This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Feast Of The Tabernacle. The Lord's Return", 2/28/2016

THE FEAST OF THE TABENACLES, THE LORD'S RETURN

Leviticus 23:33-43

In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate

seven feasts. Each of the seven feasts are fulfilled in the events of Jesus in the

total redemption of mankind. At the time God gave instructions for the feasts,

they were the foreshadow of the work of Jesus. They all have prophetic

significance. Four of the prophecies have been fulfilled.  They were commanded

by God in the order in which they would be fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

THE SEVEN FEASTS

The seven Feasts are as follows:

     1. The Passover (Lev 23:5)

         a. The blood of a lamb was placed on the door posts of the homes of

             Israelites before they were released from slavery in Egypt.

         b. The death angel passed over Israelites and killed the first born

             of all Egyptians.

         b. Jesus was crucified for our sins. He is our passover.

   2. Unleaven Bread (Lev 23:6)

        a. Represents Jesus sinless life.

        b. Leaven represents sin. A little leaven in dough if allowed to set will

            will spread through out the whole dough.

        c. Likewise, a little sin corrupts our whole body.

   3. First Fruits (Lev 23:10).

      a. Represents the resurrection of Jesus.

      b. Jesus is the first born of the dead.

   4. Pentecost  (Lev 23:16).

      a. Celebrated fifty days after the resurrection of Christ.

      b. Represents the giving of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church

   5. Trumpets (Lev 23:4)

      a.  The Rapture of the Church  1 Thes 4:13-18

      b. The day when Christ come back for all believers.

  6. Day of Atonement.

      a. The actual day when all sins are forgiven in Jesus Christ.   Rom 11:1-6

      b. When the Jewish remnant will repent of their sins.  Zechariah 12:10

  7. Feast of the Tabernacles or Booths  Lev 23:34

      a. A reminder to the Jews of their living in tents during the 40 years in

        the desert.

      b.  A reminder of the New Heaven when all believers will dwell with Christ.

THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLE

V:33-36. " The Lord said to Moses, 34 "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present offerings made to the Lord by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work."

A. It is the Lord's design that we remember and are constantly mindful of what the Lord

    Jesus has done for us.

   1. His work didn't start on the cross but in Heaven before the foundation of the earth.

   2. After Adam was created in perfect fellowship with the Father. he disobeyed God's

       command  and cast all mankind into sin.

   3. Adam's sin separated him from God.

B. Jesus Christ  is the bridge that reestablishes our relation with the Father.

   1. All of the festivals required by the Father, are a reminder of the love God

      has for us.

   2. The required festivals are a reminder of what Jesus has done, is doing and will do

       to redeem us from our sinful state into perfect fellowship with the Father.

C. The timing of each  festival is set by God the Father.

    1. Three numbers are represented in these verses; 15, 7 and 8.

    2. Man became increasingly sinful over time.

       a. God did not send His Son to redeem man until thousands of years later.

       b. This Festival was commanded to began on fifteenth day of the seventh month

            of the Jewish calendar year.

      c. We are not told  the  significance of the numbers .

          We do know that every thing that God does is an example for us to follow.

          2 Peter 2:6,  John 13:15

      d. I can only suggest that the number 15  represents the  tolerance of the Lord.

      e. Fifteen may represent the significant numbers that came out of Egypt

          i. The 12 tribes of Israel plus the Holy Trinity

          ii. The 12 tribes of Israel plus the Word, The Priest and Moses the Shepherd.

     3. Seven is the number of completion or perfection

          Our salvation is perfected in Jesus.

     4. Eight represents a new beginning.

          a. The celebrations started on a Sabbath and concluded on a Sabbath.

          b. The celebration started at the beginning of one week and concluded

              at the beginning of another week.

          c. The Israelites were commanded to do no work on the Sabbath days.

THE ASSEMBLE OF GOD'S PEOPLE

V: 37 ("'These are the Lord's appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the Lord by fire — the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day."

A. The whole congregation of Israelites were commanded to celebrated the festivals

     together.

    1. The Israelites were commanded to make daily offering during the six

        day prior to the Sabbath.

    2. The burnt offering represented the complete surrender of the people to the Lord.

         a. The animal offered for sacrifice was completely consumed by fire.

    3. The grain offering represented the Body of Christ, and His provisions.

    4. The drink offering represented purification of  the blood of Jesus.

B. The sacrifice could represent the sacrifice of the Son by the Father for our

     sins.

