Providence always seems to make our Bible studies very applicable to our lives. Here we are in the initial days of 2017, trying to make our lives better this year for His glory and our study coincides with a new journey made by His people of old from a life of bondage to a life of freedom and, ultimately, rest. God is good! Their passover was in their first calendar month and, from there, life changed in some very good ways for Israel. Today, let’s notice some of those new experiences for Israel and how they correspond to the new lives that we have in Christ. Here’s the list from last night’s podcast. It will make you appreciate the cross and the deliverance from your bondage of sin even more. These are taken from Exodus 14-24.
- A new camp (14:2). Christians are moved to a new place, too. Colossians 1:13, I Peter 2:9.
- A new champion (14:4). Don’t miss these great passages: Romans 8:31-39, Hebrews 13:6.
- A new guide (14:19). We follow the Lamb (Rev. 14:4)
- A new song of praise (chapter 15). This was the song of Moses. But we get to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. 14:3).
- A new promised inheritance (15:17). Heaven is our inheritance. Are you an heir (I Peter 1:3,4, Revelation 21:7)?
- A new voice (15:26). Matthew 17:5. Are you listening (Hebrews 1:1,2)?
- A new source of sustenance (16:1-10). He always provides for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
- A new urgency about bread (16:16-18). We should seek the Bread of Life every day, too (John 6:35; Luke 4:4)
- A new priority (16:26). Their sabbath took precedence over gathering bread. Matthew 6:33 says our priority is seeking the kingdom and He will provide the bread!
- New battles within the camp (17:4). Do Christians have discouragements within the church? (Take a cursory look at the book of James and the book of I Corinthians. The devil doubles his forces when people become Christians!)
- New battles from without the camp (17:16). Ephesians 6:12-13. Living for him is spiritual warfare.
- A new evangelistic thrust. (18:11). If we live for Him, the great commission (Mark 16:15, 16) becomes second nature to us. There are those, like Jethro, who will naturally be impacted by our faith.
- A new clean (19:14). We are washed (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
- A new priesthood (19:22). Praise God for our high priest and for the fact that he made us holy for the priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-16)!
- A new freedom ((20:2). We are no more servants of sin (Galatians 5:1)!
- A new purity (20:20). We are done with intentional sin (I John 2:1).
- A new law (21:1; 24:12). The law of the Spirit in Christ has made us free from the Mosaic law of sin and death (Romans 8:1,2). We, too, have a new law!
- A new standard of morality (chapter 22). The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is replete with “You have heard…but I say unto you.”. Jesus’ way is a path to a new morality.
- A new rule of giving (22:29-30). Leaving the tithe behind, we give as we have been prospered (I Corinthians 16:1,2).
- A new passover feast (23:14-19). Christ is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7) and we memorialize our Lamb in the Lord’s Supper as instituted in Matthew 26:26-29.
- A new covenant (24:4-7). Have you signed on to the covenant that required His blood (Hebrews 8:6)?
Catch-up on Recipes! Here are three more from the December contest:
Chicken Tortilla Soup
(This recipe, from Lindsey Cella, sounds good for Alabamians today! Brrr!)
Ingredients:
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cubed (We use 1 (48 ounce) bag of Tyson’s boneless skinless chicken thigh strips, it works out the same)
1 (10 ounce) package frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 onion, chopped
3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 (10 ounce) cans tomatoes and green chilies
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon minced garlic
(Tortilla chips and shredded cheese added by bowl, if you want it. We always want it.)?
Directions:
•Combine chicken, corn, onion, broth, tomato paste, tomatoes and green chilies, cumin, chili powder, 1 tsp of salt, and garlic in large crockpot.
•Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours to 3 hours and 30 minutes(essentially just cook it until the chicken isn’t pink that’s what we do?)
•serve with Tortilla chips and shredder cheese serves about 6 to 8 (that’s what our recipe says, it’s a lie, this makes tons?)
Easy and Delicious Peanut Butter Fudge
Ginny Vines
1 package of white almond bark
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 16 Oz jar of peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
DIRECTIONS:
Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.
Melt the almond bark according to directions on package.
Stir in peanut better until smooth.
Stir in condensed milk. You must do this quickly because it will start to harden.
Put in refrigerator until cool and hard, cut and enjoy!
Pineapple Casserole
Janice Knight
This goes great with ham.
2 tall cans pineapple chunks with juice
6 Tbs. flour, mixed with 1 cup white sugar
1 sleeve town house or ritz crackers
1 cup shredded cheese
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
Using a 9×13 inch dish, pour in the pineapple. Then stir in the flour/sugar mixture till combined. Put half the cheese in next, and stir. Crush the sleeve of crackers and distribute crumbs evenly on top. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on that, then drizzle the melted butter all over. This makes it shiny and crunchy. Bake till brown (about 25-30minutes at 375 degrees F. This is good hot or cold. Greg at church eats it for his dessert.
(from cc: Shout-out to Greg, I guess! This is a favorite at the Colley house, too!)