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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday December 9, 2012

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LIVING IN HOLINESS

(Be Holy in all that you do)

(1 Peter 1:13-25)

In 1 Peter 1, verses 13-25, the apostle calls for Christians to live holy, think clearly, and, to exercise “self-control”, or “to be sober”, at all times. He also urges us to look forward with earnest expectations of CHRIST’s return, and, to not slip back into their old ways of doing evil. We are called to be “holy” because GOD is holy, and we share HIS “nature”, which makes it possible. GOD’s nature, not only consists of “Holiness”, but also, “Life”, “Personality”, “Truth”, “Justice”, “Love”, and “Wisdom”. These “communicable attributes” are given to us by GOD at birth. They allow us to be able to worship and have a personal, experiential relationship with HIM while living here on earth, in the midst of unGODliness. In fact, GOD not only expects us to live holy, but HE also expects us to exercise all of these GODly elements of HIS nature on a daily basis (Vs. 13-16).

Sadly though, since the time of Adam and Eve (the very beginning), every member of mankind has, to some level or degree, suppressed our GODly nature, and chosen instead, to take up, and exercise our “sin nature”, which was given to us by satan, through a single act of disobedience to GOD by this now infamous couple.

However, GOD, through HIS eternal mercy and grace, chose anyway, to pay a high price to save us from the empty lives that we had inherited from our ancestors, and, continue to create for ourselves today. HE bought us back with the precious lifeblood of HIS only begotten SON, JESUS the CHRIST, the sinless, unblemished LAMB of GOD! And HE had already chosen HIM for this purpose, long before the world ever began (Vs. 18-20).

In verses 23-25 Peter reminds us that the Christian must obey the GOD, in WHOSE spiritual image they are made. And just as a person physically resembles their earthly parent, so must the Christian spiritually resemble their heavenly FATHER, through their behavior and obedience to HIS Word.

Here in this passage, the contrast that Peter alludes to is that, we don’t have to make an effort, nor, change our behavior in order to “physically resemble” our earthly parents, for it is an automatic occurrence, through physical birth. However, our resemblance to GOD, can only be manifested through our behavior, because “GOD is spirit” (John 4:24), and does not have a physical image. Therefore, our resemblance of HIM must come through a transformation of the heart (spiritually), which dictates our behavior and what we do, 100 percent of the time. It is a “spiritual resemblance” that GOD is seeking, and that can only be acquired and maintained through our learning, and becoming accustomed to practicing, “the Word of GOD”. 

When we choose the Christian walk, we should automatically become strangers to worldly behavior. We are then no longer permanent residents of this earth, but rather, we become citizens of Heaven, and therefore, the laws of GOD must become paramount to us. In fact, it is not until a person really falls in love with goodness, that, wrong things, will no longer fascinate, and have power over them. Our relationship with GOD becomes our greatest asset. This is in sharp contrast to the person, who loses their heart to the things of this world, as that person, is the person, who will remain most vulnerable to satan.

The end of all things is near, for each of us, personally. For, that is the resounding message that the Old Testament prophets, and, New Testament writers and thinkers, all leave us with. And that message is just as valid today as it ever was. Our only true hope lies in our ability to maintain a discipline and self-control that is fueled by our obedience to GOD’s, and our conformance to the prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT, WHO will always compel us towards CHRIST JESUS, and away from the gravitational pull of this world.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday December 2, 2012

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LIVING WITH HOPE

(The living hope that we have through JESUS CHRIST)

1 Peter 1:1-12

The Apostle Peter, perhaps, wrote this inspiring letter (1 Peter) while residing in Rome, near the end of his life. Its purpose was to lend comfort and encouragement to the Jewish Christian Diaspora, who, were living as foreigners in the various towns of Asia Minor (now northern Turkey). Here Peter focuses on “triumph through suffering for CHRIST”, and how the “Christian Hope” will serve as motivation to make our life here on earth, conform more fully to the word of GOD, as we go along on your “Christian Journey”.

Peter apparently wrote this epistle around the time of “the great persecution of the Christian Church” by the Roman emperor, Nero. Nero, who was an outstanding practitioner of the form of witchcraft called “Miming”, often used his miming talents to make light of his terrible persecutions on the Church, by mocking the Christian’s sufferings, while performing in the theaters in and around Rome. Peter and the other early church leaders banned miming in the Christian Church for obvious reasons (witchcraft is “anti-CHRIST”).  

