Bible in a Year with Pastor Chris Dodge

May 28 - Zechariah, Malachi & Psalms (Part 1)

This study is part 4 of our study of the twelve Minor Prophets. Minor not because they are of minor importance, but rather minor because they are shorter than other books of prophecy like Isaiah and Jeremiah. We will also take our first look at the Psalms. Zechariah ⁃ We see that when God pushes in - there's pushback from the enemy, but there is also another reaction and that is when the enemy pushes back, God pushes back even harder. It doesn't mean everything will go well, it does mean that the Lord gets the final victory. ⁃ The Lord calls Zechariah in late 520 BC. He is given prophetic word for the people in his day but also clear dramatic predictive prophecies that point to the coming of Jesus 500 years later. ⁃ Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggai ⁃ He's called as a Prophet and Priest ⁃ Shares Messianic and Apocalyptic message ⁃ Speaks remarkable prophecies of Jesus' first coming ⁃ The book ends by pointing to a glorious future - giving hope - because in the end God wins! A word to Zerubbabel is that we are to do things in God's power and God's way. Not by our own strength and power but in the Spirit's strength and power alone. Pastor helps us see the book of Zechariah as God's preview to what is to come: The Branch, the King, and what He will be like. Pastor also spends considerable time exploring the prophetic words about Jesus in Zechariah and showing how Jesus fits the prophetic word that's spoken there. Zechariah gives us insight into God the Father's plan - a plan of Grace. Malachi ⁃ The last of the written prophets ⁃ Active during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah ⁃ Prophesied ca 470 or 430 BC ⁃ His name means "My messenger" ⁃ Malachi's message is a call to us to honor God and not to give God our leftovers! God wants our firstfruits and He wants us to worship Him with our whole hearts. God deserves our all. ⁃ Malachi also shares the One who is promised, the One who is prophesied, is coming soon. ⁃ Malachi opens with a plea from God to us to receive His love and that His name will be great not only among the Jewish people but also among the Gentiles - All nations! ⁃ Malachi also prophecies that one like Elijah would come before the Promised One comes. This "Elijah" is John the Baptist. The Promised One is Jesus - the Promised Savior. ⁃ Note: Malachi is the ending of the books of the Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. (Nevi'im) Pastor ties what Malachi says to Jesus' Transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36. And ties several other pieces of prophecy together. Psalms Pastor introduces the Psalms and will continue for several more weeks exploring the Psalms ⁃ Pronunciation: sahm ⁃ Antiquity of Tehilim - the Book of Psalms ⁃ Superscriptions (cf. 2 Samuel 22:1; Isaiah 38:8 and Habbakuk 3:1) These superscriptions give us insight to the psalm and to who wrote a particular psalm. ⁃ Ancient technical terms, eg "selah" are found throughout the Psalms. Selah appears 71 times in psalms, but we do not know what it means. The guess is that it is suggesting a time of reflection and quiet. ⁃ The psalms are filled with raw emotion. ⁃ They can be broken down into 2 Categories ⁃ Petitions (pleas/complaints) ⁃ Praises (hymns/thanksgiving) Join us next week our continued study of the Psalms. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]

