Nov 05 2009

Ruth

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God works in the lives of all types of people and in Ruth’s story we see God’s ready acceptance of anyone who is willing to seek a life of obedience to his way. Ruth married into a family of God’s people and when her husband died, she choose to stay with her new family, rather than return to her past life. Ruth chose God’s way over man’s, and today this choice is the same. Through faithful people like Ruth we see that such a desire is pleasing to God. The Bible shows us that God seeks the same from us.
Ruth 1:1-4 Moabitess who married  son of Jewish Naomi
Ruth 1:7 Naomi & Ruth return to Judah
Ruth 2:1-3 God arranged for Ruth worked in the fields of Boaz.
Ruth 3:1-5 Followed the customs of betrothel and married Boaz.

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Peter

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God works through all types of people to fulfill different parts of his plan. In the disciples we see a broad range of characters; from the reflective John to passionate Peter; an impulsive pro-active servant of Jesus our Lord & Master. Committed “boots & all” would describe Peter, and while so often berated for his failures, Peter always demonstrated that he was very much God’s person. While Peter grows to be a significant leader for the Gospel message, like us,  he needed to be moulded to do God’s work.
Peter finds his Messiah - John 1 / Walks on water towards Jesus - Matt 14 / Confesses his faith of Christ - Matt 16 / Peter called Satan by Jesus - Matt 16 / After Jesus is arrested Peter denies Jesus 3 times - Matt 26 / Is re-instated by Jesus - John 21 / Peter after Jesus - Acts 1-12

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Paul

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Paul, a man of passion who was transformed by God. Having been passionate about the execution of Christians, he changed to a life of spreading the gospel message. Initially Paul was entrenched in the Jewish cause, until by miraculous intervention he was used by God as the messenger of the Gospel to the non-Jewish community within Italy, Greece and Asia minor (Turkey). Through Paul’s life we see that “God’s people” are sometimes heading in an opposite direction; but God may have a different plan!
Paul (Saul) is approving of Stephen’s murder - Acts 8 / Saul converted on road to Damascus - Acts 9 / Disagreement between Paul & Barnabas - Acts 15 / Paul & Silas in Prison - Acts 16 / Riot in Ephesus - Acts 19 / Paul is arrested - Acts 21 / Paul sails to Rome - Acts 27

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Joseph

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Imagine being so hated by your own family that your brothers wish and plan your death. Then seeing an opportunity they instead sell you off to foreign slave traders. As a slave in a strange land your boss’s wife, having made unsuccessful sexual advances towards you, instead lies and accuses you of attacking her. Then through miraculous events, you end up being second in charge of ancient Egypt. Well that’s Joseph’s story, and everything that happened to him was planned by God to save his people Israel.
Genesis 30:22-24 11th son of Jacob / Genesis Chapters - 37 to 50 Joseph was sold by his brother into slavery. In Egypt God enables him to demonstrate his faith and through this he rose to a position as the second most senior person in the country. Died in Egypt was buried in Israel.

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Jesus

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The greatest of “God’s People,” Jesus is God’s “only begotten son.” Born of Mary and yet with God as his father. Jesus lived a perfect life, was crucified by evil Jewish leaders, died, buried and was raised  on the third day. The Bible tells us that he is now at the right hand side of his Father in heaven. It’s there he will stay until God is ready to send Jesus back to earth to set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed. This is why Jesus died; he died for us; so through baptism we can kill the power of death - SIN!
Birth of Jesus foretold - Luke 1 / Birth of Jesus - Luke 2 / Baptism of Jesus - Matt 3 / Temptation in the wilderness - Matt 4 / Beatitudes - Matt 5 / Appointing 12 Disciples - Mark 3 / Jesus on his return - Luke 17 / Jesus’ crucifiction - Matt 26-28 / Jesus is raised to life - John 20-21

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Jacob

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Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, Son of Isaac and father of the nation of Israel.  Jacob started life in a similar manner to how he was to continue, and yet through experiences and trials, he turned from a con-man to God’s man. Jacob’s life is one of development from a selfish, scheming self reliant man, to a faithful man of God, one that finally recognised who is was control. Through Jacob we see that God takes us as we are, and patiently develops us into men and women worthy of his eternal reward.
Gen 25:21-25 younger brother of Esau
Gen 25:29-34 gained birthrite from Esau
Gen 27:1-41 gained blessing by fraud
Gen 27:42-28:22 fled to Haran, and had dream of angel on ladder
Gen 29:1-30 served Laban and married his daughters Leah & Rachel
Gen 31: fled from Laban
Gen 32:24-32 wrestled with angel of Lord
Gen 33: friendship with Esau restored
Gen 42-46: went to Egypt during famine
Gen 49: died in Egypt

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Elijah

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Along with Moses, Elijah is probably regarded as one of the greatest prophets of God. A man that God used to demonstrate his powers in a most dramatic way. Israel was being ruled by the foolish King Ahab and evil Queen Jezebel; who’s leadership turned the people away from God and towards Baal. Elijah a man of faith and courage stepped up and showed with miraculous intervention that there is only one true God, “Yahweh;” the God of Abraham, Isaac & Israel - Today he still wants us to be his people.
Elijah the Tishbite. 1Kgs 17:1 / No rain & dew except by God’s word. 1Kgs 17:1 / Fed by Ravens. 1Kgs 17:4-6 / Battle against prophets of Baal. 1Kgs 18:38 / Taken whirlwind & in chariot of fire. 2Kgs 2:1,11 / Parts water. Kgs 2:8.

Categories: God's People
Nov 05 2009

Daniel

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Taken from his familiar environment in Jerusalem, didn’t mean that Daniel was discouraged. Daniel would have found life easier enjoying the luxuries of Babylon, but he chose rather to be focused in his faithful service to the one and only true God. Even when enemies sought to kill him, he did not waiver from his worship; a loyalty that could have finished his life, and yet it was this faith that freed him. Daniel is an example of how God works through mankind, and through Daniel’s words history is foretold.
Daniel & 3 friends taken captive & trained to serve king of Babylon. Ch1 / Told King Nebuchadnezzar his dream and it’s interpretation. Ch2 / Prophecy linking nations from Babylon to eternity Ch2 / Thrown to Lions, but saved by God. Ch6 / Vision of future world changes. Ch’s 7,8,10,11,12/

Categories: God's People