The zeal of the Lord is God’s divine jealousy with which He operates to protect and restore His people: “For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” Isaiah 37:32 (see also 2 Kings 19:31; Zechariah 1:14; 8:2). This zeal is the foundation for God’s demand for exclusive loyalty, as expressed in the Ten Commandments. God prohibits His worshippers from bowing down to any other gods (Exodus 20:3–5; see also Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9). He alone is our God. In His jealous zeal for us, God cannot conceive of His beloved children offering their affection or allegiance to any other: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” Deuteronomy 4:24 (see also Joshua 24:19). The zeal of the Lord seeks a response of faithfulness and obedience from His people. It does not accept disloyalty. When Israel turned from Yahweh to serve foreign gods, the Lord became jealous for His ...
by Sean Hammond {parts of the sermon} Introduction You know, here at Everyday Church, we are generally not in the habit of violating the Ten Commandments. Hopefully, you’ll be encouraged by that! But I was thinking recently that as a church, it has been a little while since we violated a Commandment. So I thought, seeing as we haven’t done it for a while, why don’t we violate the 5th commandment together today! I mean, it's good enough for Jesus, so why not us as well, right? Verses While you’re getting your head around that, let’s read today’s verses together: Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the Law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” ...
meditation: Partial knowledge. Humbleness, patience, salvation sympathy, brotherly love, Unity of mind, "each otherness" in the apostolic life-model Paul: According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 1Cor 3:10 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. .. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1Cor 13:4-7.12. Peter ..according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to ...