2 Chronicles 32
Key Passages
6 He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words:7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.
8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
19 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of men's hands.
20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.
21 And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.
22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.
31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
- I am curious how this test turned out. It doesn't say here in this passage how Hezekiah faired in the testing God put him through
Daniel 12
Key Passages
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
- Am I wise...? Do I understand? This is actually a fear of mine, that I will somehow miss the boat when God arrives or I'll be looking the wrong direction
Acts 13
Key Passages
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
- There seems to be lots of fasting to go along with their praying... Is this something I should be doing? It sure sounds that way. What is the role of fasting?
26 “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- This message was sent to those who were already believers in God. The message of salvation through Jesus was sent to them. So the message is for us today... salvation is found in no one else. Now take that to the world around you.
38 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
- “... and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”... what does that mean exactly that those “appointed” believed? God chooses us specifically. There is a whole debate wrapped up in this verse.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.50 But the Jews incited the God fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
- I love that the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit upon being kicked out of a town. It seems as though this had to come as a sign to them that they were on the right track with what they were doing. Jesus told them they would face persecution and this type of thing. So they knew they were fulfilling their calling from God because what He said would happen... happened.
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