Friday, November 29, 2013

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday December 1, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 53,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

JESUS’ BIRTH FORETOLD
(We serve an awesome GOD)
(Luke 1:26-40)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the archangel, Gabriel returns to earth to deliver another message from GOD. This time he visits the tiny town of Nazareth in Galilee, the home of a young teenaged virgin named Mary. Mary was engaged to marry a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Gabriel’s charge, on this visit, was to give young Mary shocking news of GOD’s plan to bless the world through her, with the “Immaculate Conception” of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WHOM HIMSELF would be, the ultimate MESSENGER (Luke 1:26-28).
The long-awaited MESSIAH, WHO had been forecasted by ancient prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and the likes, would be sent by GOD to usher in a new covenant that would liberate all mankind, from under the dominion of sin. It would be a covenant that would allow anyone, who believes in the MESSIAH, to receive the gift of eternal life, through that faith. It would then become the duty of HIS followers to build their spiritual foundations on that “most high faith”. As Christians, they would learn to pray and communicate to GOD, in the power of the, soon to come, HOLY SPIRIT, and, through regular Holy Communion Services, were to always remember the conditions of this covenant, under which, the love of CHRIST has called us, and then signed in HIS OWN blood.
Confused and disturbed, young Mary struggled to try and phantom, just what the message of the angel meant. She wondered aloud, asking the angel how a woman could become pregnant without having sexual intercourse with a man. Gabriel explains to her that, through the power of GOD, she would conceive, by way of the HOLY SPIRIT, and that the child she would birth, would be the Holy SON of GOD (Luke 1:34-35). Suddenly, the young girl’s “confusion and fear” turned to “joy and appreciation”. She responded, “I am the LORD’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever HE wants. May everything you said come true” (Luke 1:38) (NLT).
When we believe in GOD, in all of HIS fullness, holiness, and eternal righteousness, it becomes easy to accept whatever HE sends our way. We then understand that HIS tests are not meant to make us fail, but rather, are sent to make us strong, so that we may become better warriors in the army of CHRIST. We can then serve HIS purpose more completely, as we, at one and the same time, try to survive in a world under siege by the forces of satan.
GOD, is the writer, producer, director, and star, of the movie of our lives. HE already knows the outcome of HIS OWN divine production. We, on the other hand, are that which was created. Therefore, we are the benefactors of the brilliance and largess of the CREATOR HIMSELF. We are mere human players, who only get to see and live in one scene at a time, and so, it becomes only fitting that we place our trust in the omniscience, of the ONLY WISE CREATOR, GOD.
Mary accepted the message that GOD sent her that day through HIS angel Gabriel, and as a result, every generation since, can’t help but acknowledge the “favor” that GOD showed her, by way of HIS bestowing on her, such a divine role, in the “Covenant Blessing Story”. She would have been extremely honored to have any role in GOD’s great and divine work. And, even though it was something unexpected, because it came from GOD, she had faith that it would be for the greater good. And on that day, in the tiny, inconspicuous setting of Nazareth, Mary became the first person on earth to hear the sweet name of “JESUS”, our LORD and SAVIOR (Luke 1:31). And because of this upcoming miraculous event, the world would never, ever, be the same again.
GOD loves us so much, that HE gave to us as a sacrifice, HIS only begotten SON. And if we will but only believe in HIM, we will not ever perish, and, we can have eternal life in the glorious presence of GOD. That adds the perfect ending to the story of “the human experience” that has been marred by “the destructive fallout of sin”, since the onset of our existence. And I am once again reminded of a favorite quote that seems to sum up the “special effects” of our choice between “Salvation” and “Damnation”:

“The enigmas of life, become, at least, less baffling, when we come to rest in the thought, that this life, is not the final act of the human drama”.

If we truly believe that GOD is in control, then it shouldn’t be hard to accept whatever HE sends our way in this life. As Christians, we hold dear, the “Divine Promise” of “the ultimate happy ending”, that has been written for us by GOD, since the foundation of this world. 


A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website


Friday, November 22, 2013

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 24, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 52,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

TRAVELING LIGHT
(GOD seeks worship from HIS people)
(Exodus 40)

It is for the purpose of GOD, that the Christian is called. It is by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT, that a person’s life is hallowed towards GOD. It is by the sprinkling of the blood of JESUS CHRIST, that past sins are forgiven, and we look forward to a future of obedience to GOD.
In Exodus 40, verses 1-33, Moses chronicles for us, a vivid description and account of how GOD instructed him to set up, and furnish the newly constructed “Tabernacle of the LORD”. It was to be the place of “the highest form of corporate worship of GOD on earth”. In fact, the LORD HIMSELF was to come down and grace this holiest of places. Basically, those instructions entailed these three things;

·         The physical arrangement of the sanctuary’s interior and exterior parts, and, the courtyard curtains (v. 1-8)
·         The “consecration”, or “setting aside for holy use”, of the Tabernacle and its contents (v. 9-11)
·         The washing, dressing, and anointing of the “Priesthood”, namely, Aaron and his sons, to serve GOD and the people in the sanctuary (v. 12-16).

The Tabernacle was completed within a year of the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt. They had arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai about three months after leaving Egypt. Immediately following the Israelites acceptance of the “LORD’s Covenant” (Exodus 24:18), Moses, then went into the mountains of Sinai for 40 days. He also spent another 40 days on the mountain for “covenant renewal”, or the recording of the “Ten Commandments” on stone tablets (Exodus 34:28). That left approximately 6 ½ months, to collect the materials needed, and, to construct the Tabernacle itself.
This passage serves as a clear indicator that the LORD does not want HIS people to go for a long period of time, without our corporate worship of HIM.  HE also seems to want it to be done in a formal setting, pre-designed in detail, by HIM. We have to learn “how” to worship GOD, just as we have to learn any other spiritual principals. The examples of worship given to us in this passage of Exodus are, quite literally, designed into the Tabernacle. For instance, we see the golden lampstand symbolizing GOD’s Glory, which should be at the desire of every Christian. We also see the spiritually strategic location of the “Ark of the Covenant” in the “innermost” Holy place in the Tabernacle, symbolizing where GOD was to meet HIS people.
The Tabernacle’s central importance in the lives of the Israelites is graphically depicted in the Old Testament Book of Numbers. When the Israelites set up camp in the wilderness, the temporary Tabernacle tent, or, “Tabernacle of the Congregation” was always placed in the center of the camp, with the Levites camping right next to it (Numbers 1:53). However, after this permanent structure was erected at Shiloh, it remained there throughout the “period of the Judges” in Israel, from the time of Joshua, until the time of Samuel.
In the New Testament Greek, the word used for “dwelt”, by the Apostle John (John 1:14) is “skenoo” (shay-no-o), and it means “tabernacled”, which means “occupied, resided, or “lived in”. This is the only place in Scripture where this particular word is found, and it speaks to the importance that GOD places on man’s worship of HIM. It says, in effect, that, we should actually “live” our perpetual lives in full-time worship of GOD, because HE is worthy to be worshiped and praised continuously.
GOD’s instructions, as to how we should worship HIM, must be adhered to, in our generation, just as it was in the time of Moses, or Joshua, or all of the other judges of Israel. Our purpose is not to set new standards and ways of the worship of GOD, but rather, we should cleave to the guidelines that HE has already set and established. So let us always aspire to “worship GOD in a way that is pleasing and acceptable to HIM”, not us, and let us always seek to guard against letting “sin” and “culture” dictate GOD’s Christian doctrine in HIS church. That way, the LORD’s glory can bless and fill our modern-day sanctuaries, and we can once again sense the difference between the “professed Christian Church”, and “the World”.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 24, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 52,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

TRAVELING LIGHT
(GOD seeks worship from HIS people)
(Exodus 40)

It is for the purpose of GOD, that the Christian is called. It is by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT, that a person’s life is hallowed towards GOD. It is by the sprinkling of the blood of JESUS CHRIST, that past sins are forgiven, and we look forward to a future of obedience to GOD.
In Exodus 40, verses 1-33, Moses chronicles for us, a vivid description and account of how GOD instructed him to set up, and furnish the newly constructed “Tabernacle of the LORD”. It was to be the place of “the highest form of corporate worship of GOD on earth”. In fact, the LORD HIMSELF was to come down and grace this holiest of places. Basically, those instructions entailed these three things;

·         The physical arrangement of the sanctuary’s interior and exterior parts, and, the courtyard curtains (v. 1-8)
·         The “consecration”, or “setting aside for holy use”, of the Tabernacle and its contents (v. 9-11)
·         The washing, dressing, and anointing of the “Priesthood”, namely, Aaron and his sons, to serve GOD and the people in the sanctuary (v. 12-16).

The Tabernacle was completed within a year of the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt. They had arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai about three months after leaving Egypt. Immediately following the Israelites acceptance of the “LORD’s Covenant” (Exodus 24:18), Moses, then went into the mountains of Sinai for 40 days. He also spent another 40 days on the mountain for “covenant renewal”, or the recording of the “Ten Commandments” on stone tablets (Exodus 34:28). That left approximately 6 ½ months, to collect the materials needed, and, to construct the Tabernacle itself.
This passage serves as a clear indicator that the LORD does not want HIS people to go for a long period of time, without our corporate worship of HIM.  HE also seems to want it to be done in a formal setting, pre-designed in detail, by HIM. We have to learn “how” to worship GOD, just as we have to learn any other spiritual principals. The examples of worship given to us in this passage of Exodus are, quite literally, designed into the Tabernacle. For instance, we see the golden lampstand symbolizing GOD’s Glory, which should be at the desire of every Christian. We also see the spiritually strategic location of the “Ark of the Covenant” in the “innermost” Holy place in the Tabernacle, symbolizing where GOD was to meet HIS people.
The Tabernacle’s central importance in the lives of the Israelites is graphically depicted in the Old Testament Book of Numbers. When the Israelites set up camp in the wilderness, the temporary Tabernacle tent, or, “Tabernacle of the Congregation” was always placed in the center of the camp, with the Levites camping right next to it (Numbers 1:53). However, after this permanent structure was erected at Shiloh, it remained there throughout the “period of the Judges” in Israel, from the time of Joshua, until the time of Samuel.
In the New Testament Greek, the word used for “dwelt”, by the Apostle John (John 1:14) is “skenoo” (shay-no-o), and it means “tabernacled”, which means “occupied, resided, or “lived in”. This is the only place in Scripture where this particular word is found, and it speaks to the importance that GOD places on man’s worship of HIM. It says, in effect, that, we should actually “live” our perpetual lives in full-time worship of GOD, because HE is worthy to be worshiped and praised continuously.
GOD’s instructions, as to how we should worship HIM, must be adhered to, in our generation, just as it was in the time of Moses, or Joshua, or all of the other judges of Israel. Our purpose is not to set new standards and ways of the worship of GOD, but rather, we should cleave to the guidelines that HE has already set and established. So let us always aspire to “worship GOD in a way that is pleasing and acceptable to HIM”, not us, and let us always seek to guard against letting “sin” and “culture” dictate GOD’s Christian doctrine in HIS church. That way, the LORD’s glory can bless and fill our modern-day sanctuaries, and we can once again sense the difference between the “professed Christian Church”, and “the World”.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

Friday, November 15, 2013

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 17, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 52,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

FROM DESPAIR TO DELIVERANCE
(GOD can make a way where it seems there’s none)
(Exodus 14:21-30)

GOD’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt in the Book of Exodus is a literal depiction of HIS OWN power and mercy to deliver all people who believe, from physical and spiritual bondage. However, GOD’s people were not to worship among pagans (Exodus 8:25-27), but rather, were to separate themselves from any unbelievers when they worship.
Moses’ original request to pharaoh was that he allow them to separate themselves from the Egyptians in order that they might worship GOD in the wilderness for three days only (Exodus 8:27).
In Exodus 14, after word reached Pharaoh that the Israelites were not planning on returning to Egypt after three days, he called out his troops and went after them (Exodus 14:5-9). He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with several others, all manned with soldiers, and the LORD continued to harden his heart toward the Israelites (Vs.7-8).   
The Egyptians caught up with the Israelites as they were camping along the seashore near Pihahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. As the pursuing Egyptian Army was approaching a, seemingly trapped Israelite nation, the people turned to their leader, Moses, and literally cursed him for taking them out of their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 14:9-12). 
In the Greek, the word used for faith is “pistis”. It means “to rely upon with an inward certainty, and to consent to evidence of authority”. The Israelite’s “fear” had already overcome “their inadequate faith in GOD”. They did not comprehend that, to wait on, and trust in GOD, would often mean that they must agonize in the process. However, the agony that one experiences always comes from one’s attitude of inadequate trust in the LORD.
GOD will test us in many ways to get us to see just where our level of trust in HIM is, and, to show us how we need to improve upon that inadequate level of trust, so that we can have a successful experiential relationship with HIM. HE wants to show us, both through HIS written word, and, through our own life experiences that there is no problem that we could possibly encounter, that is bigger than HIM. GOD demands a personal experiential relationship of “total trust and reliance on HIM”.
We can also see in this passage that GOD is more concerned with how we reach our destination, than HE is with how quickly we get there. That is why we see HIM leading the Israelites along an around-about path. HE felt that the Israelites, already weary from 430 years of slavery, would not be willing to engage in a war with the Philistines so soon after their departure from Egypt, and would instead, choose to return to Egypt, rather than risk dying in battle, in the wilderness.
And so, GOD led HIS people safely around the area where the Philistines resided. This can be seen as a clear symbolic indication that GOD wants everyone to finish the “Christian race” and make it to the “true promised land”, which is the “kingdom of Heaven”, and, that we must run the race HIS way, by HIS rules, in order to make it there safely.
When the Israelites reached the other side of the “Red Sea” (“Yam sup” in the Hebrew, which is translated “Sea of papyrus reeds”) (Exodus 14:26-31), and were out of the reach of the Egyptian chariots that pursued them, they stood along the shores and watched, as “their problems”, or, in this case, “their pursuers”, were quite literally, “washed away by GOD” (v.30).
Their apparent, impending doom, at the hands of the Egyptian soldiers, seemed inevitable as the pharaoh approached them while their backs were against the sea. In fact, they could imagine having no bigger problem at that time. But GOD intervened, as only HE can, and first parted the troubled waters allowing the Israelites to cross over “on dry land”, and then, HE washed all their problems away, and put them behind them forever.
And so we see, it is not how quickly we get to the end of our journey, but rather, it is “how” we get to the end of our journey. The Christian walk has always been, is now, and will forever be about “endurance”. It is about the way we run the race under duress, more than it is about how quickly we finish the race. It is a race that must be run by GOD’s rules, if we hope to obtain, and retain our rewards at the finish line.
The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us in chapters 11 and 12 of the “cloud of witnesses” who have ran a successful race, that was fueled by faith. And now, they wait with CHRIST, to see how we will fare in our quests for eternal life. We too, can run and win this Christian race, but, we can run it a lot easier, if we first take the burdens of our problems, from off our backs, and give them to GOD. GOD is much bigger and much more capable of carrying them than we are. When we rely on GOD with an inward certainty, HE will always protect and deliver us into HIS OWN glorious presence at the end of our Christian race.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website







WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 17, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 52,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

FROM DESPAIR TO DELIVERANCE
(GOD can make a way where it seems there’s none)
(Exodus 14:21-30)

