 51:17; Jer. 25:15; Hab. 2:16). For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: “Take this cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.” -Jeremiah 25:15 But who else took up the cup of wrath for His people? So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given me?” -John 18:11 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; but he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him. -John 3:16 We are all wicked sinners (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Christ took the wrath due our sins on Himself (2 Cor. 5:21). For those who don't receive Him, the wrath ________________ their sins will be pronounced at the Great White Throne Judgment and Lake of Fire. Christ's atoning death is sufficient to save all who have ever lived; but it is efficient to save only those who repent and believe. Satisfied that the Judge of all the earth will do right, the Psalmist returns to ____________________. This Thanksgiving we can rejoice because whatever we are facing, God will have the _______________ word in our lives!

Thankful for Our Win-Win Situation - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Today's message is a simple one: make sure this week you keep the THANKS in Thanksgiving, and remember WHO to give thanks to: the very God who created you and died to redeem you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Notice how short these 3 verses are: verse 16 is just 2 words; verse 17 is just 3; verse 18 is just 17. All 3 are only 22 verses, (John 3:16 is 24). You could memorize these verses this week and quote them at Thanksgiving! Notice also that we are told it is God's WILL for believers to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.” God WANTS, desires, and expects these things to characterize true believers. The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. - Deuteronomy 29:29 Notice that God's word does not present 3 suggestions here, but 3 commands. Believers are commanded to “rejoice, pray and give thanks” no matter how they are feeling or what they are experiencing. How many times did Paul command believers to “rejoice?” At least 7 times! “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” - Philippians 4:4 Even if I am being poured out as a drink offering…I am glad and rejoice with you all. -Phil. 2:17 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. - Col. 1:24 A non-Christian would not respond well to a command to rejoice and give thanks, especially if their circumstances we're bad. They would think you cruel for suggesting it. Do you know who else has a hard time with the commands to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances? Those we may call “carnal Christians.” As for the one sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and pleasures of life choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. - Combine of Mt. 13:22 & Lk. 8:14 The faithful and fruitful follower of Jesus Christ can be commanded to rejoice whether circumstances are going our way or not, because God has given us an eternal perspective about wins and losses in life. Bur rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. - 1 Pet. 4:13 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Phil. 4:6-7 (note how close to 4:4) Christians can always rejoice and give thanks because we pray to the God who is always in control. What do we mean when we say that God is in control? That God will have the final word in our lives, not circumstances. Genetics is important, but it can't overcome environment; Environment is important, but it can't overcome circumstances; Circumstances are important, but they can't overcome our choices; Our choices are important, but can't overcome God's choices. The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will exult over you with loud singing. - Zephaniah 3:17

Psalm 74 Worksheet The heading of Psalm 74 says that it is a “contemplation of Asaph.” Last time I made a big deal about how 12 Psalms are ascribed to Asaph. This does not necessarily mean he wrote them all – it could be that the “________________ of Asaph” wrote some of them just as the sons of Korah did. That would seem to fit the content of Psalm 74, which sure sounds like it is referring to the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC. Psalm 74 is a _________________________ lament over destruction suffered at the hands of enemies, and a prayer for God to do something about it. Taking our “___________________” Questions to God V. 1-11 Taking our questions to God helps us process what has happened and sets the stage for trusting Him and “________________________” our situations to Him. Talking to God helps us go forward even when “why” is not answered. Often when the psalmists ask God to remember they are also helping themselves remember God's ______________________. By faith they know that God will respond to the humble and repentant pleas of His people. Deuteronomy 30:1-10 Or if your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this Temple, then hear from Heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their Fathers. -2 Chronicles 6:24-25 It is good and proper to take time to lament the enemies destruction of what was