May 21 - Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah & Haggai

This study is part 3 of our study of the twelve Minor Prophets. Minor not because they are of minor importance, but rather minor because they are shorter than other books of prophecy like Isaiah and Jeremiah. Nahum: --Little is known about Nahum --Mentions fall of Thebes (663 BC) in the past - (Luxor - remains of temple can be seen today - statues of sphinxes) --Brought a word of judgement on Judah's enemies - a word of judgement to Nineveh and the Assyrian empire --Prophesied Nineveh's fall (612 BC) - Excavation of Nineveh began in the 1800's. Archeologist unearthed a library going back to the Hebrew prophets. --Nineveh was defeated by the Babylonian and the Medes. --Nahum lived a century after Jonah --A short but important book that lets us know that God is in control of history. Habakkuk; --Prophesied during the time of King Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah - (609-597 BC) and beyond --Attacks oppression of the poor --Uniqueness of Habakkuk is that the book is a conversation with the Lord - he asks questions of God from the depths of his soul (1:14-2:1). Cries out to the Lord…. Why Lord….. how long Lord…. We too are to bring our concerns to the Lord. God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. --Habakkuk's time seems similar to our times today. --Habakkuk 2:4 "See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness" is quoted 3 times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38) Teaches us to live by faith in the God. Zephaniah: --Possibly the great-grandson of King Hezekiah (1:1) --Prophesied during the reign of King Josiah a king that at the age of 16 began seeking God. --Active early in Josiah's reign --Zephaniah taught obedience to the Lord and trusting Him with all one's heart. --Before the great revival of the 18th year of Josiah's reign - See 2 Kings 22:3ff - when the scroll - the Torah, written by the hand of Moses was found. --Zephaniah spoke judgment and hope - Encouraged the people to come back to God, to turn their hearts back to God. Pastor reviews a timeline from Daniel (605 BC) to Nehemiah (445 BC) Haggai: --A contemporary of Zechariah --God's word came to Haggai in a small timeframe: August 520 - December 520 BC --God used Haggai to call the people to complete work on the Temple which had been delayed for many years --"Give careful thought…." A frequently repeated word from God through Haggai (1:5,7; 2:15,18) Haggai talked about the "desire of the nations" (a need for a Savior and a prophetic word for the Messiah) --Sin spreads far more easily than holiness! Grace is not cheap. We are not to merely know about God but to know Him with our hearts. Without the heart - we only have head knowledge. Haggai calls us to return to God and to take God seriously. Join us next week for the study of Zechariah, Malachi and part 1 of Psalms. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

May 14 - Amos, Obadiah, Jonah & Micah

This study is part 2 of our study of the twelve Minor Prophets. Minor not because they are of minor importance, but rather minor because they are shorter than other books of prophecy like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The message of the prophets is: judgement will come unless the people of God are humble and repentant before Him. God's people must repent first. Repentance must start with us. Amos: -- Shepherd from Tekoa in Judah -- Layman, not "professional" prophet (7:14-15) -- Prophesied in Israel -- Contemporary of Hosea -- Calls for social justice; rejection of superficial religion -- Words of Judgment and Hope -- The Book of Amos begins with judgment on Israel's historic enemies; then Judah and Jerusalem; then Israel -- "The Day of the LORD" (5:18ff) -- Locusts, Fire and Plumb Line (7) -- Basket of Ripe Fruit (8) -- Restoration (9:11ff) and Acts 15:16-17 God uses Amos to tell His people to come back to Him, because when you worship in a half-hearted way - that's not worship. God is saying to not put Him on the back shelf, instead He desires to be at the heart and center of our lives. That's a word for every age and today it is especially for the American church. We cannot treat God lightly, we cannot simply go through the motions and go along with the culture. God desires true and humble worship of the heart. Pastor shares several powerful present day stories of the movement of God. God is still doing these things! Obadiah: -- Shortest book in the Old Testament (21 verses) -- "Day of the Lord" - judgment + salvation -- "Servant of the LORD" -- Difficult to date -- Focus on "Edom" (the descendants of Esau) God uses Obadiah to speak judgment on a nation that should know Him because their roots go back to Abraham and to Isaac. God calls them stubborn and that judgment will come but God's purpose is to call them back to Himself. Obadiah declares God is good and that He will win His people back to Himself. Jonah: -- Jonah ministered ca 800-750 BC -- From Gath-hepher in Zebulun (Galilee) -- Predicted restoration under Jeroboam II (see 2 Kings 14:25) -- Controversy over miracles… -- …concern for the Gentiles Jonah decides not to follow what God tells him to do and he ends up in a bad storm on the sea. The crew throws him overboard and he's swallowed by a great fish. And in the belly of the fish for three days just as Jesus would be in the grave 3 days. During those 3 days Jonah is transformed as he calls on God for help. The fish vomited Jonah out and he goes to Nineveh as the Lord had originally requested him to do. He preaches the Lord's judgment is coming unless they repent. The people listen and they repented so God relented. No judgment came and Jonah is frustrated that they repented and He's angry at God. Yet God deals with Jonah graciously. God desires that all come to know Him and that no one perishes. Jew and Gentile, all. The book of Jonah shows the heart of God and being whole-heartedly committed to doing His will. Micah: -- Contemporary of Isaiah ca. 740-700 BC God gave each of them, Micah and Isaiah, words that were very similar. About their prophecies, some have come true, others are yet to come. -- Judgment of Jerusalem and Samaria -- Effective ministry (see Jeremiah 26:18) -- Messianic prophecies over 700 years before Jesus was born: -- "In the last days…" (4:1ff) -- "Bethlehem…" (5:2) Micah teaches about acting justly, loving mercy and to walking humbly before the Lord. It's not about us, it is about God. When we walk humbly before Him we hear Him and we listen to Him, we act on what He has taught us. True faith always shows itself in life and real faith always demonstrates itself in obedience. We are not saved because we are obedient, but when we are saved we will be obedient. We are called to obedience and faithfulness to God. Micah ends with words showing the goodness and faithfulness of God. There is no god like God: -- Pardons sin -- Forgives transgression -- He does not stay angry forever -- He delights to show mercy -- He has compassion -- He treads our sins under His foot -- He hurls all iniquities to the depths of the sea -- He is faithful -- He shows love -- He keeps His promises Join us next week for the study of Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah and Haggai. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

