This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of how our perspective of God influences how we see the world around us by looking at what our perception of God should be.

In Isaiah 6:1 and Psalms 45:6, 3-7 we read three descriptions of God.
1) God is on the throne.  He is above all, always has been and always will be.  2) He is a warrior God.  He wars against and hates wickedness.  The battle is not ours, it is His. 3)  God loves righteousness and those who are on the side of righteousness.

With this perception of God in mind we will always remember who is and who should be in control of every aspect of our lives.  This perception of God also reminds us of whom we need to depend on and trust on.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Psa 45:3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Psa 45:4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Psa 45:5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psa 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Psa 103:22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psa 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Psa 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Psa 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Psa 95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psa 95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
Psa 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Psa 95:5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Psa 95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psa 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Psa 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

This week Bro. Leo leads us on a study of how our perspective of God influences how we see the world around us by looking at a few examples from the Bible.

In Isa.6:1 there are two components of Isaiah’s perspective of God.  1)  He saw the Lord in all His power, authority and majesty.  No matter what our circumstances are, God is above them.
2)  He saw the Lord in all of His purity, righteousness and holiness.  This perspective allows us to see ourselves and our circumstances.

We should see God as high and lifted up, but also as a caring God who reaches down to help us (Psa.147:1-9).  With this perspective we will rest in God instead of fighting against Him.

In 2Cor.4:16-18 Paul tells us to keep our focus on God because our circumstances are just temporary but God is eternal.  The phrase “look not at” is translated from the Greek word “skopeō” which means to intensely focus upon, to give much attention to to the point of much contemplation on.

Illustration:  The sun is 109 times larger in diameter than the earth, the volume of the sun is so great that you could fit 1.3 million planet earth’s in the sun.  Even as large as the sun is we can close one eye and hold a penny in front of the other eye and completely blot out the sun.  No matter how large our circumstances are, they can be blotted out by placing our focus on God by having the correct perspective of God.

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 6:4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psa 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Psa 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psa 147:2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
Psa 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psa 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Psa 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Psa 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Psa 147:8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
Psa 147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jer 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

This week Bro. Leo continues our study of the New Covenant Passover Feast by looking at what the Resurrection “Hope” mean to Christians.

1. What is the Resurrection Hope?
   A) The word “hope” in 1Cor.15:19 is translated from the Greek word “elpizō” which means an expectation with certainty of obtaining a future good.
   B) The Resurrection “elpizo” is 1Co 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
2. Who posses it?
   A) Only born again Christians posses the Resurrection “elpizo”.  Eph 2:12 That at that time ye (Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope (elpizo), and without God in the world:
   Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Why is the Resurrection Hope life changing, vital and why does it energize us today, why does the certainty concerning the future of a Christian affect so dramatically the way we live today?
A) “elpizo” is a supernatural, spiritual expectancy and certainty that lives in the present and deals with the future.
It energizes us and propels us forward as we go through life.

1) future: 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2) present: 1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

B) Our future certainty energizes us and enables us to endure our present day trials with joy and peace (Rom.5:3).  The word “experience” in Rom.5:4 is translated from the Greek word “dokimē” which means to experience someone and they prove themselve to you.  The more we experience Jesus the more He proves Himself faithful and trustworthy to us.  As we endure and experience Jesus and He proves Himself more and more how faithful He is to us in our present day life it fills us with hope as we deal with what ever we have to deal with in the future.  This is part of our Resurrection Hope.

C)  We should be able to tell folks about our Resurrection Hope (1Peter3:15) with absolute certainty (Phil.3:20-21).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

1Co 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

This week Bro. Leo continues our study of the New Covenant Passover Feast by looking at what the Resurrection of Jesus Christ declares to us.

1.  What does the Resurrection tell us about Jesus? (Rom.1:3-4)
   A) Jesus is the Son of God
   B)  Jesus never sinned
2. What did Jesus do? (Rom.4:24-25)
   A)  Jesus carried our sins on the cross
   B)  Jesus’ sacrifice satisfied God of our sin debt, Jesus payed the total debt of our sin
3.   What does the Resurrection tell us about ourselves? (Rom.10:9-10)
   A)  We are saved if we believe in Jesus
   1) believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins
   2) He is the son of God
   3)  He lived a perfect life
   4) He carried my sins on the cross
   5)  He faced my judgement, condemnation, my hell
   6)  He rose from the dead with a glorified body
   7)  He came alive again, never to die again

   1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
   1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

   When we believe we become adopted children of God.

   Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
   Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

   Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
   Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

   Our culture teaches the lie that everybody is a child of God, but the absolute truth of the Bible is that only born again believers are children of God.

   Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
   Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
   Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
   Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
   Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
   Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

4.  It is very important to understand the doctrine of the Firstfruits (1Cor.15:20-23, Lev.23) to fully understand what the Resurrection declares to us.  Bro. Leo gives a great synopsis of the Firstfruits doctrine in this study, please listen to this recorded study to understand this doctrine.
5. What does the Resurrection tell us about our future? (2Cor.4:13-14, 1Cor.6:14, Rom8:9-11, 18-23)
   A) We will be raised from the dead with a glorified body

Once we believe and are born again our salvation is permanent (1Pet.1:3-5).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mat 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.