built up for God's ________________________. These verses certainly fit with Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the Temple in 586 B.C. The same thing happened again AD 70 under the Romans. Some of it relates to the desecration of the Temple in 167 B.C. Verse 9 does make this Psalm a little harder to place in 586 B.C. – Many prophets were active before, during and after Jerusalem's destruction. And Jeremiah was able to say the captivity would last 70 years (Jer. 29). Perhaps this does take us back to Asaph prophetically writing generically about future events. That would be a good _________________________ to Psalm 73 that told how much going to Temple helped give perspective. That would make these words helpful in not taking the Temple for granted. No matter what circumstances we face we still ____________________ our God V. 12-17 In Revelation 4-5 we read of saints always praising God in Heaven for being the Creator and Redeemer – and we see that in these verses as well! Leviathan is a reference to great and powerful sea monsters that can swallow people up. Here it is a reference to enemies of God. Even as God's people face new Leviathan's like Nebuchadnezzar and Antiochus Epiphanes, this Psalm reminds them of God taking care of past Leviathan's like _____________. Verses 16-17 are great reminder verses of the ____________________________ of God. The Psalmist asks God to deal with the enemy V. 18-23 The Psalmist knew that God would ultimately judge those who _______________ God's people. For the day of the Lord upon all nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you. -Obadiah 1:15 Verse 20 is well worth meditating on – The dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. But even there God can ____________________________, as He did in Nineveh after Jonah's preaching. The Psalm ends with the Psalmist pleading – “God, your _____________________ is at stake – judge your enemies and save Your people!” Don't miss that the Psalmist is not asking God to help him take vengeance on the enemy – He is asking God to act based on His own honor and glory. The Glory of God is the great ________________ of the Bible. God is glorified through the salvation of repentant sinners. But He will also be glorified through judging unrepentant sinners who act selfishly on earth.

Ambassadors for Christ Part 3 - Matthew 10:34-43 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. - 2 Cor. 5:20 Getting the message to people is on us as Jesus' ambassadors – what people do with the message is on them! “THIS generation of Christians is responsible for THIS generation of lost souls around the world.” - Keith Green We don't go out to engage people in physical struggle. We are in a spiritual battle to win people to Jesus who often don't see their need for Jesus. We are going out to serve a world that doesn't always want to be served. Jesus is telling us to be prepared but not paranoid! Exercise prudence in actions and speaking, but don't lose a sense of wonder at God's ability to change hearts before your very eyes! We see this on the pages of church history – as people have served Christ and witnessed for Him, they have often had conflicts with others. Today 1 in 7 Christians (360 million) worldwide suffer high levels of persecution. Now the Bible makes clear that being a Christian will equip you to be a better child, sibling, spouse, parent, friend, worker, and citizen. But you will always put Christ first, and some who don't share your faith will never understand that – and they will treat you with contempt. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 ‘Persecution' exists along a Spectrum: Mocked Overlooked Fired Beaten Martyred Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. - 2 Timothy 3:12 “I can't, but God never said I could – Jesus can in and through me, and He promised that He would.” - Wayne Barber As true Christians persevere in their faith, God promises to preserve them amidst the troubles they encounter! The main practical point is to have a sense of urgency as we witness! We want people to be right with God before He comes in judgment! 3 things to keep in mind when dealing with persecution - V. 24-31 People that don't like Jesus won't like His followers (v. 24-25) If you fear God you don't need to fear what man can do to you (v. 26-28) Know that the God who cares for even the smallest of details cares for you (v. 29-31) Trying to impact the world for Christ will mean trouble for us – but never conclude that God doesn't care for you when you go through troubles as you serve Him– His loving care is with you in every circumstance! Jesus will acknowledge all who acknowledge Him - V. 32-33 Jesus died for you, don't be afraid to take your stand for Him, starting with baptism! - Matthew 10:34-43 “Never was there an age since the name of Christians was known upon the earth, wherein there was such a direct opposition made unto the Person and glory of Christ, as there is in that wherein we live.” Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church. - Col. 1:24 Christ's suffering actualizes salvation for all who repent and believe; Our suffering is to give lost people access to that saving message.