SEPERATE OFFERINGS FOR THE FESTIVALS

 V:38. " These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.) "

A. The Festival sacrifices were not to be mixed with other required sacrifices to the Lord.

    1. The Festival sacrifices were in addition to all the other sacrifices.

    2. We have to trust that God will make available to us all the resources to make His

        required sacrifices.

    3. When we follow God commands our faith will be strengthen.

B. We have to learn to trust God with all that we have.

    1. All that we have came from God.

    2. All that we have will return to God.

GOD SET THE DATES FOR THE FESTIVALS

V:39  "So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. "

A. Notice, God does not command Israel to give to Him what He has not provided to

     them.

   1. Jesus put an end to all these sacrifices with His death on the cross.

   2. We are commanded to bring God a tithe and an offering into the Church.

B. We are commanded to use what God has blessed us with for the building of His

     kingdom.

   1. We are commanded to show compassion and love to those in need.

   2. God expects each of us to serve in the ministry of the Gospel.

THE ORDER DOING THE FESTIVALS

V:40-41 " On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month."

A. God commanded the Israelites to cut branches from trees and use them to make

     tents or booth to live in for seven days as a celebration of their deliverance

     from bondage in Egypt.

    1. This was to be a yearly celebration reminding them of the love of God.

    2. This was a yearly celebration reminding them of the grace of God.

    3. This was a yearly celebration reminding them of the mercy of God.

    4. This was a yearly celebration reminding them of the provisions of God.

    5. This was a yearly celebration reminding them of the protection of God.

B. This celebration was instituted as a permanent yearly celebration for

     all Israelites for all times.

   1. Our communion is a permanent celebration remembering the death and

       resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

   2.  Jesus said as often as you serve the communion, do it in remembrance of Me.

THE BOOTHS, A REMINDER OF THE DESERT EXPERIENCE

V:42-43".  Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

A. It is up to us to teach our children to honor the Lord with their service and income.

    1. We must teach the Word of God to our children for them to know God.

    2. The Word of God is their foundation for successful living.

B. We must practice the Word of God before our Children

    1. Our children learn by what we put emphases on.

    2. If we fail to teach our children to honor God, the world will teach them

        to honor Satan.

C. The Feast of the Tabernacle represented their desert experience.

    1. We all have had a desert experience.

    2. This reminds us that God can take care of you in the desert.

    3. It does not matter how long you been in the desert, God is able to

        see you through the desert.

   4. Anyone who don't know Christ is in the desert.

       a. The desert is a place without hope.

       b. The desert is a place without peace.

       c. The desert is a place without joy.

       d. The desert is a place of frustrations.

       e. The desert is a place of ruin.

       f. The desert is a place of haters.

   5. People perish in the desert.

     a. The good news is you don't have to stay in the desert.

     b. Jesus Christ is our way out of the desert.

WE SHOULD CONSTANTLY CELEBRATE WHAT LORD HAS DONE FOR US.

Rev. M. Mitchell

 Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Atonement, What Jeus Did For You", 2/21/2016

ATONEMENT, WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU

Leviticus 16:11-19

After the Israelites were set free from Egypt, God gave Moses specific instructions for

a portable Tabernacle for worship and sacrifice. The Tabernacle represented the presence

of God while they wondered in the desert for forty years. The articles in the Tabernacle

represented Jesus Christ.

THE SCAPEGOAT

Leviticus 16:7-10

7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

8 He is to cast lots for the two goats — one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.

9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering.

10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.

THE MISSION OF CHRIST

The scapegoat represents the mission of Jesus. He stepped down out of heaven to take

away the sins of the world. The sins of man are transferred to Jesus and taken out of the

the camp,  the body of Christ. The priest would place his hand on the goat, lead it out of the camp and push it backward over cliff to it's death. In Christ,  man dies to himself and is made alive in Christ.

The tabernacle consisted of a large rectangular  area fenced off with a entry gate facing east.  In side  the court yard from east to west was first a bronze Altar where the priest sacrificed the animals, followed by a bronze laver holding water for washing  followed by the Tabernacle tent.

    1.  The bronze altar was a symbol of the cross

         a. Life is in the blood.   Lev 17:11

         b. Unblemished animals were sacrificed on the bronze altar.

    2. The bronze laver or basin was fill with water for washing.

        a. Washing was a symbol of the purity of man.

        b. Believers are washed clean by the blood of Jesus.

The Tabernacle tent was  wood framed covered with animal skin.. The tent comprised

of two rooms from east to west separated by a veil from floor to ceiling. The first room

was the Holy place. In the Holy Place was a the lamp stand of seven lights, the table of

showbread and the Altar of Incense.

   1. The lamp stand was the light for the room

        a. Jesus is the light of the world.

        b. Jesus is a lamp to our feet.

   2. The table of showbread held 12 loves of bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel

        a. Jesus is the bread of life

       b. The bread could also represent His bruised body.

       c. The twelve tribes were camped around the Tabernacle.

   3.  The Altar of Incense  was a symbol of our prayers.

        a. The burning Incense was symbol of our prayers going up as a sweet fragrance to

            the Lord.

GOD'S SHEKINAH GLORY

The inner most room was the Holy of Holies which housed the Arc of the Covenant.

Inside the arc of the covenant was the stone tablets (10 commandments), Aaron's rod

and a bowl of manner. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a

year. In the Holy of Holies the Shekinah Glory of God appeared. The mercies of God

comes to us through Jesus Christ.

MERCY SEAT

The Arc of the Covenant was covered with gold. The wings of two angels , covered

with gold, span  the entire  Arc.  The top cover of the box was the mercy seat. The

mercy seat was the place of forgiveness. Jesus is our place of forgiveness.

THREE AGES, DISPOSITIONS

The Tabernacle represented three dispositions or ages. The Court yard represented the

age of the Law. The Holy place presented the age of Grace. The Holy of Holies

represented the New Kingdom when all believers are reconciled to Christ after His

second coming.

SELF REPENTANCE AND DEDICATION

V:11 "Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain."

A. The sacrifice of the animals was done on the bronze altar in the court yard by the

      priest.

     1. The bronze altar is a symbol of the cross

     2. Jesus, the perfect lamb died on the cross for our sins for all times. Heb 10:1-10

 B. Aaron represents a type of Christ. He was the first High Priest.

     1. Because he was born in sin, before He could make an acceptable offering, he had to

         sacrifice a bull  for the atonement of his own sins.

    2. Christ is the atonement for our sins.

    3. Christ, the unblemished lamb   died for our sins.

    4. We are now all priest before God.

C. Aaron, the High Priest was the intercessor between man and God.

   1. Only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies.

   2. The Veil separated the Shekinah Glory of God from the priest who

       served in the Holy Room.

   3. Jesus is our shield before the Lord.

THE ATONEMENT

 V:13-14. " He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die. 14 He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover."

A. Aaron entered the Holy of Holies three times according to the Bible knowledge

     Commentary.

   1. The Altar of Incense was outside the veil.

       a. The Altar of Incense represents our prayers before the Lord.

   2. The first time the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, He took a pan full of

       burning  coal from the Altar, sprinkled with incense to create a smoke screen 

       between him  and the Shekinah Glory of God.

       a. To be exposed directed to God's Shekinah Glory was certain death.

       b. Sinful man cannot be exposed to the Shekinah  Glory of God.

       c. No man has seen God at any time.

 B. The second time Aaron went behind the Veil, he took the blood of the sacrificed bull

      to atone for his own sins.

      1. He sprinkled the  blood before the mercy seat seven times.

      2. Seven is the number of God's creative days.

      3. The earth was made perfect in seven days.

      4. Perhaps Aaron was commanded to sprinkle the blood, one time for each day.

      5. Man's sin corrupted God's entire creation.

      6. Man's sins are before God seven days a week.

THE ATONEMENT, THE POWER OF THE BLOOD

V:15-16. "He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness."

A. The third time Aaron entered the Holy of Holies. He brought the blood of bull

      to atone for the sins of the nation of Israel before the mercy seat.

     1. Israel was rebellious.

     2. Israel was unclean.

     3. Israel was disobedience.

     4. Through the atonement by the blood of the sacrificed animals, God tolerated Israel.

     5. Because of  Jesus blood shed on the cross, God tolerates us.

HEAVEN CORRUPTED

B. The Holy of Holies represents Heaven.

     1. Heaven was corrupted by Satan, whose name was Lucifer an Arch Angel

         before his fall.

