A Nation of Promise - The Return to Jerusalem

 

Outline of Service 30th July 2023

A Nation of Promise – The Return to Jerusalem

… they had understood the words that were declared unto them … Neh. 8:12.

Songs of Praise – led by the Terrigal Singers

Hymn 106:  Praise God Together       

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 105:1-8:   God’s Greatness

 

Bible Readings:  –

God’s Preparations:  Jeremiah 29:10-14; Isaiah 44:28; Ezra 1:1-11

Ezra Goes with the King’s Blessing:  Ezra 7:1, 6-13, 27-8; 8:21-23

God’s Word Proclaimed in Jerusalem:  Nehemiah 8:1-12

Jesus Sends Out His Disciples:  Matthew 10:1-6

Jerusalem From Above:  Revelation 21:1-5

Summary of Readings

·                     Although God allowed His Nation of Promise to be taken into captivity, He had accurately foretold that they would return after a period of 70 years

·                     Ezra and Nehemiah were actively involved in seeking these promises

·                     A large number of the Jews did return to Jerusalem at that time

·                     However, the Bible still contains many promises that relate to an ingathering of a remnant of the descendants of the whole 12 Tribes, which are yet to be fulfilled

·                     Scripture tells that these promises relate to the Latter Days, or the Day of the Lord, which will align with the return of Jesus Christ to reign on this earth

·                     Those seeking God in their hearts will have a desire to want to be obedient to His Commandments, and at Jesus’ return will enter the Promised Land – being the redemption of spirit and soul and body.

 

Hymn 88:  Clothed with God’s Strength     

 

Message           

 

Hymn 72:  Personal Response to the Promises 

Doxology

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  (Jeremiah 29:13).

A Nation of Promise - The Promises Rejected

A Nation of Promise – The Promises Rejected

This is the Lord’s doing;..we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:23-24

Hymn 20:  Safety in Obeying God      

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 118:14-24:   I will praise the Lord

 

Bible Readings:  –

Moses Calls-out Bad Behaviour:  Deut. 32:15-29

Continuing Rejection of God:  Jeremiah 44:1-10

Jesus’ Parable of Rejection:  Matt 21:33-46

God’s Everlasting Love: Romans 10:1-3, 13-21

Summary of Readings

·                     God chose Israel to be His peculiar treasure to Himself, to be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation, and to receive His Promised Blessings (Exodus 19:5-6)

·                     However, even whilst journeying to the Promised Land, the people rebelled against the Lord – Deuteronomy 32:15-19

·                     There was a period in which the Nation experienced the Blessings promised by God under the reign of Kings Saul, David and Solomon, but subsequent to that most kings rejected God’s instructions, despite the continuing Promises

·                     The Nation was divided into 2 Kingdoms, and one, Israel, had no Godly King and was sent into dispersion, whilst the other, Judah, had a few Godly kings, but overall grew further away from God and was taken into captivity - Jeremiah 44:1-10

·                     Jesus told a parable about Israel’s rejection of God’s ways and how they did not honour His Son – Matthew 21:33-46

·                     Nevertheless, God still continues, to hold out His Hand to deliver His People from the power of their enemy, Satan; He will bring them to dwell in The Land – their physical bodies – when Jesus Christ returns to reign over this World.

 

Hymn 122 (Tune 123):  Overcoming the Enemy Within         

 

Message           

 

Hymn 83:  Truth Will Triumph   

Doxology

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.   (Psalm 118:15-16).

Zephaniah

 

Outline of Service 25^th June 2023

Zephaniah

…be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem Zep 3:14

 

Hymn 105:  Sing to God    

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 139:1-3, 14-17, 23-24:   Praise God in Everything!

 

Bible Readings:  –

The Times of Zephaniah:  Zeph 1:1, 7-8, 14-18

God’s Judgement and Promised Revival:  Zeph 3:1-7, 13-20

Josiah’s Reforms: 2 Kings 22:1-2, 8-20

Jesus on Pure Hearts Towards God: Matt 15:10-20

The Day of the Lord Will Come:  2 Peter 3:1-2, 8-14

Summary of Readings

·                     As well as pronouncing prophecies of darkness and despair (which could have been the book that Josiah read), Zephaniah speaks of hope for the future

·                     Zephaniah reminded Judah that God’s judgment - The Day of The Lord - will come on them because they have been unfaithful to Him  

·                     Josiah did come later in Zephaniah’s life and brought reforms within the nation

·                     Josiah’s reforms were only temporary – a type of the final Day of the Lord - when God’s Kingdom will be established on the earth permanently

·                     Zephaniah recognised that the core of the waywardness is that people are not pure in their hearts towards God

·                     Zephaniah prophesied of a time when the evil will be removed from within God’s Israel, and they will dwell in the Land - a-type of our bodies - forever. 