Psalm 73 Worksheet Psalm 73 is a Psalm of Asaph as are the first ________ Psalms of Book 3 of the Psalms, Psalm 73-83. Asaph also wrote Psalm 50. 1 Chronicles 15:14-28 1 Chronicles 16:1-6, 7-8, 37 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 2 Chronicles 5:11-13 2 Chronicles 29:30 2 Chronicles 35:15 Ezra 2:41, 3:10 Neh. 7:44; 11:17, 22 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. -Nehemiah 12:46 < How each Book of the Psalm starts… Psalm: Writer: Theme: 1 Anonymous (David) The Blessed man delights in the Bible 42 Sons of Korah My soul thirsts for the living God 73 Asaph Going to ‘church' gave perspective 90 Moses Help us live our days out fearing God 107 Anonymous Give thanks to the Lord for Hesed < As I read Psalm 73, look for how it builds up toward the perspective we gain when we go to the “sanctuary of God,” making this a _______________________ Psalm! Great opening statement V. 1 Is serving God really worth it? V. 2-15 Asaph puts in a song what many followers of Jesus often think: Is serving God really worth it? We see many wicked people boasting about how well they are doing apart from God. If we are only thinking about the here and now, it is easy to ____________________ those who seem to be doing fine without God. Compare the wicked person's pride & violence ‘necklace' in verse 6 with the one worn by the person who trusts in the Lord in Proverbs 3:3. And then he amplifies the things the wicked seems to have that the righteous often don't, starting with _____________________ (v. 7). The wicked even brag about what they get away with (v. 8). The wicked also ____________________ God and run their mouth without consequence (v. 9). The wicked even get away with influencing the ________________ among us to turn from God (v. 10-11). In verses 12-14, the Psalmist is just about to ________________________ that it has not been worth it to serve God since so many that reject God seem to be doing just fine while he is struggling to make it. In verse 15 Asaph realizes that if he had stopped with the preceding thoughts and given himself over to sin he would have led all those he _____________________________ in Israel to sin, especially younger generations. Everything ____________________ when Asaph went to the sanctuary! V. 16-17 Everything changed when Asaph went to where God's voice is heard, a biblical worldview is reinforced, and holy living and service is encouraged! The same thing happens for us when we go to our Bible-believing church! What God says is true about the unrepentant _______________________ V. 18-20 God says at any moment the unrepentant wicked could die and be cast into judgment. The wicked's ‘abundance' will turn into desolation; their cockiness will turn into terror when God deals with them; their dream life will turn into an eternal nightmare. They mocked God, but God will have the __________________ word. God always has the final word! Remember Eziekiel 18:32 – God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked – He would rather they repent and live rather than go to Hell. Asaph is sad he was so foolish but thankful for God's grace V. 21-28 Asaph testifies of restored confidence and ________________________ of eternal life for having faith in God (v. 23-24). Asaph pledges to trust God no matter how _________________ he has now, knowing that after this life the wicked will ‘perish' but he will live in abundance with his God!

Ambassadors for Christ Part 2 “Lord, we are forty who have taken a stand for Thee – grant that we be forty who are crowned with victory.” Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. - 2 Cor. 5:20 Getting the message to people is on us as Jesus' ambassadors – what people do with the message is on them! “THIS generation of Christians is responsible for THIS generation of lost souls around the world.” - Keith Green Behold and Be wise - V. 16 We don't go out to engage people in physical struggle. We are in a spiritual battle to win people to Jesus who often don't see their need for Jesus. We are going out to serve a world that doesn't always want to be served. Jesus is telling us to be prepared but not paranoid! Exercise prudence in actions and speaking, but don't lose a sense of wonder at God's ability to change hearts before your very eyes! Beware and be ready - V. 17-18, 21 We see this on the pages of church history – as people have served Christ and witnessed for Him, they have often had conflicts with others. Today 1 in 7 Christians (360 million) worldwide suffer high levels of persecution. Now the Bible makes clear that being a Christian will equip you to be a better child, sibling, spouse, parent, friend, worker, and citizen. But you will always put Christ first, and some who don't share your faith will never understand that – and they will treat you with contempt. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 ‘Persecution' exists along a Spectrum:Mocked - Overlooked - Fired - Beaten - Martyred Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.    - 2 Timothy 3:12 Keep calm and keep going - V. 19-23 “I can't, but God never said I could – Jesus canin and through me, and He promised that He would.” - Wayne Barber I think “the end” Jesus speaks of here could refer to multiple situations – the end of the assignment for the age you are in. The word saved in verse 22 could be translated preserved. As true Christians persevere in their faith, God promises to preserve them amidst the troubles they encounter! The main practical point is to have a sense of urgency as we witness! We want people to be right with God before He comes in judgment! 3 things to keep in mind when dealing with persecution - V. 24-31 People that don't like Jesus won't like His followers - (v. 24-25) If you fear God you don't need to fear what man can do to you - (v. 26-28) A person who truly fears God cares more about what He thinks than what people think. If you fear God you won't need to fear anything else! Know that the God who cares for even the smallest of details cares for you - (v. 29-31) Trying to impact the world for Christ will mean trouble for us – but never conclude that God doesn't care for you when you go through troubles as you serve Him– His loving  care is with you in every circumstance! Jesus will acknowledge all who acknowledge Him    - 32-33 Jesus died for you, don't be afraid to take your stand for Him, starting with baptism! “Lord, we are 39 who have taken a stand for Thee – grant that we be 39 who are crowned with victory.”“Lord, we are 40 who have taken a stand for Thee – grant that we be 40 who are crowned with victory.”