     2. Lucifer's sin was his pride. He wanted to be God.

  3. When he sinned, some say one third of all God's angels fell with him. Heb 12:22,

       Rev 12:3-9

  4. That is why the current heaven will be destroyed after the second coming of Christ.

       God will create a New Heaven and New Earth.

  5. Aaron was instructed to make atonement for the sin that was in the Holy of Holies.

TRANSFER OF SIN TO THE SCAPEGOAT

C. In the Tent of the Meeting before  the people of Israel, the scapegoat was brought to

     the priest.

     1.He would lay hand on the head of the goat and confess the sins of Israel.

     2. Ceremonially, the sins of Israel was transferred to the scapegoat.

     3. The scapegoat was led out of the meeting to the wilderness.

     4. Some commentary writers say that a scarlet cloth was tied around the horn of

         the goat. If cloth turn from red to white while the scapegoat was led into the

         wilderness, it was  accepted by God as atonement.

     5. Others say the goat was pushed over a cliff  to kill it. (Jamieson, Fausset and

         Brown).  

HOUSE OF GOD DEDICATED

 V:17-19. " No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. 18 "Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites. "

A. Once the ceremony was complete in the Holy of Holies, Aaron was instructed

     to do the same outside of the Veil in the Holy place.

     1. Where ever man is, there is sin.

     2. Sin corrupts and makes the places where man goes unclean.

     2. Atonement had to be made in both rooms of the Tabernacle.

B. The Bronze Altar outside the Tabernacle also was  purified with the blood of

     the bull and the blood of the goat using the same procedures as was used in the

     Tabernacle.

C. The Tent  Of Meeting was called after the atonement for sins of Aaron, the people

     and The Tabernacle was completed.

    1. Consecrating ourselves before God allows us to give Him our full attention.

    2. The greatness of God is revealed in our lives when we show our love

        by keeping His commands.

    3. Jesus is our complete atonement for all times.

        a. The Israelites were commanded to perform this ceremony each year.

        b. Jesus death on the cross completed this ceremony for all times.

        c. We are command to remember Jesus sacrificial death which

            do with our communion services.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God Demands Worship With Offerings"2/13/2016

GOD DEMANDS WORSHIP WITH OFFERINGS

Leviticus 23:15-22

The Israelites were born and grew up in a pagan environment. They were forced to be obedient to a pagan kings and to worship idol gods. God released them from captivity and gave them His commands for righteous living and His commands for worship. In order for us to move from our slave mentality we must learn to honor and worship the Lord.

In every house there are rules to live by. In God's house there are rules. God gave us His rules, recorded in His Word.  Immediately after delivering His people out of Egypt. God gave them rules. The measure of success we have in this life depends upon the measure of obedience we have for God's rules.

WAVE SHEAF OFFERING

V: 15-16.  ¹⁵"You must count for yourselves seven weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day you bring the wave offering sheaf; they must be complete weeks. ¹⁶ You must count fifty days - until the day after the seventh Sabbath - and then you must present a new grain offering to the Lord"

A.    One of the things we notice in this text is the number of offerings God required of the Israelites after entering the promise land.

1.     Also, you notice the promise to Abraham being fulfill.

2.     The Israelites were delivered to the Promised Land filled with milk and honey.

3.     This is evident by the fact that the land was productive for crops and for live stock.

B.    Whatever God requires of us, He has made resources available.

1.     The Israelites at this point were still in desert, but God was giving the instructions for worship in the promise land.  Lev 23:10

2.     All the activities in our lives work to the completion of the plan God has for us.

C.    The Wave Sheaf Offering may represent the first coming of Christ.

1.     The Wave Sheaf Offering was presented by the Priest without leaven.  Verse 10

2.     Christ was without sin and the first fruits of new life from the Father.

WAVE OFFERING, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

D.    After the first harvest in the promise land, a half gallon of wheat or barley was to be presented to priest to be waved before the Lord in remembrance of the Pass over in Egypt.

1.     This was the death of the first born males of all Egyptians.

2.     This was the last plague that forced their release from captivity.

3.     This was the First Fruits of their freedom.

4.     Jesus is the First Born of the dead for us.

5.     We should mindful, thankful and grateful for death of our Lord and Savior on the cross.

NEW GRAIN (MEAT) OFFERING, THE POWER OF THE CHURCH, THE HOLY SPIRIT

E.     Fifty days after the Wave Offering, the Israelites were required to bring to the Lord a New Meat offering.

1.     The Fifty days was seven Sabbaths days plus 1 day.

2.     The Israelites were ordered to cook two loaves of bread baked with leaven.

a.      Each loaf was to consist of one half gallon of wheat, 

b.     One tenth of the two loaves were to be offered to the Lord as the first fruits.

