For this year’s Prophecy Update we took an in-depth look at what is happening globally in connection with Bible prophecy, specifically related to the End Times. The study encompassed four main sections, starting with a look at Israel and why it is so important and central to Bible prophecy. The study continued by looking at prophecies of Israel related to Syria, Egypt, and Gaza. We closed out looking at an obscure prophecy from Isaiah 9:10 and a look at our nation and the pride that we are called to repent from. The night closed with an exhortation from Hebrews 12:5-15 that reminded us that God disciplines those whom He loves.

We have also created a PDF of the slides for the presentation for your use in taking notes and study:

We finished Hebrews 13 tonight looking at the author’s dealing with several important issues in the Church of God. We were exhorted to let brotherly love continue and to be hospitable to strangers in the Church. Pastor Brett talked about the important of healthy marriage, particularly with the marriage bed and physical intimacy as God reveals to us in His Word the way he designed marriage and sexuality to work. We closed the chapter talking about several issues in the Church, from food, to corporate worship, to being submitted to the leadership of our local church.

In this teaching Pastor Brett brought a convicting word from Hebrews 12:14-15 warning us against the dangers and the poison of bitterness. We saw how bitterness blinds our vision, keeping us from seeing how wretched and in need of grace we are. We also saw how it blocks God’s grace in our lives, that it blossoms into trouble and ultimately blackens our soul with sin. We ended seeing a beautiful picture from Exodus 15 of how the Cross of Christ makes the bitter waters turn sweet.

The writer of Hebrews exhorted us in Chapter 12 to run the race of the Christian faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus, leaving behind the weight that holds us back. We were challenged by Pastor Brett to endure God’s discipline as His children and to stand firm in His strength through the trials of life. Closing out the study we were reminded that our God is a consuming fire; that his judgment is real, but that we have an eternal inheritance in Christ as we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

In this study Pastor Brett took us through Hebrews 12:5-11 where we looked at the Biblical example of correction, spanking and discipline. We saw that the earthly example of parents disciplining their children is used by the Lord to talk about the way that He corrects us in love. With the Lord, we are never punished for our sins but are disciplined with the purpose of correction, growth and greater intimacy with God.

Tonight Pastor Brett took us through the end of Hebrews 11 and the Hall of Faith. We looked at Joshua and his victory at Jericho as it modeled for us how the Lord wants to bring about completion of His work in our lives. We also saw some unexpected examples of faith in the lives of Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David. The study ended with examples of Old Testament believers who suffered and left us with examples of faith that trust God even in the face of death.

We continued in the Hall of Faith looming at the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their “even-if” faith. They along with the “others” of verses 36-40 showed us that choosing to trust God through suffering is great faith. We also saw that even-if faith looks to the ultimate reward of being united to Christ eternally and is willing to accept whatever He has planned in this life.

As we continued to study through Hebrews 11 and the Hall of Faith, Pastor Brett talked about the importance of family in the life of faith. We saw that Noah was commended for preparing a safe place for his family and also saw through the examples of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph how God’s blessings flowed through the families of broken people that trusted God. Finally we saw that Isaac and Jacob were commended by the Lord for blessing their children and that Joseph had faith that God would deliver his people from Egypt.

As we continue studying through the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, Pastor Brett gave us an in-depth look at Moses as a model of faith. We looked at six ways that Moses rejected the the world and its offer of sinful desires and compromise and saw how he chose to trust God and His plan instead of the world. Even Moses’ example of stepping out in faith at the Red Sea was an encouragement for us to look to the Lord and trust Him, even in the face of affliction and danger.

Tonight we looked at the first 6 verses of Hebrews 11. We saw the often overlooked truth that in verse 3 we are the first people mentioned in the Hall of Faith as we believe that God spoke the worlds into existence.

Then we looked at the examples of faith in Abel and Enoch. We saw that Abel offered a more pleasing sacrifice to God, a sacrifice that followed God’s word. Then we examined Enoch and his testimony that he walked with God and pleased God.

We were challenged by Pastor Brett to be a people that desire to bring God pleasure with the whole of our lives (Revelation 4:11).