Psalm 72 Worksheet This is the last Psalm of Book 2 of the Psalms (Psalms 42-72). Only this Psalm and Psalm _________________ are attributed to Solomon. Jacob prophesied in Genesis 49:8-12 that Judah would become the ruling tribe of Israel, and that the Messiah King would come from that tribe. While David was king He was given the Davidic Covenant by Yahweh. God told David that his son Solomon would get to build the Temple, and that a _______________________ Son of David in the family line would be Israel's Messiah King. Some of the words in this Psalm seem to be Solomon's prayer for himself to be a good king like his father David. Other words in this Psalm point to the only ___________________________ King, Jesus the Messiah. Perhaps this was written for Solomon's Kingly coronation. Do you remember what Solomon had prayed for when God came to him in 1 Kings 3 and told him to ask for anything he wanted? ____________________________ to govern God's people. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours. -1 Kings 3:9 Write out their own ____________________ of God's law. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 The word judge in the Old Testament referred to those who administered the Law as rulers. The King was to lead the people to live rightly and to make sure the most vulnerable among them were not done ___________________________. Proverbs 31:1-9 Mountains are often scary places to be, and those that live there are often known for doing their own thing. Solomon prays there will even be Shalom in places not __________________ for shalom. By the way, did you know that peace is in Solomon's Hebrew name? Shelomo wanted to bring Shalom in It is good for kings and those in authority to think about how God has allowed them to be in position not for themselves but to ________________________ (serve) to others. Romans 13:1-7 The __________________________ character of the Messiah's reign V. 5-9 Temporary kings that fear God recognize who the ___________________ King is, and how His reign is eternal, not temporal! Micah 5:1-4 Like beneficial rain, the Lord ____________________________ His subjects with benevolence, with what they need to live. Verses 7-8 definitely go beyond anything Solomon experienced to what the Bible says about the Messiah. Isaiah 9:6-7 Solomon's rule foreshadows a ___________________________ rule to come V. 10ff Verse 10 is Solomon's way of speaking about the greatness of Israel and Israel's King ___________________ north, south, east and west. 2 Chronicles 9:21 records the Tarshish tribute; 1 Kings 10:1 Sheba's contribution. Revelation 21:22-27 The end of verse 14 makes us think of Psalm 116:15, but these words make us think particularly of those who are persecuted and even _________________________ for their faith in God. The things said in verses 16-18 make us think of the millennial rule to come of Jesus Christ. Verses 18-19 fittingly end the Psalm with __________________________. Verse 20 does not mean there are no more Psalms of David after this. But the majority of the Psalms in Book 1 and 2 of the Psalms were by David. Book 1 - 37 of the 41 Psalms by David (90%) Book 2 - 18 of the 31 Psalms by David (58%) Book 3 - 1 of 17 Psalms by David (6%) Book 4 - 1 of 17 Psalms by David (6%) Book 5 - 15 of 44 Psalms by David (34%) It may be as simple as that the remaining Psalms by David are not as much prayer Psalms as praise Psalms. I prefer to think that Solomon is saying we have Books 1 and 2 of the Psalms because of David writing Psalms. We are going to keep adding Psalms now that David has died. That understanding also makes it natural that they added Psalms by David as they ______________ in the later Books of the Psalms.