3.     This symbolized two events in the Gospel of Christ.

a.      One of the events is the death and resurrection of Jesus.

b.     Fifty days, or the Pentecost, was the time after the Resurrection of Christ when the Holy Spirit was given to the Church.

c.      The Holy Spirit is the power behind the growth and development of the Church.      

TITHES AND OFFERING

V: 17.  ¹⁷"From the places where you live you must bring two loaves of bread for a wave offering; they must be made from two tenths of an ephah of fine wheat flour, baked with yeast, as first fruits to the Lord."

A.    A double portion of the baked bread was to be offered to the Lord as the first fruits of their produce.

1.     This could symbolize the tithe and offering we are commanded to give to the Lord.   Mal 3:8-10

2.     The Lord want us to trust Him with our finances.

B.    Those who trust and obey the Lord's command, put Him first in everything.

1.     Those who labor in the Gospel will get a double portion from the Lord.

C.    The leaven or yeast in the bread represents the sin that is still in the Church

1.     We were born in sin and shaped in iniquity.

2.     As long as we are in the flesh, sin will always be present.

THE BURNT OFFERING, TOTAL SURRENDER

 V: 18. ¹⁸"Along with the loaves of bread, you must also present seven flawless yearling lambs, one young bull, and two rams. They are to be a burnt offering to the Lord along with their grain offering and drink offerings, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord."

A.    The Priest burned the sacrificial animals completely on the altar.

1.     The animals were to be completely consumed with fire.

2.     The Burnt Offering represents the complete surrender of our lives to Jesus.

3.     God requires all believers to completely surrender themselves to Him.

4.     Jesus completely surrendered Himself on the cross for our sins.

5.     Our salvation is completely in the hands of Jesus.

B.    God does not tell us what the significant of the number of animals represent.

1.     What I do know is that every word in the Bible has meaning.

2.     Let me suggest that seven is the number of completion.

a.      There are six creation days.

b.     There is one day when the Lord rested.

3.     Let me suggest that the other three animals may represent the Holy Trinity.

a.      We are totally dependent on the Lord for everything in Life.

b.     We should give God praise and honor with our lives.

c.      We honor the Lord with out substance; that which we labored to obtain.

SIN OFFERING

 V: 19-20 ¹⁹" You must also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two yearling lambs for a peace offering sacrifice, ²⁰ and the priest is to wave them - the two lambs - along with the bread of the first fruits, as a wave offering before the Lord; they will be holy to the Lord for the priest."

A.    The sin offering is a profession of our sins and a plea for forgiveness.

1.     All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2.     Jesus is the only one who has the power to forgive sin.

3.     We are urged to offer ourselves as living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God.

PEACE OFFERING

B.    The peace offering represents the fellowship with Father established through our faith in Jesus.

1.     God's nearness and mercy is maintained by our obedience to His commands.

2.     The peace offering is a show of our gratefulness to God the Father.

3.     We only have peace with the Father through the atoning blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICE

 V: 21. ²¹"On this very day you must proclaim an assembly; it is to be a holy assembly for you. You must not do any regular work. This is a perpetual statute in all the places where you live throughout your generations."

A.    Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

1.     God designed the Sabbath to be a day of rest and reflection.

2.     When God rested on the seventh day, He reflected on His creative work and said "It is very good".

3.     God is good all the time.

4.     We must give God thanks for all He has done, all He is doing and all He will do for us.

5.     We must show our love for God by keeping His commands.

B. We are to have both private and public worship.

1.     Our private worship includes our prayers and our daily devotions to God.

2.     In public we should be living testimonies for the world to see.

3.     We should proclaim the Word of God in public places.

a.      We are the Church that world should see daily.

b.     When others se that we follow God's commands they know our love for God.

GIVING TO THE POOR

V: 22. ²²" When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God."

A.    We are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

1.     Jesus said the poor will always be with us.

2.     We have a duty and obligation to be generous to those in need.

a.      We really have to plan to provide for those in need.

b.     Generosity to others is an aspect of Christian behavior.

