That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.
—Acts
17:27
Key
Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse and use the following definitions for
better understanding of it:
seek: to seek God means to
turn to Him, to strive humbly and sincerely to follow and obey Him.
haply: nevertheless, but
stronger meaning though indeed.
This basically sums up the
message the prophets continually presented before the people: to seek the Lord,
for He is never far from His people. God never left His people; they left Him.
Emphasis:
We are to understand the importance of turning to God, striving humbly and
sincerely to follow and obey Him. If Christians would just do that, they would
find Him – for He is not far. He is always waiting for His people to return to
Him.
LessonSummary: In this lesson, we take a
break from the kings of Judah
to study another minor prophet book, Zephaniah, as close to where it belongs in
Judah’s history
as possible. Remember that we learned about King Manasseh and King Amon in our
last lesson. Both of them were bad kings, and even though Manasseh finally
humbled himself before God, King Amon continued in his sin never humbling
himself before God. From this, we understand that the nation of Judah
was in a deplorable condition.
The book of Zephaniah begins with, “The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi … son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah” (Zephaniah 1:1). He was the descendant of good King Hezekiah, and that means he was related to King Josiah. We will study the kingdom of King Josiah after learning of Habakkuk next week. Zephaniah boldly spoke of the day of the Lord – and that it was coming soon. He understood God was displeased with His people. Zephaniah warned of immediate judgment and destruction. He encouraged the people to, “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3).
Zephaniah warned the people of God’s coming judgment, but he left them with the hope that God promised to restore His people.
If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to go along with this lesson.
We took a votive candle and glued the following verse on the outside: “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles …” Zephaniah 1:12.
“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” Psalm 64:1
Who is the enemy of a Christian? “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The
devil (Satan) is the enemy. We can read from this verse that he attacks and
wants to destroy Christians. Why do we need to know about our enemy, Satan? “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us:
for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Before we continue, it
is important that we understand a few things about Satan:
He lost his position in heaven
because of pride: “12. How art thou
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down
to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will
sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: 14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like
the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).
He is the father of lies: “Ye are of your father the devil, and
the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”
(John 8:44). This is what Jesus said
about the devil when He was speaking to the religious leaders. We are to
recognize that Satan is a murderer, there is no truth in him, he only speaks of
his own, and he is a liar. These religious leaders obviously were not in
righteousness – which is the distinction between those who belong to God
instead of belonging to the devil.
He tricks through subtlety: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted
from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
He appears as an angel of
light: “13. For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of
Christ. 14. And no
marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2
Corinthians 11:13-14).
When
Jesus came to earth, He came to defeat Satan (the devil), once and for all. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for
the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John
3:8). Not only do we learn that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, but
we recognize just who belongs to the devil. (One who commits sin in this verse
is “one who practices or lives in a prolonged form of sin.”) How can you
tell the difference between those who belong to the devil and those who belong
to God? “In this the children of
God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not
righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother”
(1 John 3:10). There is a definite
distinction.
How do Christians defeat our enemy, the devil?
In the following verse, one can understand a warning:
departing from the truth of God’s Word, becoming a friend of the world, causes
one to become the enemy of God. “Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is
enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy
of God” (James 4:4). Adulterer means “apostate.” Therefore,
a Christian must resist the devil in the faith. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter
5:9). If Satan can shake the faith of Christians and draw them into departing
from the truths of God’s Word, he can defeat them. Christians must stand fast
in their faith. “That your faith
should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1
Corinthians 2:5).
Christians must be humble before God. “6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). It is important to humble a Christian life to God, understanding that He cares for those who belong to Him. How can this be done? “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Do you recognize your enemy, standing fast in your faith while fearing the Lord and departing from evil?
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
—Galatians 5:7
Key
Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Have you ever run in a race? How well
did you run? What helped you to run your best? (i.e.: keep the goal in sight,
not look to the left or the right, make sure there are no obstacles in your
path, be healthy by eating good foods as opposed to junk food, be sure and be
hydrated by drinking enough water, etc.) There are many things to consider if
you want to run a race well. This verse is talking about a different kind of
race – living a Christian life that is pleasing to God. Can you think of any
things that cause you not to live a life pleasing to God? (i.e.: choosing to
lie, choosing to disobey authorities, choosing the wrong friends, not reading
your Bible, not attending church, etc.) In this lesson, we will look at a king
who made many bad choices – primarily to disobey God’s commands (the truths in
God’s Word).