Ambassadors for Christ Part 1 What is the ingredient that adds fruitfulness to faithfulness? Courage to speak when others remain silent. When a faithful believer by faith presses through their fear, meets needs and proclaims Jesus, fruitfulness to some degree will follow! Matthew 10:1-15 Three Basic Bible Study Principles (O-I-A): Observation – What the text says – what was God saying to the first audience in their context. Interpretation – What the text means – what is the timeless theological teaching here. Application – How the text applies today – what God is calling us to do in our context. Those who are called go forth to represent Christ, not themselves - V. 1-4, 7-8 We are called first to grow in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and our ministry for Him is to be the overflow from the time we have spent with Jesus, ministering to people like He would if He was physically present. There is a word that ties together the Sermon on the Mount message and this commissioning of King Jesus' Ambassadors message. It is the Greek word exousia, which can be translated as right, authority, and power. Chapters 7-9 established that Jesus is the Lord of all realms – the authority over the Doctrinal/ Moral realm, the Physical realm, and the Spiritual realm. They had seen Jesus meet needs and proclaim the Kingdom – Now He sent them out to do the things that He had modeled for them. Most of us can't work healings in this church age, but we are also called to meet needs together and proclaim Jesus! These basic men being called reminds me that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. Jesus doesn't wait until you are fully ready to give you your first ministry experiences (you will never be fully ready); Your first ministry experiences make a difference now and are part of getting you more ready for later ministry experiences to come. This particular trip was to get Israel ready for decision day - V. 5-7 The entire gospel of Matthew is building toward Matthew 28 – Jesus' Great Commission for His disciples to go to all the people groups of the world. Now we can surmise a practical point here – in training disciples it is probably best for them to first minister to people more familiar to them before they go outside their comfort zone to people very different than they are. Before we get to Matthew 28 Matthew's gospel is building toward His triumphal entry to Jerusalem in Matthew 21, and Jesus' formal offer of Himself to be Israel's King. Nineveh repented when Jonah the Prophet preached; but Israel as a whole did not repent, they did not vote “Yes” to King Jesus when He came, so one coming of their Messiah turned into two with the church age we are in now between the first and second coming of Jesus. Disciples are to trust God to meet your needs; they are not in it for the money - V. 8b-10 They were not to charge for their ministry, but they could accept basic hospitality and support and watch God meet their needs – basic reliance and trust. And the people they ministered to who appreciated their ministry would learn to support the ministry (verses 40-42). Paul later called for church saints to support their pastors financially (1 Tim. 5:17-18;1 Cor. 9:9-14). The Disciples' job is to meet needs and proclaim Jesus, and leave the results to God - V. 11-15 There is no doubt that God is calling you to step out in faith and boldly speak to people you come across about Jesus. Some will like it, and some won't! Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” - Isaiah 6:10b And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. - Hebrews 9:27-28

The Mercy Harvest After Matthew's gospel house party 2 very different groups questioned Jesus' actions; 2 very different women were healed; 2 never before done miracles were performed; and after again proving He was and is the Messiah Jesus called His followers to join His mercy harvest. Matthew 9:11-38 Two very different groups **question** Jesus' actions - V. 11-17 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy (Hesed), and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8 If you come to church as a proud self-righteous person that doesn't think you have a sin problem, Jesus says you have **flunked** Bible 101. But if you come to Jesus as a needy sinner, the Doctor is in! When truly following Jesus means doing things different than your favorite preacher does, which one should you stick with – the teacher or Jesus? There were 2 sets of Prophecies about the Messiah – the first set was that somehow the Messiah would be a Wounded Healer, a Suffering Servant. The other set was that He would be a Conquering King, throwing off Pagan Oppression and ruling physically over Israel. In verses 14-17 Jesus gives them 3 little mind pictures to transform their understanding of what “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” truly meant. New wine must be put into new wineskins that will expand as the fermenting gases expand. Jesus is telling them what He told Nicodemus – you **must** be born again – you need a new heart to hold Jesus, then the Spirit of Christ inside you will help you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God! Two very different **women** are healed - V. 18-26 Jairus knew that whoever Jesus was, He had power to heal – maybe he could even raise the dead like Elijah and Elisha the great prophets of old. While Jesus was going with desperate Jairus this desperate woman approached Jesus. Our need as sinners **unites** us at the foot of the cross. Why did this woman believe that touching the corner of Jesus' garment would heal her? Because she believed that Jesus was the **Messiah**. She believed what Malachi 4:2 said about the Messiah. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. - Malachi 4:2 Two **never** before done miracles are performed - V. 27-34 Why did the 2 Blind men call Jesus the “Son of David”? Because they believed that Jesus was the **Messiah** (Matt. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7). These men embraced the very thing the religious leaders denied. Perhaps some skeptics had responded to Jesus raising the dead by saying, “Yeah but Elijah and Elisha did that also, so maybe Jesus is just a prophet.” So here Jesus opens blind eyes, which the **prophets** had said Messiah would do. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the death unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” - Isa. 35:5-6 (see also Isa. 29:18-19) Jesus calls His followers to His mercy Harvest - V. 35-38 When you see people what do you see? Do you have compassion on them like Jesus does? The Lord of the Harvest asked His disciples to pray for laborers who will go out into the Harvest of lost people as Harvesters – and then He sent **them** out as those Harvesters in Chapter 10!

