Introduction

• 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
• Baptism is just the beginning of life in Christ.

What are some telltale signs of spiritual immaturity?

I go around with a chip on my shoulder.

• Romans 15:1-3
• I Thessalonians 5:15-18
• Christians always have something to rejoice about!

I’m still using impure entertainment.

• Ephesians 5:3-4
• II Samuel 11 – David and Bathsheba
• Romans 12:2
• Galatians 5:19-24
• Suggestions: ClearPlay, VidAngel

I fight fire with fire.

• Romans 12:14-21 – Overcome evil with good!
• Matthew 5:44
• Luke 6:28
• I Peter 2:12

• II Thessalonians 2:13-3:18

• II Thessalonians 2:1-12 – Review. See Romans 1:24, 26, 28. God does not miraculously intervene to keep us from sinning. What then should we do? See II Thessalonians 2:15. Hold fast to what we’ve been taught!

• II Thessalonians 2:13-17

  • Calvinists would say that v13 shows that God made the choice and they were sanctified miraculously by the Spirit. See Acts 10:34-35. God decided on the criteria for salvation, not on individual people that would be saved.

  • The “sanctification by the Spirit” may not necessarily be miraculous. Compare Revelation 1:11; 2:7. The terms “Spirit” or “Holy Spirit” were often interchanged with the inspired words or messengers God used. Compare II Thessalonians 2:14-15; I Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 17:1-4. God doesn’t make people Christians – He gives them free will and they choose to respond to the truth God set before them.

• II Thessalonians 3:1-5 – Prayers were requested for the spread of the gospel and rescue from perverse and evil men. See Philippians 1:22. Do we pray for God’s word to spread?

• II Thessalonians 3:6 – See I Corinthians 5:9-13. Christians cannot associate with those who have turned their back on God.

• II Thessalonians 3:7-12 – There was a particular problem of idleness, possibly because they thought the end of the world was imminent. Paul was trying to be a good example to them by working to support himself.

• II Thessalonians 3:13-15 – Unruly brothers must be disciplined. It is not easy, but it is necessary to try to bring them back to God. This discipline must come out of love!

• II Thessalonians 3:16-18 – Paul prayed for them to have peace with God.

• I Timothy 2:5 – A mediator is a go-between. Jesus made it possible for us to approach God in prayer.

• Sadly, the privilege of prayer is often under-used.

• I Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing. This does not mean to literally pray all the time, but to be in a prayerful mindset. We should be able to pray at any time. Compare language in II Samuel 9:7.

• The best example of prayer without ceasing is the prayer life of Jesus:

  • Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:17

  • Luke 3:21 – Jesus prayed after baptism. This is the best thing to do after baptism!

  • Mark 1:35 – He started His day in prayer.

    • I Peter 5:8-9 – Resisting the devil by praying is the best way to start your day.

  • Matthew 15:36 – Jesus prayed at mealtime.

  • Mark 14:23 – Jesus prayed at the close of His day. This is the same day Jesus fed 5,000 people and learned of John the Baptist’s death. It was a busy and sad day, but He prayed!

  • Luke 6:12-13 – Jesus prayed when choosing the 12 apostles. We should likewise pray when making important decisions.

    • James 4:13-14 – We must take God’s will into consideration when making decisions.

  • Luke 9:28; Matthew 17:1-2 – Compare Romans 12:2. The same Greek word is translated as both transformed and transfigured.

  • Mark 14:32 – Jesus prayed before crucifixion. He was praying that His time on the cross would be short (John 10:18).

  • Luke 23:34, 46 – Jesus prayed at death. He prayed for His enemies and for God to receive His spirit.

• As we live, so will we die! Let us live a life of praying without ceasing.

• If our prayer life imitates Jesus, it won’t be long between our last prayer and our last breath.

• I Peter 3:12 – God hears the prayers of the righteous.

• Zechariah 1:1-7:14

Introduction

• Zechariah’s name means “whom the Lord remembers.” He is also mentioned in Ezra 5:1; 6:14.
• Zechariah was contemporary with Haggai. At this point in history, the people had returned from Babylonian captivity and built the foundation of the temple but gone no further. Zechariah’s mission was the same as Haggai – stir up the people to build for the Lord.
• The book was written about 520 B.C.
• Many of the prophecies in Zechariah seem to have dual fulfillments – one near term meaning and a second, longer term fulfillment in Christ. Many of the prophecies in the book are Messianic.

Zechariah’s message

• Zechariah 1:1-6 – God had punished their fathers with Babylonian captivity. That should have been a lesson to them, as well as to us. Romans 15:4.

Eight Visions

• Zechariah 1:7-17

• Zechariah 1:18-21

• Zechariah 2:1-13 – God will rebuild Jerusalem as a town without walls.

  • Zechariah 2:4-5 – See II Corinthians 6:14-16

  • Zechariah 2:9-12 – See Hebrews 12:26-29

• Zechariah 3:1-10 – Filthy garments are referring to the sins of the people. God would remove sin through Jesus.

• Zechariah 4:1-14 – Zerubbabel would finish the temple, but by the spirit of God (Ezra 6:15).

• Zechariah 5:1-11 – God would cut off sinners over the whole earth.

• Zechariah 6:1-8 – God’s winds of judgment sent forth upon the people on Judgment Day (Jeremiah 49:36).

Joshua the priest

• Zechariah 6:9-15 – Joshua was a type of Christ, who would sit on His throne as priest.
• Zechariah 7:1-14 – See Jeremiah 41:2; 52:6. Jews were fasting because of terrible events in their history, but these fasts were not commanded by God.

• It’s very easy to mouth the words and let our minds wander!

• Why do you sing?

• The better we understand the purpose, the better our worship will be.

• Examples of singing in the Bible:

  • Exodus 15:1-21 – Singing to praise God for deliverance.

  • Judges 5:1-31 – Singing to praise God for redemption from the Canaanite army.

  • II Samuel 22:1-51 – David sang to praise God for deliverance from his enemies.

  • I Chronicles 16:23-25

  • Psalms 13:6

  • Psalms 59:16-17

• God’s design has always been for people to sing in praise for deliverance or salvation.

• Romans 15:9-12

• Ephesians 5:19-20

• Colossians 3:15-16 – We should praise God for His salvation.

• James 5:13 – It is natural to pray when afflicted. The Christian who is merry for his redemption will naturally sing praises.