Watch out for jealousy.

• Old Testament Jews: Jealous of Joseph, Acts 7:9

  • Jealousy played a part in many Bible stories

  • John 12:19

• New Testament Jews: Jealous of Jesus and apostles

  • Matthew 27:18 – Pilate could clearly see their jealousy

  • Acts 5:12-17 – The Pharisees were jealous of the influence and crowd the apostles were drawing.

  • Acts 13:44-45

  • Acts 17:5

• Us today: We must be careful of jealousy!

  • If someone is doing something good (especially of a religious nature), we should be happy for them!

  • We cannot be caught up in wanting credit for something.

  • I Corinthians 3:1-3 – A jealous mindset was holding them back!

Accept God’s plan.

• Old Testament Jews: Rejected Moses

  • Acts 7:23-27, 34-41 – Those who rejected Moses were some of the most foolish people in history.

• New Testament Jews: Rejected Jesus

  • Acts 7:52

  • Acts 2:22-23 – Peter also pointed this out.

• Us today:

  • Are we willing to accept that God’s plan involves obedience?

Accept God’s word.

• Old Testament Jews: Persecuted prophets. Acts 7:51

• New Testament Jews: Persecuted prophets.

  • Acts 6:8-9

  • Acts 7:51-60 – Stephen stoned to death.

• Us today:

  • John 12:47

  • Hebrews 10:28-29 – The punishment will be great for those who trample underfoot the Son of God.

Introduction

• Psalms 14:1; Matthew 7:1; I Corinthians 7:27; 15:32; 10:23

Context

• Reading the surrounding words and phrases to help understand a passage.

• Examples:

  • Psalms 14:1 – The fool says, “there is no God.”

  • Matthew 7:1, 5, 15, 16 – How to judge rightly. Hypocritical judging is condemned. Not all judging.

  • I Corinthians 7:26-27

  • I Corinthians 15:32-34 – If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.”

  • I Corinthians 10:23 – All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

• Acts 16:31 – Is belief all that is required for salvation?

Harmony

• God does not contradict Himself. We must harmonize different related verses.

• Examples:

  • Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus called out Satan on misusing scripture.

  • Psalms 14:1 – Compare Romans 1:20.

  • Matthew 7:1 – Compare John 7:24.

  • I Corinthians 7:27 – Compare I Timothy 4:1, 3

  • I Corinthians 15:32 – Compare Ephesians 5:15-16

  • I Corinthians 10:23 – Compare I John 3:4

  • Acts 16:31-32 – Compare James 2:19-24. We are not justified by faith alone. I Peter 3:21

Things that will help:

• Take time – II Timothy 2:15

• Read – I Timothy 4:13

• Think – I Timothy 4:15-16

Introduction

• Satan is an actual being.

  • Job 1:7

  • He is not merely the personification of evil.

  • The name Satan means “adversary.”

For us to call attention to him

• I Timothy 2:14

• James 1:14-16 – Sin has a way of deceiving us!

• Hebrews 3:13

• II Corinthians 11:12-15; 2:11 – Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. He uses distraction and deception to tempt us.

• I Peter 5:8 – Satan prowls like a lion. He is looking for easy targets.

• Luke 22:31-32, 3 – Satan wants me personally! He was able to even infiltrate the apostles.

For us to discover that our willpower is his weakness

• Luke 4:13

• Satan can’t force us to do anything! James 4:6-10

• I Corinthians 10:13

• Ephesians 6:11, 16; 4:26-27 – Don’t let anger be an opportunity to sin.

• Romans 16:20

• Hebrews 2:14

For us to remember that he is doomed

• Revelation 20:10-15 – Satan was included in the list of those to be punished!

• Matthew 10:28; 25:41 – God is the one who can send souls to hell. Satan is one of the inmates, not the warden!

• I John 5:14; 4:4

John 11:1-5, 43

We must accept the proof about Jesus

• John 11:38-45

• Jesus prayed with the intent of influencing witnesses of the resurrection (compare John 11:4).

• Jesus intentionally delayed travel to give the miracle more impact.

• John 11:46-53 – The Pharisees were clearly not interested in the truth.

• Resources to improve our faith:

  • The Bible, especially the gospels.

  • ApologeticsPress.org – Behold the Lamb of God

We should appreciate emotions without letting them control us.

• John 11:32-37 – It’s okay to cry!

• John 11:7-9, 14-16 – Thomas was saying that if they can’t keep Jesus safe, he is willing to go die with Him. Thomas was willing to push past his own fear!

We ought to trust in Jesus as our hope.

• John 11:25-26 – Jesus is our hope!

• Jesus is the one who can help us when others simply cannot – beyond the grave.

• If Lazarus could talk to us now, what would he say?

• The biggest, most important blessing from God is eternal life through Jesus!

James 1:2-4

To trust in God (because you can’t count on anything here!)

• Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

• Life on earth is vain if we leave God out of the equation.

• Matthew 6:19-21

• I Timothy 6:17-19 – Material riches are uncertain. We must trust in God!

• Psalms 33:8-22

• Romans 8:18, 38-39

I need to address some issues in my family

• Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4

• Proverbs 21:9; 17:25

• II Peter 1:5-8 – These are all qualities we should work to increase.

• Let’s use the extra time we have to strengthen our families!

The importance of being prepared

• James 4:13-15 – “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”

• Luke 12:16-21

• I Thessalonians 4:16-17

• I Thessalonians 5:2-3 – We don’t know when the Lord will return!

• God has told us what is coming, but we don’t know when.

• Matthew 24:37-39; II Peter 1:5 – People were not prepared for the flood, despite Noah’s teaching.

• II Peter 3:3-7

• What will we feel like the moment after the Judgment takes place?

• II Peter 3:10-11