BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday May 12, 2013

____________________________________________________________

PURSUING THOSE WHO NEED TO HEAR

(Be willing to tell everyone about the Gospel of CHRIST)

Jonah 3 & 4

The prophet Jonah ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II. Years earlier, during the reign of Jeroboam II’s great grandfather, Jehu, the nation of Assyria had established dominance in the east, and, had secured tributes from Jehu, in effect, making him a “vassal king”. Sometime later, however, the Assyrians suffered a temporary setback due to dissension within their camp, and this allowed Jeroboam II to expand Israel’s territories to its greatest size since the “United Kingdom” of David and Solomon.

Unfortunately, because of Jeroboam II’s disobedience to GOD, and his leading of Israel farther into idolatry, GOD had sent both Amos, and Hosea into northern Israel to warn him of Israel’s impending judgment if they didn’t repent and return to HIM. In fact, the prophet Hosea specifically told Israel that GOD would use the Assyrians to topple them because of their refusal to return to HIM (Hosea 11:5).

It seems likely that, because Assyria had been lingering in a weakened and declining state for some years at that time, Israel did not believe the prophets, and remained stubborn, refusing to heed their warnings from GOD. And perhaps these prophecies by Amos and Hosea also explain why Jonah was reluctant to obey GOD and go to preach repentance to Nineveh. He of course, was one who believed Amos and Hosea, and so, he, understandably had a problem with going to save his enemies, so that they can come later and destroy Israel. 

In chapter 3 we see, a now obedient Jonah, travels to Nineveh to deliver GOD’s message to the Assyrian populace, while still, hoping in his heart, that they would not heed his warning of imminent judgment. However, to the contrary, the people of Nineveh believed GOD’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to fast and dress themselves in sackcloth to show GOD their sorrow for their sins.

Even the Assyrian king, when he heard Jonah’s message, stepped down from his throne, took off his royal robes, humbled himself and repented as he sat on a pile of ashes, demonstrating his own sorrow for his sins, and the sins of the people. He even issued an edict to the entire city of Nineveh commanding everyone (and also their animals) to fast without food, or water. Every person was to wear sackcloth, and pray earnestly to the GOD of the Israelites, that HE might not destroy them. And when GOD saw their demonstration of earnest repent and obedience to HIM, HE had mercy on them and did not carry out HIS alternate plan of destruction.

When we obey GOD, as Jonah ultimately decided to do, our actions witness to others, and, as in this case, can have a positive effect, even on unbelievers. The use of the Hebrew term “Elohim” for “GOD” in verses 8 and 10, shows that the Assyrians lacked having a personal, revelatory relationship with GOD, and perhaps in this story, we do not actually see a true “conversion” by them, to the ways of GOD. What we do see here, for sure, is an emotional stirring of the heart, through fear of their desperate situation. This is not at all unlike what we see at the alters of our modern-day Christian churches, particularly when people come up during “Altar Call”, because of emotional, or physical reasons, rather than a desire to repent and make the drastic lifestyle changes, and heart changes, that one must determine to make, in order to please GOD.

Nineveh’s repentance delayed GOD’s wrath on them for another 150 years. However, as man always does, so too, the people of Nineveh fell back into the doldrums of sin, and their city was still ultimately destroyed. World history tells us that Nineveh was invaded and destroyed by Nabopolasser, the Babylonian king, with help from his ally Cyaxeres the Mede, in 612 B.C. (also see Nahum’s prophecy in the book of Nahum).

Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites, which resulted in their repentance and their turning to GOD, angered Jonah very much. In fact, in chapter 4 of his book, we see that Jonah threw a major, adult-sized temper tantrum, stormed out of the city, and sat underneath a large leafy plant that GOD had provided for his protection from the blazing hot sun. There he literally sulked throughout the night.

GOD continues to deal with Jonah, however, as HE sends a worm to kill the plant that HE had made for the disgruntled prophet, causing him to be angered to the point of death. The lesson that GOD is trying to teach Jonah here is that when we cause GOD to withdraw HIS compassion from us, through our own ungratefulness and disobedience, we don’t have a right to be angry when we see HIM bestowing HIS compassion upon someone else, even if its upon those whom we don’t like.

