Hope

2 Corinthians 1:10-12 - He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.


1 Timothy 4:10 - That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Philippians 1:18-19 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

2 Corinthians 2:17 - Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Application:

· God is the Savior of all in that He offers salvation to all and saves all who come to Him
· I am saved to eternal life by God no matter what my circumstances on this earth
· Am I willing to persevere Christ-like suffering?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Rely On God

2 Corinthians 1:6-9 - If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.


Romans 11:25-26 - I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Application:

· Does God’s merciful plan to include me in His great salvation plan humble me or fill me with arrogance?
· God’s grace is all-sufficient, and our weakness is precisely the opportunity for His power to be displayed
· God’s grace is sufficient for me. Do I boast gladly about my weaknesses?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Our Brother

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


2 Timothy 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 - Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Hebrews 2:11 - Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 - To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 - To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

· Am I holy and dedicated to God?
· Eternal life is available to all who will receive it through faith in Christ
· Do I live to glorify God?
· Jesus makes His people holy through His blood
· Am I set apart as holy? Do I reflect God’s holiness?
· Have I been called to God? Do I stand before Him as a holy one?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Every Pot In Jerusalem...Holy

Zechariah 14:17-21 - If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty.


Exodus 19:5-6 - Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Romans 14:6-7 - Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Nehemiah 8:10 - Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Joel 3:17 - “Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.

Isaiah 35:8 - And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.

Application:

· God’s original purpose for Israel will be realized
· Do I persevere in faithfulness?
· Even common things become holy when they are used for God’s service
· Do I honor the Lord and give thanks to Him?
· Do I live to please myself or do I live to please the Lord?
· Every aspect of my life has the potential to honor God
· Do I rejoice in God and delight in His presence?
· Where God is present all is purified and even ordinary deeds become acts of holy worship
· Only the redeemed can use the Way of Holiness

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Worship

Zechariah 14:12-16 - This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps. Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.


Psalm 86:9 - All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

Obadiah 21 - Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.

Isaiah 2:2 - In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

Application:

· Am I grateful for the Lord’s blessings? Do I rejoice over them?
· Do I believe God is sovereign and will rule universally?
· The Lord reigns and is my King
· I will worship the one true God

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

The Lord Will Be King Over The Whole Earth

Zechariah 14:9 - The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.


Psalm 22:27-28 - All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

Obadiah 21 - Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD’s.

Habakkuk 2:14 - For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Application:

· There is one Lord and His name is the only name
· The rule of God is universal
· The kingdom will be the Lord’s
· The knowledge of the glory of the Lord fills the earth

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Day Of Battle

Zechariah 14:1-3 - A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.


Joel 1:15 - Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Zechariah 13:8 - In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

Exodus 14:14 - The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Application:

· Is the day of the Lord near? Am I already in His presence, blessed by Him and saved through Him?
· God is merciful in the midst of judgment
· Even though I may be armed for battle and march out boldly, the victory will be won by God alone.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV