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Good Day – I pray 2020 will be a time for us all to more clearly see God. Thank you for the many who support our work to teach the Bible and to help children have food each day.
The Bible lessons you’ll receive this year are designed to help you more clearly see God’s entire story of creation, redemption, salvation and new creation. In addition to a teaching on a Bible passage, you will have a suggested Bible reading. I hope you will take about 15 minutes each day to read and take a moment or two to meditate on the entire Scripture. See, hear and listen for the Lord’s Word on your heart. Rejoice in his revelation. The Light into the World Read Genesis 1 Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. WHERE’S a better place see God than at the beginning of time as we know it? Genesis is the Beginning, a time for “new”. Here is the moment when God began to form the world with his marvelous creativity. Out of a shapeless, colorless void, he created the wondrous variety of plant, remarkable diversity of animal life, vibrant colors and spectacular landscapes we enjoy today. And what is the foundational element of all God’s beauty? It is light. Light lets us see. Light is the symbol of awakening. It is the sign of a new day. Light reveals the truth of all things. No one hides in a lighted place. Think of it. What happens when you shine light into a darkened room? The light goes into the room. The dark never comes out. The light will show you if it is safe to go into the room or not. The light displays true reality. When you see it is safely walk, you will enter. God shined his light into the formless void, and his light changed everything. When we understand that our Creator God is the Light Giver, we will clearly see the truth. And we will see how safe it is to be with our heavenly Creator. Moment to Meditate: Look around you today. How do you see God’s light shining into your life? Isaiah 62:5 As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
& Ephesians 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. IN creation’s perfection, God established a true loving, intimate relationship between a man and woman, recorded in Genesis 2:22-25: Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. In the first creation, this holy marriage is given to mankind to be the image of God’s desired relationship with each of us. This is also God’s will for the new creation. As a Christian, born to a new life in Christ Jesus, the triune God sees us as his bride – perfectly, beautifully adorned for a glorious relationship with Him. We are purely connected to the Father in the broken bones of Jesus’ body and his blood poured out for us. Our role as the individual and collective church, then, is to be as a faithful bride. The Bible records the many ways of love, its benefits and its purposes. To love God and to love others is to release your own will to dutiful submission to the Lord. This becomes a joyful work as we display God’s love into the world divorced from the Father’s pure bond. Called to Christ, this is your new purpose. Seek an intimate love relationship with the Holy God. Submit to the Lord’s will for your life. Live in his radiant relationship with you now and forever. Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the beautiful, intimate image of marriage you give to our relationship with you. I pray for Christian marriages to honor and bless you. I pray for each of us as your church to be a faithful Bride of Christ. Amen. The New Look
Isaiah 62:3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. & Luke 21:27-28 “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” “STAND up and lift up your heads,” says the Lord Jesus Christ. He is Messiah to come in power on God’s holy throne. “Redemption is drawing near!” Yes, Christian, the world will know your King, His city and His church. Saved in Jesus’ blood, your will wear a royal diadem – a crown – of love, peace, grace, mercy and forgiveness. His glorious wonder on you and over you will declare to the world, “I belong to the LORD God.” No one will oppose or accuse your eternal new look. You are righteous before God. Praise God sin’s shame is gone! With unblemished faith, your purity will be eternally lifted face-t0-face before the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. In his sovereign grace, you have ascended to God’s holy throne to reign with him forever. Revelation 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Know this: Christ Jesus has taken the bitter crown of thorns to give you a sweet crown of glory. Prayer: I am yours, Jesus, saved in your gracious blood, cleansed with your power to forgive and resurrect. Thank you for the crown of life. Amen. Isaiah 62:2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
& Luke 24:47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. THE Bible often speaks of a name’s importance. In Jacob’s story from Genesis, for example, each of his 12 sons was named with particular meaning. Also, in his early life “Jacob” meant “deceiver”, and that marked his character. But then God gave him a new name: Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” The new name was a sign of Jacob’s new life under God’s covenant promise to save the world. In that promise, the Father sent his Son to overcome sin. “Jesus” means “savior”: Luke 1:31b “you are to give him the name Jesus.” It is important to note that as fathers normally named their sons, God, the Father, named Israel and Jesus to direct our words to his salvation. Isaiah says there will be a new name for Jerusalem. Why would that be? Jerusalem was named to be the city of peace. Is there something more? Look in Isaiah 62:4 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (“My delight is in her.”) and your land Beulah (Married one); for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. Jerusalem was seen as weak and desolate for many centuries before Jesus came. The city named for peace had no peace. Even today “Jerusalem” causes us to think of conflict. Walls separate people and religions. Divisive theologies, idol worship and false teaching cause spiritual conflict in Jerusalem today. God, though, will redeem the name of Jerusalem. As forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, one day the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, (will come) down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:2-3) Through Isaiah, Jesus and John, God promises the very character of Jerusalem and of the world will completely reflect God’s righteousness. What’s your name? As we are named “Christian” be aware of who you are. “Christian” says, “I am of Christ.” Be alert to know you are intimately related to Jesus. Display who he is. Prayer: Thank you, God Almighty for giving me a new name in your salvation. I pray I honor who I am in you. Amen. Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
& Luke 19:39-40 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” GOD the Father speaks in Isaiah with an unrelenting purpose. For Zion’s and Jerusalem’s sake, for the salvation of his chosen people, he will speak his righteous truth to them and to the world. No force will stop the Father calling his people home to his kingdom. The Father is so determined to his purpose, he even promises and then sends his Son into the enemy’s stronghold. There will be no silent, holy night until the King of Kings reigns. Any attempts to silence God will be thwarted “as the stones will cry out.”. Indeed, “Let heaven and nature sing” (from Joy to the World) because the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; to declare God’s salvation has come to earth. (Psalms 24:1) God certainly continues to be an unrelenting voice to his world. Throughout the Old Testament, into the New and now to today’s world, a Satan-led world has loudly attempted to silence God. “Scholars” and “experts” try to turn our faith into dust as they discredit the Bible. Godless leaders of nations and other religions silence, imprison, torture and kill God’s people who speak his truth. Even many who say they are Christians attempt to silence God’s truth. Yet, the voices continue to cry out, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) How’s your voice? Does the gracious, unrelenting God cause you to cry out with love and justice? Are you “singing” the songs of his salvation and peace above a discordant world? Some people say, “I have a quiet faith.” Where does God instruct us to be quiet about him? Prayer: Lord God, thank you the constant sounds of your salvation. I pray your church will “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” (Psalm 96:2) Amen. Isaiah 61:11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
& Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. WE long to return to the Garden into God’s presence. Sin cast us out: Genesis 3:23 So the Lord God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which they had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. The Garden was life, the place of God’s holy presence. Unholy man could no longer live in unity and peace with the righteous God. Thankfully, though, our LORD God grows his greatest victories from the most devastating defeats. We begin to see God’s victory strategy in his New Garden plan to Abraham: Genesis 17:8 “The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” God graciously chooses to form a people who will dwell with him again. He then purposefully commands Israel to this land in Exodus. They arrive in Joshua. But as history tells us, Israel rejected the Lord’s presence, purpose and commands. Still God persisted to fulfill his promise. He proclaimed through Isaiah and others the day of renewal. As natural and powerful as the seed coming from the ground, the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Jesus then came to describe the Kingdom of God with a Garden illustration. The Word of God planted in faithful hearts would produce life. Then Jesus gave life to his illustration. As a seed from the ground bursting forth with life, the Christ came into the Resurrection Garden! From that single day, the first faithful disciples began to follow God with a noble and good heart. In the rich soil of their love for Jesus, they would hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. The plantings continue to this day. Good Gardeners plant vibrant seed in life-giving soil, and the Holy Spirit grows a faithful church to know and obey God’s commands. By his grace, God will one day fulfill his purpose to welcome his own into his eternal Garden. Revelation 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. How is your gardening? Are you following God’s commands to plant, so his Spirit will grow the church? Do you expect a harvest? Prayer: Lord, look with compassion on all our ruins; make our hearts like Eden, like the garden of the Lord. May joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the sound of singing be found in your church. Amen (from Isaiah 51:3) Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” ADVENT – it is the time of waiting, anticipating the Christ to come. We are now in the Second Advent of the Christ. His word promises: Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In response to God’s promise, in the final seven advent lessons we will look at the “new promises” from Isaiah that are restated in the New Testament. Through Isaiah, God promised the Messiah would come to earth not just once, but twice. What do you wear to worship? It used to be the phrase “Sunday best” in America meant you were wearing your best clothes. That phrase has become obsolete, turned to “Sunday casual”. Perhaps that is one reason the church in the U.S. has generally become casual about Jesus. Maybe our outer dress is of little consequence. After all, it’s what we wear on our heart isn’t it? But would it be more appropriate for our clothes to reflect the garments God bestows upon our hearts? How gracious is your God to dress you in new clothes! He removes your sin-filthy rags (See Zechariah 3.) to clothe you with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness. Saved in Jesus, you are as a bridegroom, lavishly dressed. Head to foot God’s holiness marks you as