We cannot be sure, whether or not this lesson was lost on Jonah, for his book ends without him ever responding to GOD’s final comments to him. However, as I said in last week’s commentary, Jonah was clearly at fault with his attitude of not wanting GOD’s “Will of compassion” to be demonstrated in the lives of others, even if he feared they might harm him at some future date. If we pray for GOD’s Will to done, even in the lives of those we think might harm us, as believers, we have to know that GOD, can and will, act on their heart for the better, and thus, remove us from the peril of their wicked intentions.

The book of Jonah has often been called “The Gospel of Second Chance”, because it clearly shows that when we know GOD, HE will not let us run away from obedience for too long. And sometimes, HE may have to place great storms in our lives, or, “great fishes” in our paths, to get our attention. However, we can be thankful, because ultimately, “our good and compassionate GOD” always has our best interest at heart.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday May 5, 2013

____________________________________________________________

GOD PURSUES THOSE WHOM HE CALLED TO TELL

(Taking the Gospel into other parts of the world)

Jonah 1 & 2

In Jonah chapter one, the prophet Jonah is called by GOD to travel some 550 miles northeast, from the city of Samaria, to the great double-walled city of Nineveh. This was a tall order on many levels, one of which is that, Nineveh is located in the middle of the Assyrian Empire, and the Assyrians were Israel’s greatest enemy at that time.

In those days, Nineveh was a large city of around 120,000 inhabitants. In fact, it was so large that it would take a person three days, just to see the whole city. It also had the unique characteristic of being surrounded by, not one, but two walls, an inner wall, and, an outer wall. The inner wall, which was 100 feet high and 50 feet thick, directly surrounded the central city of Nineveh, while the outer wall surrounded the smaller towns, villages, and fields that were situated outside of the city.

Jonah’s task was to go there and deliver GOD’s message of judgment on the people, that, if they did not repent within 40 days, they would be destroyed. And to make things tougher, the Assyrians, at that time, weren’t even worshipers of the GOD of Israel. This, I’m sure, served as a great motivation for Jonah’s decided disobedience to the LORD’s call, and he instead, chose to run away to avoid obeying GOD’s command.

A quick look at ancient land maps, tell us, that, Jonah ran as far as he could in the opposite direction. Jonah, who was apparently not quite as compassionate towards the Assyrians as GOD was, jumped on a ship that was headed to Tarshish, a Phoenician colony located some 2500 miles west of Joppa, which was the farthest point west from Israel, as they knew it at that time.

Bible history tells us, however, that GOD miraculously altered the plans on Jonah’s itinerary, by ultimately causing him to be swallowed up by a great fish, during a divinely provoked storm at sea. And after three days, and much prayer from Jonah in the belly of the fish, GOD, in HIS OWN unique way, releases Jonah back on dry land, giving him a second chance at obedience. And so Jonah re-incorporated the travel plans that GOD had originally given him in Samaria, that, he travel to Nineveh and deliver GOD’s message to unbelievers who lived there (Jonah chapter 2).

Throughout Old Testament biblical literature, whenever true believers, who have undergone a genuine transformation of the heart, and thereby, are experiencing a personal, revelatory relationship with GOD, they always refer to GOD by HIS personal, revelatory name, which is “YAHWEH”. This is the term of reverence used by Jonah when he refers to GOD here in this passage.

However, GOD has compassion even on those who do not know him, for HE allows it to rain on the “just” and the “unjust” at the same time, and perhaps, this is why; There are many people in this world who don’t believe in GOD, yet are still capable of doing “a right thing” from time to time. And there are many Christians in this world, who often know the “right thing” to do, yet, we yield to our “sin nature”, and don’t do it. 

Jonah erred with his attitude and behavior toward the Assyrians, for he did not desire that GOD’s “Will” be done in the lives of other human beings, who are, like Christians, also made in the image of GOD. GOD embodies us all with the same “Communicable Attributes”, which are Life, Personality, Truth, Wisdom, Love, Justice, and holiness.

These attributes are contained in the “Nature of GOD”, and GOD shares them only with the human side of HIS creation. They render all human beings, no matter who they are, or, where they come from, capable of having a “Personal Relationship” with HIM. It is GOD’s earnest desire that all mankind accept CHRIST and be saved. And an “obedient witness”, through their speech and behavior, no matter who they are, can still be effective in fulfilling the desires of GOD for mankind, here on earth.

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

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 28, 2013

____________________________________________________________

LET THE VERDICT BE READ

(Where to turn for confidence about the future)

Amos 8:11-12 & 9:8-15

In Amos chapter 8 the prophet Amos is given a fourth vision from the LORD. It is the vision of a basket of ripe fruit, and it symbolized Israel being ripe for judgment from GOD. In effect, it is the vision of “the end” for a rebellious nation who had grown to love themselves and their idols, more than they loved GOD. The meaning of this vision and its attached oracle are of a more solemn nature than any of Amos’ other visions and messages. In fact, it is terrifying, both in its significance, and, in its delivery.

In verses 3-4 we see presented, a heart-wrenching irony of a celebrating church, singing songs of happiness, no doubt, with empty worship and praise, while just outside its doors, the poor and needy beg desperately for its help. Here the joyful songs generally associated with the harvest time are turned into dirges (funeral songs) and wailing, as this prophesy comes to fruition. GOD is no longer willing to delay HIS punishment upon northern Israel.

Because the poor of a nation are socially without power, it is much easier to defraud them than to defraud those who have. Even in today’s society it is very typical to find that food and other needed commodities are priced, comparatively, much higher in the low-income areas of our cities and towns, than they are in the more affluent suburban areas.

Here in verses 5-6 of this passage, the LORD says, that, one of the guilty counts against Israel was that she “profited off of the poor in immoral ways”, such as using “dishonest scales” to obtain false weights and measures. Dishonest merchants would also mix the wheat they sold to the poor, with the chaff that was swept from the threshing floor, and, to add insult to injury, they would enslave those who couldn’t pay their bills, which sometimes only amounted in value to a piece of silver, or even, a pair of sandals.

In verses 7-10 the LORD swears by HIS OWN name, that, “I will never forget the wicked things you have done! The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn. The land will rise up like the Nile at flood time, toss about, and sink again. At that time, says the Sovereign LORD, I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth while it is still day. I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning, and your songs of joy will be as if your only son had died. How bitter that day will be!” (NLT).

These metaphorical words depict a devastating scene, of a people, who would soon be thrown into panic and dismay, because of their immoral, ungodly “horizontal relationship” with each other, here on earth, and their absence of a true “vertical relationship” with GOD in Heaven. It was now too late to change, or delay GOD’s judgment which had been fixed by a long history of sin and disobedience to HIM. And to make things worse, GOD says, in verses 11-12, that HE will remove HIS Word from the land. There would be no more reading, teaching, or preaching of HIS Word anywhere, even though some people, through the hunger pains of death, would be searching for it, too late. The implication here is that, in that time, people who procrastinated in earlier times, in favor of doing their own wills, would then be left to die for a lack of the Word of the GOD, WHOM, in former times, they chose to ignore.

In chapter 9, we see a fifth and final vision from GOD to the prophet Amos. It is the vision of GOD at the altar in the sanctuary. This seems to remind us Christians of something that we should already know, and that is, that, GOD’s judgment will always begin inside the Church house, and then, it will radiate out from there.

Here in this vision, GOD is standing by the altar. There HE tells Amos that HE will strike the tops of the temple columns so hard that its foundation will shake, and the roof will crash down on the people who are inside. Those who survived the crash would later be killed in battle, but no one who is guilty would escape punishment.

