This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God's Love Includes Suffering", Judges 2:16-23

 GOD’S LOVE INCLUDES SUFFERING FOR DISCIPLINE

Judges 2:16-23

HARDHEADED FOLK GET THE HARD HAND OF GOD

V:16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the Lord's commands. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.

Israel was a nation that refused to obey God’s command not

To worship idol gods. The pattern was this; God would get them

From under the oppression of their enemies with the promise from

Israel to follow Him. When the Judge God raised up to rescue

them died, they returned to the worship of idol gods. When Israel

Returned to idol god worship, God allowed another nation to oppress

Them.

God was their judge and the judge He raised up was His representative. Israel was God’s people, so had compassion on them anytime they returned to Him for help.

Israel never had the courage or the desire to follow God’s commands.

The result was a continued cycle of punishment by God. They were

Free people with a slave mentality. They had access to the power of

God, but never consistently connected to His power.

A lesson unlearned will be repeated. This was the History of Israel. The Judges God raised up in the midst of faithless people were a Testament to His mercy. In the middle of their disobedience, God

Planned their failure and punishment to force their hearts to repentance and restoration.

They had periods of peace and restoration while the Judges lived.

When the Judges died, Israel went back to the worship of

The world prostituting themselves to Baal and Asteroth

They passed on a history of God's love for them to the next

Generation. Israel knew to call on the Lord when they

were in trouble. In the back of their minds was a backup plan.

They had no genuine devoted heart for God but were quick to call on Him during hardships.

REPEATED SIN, REPEATED HARDSHIPS

V:19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

20 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did." 23 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

It is easy to follow the ways of the world because we were born

In sin and shaped in iniquity. We live in a world that favors sin and

all unrighteousness. The temptation to fit into the world is hard to

resist.

Israel was surrounded by the enemy of God which they failed to

Drive out of the promised land as God commanded. Surrounded

By the loose sexual actives of worship in idol god temples,

the temptation to stray from God’s commands ruled their hearts.

GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION INCLUDES OUR SUFFERING

Israel’s disobedience angered God to the point of selling them to

Their Enemies. God could have easily let the enemy destroy

Them, but love for His chosen people would not allow

Destruction.

God is a jealous God, His plan of redemption includes discipline

and hardships to drive us back to worship Him.

God refused to drive the enemy away from Israel to strengthen their faith. The enemy became a thorn in their side and a test of

their faith.

Like the Judges, God sent Jesus as our Lord and savior to rescue

Us from our sins. Because Jesus suffered for the atonement of our sins, we must suffer for Him.

1 Peter 4:16-17

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Even the faithful Christian suffers for Christ. How must more will

The unfaith suffer?

Bible Study Series: The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit Lesson 2

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT LESSON 2

God Before time and matter existed as one God in three persons;

God the Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit

THE PERSONALITY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

The person of the Holy Spirit has human aspects and can be moved

Emotionally The Holy Spirit inspires, resides in us, and is our teacher

Of all things.

The Holy Spirit has a mind

Romans 8:27

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

NIV

The Holy Spirit Knows the will of the Father. Since He is one with Father

He knows all. Romans 8:27

The Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints (you and I) Romans 8:28

The Holy Spirit can be grieved

Ephesians 4:30-31

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

According to the text, the Spirit protects us from our sinful selves

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMUNICATES WITH BELIEVERS

The Holy Spirit does not speak on Its own, but the Word of God,

John 16:13

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Several things we see in this verse

The Holy Spirit leaves the authority of the Word to Jesus

The Holy Spirit will not speak new words

The Holy Spirit will tell you the future as spoken by Jesus

When Jesus ascended back into heaven to be with the Father, He left

The Old Testament complete and in print with many copies. The Old

Testament according to the dating of the Dead Sea Scrolls was

Complete 300 years before the birth of Jesus in the flesh.

The New Testament was complete in the minds of His apostles. The

Writing of the New Testament would be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BE INSULTED

Hebrews 10:29-30

How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRES MEN TO ACT

1 Peter 1:21

21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

NIV

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVE ACCESS TO GOD

Jude 20-21

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is our connection to the Father

Ephesians 1:18

Pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

To get a deeper understanding of the Spirit let's start with a familiar scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NIV

The Greek word God-breathed or given by inspiration of God is Theopneustos. Theo is God and pneustos is spirit or breath.

According to 2 Timothy, the Holy Spirit is the divine author of the

Scripture.

2 Peter 1:21

For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at two examples of the New Testament confirming Old Testament

Prophecy of the Holy Spirit guiding the words of men.

Acts 1:16

16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas,

Psalms 41:9

Even my close friend, whom I trusted,

he who shared my bread,

has lifted up his heel against me.

Hebrews 3:7-8

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:

"Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion,

during the time of testing in the desert,

Psalms 95:7-9

7 for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

as you did that day at Massah in the desert,

9 where your fathers tested and tried me,

The HolySpirit is not just the power of God that indwells every believer

But an integral deity in the God Head, the Holy Trinity, working

throughout eternity the divine will.

From the start of creation, we see the Holy Spirit working that which was

Formless and void.

Genesis 1:1-2

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

The Hebrew word for hovering is rachaph which means flutter, shake, fertilizing. From the beginning, the Holy Spirit was energizing the whole of the creation.

THE HOLY SPIRIT STRIVES WITH SINFUL MAN

The Spirit is not mentioned again until the dispensation of conscience.

Genesis 6:3

Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."

Genesis 6:5-7

The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Notice how God ties in his emotions with the Holy Spirit and man.

Compare this with God’s command to man.

Ephesians 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

God the Father is the creator, God the Son is the salvation of man, and God the Holy Spirit is the energy driving sinful man toward salvation and redemption.

THE LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT OF GOD

It is the Spirit Of God that gives life to each of us

Job 33:4

The Spirit of God has made me;

the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

The Holy Spirt is the life in us

Job 34:14-15

14 If it were his intention

and he withdrew his spirit and breath,

15 all mankind would perish together

and man would return to the dust.

The Holy Spirit guides and directs our lives

After Jesus’s baptism, it was the spirit that carried Him

Into the desert

Matthew 4:1-2

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of every believer starting with Jesus in the flesh

John 19:30

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Notice, even in death Jesus humbled Himself to the Father with the bowing

Of His head.

Because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross, the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in every believer.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

We have been equipped with power. The question is, will we submit ourselves to God’s divine power? Or will we live in the weakness of the

World?

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE DESIGNER OF WORSHIP

During the Dispensation of the Law (Old Testament Times), the Holy Spirit

Was not given to everyone. It was only given to those who were given

Specific task by God. The tabernacle was designed by the Father for

Israel to worship God in the desert after leaving Egypt.

God equipped the builders of the great tent with all the skills and talents

Fashion and make all the parts of the movable structure.

Exodus 31:1-7

Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts — 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent

Today each of us have been given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who

Equips believers with all the wisdom, talents, and skills to do the

The work of God and to worship in spirit and in truth.

s

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Consequences of Disobedience", Joshua 7

              THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE

                                          Joshua 7:1-25

REBELLION IS BORN OF COVETOUSNESS AND SELFISHNESS

V:1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel. 

God gave Israel victory over Jerico. He commanded them to put to

Death every living thing and bring all the valuable articles back to

The camp is to be put in the Lord’s treasure.

One man Achan, stole some of the valuable articles and hid them in

His tent. Unknown to Joshua and the rest of Israel, Achan’s disobedience

Brought the wrath of God on the entire nation. The consequences of

Ashan’s sin did not show up until the next battle.

We have to be careful that we don’t rob God of what is dedicated to Him.

God gives what we need in excess. We have no need to steal from Him.

Israel had been given the Promised Land and all the wealth in the land.

To continue in His blessings all we have to do is follow His commands.

OVERCONFIDENCE IS A KEY TO FAILURE

Joshua 7:2-5

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai. 

 Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." 4 So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this, the hearts of the people melted and became like water. 

There are serval things Israel did wrong. So confident in the battle

Against Jerico, they did not go to God in prayer to allow Him to bless the mission and get His strategy for success against Ali.  

God's strategy for Israel against Jerico was to march around the city

For six days with the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represented the presence of God. On the seventh day, March around the the city seven times and blow their horns. 

Second, they underestimated the size of Ali's army. Third, they assumed That their victory against Jericho was a guarantee of victory against

Ali. Fourth, they assumed that there was no sin in the camp, and they 

Were in complete alignment with God’s will.

Past successes do not guarantee future successes. Total dependency

On God does.

DON’T BLAME GOD FOR YOUR FAILURES

After the the defeat Joshua and the elders blamed God. As was their

Custom, they tore their clothes, fell on their faces, and sprinkled dust

On their heads. They complained to God as they did in the desert of

Why He brought them out of Egypt to be destroyed?

Before we complain to God about our failures, we need to examine ourselves to what sin we have committed. There is always a reason

For our failures and many times it is due to our neglect. At all times

Our failures are designed to teach us valuable lessons. 

The best thing to do after a failure is to go to God in prayer and ask for

Guidance and directions. God is always aware of our faults and willing

To give a solution to our problem.

After going to God, He informed them that there was sin in the camp because one of the men had stolen devoted items from Jerico. Because of their sin, He had withdrawn His hand from them and gave Ali success.

Unless the sinful man was removed from the camp there would be no success.

 

God led Joshua to the family and the man who committed the sin. After

Achan’s confession, the entire family was stoned to death, and their

Items destroyed.

The lesson is a house divided can not stand. The Lord involved the

Entire nation in finding the culvert. He brought before the elders

Tribe by tribe and family by family until Achan’s family was located.

This impressed upon the nation the importance of being obedient 

To God’s commands. This also implanted in their minds the horror

Of stone a family to death.

We must understand that the weakness of the Church is in the 

Disobedient hearts of believers. One person in the organization

Can bring failure.

By moving through the community to find the thief, It gave Achan

time to come forth and confess his sin and throw himself at the

The mercy of God. He stayed silent through the whole investigation

Until God revealed him to Joshua and the elders. 

It is best for us to confess our sins before the Lord as soon as

The Holy Spirit convicts us. If we confess our sins, God, He

Is merciful to forgive.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

Achan stood by and allowed the congregation to go through all the families

To find him. His heart was so defiant that he risked the lives of his family

members.

When the people removed the sin from among them, fellowship with the Lord was reestablished. The Israelites learned that their individual sin affected the whole nation.

We need to understand that our sins as parents affect the whole family.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

TO LITTLE TO LATE

Joshua 7:20-26

Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." 

V:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the Lord. 

You cannot wait until the day of judgment to confess Jesus as Lord 

And Savior. No sin is hidden from the Lord. Before the Lord every person

Will be judged according to what he has done. No one knows the day or

The hour the Lord will return. It could be today or sometime in the near

Future. 

2 Peter 3:7

By the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The only way to escape the hell’s fire is the repentance and forgiveness

Form Jesus our Lord and Savior. As with Ashan, time is not on our side.

WITHOUT FORGIVENESS THE JUDGMENT IS DEATH

V:25 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today."

Then all of Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. 

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?

Achan’s sin destroyed him and affected the nation. One’s sin has a

Range of negative effects. Our selfish acts may affect many lives. 

36 soldiers were lost because of his theft of items devoted to God.

 

   First, He betrayed the covenant of God

   Second, he betrayed the trust of his family

   Third, he betrayed the trust of the nation of Israel

    Fourth, he betrayed himself.

In the end, Achan’s sin was a rebellion against God and man. His failure to

confess his sin caused the death of him and his family. 

We cannot take the consequences of our sins for granted. We may not

Get the chance to confess our sins before judgment comes.

There is little difference between Ashan and us. We rob God of tithes and

Offering that are to be devoted to Him. Selfish acts of disobedience and 

And violence causes the death of many people daily.

The lesson is a house divided can not stand. When the people removed

The sin from among them, fellowship with the Lord was reestablished 

The Israelites learned that their individual sin affected the whole nation.

A lesson to me, my selfish actions may affect many lives.

CONFESS YOUR SINS TO THE LORD WHILE YOU HAVE BREATH

Bible Series: The Holy Spirit Introduction

 GREAT RESOURCES

When Jesus ascended back into heaven, He left us with two great resources;

the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The Word is for our instructions

directions, and discipline. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Word.

John 14:25-27

"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of the Word. Another job is to

teach us the right meaning of the Word.

Acts 1:7-8

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Holy Spirit is the driver of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Living within us is the

power of God.

In this verse and others throughout the Old and New Testaments the Holy Trinity

is revealed; God the Father, God The Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God

in three persons.

GOD THE FATHER: Ephesians 1:2

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

GOD THE SON: John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning (Jesus is the Word)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

GOD IS HOLY

He is pure and without sin

Hebrews 7:26

26 Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

GOD IS INFINITE

God has no boundaries. Nothing can contain Him

Acts 17:24-25

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he gives all men life and breath and everything else

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

God knows everything. God cannot learn anything

Isaiah 46:10

10 I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

Psalms 139:7-10

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

NIV

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT

The power of God cannot be measured or even comprehended by the human mind

He created everything out of nothing.

Isaiah 55:11

So is my word that goes out of my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

GOD IS LOVE

1 John 4:16-17

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him.

GOD IS ETERNAL

God has no ending and no beginning. He always existed.

Isaiah 40:28

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Psalms 90:2

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

Psalms 11:7

For the Lord is righteous,

he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

THE LORD IS SOVEREIGN

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?"

35 "Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?"

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

GOD IS UNCHANGING

Hebrews 13:9

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.