Psalm 71 Worksheet This is one of the 32 Psalms without any information before the Psalm. Interestingly, it is the ____________ Psalm like that in Book 2. As we read this Psalm, look for the Psalmist speak of trusting God at different ages in his life. Read Psalm 71 Based on what we just read, what age of life was the Psalmist when he wrote this Psalm? The Psalmist prays for deliverance from ____________________ troubles and enemies V. 1-4 Notice in verse 1 the Psalmist declares that his _______________________ is in the Lord. Then He asks for God to intervene in his current troubles. I like how verse 3 is stated – God is a strong refuge we can resort to continually. Even when there is not a place of safe refuge, God is to us a _________________________ of safe refuge – our Rock and our Fortress. The good news is that a lot of the ________________________ we made when younger were based on relying too much on what we could do physically or mentally. As we age we hopefully learn like the Psalmist to trust more in the Lord. The Psalmist reminds himself of God's __________________________ since conception, and commits himself to praise God no matter how he feels V. 5-8 The Psalmist realizes that God was sustaining him even before he learned to trust God, even when he was a _________________________ newborn. Now that his physical strength is failing, he is asking God to continue to sustain him so he can continue to praise Him. What is the Psalmists desire in verse 8 as an older man with many difficulties? To praise and glorify the Lord __________________________ each day! The Psalmist again prays for deliverance from troubles and enemies V. 9-13 The Psalmist knows he needs God's help as he ages. Perhaps he is also going through the inevitable __________________________ crisis that goes with not being able to do all that he used to, and wondering how he is going to make it. A lot of what is said here in verses 10-11 makes me think of King David's experiences. I also think of the Rabshakeh's arrogance on behalf of Assyrian king Sennacherib against Judah and King Hezekiah that we read about during the times of the Kings and repeated in Isaiah 36-39. The Psalmist re-commits himself to praise God no matter what he faces and expresses hope to __________________________ to the next generation V. 14-18 I have always loved the exuberance of young people when they excitedly praise the Lord. But there is something so special when we hear ________________________ praise from those who have been through life's ups and downs! Oh the Psalmist is just getting started! Note his commitment going all the way back to his youth to take what he has ____________________________ and declare it to others (2 Timothy 2:1-2). We see here in verse 18 the Psalmist lived with a sense of _____________________ we should have – to continually tell those coming after us about God's power to save and sustain! < The Psalmist expresses confidence of ______________________ life with God V. 19-21 Life doesn't begin at birth and it doesn't __________________ at death. Life begins at conception and goes on forever after this life in either Heaven or Hell. “Since the Psalmist has described his life from youth to old age, what other deliverance could he anticipate except resurrection from the dead.” -Robert L. Alden The Psalmist makes a ____________________ commitment to praise the Lord V. 22-24 Note the Psalm begin with the prayer that the godly Psalmist would not be put to shame, and ends with the knowledge that ultimately the ungodly who have acted to hurt the godly will be put to ________________________.