In verses 8-10, a watchful Sovereign GOD says that HE will uproot and scatter the nation of Israel, but HE will not completely destroy the whole populace. Instead, HE would sift the nation like wheat, and would leave only those that are true to the Faith (True Believers). All defiant sinners (for example, homosexuals who refuse to change their lifestyle), and all those who are indifferent towards GOD, those who say, “Nothing bad will happen to us in the end”, these are people who don’t believe there is a GOD, or satan, or heaven, or hell. They don’t realize that there is only two choices, nor do they understand that, they’ve already unwittingly chosen satan over GOD, by taking the position of being neutral, and I’m sure, to that, satan says thank you.

 The often gloomy book of Amos now ends on a somewhat abrupt and cheerful note. In verses 11-15 we see such a remarkable shift in message and tone, that some scholars even question whether or not this passage in authentic, or really belongs here. In fact, it is even seen by some as a postscript from a later period in Jewish history. However, the promise of GOD’s ultimate restoration of HIS people is one that is universally agreed upon throughout all the annals of biblical history, and so it stands to reason that this promise from the LORD also fits perfectly as an end to this prophecy.

In this book of Amos, a verdict has been read, and it has been preserved to warn readers of every generation since, of the dangers of pursuing ungodly paths to prosperity, that ultimately always leads to disaster. 

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

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 21, 2013

____________________________________________________________

CAN I GET A WITNESS

(Being a witness to the Gospel of CHRIST through our behavior)

Amos 7

Throughout biblical history GOD has used spiritual visions through HIS prophets, as both, an encouragement to HIS people, and, also as an indication of their moral deficiencies. The prophet Amos’s ministry is centered, in particular, on the streets outside the luxurious homes of the rich and famous in northern Israel, whom, GOD called him to condemn.

Inside those homes the residents reclined on their ivory laden beds and couches feasting on meat and exotic wines while listening to and singing the latest popular secular (idle) music, from artist who, talent-wise, often compared themselves to King David (Amos 6:4-6). In Amos chapters 3-6, we saw the prophet listing a myriad of reasons why GOD must punish HIS wayward people. Among those reasons were pride, social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and economic disparity.

Here in chapter 7, Israel has already been charged and found guilty by GOD for their falling away, and their covenant violations. In this passage, Amos begins to relate to us, a series of five visions that he received from GOD. These visions foretell the results of a coming judgment from the LORD. We see here in chapter 7, the revelation of the first three visions, with the final two being revealed in chapters 8-9.  

The first vision is that of a vast swarm of locust that cast a dark cloud over the land and began devouring all of the green vegetation. The “locust” was a well-known instrument of punishment used by GOD in Old Testament times, and whenever this type of punishment was handed down, the people could expect that it would be followed by famine and sickness also.

Amos says that this would occur after the king’s share had been harvested, and just as the main crop was blooming (v.1). The first crop in Israel was taken by King Jeroboam to feed his vast army and its animals that were used in war, and so, the remainder of the people would have to wait a whole year for food, an impossible undertaking for mere humans and animal life.

After seeing this first vision, Amos prayed a “prayer of intercession” for the people of northern Israel, that, GOD would relent from HIS anger against them. Amos knew that no one could survive such a devastating blow. And so, because of Amos’ earnest petition, the LORD decided not to fulfill the first vision (Vs. 2-3).

The second vision that the LORD showed Amos was one of HIM preparing a great fire. It was a fire that had already burned up the depths of the sea and all of the land. Again Amos interceded in prayer for Israel, and again, GOD postponed HIS punishment upon the people (Vs.4-6). And even though the prayers of the righteous does prevail most of time, eventually, those who are interceded for must at some point began to “line up” and turn their lives towards GOD. If we can glean anything from Scripture, surely we’ve learned that there is a limit to how long GOD will put up with our foolishness before HE will exact punishment upon us, and, on the land where we stand.

The “Plumb Line” was a basic and simple tool used in building and construction in biblical times. It consisted of a small “weight” that was tied to the end of a cord or string. It was held up against a wall to detect its vertical “trueness”. We can liken GOD’s test or measurement of our morally to the use of this instrument in construction. GOD wants us to see how “true” we are in regards to our “vertical relationship” with HIM.

