Friday, September 24, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday September 26, 2010
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GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE
(GOD is faithful, loving, and just)
(Exodus 34)

The Ten Commandments still stand as GOD’s instructions to man on how HE wishes us to live our lives here on earth. These laws cannot be, and will not be disregarded, contrary to today’s seemingly popular opinion, or demonstration of that opinion, which is reflected through our behavior, even here in the good ole U.S. of A.
In fact, we experience the effects of our blatant disobedience to these laws, all over the world, every single minute of every single day, through the death, destruction, and decay that is allowed as a consequence of our sins against “THE GOD” that too many people don’t even believe exists. The nations that recognize GOD the least are clearly the nations that most often suffer severe, sudden, or ongoing catastrophes and crises, be they social, economic, or natural in their manifestations.
The good news is that, despite all of our blatant disobedience to GOD’s instructions, HE continues to demonstrate HIS unconditional love and faithfulness to a people that is sorely lacking in both of those qualities. HE gives us chance after chance to repent, and sorrowfully confess our wrongdoing, and start all over again fresh and renewed. And although many may take the opportunity to confess and start over, few if any remain faithful to their promise to GOD.
In Exodus 34, a new copy of the “Ten Commandments” is given to Moses, by GOD, to replace the original one that Moses had broken in anger (Exodus 32:19), after he found the people celebrating and worshipping the golden calf that his brother, Aaron, had made. GOD instructed Moses to make two more stone tablets just like the first ones, and then, return to the top of Mount Sinai alone. Moses did as he was instructed and the LORD appeared to him in the form of a cloud and called HIS OWN name out to Moses. Moses immediately fell to the ground and worshipped, and then, began to plead in intercession for his people, Israel, and as a result, the LORD accepted his petition.
In addition to re-issuing the Decalogue to Moses, GOD also renewed HIS “Mosaic Covenant” with HIS “chosen people”. The stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments represented a tangible token of GOD’s unique relationship with Israel. However, GOD also instructed Moses to write down numerous other instructions by which the people, who wished to call themselves “GOD’s people”, were to live by (vs. 10-27). GOD also wanted the people to know that HIS instructions represented a recipe on how we can remain close to HIM, and that, that recipe for living, was still binding as far as HE is concerned.
Moses met with GOD face to face, and no man has done that, before or since. Scripture tells us that GOD spoke with him as a man would speak with a friend, and, when GOD met with Moses on this occasion, HE sought to emphasize and stress HIS unfailing love and forgiveness for HIS most prized creation, which is, mankind. And, even though man had, and does, continue to disobey GOD’s will, GOD continues to extend mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to us.
However, GOD will not, and cannot allow sin to go unpunished, and there will always be consequences for the iniquities of man, that GOD will exact upon him, so that he will always appreciate the benefits and blessings that come as a result of making right choices instead.
What the LORD said to the Israelites way back then (Deuteronomy 11:26-28), HE is still saying to us today; “Behold! Today I AM giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your GOD that I AM giving you today. You will receive a curse if you reject the commands of the LORD your GOD and turn from HIS way by worshipping other gods” (NLT).

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, September 17, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday September 19, 2010
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NO OTHER GODS
(Our GOD is a jealous GOD)
(Exodus 32)

