A Promise Kept

How many promises have you made and kept? How do we rate at fulfilling our promises?
Have anyone ever broken their promise to you?
Do past failures make you have trouble dealing with future prompts from someone to hold more promises from them?
What’s the longest period of time you’ve given to keep a promise? Did you keep it? Is the longer you stretch the time to keep a promise help or hinder whether you keep it?


Concepts:

v How many prophecies were fulfilled from Micah, Isaiah, and David’s time, etc?

Through the prophet Micah, it was revealed that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and that He would be a powerful king and also a shepherd, He would bring peace to the nations. [Micah 5:2-5]

The prophecy foretold by Isaiah (7:14), who prophesied during the Assyrian Empire, concerning the virgin birth that would occur over seven hundred years later in days of King Herod (Matthew 1:18-25). (Matthew 2:1).

Reflect upon chapter 9 of Isaiah when he refers to this one called Immanuel in 7:14:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Certain prophecies refer precisely to the coming of the Messiah: the virgin birth (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14), the Messiah’s birthplace (Matthew 2:5-6; Micah 5:1-2), the slaughter of infants (Matthew 2:17-18; Jeremiah 31:15).

v What was the “redemption of Israel” and why was so important to the Hebrews?

Jesus explained to his disciples the messianic meanings contained in the prophets:

"This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:44-49).

The personal fitness of the Redeemer for the redemption of Israel is so palpable, and rests on so scriptural a basis, as to admit of not a moment's argument or doubt. It consisted essentially of the union of the two natures of Christ- the Divine and the Human. This union of the Infinite and the finite was indispensable. They could not have accomplished the work alone and apart from each other. The Divine was essential to the efficacy of Christ's death, the Human equally as essential to the death itself. As essential Divinity could not die, neither could mere Humanity atone. Hence, "the great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh." Herein lies the Redeemer's main fitness for the office thus divinely invested and thus voluntarily assumed. His Human nature- as free from the taint of sin as His Divine enabled Him to give a perfect obedience to law and a full satisfaction to justice. His Divine nature- absolutely and essentially Divine stamped His righteousness with such divine perfection, and His blood with such sovereign efficacy, as enabled Him to redeem, now and forever, the Israel of God from all iniquity. A not less essential element of fitness in Israel's Redeemer was the love- the great, the unparalleled love- which constrained Him to embark in the work of our Redemption.


v Since the fall of man God has promised redemption – give scripture references

-Read Psalm 130-

The coming of Christ was not an afterthought on the part of God. Paul says, "he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" (Ephesians 1:4-6). Even in the Garden of Eden, God foretold of the coming of the Messiah (Genesis 3:15).




* About how we come short in keeping our promises…and yet the God of ages as promised came down, meekly, and took our sins for us…if we complete the promise by receiving His gift.

Betrayal

Betrayal and Denial of Jesus

One of the harshest criticisms of society is against people who have been revealed as having betrayed someone.

Quote examples and current events.:
Divorce and affairs
Enron and other execs
Benedict Arnold
Corporate, international spies
Loaning someone something
Mayors, elected officials doing something unethical




Any one of us is like Judas; no one seems to have named their child after Judas the apostle.

Judas was the most trusted apostle. When Jesus said one of them would betray Him they would not have thought of Judas. Judas had the seat of honor beside Christ, and received the gift of being noted as special when receiving the dipped bread at the supper. Jesus knew that Judas was to betray Him, yet offered Judas love and special recognition. Judas held the esteemed and trusted position of group treasurer. Yet, after all the love offered by Christ, Judas still had it in him (and we have it too) to continue with his plan.

Everyone who likens themselves as possibly being a part of the story would say they would be like John, or Peter, but hardly ever Judas.

We always characterize even Judas’ name for what can be the worst of a follower who betrays their leader or fellow men, but we don’t remember the betrayal of Peter, or the apostles that ran and hid, or when they fell asleep at the watch instead of watching and waiting like Jesus asked not just once but twice!

2nd Samuel 15 – Absalom’s treachery

Mark 14:66-72 – Peter’s denial

Matthew 26:47-50