In verses 7-9 we see the third vision of Amos. It is a vision of a “Plumb Line” test. In this vision Amos sees the LORD standing by a wall that has been built using a Plumb Line. GOD is holding the Plumb Line against the wall to check its vertical straightness. The LORD then asked Amos what did he see, and he replied, “A Plumb Line”. Then the LORD said to Amos, “I will test MY people with this Plumb Line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. The pagan shrines of your ancestors and the temples of Israel will be destroyed, and I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end”.

Apparently, when the LORD administered this Plumb Line test, the people failed miserably. In fact, they were shown to be quite far off in their “vertical relationship” with GOD. And so the whole construction of their “perverted horizontal relationship” with paganism and immorality had to be torn down so Israel could be “rebuilt”, or “restored” into a “right relationship” with GOD.  

In verses 10-17, an idolatrous priest in Bethel, by the name of Amaziah is told about the visions and prophesies of Amos. He hurriedly gets a message to King Jeroboam informing him of the dim forecast for himself and for northern Israel. Amaziah, perceiving the visions to be a plot against the king, sent orders to Amos, commanding him to leave and go back to Judah and preach his message there. However, Amos spoke boldly to Amaziah telling him that he was not one of his “paid prophets”, nor was he ever “trained” to be one. He went on to tell the misinformed priest that he was just a shepherd who also took care of fig trees. The LORD called him away from his earthly duties so that he might attend to and obey the divine commands of GOD.

Even here in the twenty-first century our churches are filled with preachers and church leaders whose only desire is to kiss up to the pastors they sit under, while ignoring the Word of GOD altogether. In verse 13 we see the phrase “the king’s sanctuary”. This phrase reveals the heart and allegiance of the chief priest, Amaziah, to the king, Jeroboam, and not to GOD.

In our modern Christian Churches, with all the money being made and offered to pastor’s, assistants, and other church workers, it becomes easy to become confused as to where one’s allegiance should lie, and oftentimes, we let our loyalty to an “ungodly”, or, “out-of-focused” pastor pull us out of the will of GOD also. The danger always exists, that, in our zeal to please and protect our “human leaders”, we lose track of the fact that our ultimate loyalty must be to JESUS CHRIST, the HEAD of the Church, and not towards man (Psalm 118:8). We don’t want to follow, nor let any man lead us to Hell, by reason of our desire to obtain or maintain a position in the Church, nor, for how much of Caesar’s money it pays.

It is absolutely critical that all church leaders have a personal, experiential relationship with CHRIST, the HEAD of the church, so that they will be able to help each other when one is leaning towards going astray, or is in error of Scripture and needs correcting.

When we align our thinking with CHRIST and GOD’s Word, we will automatically, be able to detect that which is right, from that which is wrong, even though, as humans, we will still error from time to time. But remember, it is just as much ungodly to let the errors of a pastor or other Church leader go unchecked, as it is to intentionally commit the error yourself. After all, we are our brother’s keeper, and no man, is right all the time. Everyone in the Church needs to be undergirded.

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

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 14, 2013

____________________________________________________________

COURT IS IN SESSION

(Empty worship doesn’t please GOD)

Amos 5:1- 6:14

In the book of Amos, chapters 5:1 - 6:14, we find the third, fourth, and fifth messages of the prophet Amos, who prophesied in the eighth century along with Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. In the opening words of chapter 5, verses 1-2, we see a “dirge” or “funeral song” that was probably designed by GOD to provoke a great lament from the wayward children of Israel because of their sins. Here the stench of death seems to cast a pall over Israel as it moves ever closer to destruction at the hands of the Assyrians in 722 B.C.

In verse 3 one can sense that the blessings of GOD to “increase the offspring”, which, had been promised to Abraham (blessings that could only be experienced by an obedient generation), has now been temporarily interrupted by the sins of a disobedient generation. Instead of having a tenfold increase, they will experience a tenfold decrease.

