Introduction

• I Peter 1:3, 6
• I Peter 4:8

You are all one in Christ Jesus

• I Peter 3:8
• I Peter 2:12, 13
• I Peter 3:1, 9, 14
• I Peter 4:4; 3:8; 4:8 – If we have Christ in common, we can get along!
• II Peter 1:1
• Christ is what we have in common.
• Acts 11:19-20, 21, 26, 29
• Galatians 3:28-29
• Matthew 13:53-58 – Jesus was not popular with the people He grew up with in His hometown – His own demographic, physically speaking.
• Acts 2:9-11, 46-47 – Despite being from all different countries and cultures, those people were unified spiritually.

Serving one another

• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – We all benefit from fellowship.
• Galatians 6:1 – Help your brother!
• James 5:19-20
• Ephesians 4:1-3
• Philippians 1:27; 2:2-4; 3:17; 4:2-3
• I Peter 4:8-11
• Hebrews 10:24 – “Take careful note of each other’s spiritual welfare.”

Jethro, continued:

Other possible encounters

• Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
  • Same as Jethro?
  • Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?
• We know some of his family went with Israel
  • Settled in the promised land
  • Used by God to liberate Israel from oppression
  • Judges 4 – Jael versus Sisera

Jethro’s legacy

• We can learn from his character
  • Hospitable
  • Polite and gracious
  • Constructive criticism
  • Willing to trust
  • Willing to release Moses
  • Wise use of resources
    • Daughters as shepherds
    • Wise counsel on delegation
    • Selectivity of those right for the task
    • Making God the final authority

Prayer

• Difficult to put into one lesson – why?
• How much is it mentioned?
  • 334 times
  • Believe (all its forms) – 328 times
  • Obey (all its forms) – 222 times
  • Repentance – 74 times
• Who prayed?

Prayer is a requirement

• Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6) – pray:
  • To praise God (Matthew 6:9)
  • For God’s will to be done (Matthew 6:10)
  • For physical provision (Matthew 6:11)
  • For forgiveness – both giving and receiving (Matthew 6:12)
  • For deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13)
• Also pray:
  • For our leaders – spiritual and political (Hebrews 13:17; I Timothy 2:1, 2)
  • To live a peaceful life (I Timothy 2:2)
  • For gospel preachers (II Thessalonians 3:1, 2)
  • To open opportunities for the gospel (Colossians 4:3)
  • For other Christians and for the church (John 17:17-21)
  • For the sick (James 5:14-15)
  • For sinning brethren (I John 5:16)
  • In thanksgiving (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Some remarkable prayers in scripture

• Luke 18:13 – short but effective
• Numbers 6:24-26 – scripted by God
• II Kings 20:3 – Asks God to remember his thoughts and deeds
• I Kings 8:23-53 – long, but thoughtful and to the point
• Jonah 2:1-10 – prayer with immediate results
• Daniel 9:4-19 – begging forgiveness for his nation
• I King 18:36-37 – calls God to open people’s eyes
• I Kings 3:5-10 – asks God’s help to lead

Who prayed?

• Men everywhere – I Timothy 2:8
• Women gathered by a river – Acts 16:13
• Epaphras – Colossians 4:2
• Jabez – I Chronicles 4:9-10
• The tax collector – Luke 18:10-14
• Hannah – I Samuel 1:10-11; 2:1-10
• Jesus – 25 accounts in the gospels

Subject of this series

• The little-known or lesser known
• Does prayer fit this description for you?