Emphasis:
Christians are not to let anything hinder us from obeying God and living a
life pleasing to Him. We are to learn to lay aside any sin that does not allow
us to “run the race well” (live a life pleasing to God).
Lesson
Summary: In this lesson, we will continue in our study of the kings of Judah.
If you remember, we ended with King Hezekiah, the thirteenth king of Judah,
but only the seventh good king. Especially remember that he was the best king
who ruled over Judah.
“And he did that which was right in the sight
of the LORD, according to all that David his father did” (2 Kings 18:3).
Because he obeyed God’s commands, God blessed him and caused him to prosper. We
also looked at two prophets who spoke to God’s people during this timeframe:
Isaiah and Micah. Both of them spoke God’s Words during the reign of King
Hezekiah, and there were many great reformations during his reign, leading the
people back to God.
Remember that King Hezekiah was sick unto death. When he prayed, God extended his life by fifteen years. During those fifteen years, a son was born to him. His name was Manasseh. He was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-five years. Read what kind of a king he was. “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD …” (2 Kings 21:2). We will learn just how bad of a king he became. Manasseh was a very wicked king, undoing all of the good that his father, King Hezekiah, had implemented. He became king when he was twelve years old and reigned for fifty-five years. King Manasseh forsook the commandments of the Lord and served idols instead. Not only that, but he sacrificed his sons to the false god, Molech. He made the people of Judah to do more wickedness than the heathen that God had cast out and destroyed before them. During his wicked reign, God allowed him to be taken bound as a prisoner into Babylon. While Manasseh was there, he sought God, humbled himself, and prayed. God heard his prayer. God allowed Manasseh to return home as king. Once home, Manasseh revealed that he truly knew God by the many reformations he made. When he died, his son, Amon, became king.
If you are doing these lessons with younger children, the following is a craft idea to go along with this lesson:
We made small books and pasted different Scriptures into it. We wrote the verse Psalm 86:11 on the cover to help us remember the importance of learning God’s Word.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” Acts 6:8
In the early church, the new Believers were encouraged to
continue, “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
However, soon there were thousands of new Believers, and they chose men to help
in the ministry of the church. Once they chose these men to be ministers, see
what we read. “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith”
(Acts 6:7). God blessed, and more people were saved.
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen who stood out in his
service to God. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and
miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8). Recognize that when God begins to
work, Satan likes to stir trouble. “Then there arose certain of the
synagogue … disputing with Stephen” (Acts 6:9). The religious leaders began
to argue with Stephen. Understand something important. “And they were not
able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10). Consider what Jesus had taught his
followers. “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist”
(Luke 21:15). Gainsay means “contradict.” They may not have received the truths that
Stephen taught about faith in Jesus, but they could not refute those truths
either.
Because the religious leaders did not like what Stephen was
doing, or what he was saying, read the following to understand what they did
next. “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses, and against God” (Acts 6:11). Suborned
means “to introduce underhandedly; to
make a secret agreement; to suborn in the legal sense means to induce a person
to make a false oath; to commit perjury.” They not only stirred up all of
the people, but they set up false witnesses, erroneously accusing Stephen.
These men brought Stephen before the council and accused him of speaking
against the Temple and the Law of
Moses (see Acts 6:12-13).
When that happened, Stephen preached the Gospel message to
them, which in essence, was a fulfillment, or completion, of the Law of Moses.
He explained to them from the Old Testament Scriptures, in a review of their
history, a bold defense of the Christian faith. He offered to the religious
leaders a Biblical theology in his examination of the Old Testament in light of
Jesus’ coming. In his remembrance, he made it a point to remind them that
throughout their history, there was never a time that the entire nation
worshiped God – but there was always a remnant of true Believers.