Nowadays, because of our ever-growing desire to be entertained, the so-called “Black Christian Church” has both “wittingly and unwittingly” re-introduced this demonic form of entertainment back into church worship services and other church functions, because we fail to properly research, hardly anything anymore, before we begin to incorporate it into our programs. However, we’ll let that (miming) be another Sunday school lesson. For now, let us focus on the Hope of Eternal Life that is offered through Salvation, through JESUS CHRIST.

Peter’s first letter is rich in references to and from the Old Testament. Any Jewish Christian would find special significance in the term “Diaspora” that is translated “scattered” in the opening lines of this letter, and any Gentile reader wouldn’t help but notice Peter’s call for living a holy lifestyle, despite their background, or total ignorance to the Word of GOD. Those Gentile converts would have also been greatly encouraged by the fact that, even though they weren’t yet versed in the Word of GOD, they were immediately accepted as “GOD’s people” by the Christian Community.

In 1 Peter 1, verses 1-2, Peter lays out the theological foundation of “encouragement” to his fellow Christians who were scattered abroad. In the biblical Greek, the word used for “encourage” is “parakaleo” (par-ak-al-eh-o), and it means “to call near, and to invoke by imploring and consoling”. It also means “to be of some good to, by comforting, through prayer and exhortation”.  He reminds them that GOD had long ago chosen them, and, that they had also been sanctified by the HOLY SPIRIT through the atoning blood of CHRIST JESUS. They had been touched by the “GOD-head”, the “Whole of GOD”, and set aside to do “greater things” with their lives. Here Peter shares his personal desire (v. 2c) that they be showered with an abundance of GOD’s grace and peace upon their lives.

In verses 3-5 Peter speaks of the “living hope”, or “wonderful expectation” that comes through the resurrection of CHRIST JESUS, which promises us a divine inheritance in Heaven. GOD has preserved a priceless inheritance for HIS people, which is kept “pure” and “undefiled”, and, kept out of the reach of “change” and “decay”. We are also protected by GOD’s power, here on earth, until we can receive those Heavenly benefits of this “wonderful salvation” for trusting in HIM only.

We can come to rest in the thought that “this life on earth is not the final act of the human drama”.  And even though, by choosing the Christian Walk, we are no longer permanent residents of this earth, but rather, become citizens of Heaven, it is still necessary, for now, to endure those tests and trials that are set before us. Those tests and trials are not meant to make us fail, but rather, are given to us to grow our faith and make us strong and pure, to better serve GOD’s purpose for us, in this life. To persevere through those trials and tribulations will bring much praise and glory and honor on the day when JESUS returns, and is revealed to the whole world (Vs. 6-7).

Faith, Hope, and Love are the three great enduring things, and of the three, love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13). Our living “hope” is spun by the promise of GOD. We “love” HIM, even though we have never seen HIM. And though we do not see HIM, by “faith”, we trust in HIS Word. And even now, we can rejoice with an inexpressible joy, because our reward for trusting in HIM will result in the salvation of our souls (Vs. 8-9).

Salvation is something that every prophet since the beginning of the age wanted to know more about. They prophesied of this great salvation through GOD’s SON that had been prepared for mankind, even though they themselves, probably, had many questions as to what it all meant. They often wondered just what the SPIRIT of GOD in them was talking about, when HE informed them in advance, about CHRIST’s suffering here on earth, and HIS great glory, afterwards.

These great men of GOD were told all these things would not happen in their lifetimes. However, today this Good News is being preached throughout the world by those who actually embody the power of the HOLY SPIRIT on a continuous basis. And it is something so wonderful, that, even the angels are eagerly watching the events unfold in the lives of those who experience the Christian Hope, by way of a transformation of the heart, through the power of GOD’s Word (Vs. 10-12).

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

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BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 28, 2012

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THE DOMINO EFFECT

(Spiritual confusion is contagious)

Judges 17 & 18:30-31

In Judges Chapters 17-18, we can clearly see how the knowledge of GOD, and HIS will, had been lost over time. These two chapters are perhaps, Scripture’s greatest example of “spiritual confusion” within the community of GOD. In fact, only in this, the 21^st century, can we find a generation as confused as this one was about GOD. It was a time when pagan concepts had totally diluted the religious consciousness of GOD’s people, much like we see in the Christian Church today.