B.    God created this world so that there would be those in need.

1.     All of us at some point in time will be in need of something.

2.     We are commanded to leave the poor an opportunity to gain from our success.

3.     All of God's people have something to offer others.

a.      We have the Word of God.

b.     We have our time.

c.      We have our resources.

d.     The poor gives us an opportunity to be generous.

e.      The poor gives us an opportunity to show compassion.

f.       The poor gives us an opportunity to bless God with our service.

g.      We have God's promises that He will bless our giving.

WORSHIP THE LORD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH AND WITH OUR OFFERING

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Trouble Don't Last Always", 2/7/2016

TROUBLE DON'T LAST ALWAYS

Exodus 12:1-14

GOD'S PLAN FOR FREEDOM

After 430 years in captivity, the Lord prepared Israel for their release from Egypt. The Lord sent Moses to the Pharaoh of Egypt with a command to let His people go. The Pharaoh refused because God harden his heart. At the command of Moses by the power of God, a series of ten plagues were inflicted on the nation of Egypt. After each plague, the Pharaoh's heart was hardened. The last plague was the death of all the first born males of the Egyptian families. After this last plague, the Pharaoh released the people of Israel.

V: 1-2. ¹"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ² "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year."

A.    Eighty years earlier, God saved Moses from the hands of the Pharaoh. In an effort to reduce the population growth of the Hebrew people, the Pharaoh of Egypt order all the male Hebrew babies at birth to be drown in the river. Exodus 1:22

1.     After Birth, Moses’ mother put him in a basket in the Nile River.

2.     Moses sister guided the basket to the place where the Pharaoh's daughter was bathing.

3.     As a result, Moses was raised and educated in the House of Pharaoh as the son of the Pharaoh's daughter. 

4.     When Moses became a man, he found out that He was a Hebrew.

5.     He killed an Egyptian that he saw mistreating one of his brothers, and thus fled to Egypt at the age of forty.

B.    Moses was born for the job of delivering Israel out of slavery to the land promised by God to Abraham four hundred and thirty years earlier. Gen 15:13

1.     We all have a purpose in life to persuade someone to come to Jesus to be delivered from the bondage of sin.

2.     God sent His Son, our High Priest, Jesus Christ to open the way to our freedom.

C.    Moses was the first commander or chief shepherd and Aaron was the first High priest of Israel.

1.     Once we accepted Christ as the chief shepherd of our lives, the clock of our new birth began.

2.     In Jesus, we are freed from the bondage of sin.

3.     God erases our history of sin and we began new in the righteousness of Jesus.

JESUS, THE PASS OVER LAMB

V: 3-4.  ³"Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. ⁴ If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat."

A.    It is God the Father who selected Jesus as the scapegoat for our sins.  Lev 16:8-11

1.     The scapegoat was sent out of the community for the atonement of their sins.

2.     Jesus, our scapegoat takes away our sins.

B. Jesus is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  1 John 3:5

1.     Prior to releasing Israel from slavery, God prepared Israel for the great day of freedom.

2.     There are certain days in our lives we ought to commemorate for all times.

a)     We remember our birthdays.

b)     We remember our graduations.

c)     We remember weddings.

d)     The most important thing to remember is our relationship with Jesus. 

OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD

V: 5-6. ⁵"The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. ⁶ Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight".

A.    While God does not tell us, it is suggested that the first year of life represents total innocence.

1.     As a type of Christ, the lamb at this age may not have endured the hardships of life.

2.     The lamb selected was without defects, as Christ Jesus is without defects.

3.     Christ is perfect in every way.

B.    The lamb was selected on the tenth day and kept until the fourteenth day before being killed.

1.     Jesus our Lord and Savior was selected before the foundation of the world.

a)     He was kept at the right hand of the Father until He stepped down out of heaven to be sacrificed for our sins.

2.     The four days may represent the times of hardships in slavery before Israel was released to freedom.

3.     Israel grew up in slavery 400 years.

a)     Each day could represent a 100 years of slavery.

b)     Each day could represent a 100 years before God's promise to Abraham was fulfilled.  Gen 15:13

4.     It takes times of trouble and hardships for us to be drawn to Christ.

5.     The Israelites cried out to God for their release from slavery.

6.     The Lord heard their cries.

THE POWER OF THE BLOOD

 V: 7. ⁷"Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs."