GOD’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt in the Book of Exodus is a literal depiction of HIS OWN power and mercy to deliver all people who believe, from physical and spiritual bondage. However, GOD’s people were not to worship among pagans (Exodus 8:25-27), but rather, were to separate themselves from any unbelievers when they worship.
Moses’ original request to pharaoh was that he allow them to separate themselves from the Egyptians in order that they might worship GOD in the wilderness for three days only (Exodus 8:27).
In Exodus 14, after word reached Pharaoh that the Israelites were not planning on returning to Egypt after three days, he called out his troops and went after them (Exodus 14:5-9). He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with several others, all manned with soldiers, and the LORD continued to harden his heart toward the Israelites (Vs.7-8).   
The Egyptians caught up with the Israelites as they were camping along the seashore near Pihahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. As the pursuing Egyptian Army was approaching a, seemingly trapped Israelite nation, the people turned to their leader, Moses, and literally cursed him for taking them out of their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 14:9-12). 
In the Greek, the word used for faith is “pistis”. It means “to rely upon with an inward certainty, and to consent to evidence of authority”. The Israelite’s “fear” had already overcome “their inadequate faith in GOD”. They did not comprehend that, to wait on, and trust in GOD, would often mean that they must agonize in the process. However, the agony that one experiences always comes from one’s attitude of inadequate trust in the LORD.
GOD will test us in many ways to get us to see just where our level of trust in HIM is, and, to show us how we need to improve upon that inadequate level of trust, so that we can have a successful experiential relationship with HIM. HE wants to show us, both through HIS written word, and, through our own life experiences that there is no problem that we could possibly encounter, that is bigger than HIM. GOD demands a personal experiential relationship of “total trust and reliance on HIM”.
We can also see in this passage that GOD is more concerned with how we reach our destination, than HE is with how quickly we get there. That is why we see HIM leading the Israelites along an around-about path. HE felt that the Israelites, already weary from 430 years of slavery, would not be willing to engage in a war with the Philistines so soon after their departure from Egypt, and would instead, choose to return to Egypt, rather than risk dying in battle, in the wilderness.
And so, GOD led HIS people safely around the area where the Philistines resided. This can be seen as a clear symbolic indication that GOD wants everyone to finish the “Christian race” and make it to the “true promised land”, which is the “kingdom of Heaven”, and, that we must run the race HIS way, by HIS rules, in order to make it there safely.
When the Israelites reached the other side of the “Red Sea” (“Yam sup” in the Hebrew, which is translated “Sea of papyrus reeds”) (Exodus 14:26-31), and were out of the reach of the Egyptian chariots that pursued them, they stood along the shores and watched, as “their problems”, or, in this case, “their pursuers”, were quite literally, “washed away by GOD” (v.30).
Their apparent, impending doom, at the hands of the Egyptian soldiers, seemed inevitable as the pharaoh approached them while their backs were against the sea. In fact, they could imagine having no bigger problem at that time. But GOD intervened, as only HE can, and first parted the troubled waters allowing the Israelites to cross over “on dry land”, and then, HE washed all their problems away, and put them behind them forever.
And so we see, it is not how quickly we get to the end of our journey, but rather, it is “how” we get to the end of our journey. The Christian walk has always been, is now, and will forever be about “endurance”. It is about the way we run the race under duress, more than it is about how quickly we finish the race. It is a race that must be run by GOD’s rules, if we hope to obtain, and retain our rewards at the finish line.
The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us in chapters 11 and 12 of the “cloud of witnesses” who have ran a successful race, that was fueled by faith. And now, they wait with CHRIST, to see how we will fare in our quests for eternal life. We too, can run and win this Christian race, but, we can run it a lot easier, if we first take the burdens of our problems, from off our backs, and give them to GOD. GOD is much bigger and much more capable of carrying them than we are. When we rely on GOD with an inward certainty, HE will always protect and deliver us into HIS OWN glorious presence at the end of our Christian race.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website







Monday, November 11, 2013

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 10, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 51,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE
(Never stop celebrating GOD’s deliverance)
(Exodus 12:1-14)