May 7 - Hosea & Joel

We begin our study of the 12 books of the Old Testament that are called the Minor Prophets - Not because what they have to share is "minor" but rather meaning they are much shorter than the other prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah which are much lengthier. The books of the minor prophets are packed with Messianic prophecies and with prophecies about fulfillment at the end of the ages when Messiah (Jesus) returns. Minor Prophets -- In the Hebrew Bible they are called "The Twelve" -- Augustine named them the "Minor Prophets" -- "Minor" based on their length not their importance -- Jewish tradition is that they are arranged chronologically. -- Span of 300-400 years - Pastor shares a timeline of the Hebrew Prophets showing them in historical order. He highlights that before the fall of Israel and before the fall of Jerusalem, God sends many prophets with words of warning to the people to turn back to Him. Hosea -- Ministered to Israel during reign of Jeroboam II who was a successful king by human standards. -- During Jeroboam II's reign it was a time of prosperity and border expansion of land that had been lost and now reconquered and regained. But the Jeroboam II pulled the people away from God. He was not a godly leader. Hosea prophesied that judgement was coming. -- The reign of Jeroboam II was followed by political upheaval (6 kings, 4 assassinations in 30 years) -- Autobiographical book - the book gives us a real glimpse into the difficult life of the prophet. -- His wife, Gomer was promiscuous. She was a picture of the spiritual adultery of the people of God. They were not faithful to Him. God's heart is to pursue them. -- Children with symbolic names Key Themes of Hosea: -- Spiritual Adultery (3:1-5) -- Lacking Knowledge of God - Relationship (4:6) -- God's Unrequited Love Hosea has much prophecy about the coming Messiah and that we are to have inward faith with a life lived in the Lord. It's all about knowing the Living God. God wants us to seek Him, yield our hearts to Him and He will transform us. Joel -- Little knowledge about the prophet Joel -- Name means "The LORD is God" -- Dating is controversial -- Locust plague/"the Day of the Lord" -- Repentance - most of the calls to repentance in the Scriptures are usually directed at God's people. When we see God in His holiness, power and mercy it should drive us to our knees. God want's us to take Him seriously and to humble ourselves before Him. "Tear your hearts, not your clothes." Judgement always begins with the household of God. -- Spiritual reawakening -- Joel 2:28-32 a prophetic word on an outpouring of the Holy Spirit - the release of the Holy Spirit. ""And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days."" and Acts 2:14-21 "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." -- Joel announces the end of days - the Bible makes it clear that since the coming of Jesus, His ministry, His death, His resurrection and ascension, these are the Last Days. We are called to be flat on our knees before the Living God, yielding ourselves to Him and watching what He will do. Because He yearns and longs to call His children back to Himself and bless them. This is not dusty theology, this is present truth. Join us next week for the study of Amos, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