Stephen began with Abraham, a true man of faith! For when God
told him to leave his family and walk with God, Abraham followed God’s Word.
When God told Abraham He would bring forth a great nation from him (even though
he was old and childless), Abraham believed God. God proceeded to give Abraham
a son, Isaac, who fathered the sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel.
Stephen reminded them of Joseph (who was initially rejected
by his brothers), and Moses (who was initially rejected by his people). Even
though both of these men were rejected at first, they were received as leaders
the second time. It was then that they were able to save God’s people in that
time in history.
Yet as Stephen reminded the religious leaders of these great men of their history, these religious leaders (who knew the history in the Old Testament) had rejected the greatest deliverer presented to them – Jesus. For Jesus had come to, “… save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Stephen rebuked these religious leaders for their unbelief. Remember, it was some of these same religious leaders who had not only rejected Jesus, but had demanded His death.
What was their response to Stephen’s presentation of Jesus? “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). These religious leaders were “cut to the heart,” but instead of repenting and turning to Jesus (as we saw many people had done), they ran upon Stephen and bit him with their teeth. Notice that Stephen did not fight back, but looked up and saw into heaven. When Stephen declared that he saw Jesus, “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord” (Acts 7:57). They put their hands over their ears and ran upon him, hostilely. They proceeded to stone Stephen. Yet Stephen had forgiven his enemies, and Jesus received him into heaven.
These religious leaders, who had studied the Old Testament Scriptures, yet they had not kept the words recorded therein – for they rejected Jesus, the One of whom it was all written. Remember what Jesus replied to the High Priest before His death. “… Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). Then, they will believe in Jesus.
Have you believed upon Jesus whom the Old Testament history presents as our Saviour?
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
—Luke 11:28
Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Do you understand what this verse means? (Remember that this is Jesus speaking. As Jesus was teaching the people, a woman in the crowd spoke up. She said that the woman who bore and nursed Him, Jesus’ mother, should be blessed. Our key verse in this lesson is Jesus’ response.) The word blessed means: “fully satisfied; possessing the favor of God; a partaker of God’s nature through faith in Christ.” Hear means “to understand or comprehend.” Keep means “to keep, to observe, to not violate.” Jesus declared we are blessed if we obey God’s Word (the Bible).
Emphasis:
As Christians, we have the hope (promise) that God will forgive our sin,
forever, and we are to show that we believe by hearing God’s Word (reading the
Bible).
Lesson
Summary: The book of Micah begins with, “The word
of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem”
(Micah 1:1). This tells us when he lived and to whom God sent him to speak.
Notice that these were the same kings to whom Isaiah spoke, so they lived
around the same time – Micah coming just a little later. He warned the people
of the coming judgment, but he also told them of the future blessing. One of
the main things we can remember about Micah is that he called for the people to
hear. “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all
that therein is …” (Micah 1:2a).
Micah spoke to both Israel and Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah (see Jeremiah 26:18). We can also see that this helped King Hezekiah decide to make great reformations in Judah. In addition, remember that Israel was carried captive during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Therefore, Micah saw Israel carried away captive by the Assyrian army.
Like many prophets before him, he reminded the people where they had failed, calling for the people to repent and to have a right relationship with God (by obeying His commands). He warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, he too, left the people with the hope of restoration one day. God even allowed Micah to reveal where the Messiah would be born (see Micah 5:2). He then left the people with hope – God would remove their sin (as far as the depths of the sea), and He would keep His promises made, “… to Jacob … Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:20).
If you are teaching this to young children, the following is an idea for a craft to go along with this lesson.
We made a journal to write special Bible verse in to help us remember God’s Word and the importance of keeping those Words (obeying them). We added stickers to the front along with Proverbs 3:1-2.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
In the very early days of the church, there
was a boldness of sharing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ (His death,
burial, and resurrection). Peter was the first to preach to the crowds, calling
the people to a time of repentance and belief in Jesus. When he preached, many
people gave their hearts and lives to Jesus. Because it was the early
establishment of the church, the Apostles were able to heal and do many great
things. One of the first was when Peter and John went to the Temple
and healed a lame man in the name of Jesus. Not only was he healed, but this
man also praised God for this healing. When the people heard what happened to
the lame man, they came and heard a message from Peter where he said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 3:19a). Repent means “to
think differently; to feel compunction (a feeling of guilt that follows doing
something wrong).” There had to be a change.