Every since satan convinced Adam and Eve to disobey GOD in the Garden of Eden, man has been on an endless mission to satisfy himself, or medicate his “accepted sin nature”, as he desperately tries to make himself a life, apart from GOD. In fact, we have reached the stage where we are willing to remember, honor, celebrate, and worship anyone who has the ability to make us “feel good”, for a short space in time, and take our minds off our problems (i.e. through their music, drugs, sex, lifestyle, personality, etc). This is far from what GOD intended for HIS people.
In the Old Testament, the concept of “Zikkaron” (Zik-ka-rone), which is a festival, practice, or object, that is intended as a link for future generations, to a distinctive act of GOD. The name derives from the Hebrew word “zikrown” (zik-rone), which is “a memento, or a memorable thing, day, or writing”. Through the Zikkaron, GOD’s people could sense their personal participation, along with the original generation, in the very act that GOD had performed for that previous generation.   
In Exodus 12, verses 1-20, before they left Egypt, GOD gave detailed instructions for the observance of the Passover celebration. Here GOD instructs Moses and Aaron on how the Israelites must continue to remember how HE rescued them from the chains of slavery in Egypt. In honor of GOD, WHO created us, they were to always remember and celebrate the Passover at the proper time, in the early spring each year, in the month of “Abib” (which is translated “fresh young ears” in the Hebrew), and, it must always be at the place where GOD has chosen HIS name to be honored.
And so, the Passover is one of a small number of feasts that comes to us directly from the heart of GOD HIMSELF. These celebrations, or, observances, whisper ever so gently, for us to come closer to GOD, and are intended by HIM, to help us to keep our minds stayed on HIS grace and mercy, down through the generations.
The Passover, most notably depicts for us, a very vivid painting of the coming salvation that would be ushered in by CHRIST JESUS. The sacrificial lambs’ blood that was smeared over and on the sides of the doorposts of the Israelites, allowed for them to be passed over by the “angel of death” and saved by the merciful hand of GOD. It is a picture of how “the saving blood of CHRIST JESUS” would come to deliver all mankind, who chooses HIM, from the “chains of death and sin in the “world”, which was ushered in by Adam and Eve.
The Old Testament goes back beyond the birth of CHRIST, and into the dreams of the prophets. It gives us a glimpse of how the story of JESUS’ earthy ministry began in the mind of GOD HIMSELF, and was relayed to us, through the messages of HIS servants. GOD, is characteristically, a GOD WHO always works out HIS purpose for the world, and the history we look back on, is not just a random series of unrelated events.
We are well along in the process of the plan that GOD began, with the foundation of this world. Since the beginning, many have participated in helping, or hindering, that process. It is a great honor to help in GOD’s process, and, it will also be a great privilege to see the ultimate goal of the CREATOR realized. However, it is a great dishonor when one hinders GOD’s process by rebelling against its progress, and unless that hinderer repents, serious judgment awaits him at the end of the road.
In biblical times, a herald was used to announce the coming of an important person, sometimes days before their arrival. John the Baptist’s, important announcement of the coming of CHRIST JESUS had already been echoed by the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi hundreds of years earlier. It was an announcement of the coming of a GREATER PERSON, WHOM GOD would use to baptize everyone who accepted HIM, with HIS OWN HOLY SPIRIT.
I would love to see the world come together in a celebration and remembrance of the magnitude we’ve seen in the last few years with the passing of Michael Jackson, or Whitney Houston, or even Elvis Presley, where we show our appreciation, instead, for what JESUS’ “Life-saving death” has done for us all.
Those people were, and are, praised and worshiped even in death, because they catered to our sin nature and made us feel good for a short space in time. JESUS, through HIS vicarious sacrifice, has saved us from eternal damnation, and has the power to make us feel, goodness and joyfulness, forever and ever.
There is no person in the entire world that is harder to face than our selves. And the very first step to repentance, and a right relationship with GOD, calls for us to do just that. We must at first, swallow our pride and admit our sins to ourselves, and how hopeless we are without GOD. And  when death comes knocking at a true Christian’s door, JESUS’ blood, which has been placed over and around us, will protect us and deliver us safely into GOD’s OWN glorious presence, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website




Friday, November 1, 2013

WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 3, 2013
_____________________________________________

