A. From the beginning (Ephesians 1:3-6)
B. Through sanctification by the Spirit (2 Timothy 2:19-21)
C. Through belief in the truth (John 3:36)
II. Called (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15)
A. By the soul-saving gospel (Romans 1:16)
B. For the obtaining of the glory of Jesus (1 Peter 5:10)
C. Hold to the apostolic traditions (1 Peter 1:13-16)
III. Comforted (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
A. The love of Jesus and the Father (Romans 5:6-8)
B. Everlasting consolation (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
C. Good hope (Acts 24:15; Galatians 5:5; Titus 1:2)
D. Established for every good word and work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
A. A proof of prophecy (Ezekiel 24:1-2; 2 Kings 25:1-4; Jeremiah 52:4-5)
B. The objects of the parable allude to the people’s own self-confident proverb (Ezekiel 24:3-5; 11:3)
C. Punishment was to come to the entire city (Ezekiel 24:6-12; Jeremiah 6:15; Leviticus 17:13)
D. God’s longsuffering had reached its limit (Ezekiel 24:13-14; Jeremiah 6:16)
II. Application
A. The people who were supposed to follow God had become a “rebellious house” (Ezekiel 24:3; 1 Peter 1:13-16; 4:3)
B. God offers cleansing (Ezekiel 24:13; 1 John 1:7-10)
C. God’s longsuffering has its limits (Ezekiel 24:13-14; 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 3:8)
A. Temporary in nature (Galatians 3:19, 24)
B. Carnal in practice (Hebrews 9:8-10)
C. National in scope (Leviticus 26:46; Psalm 78:5)
II. The need for change
A. The fault found in the people under the first covenant (Hebrews 8:7-13; Acts 15:10)
B. Jesus abrogated the first covenant (Hebrews 10:9; Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15; Romans 7:1-6)
III. The New Covenant—the gospel of Christ
A. Eternal in nature (Hebrews 13:20)
B. Spiritual in practice (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5, 9)
C. Universal in scope (Galatians 3:28; Romans 1:16-17)
A. The kingdom was prophesied (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 3:2; 4:17)
B. The kingdom was prayed for (Matthew 6:10)
C. The kingdom was promised (Matthew 16:18-19)
D. The kingdom was preached (Acts 2; 8:12; 19:8; 28:23-31)
E. This same kingdom still exists today (Mark 9:1; Acts 2; Colossians 1:13)
II. Yours is the power…forever
A. The “mighty works” of Jesus (Matt. 11:20-23; 13:54, 58)
B. It was by God’s power that…
1. Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:35)
2. Jesus was raised from the dead (Philippians 3:10)
3. The soul-saving Scriptures were written (Romans 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3)
C. Why do so many deny the power of God? (2 Tim. 3:5)
III. Yours is the glory…forever
A. Glory shines in the life of Jesus (John 1:14)
B. Glory shines in the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:4)
C. Glory shines in the ascension of Jesus (1 Timothy 3:16)
D. Glory shines in the foreverness of Jesus (Colossians 3:4;
2 Timothy 2:10)
A. When He comes, we will be “gathered together to Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
B. The falling away must first come (Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
II. The man of sin (2:3-10)
A. “Exalts himself…so that he sits as God in the temple” (2:3-4)
B. Restrained in Paul’s day (2:5-7)
C. When the man of sin is revealed, the Lord will destroy him (2:8)
D. Deception and rejection (2:9-10)
III. Strong delusion (2:11-12)
A. Confusion (Isaiah 5:20)
B. Rejection of the truth (John 12:48)
C. Pleasure in unrighteousness (Hebrews 11:24-26)
A. The lioness represents either Judah or the royal family (19:2; cf. Psalm 89:3-4)
B. The first cub is Jehoahaz [Shallum] (19:3-4)
C. The second cub is Jehoiachin [Coniah] (19:5-9)
D. The third king lamented is Zedekiah [Mattaniah] (19:10-14)
II. A closer look at Jehoahaz
A. The son of Josiah, the last good king (2 Kings 23:25)
B. Taken into captivity into Egypt by Pharaoh Necho
C. The first Judean king to die in exile (2 Kings 23:31-34; Jeremiah 22:10-12)
D. Pharaoh Necho places Jehoiakim on the throne – Jehoiakim is not the second cub; he was despised by the people (Jeremiah 22:18-19)
III. A closer look at Jehoiachin
A. Carried into Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:10)
B. The hope was for him to return, but Babylon brought him out of prison and made him comfortable in that land (2 Kings 25:27-30)
IV. A closer look at Zedekiah
A. Another son of Josiah; uncle to Jehoiachin
B. Made king by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:10)
C. The last of David’s dynasty to sit on the throne in Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-7)
V. Lessons for today
A. We must not put our trust in any person, but especially an evil person (2 Kings 23:32; 24:9, 19)
B. The people trusted in the house of David rather than God – do we trust in the White House more than God’s house today?
C. Let us pray for the nation’s leaders—whoever they are—that their decisions do not hinder the work of the Lord’s church (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
A. Scriptural names for this office
1. Elders (Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1), presbyters (1 Timothy 4:14)
2. Bishops (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7), overseers (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2)
3. Pastors (Ephesians 4:11), shepherds (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2)
B. Qualifications to serve as an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9)
C. Spiritual duties of the eldership (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2; Titus 1:10-11)
II. Deacons
A. diakonos is a servant or minister (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13)
B. Qualifications to serve as a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
C. Duty is service in whatever capacity appointed to them by the elders (Acts 6:1-6)
A. Where to worship (Jn.4:19-21; Gen. 22:5; Acts 8:27; 24:11)
B. Understanding in worship (John 4:22; 1 Cor. 14:15-16)
C. True worship vs. false worship (John 4:23-24; Mt. 15:8-9)
II. “In spirit”
A. The proper attitude (Psalm 122:1; Acts 2:46-47; Hebrews 10:19-25)
B. Is spirit enough? (1 Samuel 15:7-9, 13-15, 22-23)
III. “In truth”
A. Prayer (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1, 8; Acts 12:12)
B. Singing (Colossians 3:16-17)
C. Preaching (1 Timothy 4:2; Acts 17:11)
D. Remembering the Lord’s death (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
E. Giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:7-9)
F. Is truth enough?
I. The glory of His church (1:1-4; Ephesians 3:10-11)
A. Exhibits growing faith (2 Peter 1:5-9)
B. Expresses an abounding love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
C. Exudes an enduring patience (James 1:2-4)
II. The glory of His righteous judgment (1:5-9)
A. Always righteous and impartial (Romans 2:2-6, 11)
A. For the faithful, He will give rest (Romans 2:7, 10)
B. For the rebellious, He will take vengeance (Romans 2:8-9)
III. The glory of His Son (1:10-12)
A. His Son will be glorified and admired in that Day (Philippians 2:9-11)
B. His Son must be glorified in us today (Philippians 2:12-16)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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