Petra Church International Ministries

Romans 8:31-39

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36 As it is written:

“For your sake, we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Living a victorious Christian life 

Three aspects of victory in Jesus 

    Completed Victory 

    Confronting Victory 

    Conquering Victory 

Hebrews 3:7-9

 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
   "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
   as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”

LENT 2024 

ABOUT 40

Purpose of 40-Day Lent

     Purification

     Perseverance

     Preparation

I John 4:8-11

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The Attributes of God's Love 

       1. His love is holy 

       2. His love is faithful and true 

       3. His love is giving 

       4. HIs love is sacrificial 

       5. His love is available 

       6. His love is empowering

       7. His love is eternal 

I John 4:8-11

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

What is Love? 

The Truth of Love 
The Way of Love 

The Life of Love 

Joshua 5:1-12

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[b]

4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt.5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal[c] to this day.

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

Romans 2:29 

No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

New Chapter, New Heart, and New Attitudes

Anticipation 

First things first 

       Identity in the Covenant: Circumcision 

       Unity in the Covenant: Passover 

Moving onward 

Joshua 1:7-18

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
 

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

Strong & Courageous 2024

New Chapter 

Joshua 1:1-2 

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
 

New Heart 

I Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 

New attitudes 

    Courage (vv. 6-7, 9)

    Obedience (vv. 7-8) 

    Unity (vv.12-14) 

Joshua 1:7-9

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
 

The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

Context: God's Command to God's people for God's plan 

Three times - Be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7, 9)

The second command: the centerpiece (vv.7-8)

   Living in the Word 

   Living out the Word 

   Living for the Word 

 Jesus and the Word

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
 

The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

Context: God's Command to God's people for God's plan 

Three times - Be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7, 9)

    1. Promise/Past (v.6) 

    2. Practice/Present (vv. 7-8)

    3. Presence/Future (v.9) 

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
 

The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

Background & Context 

God's Command (vv. 6-7, 9) 

God's People (vv. 1-2) 

God's Plan (vv. 3-4) 

God's Power (vv.5, 8-9)

Matthew 4:17

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

James 4:7-9 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
 

Finishing 2023: Repentance 

Definition: what is repentance? 

Process: Three Stages 

Seeking Repentance 

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christmas: Celebrating Jesus 

Isaiah's Messianic prophecies 

Four Titles of Jesus 

             1. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor 

             2. Jesus is the Mighty God 

             3. Jesus is the Everlasting Father 

              4. Jesus is the Prince of Peace 

Our Response 

Ephesians 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Importance of Finishing 

Wise living vs. Unwise living 

Wise Living: Making the most of every opportunity 

     1. Priority of Spirituality 

     2. Practice of a Godly Lifestyle 

     3. Power of Prayer 

Finish Strong! 

John 14:15-24

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

Obedience in the Last Days 

Facts about Obedience 

1.Obedience is the best way to relate to God.

2. Obedience is the only way to demonstrate faith in God. 

3. Partial obedience is not obedience.

4. Obedience starts with small matter.

5. Obedience brings blessing

James 1:19-25

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Obedience in the Last Days 

Recap: 

      1. The Nature of Obedience: Our Existence 

      2. The Motive for Obedience: Our Love for Christ 

      3. The Measure of Obedience: His Word 

Obedience to the Word 

     1. Our obedience to God's Word begins with active hearing (vv. 19-21)

       19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

      2. Our obedience to God’s word requires ongoing action (vv.22-24)

           22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

       3. Our obedience to God’s word results in a promised blessing (v.25).

           25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Conclusion 

John 14:15-18 

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Obedience in the Last Days 

     Matthew 24:10-12 

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

   John 14:15 

    15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

   2 Tim 3:4  They will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...

The Nature of Obedience 

     Creation & Obedience 

     Fall & Disobedience 

     Salvation & Obedience 

    "I am commanded therefore I am" -Heschel 

The Motive for Obedience (vv.15-16)

The Measure of Obedience (v.15)

The Power of Obedience (v.17)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
 

Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever

Thanksgiving 

     1. Thanksgiving is an act of our faith. 

     2. Thanksgiving is our reality 

     3. Thanksgiving is our lifestyle 

Psalm 100
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lamentation 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

…but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Principle of Faithfulness 

       Luke 16:10 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Faithfulness in Priority

           Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above…

Faithfulness in Spiritual Warfare

                 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Faithfulness in Service

                   I Corinthians 15 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Faithfulness in Expansion

                   2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 

Psalm 100
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lamentation 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

…but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

The Last Days - Faithfulness Required 

How can we stay faithful until the end? 

         1. We must increase our faith. 

         2. We must learn to fight in spiritual warfare. 

         3. We must seek accountability. 

Psalm 100
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Lamentation 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

…but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

The Last Days - Faithfulness Required 

What is Faithfulness? 

God's Faithfulness 

Our Faithfulness 

    Commitment to Faith

    Maturity of Faith

    Dependence by Faith 

Matthew 7:1-5

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Israel-Hamas War 

Our Response: 
   1. Stay Prayerful 

   2. Stay Alert 

   3. Stay Informed 

   4. Stay Strong 

   5. Stay Encouraged 

The Last Days - Discernment Required 

Who are you to judge? 

How to Judge (Discern) 

   1. Humility 

   2. FACTS 

   3. Action 

   4. Issues 

   5. Duration 

Our Response