When we begin to mix the “Holy” with the “profane”, it won’t be long before we become spiritually confused, and incapable of distinguishing the difference between the two. That is why it is so important to GOD that we stay focused on HIM, and not on our peers, or ourselves (Psalm 118:8 & Psalm 146:3), and, we are not to take anything from the world and use it in the church (3 John 1:7), be it money, music, miming, clubbing, dances, etc. If it was created for use in the secular world, and contains anti-CHRIST elements, then it shouldn’t be used in the Christian Church, which is supposed to be the “Body of CHRIST”. Now this all seems like “common sense” to some, however, common sense is not so common anymore, especially in the Christian Church. Our desire to have what someone has, and, to do what others do, more often than not, leads us into the Luciferic realm that is controlled by satan. Who we view to be a symbol of success, by the world’s standard and definition of what success is, must not be confused with success by GOD’s standard and definition of the word. 

These chapters of the Book of Judges also show us, that, the attitude, “what I do has nothing to do with anybody else!” is ridiculous, especially when it is the attitude of one who is in leadership of his home, church, job, community etc. It is a self-centered, prideful expression that is most often used to justify one’s own sinful behavior. However, Scripture clearly teaches us that “there can be no such thing as sin that is of non-effect”.

In Judges 17, a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of Ephraim, heard his mother put a “curse” on the thief who had stolen her eleven hundred pieces of silver. Little did she know, at that time, that, Micah, himself, had taken her precious silver. She had apparently used some sort of magic spell, or witchcraft to do this, and it apparently frightened her wayward son enough that he quickly returned his mother’s stolen property to her. His mother’s blessing on him (v. 2) for returning the silver was probably her way of nullifying the curse. Here we see further spiritual confusion when, after calling for the LORD’s blessings on her son for admitting his guilt, she then takes some of the silver (200 pieces), and constructs for him, an image, and an idol for him to worship.

Further exacerbating the situation, Micah takes these idol gods and places them in his house, setting up a shrine as a base for sacrificing to them, and also making a so-called sacred ephod, along with installing some other household idols. And why stop there? The domino effect is just beginning. Micah then installs his own son (who was not a Levite) to be the “father” and the priest of his newly created shrine, because, in those days, Israel had no king, and also had abandoned the GOD of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and so, “everyone did what seemed right in their own eyes” (Vs. 3-6).

For those who study GOD’s Word here in the 21^st century (with the exception of Catholics), we know that JESUS tells HIS followers, in Matthew 23:9, “never to address anyone here on earth as “father” for only GOD in Heaven is your FATHER” (NLT).

Then we see in verses 7-12, as the devil would have it, one day a young Levite, from Bethlehem no less, arrived in Ephraim looking for a place to settle, and he just happened to stop by Micah’s place as he passed through. Bethlehem was not one of the places that were assigned by GOD for the Levites to live in (Joshua 21 & Numbers 35), and so this particular Levite was already living out of the will of GOD before he came there. In fact, by coming there to the hill country of Ephraim, he was still wandering outside of the will of GOD, because he wasn’t suppose to live there either. However, the spiritually confused Micah hires him anyway, and pays him ten pieces of silver per year for his services. He even thinks that the LORD will bless him for his actions (Vs. 10-13).

When we socialize and mix with the world too much, we ultimately will desire to be like them. And before we know it, we begin incorporating their ways and habits back into our repentant lifestyles. We can’t be a friend of the worldly, and a friend of GOD, at the same time, we have to choose one and reject the other. That is why, even when evangelizing, JESUS warned HIS apostles that they were not to hang out with too many worldly people, for an extended period of time (Mark 6:10-11). We are not to mingle and linger too much in the world, after we have pledged our lives to CHRIST JESUS.

Micah, and anyone else, who does not know and study the Word of GOD will most assuredly be duped by satan into accepting his worldly agenda. He can even make one think that he is conforming to something that is OK by GOD, because anyone, who doesn’t know what “the real thing” looks like, can’t possibly recognize “counterfeit” when they see it.  

