Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Is There Hope for Israel?

Luke 13:35, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate:and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, 'Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the LORD.'"

Israel’s house has been left desolate. The nation has no king or priest, no temple or sacrifice

Hosea 3:4-5, “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (5) Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.”

Verse 35a: The people had been given many opportunities to repent and be saved, but they had refused to heed His call.

“House” refers both to the “family” of Jacob (“the house of Israel”) and to the temple (“the house of God”), both of which would be “left desolate.” The city and temple were destroyed and the people were scattered.

But the nation has God’s promise that she has not been forsaken.

Rom 11:1, “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Rom 11:2, God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

Foreknew? proginosko (G4267), "to know beforehand," is used (a) of the divine "foreknowledge" concerning believers, Rom. 8:29; Israel, Rom.11:2; Christ as the Lamb of God, 1 Peter 1:20 "foreordained").

Not foresight but foreordination. It speaks of a predetermined plan or relationship.

Deut. 7:6-8

There can be no peace on earth until the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) is seated on David’s throne (Is. 11:1).

There is a future for Israel. The time will come when their Messiah will return and be recognized and received by the people. They will say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord”

Ps. 118:26, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.”

Some of the people used these words at His “triumphal entry” (Luke 19:38), but they will not have their fulfillment until His coming in glory.

Zech. 12:10, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

Zech. 14:4, “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

Is there hope for Israel? “God has not cast away His people which He foreknew or foreordained.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Why I Love Teaching At Suwannee River Bible College

1. The college was founded, and is led by, men who are committed to expository preaching. Thank you Pastor Brad Bailey and Pastor Chad Bailey!!!

2. Those enrolled are committed to knowing and growing in God's Word.

3. It is refreshing to see teachable, hungry, and skilled students setting at the feet of the teacher with a desire to be fed.

4. Teaching at the college makes me study more thoroughly.

5. It is good to see men and women reaching for the goal [Diploma,Degree]and the satisfaction of having achieved something really worth while.

6. It is rewarding to have the privilege of investing in the lives of men and women, the whole counsel of God's Word.

7. I love the fellowship after the class as iron sharpens iron over a great meal.

8. The goal is to impart truth and valuable experience into the lives of faithful men who will be able to pass it on to faithful men.