April 30 - Ezekiel

Pastor begins class by introducing us to Ezekiel: -- Priestly family -- He was exiled in 597 BC (2 Kings 24:12-14) approx age 26 -- Called as prophet at age of 30 -- His name means " God strengthens" He was warned that the people would not want to hear what he shares with them. And God tells him that he is a watchman. God uses "son of man" to refer to Ezekiel. -- The book is characterized by prophetic actions and symbols. God uses memorable actions, visible things, to make power spiritual declarations and to make powerful profound truth to be made clear. Ezekiel often gives an action to the words God gives him. And God uses those actions to make a point. -- Prose rather than poetry - he speaks very direct. He speaks graphically and sometimes his words are very shocking. -- "Then they will know that I am the LORD" this phrase occurs over and over (65 times) in the Book of Ezekiel. The time before, during and after Ezekiel's life was a time of international upheaval and turmoil with empires battling for power. There were 3 empires vying for power: Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. Around 605 BC Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken captive by the Babylonians. About seven years later, in 597 BC, Ezekiel is taken captive by the Babylonians. It's fascinating to think of them being contemporaries. All deeply devoted to the Living God. Outline of Ezekiel -- Prophetic Judgment against Israel - Ezekiel 1-24 (God's judgement always begins with the household of God) -- Prophetic Judgment against the nations - Ezekiel 25-32 (God holds nations accountable - when a nation turns away from God it brings judgment on itself.) -- Prophetic Hope for Israel and the Nations - Ezekiel 33-48 (God's purpose in judgment is to turn us back to Him. Our Hope is found in God's plan for salvation and the promise of His Son, Jesus. Jesus comes first to the people of Israel and then says to make disciples of all nations.) Starting in chapter one we see a glimpse into a vision Ezekiel experiences that brings Ezekiel to fall face down as He realizes the power and majesty and glory of God. He hears God speaking to him and God sends him to the Israelites and tells him that he must speak the words He gives him whether the people want to listen or not and that He would be with Ezekiel. God makes Ezekiel a watchman of the nation. God's desire to bring them back to Himself through repentance is evident. God has Ezekiel do many actions - illustrations - of what He wants the people to know and understand. One example is God telling Ezekiel to have a specific way of lying in bed. Pastor shares amazing speculation and a possible explanation of the 390 + 40 = 430. Pastor's speculation ends with a date in May of 1948 and the quote, "Can a nation be born in one day?" Pastor shares several other examples of actions / illustrations that Ezekiel was told by God to do. In chapter 9 we hear that judgment is coming but Ezekiel sees, in a vision, a man putting a protecting mark (a tav) on the foreheads of those found faithful to God. Pastor show us what the tav looks like in Modern Hebrew in comparison to what the tav looked like in Paleo Hebrew in Ezekiel's day. I'll just say, "Oh, my!" And I hope that if the 430 didn't convince you to take a listen to Pastor's teaching on Ezekiel, I hope that this leaves you wondering enough to listen. (BTW the word "coincidence" is not in the Bible). The Dead See scrolls also carry this letter of the Paleo alphabet, the tav, on the Messianic prophecies. The goodness, grace and mercy of God are evident! God is incredible! Pastor overviews several other chapters: 10, 16, 18, 23, 24, 33, 34, 37, 38, 40-48 with themes of: -- Judgment -- Hope -- Idolatry is adultery against God -- God pleads for His people to turn back to Him -- Ezekiel's wife dies when he is around 37 -- Ezekiel's call is reaffirmed -- God will be the people's Shepherd - a prophetic word. (See John 10) -- Dry bones coming to life -- The spiritual battle between God and evil -- The New Temple -- New Jerusalem and it will be named "God is there" Join us next week for the study of Hosea and Joel. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com