Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

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a. we, like they, are strangers and pilgrims on earth (cf. Hebrews 11:13)b. we are just passing through this world that is marked for destruction and so we must steerclear of its corruptions (First Peter 2:9-12)3. but our association with God must also be active while we live here on earthB. God’s Fellowship With His Saints (First John 1:1-7)1. Jesus said that where two or three gathered together in his name, he was with them2. but we also know that God hears the prayers of the faithful (First Peter 3:12)3. no matter what might befall us, so long as we are striving to live faithfully to the will of God,He will never leave us nor forsake usa. some of Paul’s greatest heartbreaks came when his brethren deserted himb. John Mark left him and Barnabas in Pamphylia instead of going on to the work (cf. Acts15) and this destroyed Paul’s trust in himc. late in life, Demas forsook him as well, having loved his present worldd. of course, all of Jesus’s disciples forsook him when he was wrongly arrested and sent toCaiaphas and Pilate4. in this life, we will be forsaken by friends and family time and again, but God promises neverto depart or remove his blessing from the faithful; what confidence this inspires!C. Strong, Courageous Christians (First Peter 3:13-18)1. strength is primarily an emotional thing, the mental ability to stare down any challenge to one’sfaith and overcome a roaring lion of deception and temptation (Colossians 1:9-14)2. the spirit of faith is not cowardly (Second Timothy 1:7 (courage then is three-fold (power, loveand sound minda. the power is from God and the strength of his word, providence and earb. love is our devotion to God and our compassion for the souls of others that compels us toreprove, rebuke and exhortc. a sound mind examines the message of God and applies it practically and without biasD. The Secret of Spiritual Success (Second Peter 1:5-12)1. diligently meditate on the word of God2. diligently put it into practice and live after Christ3. then will you prosper eternally as your treasure in heaven is opened wide to you4. every wall the devil builds between you and heaven will crumble; every mighty stronghold andweapon of his choice will be futileConclusion46! Jeff S. Smith
Gideona character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionThe book of Judges has long been known as a concise example of the way in which man and the world atlarge seek God, receive His blessing, and then summarily express ingratitude by pursuing the intoxicantof excess and iniquity from the world. The reign of Gideon, the fifth of the judges, displays one suchperiod in the cycle and teaches us today how to break it.DiscussionI. Background on the Judges PeriodA. Vital Historical Link1. the judges period is the link between the expeditionary leadership of Moses and Joshua and theroyal leadership of Saul and the subsequent monarchs2. in this time, Israel becomes more of a nation than the loose confederation of a dozen tribeswhich she had been3. it was written some time after its events during the reign of the kings (cf. 17:6, 18:1, 21:25)B. Who Were The Judges?1. their title is misleading for they were less jurists than martial princes2. they were led by the Spirit in the decisions they made and the battles they entered3. the judges were deliverers, snatching Israel from oppression and submissionC. Five Part Cycle of Sin1. all is well with the people and God is viewed as unnecessary; luxury and security breedcomplacency and excess2. since man leaves God out of his life, God obliges and exits as well; abandoned to her ownways, Israel is attacked and subdued by Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Midian3. having plummeted from wealth to poverty, she admits her error and turns back to God, askingforgiveness4. each time, God does forgive Israel and anoints a judge to deliver her, making it clear that He istruly her deliverer and not the judge5. all returns to normal for Israel; wealth and prosperity are renewed; the resurgent generationgrows old and passes and is replaced by a generation that does not know suffering or sacrifice and soturns to luxury, excess and sin and ultimately turns God outII. Cycle Illustrated in Gideon’s ReignA. Prosperity Crumbles Into Poverty1. for the fourth time already, Israel had been delivered from an oppressor by a judge2. Deborah this time (Judges 4:23-24, 5:31)B. Abandoned to Wallow in Excess1. the very next verse shows that forty years of freedom made Israel lax (Judges 6:1-4)a. Midian ruled Israel for seven years and stole away her richesb. the children of Israel were forced to live in caves and animal densc. her food was destroyed or stolen and nothing was leftd. God’s nation was desolated because she would not seek her Father2. eventually, she reaches such a depth of servitude that she does something about itC. Repentance1. we see and hear her cries (Judges 6:6-10)2. Jehovah is a God of love and loyalty to his subjects3. He stands ready to receive them back and is always ready with a sermon of repentance andcorrection when the people are prepared to hear it and act upon it<strong>Character</strong> <strong>Studies</strong>! 47
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. it is not hard to imagine that th
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illions of souls from benefiting is
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17:15-21)2. the birth was announced
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. Thomas insisted that he would onl
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esteem, wondering what we will do w
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or friendship at all (First John 3:
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3. Silas begins and ends his Bible
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26Brown, Driver, Briggs and Geseniu
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