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12.4 Ezra Acts – DEALING WITH BAD DECISIONS | Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A.

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Series EZRA AND NEHEMIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. |

12.DEALING WITH BAD DECISIONS |
Israelites married people of surrounding nations. Therefore they were spoiled with false religions. What should Nehemia do?

12.4 Ezra Acts
When a foreign person in a mixed marriage was not willing to be loyal to God, he or she was dismissed of Israel.

My God bless you today and always.

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Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/12-4-ezra-acts-dealing-with-bad-decisions-pastor-kurt-piesslinger-m-a/

Adventist Journey – Bianca Ludvig Arão

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Bianca Arao wanted to be a medical missionary when she was growing up. To her, that meant being a doctor. But her outlook on her faith, and her potential career changed. Arao, who is originally from Brazil, is a global disease biology major at University of California, Davis, and an officer of Adventist Christian Fellowship. Arao is featured on the cover of the January 2020 Adventist Journey magazine.

Cast: NAD Adventist

Source: https://vimeo.com/379901447

NAD Christmas Greeting 2019

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Daniel R. Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, shares a Christian greeting at Christmastime.

Cast: NAD Adventist

Source: https://vimeo.com/379853875

HopeSS: Dealing with Bad Decisions (December 21, 2019)

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Dealing with Bad Decisions” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/l5t1cj4iZY0/

12: Dealing with Bad Decisions – Singing with Inspiration

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Just as Ezra and Nehemiah were asking the Israelites to stand up for their God, today we can shout 
“Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!”, Hymn 618 and 
Hymn 610, “Stand Like the Brave”.

Nehemiah used the 
“Wonderful Words of Life”, Hymn 286, Deuteronomy 28, to curse the people for their wrong-doing while teaching them what they should be doing to follow God. This gave each person the option to choose: 
Hymn 606, “Once to Every Man and Nation”.

On Monday and Tuesday, marriage is to be equally yoked which is supposed to help in leading a better life and encourage mutual devotion to God: 
Hymn 656, “O Perfect Love”, 
Hymn 657, “O God, From Whom Mankind” and 
Hymn 658, “Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer”. These hymns continue for the rest of the week’s study.

Our prayer is 
“O for a Closer Walk!”, Hymn 315, 
Hymn 554, “O Let Me Walk With Thee”and 
Hymn 574, “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee”as is stated at the end of Wednesday’s study.

Friday’s reading asks 
“Come, All Christians, Be Committed”, Hymn 634.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

 

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/SkRAfhQofL0/

12: Dealing with Bad Decisions – Discussion Starters

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  1.  Too ashamed. Imagine Ezra wailing, “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens’ ” (Ezra 9:6, NKJV). And what seemed to be the main cause of the iniquity spreading everywhere? Mixed marriage! What? Why? What should Ezra and Nehemiah do about it? 
  2. How was Nehemiah reacting to the language problem? Why do you think he was so alarmed? Why couldn’t the Israelite children be taught Hebrew or Aramaic? What was the problem created by this situation? How did Nehemiah respond? Nehemiah’s “tizzy fit” consisted of his cursing and swearing at the wayward people. True or False? What do you think about the punishment of beating and hair pulling? How effective do you think this was?
  3. Solomon’s example. God set forth a definite rule for Solomon and other kings of Israel regarding marriage. What was that rule? What might have happened if the Israelites had obeyed God’s command in this regard? Instead, what happened? What about intermarriage in our church today? Are there consequences that affect the entire church? What are they?
  4. Ezra reacts. What problems did intermarriage bring to God’s people? What did the people do about it? What consequences could the Israelites have avoided if they had been careful in not allowing intermarriage by their people? Does intermarriage pose serious problems to our Adventists today? Why or why not? What can or should the church do when children attend our services and bring with them false impressions of Bible teachings? What spirit do we want our children to have? 
  5. Ezra acts. Imagine a church business meeting where you worship. You attend. The agenda, you learn, is sending 111 women back home from their mixed marriages, even some with babies in the family. Did that solve the problem? Why or why not? Besides the issue of marrying a non Christian or a person who is not a member of your church, are there other areas of disagreement you have to contend with where you worship? Should there be?
  6. Marriage today. Aren’t you glad we have almost entirely accepted the concept of marriages of our believers? Or have we? What does Satan seem to think about mixed marriages? How does he encourage members to marry people with no religious affiliation or at least not the affiliation of the church? What if anything can we do about it? 
Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/daskFMGiNGs/

12: Dealing With Bad Decisions – Teaching Plan

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Key Thought: Nehemiah contended with those who had made bad choices in marrying those who had no desire to follow God or were idolators.
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December 21, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 13:23-25.

  1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
  2. Why did Nehemiah use Biblical cursing, beat, and pull the hair of some of the elders in Israel?
  3. Personal Application: In what ways can language prove a barrier to teaching or understanding the Bible and faith in the One True God? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why was it so important for Israel not to marry people of other languages or culture? Is this a racial issue, a social issue, or a Spiritual issue?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 13:26,27.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
  2. Why was Solomon used as a negative example by Nehemiah for Israel?
  3. Personal Application: Why isn’t it a good idea to marry a non-believer and hope they will convert later?. Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did God allow people like Abraham, Solomon, and David to have multiple wives if it isn’t supposed to be like that? Where does it show that God was displeased with their choices?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ezra 10.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What was the reason and significance of the people separating themselves from their mixed marriages in response to Ezra’s rebuke
  3. Personal Application: Have ever had times of lesser dedication to God when you were in a situation of following God, but compromising at the same time with what you knew truth to be? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Was this an example of God approving of divorce if the spouse was an unbeliever? When it says they put them away and separated themselves even with children, does this show a pattern of divorce approved by God?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 7:10-17.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What wise counsel does Paul give here to those who have already unwisely married an unbelieving spouse?
  3. Personal Application: How do we sometimes become too judgmental on other people’s Sabbath-keeping? Share your thoughts.
  4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/nkG29XO8lz0/

Flourish: an SJC podcast for SDA Women Leaders

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Professor Natalia Lopez Thismon and PR major Natalie Boonstra are co-producing a bi-monthly podcast for women leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist church

Cast: SAU Journalism/Communication

Source: https://vimeo.com/379798206

Tuesday: Ezra Reacts

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Read Ezra 9:1-15. How does Ezra respond to hearing about the Israelites’ intermarriages? Ezra 9:1-2 state that the people “have not separated themselves”. The word “separated” is used in the following verses as well: Lev. 10:10; Lev. 11:47; Exod. 26:33; Gen. 1:4, Gen 1:6-7, Gen. 1:14, Gen. 1:18. What does the use of this word imply about the issue of a believer marrying an unbeliever?

The people approached Ezra with the issue of intermarriage themselves. The terminology they used by listing the nations involved in abominations demonstrated their knowledge of the Torah, as the list is taken directly from biblical accounts.

Gentile Believers

Image © Lifeway Collection Goodsalt.com

Interestingly, the civil leaders brought the news to Ezra, as even the spiritual leaders of the nation, priests and Levites, were guilty of this transgression.

“In his study of the causes leading to the Babylonish captivity, Ezra had learned that Israel’s apostasy was largely traceable to their mingling with heathen nations. He had seen that if they had obeyed God’s command to keep separate from the nations surrounding them, they would have been spared many sad and humiliating experiences. Now when he learned that notwithstanding the lessons of the past, men of prominence had dared transgress the laws given as a safeguard against apostasy, his heart was stirred within him. He thought of God’s goodness in again giving His people a foothold in their native land, and he was overwhelmed with righteous indignation and with grief at their ingratitude” – Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 620.