 

Hymn 22:  God’s Word is Sure 

 

Message           

 

Hymn 51:  The Day of the Lord 

Doxology

 

The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more

(Zepheniah 3:15).

Parables of Jesus: The Sheep and the Goats

 

Outline of Online Service 30^th April 2023

The Sheep and the Goats  Matt 25:34

 

Hymn 119:  The Lamb of God    

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 31:19-24:   God’s Goodness

 

Bible Readings:  – -

 

Dividing the Flock:  Matthew 25:31-46

God’s Flock:  Ezekiel 34:11-28 

Recognising God:  1 Corinthians 13:1-13

 

Summary of Readings

·                     The sheep and the goats lived together harmoniously, but in some ways they were quite different 

·                     We have the head (thinking – intentions), the hand (actions – what we are seen to be doing) and the heart (the reason why we do what we do)

·                     Many people have good intentions of doing the right thing, many do the right thing but not for the right reason, but few do the right thing for the right reason because they do it from the heart

·                     It would seem that the sheep would be those who do the right things for the right reason from their hearts, whilst the goats will do the right thing for reasons other than from a pure heart – maybe to impress others or in search of a reward

·                     The Bible tells us that the flock of the Lord is the House of Israel

·                     May we seek to be as those on God’s Right Hand (the sheep)  who will inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the World.

 

Hymn 24 – Tune 23:  God’s Soldiers – The Sheep       

 

Message           

 

Hymn 96:  Israel’s Shepherd     

Doxology

“He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”  Jeremiah 31:10

The Rich Fool

 

CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE CHURCH

Web:  www.cichurch.com   Contact: cichurch@cichurch.asn.au  1300 135 299

Outline of Service 23^rd April 2023

The Rich Fool  Luke 12:21

 

Hymn 27 – Tune 34:  True Values       

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 31:19-24:   God’s Goodness

 

Bible Readings:  –

The Rich Fool:  Luke 12:13-21

Seeking The Lord:  Numbers 22:1-19

Tempting God: Acts 5:1-11

Wisdom Is Better Than Rubies:  Proverbs 8:1-11

 

Summary of Readings

·                     Jesus told a parable about a man who had great earthly wealth, but had not thought about his relationship with God

·                     Balaam, on the other hand, was offered great earthly wealth to go against God’s Will, but he refused and said that he could only do what God allowed

·                     In Acts Ananias and Sapphira deceived God by agreeing to withhold money after it had been promised to God, and they were punished for their deception

·                     Solomon tells us that Wisdom is better than rubies – that is, treasure in heaven is worth more then treasure on the earth

·                     God does not forbid us to have earthly wealth, but if we do have, He forbids us to worship it above Him 

·                     Our bodies are a treasure given us of God, and we should seek to preserve this treasure so that we may be changed and made like Jesus Christ at His return. 

 

Hymn 125:  Lasting Values        

 

Message           

 

Hymn 49:  More Than Gold        

 

Doxology

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.  Proverbs 10:2

The Ungrateful Debtor

 

Outline of Service 26^th March 2023

The Ungrateful Debtor  Matt 18:21

 

Hymn 102:  Joy In God’s Presence    

The Lord’s Prayer  (Luke 11:2-4)                  

Psalm 32:1-7, 11- God’s Forgiveness

 

Bible Readings:  –

David Extends Grace:  2 Samuel 9:1-13

The Ungrateful Debtor:  Matthew 18:21-35

All Under God’s Grace: 1 Corinthians 15:19-28, 51-58

 

Summary of Readings

·                     In Old Testament Times when a new King came to the throne he destroyed all the family of the last King;  David, on the contrary, showed kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who was Saul’s grandson – a figure of God’s Grace towards us

·                     Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother; in response Jesus told this parable of the ungrateful debtor

·                     Through the sacrifice of Jesus God has forgiven the sins of all, but to receive the reconciliation people must show the same attitude of forgiveness toward others

·                     Under God’s Great Plan all will eventually be reconciled to Him, but “every man in his own order” 

·                     Through God’s grace some will not “sleep” but be changed in spirit and soul and body at Jesus Christ’s return, the dead in Christ will then receive incorruptible bodies, but the others will enter into torment until the Second Resurrection when all will be made subject to God. 

 

Hymn 20:  The Voice From Heaven    

 

Message           

 

Hymn 6:  All the World Will Praise God      

 

Doxology

 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22