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Lesson 9.Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord | 9.3 Forever Faithful to His Covenant

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9.3 Forever Faithful to His Covenant
Read Psalm 89:28–33, 39–47 and 132:10–12. What is the Davidic covenant about? What appears to have jeopardized it?
The Davidic covenant, as described in Psalms 89:28–33, 39–47 and 132:10–12, is a central aspect of the biblical testimony and the history of the people of Israel. This covenant includes God’s promise to establish David’s lineage forever and to bring prosperity to His people. The durability of this covenant rests on God’s solemn oath and King David’s faithfulness to God.
However, the reality is that even faithful kings, like David, were not always faithful to God. Psalm 89 reflects the harsh reality that the glorious promises of the Davidic covenant appear to be jeopardized. The question of hopelessness arises, whether Israel has been forsaken by God. Yet the answer is clear: No!
God’s wrath, a manifestation of His divine judgment, does not last forever. His everlasting love forgives people their sins when they repent. Although God’s wrath has serious consequences for the disobedience of the people, hope still remains. This hope is grounded in the certainty of God’s faithfulness and grace.
In this hope rests the conviction that God’s unchanging purposes will be fulfilled through the Messiah. Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Messiah, embodies all the righteousness and salvation of Israel and the entire world. Through His resurrection from the dead, He is exalted as the supreme King over the whole world.
Overall, the Davidic covenant illustrates God’s promises to His people and His unwavering faithfulness, even in times of failure and testing. The fulfillment of these promises finds its completion in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who brings hope and redemption to all humanity.
Read Colossians 1:16, 20–22. What do these verses teach us about who Jesus was and what He did for us? What promise can you take for yourself from them?
These verses teach us about the divine nature and work of Jesus Christ:
  1. Creative Power: Jesus is the Creator of all things, both in heaven and on earth. He is above all that is visible and invisible, including all powers and authorities.
  2. Reconciliation: Jesus has created reconciliation through His sacrifice on the cross. By His blood, He has made peace between God and humanity, overcoming the separation caused by sin. This reconciliation extends over all realms of creation, both in heaven and on earth.
  3. Sanctification and Blamelessness: Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we are reconciled and brought into communion with God. This happens not only for believers but for all who believe in Jesus Christ and turn to Him. As a result, we will stand sanctified, blameless, and above reproach before God.
The promise we can draw from these verses is the certainty of reconciliation and communion with God through Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He has made peace and overcome the separation between God and us. By faith in Him, we can stand sanctified and blameless before God and experience His love and grace in full measure.

The connection between the Davidic covenant and our everyday life in faith, as well as the teachings from Colossians 1:16, 20–22, is profound and significant for our daily lives:
  1. Trust in God’s Faithfulness: The Davidic covenant shows us God’s unwavering faithfulness and promises to His people. In times of trial and temptation, we can rely on God to remain faithful to His promises and never leave us.
  2. Hope for Redemption and Reconciliation: The teachings from Colossians 1:16, 20–22 remind us that Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, has made reconciliation possible. This hope for redemption and reconciliation is a source of comfort and assurance in our daily lives, especially when confronted with guilt and sin.
  3. Encouragement for Holiness: The certainty of our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ should encourage us to live lives of holiness. By turning away from sin and living according to God’s will, we can stand in communion with Him and experience His love and grace in our daily lives.
  4. Gratitude and Worship: The promises of the Davidic covenant and the teachings from Colossians 1:16, 20–22 should lead us to gratitude and worship in our daily lives. We should thank God for His faithfulness and love, and praise Him for granting us redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
Overall, the Davidic covenant and the teachings from Colossians 1:16, 20–22 should shape our daily life in faith by encouraging us to trust in God’s faithfulness, have hope for reconciliation and redemption, encourage us towards holiness, and express gratitude and worship for God’s grace.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-9-blessed-is-he-who-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord-9-3-forever-faithful-to-his-covenant/

ADRA Puts a Spotlight on Human Trafficking During the Super Bowl

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What is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children, and men involving the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Victim…… Source: https://adventist.news/en/news/adra-puts-a-spotlight-on-human-trafficking-during-the-super-bowl

2024 eHuddle Monday Afternoon — Feb. 26 — BAPTIZE & EQUIP

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This is the afternoon session of day one of eHuddle 2024. Featured presenters include Mark Tamaleaa, Kwadwo Twumasi, Arnaldo Cruz, Rohann Wellington, Jochy Jamel, and Brent Hardinge. eHuddle is a 2 1/2 day summit on evangelism techniques. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67U8kXvKQS8

ADRA Sets New Guinness World Record with Giant Bed in Chile

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26 February 2024 | According to a recent article in the Adventist Review, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Chile has successfully set a new Guinness world record by assembling the world’s largest bed in the world, on February 10 in the city of Chillán. The bed measures 32.7 by 19.5 meters (approximately […] Source: https://atoday.org/adra-sets-new-guinness-world-record-with-giant-bed-in-chile/

SATIRE: Pacific Press releases ‘50 Shades of Gray: Acceptable Church Hair’

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NAMPA, Idaho — Drawn from extensive surveys of churchgoing Adventists, a compilation of 50 acceptable church hair styles has just been published. The listing takes the form of a book released by Pacific Press today: 50 Shades of Gray: Acceptable Church Hair. In order to approach the contentious issue as democratically as possible, hair styles […] Source: https://atoday.org/satire-pacific-press-releases-50-shades-of-gray-acceptable-church-hair/

2024 eHuddle Monday Morning — Feb. 26 — VISION and PLANT

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This is the morning session of day one of eHuddle 2024. Featured presenters include Heather Thompson Day, Kyle Smith, Ignacio Perez with Robin Lopez, Camila Skaf, Michael Lewis, Marcio Gerley, and Edward Bryan. eHuddle is a 2 1/2 day summit on evangelism techniques. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLJr_dEoH0g

Why Heaven Needed to Be Reconciled to God at the Cross

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For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 NLT

Why did God need to make peace with heaven? This verse right here may help us understand just how real the war in heaven was. Even after Lucifer was cast out, those who remained may have still had their doubts. Did God really love them, or did Lucifer have some good points about God just being a tyrant?

Photograph by William Earnhardt

On earth Eve was convinced God did not care for her, and she needed to eat the fruit and disobey, if she really wanted to be happy.

While all this was going on, is it possible some of the remaining angels in heaven still had some questions? Have you ever been loyal to a boss not because you thought he was fair, but because you did not see any way out? So out of fear, you remained loyal to him, still wishing you weren’t in that situation? If so, what did it take for you to reconcile the situation so you could have peace at work and not just conformity?

When the Son of God died on the cross, He was not just atoning for Eve taking a piece of fruit she was told not to. Eve’s disobedience was a symptom of her doubts. The Cross of Christ did not just take care of the symptoms of sin. The Cross took care of sin itself! The Cross removed all doubt about God’s love. All questions in heaven and earth are answered at the cross! There can be conformity while rebellion is still in the heart. The cross goes way beyond bringing us into conformity and outward obedience. The cross replaces our thoughts of rebellion with peaceful thoughts towards God.

That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God.-Ellen White, Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889

Some have the idea that once we get to heaven, God will flip a little switch in the back of our heads that makes us stop sinning. After all, we will be in heaven and so we automatically won’t sin, right?

Wait. Where did sin begin? Heaven!

The reason why humans and angels will not sin, is the same reason why God reconciled both heaven and earth to Himself. The cross of Jesus. The cross cures the root cause of sin which is doubting God’s love. The reason there will be no sin in heaven is not due to a mechanical correction that the flip of a switch will fix. The reason there will be no sin in heaven will be because the cross will cure humans and angels alike from ever doubting God’s love, and thinking we need anything God has not given us. There will be no reason to rebel.

Rules without relationship cause rebellion. The love of Christ on the cross removes our fear of God, so we are not afraid to have an intimate relationship with Him. With our relationship cured, we will have no reason to rebel. We won’t be conformists. We will be free-thinking moral agents who are at peace with God because God is love.

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The post Why Heaven Needed to Be Reconciled to God at the Cross appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/why-heaven-needed-to-be-reconciled-to-god-at-the-cross/

Tuesday: Forever Faithful to His Covenant

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Daily Lesson for Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Read Psalms 89:27-32,38-46 and Psalms 132:10-12. What is the Davidic covenant about? What seems to have endangered it?

The Davidic covenant contains God’s promise of everlasting support of David’s line and prosperity of God’s people (1 Samuel 7:5-16; Psalms 89:1-4,19-37; Psalms 132:12-18).

The Communion Cup of the New Covenant

Image © Linda Lovett from GoodSalt.com

The permanence of the covenant was established on God’s solemn oath and the king’s faithfulness to God. However, even the devoted kings, such as King David, were not always faithful to the Lord. Psalms 89:1-52 laments over the harsh reality that seems to indicate that the glorious promises of the Davidic covenant have been lost. Is Israel hopelessly deserted by God? The answer, of course, is—no!

God’s wrath is, yes, an expression of divine judgment (Psalms 38:1, Psalms 74:1). Yet, it does not last forever because God’s everlasting love forgives people’s sins when people repent. However, while it lasts, God’s discontent with His erring people is serious. The people feel the bitter consequences of their disobedience and realize the gravity of their sins (Psalms 89:38-46). Yet, they ask, “How long?” appealing to the passing character of God’s wrath (Psalms 89:46). Renewed hope springs from new assurance in God’s faithfulness to “remember” His grace (Psalms 89:47,50).

In short, although the human component of the covenant failed, the people could rest in the promise of God’s unchanging purposes through the Messiah, who embodies all righteousness and salvation of Israel and of the whole world. That is, in the end, God will prevail, and His eternal kingdom will be established forever—but only because of Jesus and not because of God’s people.

Jesus Christ is the Son of David and the Messiah (Matthew 1:1, Hebrews 1:8). He is called “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15, NKJV), alluding to Psalms 89:1-52:27, which calls David, who was a type of Christ, God’s firstborn. “Also I will make him My firstborn, / The highest of the kings of the earth” (NKJV).

Clearly the title “firstborn” does not express David’s biological status, because David was the eighth child of his parents (1 Samuel 16:10-11). It’s the same with Jesus. This title signifies His special honor and authority (Colossians 1:16,20-22). God made Jesus the supreme King over the whole world when He raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:30-31).

Read Colossians 1:16,20-22. What do these verses teach us about who Jesus was and what He has done for us? What promise can you take away from this for yourself?

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The post Tuesday: Forever Faithful to His Covenant appeared first on Sabbath School Net.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-09-forever-faithful-to-his-covenant/

God First Your Daily Prayer Meeting – February 26, 2024

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Matthew 21:22 – "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Tag someone in need of prayer and kindly share your prayer requests here. https://bit.ly/3GdFXpR Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsWGs-oivAg

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