his. The jewels of God’s Spirit brighten your countenance. You are as a bride in a husband’s loving, devoted eyes. Yes, in Christ, you are dressed in the best. The first apostles certainly new this. Refined, made new in their hearts, they quickly showed the world they were clothed with power from on high. Clothed with salvation on their lips and healing in their hands, the apostles began to clothe the world with Jesus’ life-giving blood. Garments of praise and robes of righteousness became the needed fashion to transform a pagan world. Do you know what you are wearing? Are you aware God has so lavishly dressed you? What would happen if “Sunday best” became your “Daily Best”? How would your life change if you dressed in God’s gracious love and righteousness each day? Would people see your garments of praise in the way you live? Would they know God covers you with his power? Would you know it? Prayer: LORD God, I thank you for the new clothes of my salvation. Keep my heart and mind diligent o dress in you each day, so the world will see your garment of praise covers my life. May I always be particular about the way I dress my heart for you. Amen. Isaiah 61:2b-3 and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
& Luke 3:16-18 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. AS Advent is a season to celebrate the Lord Jesus come to earth, it is also a time to anticipate – and celebrate – Christ’s second advent. In our previous lesson we included the first part of Isaiah 61:2 and the second part in this lesson. Now let’s see the full verse: Isaiah 61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn. In essence, Jesus divided the verse. As he announced his ministry in Luke 4:18-19, Jesus stopped at “the Lord’s favor”. He did not read, “he day of vengeance of our God.” This is because Jesus first came to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10b). He will then come a second time to judge the world: John 5:27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. In God’s favor, the gospel has been declared. Today the ministry of God’s Word covers the earth. Jesus’ first advent has made the way of salvation. Many believe. And many do not. His winnowing fork will clear the chaff from the seed. Jesus will judge the unbelievers into Hell. Believers are welcomed into the new Jerusalem. Beauty crowns their heads. Aromatic, healing oils anoint their bodies. Praise covers their souls. Joy is expressed in their worship. Despair is done. Faith firmly marks God’s church as we stand in his righteous truth. The Lord has planted his church to be oaks of righteousness to display his splendor. We thank God for the Son’s first advent to invite our sinful souls into a new life in heaven. We thank God for the Son’s second advent to welcome home all who believe. Prayer: Lord God, your favor is displayed in your very personal plan to save your own throughout the world. We anticipate with joy your coming to judge the world, so we may live eternally with you. Amen. Isaiah 61:1-2a The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
& Luke 4:18-20 (Jesus said) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” HERE is the Holy Trinity. The “Spirit” of the LORD (the Father) is upon “me” ( the Son). This is the Word made flesh (John 1) to speak God’s Word to the synagogue congregation in Nazareth. See how precisely Jesus teaches God’s Word is true. Isaiah prophesied. Jesus fulfilled it. In the triune God’s favor – his grace, love, mercy and forgiveness – the Son comes in the Father’s will under the Spirit’s power to free us from sin’s bondage. This is the gospel. Isaiah spoke the God’s coming favor. God’s favor became flesh – a living, teaching, righteous man. This is why it is now possible for such “born-again” teachings as Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-6 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Further, this is the reality of Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Jesus is God’s Favor. With a servant’s heart, hands and feet, he has come to release our souls into eternal life. How glorious is the Lord’s Favor. Praise the Lord. Prayer: We receive your Favor, Lord. His name is Jesus. We confess he has fulfilled Scripture’s salvation promise. Amen. Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
& Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”… 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. WE shift briefly from Luke to see how Matthew also affirms Isaiah’s Messiah prophecies. This is a clear image of light, isn’t it? The star viewed in the eastern regions of the Middle East pointed to a light that had come over Judea. Why was this special? After all, one could say there are many bright “stars” at different times in the heavens. However, isn’t it possible to understand God created a special light to literally fulfill Isaiah’s words? After all, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3). Surely, with a word he could have placed a bright light in the Judean sky to urge the world to the King. Yes, Glory be to God. The Bethlehem Star is a physical revelation of God’s plan to save the world. One day Jesus would personify the light as he declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Both the star in the sky and the Lord on the earth proclaimed it is time for mankind to rise – to stand – and to seek the Lord’s glory that rises upon you. In response, people of all nations are coming to see the Christ, the supernatural Light, who overcomes and dismisses sin’s darkness. Throughout the globe and across generations, God declares his salvation plan is being fulfilled: Ephesians 5:8-9 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth). This is God’s gracious, loving blessing of salvation come to mankind. With joy the Magi discovered and worshiped the Christ; I pray you are as they. See the Light. Go to the Light. Worship the Light. Prayer: Holy God, you set before us the Light of the World. May we daily worship him with joy and thanksgiving. Amen. |
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November 2024
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