Welcome to our Sunday Service! We pray that this is a blessing for you. Feel free to like, share, and comment on this post - how has the Lord been working in your life this week? Our speaker today is Dr. Todd Wood from Center Origins Research & Education (CORE). His Biography from creation.com: Todd Wood has a B.S. in biology and a Ph.D. in biochemistry. He has been intensely involved in baraminology research since 1996 and helped to start the Baraminology Study Group. Todd has organized two conferences on baraminology, one at Liberty University and one at Cedarville University. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Center for Origins Research and Education at Bryan College and is also active at church, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. _____________________________To learn more about The Tabernacle, check out our website and follow us on our social media platforms!Visit our website:www.thetabernaclefamily.orgConnect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetabernaclefamilyCheck out our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@tabdanva

Psalm 70 Worksheet “To bring to remembrance” is also in the title, perhaps because this Psalm repeats part of _________________ Psalm. Where does this fit among the shortest of Psalms? It is tied for _________________________ in Book 2 of the Psalms with Psalm 43, although that Psalm is an extension of Psalm 42. It is in a 7 way tie for 6th shortest overall Psalm (with 15, 43, 93, 100, 125, and 127). Psalm 117 has just 2 verses, Psalms 131, 133 and 134 have 3 verses, and Psalm 123 has 4 verses. One of the interesting things about Psalm 70 is that it is almost _________________________ with Psalm 140:13-17. Do you remember which Psalm in Book 2 is almost identical to Psalm 14 from Book 1? Psalm ________________ A simple chiastic outline fits the 5 verses of Psalm 70. Verses1 and 5 have similar statements and ___________________________. Verses 2-4 have jussive, or __________________-form verbs. Verses 2-3 are imprecations on the enemy, while verse 4 is a prayer for God's people. Verse 1 has the only real difference with Psalm 40 – Verse 13 there opens with “Be pleased” O Lord. Here the song just jumps into asking for ________________________! It is okay to pray that those who have evil design toward God's people will be confused and thwarted in their efforts and come to have shame over their behavior. Of course Jesus would also now have us pray that that shame leads to turning to Christ for ____________________________. Notice the different use of seek in verses 2 and 4. The wicked seek the harm of the righteous but the righteous seek __________________. Don't miss this about so many of the prayers in the Psalms – often the Psalmist prays intensely for God to take care of the wicked, not for strength to himself ___________________ out at the wicked. The Psalm ends where it begins – PLEASE HELP NOW, Lord! The matter is so urgent David closes with O LORD, DO NOT ______________________! One last interesting thing to point out is that the verb ‘make haste' occurs in the name for Isaiah's ________________ MAHAR-shalal-hash-baz (quicken -loot-make haste- plunder.

Intended as a "part two" addendum to this morning (10/13 AM Service) due to the amount of Scripture covered. This was recorded during our Sunday Evening Bible Study on October 13, 2024. We pray this recording is a blessing for you!

When God Calls Today we are going to see Jesus take notice of a man and call Him to an eternal relationship with Himself. But in this encounter and what follows we also see that Jesus satisfies all of our human needs. Our sin nature leads to sin choices that leads to brokenness in all of the areas we just described. When we receive Jesus, we become spiritually alive. As we intentionally follow Him, the rest of changes as well. Matthew 9:9-13 We are living in the days between the Great Command (Matt. 28) and the Great Multitude (Rev. 5 & 7); these are the days of the Great Pursuit! Before Matthew went out on the Great Pursuit Jesus pursued Matthew! Jesus modeled our Great Pursuit - V.9a When Matthew wrote his gospel, he didn't organize it in a time sequence, but by common themes. Perhaps he puts his “Jesus pursued me” moment here because in the next chapter Jesus sent the twelve out to pursue others. What he did for them they were to do to others. In the people's eyes, tax collectors were “Benedict Arnold” Jews. They worked for the Roman occupiers collecting taxes from their own people. They were notorious for overcharging and pocketing the difference. In showing Jesus pursue Matthew the tax collector for salvation, the Bible is making very clear that no matter how bad your sin is in the eyes of the world, Jesus wants you to turn to Him and be saved. When God calls, you open your mind and heart to him - V. 9b Maybe Matthew had been thinking about Jesus with an accountant's mind, the kind of mind that the Holy