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Message Take Aways:  1. The people of Judah were carried away into Babylonian captivity due to their stubborn rebellion against God’s word, just as the Lord had continually forewarned them—“And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.” Deuteronomy 28:63 2. The kingdom of Judah suffered a violent collapse as the Babylonians destroyed the temple, burned the city, pillaged the treasures, and killed their leaders—“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:26-27 3. The Lord showed compassion toward His people by bestowing favor upon King Jehoiachin even in the midst of the Babylonian captivity—“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” Jeremiah 29:10

Message Take Aways: 1. Jude condemns those apostates who infiltrate the church with wicked intentions and warns of the coming judgment promised in the Word of God—“For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:9 2. Jude exposes the carnality of apostates who attempt to draw people after themselves while grumbling against God and causing divisions in the church—“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:30 3. Jude exhorts the believer to continue building themselves up in the truth of God’s Word while abiding in the love of God—“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

Message Take Aways: 1. King Josiah committed to spiritual restoration to direct the nation back into proper worship of the One True God—“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!” Joshua 24:14 2. Though revival occurred during King Josiah’s reign, the reckoning for Judah’s continual rebellion was still to come as promised by the word of God—“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3 3. The reigns of both King Jehoahaz and King Jehoiakim demonstrate the nation’s regression back into wickedness against the Lord God—“But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” Jeremiah 7:23-24

Message Take Aways: 1. Jude exhorts the believer to contend for the faith by continuing in sound doctrine while remaining on guard against apostate teachers—“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars, and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” Revelation 2:2-3 2. Jude uses examples from scripture to assure that judgment will come upon rebellious apostates who walk in unrepentant carnality and are fueled by malicious envy and greed—“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;” 2 Peter. 2:4

Message Take Aways: 1. King Josiah’s devotion to the Lord was demonstrated by his efforts to make repairs to the temple to allow the nation to return to proper worship of the One True God—“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13 2. The revelation of God’s word served to expose the sins of Judah and generated conviction in King Josiah which led him to seek the Lord for direction—“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 3. Though the nation of Judah would be judged for its sins, King Josiah would experience mercy because of his genuine response of humble repentance—“So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” Joel 2:13

Message Take Aways: 1. The greeting of this epistle celebrates Gaius’ commitment to walk in truth and conveys the joy that John experienced as a result of it—“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 1 Thessalonians 2:19 2. Gaius’ generosity in showing hospitality to faithful brethren not only established a godly reputation, but also allowed him to become a co-laborer in the ministry, for which he would be rewarded by the Lord—“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 3. The bad example of Diotrephes and the good testimony of Demetrius serve to contrast wicked, fleshly behavior with genuine Christian conduct—“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8

Message Take Aways: 1. John exhorts the believer to observe the commandments of God by walking in truth and love—“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 2. John warned believers to be on guard against false teachers because their deceptive doctrines pose a continual danger within the church—“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Message Take Aways: 1. The reign of King Manasseh was one of terrible depravity as he seduced the kingdom into acting more abhorrent than even the pagan nations, a tragic departure from Israel’s calling—“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5-6 2. In His mercy, the Lord gave a decree of coming judgment to warn King Manasseh that he might recognize his sin and repent, but he paid no attention—“I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 15:4 3. King Amon refused to humble himself before the Lord ushering in another spiritual decline in the kingdom of Judah—“Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 7:12

Message Take Aways: 1. Genuine faith in Christ is demonstrated by loving action and godly conduct—“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” 1 Peter 1:22 2. The word of God, the ministry of Jesus, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit all affirm and bear witness that eternal life is granted in Christ alone—“…by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15 3. We will have assurance that we are children of God as we seek God’s will, heed His word, and strive to keep ourselves from sin—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Message Take Aways: 1. The Lord God heard the desperate prayers of King Hezekiah and graciously granted healing—“Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!” Psalm 66:20 2. King Hezekiah became proud in heart by boasting in his successes which resulted in the pronouncement of a future, humbling judgment—“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Message Take Aways: 1. The believer is to guard against false prophets by testing all things and abiding in sound doctrine—Acts 17:11 says of the Bereans encountered by Paul in Macedonia during his second missionary journey: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” 2. The believer is called to respond to the love of God by demonstrating that same love towards others—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 3. The believer is to remember God’s faithfulness to save us and exemplify the same devotion toward our brother—“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” Romans 12:10

Message Take Aways: 1. King Hezekiah recognized his dire need for deliverance and wisely sought the Lord in prayer—“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” Colossians 4:2 2. The Lord heard King Hezekiah’s desperate prayer and promised to deliver Judah from the hand of their enemy, the Assyrians—“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” Psalm 5:3 3. The word of the Lord was fulfilled as He faithfully preserved His people and avenged them by sending the Angel of the Lord to decimate the Assyrian army—“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7-8

Message Take Aways: 1. Our new identity in Christ demands that we turn away from sinful conduct recognizing it as offensive in the sight of the Lord—“Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 2. The identity of the believer is manifested by an observance of the command to love one another—“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 3. The outworking of love toward our brother serves to grant assurance that we are truly abiding in the Lord—“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

Message Take Aways: 1. King Hezekiah is celebrated in Scripture for turning Judah away from idolatry and ushering in a reformation that brought the nation back to obedience to the Lord—"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 2. The proud enemy came and boasted against God’s people with terrible threats, but ultimately these threats were not merely against God’s people, they were against the Lord God Himself, who will always be victorious—“So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; ‘for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’” Deuteronomy 20:2-4 3. Rather than attempting to engage the enemy by relying upon human logic or fleshly strength, King Hezekiah & the people sought the Lord and placed their trust in Him to be their deliverer—“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15

Message Take Aways: 1. The believer’s affection should be devoted to the Lord and His eternal kingdom rather than the carnal things of this temporal world—“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 2. The believer must recognize the many antichrists that attempt to oppose or replace the truth and must guard against their influence—“And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 1 John 4:3 3. The believer is to abide in Christ by continuing in sound doctrine while exemplifying the righteous conduct that aligns with the truth of the Gospel—“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32