However, read the religious leaders’ reaction
to this preaching of Jesus. “2. Being grieved that they taught the people …
3. And they laid hands on
them, and put them in hold unto the next day…” (Acts 4:2-3). Because
the religious leaders did not like what Peter and John preached, Peter and John
were arrested. Nevertheless, recognize that many other people believed the
Gospel message. “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the
number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).
When the religious leaders challenged Peter
and John, asking why they taught Jesus, read what Peter said. “10. Be it
known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even
by him doth this man stand here before you whole … 12. Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10,
12). (Remember that “this man stand here before you whole” was the man who
was previously lame that had been sitting at the Temple
gate.) When Peter and John spoke this boldly for Jesus, claiming there was no other
name by which anyone could be saved, see what the religious leaders who did not
believe in Jesus recognized. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled;
and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). The religious leaders were amazed that
these men (remember they were fishermen) could speak like this. They recognized
that these men had been with Jesus. Moreover, because of the lame man that had
been healed, they could not deny the truths these men taught – but they did not
want the name of Jesus spread. Therefore, they commanded Peter and John not to
speak of Jesus any more. Their response? “For we cannot but speak the things
which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
They were going to continue to preach Jesus and His resurrection.
After being released from prison (see Acts 4:23), they returned to the other Believers,
praying and rejoicing, thanking God for what He had done. “… And they spake the
word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31b).
Take notice that these men were bold as they
taught the people of salvation that is only given by Jesus. They remembered
what Jesus had taught them. “Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
After Jesus died, was buried, rose from the dead, and then ascended back into
heaven, they began to understand. They had witnessed these important events and
taught the people because Jesus told them to go and “… be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part
of the earth” (Acts 1:8b).
Does anyone share the Gospel message of
Jesus’ salvation in our world today? If the message of repentance is shared,
does anyone respond? What is a Christian to do in this world today? The Bible
message has not changed. The only way to have life is to believe in Jesus for
salvation. “For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved”
(John 3:17).
Why do we not see many people saved? “18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18-19). They do not believe.
Have you repented and then believed in Jesus for salvation? Have you told anyone about Jesus?
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
—Romans 11:11
Key
Verse Thought: Read the key verse for this lesson. We learned in our last
lesson that God’s people, as a whole, failed miserably at keeping God’s Law.
Because of that, there would be judgment. However, in this lesson, we will find
that because they failed to be the people God intended for them to be (“they stumbled”), which allowed a time where God
opened the gift of salvation to the Gentile people. Understand that this was to
show the Israelite people what God had intended for them – so that they would
become jealous of Christians today! We will learn in our lesson today just what
it was that the Israelite people missed.
Emphasis:
We are to understand that even though Israel
failed in being a light to the world, this became an opportunity for Gentiles
to become Christians. Christians must be the light to the world to show them
Jesus!
Lesson
Summary: Remember what we have learned so far: Isaiah examined the sins of Judah,
speaking to the kings in their courts. He spoke during the days of Uzziah
(Azariah, a good king), Jotham (a good king), and during the days of King Ahaz
(a very bad king). He also strongly influenced King Hezekiah, a very good king.
In our last lesson, we saw the reality of a world apart from God, all those who do not obey God’s Law. There were ten burdens of destruction upon the nations, and six woes upon Jerusalem and Judah. Nevertheless, even with the words of destruction, there was a hope of restoration for God’s people.
In this lesson, we understand that there is a hope of Grace and Salvation pictured in the book of Isaiah. We discovered that the first thirty-nine books deal mainly with the judgments of God and the history of His people (remember this is the theme of the Old Testament). In this lesson, we will look at the last twenty-seven chapters understanding they deal with the grace of God as it is extended through His Messiah, and the promise of restoration (much like the theme of the New Testament). Not only this, but we understand that because Israel would never fully commit to God, God set them aside for a period of time. However, during that period of time, God opened the door for the Gentile people (an extension of grace) to have an opportunity to believe in Jesus (Salvation) – if only they would believe. Isaiah chapters 40-66 can easily be divided into three sections. Interestingly enough, right in the middle of the second section is Isaiah chapter 53. This chapter deals with the Messiah, Jesus. It is a vivid description of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” Acts 2:42
Shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter
preached the Gospel message of Jesus to the Jews in Jerusalem.
