[Sorry, no audio recording available due to technical difficulties. -MRW]

• Elijah, continued:
  • It’s good to be sincere, but I also need to know the TRUTH.
    • I Kings 18:20-40 – Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
    • The prophets of Baal were deluded into thinking their idol could actually do what Elijah proposed.
  • I will sometimes have to battle discouragement.
    • I Kings 19:1-10 – Elijah flees after his great victory against the false prophets.
    • I Kings 19:11-21 – God encourages Elijah.
• Daniel
  • I will not defile my conscience.
    • Daniel 1:5, 8, 12-16 – Daniel refused to go against his conscience.
    • Daniel refused to go against his conscience even though:
      • Society’s conscience was seared.
      • Daniel was in exile.
      • Daniel was young.
    • Titus 2:11-12

• Matthew 3:16-17
• Introduction
  • The Holy Spirit is not a mysterious force.
  • John 16:13; I Corinthians 12:11; Acts 5:3
• The Holy Spirit revealed truth by inspiring people to speak and write it.
  • I Corinthians 2:10-13
  • II Peter 1:20-21
  • II Samuel 23:1-2
  • Acts 1:15-16, 20
  • Ephesians 3:1-7
  • Hebrews 3:7-11
  • Hebrews 4:7
  • Hebrews 10:15
  • Revelation 1:10-11
• In Bible study, it’s important to harmonize all information (such as what happened and how it happened).
  • II Corinthians 7:6
  • John 4:1-2
  • Acts 10:19-20
  • Luke 16:29-31 (John 1:45; Acts 15:21; 26:22; 28:23)
  • Acts 21:20-21
  • Acts 7:51-53
  • Ephesians 6:17
• Many of the passages about the Holy Spirit are simply referring to His actions through the Word.
  • John 16:7-11 (Acts 2:4-37; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; James 2:8-9)
  • John 3:5-8 (I Peter 1:22-25)
  • Acts 9:31 (Acts 15:31; Romans 15:4)
• Take-aways:
  • Always ask the key question: How?
  • Because of the Holy Spirit, we can have faith in the words of the Bible (Luke 12:11-12).
  • We need to study, teach, and preach God’s word (Hebrews 2:1-4).

• I John 4:19-5:15
• I John 5:3 – Some view God’s commands as burdensome. For the one who practices righteousness and has the big picture in mind, God’s commands are not a burden.
• I John 5:6 – Jesus began His personal ministry by being baptized in water by John. He finished His work as a man by being crucified (shedding His blood). Now He serves as high priest in Heaven.
• I John 5:11 – Compare Mark 10:29-30. This is a different meaning for “eternal life” – it’s talking about the quality of life, which is not necessarily the same as living forever. Compare the use of “eternal” in Jude 1:7. See also Philippians 3:20, which says our citizenship is in Heaven. It’s talking about a relationship now, not something that will happen after we die.

• David, continued:
  • I am nothing without forgiveness, continued:
    • II Samuel 11
    • II Samuel 12:1-14 – Nathan confronts David with his sin.
      • Trying to look at ourselves from an outside perspective can help us recognize our own sin.
    • Psalm 51 – David humbles himself and asks forgiveness. He speaks with sincerity.
  • I find God’s favor through a devoted heart.
    • I Kings 15:3-5
    • II Samuel 24:10
    • I Chronicles 29:17
• Elijah
  • I might be called a troublemaker for doing what’s right.
    • I Kings 16:29-33; 21:25-26
    • I Kings 17:1-24 – Our introduction to Elijah. He announces the drought, then goes into hiding.
    • I Kings 18:1-2, 17-18 – Ahab blames Elijah for troubling Israel when in reality it was Ahab and Jezebel. The way to identify the real troublemaker in any situation is to see who isn’t loving God enough o obey His truth.