Spirit later used to give us this gospel. Matthew probably didn't have an out-front kind of personality like Peter, but he could sift through details well. When the gospels mention Matthew by that name or his name Levi, he is always listed 7th or 8th down the list of disciples. Not everyone can be first, but God uses everyone on His team! When God calls, you open your home! - V. 10-13 Matthew the sinner had been saved, and he wanted his fellow sinners to be saved. So he opened his home and threw a party so other people like him could meet Jesus! Not every sinner who hears the gospel will respond in repentance and faith – but every sinner should get to meet and spend time with Christians who can introduce them to the love of Jesus. The Pharisees didn't understand that they were actually the worst sinners there that day – their sin of pride that led to their judgmental spirit was actually keeping them from seeing their own need as sinners. Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.” - Matt. 21:31b “The gospel says you are simultaneously more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope.” - Tim Keller

Psalm 69 Worksheet We come now to the _______________________ Psalm in Book 2 of the Psalms, the 9th longest Psalm of the 150 in the Psalter. The Heading tells us it was written by David for the Chief Musician to use in worship, and like Psalm 45 set to “the lilies.” The Hebrew word for lilies is Shoshannim, which could also refer to a six-stringed instrument. We see in David's lament and prayer a sense that after suffering there will be ______________________, and many words in this Psalm are referred to in the New Testament about things Christ went through, making it a Messianic Psalm. Read Psalm 69 What does David compare his suffering to in verses 1-2? It makes you wonder whether David as a shepherd boy or soldier had ever been caught up in flood conditions and experienced their devastation. David had cried tears until he was wore out, and his throat has gotten sore from crying out for deliverance, but it had not come. The last part may be a way of saying, “I'm dying here hoping for God to save me” (Verse 3). Jesus quoted verse 4 in reference to Himself in John 15:25. Verse 5 makes us think of the omniscience of God – God _____________________ our foolishness and our sins are not hidden from Him. In the Psalm David will appeal to God for mercy (v. 13) and lovingkindness (v. 16). I like David's train of thought – “God, you know I am a sinner; I know you receive repentant sinners who cry out to you!” John may have been thinking of Psalm 69:8 when he wrote in John 7:3-5 that even Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him. And John definitely quoted verse 9 about Jesus' zeal for the purity of Temple worship. A lot of David's suffering also parallels Job's suffering. Job 19:13-15; Job 17:6 compared to Psalm 69:11 Despite the ____________________________ of even family and the mocking of drunkards, David appeals to God's mercy. I hope part of what you do during the week is _____________________ for people with heavy hearts who think no one cares like David describes himself (verse 20). May we say to someone this week in word and deed, “I care, and God cares.” All four gospels cite verse 21 as they record the events of Golgotha/ Calvary (Matt. 27:34, 48; Mark 15:23; Luke 23:36; John 19:28-30). Several of the curses on the wicked are referred to in the New Testament. Verses 22-23 are used by Paul in Romans 11:9-10 as Paul speaks of God's vindication of a godly _________________________ who believe as opposed to “the rest” who were blinded. Jesus also used verse 23 in reference to the generation that rejected Him (Matt. 23:38; Luke 13:35). Who did Peter apply verse 25 to in Acts 1:20? Verse 26 is an interesting allusion to God's sovereignty: “They persecute the ones You have struck.” It makes us think of how God ___________________________ Job's sufferings, but his ‘friends' interpreted that suffering as sin-based and ‘persecuted him.' Of course it also makes us think of Jesus, slain before the foundation of the world (1 Pet.1:20; Rev. 13:8). Genesis 50:20 Romans 8:28 Craig Gilreath – “Nothing happens to me that doesn't first come across God's desk!” Verse 28 is another reference to the Book of Life. Those in “right standing” with God through faith will be in the Book and are citizens of Heaven, the wicked who _________________________ God will not be (Rev. 20:11-15). Let your testimony be the same as verse 29 – That's what happened to Jesus – God the Son, the Son of Man returns to Heaven after suffering with glorified human flesh! The last 7 verses go from the suffering of the “cross” to the triumph of “________________________.” In these last verses the meek, the weak, the needy and despised who know the Lord are all vindicated! Verse 32 is a good verse to underline, circle, and continually meditate on! Verse 34 makes us think of Romans 8:21 and Acts 3:19-21.