by Richard W. Coffen | 19 January 2022 | His name was Ibex (a.k.a. Terah), and he lived in Mesopotamia. His occupation involved creating images of deities to sell. When he was 70 years old (Genesis 11:26), Terah became the father of triplets: Sire-of-A-Crowd (a.k.a. Abram; Abraham), Sanctuary (a.k.a. Haran), and Snorting (a.k.a. Nahor). According […] Source: https://atoday.org/human-mess-divine-cleanup/
4: Jesus, Our Faithful Brother – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: In Hebrews 1, Jesus is the Divine Lord, Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign. In Hebrews 2, Jesus is the human High Priest, merciful and faithful.
January 22, 2022
1. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 2:14-16; Leviticus 25:25-27.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
- Who could redeem a person who had lost his property or his liberty because of poverty?
- Personal Application: What are some ways you can learn to experience more deeply the reality of how close Christ can be to you? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why is it so important to believe Jesus came in human flesh like us to redeem us? Why can’t people believe Jesus came as God to be like us in the same nature? How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 11:24-26..
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- In what ways do Moses’ decisions exemplify what Jesus did for us?
- Personal Application: What comfort and hope does it give you to know that Jesus has endured all that we are called to endure? Share your thoughts
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why couldn’t Moses have had it all? Couldn’t he become Pharoah and let everyone in Egypt know and worship the true God? Shouldn’t Christians today try to get in positions of power in education, business, and politics to influence society in all aspects?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 2:10,17,18; 5:8,9.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
- What was the functioning of suffering in Jesus life?
- Personal Application: How can we learn to endure the tragedies of life while drawing hope and assurance from the Lord? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Are we supposed to think of suffering as something good? Are we supposed to believe that even if we suffer, something good will come out of it? I can’t see any reason to be happy in any kind of suffering: mental, economic, physical, social, or spiritual.” How would you respond to your relative?
4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 12:1-4.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- According to Paul, how should we run the race of the Christian life?
- Personal Application: What is the most important choice you ned to make, and how can you be sure it does reveal trust in God? Share your thoughts.
(Note: This is not a statement of the nature of Christ, but a statement of His role in the plan of salvation. John 3:16) - 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!
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/4-jesus-our-faithful-brother-teaching-plan/
Thursday: The Brother as a Model
Another reason why Jesus adopted our human nature and lived among us was so that He could be our example, the only one who could model for us what is the right way to live before God.
Read Hebrews 12:1-4. According to the apostle, how should we run the race of the Christian life?
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
In this passage Jesus is the culmination of a long list of characters whom the apostle provides as exemplars of faith. This passage calls Jesus “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (ESV). The Greek word archegos (“founder”) can also be translated “pioneer.” Jesus is the pioneer of the race in the sense that He runs ahead of the believers. In fact, Hebrews 6:20 calls Jesus our “forerunner.” The word “perfecter” gives the idea that Jesus had displayed faith in God in the purest form possible. This passage teaches both that Jesus is the first one to have run our race with success and that He is the one who perfected the art of what living by faith is all about.
Hebrews 2:13 reads: “And again: ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again: ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given Me’ ” (NKJV). What is happening here is that Jesus said that He would put His trust in God. This reference is an allusion to Isaiah 8:17-18,.
Isaiah spoke these words in the face of a terrible threat of invasion from Northern Israel and Syria (Isaiah 7:1-2). His faith contrasted the lack of faith of Ahaz, the king (2 Kings 16:5-18). God had exhorted Ahaz to trust in Him and to ask a sign that He would deliver him (Isaiah 7:1-11). God had already promised him, as a son of David, that He would protect Ahaz as His own son. Now, God graciously offered Ahaz to confirm that promise with a sign. Ahaz, however, refused to ask for a sign and, instead, sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son” (2 Kings 16:7, NKJV). How sad! Ahaz preferred being “son” of Tiglath-pileser than the son of God.
Jesus, however, put His trust in God and in His promise that He will put His enemies under His feet (Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 10:12-13). God has made the same promise to us, and we need to believe Him, just as Jesus did (Romans 16:20).
| How can we learn to put our trust in God but by daily making choices that reflect this trust? What’s the next important choice you need to make, and how can you make sure it does reveal trust in God? |
Amen!(1)
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The Spirit Intercedes for Us
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27.
We have only one channel of approach to God. Our prayers can come to Him through one name only—that of the Lord Jesus our Advocate. His Spirit must inspire our petitions. No strange fire was to be used in the censers that were waved before God in the sanctuary. So the Lord Himself must kindle in our hearts the burning desire, if our prayers are acceptable to Him. The Holy Spirit within must make intercessions for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.
A deep sense of our need, and a great desire for the things for which we ask, must characterize our prayers, else they will not be heard. But we are not to become weary, and cease our petitions because the answer is not immediately received. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). The violence here meant is a holy earnestness, such as Jacob manifested. We need not try to work ourselves up into an intense feeling; but calmly, persistently, we are to press our petitions at the throne of grace. Our work is to humble our souls before God, confessing our sins, and in faith drawing nigh unto God. The Lord answered the prayer of Daniel, not that Daniel might glorify himself, but that the blessing might reflect glory to God. It is the design of God to reveal Himself in His providence and in His grace. The object of our prayers must be the glory of God, not the glorification of ourselves.
When we see ourselves weak, ignorant, and helpless, as we really are, we shall come before God as humble suppliants. It is ignorance of God and of Christ that makes any soul proud and self-righteous. The infallible indication that a man knows not God is found in the fact that he feels that in himself he is great or good. Pride of heart is always associated with ignorance of God. It is the light from God that discovers our darkness and destitution. When the divine glory was revealed to Daniel, he exclaimed, “My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength” (Daniel 10:8).
The moment the humble seeker sees God as He is, that moment he will have the same view of himself that Daniel had. There will be no lifting up of the soul unto vanity, but a deep sense of the holiness of God and of the justice of His requirements.—The Review and Herald, February 9, 1897.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 27
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Kim’s family and friends as she has passed.
—-Please pray for my family and I. I have not been feeling so well. Helen
—-Please everyone pray hard for my cousin’s daughter Stephanie who is very sick with Covid. She has a weakened immune system due to an antoimmune disease. Debra
—-Please pray for a young girl we just came across this morning. She was burnt by her step mother and she is nursing wounds without medication. Wedeya
—-Please pray for E and her children that God will take complete control of their situation. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Mrs. Baldwin, my sixth-grade teacher, was an older lady, who was still very full of life and always had a pleasant smile on her face. I really enjoyed her as a teacher. Each summer vacation she would go to a different country and soak up the sights, sounds, smells, and culture of the place. Then the next school year she enthusiastically shared what she had learned with her class. The summer before our class had her as our teacher she had gone to Mexico. One of the things that impressed her was a volcano she visited. So she bought a model of a volcano and brought it to class. When she pressed a button, it sputtered and spit out bright orange “lava.” We were fascinated.
Just as Mrs. Baldwin shared her experiences with her class, so we are bidden to share our Christian experience with those around us.Jesus says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John8:12 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16
How often we talk enthusiastically to others about something we have just bought, or something we have seen on TV the night before, or about some sports team, but our witness should not be on those things. Our sweetest thoughts should be of Jesus and His love. Our conversation should be centered in Him. Our interests should lie with His. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am her: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” Isa 43:10-12
John declares, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4
May we have that joy John is speaking about as we witness of our Saviour’s love and care. May we share His love with those around us. And when our dear Saviour comes, may we stand with those we have brought to Him and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-spirit-intercedes-for-us.html
Church Leaders Oppose Saturday Election Date in Ghana
Church leaders calling for amendment to constitutionally mandated date of December 7 every four years for elections. In 2024, the date falls on a Saturday. An amendment would “make it possible for all Ghanaians to exercise their franchise and discharge their civic responsibility without being made to choose between their faith and civic responsibility,” said […] Source: https://atoday.org/church-leaders-oppose-saturday-election-date-in-ghana/