The word “separate” is used for contrasting entities. In fact, it denotes complete opposites. By this statement the people acknowledged a prior understanding and knowledge of God’s command to stay away from false religions. They understood that no one could say that he/she will marry a spouse whose contrasting beliefs will have no impact on the marriage relationship or how they raise their children. They realized how serious the situation had become.

What can we do to seek to keep faith alive in our homes and families, even if we have made wrong decisions in the past?

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(0)

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Live in Union With Christ

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And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.
“If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18:15). This is the way in which misunderstandings are to be settled. Speaking alone, and in the spirit of Christ to the one who is in fault, will often remove the difficulty. Show Christlike love for your brother by seeking to adjust the difficulty “between thee and him alone.” Talk quietly together. Let no angry words escape your lips. Present the subject in a way that will appeal to his best judgment. And if he will hear you, you have gained him as a friend.
Whatever the character of the offense may be, this does not change the plan God has made for the settlement of misunderstandings and personal injuries. Act out the spirit of Christ. Take the recipe God has provided, and carry it to the spiritually diseased [one]. Give him the remedy that will cure the disease of disaffection. Do your part to help him. Feel that it is a duty and privilege to do this, for the sake of the unity and peace of the church, which is very dear to the heart of Christ. He does not want any wound to remain unhealed on any member of His church. All heaven is interested in the interview between the injured member and the one who has been guilty of error. After settling the difficulty, pray together, and angels of God will come to you and bless you. There is music in heaven over this union.
As the erring one accepts the testimony borne, and gives evidence of true repentance, the sunshine of heaven fills his heart. Hearts are drawn together. The healing oil of love removes the disease and soreness of the wrong. The Holy Spirit binds heart to heart.
Those who have been united in Christian fellowship offer prayer to God, and pledge themselves to deal justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. If they have wronged others, they continue the work of repentance, confession, and restitution; and the disease is healed. They are fully set to do good to one another. This is the fulfilling of the law of Christ.
Repentance, confession, and restitution are all required. But these cannot atone for the sin, for God has been wronged in the person of His saints. The Lord Jesus alone is able to atone for sin, by the application of His blood, shed for the guilt of the sinner. His blood cleanses from all sin.—Manuscript 47, April 2, 1902, “Lessons From the Eighteenth of Matthew.”
The Upward Look p. 106
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for me I may be calling 911 soon because my throat feels like it is swelling and closing up. I have taken Benadryl but I cannot find my epi pen. Connie
—-pray for a young man in my church, Joe. Joe has Pancreatic Cancer and the Doctors have given him no hope because the treatments are not working.
Joe has a young wife and a little girl. Susie
—-I have an unspoken request. LS
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Dear Friends,

One evening some years ago, Ron went to the tire store to get a slow leak in one of my tires fixed. Then he was going to do some other shopping for the weekend. He had not been gone long, when he called. He had decided to take a dark alley to avoid a long line of traffic. All was going well on this poorly-lit shortcut when, suddenly, he hit a speedbump that was at least five inches tall. The impact jarred him and threw the car out of alignment to the point that in order to go straight down the road, he had to keep the steering wheel turned sharply to the left.
How often the evil one puts “speedbumps” in our path that leave us out of “alignment.” How many times all is going well until, suddenly, something happens that causes our world to come crashing down around us leaving us broken and miserable. We reel from the enemy’s attack. Life becomes unbearble.
Praise God! When we have strayed down the dark alleys of life, we do not have to face the enemy alone. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Our Loving Redeemer promises, “thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me.” “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Isa 59:19; 42:16; 44:21, 22
Often the evil one’s “speedbumps” appear through no fault of our own. Our Dear Saviour does not leave us to go through the trial alone. He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3
Moreover, our Great Creator equips us with all we need to fight against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Paul bids us, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” Eph 6:12-18
Let us “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” vs 11 Let us be careful never to stray off the path that leads to Heaven. Let us “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Amen! 2 Peter 1:10, 11
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/zhG6eGfn2nM/live-in-union-with-christ.html

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