- Dates not exact -

ELIJAH - 868-852 BC - Prophet to Israel under Ahab - I Kings 17

ELISHA - 852-798 BC - To Ahaziah, Jezoram, Jehu, Jeboahaz - I Kings 19:19 & II Kings 2

EARLY PROPHETS IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL BEFORE EXILE

OBADIAH - 887 BC? - God is to judge Edom for cruelty to Jews

JOHAN - 800-770 BC? - Spoke to Ninevah, who found salvation

PROPHETS TO THE TEN NORTHERN TRIBES OF ISRAEL

JOEL - 840-830 BC - God is sure to judge Israel

AMOS - 780-740 BC - God is sure to judge all the world

HOSEA - 760-720 BC - God's forgiving love to Israel

 PROPHETS TO THE SOUTHERN TRIBE - JUDAH

ISAIAH - 745-695 BC - CHRIST IS COMING to suffer and to reign

MICAH - 740-700 BC - God's judgment and mercy

THE NORTHERN KINGDOM FELL - 734-721 BC - CALLED ISRAEL

NAHUM - 630-610 BC - God to destroy Ninevah without chance

HABAKKUK - 606-586 BC - Why do the wicked prosper?

THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM FELL - 606-586 BC - CALLED JUDAH

ZEPHANIAH - 639-586 BC - The coming Day of the Lord

JEREMIAH - 626-586 BC - Weeping because of Judah's sin

PROPHETS DURING THE EXILE

EZEKIEL - 593-570 BC - Priest to Israel during captivity

DANIEL - 606-570 BC -True to God as leader of Gentiles

PROPHETS AFTER THE EXILE - RESTORATION WORK - 436-444 BC

HAGGAI - 520-516 BC - Leading God's people to action

ZECHARIAH - 520-516 BC - Leading God's people to new hope

MALACHI - 450-397 BC - Warning against dead formalism

Points to Ponder about the Prophets

Hebrew only has two tenses - Past for action completed, and future for action that will be completed.  The Prophets often used "Perfect of Prophetic Certitude" - future action so sure that it is spoke of in past tense.

TIMELESS PRINCIPLES FOR FRUITFUL LIVING
- RESOLUTIONS FOR 2006 -

When Del Fehsenfeld Jr knew he was dying- he asked his Life Action Ministries Staff to draw up principles to guide the future of the group - Core Commitments & Values:

1. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST - OUR LIVES MUST BE BUILT ON AN UNCONDITIONAL, ABSOLUTE, LIFETIME SURRENDER TO JESUS AS LORD! Is there anything in any area of my life where I am reserving the right to make the final decision?
2. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE - THE WORD OF GOD MUST DETERMINE OUR THINKING, DIRECT OUR DECISION MAKING, REIGN SUPREME OVER EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. Is there any
   Biblical Truth that I know but am not obeying?
3. THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT - AS WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON AND DIRECTED AND ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE SUPERNATUAAL POWER OF GOD WILL BE MANIFEST IN AND THROUGH OUR LIVES. Am I depending on my own abilities, or on the power of the Spirit, to live the Christian life and to serve the Lord?
4. THE LIFE MESSAGE - OUR LIVES MUST BE LIVING DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD! Is there any truth I am communicating to others, that I am not practicing in my own life?
5. THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS - THROUGH CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS, WE RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE.... THROUGH OUR DEATH WITH HIM, WE ENTER INTO HIS ABUNDANT LIFE. Is there any pride, resistance, or self-sufficiency in my life that is hindering the life of Jesus from flowing through me?
6. THE BIBLICAL PRIORITIES - AN EFFECTIVE, FRUITFUL LIFE AND MINISTRY FLOWS OUT OF A COMMITMENT TO SCRIPTURAL PRIORITIES. -Based on my checkbook and my calendar- what are my real priorities?
7. THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE - OUR LIVES AND SERVICE OUGHT TO REFLECT THE EXCELLENCE OF GOD'S NAME AND WORKS; HE IS WORTHY OF THE VERY BEST WE CAN OFFER HIM. - Am I reflecting the excellence of God's character in my appearance, my attitudes, and my work?
8. THE WALK BY FAITH - FAITH IN THE PERSON AND POWER OF GOD-- FAITH THAT ACTS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF HIS WORD** WILL MOVE US INTO THE REALM OF THE SUPERNATURAL: What am I believing God for, that only He can do?
9. THE SERVANT'S HEART - WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE SERVANTS OF CHRIST AND OF HIS PEOPLE. A TRUE SERVANT ESTEEMS ALL OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF AND SEEKS TO MAKE THOSE AROUND HIM A SUCCSSS. Is there anyone that I do not esteem better than myself, or that I am unwilling to serve?
10. THE VISION FOR REVIVAL - IF WE WANT GOD TO BE GLORIFIED IN OUR WORLD, WE AS HIS PEOPLE MUST FIRST BE WILLING TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, PRAY, TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS, AND SEEK HIS FACE.- If revival depended on my prayers, my faith, and my obedience, would my country ever experience revival?
11. THE MATTER OF FAITHFULNESS - GOD HAS NOT CALLED US TO BE "SUCCESSFUL," ASTHE WORLD MEASURES SUCCESS, BUT TO BE FAITHFUL.- Am I being faithful in fulfilling the responsibilities and caring for the possessions God has entrusted to me?
12. SACRIFICIAL GIVING - GOD BLESSES US SO WE CAN BLESS OTHERS. OUR LIVES SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY SACRIFICIAL GIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AND TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.- How have I exercised faith and sacrifice in my giving this week?
13. JUST PRAYER - THROUGH PRAYER OUR HEARTS ARE LINKED TO A SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS PURPOSES AND FULFILLRD IN OUR WORLD. A PRAYERLESS LIFE IS A SELF-SUFFICIENT AND FRUITLESS LIFE. How much time have I spent in prayer in the past twenty-four hours?

