promise kept week 2

8/13/2019 Promise Kept Week 2

1/8

__/__/__

Promise Kept Week Two:

God's Grand Story of Redemption

The Promises of God...There is nothing greater, nothing more trustworthy. We knowthat the promises of God are complete and fulfilled in Jesus. Redemption is God'sPromise. Before the world began, God planned HIs payment for our redemption. Hebecame the ransom price, the payment that would buy our freedom. And so we'dunderstand His plan and recognize His Son Jesus as the Promised Messiah, He gaveus His Word. In it we see pictures and types of the Redeemer. We see redemption anddeliverance illustrated for us through the hand of God in the lives of His people. We seeGod's Promise foretold and His Promise fulfilled. We see JESUS. Look for Him as youstudy this week. Rejoice because our Redeemer lives!

"For all of the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God

through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Day One:Last week, we started at the cross and went back to the beginning of Creation. Today,we'll go to a passage that begins in Creation and moves to the cross. Our goal is to seethe connection between them. We see in today's passage that the message ofredemption, the purpose of the cross, was planned in Christ all along.

1) Let's read Colossians 1:15-22. What do you discover about Jesus from verses15-16?

2) Paul uses a key phrase that will be our focus for the week. Copy verse 17 andcircle the words "in Him."

What do you find in Him?

3) From this passage, we are reminded that Jesus is "preeminent" or "before" all

things. Even as believers, it is easy to put our "self" in that position ofpreeminence in our mind. Why do you think that happens?

What steps can we take to ensure Christ is before everything in our lives,including self?

1


2/8

Day One:(continued)

4) Verses 19-23 give us the purpose for the cross, the reason for His blood.According to verse 20, Jesus made peace through His blood. Think back toGenesis 3, what happened between God and His creation as a result to Adam'ssin?

5) Where there had been peace, chaos invaded. Where there once was harmonyand fellowship, separation severed relationship and isolation was the outcome.Read again Paul's beautiful description of the reason Jesus became the sacrificefor you and me. (Verses 21-22) Think about that. Where were you apart fromJesus?

Where are you now?

And how does God see you in Christ?

Doesn't that just take your breath away??

Why not take some time to tell God just how you feel about your place in Jesus?

Day Two:For the rest of the week, we're going to explore the connection between the cross and avery familiar event in the Old Testament. Remember, all Scripture is given to point us toJesus and to make God known to us. (John 5:37-39)

1) Journey with me back to Genesis chapter five. Let's read the whole chapterand consider the recurring theme. What is repeated over and over throughoutthis chapter?

2) John MacArthur says, "Two recurring phrases carry redemption history forward...'and he had sons and daughters,'...'and he died.' These lines, which getrepeated for each successive descendent of Adam, echo two contrastingrealities. God had said, 'You shall surely die; but He also commanded them to'Be fruitful and multiply.'"

If you have read Genesis 4, you know that Adam and Eve had three sonsaltogether. Jump back to Genesis 4:25. What happened to their other sons?What is said about Seth's descendants? (Verse 26)

2


3/8


4/8


5/8

Day 3Genesis chapter six is one of astounding accomplishment by man through the enablingof God's Holy Spirit. There really is no way for us to comprehend the scope and sheerengineering of the construction of the ark, apart from the realization that it truly was awork of God through man. As you explore chapter six today, consider the mystery ofGod's grace in His willingness to use man as a productive part of His redemption plan.

1) As man multiplied on the earth, so did the sinful spirit of Cain. Verse 5 ofGenesis 6 tells us that God not only saw the actions of wickedness, but He alsosaw what within the people?

2) Genesis 6:6 describes the deep sorrow in God's heart concerning the evil depthsto which humanity had fallen. What does Ephesians 4:30 warn us aboutconcerning the Holy Spirit?

With grief in His heart, God moved toward destruction. (Gen. 6:7) Yet, whofound grace in His sight and why? (Hebrews 11:7)

3) How is Noah described in Genesis 6:9?

How do these 3 words seem to indicate a progression in his spiritual growth?

4) God had a conversation with Noah beginning in verse 13 and continuingthrough verse 21. Summarize His instructions.

Why do you think God's instructions were so detailed?

5) What did God promise Noah in verse 18?

Noah obeyed God and was delivered. In Noah, we see faith with the ability togrow, even in the most hostile and wicked of all societies. What hope doesNoah's example of faith give you concerning your relationship with God in themidst of your daily circumstances?

5


6/8

Day Four:Chapter 7 contains one of the most familiar "stories" of all of Scripture. It is also one ofthe most misconstrued. Contrary to pictures found in children's books of a floating zoo,complete with cheerful animals poking smiling faces from portholes, the ark was avessel of enclosed protection from the greatest destruction of all time. As we readchapter 7, we'll gain a realistic picture of the ark and its inhabitants. Then, we'll take acloser look at how God uses the salvation of one man and his family to teach us aboutHimself and His plan of redemption.

1) Let's read chapter 7 all at once. What does God do in this chapter?

2) What did God say to Noah in verse 1?

God called Noah into the ark, the only safe place, the only place of salvation.What does Jesus say about God's call to "come" in John 6:44.

3) According to Genesis 7:2-3, what types of animals did God instruct Noah tobring?

Why did He say He was bringing them into the ark?

4) Take a closer look at verse 4. Remember, these people had never seen rainbefore. They did not listen to the prophecy of Enoch and of Noah. They may nothave understood the giant boat Noah was building; but when they witnessedNoah entering the boat with his family and a herd of animals, they had to wonderif what Noah said about judgment was true. After calling Noah into the ark, Godgave 7 more days for the people to repent before the rain began...Seven moredays of grace, after hundreds of years of warning. Choosing not to turn to Godwas willingly choosing to walk into the judgment God poured out on earth. Andthe rains came, a rain unlike any other ever experienced on earth. How long didthe rain last?

6


7/8

Day Four:(continued)

5) Noah obeyed. He was saved. His family was saved along with him. The animalswere saved through a representative pair of their species. God placed them all inthe ark of deliverance. What does Genesis 6:16 tell us about God's hand in theirsalvation from the flood of judgment?

How many doors did God include in His blueprint for the ark?

The Lord shut Noah and his family in--not out. Think about that. Go back towhat we learned about Jesus in Colossians 1:15-19. How does Noah's salvationin the ark resemble our salvation in Jesus? Do you see Jesus there? Howamazing is that??

Day Five:God's deliverance is always complete. He never delivers anyone halfway. God's Wordis solid, true and faithful. In your life, there may come times when you are waiting to bedelivered and you feel like God is never going to come, never going to rescue you. Itmay feel as if you've missed His voice in the raging storm. Never fear. He hears. He isworking. He will deliver you. He always keeps His promises.

1) Genesis 8 is a beautiful chapter filled with hope and new life. What a great wayto end our week of study! Let's read the chapter and take note of God's heart ofpromise. What did God do when He remembered (meaning, He was mindful of)Noah and the inhabitants of the ark?

2) How long did the flood last?

How do you think Noah and his family felt during that time?

3) Summarize Noah's methods used to discover dry land:

After God called Noah from the ark, he built an altar, and using the animals Godhad preserved for the offering, he worshiped God.

7


8/8

Day Five: (continued)

4) What was God's response to Noah's offering?

Verse 22 is such a beautiful promise of God's faithfulness. Look at the phrasing.During the work of planting, the rejoicing of harvest, the bitterness of cold and theblister of heat...During the harshness of winter and the gentle breeze of summer,the light of day and the dark of night, God is present. His faithfulness remains.His promise comes from deep within His heart. As the words of a once popularsong tell us, "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." We can alwaystrust God's heart.

Have you found this to be true in your own life?

5) Take a look at Genesis 9. God brought Noah and his family out, blessed themand gave them instructions to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, just as Hehad instructed Adam and Eve. He gave the animals to be as food for man andexplained the justice required for murder. Verses 9-17 describe God's promise,His covenant with Noah and his descendants. What did God promise and whatis the symbol of His promise?

God's redemption of man through salvation in the ark is such a vivid picture ofour redemption in Jesus. Just as Noah was saved from drowning in the waters ofdestruction, we are saved from drowning in the destructive flood of our sin. Areminder of God's deliverance can be seen in every rainbow. His faithfulnessremains. It is only fitting that a rainbow follows a storm. When the darknessparts and light shines through, we can look up and see the beautiful Truth thatGod is still in control. What an amazing God we serve! One Who would paintHis promise across the sky and Who would hang His Promise on a tree--all toshow us how very much He loves us. Amen and amen.

8

promise kept week 2

Documents