Over 51,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com

GET READY!
(Go where GOD sends you)
Exodus 3

The book of Exodus is the second, of the five books in the Bible, known collectively as the “Pentateuch”. The others are Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It is widely accepted by scholars that Moses is the author of all five books. Exodus begins with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob being trapped in Egypt and enslaved by a Pharaoh, who is not educated about the help that had been given to his Egyptian progenitors by Joseph, the son of Jacob, some 430 years earlier. 
The dates provided in Old Testament Scripture, suggests that Moses was born around 1527 B.C., which means that his flight to Midian in Exodus 2, after killing the Egyptian, would have been around 1486 B.C., and his return and confrontation with the Pharaoh, would have occurred around 1447 B.C. And so, according to biblical dates, the Pharaoh, at the time of Moses’ escape, would have been Thutmose III, who, according to Egyptian records, reigned in Egypt, from 1483-1450 B.C., a span of 33 years. However, before that, he also co-reigned with Hatshepsut for 22 years (1504-1482 B.C.), who is the princess that is believed to have found Moses in the Nile River.
Thutmose’s long reign explains why Moses had to stay out of Egypt for so long (40 years), before returning. We, also learn through ancient Egyptian records that the Pharaoh in power, at the time of the Israelites exodus from Egypt, was Amenhotep II, an arrogant youngster, who had been installed three years earlier, following the death of Thutmose III.
Exodus is divided into two sections. The first section, chapters 1-18, deals with the tribulations and deliverance of the descendants of Jacob from their oppressive existence under the policies of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II in Egypt. The second section, chapters 19-40, deals with the worship of a redeemed Israel, and their preparation by their leader Moses, on how to become an obedient, submissive nation under GOD.
Exodus 1, verses 1-7, provide the connecting link between the “Patriarchal Period” of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which are chronicled in the last chapters of the Book of Genesis, and, the events that are written about here in the pages of Exodus.
Here in Exodus 3, verses 1-12, almost forty years after Moses had fled from Egypt and started a new life in the land of Midian, we are given the circumstances by which he was called by GOD to return to Egypt, and lead the Israelites out of their state of mental and physical oppression.
Here GOD uses the inconsumable “burning bush”, one of five “Old Testament theophanies of CHRIST”, (also see Genesis 16:7-14, Numbers 22:22-35, Joshua 5:13-15 & Judges 2:1-5), to get HIS servant Moses’ attention. HE assured Moses that HE had heard the cries of HIS people whom HE cared deeply for, and HE was now ready to move to end the struggles they had faced for almost 400 years.
Moses was to face many challenges in his upcoming journey for CHRIST, and in order to meet those challenges, he had to first get to know GOD better for himself. He needed to know what GOD had done for his ancestors and he also needed to know what GOD could do for him personally.
Moses went on for a while, debating with GOD, trying to convince HIM of his inability to do what GOD had commanded him to do. But GOD already knows that we can’t do anything without HIM, and HE is just waiting on us to come to that realization for ourselves.
Like Moses, we all face doubts about ourselves that keep us from being where GOD wants us to be in our service to HIM, and, to each other. During his first forty years, Moses lived as a prince in Egypt where he learned many of his “leadership skills”. During his second forty years he lived as an outcast in Midian, where he learned “humility” while working as a shepherd in his father-in-law Jethro’s fields and pastures. And finally, in his last forty years, he accomplished his life work by leading the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt with the help of the almighty GOD of Heaven.
When Moses was a prince in Egypt, he was “confident and sure of his abilities to lead people”. However, here in Exodus 3 we see an almost unbelievably humble man, doubting he could tackle such a huge undertaking as the one GOD was now assigning to him. Here we can see quite clearly, GOD’s plan of humbling Moses has surely shown itself to be successful. And now, Moses is about to learn something that men continue to learn in this day and age, and that is that, it is GOD’s strength, not ours, that makes us successful in our struggles through the storms of life. Before GOD could use Moses, HE had to, first, “strip him of his attitude of self confidence”. Here we see that the LORD has replaced that attitude of self confidence, with an attitude of “faith and confidence in HIM”.
GOD is able to handle all of our struggles, and HE will faithfully be with us in our times of need, weather it is leading us out of grief and oppression, or, just simply leading us out of debt and other issues of the human experience. And HE does it just because HE cares, and is concerned and involved in all of our everyday issues, weather we realize it or not. HE truly is “The GOD WHO sees us” and knows what we are facing, and HE wants very badly to help us to get through it, and grow from our rough experiences. Through divine intervention, our struggles are made easy, but only when we rely on, and believe in, the ONLY WISE GOD, our savior, through JESU CHRIST.
The book of Exodus, besides being one of the greatest non-fictional adventure stories of all times, is also particularly foundational in developing the Christian view of who GOD is, and understanding morality and the nature of worship (which is clearly something that the modern-day professed Christian churches need to work on).
Even though Moses was highly stressed by his assignment from GOD in the beginning, we see him eventually making a firm commitment to his calling. He began to steadily rely on prayer, and he learned, through “an experiential relationship (walk) with GOD”, how to have the greatest trust in HIM, and even today, Moses’ life stands as one of the greatest examples of leadership, that can be found, anywhere in all the annals of Scripture.
Remember, GOD does not forget, nor neglect, HIS commitment to us, and therefore, as professed Christian, we should not neglect, nor forget, our commitment to the Covenant that was ushered in by CHRIST JESUS, and then signed, in HIS OWN blood. All for us, JESUS set the greatest example of suffering the world has ever seen, and we who profess to follow HIM, 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- Official Website