The rebellious incident by Israeli idolaters, that is depicted in Exodus 32 at the foot of Mount Sinai, shows quite clearly, man’s desperate need for a priesthood and tabernacle system that helps him to keep a persistent relationship of friendship and fellowship with GOD the CREATOR.
The reason that the Gospel must be preached continually, is because man continuously suppresses the truth. After being out of church and worship services for only a short while (since they left Goshen in Egypt), the Israelites were already clearly out of spiritual touch with GOD, WHO had just recently freed them from slavery in Egypt by way of HIS many miraculous deeds.
In the very shadows of a rumbling Mount Sinai the people urge, and ultimately persuade Aaron, to built them an idol of gold, so that they could worship it, instead of GOD. Here in this passage we see that, being without good spiritual leadership, for only a few days, proved fatal to about 3000 people in the short term (vs. 27-28), and many, many more in the long run (v. 35).
While Moses was experiencing a spiritual triumph of sorts in his own rights, the people of Israel had plummeted to one of their all-time lows in their spiritual behavior. Like many Christians today, we often accuse GOD of moving too slowly to please us, and we either try to help GOD out, or, we simply change gods all together, as is the case in this passage of scripture.
Throughout the book of Exodus we see the ungrateful people of Israel reacting to GOD with unprecedented insensitive, rebellious behavior. And whenever Moses would encounter such rebellion among his flock, he would immediately intercede in prayer to GOD to have mercy upon his wayward members. In Exodus 32:11-14 and 30-32, Moses rightly did not base his prayer for the people on their own human merit. He, instead, asked GOD to do it for HIS OWN glorification. He asked GOD to consider HIS OWN faithfulness, and, HIS OWN commitment to HIS people, which flowed from HIS OWN good character.
And while Moses’ prayer did not really change GOD’s mind, for GOD’s anger against the Israelites was truly legit, however, his prayer shows GOD his genuine concern, both, for his people, and, above all, for his concern for GOD’s honor and glorification in the world’s sight (vs. 11-13). Moses’ prayer was effective because his motives were righteous. When we pray with righteous and unselfish motives, GOD is just to answer them quickly and positively.
And finally (vs. 30-35), to act wickedly is to do harm to ones self, and, to others. Evil violates GOD’s unchanging standards, which HE long ago set for HIS human creation. Evil causes “wicked acts”, and, evil is a consequential result of “wicked acts”. Idolatry is just one of the many “wicked acts” that man performs against GOD on a daily, minute-by-minute basis. Making wrong moral choices is what men without GOD do best, and we’ve already proven long ago, that, without GOD, we can’t do anything right, for too long.
As our moral ruler, GOD does not do evil, but rather, HE brings disaster upon evil-doers. And ultimately, when and if we repent, GOD is just and faithful to forgive us. GOD gave Moses a new stone tablet containing the Ten Commandments, after Moses had destroyed the first one in anger. And GOD re-affirmed HIS covenant relationship with HIS chosen people. GOD also re-emphasized HIS laws, which calls for us to worship only HIM. And while Oprah Winfrey and other prominent people try to tell us that there are many ways to get to Heaven, GOD’s word tells us quite clearly, that, the only way to come to HIM is through our belief in, and, our acceptance of, HIS only begotten SON, our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, September 10, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday September 12, 2010
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MAKING A COVENANT
(Living in covenant with GOD)
(Exodus 20:1-21)

In Exodus 20, verses 1-17, GOD instructed the newly freed Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, as to how HE wanted them to live their lives from that point forward. This critical list of spiritual and moral instructions came to be known as “The Law”, “the Decalogue”, or more commonly, “The Ten Commandments”. It was a covenant by which the Israelites were to govern their lives in the land which GOD was about to give them.
In Exodus 24, verses 1-8, we see them accepting GOD’s new covenant as it had been given to them, through Moses. However, man could not then, and quite frankly, cannot now, abide by such a covenant, because our sin continuously interrupts our relationship with GOD on a daily basis. That is why, ultimately, it took the life of CHRIST to restore our lost relationship of friendship with GOD. GOD sent HIS SON JESUS to usher in to us, a new covenant. This covenant is far superior to the old covenant that was carved in stone some 1500 years earlier, and given to Moses. This covenant ushered in by CHRIST, is to be engraved on the hearts and minds of mankind forever, and is intended to make it possible for us to restore a right relationship of friendship with GOD.
The old covenant laws were given to us to reveal our sins and to show us just how far we really are from GOD’s excellent standards. In that respect, the old covenant could only condemn us for our lifestyles. The New Covenant, by contrast, brings forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS, and thereby, can only save us in spite of our lifestyles. It is, quite literally, a covenant of “salvation” that can only be given to those who voluntarily accept GOD, in all HIS fullness.
In the Greek, the word used for “covenant”, in all normal secular applications, is “suntheke” (soon-tha-kay), and it is “an agreement between two equal parties or entities, on equal terms”, i.e. a marriage, or a business deal or partnership. However, in New Testament Scriptures, the Greek word that is always used for “covenant” is “diatheke” (dee-ath-ay-kay), and it is “an agreement that is actually along the terms of a “devised will”. In other words, only one party draws up the terms, and the other party can either accept or reject the terms, or inheritance, that is offered. They cannot change or alter any of the contents within that will.
The choice of this word, (diatheke), is understandable, because we, as human beings, cannot enter into an equal partnership with GOD, and cannot be on equal terms with GOD for obvious reasons. We are only able to make a voluntary decision to accept, or reject HIS covenant offer, and cannot alter, or change HIS terms in any way.
Even in the secular world, we know that a will does not go into effect until the person who wrote it has been proven dead. JESUS, WHO is our HIGH PRIEST, first died on the cross for our sins, then, re-entered into Heaven itself, bearing HIS OWN blood to present to our FATHER GOD, as a sacrificial atonement for all those sins, past, present, and future. And with HIS sacrifice, HE purchased eternal salvation for all mankind in general, and all Christians in particular, once, and for all time. In short, JESUS is the mediator of the New Covenant that was activated by HIS OWN death.
In CHRIST, we are freed from the futile search for salvation by works, or by obeying “The Law”. We are now free to express the reality of a salvation that one can receive only “for free”. GOD is too rich to sell it, and all men, no matter how endowed with earthly riches they are, is still, too poor to purchase it.
The Ten Commandments paint a lovely vision of a just and moral society that man can never realize without spiritual intervention from GOD. In those commandments, and, in CHRIST, we see exactly what GOD is like. By obeying them, our lives here on earth, becomes undeniably better with each passing day. However, it is only through our acceptance of CHRIST JESUS, while we are yet living here on earth, will we be able to obtain eternal life in Heaven, with the GOD WHO sees us, and desires exceedingly, to save us, from ourselves.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friday, September 3, 2010