One reason was because they had rejected Jesus, crucifying Him, and many of them
had witnessed that crucifixion. They were guilty for His death. “23. Him,
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24. Whom God hath raised
up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he
should be holden of it (Acts 2:23-24).
Holden means “to use strength to hold or retain.” When Jesus could not be held by
death, He took the power of death that had previously been held
by the devil, Satan. See the following verse to understand this: “… that
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil” (Hebrews 2:14b). Understand that death could not hold Jesus, for he
conquered it. Jesus gave the power of life to any who would believe in
Him.
Peter continued to explain to the people that because Jesus could not “be
holden of it”, Jesus rose from the dead. And the people to whom Peter was
preaching, were witnesses of that fact: “This Jesus hath God raised up,
whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). What were they to do with that
information? “Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
All of the house of Israel
should have recognized that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was both Lord and
Christ. Christ means “the Savior of the world.” They were to believe
Jesus was the Savior of the world. After hearing that Jesus had died, was
buried, and raised again – conquering death once and for all, the people were
brought to a time of decision. Those people were given the choice to believe or
reject.
How did they respond? “Now when they heard this, they were
pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). When they heard the Gospel message preached, they
were “pricked in their heart.” Pricked means “greatly pained or deeply moved.” It is important that the Gospel
message had a movement in their heart. Sometimes we call this “conviction”
(which means “found guilty of an offense”). However, it is more important
what those people did with that movement. Peter told them what they must do. “38.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts
2:38-39). The people had to take action: repent. Repent means “to imply pious
sorrow for unbelief and sin, and a turning from them to God and the gospel of
Christ.” Repentance is a response between a sinful man and
God. Baptism is an outward testimony of what happened to that
individual’s heart. Notice that God “called” them. Call means “God’s call
through the Gospel message.”
The Gospel message is very simple: when one hears, feels the conviction
(that “call”), then one must just believe. In other words, simply believe and
receive without question. Jesus spent much of His ministry calling people to a
time of decision – to believe in Him, or choose to reject Him. When Peter
preached to the people, he preached the same message: God must call the
individual’s heart, and that individual must repent, believing in Jesus. Then
it is important to reveal to others just what God did (a testimony) by being
baptized before witnesses. What did the people do once they understood? Those
who believed and responded to God’s call were baptized, and there were three
thousand people who believed!
What they did next was very important. “And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Once there has been such a change in one’s heart and life, it is important to
learn how to live this new life. Continued
stedfastly means “faithfulness and
steadfastness in the outgoings of the Christian life – especially in prayer.”
They understood that learning from the Apostles was important (doctrine means “the teaching of the Apostles”
and we now find it in our Bible). These new Believers not only learned
the doctrine, but fellowshipped together. This is something important that
Christians should do even today: read their Bible, learn from Bible teachers
who know God’s Word, and fellowship with other Believers as opposed to the lost
world who have not given their hearts and lives to Jesus. Next, read of the
blessing for those who not only believed, but also shared the Gospel message
with others. “… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be
saved” (Acts 2:47b).
Have
you been called to repent from your sin and believe in Jesus?
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
—Isaiah 64:6
Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. From this verse, understand
that we are a sinful people who could never stand before a Holy God. Because of
that, there is no hope from within to become a righteous people who could stand
before God. In this lesson, we will see what becomes of people, and even
nations, who because of sin cannot live. All who rejected God “fade as a leaf” because mankind’s sin “like the wind, have taken us away.”
Emphasis:
God gave the Law to reveal sin. Without that Law, no one would know right
from wrong. However, the Law cannot save anyone, for it only brings judgment.
Nevertheless, God promised the hope of salvation.