Anyone would be a spiritual giant to be able to keep these basic principles, but anyone who is unwilling to consider their responsibilities to God in each area is not much of a Christian. Saved by Grace is wonderful- but living in this mud today takes a daily cleansing, and will you help rewrite these principles and challenges ? Maybe your church can be blessed by your efforts to improve on these great spiritual principles.

ORIENTATION TO CHRISTIAN SERVICE - PERSONAL FILE

EQUIPMENT

If you are serious about gaining sufficient knowledge to do an effective job in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will need the following:

A GOOD REFERENCE BIBLE - SCOFIELD is one of the best. (ABC Bookstore, 1813 E. Thomas)
Christian workers around the world are using Scofield Reference Bibles. Every fundamental Bible College and Seminary recommends its use. It has helped more people to know God's Word than any other man-made help.

A SMALL POCKET SIZE NOTEBOOK - have it with you all the time. 3 x 5 card size is best. You never know when you will receive something that is valuable enough to keep. Take notes on all sermons, Bible lessons, etc. Date each group of notes, and make a note of who is teaching or preaching. Record any ideas you might have that are worth remembering. Write down a prayer list, and also your spiritual needs and decisions. Keep a spiritual diary continually.

A WORK NOTEBOOK - 8 x 11 inch pages, 3-ring school size notebook. When possible use this notebook for all studies and information on Christian service you are able to gather. Divide the notebook as needed, but as each section is completed file it in your Reference File, in 8 x 11 Manila Folders.

A REFERENCE FILE - This file may begin in a notebook, but should be expanded into a Letter-size file with filing folders as needed. Any of the following items should be kept and filed for future use. (A more complete filing system is available if you want it.) Anything that is properly filed can be easily reclaimed and used.

DEVOTIONAL MATERIAL - small items of devotional help. These may not be of practical use, or might not be such a blessing the second time, but form a habit of keeping poems, short sayings, quotations, pictures, and such that have blessed your heart. If you are sure you want to keep it, file alphabetically by subject.

PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY - mechanical methods of Bible study, rules and principles. Know-how helps, topical lists, dispensations, covenants, Doctrines, and so forth. When this is removed from your work notebook, file them alphabetically according to main topic and subdivide.

BIBLE MATERIALS - SYNTHESIS AND EXPOSITION - actual studies and sermons of the Bible as a whole, or verse by verse exposition. Keep this file in Biblical order, and expand and add folders as your material grows.

HISTORY - the progress and history of the Lord's Church. File under History, in chronological order of the first date mentioned.

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - How to serve the Lord and working out what is known. This will include S.S. helps, How To Teach suggestions, Rules of Speaking, How to Win a Soul, and illustrations and examples. Flannelgraphs, Visual Aids, and so forth, should kept in proper containers. Where possible, file them according to the Subject or Scripture passage being taught, but where this cannot be done, make a note and stick it in the alphabetical or scriptural file telling where visual aid can be found. Children's stories, pictures, etc. for use in S.S., V.B.S., etc. and missions file - use separate file or filing section.

FIVE PLEDGES FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BE DISCIPLES

1. Carry God's Word, at least a New Testament, all of the time.
2. Study God's Word daily, using helps of various kinds.
3. Memorize at least one verse of Scripture each week.
4. Observe a quiet time with God each day.
5. Witness to others by speaking to them, by living a separated Christian life, and by distributing Gospel material tracts.

OTHER HELPS AVAILABLE TO YOU

1. A "Bible Reading Schedule" - to guide you through the Bible in a year.
2. A "Quick Flip Bible Marking Code" - to help you mark your Bible.*
3. A "Christian's Basic Library" - listing economical books to start your library.
4. A list of "Verses for Salvation" - For personal workers to memorize.
5. Regular Bible classes every Sunday morning.