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday September 5, 2010
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GOD’S REVELATION TO MOSES
(The eternal GOD continues to reveal HIMSELF)
(Exodus 3)

Exodus chapter three tells of the confrontation of GOD with Moses, by way of the biblical Theophany, or manifestation of CHRIST, now known as “The burning bush”. Here GOD commissions Moses to deliver HIS Israelite people from out of the chains of slavery in Egypt. Verses 1-3 present the circumstances of Moses’ calling after he had spent some forty years in the wilderness of Midian tending sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro, near Mount Sinai.
During his first forty years of existence, Moses lived as a prince in Egypt, where he developed his leadership skills, and now his second forty years of existence has been spent as a lowly shepherd, where he was forced to learn about humility. However, the greatest and most memorable segment of his life, his final forty years, is still yet to come, because he is now ready to be used by GOD as the human instrument which GOD would use to set HIS chosen people free, and lead them in their exodus from Egypt. They had suffered greatly in the 450 years or so, since the death of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had gained great favor with the Egyptian people during his lifetime.
Here in this passage, we see that, one day, as Moses was attending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro, in the wilderness near the Sinai Mountain, an angel of the LORD appeared to him, in the form of a “burning bush”. Moses was amazed, because the bush was engulfed in flames, and yet, did not burn up. The angel instructs Moses, as to what GOD wanted him to do, regarding leading HIS people out of slavery in Egypt. He also instructs Moses to bring the people back to Mount Sinai, to worship GOD afterwards.
After much protesting, Moses reluctantly accepted the task that was presented to him from GOD that day. When he was a prince in Egypt, he was confident and sure of his abilities to lead any group of people. However, here we see an almost unbelievably humble man, greatly doubting he could tackle such a huge undertaking as the one that GOD was now assigning to him.
And so we see GOD’s plan of humbling Moses has worked. And now, Moses is about to learn something that men continue to learn today, and that is the fact that, it is by GOD’s strength, not ours, that we are successful in our struggles through the storms of life. Here we see that GOD has stripped Moses of an attitude of “self confidence”, and is now about to replace it, with an attitude of “faith and confidence in HIM”.
Through divine intervention, our struggles are made easy when we rely on, and believe in, the power of the only wise GOD. This book of Exodus, besides being one of the greatest adventure stories of all times, is particularly foundational in developing the Christian view of who GOD is, and also, in understanding morality and the nature of worship.
Moses must have deeply felt the stress of leading such a large group of unruly people out of the clutches of slavery. But his firm commitment to his calling, his steady reliance on prayer, and his eventual, total trust in GOD, lives on as an example for every spiritual leader to follow.
Remember, GOD does not forget HIS commitment to us, and we should not neglect our commitment to HIS covenant, that was ushered in by CHRIST JESUS. JESUS set the greatest example of suffering the world has ever seen, and we, in return, should set the greatest example of worship, service, and obedience to GOD, that the world has ever seen.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander


Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia