Understanding God's Continuous Story and Our Role

 

Summary

Taking a journey through Israel has profoundly impacted my understanding of the Bible and the continuity of God's story. The Messianic Jews I met there have a unique way of reading scripture, seeing it as one continuous narrative rather than dividing it into Old and New Testaments. This perspective highlights the beautiful flow and symmetry of God's story, from Genesis to Revelation. Standing in the Jordan River, where significant biblical events occurred, I was struck by the continuity of God's presence and promises throughout history. The same spot where Joshua crossed the Jordan, Elijah performed miracles, and John the Baptist baptized Jesus, underscores the profound connection between these events and God's unfolding plan.

Reflecting on Revelation, the struggle between God and Satan becomes evident. Satan, cast out of heaven, seeks to influence the world, striving to be its god. This ongoing battle is seen throughout history, from the fall of Adam and Eve to the persecution of the Jewish people. The narrative of scripture is not just about escaping to heaven but about Jesus returning to establish His kingdom on Earth. The millennial kingdom is significant, representing a time of rest and fulfillment of God's promises.

The timeline from Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, and Jesus to now, each spanning 2,000 years, suggests a divine pattern. This perspective challenges us to consider the possibility of living in a unique time in history, where the convergence of Israel and the church on Earth could signify the nearing of Christ's return. The increase in Messianic Jews and the worship of Jews and Palestinians together in Israel are signs of a potential revival and fulfillment of prophecy.

This journey has also challenged my understanding of community and scripture. The Messianic Jews' approach to scripture, valuing community and tradition, offers a richer understanding of God's narrative. It reminds us of the importance of being grafted into the story of Israel, recognizing our place in God's plan. As we anticipate Christ's return, we are called to live with a sense of urgency and readiness, embodying the values of the Sermon on the Mount and being prepared to lay our crowns at His feet.

Key Takeaways:

1. Continuity of God's Story: The Bible is a continuous narrative, not divided into Old and New Testaments. This perspective reveals the beautiful flow of God's story, from Genesis to Revelation, and highlights the significance of historical events and places in God's unfolding plan. [01:12]

2. The Ongoing Battle: Satan's influence on Earth is a central theme in scripture. His desire to be the god of this world is evident in his attempts to thwart God's plan throughout history. Understanding this battle helps us see the significance of Jesus' return to establish His kingdom on Earth. [05:23]

3. Significance of the Millennial Kingdom: The millennial kingdom represents a time of rest and fulfillment of God's promises. The timeline of 2,000-year intervals from Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, and Jesus to now suggests a divine pattern, challenging us to consider the possibility of living in a unique time in history. [10:26]

4. Community and Scripture: The Messianic Jews' approach to scripture, valuing community and tradition, offers a richer understanding of God's narrative. This perspective challenges us to recognize our place in God's plan and the importance of being grafted into the story of Israel. [15:11]

5. Living with Urgency and Readiness: As we anticipate Christ's return, we are called to live with a sense of urgency and readiness. The Sermon on the Mount provides a template for how we should live, embodying values like righteousness, purity, and meekness, and being prepared to lay our crowns at His feet. [42:09]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Reflections from Israel
[01:12] - The Continuous Story of God
[02:46] - Historical Significance of the Jordan River
[04:34] - Revelation and the Battle for Earth
[06:19] - Satan's Influence Throughout History
[08:22] - The Return of Jesus and the Millennial Kingdom
[10:26] - Divine Patterns in History
[11:39] - Worship in Israel: A Unique Time
[13:02] - The Convergence of Israel and the Church
[15:11] - Community and Tradition in Scripture
[17:11] - God's Artistry in History
[19:22] - Anticipating Christ's Return
[21:35] - The Significance of Shabbat and Time
[23:09] - Revival Among Messianic Jews
[25:05] - Living with Urgency and Readiness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1-3
2. Revelation 22:1-5
3. Romans 11:25-27

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Observation Questions:

1. How do the Messianic Jews view the Bible differently from the traditional division of Old and New Testaments? What impact does this have on their understanding of scripture? [00:57]

2. What significant events are associated with the Jordan River, and how do they demonstrate the continuity of God's presence and promises? [03:26]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the millennial kingdom, and how does it relate to the timeline from Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, and Jesus to now? [10:26]

4. How does the sermon describe the ongoing battle between God and Satan, and what role does this play in the narrative of scripture? [05:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the perspective of seeing the Bible as a continuous narrative from Genesis to Revelation change one's understanding of God's story and plan? [01:12]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the current convergence of Israel and the church might indicate the nearing of Christ's return? [12:27]

3. How does the sermon challenge the traditional view of the end times, particularly regarding the return of Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom on Earth? [08:40]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of community and tradition in understanding scripture, and how might this influence one's personal faith journey? [15:11]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own reading of the Bible. Do you tend to see it as a series of disconnected stories, or as a continuous narrative? How might adopting the latter perspective change your approach to scripture? [01:12]

2. The sermon highlights the significance of historical places like the Jordan River. Are there places in your life that hold spiritual significance? How do they remind you of God's presence and promises? [03:26]

3. Considering the sermon’s discussion on the millennial kingdom, how do you view the current state of the world in relation to biblical prophecy? Does this perspective affect how you live your daily life? [10:26]

4. The sermon emphasizes living with urgency and readiness for Christ's return. What practical steps can you take to embody the values of the Sermon on the Mount in your daily life? [42:09]

5. How can you incorporate the Messianic Jews' approach to valuing community and tradition into your own faith practice? What changes might this require in your current spiritual habits? [15:11]

6. Reflect on the idea of being grafted into the story of Israel. How does this understanding affect your sense of identity and purpose within God's plan? [38:27]

7. The sermon suggests that we are living in a unique time in history. How does this perspective influence your priorities and decisions? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with this view? [12:27]

Devotional

Day 1: The Unbroken Narrative of God's Story
The Bible is not merely a collection of separate books but a continuous narrative that reveals the beautiful flow of God's story from Genesis to Revelation. This perspective allows us to see the significance of historical events and places in God's unfolding plan. For instance, the Jordan River is a site of profound biblical events, from Joshua's crossing to John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, underscoring the continuity of God's presence and promises throughout history. By viewing scripture as a unified story, we can better appreciate the divine artistry in the way God has woven His plan through time. [01:12]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to read the Bible as one continuous story rather than separate books? What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of God's unified narrative?


Day 2: The Cosmic Battle for Earth
The ongoing battle between God and Satan is a central theme in scripture, with Satan striving to be the god of this world. This struggle is evident from the fall of Adam and Eve to the persecution of the Jewish people. Understanding this battle helps us see the significance of Jesus' return to establish His kingdom on Earth. The narrative of scripture is not just about escaping to heaven but about the ultimate victory of God's kingdom on Earth. This perspective challenges us to live with an awareness of the spiritual battle around us and the hope of Christ's return. [05:23]

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you see the influence of spiritual battles in your daily life? How can you actively participate in God's plan to establish His kingdom on Earth?


Day 3: The Divine Pattern of History
The timeline of 2,000-year intervals from Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, and Jesus to now suggests a divine pattern in history. This perspective invites us to consider the possibility of living in a unique time where the convergence of Israel and the church could signify the nearing of Christ's return. The increase in Messianic Jews and the worship of Jews and Palestinians together in Israel are signs of a potential revival and fulfillment of prophecy. This understanding challenges us to recognize the significance of our time in history and to live with a sense of anticipation and readiness. [10:26]

"But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4, ESV)

Reflection: How does the idea of living in a unique time in history impact your faith and actions? What can you do today to prepare for the possibility of Christ's return?


Day 4: The Richness of Community and Tradition
The Messianic Jews' approach to scripture, valuing community and tradition, offers a richer understanding of God's narrative. This perspective challenges us to recognize our place in God's plan and the importance of being grafted into the story of Israel. By embracing community and tradition, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the continuity of God's story and our role within it. This understanding encourages us to engage with scripture in a way that honors the past while looking forward to the future. [15:11]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the values of community and tradition into your spiritual life? What steps can you take to connect more deeply with the story of Israel and God's people?


Day 5: Living with Urgency and Readiness
As we anticipate Christ's return, we are called to live with a sense of urgency and readiness. The Sermon on the Mount provides a template for how we should live, embodying values like righteousness, purity, and meekness. This call to readiness challenges us to examine our lives and align our actions with the teachings of Jesus. By living with urgency, we can be prepared to lay our crowns at His feet and participate in the fulfillment of God's promises. [42:09]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life need to be aligned with the values of the Sermon on the Mount? How can you live with a greater sense of urgency and readiness for Christ's return today?

Quotes

The way they read scripture was very different from me. I was taught like, okay, take these three verses, tear them apart, and make a sermon out of it. But what they really did was just walking through the entire Bible. To them, they don't like that there's Old Testament, New Testament. It's just the story of God. [00:00:46]

Standing in the Jordan River, while we were in our Bible reading through Joshua, and realizing, they're explaining, no, you're in the spot where they say Joshua was. I'm like, really? Joshua crossing the Red Sea, I mean, I'm crossing the Jordan. You have the Ark of the Covenant that goes in the water with the priest holding it. [00:01:13]

Satan can't take over Heaven. God is there, but the Earth, which he's been cast into, you have God who says to Adam, I'm giving you dominion over everything. Satan's whole point is, I'm going to influence Adam and Eve so that I can be the God of this world. I can't be the god of Heaven. [00:05:07]

The idea is he keeps trying to destroy whatever God is going to do on this Earth because he wants to remain the God of this world. That's why when he knew the seed was gonna crush him, they have Abel and Cain, and so he gets in Kane's head, kill Abel. It's just the story never ends. [00:06:14]

We are praying for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Too many Gentile Believers just think, oh, let's die and go to heaven. That's not The Narrative of the scripture. It's about The Narrative of Jesus coming back to the Earth to take his land. [00:08:22]

The timeline from Adam to Abraham was 2,000 years, and then from Abraham to Jesus was 2,000 years, and now from Jesus to us is 2,000 years. That's 6,000 years, perfect time for a millennial Thousand-Year reign of Christ for the earth to rest from all of this fighting warring. [00:10:07]

Here I am in Jerusalem with Messianic Jews and Palestinian Believers, Arab Believers, and were worshiping in Hebrew and Arabic in the same room. I don't know if this has happened since the day of Pentecost. It's this new thing that God's doing. We live in a crazy time. [00:11:22]

I was just imagining Jesus coming back and showing up at my door and wondering how I would react. Actually, he would come in such a majestic way, but it would really take convincing for me to believe that Jesus was at my door. I was just picturing it kind of like in the middle of the night. [00:25:51]

We should have a heart that's anticipating, that's looking for those that are waiting for his return versus like, oh, he showed up and I not really. Because there's something screwed up in us where we're not anticipating this. Ellie was given in Israel a kit with the parable of the virgins. [00:27:19]

I was sitting in the room feeling jealous when they were talking about this, and I was feeling it and going, gosh, so cool. I mean, not in like a bad way, just like, gosh, that's so cool as they're teaching everything. There was a part of me that was just feeling a little bit like an outsider. [00:37:24]

I get to inherit all of this. This is every bit mine. I don't have to become Jewish first. I inherit all of this in Christ. I don't know, it's just a beautiful thought, a beautiful promise. It's more than a thought, absolutely. It's a reality that I'm a child of Abraham. [00:39:28]

I think most of us hope Jesus comes back right after we die because we want our full life here on Earth. That just shows how much we underestimate who he is and the eternity to come. [00:47:19]

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Transcript
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