This week's study is found in the Old Testament...The book of Leviticus...chapter 25:8-21,23-24...The golden text is verse 10...
"ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof...and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and...every man unto his family"
Our lesson deals with the Year of Jubilee...every fifty years the Lord would remind the Israelites to "spread the wealth"...The Lord would produce a crop that would sustain the Israelites for three years...so that in the 49th and 50th year the land could rest...
The Lord requires us to share the message of His gospel...to spread the wealth of His love and good fortune on all we come in contact with...In the Year of Jubilee...debt was cleared...prisoners were set free...and land was returned to its original owner...
In what ways are you "spreading the wealth'...we must remember that nothing we have is ours...everything belongs to God...we should use everything to bring glory to His name...
This week I read something pretty deep and I wanted to share it with you...
The greatest sin of omission...is to withhold the joy of gospel from our neighbor...it is a sin to keep quiet about the blessings God has bestowed upon us...
So let us do all we can to "spread the wealth"...Let's pray...
Lord we are sorry for being stingy with the things you have so freely given us...give us a heart to serve you...and to serve your people...Lord help us to be begin today...doing more and more to advance the message of your kingdom...Lord we don't want to be the same...teach us your ways...forgive us for our sins...known and unknown...bless our coming in and our going out...in the matchless name of Jesus...we pray this prayer...Amen...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Commissioning for Service
The unit for the month of July is titled...Called to be God's people...this is the third lesson in that unit...Commissioning for Service...
God has a certain task for each of us...we specific details as to how we should carry out that task...in the book of Leviticus...the Lord outlines the work of the priest...Moses operates as He is commanded to by God...
Leviticus 8:1-13 says...
And the Lord spake unto Moses saying
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses.
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses
God is calling us to holiness...Before we can truly work effectively for God...he has to prepare us for the task at hand...It is our responsibility to trust God in every situation that life presents...Ask God to show you the specific task He has planned for your life...Ask Him to come into your heart that you might say exactly what He would have you to say...that you might save His people...
Let's pray...Lord we know that you have an awesome work planned for our lives...we need you God...to show us how to be the men and women you called us to be...instruct us Lord...help us to trust you...help us to walk by faith...help us to study your Word...we desire to know you better...we desire to see your plan come to fruition in our life...so start now God...shaping us and molding us into mighty weapons for your kingdom...and it is in Jesus' name...we pray this prayer...Amen
God has a certain task for each of us...we specific details as to how we should carry out that task...in the book of Leviticus...the Lord outlines the work of the priest...Moses operates as He is commanded to by God...
Leviticus 8:1-13 says...
And the Lord spake unto Moses saying
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses.
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses
God is calling us to holiness...Before we can truly work effectively for God...he has to prepare us for the task at hand...It is our responsibility to trust God in every situation that life presents...Ask God to show you the specific task He has planned for your life...Ask Him to come into your heart that you might say exactly what He would have you to say...that you might save His people...
Let's pray...Lord we know that you have an awesome work planned for our lives...we need you God...to show us how to be the men and women you called us to be...instruct us Lord...help us to trust you...help us to walk by faith...help us to study your Word...we desire to know you better...we desire to see your plan come to fruition in our life...so start now God...shaping us and molding us into mighty weapons for your kingdom...and it is in Jesus' name...we pray this prayer...Amen
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Remembering and Celebrating
We celebrate many different occasions in our culture...we celebrate national holidays...birthdays...events like graduations...weddings....the birth of a child...the death of a loved one...we celebrate so many different things...and we know how and why we celebrate these occasions...
This week's Sunday school lesson speaks of another occasion we should rejoice in...Lesson 6 Remembering and Celebrating...Deuteronomy 16:1-8...the Golden Text...is verse one...let's check it out...
Deuteronomy 16:1-8 says...
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread threwith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of they life.
And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee:
But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
I hope that you can see what I see in this text...it is a wonderful thing to celebrate...I mean truly have a good time...I have had so much fun that I was exhausted...I needed to rest...that is the very simple message of this text...Let me bust this text wide open for you...
Verse one speaks of the month of Abib...Abib is the first month on the Jewish calendar...the month of Abib is when the ripe harvest is gathered...It is in a month of plenty...He said while you are at your best celebrate your deliverance...when you are at your worst celebrate your deliverance...remember how I brought you out...and then rest in my protection...rest in my provision...and grace and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life...
We celebrate a good God...a God that fights our battles...that has given us the victory...and the sad reality is most of us don't even realize that there is a party going on...we know why we celebrate our 21st birthday...to get drunk...we know why we celebrate graduation...because of the huge accomplishment...So why don't we know why...we celebrate what the Lord has done in our life??? How busy is your life that you haven't stopped to smell the roses? What situation has you so tangled up...you refuse to know Christ???
That is a question only you can answer...There is a party going on...and you're invited...your place in VIP has already been reserved by the Son of the Host...so cut loose...and live your life to the fullest...Let's pray...
Lord...you have been so good to us...we don't even know why you send blessings our way at times...it is nothing but your grace and mercy that carry us...thank you Lord for your provision...thank you Lord for your protection...remind us of your Word daily...forgive us of our sins...you are so holy...we want to be more like you...so make us again anew...a fresh anointing Lord...give us direction...give us understanding...we love you Lord...we celebrate you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...