Sadly, we see in Judges 18:30-31 just how the “domino effect of sin” festers, and then manifests itself, far into future generations. And that is because, then and now, “GOD’s people continue to perish from a lack of knowledge”. We must carefully study, research, and inspect everything before we let it into the church, examining it by the standards of GOD’s Word, even if, and probably, especially if, we see other churches, that we deem to be successful, doing it.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 21, 2012

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TRIVIAL PURSUIT

(Investing your life and treasure into what is most important)

Judges 16

Of the 340-year period of Israel’s history that is recorded in the Book of Judges, the 40-year stint of oppression that the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Philistines in Judges Chapters 13-16, is the longest stint that GOD’s chosen people had to endure at one time. Here, in these chapters, the author of GOD relates the, now familiar, story of Samson, who judged over Israel for 20 of those years.

Samson, whose name means “distinguished”, was a man whose great physical strength, and equally great moral weaknesses, made him famous throughout the land in his day. He is the last judge mentioned in the Book of Judges, and even though his parents (Manoah and his unnamed wife) showed evidence of their great faith in GOD, Samson seems, quite clearly, to be a product of his era. The LORD had instructed Samson’s parents, prior to his birth, that he should be raised as a “Nazirite”. This meant that Samson would be dedicated to GOD from birth, and would serve as an example to Israel, and personify a commitment to GOD forever (Judges 13:3-5).

Samson however, fell far short of this mark throughout most of his life, as his passion for, and trivial pursuit of pagan women led to, first, his physical blindness and enslavement (the Philistines gorged out his eyes-Judges 16:21), and then, ultimately, his dramatic demise during the festive atmosphere of the celebration of his capture, which took place in the pagan worship temple of Dagon, which he himself, ultimately destroyed (Judges 16:23-31).

In the dramatic conclusion to Samson’s colorful life (Judges 16:28), he utters an orison to GOD asking for physical strength. GOD answers his prayer favorably, by empowering him with the physical strength necessary, to push down the pillars that supported the Philistine’s pagan temple. That one great act of faith (his prayer) may have cost Samson his life, but it ultimately won him a place among the “heroes of faith”, that are mentioned by the author, of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11:32).

Out of Samson’s weaknesses, he was ultimately made strong by the power of GOD. He was a person with great potential, who fell short, because of his sin and disobedience to GOD. And despite being mighty in physical strength, he remained spiritually weak, and was never able to resist the temptations of certain forbidden females.

His life is a clear warning against the dangers of self-indulgence, trivial pursuit of the flesh, and lack of self-discipline. Fortunately for him, he was able to come to his senses, in the end, and realize, from WHOM his strength came, and, that that strength was given to him, to serve GOD THE GIVER, and also, to serve his fellowman.

Samson’s captivity, and GOD’s taking away of his strength, caused him to reflect on his dependence on the LORD to survive. Nevertheless, GOD used Samson’s weakened state to lure the Philistines into a state of complacency, and thus, set the stage for their ultimate demise.

Sadly, Samson’s final concern was for revenge, and I guess, this bloody personal request for satisfaction, is what separates him from the ethics of CHRIST, and all of the other New Testament heroes, such as Stephen. They (JESUS and Stephen) requested the FATHER’s forgiveness, for those who inflicted a much less deserved harm on them, just prior to their deaths.

We may never possess the superior strength of a Samson, nor, may we ever know the superior wisdom of a Solomon. But, certainly GOD blesses each of us, with talent and potential, that may be uniquely our own. When we begin to seek GOD, and ultimately, establish a lasting, personal, experiential relationship with HIM, HE then begins to show us, just how HE wishes to use us, and, exactly what unique gifts and talents HE has embodied within us.

Samson had not himself asked for the gift of great strength, but rather, it was granted to him from birth. The “Nazirite Vow” was not his own, but rather, had been laid upon him by his mother. Nevertheless, it is just that way with every human being, as we are all born with gifts from GOD, to be used in service of HIM, and our fellowman.

Remember, Samson never quite lived up to his full potential, because of his self-indulgent sins and disobedience to GOD. He never seemed to realize the true source of his superior strength, until the end. When we come to rest in the thought, that our strength is in GOD, and not in ourselves, we will, at one and the same time, have come to realize the full purpose for which we came into the world. Perhaps William Barclay said it best, when he wrote, “The great paradox of Christianity is that, the only way to victory is through surrender, and the only way to power is by admitting one’s own weaknesses”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 

                               

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 7, 2012

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FAMILY FEUD

(Reject selfish ambition, lest you die by it)

Judges 9

Judges chapter 9 chronicles the story of Abimelech, a son of Gideon’s by a Canaanite servant girl, who grew up to have a selfish ambition to become ruler over Shechem. Shechem was a member of a league of Canaanite cities that were allowed to exist inside Israelite territory. Gideon had died, after judging over Israel for forty years, and the Israelites had already returned to their old forbidden practices of worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith, who was the god of that Canaanite league of cities, their official god also. They had abandoned the LORD, the GOD of their ancestors, and also were no longer loyal to the family of Gideon, despite all the good he had done for Israel.