Israel is told not to “seek” GOD within their defiled houses of worship, but rather they should look to find HIM among the poor and oppressed. Here the Hebrew word used for “seek” is “daras” and it means “to turn to GOD in trust and confidence”. If we are to continue to mix the holy with the profane in our places of worship, i.e. in our music and other unGODly church activities, we can expect to do it without the presence of GOD. Here in verses 4-5, GOD says, if we really want to respond to HIM, we can find HIM among the poor, and the oppressed, and the way to express our faith in HIM, is by standing against oppression, or being “just” in all of our ways at all times.   

In verses 10-13, we see a continued denunciation, by GOD, through the prophet Amos, of the legal injustice that was being perpetrated by the “Dayyaneh Gezeloths” (Robber Judges) who sold their court decisions to the highest bidder in those days. Here GOD also rebukes the Government workers, who overtaxed the poor, and the landlords, who overcharged the poor for rent in sub-par housing while all the time claiming to be children, or followers of GOD.

In verses 14-15, we see that the possibility still exists for the people of Israel to separate themselves from these evil practices, as GOD urges them to repent, and begin to do that which is good and just, and flee from evil. In verses 16-17, Amos concludes his third message of this prophesy, by returning to his opening plea, and reminding Israel of the severe death penalty involved, if they failed to heed GOD’s warnings.

In the Greek, the word used to describe those involved in religious pretense and public show is “hupokrites” (hoop-ok-ree-tace). It is from that word that we derive our English word “hypocrite”. In verses 21-24, Amos reminds the Israelites of yet another of their fatal flaws. It was their tendency to live in “religious hypocrisy”. GOD’s anger is always directed largely at those involved in “religious hypocrisy”. It was then, and it still is today. It is a kind of “empty worship” that GOD simply will not tolerate, especially from the church leaders. Here GOD gives a stern warning to those involved in religious hypocrisy. HE makes it quite clear that HE detests their showing off in public and then living an unGODly life in private. HE will not accept their tithes or offerings, and their hymns of praise are only noise to HIS ears, and so, HE will not listen to them. GOD tells us, that, instead, HE wants to see “a mighty stream of justice”, flowing from among us, and “a river of righteous living” that will never run dry (v.23-24).

In Amos chapter 6, verses 1-14, we find the prophet’s fifth and final message. It is a message and chapter that is totally dedicated as a warning to the rich and powerful, who wield power in Israel, by way of their worldly success and prosperity. Those who have become prideful and complacent in their own luxury will suffer the same fate as the powerful surrounding nations whom they strive to imitate. Their “pride” will be crushed into “humility” by an enemy that GOD would raise up against them (Assyria), and there will be no safe place of refuge that can be obtained by their wealth. In fact, GOD says they will be the first to feel the effects of HIS wrath (v.7). 

Riches are not intrinsically evil, but, too often, wealth promotes self-indulgence and makes us indifferent towards others. Remember, no one ever saw the dangers of prosperity and material things as clearly as JESUS did (Mark 10:17-31), and that is why, the more we gain in life, the more we need GOD, and not, the opposite.

When the Israelites were poor, they were humble and full of worship. However, the fuller their pockets became, the emptier their worship became. To go with everything in life, we need GOD, and with wealth and prosperity we need HIM all the more.  It is very possible to be wealthy and also have a heart for GOD, but history tells us that most people refuse to pursue both, and indeed, most choose “empty worship and prosperity”, over GOD.

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

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 7, 2013

____________________________________________________________

VALUE ALL HUMAN LIFE

(Building a community that values all human life)

Genesis 1:26-31, Exodus 1:15-17, Psalm 139:13-16 & Matthew 18:2-6

The life of CHRIST is the embodiment of the statement that, “We must live like GOD, in order to reveal GOD to others, here on this earth”. In Genesis chapter 1, we learn how, from day one, GOD uses “divisions” and “distinctions” in order to fulfill HIS divine purpose for the world.