Matthew 26-28

• Matthew 26:1-5 – A plot is underway to kill Jesus.
• Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus eats the Passover and institutes the Lord’s Supper with his apostles.
• Matthew 26:59-68 – They bring up false changes on Jesus and treat Him roughly.
• Matthew 27:1-2 – Jesus delivered to Pilate. They Jews sought capital punishment.
• Matthew 27:11-14, 18 – Jesus did not speak to defend Himself.
• Matthew 27:22-26 – Pilate tries to make himself innocent of Jesus’ death.
• Matthew 27:45-46 – Was Jesus really forsaken on the cross?
  • See Luke 23:46 – This would indicate that Jesus was still in fellowship with God the Father.
  • John 8:29; 16:32 – Jesus is always in fellowship with God the Father.
  • Hebrews 7:26
  • Hebrews 9:14 – Jesus was perfect and without blemish.
  • I Peter 1:18-19
  • I Peter 2:24 – Jesus was an offering for our sins.
  • Psalms 22:1 – Jesus is quoting this and expressing the same sentiment as David. He was in great distress, but still trusted in God.
• Matthew 27:50-54 – A number of miracles occur at Jesus’ death: darkness for three hours, an earthquake, dead were raised, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. See Hebrews 9:6-14, 24-28. Jesus’ sacrifice was so powerful it only needed to be offered once for all time (Hebrews 10:10-14). Now all of us have access to the most holy place (Hebrews 10:19-20).
• Matthew 27:62-66 – Jesus’ tomb is secured.
• Matthew 28:1-7 – Jesus was raised!

What Jesus’ death means to me.

I am loved!

• Revelation 1:5

I can leave my past behind.

• Romans 6:6

My future is different.

• Galatians 2:20

Deuteronomy 29

• Deuteronomy 29:1 – Renewing the covenant
• Deuteronomy 29:2-9 – Reviewing the past 40 years
  • Deuteronomy 29:4 – See Deuteronomy 30:19. The people were able to make moral decisions. God was trying hard to get them to make the right decision.
  • Deuteronomy 29:5-6 – God provided manna from Exodus 16 – Joshua 5:12.
• Deuteronomy 29:10-18 – “enter into the covenant”
• Deuteronomy 29:19-29 – The aftermath of Israel’s fall.
  • Deuteronomy 29:23 – See Genesis 19:24. Sodom and Gomorrah were an example for centuries to come, but God destroyed other cities as well (Hebrews 11:8).
  • Deuteronomy 29:29 – The secret things belong to God.

Deuteronomy 30

• Captivity (Jews taken to Assyria and Babylon)
• Restoration (Jews allowed to return and rebuild)
• Deuteronomy 30:1, 2, 6, 10, 14 – God always wanted people who sincerely obeyed.
• Deuteronomy 30:11-14 – They had the law. It was not far from them.
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – God lays out their choice. “… so choose life …”

Deuteronomy 31

• Deuteronomy 31:1-8 – Joshua will succeed Moses.
  • Life of Moses
    • 1st 40 years
      • Raised as an Egyptian
      • Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23
    • 2nd 40 years
      • Shepherd in Midian
      • Exodus 2:15; 7:7; Acts 7:29-30
    • 3rd 40 years
      • Leader of Israel
      • Deuteronomy 34:7
• Deuteronomy 31:9-13 – Read the law every seven years.
• Deuteronomy 31:14-30 – Moses will die, Joshua will lead. Israel will sin.

Introduction

• Ephesians 6:1-4

Stay focused on the bigger picture.

• Hebrews 11:8-10
• God’s people have always been those who can look past present troubles and see the end goal.

Be proactive instead of reactive.

• Joshua 1:6-9
• John 16:1-4 – Jesus told his apostles what to expect once He left.
• The whole Bible is preparing us for the future.

Address the root issues, not just the symptoms of the moment.

• Hebrews 10:25; 3:12
• Luke 12:13-15 – Jesus saw that the root issue was greed.
• I Peter 2:11-12

Keep feelings in their proper place.

• Proverbs 28:26 – It is possible for us to lead ourselves astray.
• Psalms 119:105 – God’s word is the source of truth.

Make them do good things, even when they don’t feel like it.

• Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham surely didn’t feel like sacrificing Isaac.
• Luke 17:4
• Luke 18:9, 14 – Some today might say the Pharisee was living his truth, but Jesus said he was wrong.

Teach the value of truth over feelings.

• Genesis 37:3-35 – Jacob was deceived – his feelings were false.
• Proverbs 3:5,1, 6-7 – We must mold our heart to fit God’s commands.
• Psalms 19:14
• James 1:2
• You can change your feelings to fit God’s truth.