Revival 2012

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church in Minford, Ohio had a great time with Evangelist Winston Hall and his wife Kathy last week.  The meeting was the first since I have become pastor/teacher of the church back in July 2008.  My point of view on Revivals has been not to have one.  While I know our members need to be revive daily in their lives, and our church needs to have encourgement regularily, I just felt that we have this weekly. 

Of course I have been wrong before.  Believing we have four services each week and we have three pastors in our church and we do have great fellowship each week that was enough fto keep our people spiritually healthy. 

Then again sometimes a new voice with a good message can help too.  And I believe that Winston may have provided that voice for us this week.  Only time will give us that information.

Our people are really great people and have grown spiritually and in the knowledge of the Lord over the last few years.  As the passtor-teacher I have tried to equip them in the knowledge of the Word for their spiritual lives. 

I will say I believe there has been growth in the memership in the learing of God's word.  While our attendance has not grown we have increased in many ways.  While I would like to see our church to grow . that might come latter.

Luke 1 The Inter-Testament Period History Part One

 

 

1.     introduction;

2.     brief Jewish history of the inter-testament period;

3.     three centers of Judaism during the inter-testament period;

4.     influence by Greek during the inter-testament period; and

5.     influence by Roman during the inter-testament period.

 1A. INTRODUCTION

1B    Significant Changes in the Holy Land During the 400 Silent Years

As the pages of the New Testament are opened, it soon becomes apparent that many things have changed since the close of the Old Testament. It would he a mistake to assume that the world in which Jesus and the apostles lived was the same one that Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi lived in. Things were quire different. It is important, therefore, to note some of these changes before entering into a study of the text of the New Testament.

Political control of Palestine had changed hands several times since the days of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. At the time of Christ, the rulers of the world were the emperors of Rome — Caesar Augustus, Tiberius Caesar (Luke 2:1; 3:1), and their successors. How the Roman Empire came into being and how it managed its territories is part of our investigation. The world felt the impact of a great Greek culture during the inter-testament period. It was "Hellenized." The Hellenistic influence was pervasive, touching language and customs. It also touched the world of ideas: religious, political, and social. The influence of Hellenism on Jewish life is an issue of great importance in our study.

Between the prophet Malachi and the New Testament writers there elapsed over four hundred years — silent years to one who reads only the Bible. Many of the factors which made up the New Testament picture originated during this period. Reading the New Testament, we come across names which are not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, such as Pharisee, Sadducee, and Herodian. We read of the synagogue and the "feast of the dedication" (John 10:22). There was a disagreement between Grecian Jews and the Hebrews (Acts 6:1). Who were these people? 

Because of this, it is important to familiar with the changes during the inter-testament period (i.e. 400 silent years). Below chart illustrated the significant changes in the holy land during the four hundred silent years.

^{(Source: Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament, Chicago: Moody Press, 1978 Edition, p. 42, by Irving L. Jensen)}

The Holy Land, Before and After the 400 Silent Years

 

 

In chapters two and three, our task is to investigate the historical events of the Inter-testament period and New Testament period and their effects on the writings included in the New Testament canon.

2B Relationship Between the Old Testament, 400 Silent Years and the New Testament

All the years before Christ, beginning with the time of Adam and Eve, looked forward to His appearance on the earthly scene. That was the pre-Christian era. Let us now focus on the two immediate pre-Christian settings of the New Testament, namely the Old Testament and the four hundred silent years.

Relationship Between the Old Testament, 400 Silent Years And the New Testament

 

The Old Testament is promise and expectation, the New Testament is fulfillment and completion. Below table illustrated the relationship between them.

Relationship Between the Old Testament And the New Testament History

Old Testament History	New Testament History
foreshadow	fulfillment
Promise	performance
Problem	solution
commencement	consummation

3B  The End of the Old Testament

The Old Testament recorded the spiritual failures of the nation of Israel. Israel repeatedly violated the commands of God until God disciplined His people by sending them into Babylonian captivity. After seventy years in captivity, God allowed His people to return to their land and to function as a nation again. Men like Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Malachi were instrumental in this return and restoration. However, as the Old Testament came to a close with the historical hook of Nehemiah and the prophetic book of Malachi, once again the spiritual life of Israel began to deteriorate. God's final word, through the prophet Malachi, was primarily a rebuke fur Israel's sinfulness. But included in that message was the promise that the Lord and His messenger would someday come (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). That promise would not be fulfilled for about four hundred years, when John the Baptist (the messenger) would announce the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament is promise and expectation, the New Testament is fulfillment and completion. Below table illustrated the relationship between them.

Relationship Between the Old Testament And the New Testament History

Old Testament History	New Testament History
foreshadow	fulfillment
Promise	performance
Problem	solution
commencement	consummation

3B  The End of the Old Testament

The Old Testament recorded the spiritual failures of the nation of Israel. Israel repeatedly violated the commands of God until God disciplined His people by sending them into Babylonian captivity. After seventy years in captivity, God allowed His people to return to their land and to function as a nation again. Men like Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Malachi were instrumental in this return and restoration. However, as the Old Testament came to a close with the historical hook of Nehemiah and the prophetic book of Malachi, once again the spiritual life of Israel began to deteriorate. God's final word, through the prophet Malachi, was primarily a rebuke fur Israel's sinfulness. But included in that message was the promise that the Lord and His messenger would someday come (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). That promise would not be fulfilled for about four hundred years, when John the Baptist (the messenger) would announce the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Old Testament History

New Testament History

foreshadow

fulfillment

Promise

performance

Problem

solution

commencement

consummation

 

 

 

THE STUDY OF THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST

THE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF LUKE 42.4

"There lived a wise man if, we can call him a man - named Jesus. A wonder worker and a teacher of those who search after truth, he attracted crowds of both Jews and 'Gentiles. He was the 'Christ. Nevertheless, Pilate, at the urging of our leaders, sentenced him to death on the 'cross. His disciples remained faithful, however, and after three days he appeared to them alive. This and many other marvelous things had been foretold about him by the prophets. The Christian sect, named after him, still flourishes to this day."  -Flavius Josephus (1st Century AD.)[i]

MARCH 11,2012

Charles e Whisnant

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"There lived a wise man if, we can call him a man - named Jesus. A wonder worker and a teacher of those who search after truth, he attracted crowds of both Jews and 'Gentiles. He was the 'Christ. Nevertheless, Pilate, at the urging of our leaders, sentenced him to death on the 'cross. His disciples remained faithful, however, and after three days he appeared to them alive. This and many other marvelous things had been foretold about him by the prophets. The Christian sect, named after him, still flourishes to this day."  -Flavius Josephus (1st Century AD.)

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[i] http://www.bible-history.com/jesus/index.html