A New Covenant of the Heart - Jeremiah 31:31-34

God would inscribe his law upon their hearts rather than upon tablets of stone as were the Ten Commandments. This change seems to describe one experience very much like the new birth and God is making the initiative. When we turn our lives over to God he, by his Holy Spirit, builds into us the desire to obey him.

The Old Covenant, broken by the people, would be replaced by an new covenant. The foundation of this new covenant is Christ. It is revolutionary, involving not only Israel and Judah, but even the Gentiles. It offers a unique personal relationship with God himself, with his laws inscribed on hearts instead of on stone. Jeremiah looked forward to the day when Jesus would come to establish this covenant. But for us today, this covenant is here. We have the wonderful opportunity to make a fresh start and establish a permanent, personal relationship with God.

Reference summary used from The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL

Sunday - The Peaceful Kingdom - Isaiah 11:1-9 - 9/3/17

Assyria would be like a tree cut down at the height of its power never to rise again. Judah (the royal line of David) would be like a tree chopped down to a stump. But from that stump a new branch would grow - the Messiah. He would be greater than the original tree and would bear much fruit. The Messiah is the fulfillment of God's promise that a descendant of David would rule forever.

The Messiah is Jesus Christ.

How we long for fair treatment from others, but do we give it? Only Christ can be the perfectly fair judge. Only as he governs our hearts can we learn to be as fair in our treatment of others as we expect others to be toward us.

Judah had become corrupt, and now it was surrounded by hostile foreign powers. The nation desperately needed a revival of righteousness, equity, and faithfulness. They needed to turn from selfishness and show justice to the poor and the oppressed. The righteousness that God values is more than reframing from sin, it is actively turning toward others and offering them the help they need.

It is incredible to think of hostile animals living at peace. It is even more incredible for hostile people to live at peace with one another. And one day the whole world will acknowledge that Christ is Lord.

A golden age is yet to come. Not all of this was fulfilled at Christ's first coming. For example, nature has not returned to its intended balance and harmony.

Reference summary used from The Life Application Bible; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Wheaton, IL

Sunday - Amos Call - Amos 7:10-17 -7/30/17

Amos was an herdman/shepherd and farmer before the Lord called him to be a prophet.

Amaziah was a chief priest that led the children of Israel into idolatry.

Amos was called by the Lord to do something that he was not trained to do. Once God calls you he qualifies you. Training is helpful, but the calling on your life from God is what keeps you going when others and everything is against you.

God protects his servants who will obey and work faithfully. The servant of God, must trust and obey, expecting God's next direction.

Amos' response to Amaziah was full of doom.

Amaziah thought Amos was a prophet for the money. Amaziah told Amos that he could earn a comfortable income in Judah. Amaziah told Amos to flee to Judah for his own safety.

Amaziah was not concerned about hearing God's message; he was only worried about his own position. Don't let anything come between you and obeying God.

Are you obeying God's word? Without any special preparation, education, or upbringing, Amos obeyed God's call to "go prophesy unto his people Israel."

Amaziah was the official priest of the royal sanctuary at Bethel.

Not only would the Israelities be taken into exile, but Amaziah's own wife would be a harlot and his sons and daughters would be destroyed.

Reference summary used from The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha Expanded Edition RSV and The Life Application Bible KJV, Tyndale Publishers INC., Wheaton, IL

Taking Pride in Accomplishment ... 8/18/2013

Gilgal . Geba . Azmaveth . Judah . Hoshaiah . Azariah . Meshullam . Benjamin . Shemiah . Mattianiah . Zaccur . Asaph . Milalai . Gilalai . Nethaneel . Hanani . Sunday School Lesson

The Sunday School Lesson for 8/18/2013 is shared from Nehemiah 12:27-36, 38-43 (Background Scripture: Nehemiah 12:27-43; Devotional Reading: Psalm/Tehillim 96)

Gilgal (wheel, whirlwind) Verse 29: house of Gilgal. (Joshua encamps there) (Saul made king there)

Geba (a hill) a town of Benjamin assigned to the priests. Verse 29: fields of Geba

Azmaveth, a village near Jerusalem. Verse 29

Judah (praise), son of Jacob. Blessed by Jacob. They make David king. Verse 31: princes of Judah

Hashaiah (Jehovah is deliverance) Verse 32

Azariah (Jehovah helps) Verse 33

Meshullam (devoted) Verse 33

Benjamin (son of the right hand) youngest son of Jacob. Blessed by Moses. The Tribe of Paul. Verse 34

Shemiah (Jehovah hears) Verse 34

Mattianiah (gift of Jehovah) Verse 35: son of Mattianiah

Zaccur (mindful) Verse 35: son of Zaccur

Asaph ( a collector) a Levite musical composer. Verse 35: son of Asaph

Milalai (eloquent) Verse 36

Gilalai (dungy) Verse 36

Nettaneel (given of God) Verse 36

Hanani (inclined to grace) brother of Nehemiah. Verse 36


Nehemiah 12:27-43 ... The Dedication of Jerusalem walls

Nehemiah 12:27-36, 38, 43

Verses 27-30 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); Administration of Nehemiah 4465-433 B.C., The Dedication of the Wall

(Nehemiah 12:1-26; Nehemiah 12:1-11; Nehemiah 12:12-21; Nehemiah 8-10; I Chronicles 23 ... Reference Scriptures in Sunday School Book)


Verses 31-36, 38

Verses 31,32,33,34 ... Duties To God; Thanksgiving; For Deliverance from Enemies

Verses 35,36 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); Administration of Nehemiah, The Dedication of the Wall

Verse 38 ... Duties To God; Thanksgiving; For Deliverance from Enemies

(I Chronicles 16:2-5; Psalm/Tehillim 50:73-83; 116:1)


Verse 43 ... The Hebrews; The Hebrews Again In Palestine(Then)/Holy Land(Now); Administration of Nehemiah, The Dedication of the Wall

Psalm/Tehillim 46 ... Exhortation to praise God for His general judgments. ... Psalm of Supplication: Relative to public worship ... Psalm of Adoration: Of God's power, majesty, & glory


Monday - August 12, 2013 - Celebrating God's Greatness - Psalm/Tehillim 96:1-9


Tuesday - August 13, 2013 - Celebrating the Lord's Coming - Psalm/Tehillim 96:1-10


Wednesday - August 14, 2013 - Celebrating God's Blessings - Deuteronomy 12:12-7

The Law of the Sanctuary (Deuteronomy 12:1-28) ... The Covenant Laws (Deuteronomy 12:1-26:19)


Thursday - August 15, 2013 - Celebrating Freedom from Oppression - Nahum 1:6-15

Epiphany of The Divine Avenger. (Nahum 1:1-15)

Epiphany ... apperance, manifestation, to manifest


Friday - August 16, 2013 - Celebrating the Restored Nation - Jeremiah 30:18-22

Messages of hope & blessing (Jeremiah 30:1-31:40) ... Prophecies concerning God's Action At Home & Abroad


Saturday - August 17, 2013 - Celebrating the Restored Jeruslaem - Isaiah 66:10-14

Final promises & stern warning (Isaiah 66:1-24) ... The Return of The Exiles (Isaiah 40:1-66:24)


August 18, 2013 - Sunday - Celebrating a Completed Task - Nehemiah 12:27-36,38,43


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible, KJV Topical Edition Bible, Zondervan Commentary & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary