Fri 100409 pm Philp 1.3-11 Paul's Prescription for Prayer @ Crossover Bible Church

INTRODUCTION:

1. OPENING

C.B.C. Mission

“Our passion is to glorify God by Reaching, Renewing, and Reproducing mature followers of Jesus Christ.”

2. BOOK OVERVIEW

p  Church at Philippi ...

was started at a prayer meeting of women

was a generous partner in Paul’s ministry

Occasion:

Thank you letter for a recent gift delivered by Epapharus

Theme:  Joy  19 x’s in some form

p  Outline:  No consistent, unanimous outline

1—Philosophy for Christian Living

2—Pattern for Christian Living

3—Prize for Christian Living

4—Power for Christian Living

3. CONTEXT of the prayer

Chapter one has four basic parts

1.Greeting 1-2

2. Thanks and prayer 3-11

3. Prison and afflictions for the gospel 12-18

4. Desire to live for Christ   19-30

The body of the prayer for this morning is in verses 9-11.

4. READ SCRIPTURE AND PRAY

Philippians 1:1-1  and then comment about last phrase “to the glory and praise of God.”

This last phrase gives the controlling focus and motivation of our lives and prayers.

5. OVERVIEW

TOPIC STATEMENT:

Our partnerships and our prayers should be

for the praise and glory of God.

OUTLINE

1. Paul’s Partnership with the Philippians

His thanksgiving and his heart for for them

2. Paul’s requests for the Philippians.

p  I. Paul’s Partnership with the Philippians

³I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

⁴ always in every prayer of mine

making request for you all with joy,

⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel

from the first day until now,

A. Paul’s Thanks for the Philippians.

1)  Their fellowship in the gospel

What does fellowship mean?

translated…

fellowship in kjv, nkjv

participation in nasb

partnership in esv, niv, nlt

The key idea in koinonia is “to share in something.”

Sharing a common interest or bond.

Philippians 2.1 ¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1 Corinthians 10.16  ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

Sharing in an experience.

Philippians 3.10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship* of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,     *esv—share in

Sharing in the sense financial participation.  Here in 1.5 as in 4.5

Philippians 4.15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.     ^*esv—entered into partnership

B.  The good work in being done in them  (6)

⁶ being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

“Begun” and “complete” are technical terms used to refer to the beginning and end of a sacrifice to a god. “Paul’s whole sentence moves in the atmosphere of sactifice.”   —Willam Barclay

1.  What is the good work?

>>>Compare with Romans 8.28-29

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>>The idea of “the image of His Son” is a broad term that refers to all the ways that we are becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ in our thoughts, in what we say, and in what we do.

2.  Why is Paul confident?

>>> because God was going to accomplish it.

Hebrews 10.20-21  Benediction at the end of the book.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

>>>Peter expresses his confidence this way.

1 Peter 1.5

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

3.   What is the day of Jesus Christ?

&  1 Corinthians 1.7-8  uses the expression in connection with the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, ⁵ that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, ⁶ even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

>>> The word for “revelation” is the same one used for the name of the book of Revelation.  It is has the sense of the appearing of the Lord.

>>> Some of the paraphrases and more dynamic translations interpret it with words like “coming” or “return.”

>>> The day of Jesus Christ is the day He will be revealed at his second coming.

p  Application:

What is your level of fellowship or partnership with CBC?

What do you see when you look at others believers?  Do you see God’s project or your problem?

Transitional expression:

This common bond caused Paul to have a real heart for the Philippians.

p  B. Paul’s Heart for the Philippians.

⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all,

because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both

in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,

you all are partakers with me of grace.

⁸ For God is my witness,

how greatly I long for you all with  Christ.

1)  His common experience with them—partakers with me

 Partakers συγκοινωνός   Strong's G4791 - sygkoinōnos  sün-koi-nō-no's  —participant with others in anything, joint partner 

Ylt—fellow-partakers; kjv, nasb—partakers of; 

nkjv, esv—partakers with me;

niv—share in; Wuest—sharers with; nlt—share with

· It is “Paul’s” grace to suffer for Christ that they are sharing.

· They had suffering for Christ in common with Paul as indicated toward the end of chapter one.

· Philippians 1.29-30

²⁷ Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

²⁹ For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

 How often do we feel an instant bond with people because of a common experience or common interest?

(School, mutual friend, common sport or hobby)

2)His Christ-like affection for them—the affection of Jesus

· What is the affection of Jesus?

σπλάγχνον splangkh'-non  (G4698): Lit. bowels or intestines;

Fig. desires

ylt, kjv—bowels; nasb, nkjv, esv, nrt, niv—affection; nlt—tender compassion;

>>>The idiom in the first century referred to feelings so strong that could be felt in the “gut.” We have a similar expression today, “a gut feeling.”  Today we usually associate affections with the heart.

>>>The newer translations used words like “tender mercy” or “affections” to give the figurative sense. 

Colossians 3.12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  (kjv)

1 John 3.17

3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (kjv)

Too often we are stoic and unmoved by people the way Jesus was.  He prayed for people.  He took time to see beyond the surface to their heart needs. He saw them with the eyes of eternity.

How often do we have that kind of strong, intense feelings for someone else?  We should feel pity more and be offended less often by the condition of people we see.

p  Application:

Are you willing to open up you heart and feelings to your fellow believers at Crossover?

Transitional expression:

Paul desired that they, with him, would share that deep mature love that comes from above.

p II. Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

p  II. Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

 ⁹ And this I pray,

that your love may abound still more and more

in knowledge and all discernment,

¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, ...

Your LOVE ...

1) What is love?

John 3:16 is sometimes called the love verse.

1 Corinthians 13 is the “Love Chapter” and describes love.

1 John might be called the love book. 

&  John 4:7-11

Where does this love come from?

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

What does this love look like?

 ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Why do we love others?

 ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

It is not because they do or don't deserve it.  It is because God loves us.  We find our focus and motivation from God’s love for us, not from someone deserving it.

· “Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered.”                  —W.E. Vine Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 105.

· The disconnected “love” that we claim to have while really despising someone is not a Bible love.

· 1 Thessalonians 4.9  says ...

⁹ But concerning brotherly love ( filadelfiva fil-ad-el-fee'-ah ) you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love ( ajgapavw ag-ap-ah'-o  ) one another;

¹⁰ and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

· Instead of try to hyper-spiritualize and redefine love so that we can say we have it, wouldn’t we be better off admitting that we fall short, and praying that God would give us His true love.

A. abounding in knowledge and discernment (depth of insight niv)

A. LOVE! Abounding in knowledge and discernment (depth of insight niv)

· knowledge (ejpivgnwsiß ep-ig'-no-sis ) This is an intensive form of the normal word for knowledge.  It hints at a fuller more experiential knowledge.  The difference between “book learning” and  what comes from practice.

· discernment (depth of insight niv) “...are the translation of a Greek word referring to a sensitive moral perception, and a quickness of ethical tact. How often we saints mean to be loving to others, and say the wrong words or do the wrong thing. We lack that delicate sensibility, that ability to express ourselves correctly, that gentle, wise, discriminating touch which would convey the love we have in our hearts to the lives of others.” —Kenneth Wuest

· In this context the knowledge and discernment have more to do with knowing and understanding how to love, the right way to love.

· Note: Love does not come to a new believer in its deep and mature form. It grows and develops over time.

· Note: That love involves the heart and the head. It is passionate and intelligent and informed.

p B. LOVE! Approving (discern niv) the excellent

INTRODUCTION:

1. OPENING

C.B.C. Mission

“Our passion is to glorify God by Reaching, Renewing, and Reproducing mature followers of Jesus Christ.”

2. BOOK OVERVIEW

p  Church at Philippi ...

was started at a prayer meeting of women

was a generous partner in Paul’s ministry

Occasion:

Thank you letter for a recent gift delivered by Epapharus

Theme:  Joy  19 x’s in some form

p  Outline:  No consistent, unanimous outline

1—Philosophy for Christian Living

2—Pattern for Christian Living

3—Prize for Christian Living

4—Power for Christian Living

3. CONTEXT of the prayer

Chapter one has four basic parts

1.Greeting 1-2

2. Thanks and prayer 3-11

3. Prison and afflictions for the gospel 12-18

4. Desire to live for Christ   19-30

The body of the prayer for this morning is in verses 9-11.

4. READ SCRIPTURE AND PRAY

· Philippians 1:1-1  and then comment about last phrase “to the glory and praise of God.”

· This last phrase gives the controlling focus and motivation of our lives and prayers.

5. OVERVIEW

· TOPIC STATEMENT:

Our partnerships and our prayers should be

for the praise and glory of God.

· OUTLINE

1. Paul’s Partnership with the Philippians

His thanksgiving and his heart for for them

2. Paul’s requests for the Philippians.

p  I. Paul’s Partnership with the Philippians

³I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

⁴ always in every prayer of mine

making request for you all with joy,

⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel

from the first day until now,

A. Paul’s Thanks for the Philippians.

1)  Their fellowship in the gospel

· What does fellowship mean?

translated…

· fellowship in kjv, nkjv

· participation in nasb

· partnership in esv, niv, nlt

· The key idea in koinonia is “to share in something.”

1. Sharing a common interest or bond.

Philippians 2.1 ¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1 Corinthians 10.16  ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

2. Sharing in an experience.

Philippians 3.10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship* of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,     *esv—share in

3. Sharing in the sense financial participation.  Here in 1.5 as in 4.5

Philippians 4.15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.     ^*esv—entered into partnership

B.  The good work in being done in them  (6)

⁶ being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

“Begun” and “complete” are technical terms used to refer to the beginning and end of a sacrifice to a god. “Paul’s whole sentence moves in the atmosphere of sactifice.”   —Willam Barclay

1.  What is the good work?

>>>Compare with Romans 8.28-29

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

>>>The idea of “the image of His Son” is a broad term that refers to all the ways that we are becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ in our thoughts, in what we say, and in what we do.

2.  Why is Paul confident?

>>> because God was going to accomplish it.

Hebrews 10.20-21  Benediction at the end of the book.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

>>>Peter expresses his confidence this way.

1 Peter 1.5

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

3.   What is the day of Jesus Christ?

&  1 Corinthians 1.7-8  uses the expression in connection with the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, ⁵ that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, ⁶ even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

>>> The word for “revelation” is the same one used for the name of the book of Revelation.  It is has the sense of the appearing of the Lord.

>>> Some of the paraphrases and more dynamic translations interpret it with words like “coming” or “return.”

>>> The day of Jesus Christ is the day He will be revealed at his second coming.

p  Application:

What is your level of fellowship or partnership with CBC?

What do you see when you look at others believers?  Do you see God’s project or your problem?

Transitional expression:

This common bond caused Paul to have a real heart for the Philippians.

p  B. Paul’s Heart for the Philippians.

 just as it is right for me to think this of you all,

because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both

in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,

you all are partakers with me of grace.

⁸ For God is my witness,

how greatly I long for you all with  Christ.

· approving the Greek word means “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals”

· The English “assay” (to assay a situation) carries the sense of  the Greek word.

· excellent  translates a word that meant to carry different ways. It built on the idea of to differ and came to mean things that were superior, vital, things that excel or surpass.

· James Moffatt paraphrases it “Enabling you to have a sense of what is vital.” The New Testament: A New Translation in Modern Speech

· Sometimes “the good” can be the enemy of “the best.” Christians need to have high standards and priorities.

C. Sincere and blameless

...that you may be sincere and without offense

till the day of Christ,

¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness

which are by Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God.

sincere  εἰλικρινής (G1506):

· “found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light.”  —Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

· The picture is of a shopper who brings a piece of fabric or clothing over to the widow so she can look at it in sunlight and see the real color. 

· Like in Psalm 139.23-24 search me O God … see if there be any wicked way in me. (kjv)

· 1 Corinthians 5.8     Paul addressing sexual immorality

⁷ Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.  ⁸ Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

blameless  ἀπρόσκοπος (G677):

· This rare and late verbal adjective means

1. “not causing to fall,” “not stumbling,” “intact,” and

2. “not giving offense,” “inoffensive,” “blameless,” “not taking offense” (e.g., a clear conscience). —Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged

· 1 Corinthians 10.32  Dealing with meat offered to idols.

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

· Paul is concerned that they be morally pure, not causing anyone to stumble. 

p Application:

We should give thought to the effect our example has on others.

p D. Filled with the fruit of righteousness

· Filled, not half empty, not some here and there, but to the top!

· Contrasted with the unfruitful works of darkness.

Ephesians 5.9

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

· Related to the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5.22-23

· The fruits of righteousness have a close relationship with peace.

Hebrews 12.11

⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

James 3.18

¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

· To often we associate righteousness with a judgmental and contentious attitude.

E) Unto the glory and praise of God.

· This phrase speaks to the motivation for the qualities described and to their natural result.

· This is our highest purpose.

p Our partnerships and our prayers should be for the praise and glory of God.

CONCLUSION

REVIEW

Paul’s partnership with the Philippians demonstrated by

· thanks for their fellowship and the good work

· heart for their joint suffering and his great longing

Paul’s request for LOVE  that

· Abounds with knowledge and discernment.

· Approves what is excellent.

· Always sincere and blameless.

· Filled with the fruits of righteousness.

· Unto the praise and glory of God.

  

APPLICATIONS

1) Personal Application for the Unsaved

Each of us has a longing and need, sometimes it is hard to recognize correctly to bring glory and praise to God.

Our guilt, sin, and sinful nature is the impediment that keeps us from achieving that.

2) Personal Application for the Saved

· Pray for love, study about love, seek love, develop love in your life—the knowledgeable and discerning love

·  Live a life that is pure and blameless, full of fruit, and glorifying to God.

Follow up questions

1.    What should be the goal and passion of our prayers and our lives? 

2.    Why did Paul thank God instead of the Philippians?

3.    The word “fellowship” or “partnership” is used in three ways in Philippians (Phil. 2:1; 3:10; 4:5): sharing a common interest or bond (2:1), sharing in an experience (3:10), and sharing in the sense of financial participation (4:5). How would you describe your level of “fellowship” or “partnership” with Crossover Bible Church?

4.    What does Philippians 1:6 say God is doing in every believer?  What do you see when you look at others believers?

5.    How does your partnership with the saint at Crossover affect your Christ-like affection for them?

6.    What was the main idea of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians (Phil. 1:9)?  Did that surprise you?

7.    Look at 1 John 4:7-11 and make some observations about the love of God in us.

8.    What were the five characteristics of the love Paul wanted them to have (Phil. 1.9-11)? Why?

9.    What happens when we loose focus of the purpose of our partnerships and prayers? 

Thurs 100408 Jn1-2 Deut 6-8

John 1
1.17  grace and truth...  Any number of Christ's perfect attributes could have gone here.  This is instructive.
1.30  This is He of whom I said...  Talking about Jesus. The foundation was laid.
.
John 2
2.4  Do whatever He tells you.   And still good advise today.
2.11  ...manifested His glory.  And His disciples believed in Him.   It didn't say showed his power or something like that.  When Christ is glorified people still believe.
2.25 for He Himself knew what was in man.  Sounds like a like holy cynicism.
.
Deuteronomy 6-8

Deuteronomy 6.1-9  “The Greatest Command”

Deuteronomy 6.10-25  “Three Cautions”

Deuteronomy 7.1-11  “Separation”

Deuteronomy 7.12-26  “Listen and Remember”

Deuteronomy 8.1-5  “Every Word”

Deuteronomy 8.6-20  “Bless and Beware”
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Ezekiel 47
47.6  have you seen...  Now that is a big river.
47.10  the water will become fresh...  So is this by displacement like the Amazon, or does the salt water change to fresh?
47.10 Engedi to Eneglaim...  

The Dead Sea would become so full of many varieties of fish that fishermen would fish for them from Engedi, on the west side of the sea about midway north to south, to Eneglaim, possibly on the northwest shore near Qumran or on the eastern side. The entire Dead Sea region would not become fresh, however; the swamps and marshes would remain saline, perhaps to provide salt and or minerals for the people.

http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/ezekiel.pdf 
47.12  This reminds me of John's description of the River of Life.
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Ezekiel 48
Locations of the tribe's land and gates of Jerusalem.

Tues 100410-11 pm Ezekiel

Ezekiel 41
41.More about the temple
.
Ezekiel 42
42.Outer court
.
Ezekiel 43
43.1  the glory of God...
43.4  the glory of the Lord...
43.4  the glory of the Lord...
43.10  that they may be ashamed of their iniquities...  "The Lord instructed Ezekiel to describe the temple that he had seen in his vision to the Israelites. It would so impress them with the glorious future that God intended to give them that they would feel ashamed of their iniquities."
http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/ezekiel.pdf
43.10  And if ... make known to them...  God does not inform or guide further than we are ready to go.
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Ezekiel 44
44.7  uncircumcised in heart and flesh...  Here we seen the physical rite and the heart attitude it was to represent.
44.15-   rules for the priests
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Ezekiel 45
45.9  cease your evictions of My people...
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Ezekiel 46
Gates and offerings

Sun 100404 pm Ez 37-39

Ezekiel 37
37.4  Come hear the Word of the Lord...  I really enjoy reading this chapter.  It is a great vision and speaks to how God can do the impossible.  The Cathedrals do a nice job with the song.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLg-v4CS4nQ&feature=related
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Ezekiel 38
38.2  Gog...  The name of the leader of the hostile party described in Ezek. 38,39, as coming from the “north country” and assailing the people of Israel to their own destruction. This prophecy has been regarded as fulfilled in the conflicts of the Maccabees with Antiochus, the invasion and overthrow of the Chaldeans, and the temporary successes and destined overthrow of the Turks. But “all these interpretations are unsatisfactory and inadequate. The vision respecting Gog and Magog in the Apocalypse (Rev. 20:8) is in substance a reannouncement of this prophecy of Ezekiel. But while Ezekiel contemplates the great conflict in a more general light as what was certainly to be connected with the times of the Messiah, and should come then to its last decisive issues, John, on the other hand, writing from the commencement of the Messiah's times, describes there the last struggles and victories of the cause of Christ. In both cases alike the vision describes the final workings of the world's evil and its results in connection with the kingdom of God, only the starting-point is placed further in advance in the one case than in the other.”
http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/gog.html?zoom_highlight=gog
Magog...  Meaning: region of Gog; the place of Gog

   In Ezekiel (38:2, 39:6) Magog is a nation or region over which a man named Gog rules. There is a possibility that the people are descended from Japheth.

   The ancient Jewish historian Josephus identified the Magog as Scythians of the far North (Antiquities I, vi. 1).

   “The Latin father Jerome says that this word denotes 'Scythian nations, fierce and innumerable, who live beyond the Caucasus and the Lake Maeotis, and near the Caspian Sea, and spread out even onward to India.' Perhaps the name ‘represents the Assyrian Mat Gugi, or ‘country of Gugu,’ the Gyges of the Greeks’ (Sayce's Races, etc.).” (Matthew G. Easton)

   However, Dr. Henry M. Morris says “the place of Gog” may possibly be “now Georgia in the former U.S.S.R.” (The Defenders Study Bible, Notes for Gen. 10:2).

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/magog.html?zoom_highlight=gog

Meshech...  Meaning: drawing out

   the sixth son of Japheth (Gen. 10:2), the founder of a tribe (1 Chr. 1:5; Ezek. 27:13; 38:2,3)

   They were in all probability the Moschi, a people inhabiting the Moschian Mountains, between the Black and the Caspian Seas. In Ps. 120:5 the name occurs as simply a synonym for foreigners or barbarians. “During the ascendency of the Babylonians and Persians in Western Asia, the Moschi were subdued; but it seems probable that a large number of them crossed the Caucasus range and spread over the northern steppes, mingling with the Scythians. There they became known as Muscovs, and gave that name to the Russian nation and its ancient capital by which they are still generally known throughout the East”

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/meshech.html?zoom_highlight=meshech

37.3 Tubal...  A nation, probably descended from the son of Japheth. It is mentioned by Isaiah (66:19), along with Javan, and by Ezekiel (27:13), along with Meshech, among the traders with Tyre, also among the confederates of Gog (Ezek. 38:2, 3; 39:1), and with Meshech among the nations which were to be destroyed (32:26). This nation was probably the Tiberini of the Greek historian Herodotus, a people of the Asiatic highland west of the Upper Euphrates, the southern range of the Caucasus, on the east of the Black Sea.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/tubal.html?zoom_highlight=tubal

37.5  Cush...  Land of Cush — The term Cush is in the Old Testament generally applied to the countries south of the Israelites. It was the southern limit of Egypt (Ezek. 29:10, A.V. “Ethiopia,” Hebrew: Cush), with which it is generally associated (Ps. 68:31; Isa. 18:1; Jer. 46:9, etc.).

   It stands also associated with Elam (Isa. 11:11), with Persia (Ezek. 38:5), and with the Sabeans (Isa. 45:14).

   From these facts it has been inferred that Cush included Arabia and the country on the west coast of the Red Sea. Rawlinson takes it to be the country still known as Khuzi-stan, on the east side of the Lower Tigris. But there are intimations which warrant the conclusion that there was also a Cush in Africa, the Ethiopia (so called by the Greeks) of Africa.

   Ezekiel speaks (29:10; compare 30:4-6) of it as lying south of Egypt. It was the country now known to us as Nubia and Abyssinia (Isa. 18:1; Zeph. 3:10, Hebrew: Cush). In ancient Egyptian inscriptions Ethiopia is termed Kesh.

   The Cushites appear to have spread along extensive tracts, stretching from the Upper Nile to the Euphrates and Tigris. At an early period there was a stream of migration of Cushites “from Ethiopia, properly so called, through Arabia, Babylonia, and Persia, to Western India.”

   The Hamite races, soon after their arrival in Africa, began to spread north, east, and west. Three branches of the Cushite or Ethiopian stock, moving from Western Asia, settled in the regions contiguous to the Persian Gulf. One branch, called the Cossaeans, settled in the mountainous district on the east of the Tigris, known afterwards as Susiana; another occupied the lower regions of the Euphrates and the Tigris; while a third colonized the southern shores and islands of the gulf, whence they afterwards emigrated to the Mediterranean and settled on the coast of Palestine as the Phoenicians.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/cush.html?zoom_highlight=cush

Put (Phut)...  A land or people from among whom came a portion of the mercenary troops of Egypt, Jer. 46:9 (A.V., “Libyans,” but correctly, R.V., “Put”); Ezek. 27:10; 30:5 (A.V., "Libya;" R.V., “Put”); 38:5; Nahum 3:9.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/putphut.html?zoom_highlight=put

37.6  Gomer...  Meaning: complete; vanishing

   The eldest son of Japheth, and father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah (Gen. 10:2, 3), whose descendants formed the principal branch of the population of Southeastern Europe. He is generally regarded as the ancestor of the Celtae and the Cimmerii, who in early times settled to the north of the Black Sea, and gave their name to the Crimea, the ancient Chersonesus Taurica. Traces of their presence are found in the names Cimmerian Bosphorus, Cimmerian Isthmus, etc. In the seventh century B.C. they were driven out of their original seat by the Scythians, and overran western Asia Minor, whence they were afterwards expelled. They subsequently reappear in the times of the Romans as the Cimbri of the north and west of Europe, whence they crossed to the British Isles, where their descendants are still found in the Gaels and Cymry. Thus the whole Celtic race may be regarded as descended from Gomer.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/gomer.html?zoom_highlight=gomer

37.13  Sheba...  Hebrew: id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:1-13). She is called by our Lord the “queen of the south” (Matt. 12:42).

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/sheba.html?zoom_highlight=sheba

Dedan...  Meaning: low ground

   A son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7). His descendants are mentioned in Isa. 21:13, and Ezek. 27:15. They probably settled among the sons of Cush, on the northwest coast of the Persian Gulf.

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/dedan.html?zoom_highlight=dedan

37.23  I will show my greatness and my holiness...  Now I don't think that I have seen many lists of attributes include greatness.  I probably would not include it either, but it seems to be a point that God seems keen on proving without a doubt.

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Ezekiel 39

39.11  Valley of the Travelers...  The Israelites would also bury Gog and his soldiers in a valley east of the Mediterranean Sea. This probably means that multitudes of the enemy would be buried there, not necessarily Gog personally (cf. Rev. 19:20-21;20:10). The slaughter would be so great that it would take a large valley to accommodate all the corpses. This valley would become known as "TheValley of the Multitude of Gog." This cemetery would be so large that travelers would not be able to pass through that part of the land. Probably the Esdraelon Valley is in view since it is east of the Mediterranean Sea and since many travelers normally passed and still pass through it. Furthermore it is the only major east west valley in Israel. Some commentators argued for the valley being east of the Dead Sea, but that location seems unlikely.
http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/ezekiel.pdf39.19  the sacrificial feast...  This is an interesting way to refer to the dead that God had judged.

39.26  The shall forget their shame...  What a sweet thought.  I am ready for the time that sin is but a distant memory.

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Luke 23
23.23  their voices prevailed...  Mob rule often ends badly.
23.25 delivered Jesus over to their will...  Getting what we want is often a bad thing.  One of God's punishments is to give us what we want.  Save us from ourselves.
23.42-43  remember me...you will be with me...  It was all about Jesus.  The theif wanted to be remembered by Jesus and to be with Jesus is the solution.
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Luke 24
24.16  their eyes were kept from recognizing him...  It seems from this wording that there spiritual astuteness doesn't seem to be a factor here.
24.25  He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...  This seems to be both supernatural and His skill in explaining at work here.
24.49  clothes with power from on high...  An instructive way to describe the baptism of the Spirit that was to come.
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Ezekiel 36
36.26  the heart of stone...  This would be a good sermon title sometime.
36.32  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways...  This is a very colorful and instructive description of what could probably be called repentance.  So would our Western culture prefer the term guilty to ashamed?