Introduction

• Acts 16:11-34, 40 – The examples of Lydia and the Philippian jailer.

Pual gives an excellent example of unselfishness.

• Philippians 1:1-8 – Paul was focusing on them. Paul was writing from prison, but didn’t focus on himself.
• If someone asks you how you are doing, do you always answer with complaints? Are you always focusing on the negative?
• Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul spoke about his imprisonment in a way that focused on the good that was being done because of it.
• Philippians 2:1-5, 19-21
• Philippians 4:1, 17

Paul exemplifies the joy and peace Christians have in the face of distress and death.

Paul’s example of staying positive

Pray

• Philippians 4:6-7 – God won’t necessarily take away the storms of life, but He will give you a raincoat and hold your hand.

Engage with brethren

• Philippians 1:3

Stay busy

• Philippians 1:13 – Paul was busy and productive, even in prison.
• I Kings 19:2-4, 14-18 – Elijah was literally running for life. God gave him something to do to help his depressed spirit.
• Philippians 1:21-24
• Philippians 2:17
• II Corinthians 12:15
• Philippians 3:5-11
• Philippians 3:20

Joshua 10

Joshua 10:1-15 – Five kings align against Gibeon

• Joshua 10:1-2 – Adoni-zedek feared greatly because of how Israel had conquered Ai.
• Joshua 10:9 – The Israelites marched all night – a distance of 15-20 miles and then they had to fight in a supernaturally long day.
• Joshua 10:12-15 – The sun and moon stand still at Joshua’s request so the Israelites have time to finish the fight.
  • A story has circulated on the Internet for a while claiming that NASA had “found” Joshua’s last day. This is a hoax. See https://apologeticspress.org/the-sun-stood-stillreally-5529/.
• Joshua 10:13 – The Book of Jasher (also mentioned in II Samuel 1:18) was evidently known to the people of the day, although we do not have copies of it today.

Joshua 10:16-27 – Five kings killed

• Joshua 10:24 – Placing the foot on the neck was possibly a customary way to show dominance over an enemy in those days.

Joshua 10:28-48 – Quick listing of more battles

Joshua 11

Joshua 11:1-23 – Israel fights another coalition

• There are many similarities between this fight and the one in Joshua 10.

• Joshua 11:9 – God did not allow the Israelites to add the military resources to their arsenal.
• Joshua 11:20 – Compare Exodus 9:34-10:1.
• Joshua 11:21-23 – The Anakim that the spies were originally so scared of were defeated and nearly eradicated.

Introduction

• Luke 23:33, 39-46

Answering the baptism question

• Acts 2:38 – People sometimes try to use the case of the thief on the cross to prove that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
• The simple answer is: the thief was living under the Old Covenant, and baptism into Jesus was not yet in force.
  • Luke 3:3
  • John 3:5
  • Matthew 28:19
  • Mark 16:15-16 – These are Jesus’ words after His resurrection.
  • Acts 2:37-41 – This is the first time baptism into Jesus was commanded.
  • What about David, Moses, and Abraham? They weren’t baptized either.
  • Hebrews 9:15-17 – Jesus’ sacrifice covered those under the Old Covenant.
  • Galatians 4:5 – Jesus redeemed those that were under the law.
  • The transition to the New Covenant took place in Acts 2.
• Romans 6:3-6 – Baptism is “into His death.” No one could have experienced that baptism BEFORE He died.
• Romans 10:9 – If the thief proves that baptism is not required, he also proves that belief in Jesus’ resurrection is not required.

The other thief

• If he had humbled himself in his last moments, he could have been saved. What regret must he have now!

The penitent thief

• Matthew 27:38-44 – At first, both criminals mocked Jesus.
• Luke 23:40-42 – One thief evidently had a change of heart.

Jesus

• Luke 23:43 – In some of Jesus’ last breaths, He made time for one more soul.
• Jesus loves you too!

Faith dispels fear (continued)

• Let go of fear.
• Be introspective. What are you so afraid?
• Pray for help and healing, Philippians 4:6-7.
  • James 4:13, 15 – “pray for your plan”
• Evaluate past storms.
• Look beyond storms to the ultimate ends.
  • I Peter 1:6-9; Matthew 10:28
• Choose faith
  • II Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6
  • God loves us and always wants our good.
• II Peter 1:5
• I John 4:17-19
• I John 4:20

Introduction

• I Peter 1:10-12
• I Corinthians 2:13

Be content with the Holy Spirit’s revealed word.

• Joshua 2:15-18 – Some ancient writers looked at the scarlet cord as being a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Both saved. However, the Holy Spirit never made that connection.
• Exodus 27:19 – All the pegs of the tabernacle were to be bronze. M. R. DeHaam in The Tabernacle tries to connect the pegs to the resurrection in that they were in the group and also rose above the ground. Against, the Holy Spirit never makes this connection.
• Absurd example: The “David Church”
• Ezekiel 37:15-23 – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints interprets the two sticks as foretelling the Bible and Book of Mormon being joined.
• Hebrews 8:1-5 – The Holy Spirit makes the connection between the tabernacle and heaven.
• Hebrews 9:23; 10:1 – The Holy Spirit makes more connections for us.
• Be careful about making connections beyond what has been revealed.
• Romans 5:14-19 – The Holy Spirit connects Adam and Christ.
• II Peter 1:20

Study the context!

• “He made it!” – This means completely different things depending on the context.
• Examples:
  • Psalms 14:1
  • Ecclesiastes 2:10
  • Matthew 10:8
  • Acts 27:31
  • Hebrews 9:24
• Ephesians 3:1-6 – We can read and understand!
  • Examples from Dr. Mark Strauss:
    • Philippians 1:14
    • Luke 4:43
• Matthew 5:7, 20; 6:1; 7:13-14
  • Matthew 7:28
• Exegesis – to draw out the meaning of the text.
• Eisegesis – to read your own meaning into the text.
• Luke 10:29-37 – Augustine tried to read this story as an allegory, but that is going beyond the simple meaning of the story.