Prophets – Word Pictures

• HoseaHosea (7:8), a cake not turned

– Hot to idols, cold to God

• MicahMicah – puns. E.g.: Mic.1:10

– Beth AphrahBeth Aphrah = House of dust

– In House of DustHouse of Dust, roll yourselves in the dustdust

II ShiverShiver

• A person may shiver because of

(1) sickness;

(2) temperature

(3)(3) fearfear

• FearFear: illustrated in Ja.2:19 – to be so afraid as to shudder or

tremble; to shudder w. fear, to be extremely afraid (L-N, 317)

Everyone is afraid of something

• NyclophobiaNyclophobia, darkness

• AAcrophobiacrophobia, high places

• XenophobiaXenophobia, strangers

• TTriskaidekaphobiariskaidekaphobia, number 13

• These fears never saved anyone

• Shivering (fear) does not always produce good results (salvation)

• We must learn selective fear (Mt.10:28; Ja.2:19)

Misguided fear

• Saul, 1 Sm.28

• Ahab, 1 K.21

• Roman guards, Mt.28:1-4

• Felix, Ac.24:24-25

Proper fear

• Proper fear (joined w. respect) always produces good results

• Proper fear is based on:

1. The presence of GodThe presence of God• Gn.28…

• Isa.64:2

2. The promise of GodThe promise of God. Josh.2:8-13

3. The precept of GodThe precept of God. Isa.66:2

– Puts truth above everything else

• Pro.23:23

– Applies truth to himself before all others; he is not a sermon fitter

• Jn.21:…20-22

– He obeys truth regardless of what others do

• Josh.24:15

4. The pardon of GodThe pardon of God. Ph.2:12

– “Not a mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him” (Vine II, 84)

• Lk.8:…47, why tremble:– Thought she did wrong?

– Feared the cure would be withdrawn

• Much was at stake

IIII RiverRiver

• Shiver (the good sense to be afraid) leads people to obey God

– 2 K.5

• ShiverShiver leads to riverriver –– Mt.3:7-8, flee . . . wrath

• Snakes flee fire; sinners flee wrath

• Snakes remain snakes; these remain sinners

– Wrath: (10); Hb.10:31; 12:29

– Ac.16:29, jailer

• Several events may have “shaken” him:

– earthquake; selective “damage”

– suicide plans

– would enter eternity soon…

• His fear led him to obey (30-34)

– Hb.11:7, Noah

• 1 Pt.3:20-21, the water saved the obedient, destroyed the disobedient

IIIIII LiverLiver• Baptism is just the beginning of the

new life (living for Christ) • Ep.5:25-27 explains this sequence

– 25, Jesus gave Himself for the church (people; saved by His blood) – the divine partthe divine part

– Paul could have mentioned everything Paul could have mentioned everything Jesus gave us (Jesus gave us (forgivenessforgiveness; ; gospelgospel; ; prayerprayer; ; providenceprovidence; ; fellowshipfellowship; ; intercessionintercession, etc.), etc.)• Instead he mentions the ultimate Instead he mentions the ultimate

gift: Himselfgift: Himself

Jesus, Ep.5:26 – • SanctifiesSanctifies, 1 Co.6:11, consecrates (sets

apart to Himself)

• CleansesCleanses (His saved people). 2 K. 5:10, 12, 14

• With washing of waterWith washing of water (element) – ourour partpart. “Referring to baptism” (L-N, 53:43)

• By the wordBy the word (instrument) – gives water its efficacy. Naaman

– Luther: “W/o the Word of God, the water is simply water and no baptism”

Jesus, Ep.5:27 –

• PresentPresent to Himself (2 Co.11:2) –– a glorious churcha glorious church, resplendent

• Ultimately, the church gives the glory (3:21)

– not having spotnot having spot – 2 Pt.2:13. 1 Pt.1:19– not having wrinklnot having wrinklee – mark of age or

decay– holyholy – cf. 26, sanctify– w/o blemishw/o blemish – 1:4

• Living For Jesus

IVIV GiverGiver• As we live for Christ, we soon learn to

eliminate selfishness from our lives, to be givers, not takers

• Some are takers– Those who take secretly are thievesthieves;

those who take by force are robbersrobbers (Lk.10)

– Those who take by pretence are hypocriteshypocrites. Mk.12:40

– Those who take by begging are lazylazy (2 Th.3:10)

Ep.4:28• Steal no moreSteal no more – implies that bad

habits of their former life linger around the converts

– Their moral climate presented constant temptations to pull them down

• Rather…laborRather…labor. Even those who quit stealing and worked for a living could be guilty of doing so selfishly

• That he may have to giveThat he may have to give… Ac.20:35– Real restitution!