Lesson 79
ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1) (With Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Walter and Cecilia Contreras)
WINNERS AND LOSERS In the books of Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Haggai
INTRODUCTION
The New Testament could not be more clear: learn from the mistakes and sins of others and be careful not to repeat them. And on the positive side, learn from the godly lives of those who paid the price to walk with God and follow their examples (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).
This study will cover four more of the Minor Prophets as we view more of those Old Testament examples.Nahum | | 1:2-9
| Example of a true vision of God. (Beware of false prophets, false visions and false teachings. Know the Word of God.) | | | Habakkuk | | 2:1-20 | Example of patient waiting for the vindication of God. | 3:17-19
| Example of trust in the darkest circumstances. | | | Zephaniah | | 1:12-18
| Example of the terror of "the day of the Lord." Maintain a true, pure and humble heart.
| 2:3-15
| Example of God's vengeance against nations, cities and people that delighted in destroying Israel. (A lesson for today).
| 3:1-20 | Example of God's justice (destroying His people who rebelled) and His mercy (sparing a remnant that repented.) | | | Haggai
| | 1:2-9
| Example of the price paid for selfishness.
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Jesus said many would come in His name and deceive the hearts of the simple, sinful and proud. Eastern mysticism and meditation is a big thing in the gullible West. And one day a “world leader” will appear on the scene with the persuasion of a god and the heart of a devil. Jesus warns His children to know the Scriptures, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and stay alert to the signs of the times. They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a
new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers.
After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now
the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate
their enemies. God has blessed man with incredible genius. We stand in awe as we watch men and women in a room full of computers and high-tech instruments guiding and landing spacecraft on distant planets. At that moment, we appear invincible. But then a mammoth tornado comes—or a terrifying hurricane—or rains that flood whole regions and never listen to our shouts to “Stop!”—or the shake that removes from under our feet any confidence or pride we carry, and leaves us numb with hardly enough breath to even utter the paralyzing word “EARTHQUAKE!”. And man is helpless in the face of it all! |
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