One day Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his mother’s brothers, and while he was there, he told them to ask the people of Shechem who would they rather have rule over them, him alone, or, would they prefer to have seventy different rulers, namely his half-brothers. He then urged them to keep in mind that he is their own flesh and blood (Canaanite).

And so Abimelech’s uncles spoke to the people of Shechem regarding this matter, and they chose to submit to the authority of Abimelech because he was their relative. Abimelech also, apparently, had no issue with the people worshiping the Baals. They even gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver from the Baal temple treasury, which he used to hire a gang of criminals to kill 70 of his half-brothers, who worshipped the GOD of their father Gideon. They stood each brother on a rock, one at a time, and killed them all except the youngest brother, Jotham, who managed to escape the mass murder and hide. Then all the people, of both Shechem, and Beth-milo called a meeting and agreed to make Abimelech their king (Judges 9:1-6).

In verses 7-21 we see one of the rare Old Testament parables being uttered by Jotham, after he had learned of the deaths of his brothers. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, parables are used basically the same way. They are merely story-like illustrations that are used to parallel a “real-life situation” alongside an “abstract concept”. Here in this parable the “trees” represent the people of Shechem, who want for a king, and the thornbush, which is useless because it bears no fruit, represents Abimelech. The thornbush is also dangerous because of its thorns, and because it is dry and susceptible to wild bush fires. This parable is used by Jotham to predict that Abimelech would ultimately destroy, both Shechem, and, himself, by way of his own selfish ambitions.

Taking up at verse 22, after Abimelech had ruled over Israel for only three years, the LORD stirred up trouble between himself and his followers, the people of Shechem, and they rebelled against him. In the events that ensued, GOD punished both Abimelech, and the men of Shechem for the murders of Gideon’s 70 sons, through a natural expression of their own character. The Shechemites had a bad habit of robbing travelers along trade routes, and Abimelech, through his wickedness, collected a cut of the proceeds in return for protection against prosecution. Now the LORD would use those character flaws against both parties, as the rebellious men of Shechem now sought to ambush Abimelech himself, along those same routes.

It was about that time that a man named Gaal came to town and gained the confidence of the people. Soon, he led the men of Shechem into battle against Abimelech, but he was soundly defeated and ran out of town. The next day Abimelech completed his annihilation of Shechem’s warriors and captured the city (Vs. 42-44). And so, just as Jotham’s parable had predicted, the “fire did come out of the thornbush, and devour the cedars of Lebanon” (v. 15).

Abimelech killed everyone in Shechem, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground (v. 45), an action symbolic of condemning a conquered city to desolation so nobody would want to live there anymore. When the leading citizens (the people who lived in the tower of Shechem) heard what had happened, they hid themselves in the walls of the temple of Baal-berith, their idol god. When Abimelech found out where they were, he and his men cut branches of wood from the trees, piled them against the walls, and set them afire, killing about a thousand men and women, apparently from smoke inhalation (Vs. 46-49).

Abimelech then went on to the town of Thebez and captured it, however, inside the city there was a strong tower, and all of the people took refuge inside of it. When Abimelech went to the tower and prepared to set fire to it, a woman on the roof threw down a millstone that fell on his head and crushed his skull. Abimelech then ordered one of his young warriors to kill him with the sword so that it would not be said that “Abimelech was killed by a woman”. And so the young man did as he was ordered to do, and drove his sword into Abimelech, and he died. Then all of his men left and went back home (Vs. 50-55).

Here in this lesson, we see a story that is both tragic and foolish. Ultimately, Abimelech, through his wicked ways, was able to gain only a few years of rule over a tiny district within the vast land of Israel, that was populated mostly by Canaanites. Oh yeah, he was also able to claim an early demise, a just punishment from GOD, for his shedding of innocent blood. Sadly, Abimelech was able to prove, with his own life, just how harmful “selfish ambition” can be to one’s self, and, to others. In fact, selfish ambition, by definition, is merely a way of wittingly gaining promotion, fame, wealth, etc., at the expense of others.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia