Closer To Heaven
|
|
|
This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.
(0)The post 11: Jesus, Author and Perfecter of Our Faith _ SPD Discussion Video appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-jesus-author-and-perfecter-of-our-faith-_-spd-discussion-video/
Rahab is probably the most unexpected character whom we find in Hebrews 11:1-40. Rahab is one of two women mentioned by name. She is the tenth in the list, the first being forefathers and patriarchs of Israel, and each one was regarded as being righteous. When we come to her, we find that she is not only a woman but also a gentile prostitute.
Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com
The most surprising thing is that she is also the thematic center and climax of the chapter. The list is organized in a unique way. Each entry begins with the repetitive use of the phrase “by faith.” The basic pattern is “By faith So-and-so did such-and-thus” or “By faith such-and-thus happened to So-and-so.” This repetitive pattern increases the expectation in the reader to hear the climactic assertion that “by faith Joshua led the people into the promised land.”
But that’s not what the text says. Instead, Joshua is passed over, and the prostitute takes his place. After the mention of Rahab, the repetitive pattern ends abruptly with “and what more shall I say?” (Hebrews 11:32, NKJV). Then, Paul hurriedly lists some names and events that he does not explain in detail.
Rahab’s deed of faith was that she heard, believed, and obeyed, even though she did not see. She did not see the plagues of Egypt, or the deliverance in the Red Sea, or water flow from the rock, or bread descend from heaven; yet, she believed. She was a good exemplar for the audience of Hebrews, who did not hear Jesus preach or see Him do a miracle, and for us as well, who did not see any of these things, either.
“Rahab was a harlot who lived on the wall of Jericho. She hid the two Israelite spies sent to check out the defenses of that city. Because of her kindness to them, and her declaration of belief in God, the spies promised that the lives of Rahab and her family would be spared when the attack came on Jericho.” — Introduction to Rahab found in Daughters of God, p. 35.
Paul then continues (Hebrews 11:35-38) with a list of the hardships many faced. The phrase “refusing to accept release” (Hebrews 11:35, ESV) implies that they had the possibility to escape but chose not to, because their sight was on the reward of God.
| Though we have not seen any of these things happen (the six-day creation, the Exodus, the cross of Christ), why do we have so many good reasons for believing that they did? |
(1)The post Wednesday: By Faith Rahab and the Rest appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-by-faith-rahab-and-rest/
Key Thought: Hebrews 11 tells us that faith is confidence in God’s promises and how it was obtained through examples of the past.
March 12, 2022
(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).
(0)The post 11: Jesus, Author and Perfecter of Our Faith appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-jesus-author-and-perfecter-of-our-faith/
Moses is the second major example in this chapter of faith. The life of Moses is introduced and concluded by two actions of defiance to the king. His parents hid Moses when he was born, because “they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23, ESV), and Moses left Egypt, “not being afraid of the anger of the king” (Hebrews 11:27, ESV).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
The most significant action of Moses was, however, that he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Hebrews 11:24). The reference to Moses’ adoptive mother as “Pharaoh’s daughter” suggests that he was slated to be the next Pharaoh. Moses, however, was willing to leave behind the prospect of becoming the ruler of the most powerful nation at that time and to become, instead, the leader of newly freed slaves-refugees, actually.
The greatness of Moses was that he was able to see beyond the promises of the king of Egypt and look toward the unseen, namely, the promises of God. Hebrews says the key was that Moses’ sight was fixed on “the reward,” not on the riches of Egypt. This reward is the same reward mentioned in Hebrews 10:35, which God has promised to all who believe in Him.
Paul’s words about Moses’ decision must have echoed powerfully in the hearts of his original readers. They had been enduring reproaches and insults because of their faith in Christ. They had also been afflicted and lost their possessions (Hebrews 10:32-34). Some were in prison (Hebrews 13:3). In parallel, Moses chose to be mistreated with God’s people, exchanging the wealth of Egypt for bearing the insults associated with Christ because he believed that the reward of Christ was greater than whatever Egypt could offer.
| What are some of the struggles that you have faced because of your faith? What have you had to give up for it? Why, ultimately, is the reward worth it, even if you can’t see it now? |
(1)The post Tuesday: Moses: Believing in the Unseen appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-moses-believing-in-unseen/
The titles of the thirteen Sabbaths of study this quarter give us two hymns to use as the themes:
Hymn 593 – In Times Like These and
Hymn 177 – Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness.
This weeks study gives us a wonderful Hymnfest as there are SO many hymns from which to choose.
The title of this week points us to
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,
Hymn 533 – O For a Faith and
Hymn 608 – Faith Is the Victory. The Memory Text takes us to
Hymn 507 – Moment by Moment (verse 1) as well as
Hymn 500 – Take Time to Be Holy (verses 2 and 3). The Sabbath afternoon reading concludes that “faith is the confidence in God’s promises” –
Hymn 518 – Standing on the Promises.
Sunday continues with the many hymns on our faith in God:
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee,
Hymn 100 – Great is Thy Faithfulness, and
Hymn 602 – O Brother, Be Faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 and Hebrews 4:14 encourage us to “hold fast” as does
Hymn 600 – Hold Fast Till I Come as we wait for the Lord to come in Habakkuk 2:2-4:
Hymn 217 The Church Has Waited Long. We are again reminded that “He will surely come again at the appointed time in Hebrews 9:27,28 as do
Hymn 200 – The Lord Is Coming,
Hymn 201 – Christ Is Coming,
Hymn 209 – That Glorious Day Is Coming,
Hymn 212 – ‘Tis Almost Time for the Lord to Come and
Hymn 213 – Jesus Is Coming Again. Yes, “God remains faithful to His promises says 2 Timothy 2:13:
Hymn 100 – Great is Thy Faithfulness.
For the faithful people we study (Abraham on Monday and Moses on Tuesday), there is Abraham in
Hymn 11 – The God of Abraham Praise,
Hymn 264 – O for That Flame of Living Fire (verse 2) and three hymns in which Moses takes a part:
Hymn 147 – Christ Upon the Mountain Peak (verse 2),
Hymn 264 – O for That Flame of Living Fire (verse 4), then
Hymn 449 – Never Part Again (verse 3). Towards the end of Monday’s study we see the hope of Abraham and we can also say in
Hymn 5 – All My Hope on God Is Founded.
As Rahab believed, we can have joy in our hearts as we sing
Hymn 486 – I Do Believe because
I Know Whom I Have Believed – Hymn 511.
We find on Thursday that our faith in Jesus sees us
Marching to Zion – Hymn 522 and what a glorious day it will be when we are face to face with our Lord, “Jesus in heaven” (Revelation 20:4):
Hymn 206 – Face To Face and we can then sing
The Glory Song – Hymn 435. This is all because “Jesus held His sight firmly on the reward, which was the joy set before Him, that of seeing the human race redeemed by His grace:
Hymn 337/338 Redeemed and
Hymn 108 – Amazing Grace with
Hymn 109 Marvelous Grace.
We are bound for The Promised Land! Hallelujah!! –
Hymn 620 – On Jordan’s Stormy Banks. Come, Lord Jesus, come – very soon.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.
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.”
(0)The post 11: Jesus, Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – Singing With Inspiration appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-jesus-author-and-perfecter-of-our-faith-singing-with-inspiration/
Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
