Philippians 3:10-11

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 1st& 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What Paul seems to be saying here is that he wants the sufferings and death of Christ to be something he shares so that they together might give shape to his life. Imagine that!

Acts 9:5

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

During that exchange with Jesus, Paul gets a new commission: to bring the Gospel to the pagan world, that is, to Gentiles, the hated goyim. Nothing could have been more off the beaten path for this set-in-his-ways Pharisee, bent on purifying Judaism of its paganism.

Philippians 3:4b-6

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Jesus movement was perceived as such a threat.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 1st& 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

With this material as background, Paul sees in Jesus the Messiah, or as he calls him, Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the coming joy.

Psalm 42:1-2

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

From Background Notes [BN] for March 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Tozer, early in his book, warns about shallow Christian living when he writes:

Luke 15:4

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

From Move the Stone [MtS] written by Pastor Brian Wangler:

So, who will represent the lost at your next leadership meeting? Who will speak for them? Who will advocate for the changes necessary in your local church to move the barriers that keep them from hearing Christ?

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

From Move the Stone [MtS] written by Pastor Brian Wangler:

It’s easy to focus on people you want to keep.  It takes much more resolve to focus on those you want to reach.  Here’s why. You have to focus on people you haven’t even met. It’s easier and more natural to focus on people whose stories you know...

Malachi 2:16

“The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 8th& 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The phrase “take heed” is really a military expression having to do with “standing watch.”

Judges 8:27

Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 8th& 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

But later, in Judges 9, Baal seems to gain the upper hand in the battle between God and idolatry. Granted, Gideon recognized God as king, but in the area of worship, he failed, hijacking the priesthood by making the ephod.

Judges 7:25a

They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 8th& 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

From the book of Revelation we have additional connections between the winepress, judgment, and Jesus as God’s holy warrior:

Judges 7:21

While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 8th& 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Because Israel held its position — stood firm — “all the Midianites ran, crying out loud as they fled.” Notice the three strong verbs: “ran … cried out … fled …” As Block notes, “This is psychological warfare at its best.”

Judges 7:16

Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 8th & 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

At one point in our reading Gideon and his men held their position, kept with the plan, and followed God’s instructions. Yet, chaos resists such firmness, and...