For example, on day one, GOD separated the “light” from the “darkness”. On day two, HE separated the “celestial waters” of the heavens above, from the “terrestrial waters” of the earth beneath. On the third day, GOD separated the “land” from the “seas”. On the fourth day, GOD further distinguished the night from the day, by appointing the sun to preside over the daylight hours, and the moon and stars to govern the night.

On the fifth day, GOD distinguished between the animal life HE created for the water (fish), and, the animal life HE created for the air (birds). And finally, on the sixth day, we see GOD making HIS greatest distinction of all. On this day, GOD even makes a distinction in HIS creation method. Here we see that, after GOD had created, all manner of livestock and wildlife, which were to dwell on dry land, in dramatic fashion, HE changed HIS creation method when HE created man.

Instead of speaking man into existence, or just forming him from the dust of the earth and leaving him without spirit, as HE had done with all of HIS other animal creation, HE decided that after HE fashioned man from the dust of the earth, HE would then make him in HIS OWN spiritual image by breathing into him, HIS breath of the spirit of life, embodying him with “HIS OWN nature”. This is what Scripture means when it says we are “made in the image of GOD”. It is a “spiritual image”, not a physical one. JESUS says GOD is SPIRIT (John 4:24) and therefore GOD does not have a physical image for us to look like. GOD made us in HIS image, sharing with us, HIS communicable spiritual attributes, which are “HIS nature”. And after we failed to take advantage of HIS wonderful gift, trading it in for satan’s “sin nature”, GOD then sent JESUS to us, “in human form” (Romans 8:1-4), to save us from ourselves. GOD’s nature consists of seven “Communicable Attributes”. Those attributes make human life the most valuable of all GOD’s creation, and they include;

·         Life

·         Personality

·         Wisdom

·         Love

·         Justice

·         Truth  

·         Holiness

These communicable attributes provide us with the spiritual capacity we need, in order for us to fellowship with, and worship GOD. They are also the qualities we need in order for us to reflect HIS image to others, in the same way that the coming CHRIST would do. These attributes also equip us with the capacity to care for ourselves and GOD’s other creation, similarly to the way GOD cares for us.

GOD blessed us and instructed us to multiply ourselves, through the miracle of the wonderful reproductive system that HE has also provided us with, and, we were to subdue all of HIS other creation, and maintain the responsibility of dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). And so we are to produce and be responsible for maintaining all human life, not kill and destroy it through murder, abortion, etc. To destroy human life is to destroy that which is made in the image of GOD.

In Psalm 139, verses 13-18, King David ponders aloud on GOD’s breathe-taking, life-giving power to create the human existence, and then, allow it to be procreated and duplicated, through the miracle of childbirth. In addition to that, GOD already has each life planned out in intricate detail, minute by minute, even before we are conceived in the womb. And, through GOD’s wonderful abounding grace and love, HE remains with us, and sustains us all through the life HE has given us, from the beginning, to the end. That’s how important human life is to GOD.

In Exodus 1:15-17 we see the Pharaoh of Egypt issuing a decree to the Hebrew midwives to kill all the Hebrew male children at the time of birth in order to control or stop the population growth of the captive Jews. But because the Hebrew midwives feared GOD more than they feared man, they did not buckle under to the order of the Pharaoh. That is the same kind of attitude that we here in the twenty-first must share. We must have a GOD-fearing respect for human life, because that’s what GOD expects from us.

If we are to be like CHRIST we must value all human life, but in a special way, we must value the lives of our children, who are the weakest and most dependent of our society. In Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 18:2-6, and Luke 9:46-48 JESUS likens “humility” and “faith” to the “innocence of a child”. If we are to be pronounced by GOD as “innocent of sin” in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must first acquire “the humility and faith of a child” here on earth. Like JESUS, we too must develop a certain kind of “goodness” in our hearts, through faith and humility, and, through our personal earthly relationship with GOD in Heaven. I’m talking about the kind of good that can meet the gaze of a little child’s eyes, and can withstand the test of a child’s simplicity. And JESUS says that, unless we can bring ourselves to do that (turn from our sins, and become like little children), we can’t possibly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven at all (Matthew 18:3).

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