BIBLE EMERGENCY NUMBERS

John14:1–4 In 13:36 Jesus responded to Peter’s question individually; now He answers the same question for all the disciples.

14:2 Mansions literally means “dwelling places.” A better translation is “rooms,” conveying the idea that there is ample space in heaven for all who come to Jesus as Savior.

Psalm 23:1–6 This refreshing pastoral psalm reflects absolute trust and peaceful confidence in God. It is divided into two metaphors: the Shepherd (vv. 1–4) and the Host (vv. 5, 6).

23:1 The picture of God as Shepherd is fulfilled and completed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ who is presented as the redeeming Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the resurrected Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20), and the returning Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).

23:3 Daily restoration of the anxious, weary soul is a major human need (2 Cor. 4:16). Walking the paths of righteousness that the Lord marks results in bringing honor to His name.

23:4 The key to provision is the presence of God (Josh. 1:5–9). This awesome thought causes the psalmist to change from mere statements (He . . .) to spontaneous heavenward praise (You are with me).

23:5 Of the two kinds of oil, the priestly anointing oil and the Oriental perfumed oil, this is the latter. This act shows favor and excellent hospitality.

23:6 Mercy (Hebrew chesed) is the unfailing, steadfast covenant love of God. This lovingkindness is similar to the NT word “grace” (John 1:16)

That’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 2 When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces. 3 When besieged,  I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool. 4 I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty;  I’ll study at his feet.

11-12 Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you’re on. Don’t throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me filling the air with their threats. 

13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.

Psalm 27:1-4  We readily recognize that God’s strength lessens our need for fear, but we may overlook this same potential in His light and salvation.

2, 3 These threats can be withstood because of the confidence David gains from what is described in v. 4.

4 This desire of David gives us a key to understanding why he was a “man after God’s heart,” and so beloved and blessed by Him.

Psalm 27:7-14 MSG

Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: “Be good to me! Answer me!” When my heart...After the praise in the first half of this psalm, the topic swings to prayer, ending with the statement revealing the key to victorious living: Wait on the Lord.

27:10 This is the psalmist’s way of saying that God is more concerned about our welfare than even one’s cherished father and mother could ever be. God’s love transcends parental love. This is more of a “proverbial statement,” and is not to be understood as if David’s parents forsook him. ~MSG

THE PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS

What is the main purpose of Daniel Chapter 9?

The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks is the narrative in chapter 9 of the Book of Daniel in which Daniel prays to God to act on behalf of his people and city (Judeans and Jerusalem), and receives a detailed but cryptic prophecy of "seventy weeks" by the angel Gabriel.

God’s Covenant Commitment

9 1-4 “Darius, son of Ahasuerus, born a Mede, became king over the land of Babylon. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was meditating on the Scriptures that gave, according to the Word of God to the prophet Jeremiah, the number of years that Jerusalem had to lie in ruins, namely, seventy. I turned to the Master God, asking for an answer—praying earnestly, fasting from meals, wearing rough penitential burlap, and kneeling in the ashes. I poured out my heart, baring my soul to God, my God:

Seventy Sevens

20-21 “While I was pouring out my heart, baring my sins and the sins of my people Israel, praying my life out before my God, interceding for the holy mountain of my God—while I was absorbed in this praying, the humanlike Gabriel, the one I had seen in an earlier vision, approached me, flying in like a bird about the time of evening worship.

22-23 “He stood before me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come to make things plain to you. You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved! So listen carefully to the answer, the plain meaning of what is revealed:

24 “‘Seventy sevens are set for your people and for your holy city to throttle rebellion, stop sin, wipe out crime, set things right forever, confirm what the prophet saw, and anoint The Holy of Holies.

25-26 “‘Here is what you must understand: From the time the word goes out to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Anointed Leader, there will be seven sevens. The rebuilding will take sixty-two sevens, including building streets and digging a moat. Those will be rough times. After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed Leader will be killed—the end of him. The city and Sanctuary will be laid in ruins by the army of the newly arriving leader. The end will come in a rush, like a flood. War will rage right up to the end, desolation the order of the day.

27 “‘Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.’”

What are the seventy weeks of Daniel?

MATTHEW 10:1-28 THE TWELVE HARVEST HANDS

Matthew 10:1-4

 

The Twelve Harvest Hands

The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or “Rock”), Andrew, his brother, James, Zebedee’s son, John, his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the tax man, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, the Canaanite, Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).

Matthew 10:5-8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

9-10 “Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

11 “When you enter a town or village, don’t insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

12-15 “When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.

16 “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

17-20 “Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

21-23 “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

24-25 “A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?

26-27 “Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.

28 “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. ~MSG