Lessons

Old Testament Study – Part 19 (final of the series). It seems by the mainstream denominations, they constantly teach on the practical things in life. They tend to bring those things out of the Gospels and books of the Acts period, when what we have in The Mystery provides us truths that bring it all together. When we leave the Acts period we get into the Pauline epistles that provides a distinct delineation from the promises made to Israel and the promises made to the members of the body of Christ. Christ sits far above principalities and powers at the right hand of God because of the promises made to His son. We sit there with Christ because we receive what was promised to Christ! This lesson on August 20, 2006 finishes the Overview of the Old Testament series. The series looked at how the Old Testament promises to Israel continue on in the New Testament and all the way through the Acts. It looks at the reference to the name “sheep” which is tied to Israel and “shepherd” that applies to the Lord. We never find sheep in Paul’s prison epistles. The lost sheep applies to Israel and the dry bones. Further, we learn in Romans 8:28 (KJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The point is that God has a purpose and therefore He has callings. This isn’t your purpose but God’s purpose and we need to be respectful of that. The mindset of Israel was to find the kingdom on heaven on earth. Even Jesus taught the disciples to pray ”thy kingdom come”. We see in Matthew 15:22-24 Jesus ignoring a gentile woman and tells his disciples that he wasn’t sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but later when she worshiped Him he rewarded her faith. Faith comes by our active participation in the word of God . The lesson covers the story of the centurion in Matthew 8:5 where he demonstrates the faith that was better than what the Lord had found in Israel. By grace we are saved through faith as said in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” The bottom line on the purpose behind this series was to study the Old Testament to be able to identify kingdom truths vs. church truth and not confuse the two and find approval in God’s eyes.