A.    The blood on the door post represents the blood of Christ that atones for our sins.

1.     People know we belong to Christ when we claim His blood as a covering for our sins.

2.     Jesus is our head.

a)     The blood at the top of the door frame represents the headship of Jesus.

3.     The blood on the sides of the door fames may represent the fact that Jesus walks besides us and is our guide and protector.

B.    The door post may represent the doors into our hearts.

1.     It is out of the heart that flow the issues of life.

2.     The door post represents the entry way to our homes.

3.     Everyone in our homes ought to be covered by the blood of Jesus.

C.    Before they could get the blood, an unblemished sheep had to be sacrificed.

1.     Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

2.     The blood of Jesus is the atonement for our sins.

3.     There is power in the blood of Jesus to protect us from all evil.

THE PASSOVER MEAL

V: 8-10. ⁸ "That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. ⁹ Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire — head, legs and inner parts. ¹⁰ Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it."

A.    Fire represent cleansing and purification.

1.     We are cleansed and purified by Christ.

2.     Through Christ we are made clean before the Father.

3.     When we were dipped in the blood of Christ we were made clean before the Father.

B.    The pass over lamb was not to be just looked upon but to be fed upon.

1.     It is by the Word that we know our sins.

2.     It is by the Word that we know the righteousness of God.

3.     It is by the Word that we know the promises of God.

4.     It is by the Word that we know the wrath of God.

5.     It is by the Word that we know our redeemer.

C.    It is suggested by other commentators that the Egyptians ate raw meat.

1.     It is also suggested the Israelites boiled their meat before eating.

2.     The Lord established a new relationship of freedom with Israel.

3.     The new relationship starts with purification.

4.     The water itself could be contaminated.

a.   Putting meat in contaminated water could contaminate it.

b.   By starting with a new order, the Israelites were on a new course of life.

c.   In addition, the Israelites were to learn to take orders from the Lord and not from the Pharaoh.

5.     Eternal life is in the blood of Jesus and not the blood of animals.

D.    The Lord's sacrifice is a one time sacrifice for all times.

1.     God left nothing to chance to be done at a later date.

2.     Once saved, always saved.

3.     When God closes the door on this life, there will be no second chances.

4.     Any parts of the lamb that was not eaten that night was to be burned.

5.     The grace of God is sufficient for all times.

THE URGENCY TO ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR

V: 11-12.  ¹¹"This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover. ¹² "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord."

A.    The Israelites were commanded to be fully dressed and ready to move after the Passover.

1.     When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we have to be prepared to make a full change from our slave position.

2.     Once in Christ, we should never look back longing for the past life style.

3.     Committing ourselves to Christ mean loosing ourselves from our formal life.

B.    There is an urgency to accepting Christ as our personal Savior.

1.     We have no idea when this life will end.

2.     Life often times ends unexpectedly.

3.     Christ could come back to redeem His Church while you are procrastinating.

C.    Christ may come back as a thief in the night.

1.     When He comes back, He will bring judgment on those not covered by His blood.

2.     The Lord gives us a choice, to live or to die.

3.     We have to be prepared to die to self, to live for Christ.

D.    Nothing can save us but the blood of Christ.

1.     Money can't save you.

2.     Position can't save you.

3.     Your connections can't save you.

4.     Your parents can't save you.

THE PROTECTION IN THE BLOOD

V: 13. ¹³" The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."

A.    The Lord knows who belong to Him.

1.     He knows who is covered by the blood.

2.     It is the blood of Christ that protects us when others are falling.

3.     It is the blood that gives us hope for tomorrow.

A.    When the economy is on the dive, Christians are protected because we are supported by the wealth that is Christ.

1.     When others are sad, we are joyful because of the joy of the Lord.

2.     When others are frustrated, we have peace because of the peace of the Lord.

3.     When others are hopeless, we have the hope of the Lord.

4.     When others are doubtful, we trust the Lord.

CELEBRATE ETERNAL LIFE

 V: 14 ¹⁴"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord — a lasting ordinance."

A.    The day of your new birth in Christ should be a continuous celebration.

1.     We are commanded to teach Christ to our children.

2.     The Word of Christ will never change.

3.     The power of the Word will never change.

B.    Our Sunday is a day of worship to give praise and glory to our Lord and Savior.

1.     When we take communion, it is to commemorate the suffering of our Lord and Savior on the cross for us.

2.     It is because of the love of God that He gave His Son for our salvation.

BE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston Texas