Sevens In The NT Epistles

[Jerry]

Just for something fun to do - challenging (to make you think) and interesting. Jess and I had a thread like this (on sevens in Revelation) going several years back, but I wanted to start something fresh. I will also be starting a couple of similar threads, to give us a little variety, in case you don't have much to input on one of them, you can still give your input to each thread as you think of something to add.

What sevens can you find in the New Testament Epistles? It could be where the Bible mentions that there was seven of a particular thing, a multiple of seven, a word/idea/phrase repeated seven times, seven of a type of thing, etc. You can glean this from your own personal Bible study, from a commentary, notes from somewhere, etc. I want this to be fun - seven is God's number in the Bible, and it is everywhere throughout Scripture. How many can we find?

One favourite of many is the seven pieces of God's armour found in Ephesians 6:

1. Loins girt about with Truth (or, as some call it, the Belt of Truth).
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness.
3. Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace (or, Shoes of Peace).
4. The Shield of Faith.
5. The Helmet of Salvation.
6. The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
7. Prayer.

Another excellent one is the seven pictures of the NT believer found in 2 Timothy 2:

1. A Son. 2:1-2.
2. A Good Soldier. 2:3-4.
3. An Athlete. 2:5.
4. A Farmer. 2:6-14.
5. A Workman/Teacher. 2:15-18.
6. A Vessel. 2:19-23.
7. A Servant. 2:24-25.

I'm sure there are so many others we can find. What can you find in the Bible from the books of Romans to Jude?

[Jerry]

I preached on this yesterday:

Another excellent one is the seven pictures of the NT believer found in 2 Timothy 2:

1. A Son. 2:1-2.
2. A Good Soldier. 2:3-4.
3. An Athlete. 2:5.
4. A Farmer. 2:6-14.
5. A Workman/Teacher. 2:15-18.
6. A Vessel. 2:19-23.
7. A Servant. 2:24-25.

It went really well. Had some clients really paying attention and comment how these verses were a blessing to them. When I touched on part 6, I used a client's coffee cup (vessel) for an illustration. I relayed my thoughts as I was reaching for a cup - Boy, I am thirsty. Hey, this cup is not clean - I don't want to use this vessel - then went on about how God will only use a clean vessel.

Funny thing: after I preached the message, I had one of the client's friends (who was French) get slightly offended because he thought I was insulting his friend by calling his cup dirty. He finally understand I was using an illustration, and he agreed that he wants to use a clean cup - but it just goes to show you how the language barrier can affect a message.

[Jerry]

This doesn't fit in a particular category, but here is The Sevenfold Ministry of the Holy Spirit:

1. Restraining.
2. Convicting.
3. Regenerating.
4. Sealing.
5. Baptizing.
6. Indwelling.
7. Filling.

[Jerry]

A really neat sevenfold promise for those who are separated from evil unto the Lord:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,

1. I will dwell in them,
2. and walk in them;
3. and I will be their God,
4. and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;

5. and I will receive you,
6. And will be a Father unto you,
7. and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.