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SEPTEMBER 8

16:2 as he may prosper. No required amount 16:9 many adversaries. Perhaps no New
or percentage for giving to the Lord’s work is Testament church had such fierce opposition
specified in the New Testament. All giving to as the one in Ephesus. In spite of that opposi-
the Lord is to be freewill giving and complete- tion, the door for the gospel was open wide
ly discretionary (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor.9:6–8).This is (2 Cor. 2:12,13 where Paul also had an open
not to be confused with the Old Testament door, but no heart to remain and preach) and
required giving of 3 tithes (Lev. 27:30; Num. Paul stayed. At the end of the experience of
18:21–26; Deut. 14:28,29; Mal. 3:8–10), which opposition described in 2 Corinthians 1:8–10,
totaled about 23 percent annually to fund the he wrote 1 Corinthians.
national government of Israel, take care of
public festivals, and provide welfare. Modern 15 I urge you, brethren—you know the
parallels to the Old Testament tithe are found
in the taxation system of countries (Rom. household of Stephanas, that it is the first-
13:6). Old Testament giving to God was not fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted
regulated as to amount (see Ex. 25:1,2; 35:21; themselves to the ministry of the saints—
16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone
36:6; Prov. 3:9,10; 11:24).
who works and labors with us.
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I am glad about the coming of Stephanas,
For a great and effective door has opened to
9 Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lack-
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me, and there are many adversaries. ing on your part they supplied. For they
And if Timothy comes, see that he may be
10 refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ac-
with you without fear; for he does the work of knowledge such men.
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the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila
despise him. But send him on his journey in and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord,
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peace, that he may come to me; for I am wait- with the church that is in their house. All the
ing for him with the brethren. brethren greet you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I
strongly urged him to come to you with the 21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.
brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus
at this time; however, he will come when he Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!
has a convenient time. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
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13 you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
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strong. Let all that you do be done with love. Amen.
DAY 8: From Isaiah 7 and 8, list a few of the many prophecies from Isaiah
that were fulfilled in the New Testament.
In Isaiah 7:14, since Ahaz refused to choose a sign, the Lord chose His own sign, whose imple-
mentation would occur far beyond Ahaz’s lifetime.“The virgin.”This prophecy reached forward to
the virgin birth of the Messiah, as the New Testament notes (Matt.1:23).The Hebrew word refers to
an unmarried woman and means “virgin” (Gen. 24:43; Prov. 30:19; Song 1:3; 6:8), so the birth of
Isaiah’s own son (8:3) could not have fully satisified the prophecy.“Shall call His name Immanuel.”
The title, applied to Jesus in Matthew 1:23, means “God with us.”
Isaiah 8:14.“Sanctuary…stone of stumbling.” Isaiah found encouragement in the Lord as his
holy place of protection from his accusers.The New Testament applies this verse to corporate Israel
in her ongoing rejection of Jesus as Messiah (Luke 2:34;Rom.9:32,33;1 Pet.2:8).“Both the houses of
Israel.”They will be collapsed until the return of the Messiah to the earth restores them.
Isaiah 8:15. “Many…shall stumble.” Another prediction anticipated the stumbling of Israel,
which included her rejection of her Messiah at His first advent (Luke 20:18; Rom. 9:32; 28:16).
Isaiah 8:17.“Wait on…hope.”The speaker is Isaiah whose disposition was to await the Lord’s
deliverance, the national salvation promised the faithful remnant (40:31; 49:23).
Isaiah 8:18.“I and the children.”In their historical setting,the words refer to Isaiah and his two sons,
whose names had prophetic significance (i.e., as “signs and wonders”). In Hebrews 2:13, these verses
emphasize the point that Christ had fully identified Himself with mankind by taking a human nature.And
He demonstrated the reality of His human nature by His reliance upon God during His earthly sojourn.

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