This week's Sunday school lesson speaks of another occasion we should rejoice in...Lesson 6 Remembering and Celebrating...Deuteronomy 16:1-8...the Golden Text...is verse one...let's check it out...
Deuteronomy 16:1-8 says...
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread threwith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of they life.
And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee:
But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
I hope that you can see what I see in this text...it is a wonderful thing to celebrate...I mean truly have a good time...I have had so much fun that I was exhausted...I needed to rest...that is the very simple message of this text...Let me bust this text wide open for you...
Verse one speaks of the month of Abib...Abib is the first month on the Jewish calendar...the month of Abib is when the ripe harvest is gathered...It is in a month of plenty...He said while you are at your best celebrate your deliverance...when you are at your worst celebrate your deliverance...remember how I brought you out...and then rest in my protection...rest in my provision...and grace and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life...
We celebrate a good God...a God that fights our battles...that has given us the victory...and the sad reality is most of us don't even realize that there is a party going on...we know why we celebrate our 21st birthday...to get drunk...we know why we celebrate graduation...because of the huge accomplishment...So why don't we know why...we celebrate what the Lord has done in our life??? How busy is your life that you haven't stopped to smell the roses? What situation has you so tangled up...you refuse to know Christ???
That is a question only you can answer...There is a party going on...and you're invited...your place in VIP has already been reserved by the Son of the Host...so cut loose...and live your life to the fullest...Let's pray...
Lord...you have been so good to us...we don't even know why you send blessings our way at times...it is nothing but your grace and mercy that carry us...thank you Lord for your provision...thank you Lord for your protection...remind us of your Word daily...forgive us of our sins...you are so holy...we want to be more like you...so make us again anew...a fresh anointing Lord...give us direction...give us understanding...we love you Lord...we celebrate you Lord...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...
Friday, July 3, 2009
Accepting God's Rules for Living
I hope that you had a great Fourth of July celebration...the desire for ribs and potato salad still haunt me...the weekend is not over yet...I may still have a chance for a rib plate...pray for me...
This week's Sunday school lesson begins the second unit of the quarter...Called to be God's People...Lesson 5...Accepting God's Rules for Living...Deuteronomy 5:1-9a, 11-13, 16-21...
Deuteronomy 5:1 (KJV)
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,
(I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying
I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9a Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.
11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.
Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work.
16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill
Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Neither shalt thou steal.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou desire they neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's
Have you ever heard the expression, "Rules were meant to be broken"...I don't know who gets credit for being the first person to ever utter that statement...I wish I could talk with them...and ask them...What exactly did you mean by rules were meant to be broken?
Does it mean that we should expect to struggle with obedience? That is what it sounds like...accepting God's rules for Living...means that God has guidelines that we need to live by...choosing our own way causes us to reject God's rules and die in disobedience...
God has called us to be his people...He has invited us into relationship with Him...and the Ten Commandments were the rules God intends for us to live by...verses 1-9a and 11-13 deal with our relationship with God...and verses 19-21 deals with our relationship with mankind...If we plan to lead an abundant life...full of God's blessings...we need to know Him...and keep His commandments...
John 14:15 says...If you love me, keep my commandments...
Let's us pray...Lord God you are so holy...forgive us of our sins known and unknown...allow nothing to hinder us from hearing your voice...there is so much for us to be thankful for...and we just want to start by thanking you for your Word...that does not return to you void...but accomplishes what it was set forth to do...so help us Lord to obey your Word...to live a life that is pleasing in your sight...help us to come into relationship with you...help us to love our fellow man...to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ...we love you Lord...and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...
This week's Sunday school lesson begins the second unit of the quarter...Called to be God's People...Lesson 5...Accepting God's Rules for Living...Deuteronomy 5:1-9a, 11-13, 16-21...
Deuteronomy 5:1 (KJV)
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,
(I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying
I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9a Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.
11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.
Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work.
16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill
Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Neither shalt thou steal.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou desire they neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's
Have you ever heard the expression, "Rules were meant to be broken"...I don't know who gets credit for being the first person to ever utter that statement...I wish I could talk with them...and ask them...What exactly did you mean by rules were meant to be broken?
Does it mean that we should expect to struggle with obedience? That is what it sounds like...accepting God's rules for Living...means that God has guidelines that we need to live by...choosing our own way causes us to reject God's rules and die in disobedience...
God has called us to be his people...He has invited us into relationship with Him...and the Ten Commandments were the rules God intends for us to live by...verses 1-9a and 11-13 deal with our relationship with God...and verses 19-21 deals with our relationship with mankind...If we plan to lead an abundant life...full of God's blessings...we need to know Him...and keep His commandments...
John 14:15 says...If you love me, keep my commandments...
Let's us pray...Lord God you are so holy...forgive us of our sins known and unknown...allow nothing to hinder us from hearing your voice...there is so much for us to be thankful for...and we just want to start by thanking you for your Word...that does not return to you void...but accomplishes what it was set forth to do...so help us Lord to obey your Word...to live a life that is pleasing in your sight...help us to come into relationship with you...help us to love our fellow man...to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ...we love you Lord...and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...
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