Our Heavenly Prize

Job 4:2-6 (NASB)

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“If one ventures a word with you,
will you become impatient?
But who can refrain from speaking?
Behold you have admonished many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
Your words have helped the
tottering to stand,
And you have strengthened feeble knees.
But now it has come to you,
and you are impatient;
It touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your fear of God your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?”

Job 5:6-7 (NASB)

“For affliction does not come
from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
For man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.”

Solid Joys: “The Power of a Superior Promise” (John Piper).

“Where do we find true freedom…I shall walk in freedom, for I have sought your

precepts (Psalm 119:45, John Piper translates) …The word frees us from smallness of mind.”

1 Kings 4:29 (ESV)

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore…

1 Kings 3:7,9 (ESV)

“…although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in…Give your servant therefore an understanding mind…that I may discern between good and evil…”

John Piper (as referenced above)

“The word frees us from threatening confinements.”

Jeremiah 1:6-8 (ESV)

“…Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
But the LORD said to me,
“Do not say, I am only a youth”;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall
go,
and whatever I command you, you
shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the LORD.”
Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your
mouth.”

Dr. Anthony George (paraphrased): “God takes responsibility for my life…God is with me” (First Baptist Atlanta).

John MacArthur: “Where I go, Christ goes!”

Psalm 18:16-19 (ESV)

“He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my
calamity,
but the LORD was
my support.

He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me because he delighted
in me.”

John 8:31-32 (ESV)

“…if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31 (ESV, Study Note)

“To abide in Jesus’ word means to continue believing what Jesus has said and walking in obedience to him. This verse shows that continuing to trust Jesus and obey Him is one test of who are truly His disciples.”

John 8:32 (ESV, Study Note)

“Verse 31 shows that Jesus is only talking about one way to know the truth and that is by continuing to believe and obey His word. Set you free means free from the guilt and enslaving power of sinful patterns of conduct.”

John 8:34 (ESV, Study Note)

“A slave to sin (Romans 6:16; 1 Corinthians 7:21) means unable to escape from sinful patterns of conduct without the help of Jesus to set a person free.”

John 8:36 (ESV, Study Note)

“Sets you free from both the guilt and the life controlling power of sin…”

John 8:32 (John MacArthur Study Bible, Note)

“Real disciples are both learners (the basic meaning of the word) and faithful followers.”

John 8:34 (John MacArthur Study Bible, Note)

“The ultimate bondage is not political or economic enslavement, but spiritual bondage to sin and rebellion against God.”

John 8:35-36 (John MacArthur Study Bible, Note)

“…Christ Himself, who sets the slaves free from sin. Those whom Jesus Christ liberates from the tyranny of sin and the bondage of legalism are really free (Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:1).”

John Piper (as referenced above): “Freedom for holiness.”

2 Peter 1:3-11 (ESV)

Confirm Your Calling and Election

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so near-sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:4 (ESV, Study Note)

“At conversion, Christians are delivered from the corruption of this world, which is rooted in sinful desire.”