Chambersburg Bible Church

Jeremiah 29:1-15Jeremiah 29:1-15
29 ¹ Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; ² eunuchs: or, chamberlains ³ By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, saying, ⁴ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; ⁵ Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; ⁶ Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. ⁸ For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. ⁹ For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. falsely: Heb. in a lie ¹⁰ For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. expected...: Heb. end and expectation ¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. ¹⁴ And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. ¹⁵ Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;  
depicts a letter written to the Jewish leaders who were carried away into captivity in 597 B.C. during the time of Daniel. Jeremiah’s message from the Lord for those dwelling in captivity was to build houses, families, relationships, and endurance. He also told them that God intended the captivity to last for 70 years, and that faithfulness to God and endurance in hard times would be necessary for Godly living. Verse 11 is a wonderful truth which indicates that although God was judging his people, he was not angry with them, nor did he write them off. Their previous disobedience did not forfeit all of the promises which God had made to his chosen people in times past. God would still fulfill all that He had promised, and his thoughts toward them were of peace.

Mid-week Minutes is a weekly summary of Pastor’s Bible Study from the mid-week Prayer Service.

Series: Lesson’s From Lot’s Life
Text: 2 Peter 2:1-102 Peter 2:1-10
2 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵ And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ^{8 9} The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. government: or, dominion  

Topic: Lot’s deliverance from Sodom pictures the Pre-tribulational rapture of the Church

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2 Peter 2 tells us that Lot was a righteous man. The Holy Spirit intends for N. T. believers to watch and learn from examples, both negative and positive, in scripture. The story of Lot’s Life is one such case which teaches a number of different, yet equally important lessons in the Christian life. In many of these examples, there are truths that affect us individually, but there are also which affect us universally.

When we investigate Lot’s life, we should learn truths about the end times

• God will judge and destroy the wicked
  • Understanding 2 Peter 2:1-32 Peter 2:1-3
    2 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  
    in context.
    • In 2 Peter 1:16,19-212 Peter 1:16,19-21
      16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. in old time: or, at any time  
      we find Peter defending his testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically the transfiguration of the Lord before Peter. Peter then illustrates that we have a testimony more certain than what he saw. We have the Scriptures, the Word of God.
    • 2 Peter 2:1-32 Peter 2:1-3
      2 ¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  
        speaks of the false prophets of the day and God’s judgment against those who:
      • Preach wickedness
      • Promote wickedness
      • Practice wickedness

• Old Testament illustrations of God’s pending judgment
  • God’s judgment of the fallen angels (Verse 4)
  • God’s judgment in the Day of Noah (Verse 5)
  • God’s judgment of Sodom (Verse 6)

“When we read the story of Lot, God intends for us to see His resolve and determination to judge the wicked.”

• God will deliver the godly from judgment
  • God will rescue His own from judgment
  • Eschatological application

• We do not need to fear the Tribulation. We won’t be here!
• God knows how to judge the wicked
• He knows how to deliver the righteous!

Supporting Texts:

• James 1:23-25James 1:23-25
  23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. deed: or, doing  
  
• Matthew 12:40Matthew 12:40
  40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  
  
• 1 Thessalonians 1:101 Thessalonians 1:10
  10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.  
  
• 1 Thessalonians 5:91 Thessalonians 5:9
  9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  
  

Text: John 12:20-36John 12:20-36
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: ²¹ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. ²² Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. ²³ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. ²⁷ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. ²⁹ The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. ³⁰ Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. ³³ This he said, signifying what death he should die. ³⁴ The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? ³⁵ Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. ³⁶ While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.  

Topic: The glorification of Christ through the crucifixion

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John 12:20-22John 12:20-22
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: ²¹ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. ²² Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.  
tell us that there was a group of Greeks who were in Jerusalem at the time of the feast, and even though they were not Jews, they had come to understand that the God of Judaism was the one and true God. Although the Bible does not indicate how they heard about Christ in Jerusalem, they were familiar with who he was and hailed him as their King.

One of the major themes of the book of John is that Jesus is the Savior of the world and not merely the Savior of Israel.

• John 1:29John 1:29
  29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. taketh away: or, beareth  
  indicates that Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world
• John 4:42John 4:42
  42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.  
  tells us that the citizen of Samaria rightly identify Jesus as the Savior of the world
• John 6:33John 6:33
  33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.  
  shows us that Jesus gave his life for the world
• In John 8:12John 8:12
  12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  
  , Jesus is presented as the Light of the world

On this occasion, Jesus reacts with deep emotion to the news that these gentiles are seeking him, and John 12:23John 12:23
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  
records His statement that the time had come for the Son to be glorified. The glory of God becomes a major theme in the Book of John from this point on.

• John 13:31-32John 13:31-32
  31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³² If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.  
  
• John 14:13John 14:13
  13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  
  
• John 17:1, 4-5, 22, 24John 17:1, 4-5, 22, 24
  17 ¹ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ⁴ I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: ²⁴ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.  
  
• John 12:23John 12:23
  23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  
  -27

• The Law of the cross (John 12:23John 12:23
  23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  
  -27)
  • There is no fruit without death
    • It was absolutely essential for Jesus to die
    • It was necessary in order for Him to bear fruit
    • Salvation is for the Jews and Gentiles
  • There is no salvation without surrender.
    • We must be willing to lose our life in order to gain eternal life
    • The man who loves his own life will ultimately destroy it
    • The man who loves his life is right now destroying it
    • John means for us to understand that loving our lives is a self defeating process.

• The Horror of the cross (John 12:27John 12:27
  27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.  
  )
  • A prayer is offered
    • Jesus was in turmoil as He faced the cross Jesus had 2 choices in prayer:
      • “Father, deliver me from this hour” or “Father, glorify thyself!”
      • The glory of the Father was paramount!
  • A voice is heard
    • I have glorified it in the past
    • I will glorify it again in the future.
    • God was pleased with the Son and the cross was in view.

• The Fruit of the cross (John 12:31-32John 12:31-32
  31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  
  )
  • The judgment of the wicked
    • The cross means judgment to the world and the wickedness therein
    • Satan was defeated in what appeared outwardly to be the very moment of his triumph.
  • The deliverance of the saved
    • What was judgment to the world and defeat to the devil is deliverance to the redeemed
    • All men will be drawn to Christ because of the cross.

Supporting Texts:

• Jude 1:24-25Jude 1:24-25
  24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.