Lesson
Summary: In our last lesson, we remembered the call of Isaiah. We then
looked at the book as a whole, trying to understand some of the interesting
things about the book.
In this lesson and the next one, we will
look at something very interesting about the book of Isaiah. In the Bible,
there are 66 books. Isaiah has 66 chapters. The 66 books of the Bible are
divided into two main parts; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old
Testament has 39 books. The New Testament has 27 books. The book of Isaiah can
also be divided into two main parts. The first 39 chapters deal mainly with the
judgments of God and the history of His people (think of the theme of the Old
Testament). The last 27 chapters deal with the grace God will extend through
His Messiah and the promise of restoration (think of the theme of the New
Testament).
The Day of the Lord is dealt with many times
in the book of Isaiah. We will learn how this day relates to God’s people.
Isaiah saw ten burdens on the nations. He also wrote how the Day of the Lord
would relate to the world. He then listed the six woes upon Jerusalem.
But through all of this, we will learn that in spite of the rejection of God
and His Law among His people, God continually delivered them and promised
restoration one day. He also reminded them that he would send Jesus. We will
once again remember the time God saved Hezekiah from the invasion of
Sennacherib.
Isaiah examined the sins of Judah, speaking to the kings in their courts. He spoke during the days of Uzziah (Azariah, a good king), Jotham (a good king), King Ahaz (a very bad king), and King Hezekiah (a very good king).
This is our second of three lessons looking at the book of Isaiah.
“32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
As you read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), you learn of
Jesus’ Teachings. More than that, as you read of Jesus’ Miracles, one can see
the compassion of Jesus and the call to faith – to believe in
Jesus. In Jesus’ Parables, He specifically wanted to teach His followers about
heavenly things. However, more than that, in those parables, there was another
call for a time of decision – to follow Jesus and His teachings, or to refuse
them and thereby reject Him.
But did all believe? “But though he had
done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him” (John 12:37). Many did not believe though they saw
many great miracles. Often times, those who did believe were
afraid to admit that belief in Jesus. “42. Nevertheless among the chief
rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not
confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43. For they
loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). Notice the reason those who believed
because of Jesus’ words but were hesitant to admit that belief. They were
afraid of their “friends” or “colleagues,” the Pharisees. It is important to
recognize that no one should be afraid to acknowledge their belief in Jesus –
no matter what one’s friends might say. (Remember what Jesus said in the book
of Matthew. “32. Whosoever therefore shall confess
me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven” Matthew 10:32-33.)
See how Jesus responded to the lack of any of
the chief rulers to confess. (Confess
“means to agree with;confess publicly, acknowledge openly;
profess ‘the Lord being Jesus.’”) As you continue reading, see that Jesus cried
out. One can almost sense His frustration in consistently declaring the truth,
yet the refusal of most to act upon it. “44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him
that sent me. 45. And he that seeth me seeth him
that sent me. 46. I am come a light into the
world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him
not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John
12:44-47). Understand that Jesus
directed the people’s attention to God. When the people saw Jesus, they were in
fact seeing God – for Jesus had come to the earth to be revealed to mankind, as
the “light into the world” for He had the
words of life – if only one would hear them. However, if one refused, read what
He declared. “48. He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day. 49.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak”
(John 12:48-50).
God
knew their hearts. If they rejected Jesus, God would judge them
one day. Notice that Jesus declared that He spoke the words of God to the
people.
The following is a great example of one who heard of Jesus, went to see Him, and openly believed. We can read of this man, named Zacchaeus. Most people remember the children’s song that tells of him. And it is quite accurate with what the Bible teaches us. Jesus was passing through Jericho. “And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich” (Luke 19:2). He was a short man who could not see Jesus as He passed because of the crowd. So, “he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Saviour passed that way, He looked up in that tree, and He said, ‘Zacchaeus, you come down. For I’m going to your house today.’” Jesus went to his house, and Zacchaeus believed in Jesus. We understand this because Jesus declared, “This day is salvation come to this house …” (Luke 19:9b). Jesus added something very important for all to remember. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Remember that this is why Jesus came into the world.
Have you openly believed in Jesus, or are you like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who were afraid?
