Hail Jesus! You’re My King! - TRIUMPHANT AND VICTORIOUS - Lesson for 3/30/2014

Hail Jesus! You’re My King!

This review is brought to you by the Hope Temple Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

Zachariah 9:9| King James Version (KJV)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 21:1-11| King James Version (KJV)

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Last week, John was speaking to the churches of Asia-Minor and giving them a little taste of what God had revealed to him…Jesus, as He is a mighty Lion who becomes the slain Lamb who is worthy to handle the scroll in Revelation 5:8. This message of encouragement continues on to this week’s lesson, but now, Zachariah gets to share it!

How somber and hopeless life must have seemed for the people of God in Jerusalem. They have been persecuted and now set free after their seventy years of exile in Babylon, but their spirits are broken here. Though these are the times that test our faith the most, God always finds a way to refresh, revive, and reassure His people that their dedicated living and discipleship is NOT in vain!

God chose Zachariah, whose name translates to “Yahweh Remembers”, to lift up His people with a message of hope and expectation, as they sought to rebuild their city and their lives. Zachariah, who is a priest and a prophet, provides details about the coming of King Jesus. No doubt, there were preconceived notions that there would enter with fanfare with all the kings high palace horses, and all of the kings strong, decorated men, as they would already have been used to…since this is the way kings behave. When Zachariah told the people that their promised king would be entering, they knew exactly what to do! Gathering palm branches was another way to express “victorious ruler”. They were ready for Jesus, but He shocked them!

Instead, Jesus would come to them humble, meek, and lowly. His choice of transportation? A young donkey!

Side note: How many times do we imagine our experiences with God to be a grand event on a large scale? If God is coming to save us, and we anticipate our blessing to come one way, we may miss it altogether. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. “Come Lord Jesus, come!” should constantly ring out in our hearts. We should allow Him to bless us as He sees fit.

The people were amazed and ultimately felt patronage to God to make a path for their new King. They welcomed Him by cutting down branches and lining the ground with hay, all whilst crying out, “Hosanna!” which means save us!

As we approach the Passover, would it hurt to cry out for our own situations? Hosanna in our churches! Hosanna in our homes and marriages! Hosanna in our schoolhouses, Hosanna in our governments!  Hosanna in our own hearts and minds! Jesus has come to save us! Hail Jesus, You’re My King!

This lesson serves as encouragement, even in our own world. When we look around, there isn't a whole lot of wonderful news in this deteriorating world. We’re living to live again. But Christ has already come; He took our place on the cross and paid a debt that He didn't owe. (We owed a debt that we could never pay). So, now what? Well, you can be the hope that someone in your world needs. When you arrive, you should bring hope, revival, and refreshment into the lives of those around you, who are constantly let down by broken promises and the sense of helplessness that comes from building a house on sand, and not with The Solid Rock (Jesus). This is how we continue to honor Christ, in our daily living.

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What “HE” Said…SON OF DAVID - International Sunday School Lesson for 3/9/2014

This review is brought to you by the Hope Temple Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

 

Psalm 89:35-37| King James Version (KJV)

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

 

36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

 

37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7| King James Version (KJV)

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on is shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it     with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

 

Matthew 1:18-21| King James Version (KJV)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

 

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

 

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

With the scripture selection of today’s lesson, it feels like Christmas in March! We’re talking about the promise of the Christ child, who will come and save the world. But, this is more than just something to think about at the end of the year.

God’s master plan is being manifest, time after time, just as He promised David…through his lineage, God will establish an eternal kingdom, which would last forever. We know Jesus Christ is from everlasting to everlasting.

 

God is swearing by his own self-nature because there is nothing higher or greater. He’s confirming that once he promises, he will not take it back and all prophecies concerning it will be fulfilled.

 

Songwriter, Chris Rice, described it very beautifully in his song, “Welcome to Our World”.

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking, How we need to hear from God

You've been promised, we've been waiting, Welcome Holy Child

 

Hope that You don't mind our manger, How I wish we could have known

But long-awaited Holy Stranger, Make Yourself at home

 

Bring Your peace into our violence, Bid our hungry souls be filled

Word now breaking Heaven's silence, Welcome to our world

 

Fragile finger sent to heal us, Tender brow prepared for thorn

Tiny heart whose blood will save us, Unto us is born

 

So wrap our injured flesh around You, Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sins and make us holy, Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

 

Side Note: When God’s plan is in action, all things work towards the overall end goal! This is a great way to gauge whether or not something is heaven-sent and God-meant. Just look at Joseph, he knew what the “law” would have him do when he found that Mary was already pregnant, but, he covered her, being led by the Holy Ghost to do so in a dream. Things will work out!

The Bible declares that the choices we make today will affect our children, our grandchildren, and our descendants to come. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:") What will be YOUR choice?

 

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God Has Another Plan - AN ETERNAL KINGDOM - International Sunday School Lesson for 3/2/2014

This review is brought to you by the Hope Temple Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

2 Samuel 7:4-16 | King James Version (KJV)

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?

6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.

7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges[a] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[b] over my people Israel.

9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’”

To ground ourselves, take a quick look at the first 3 verses of this chapter. The ark of the covenant (see below) was carried back to Jerusalem. David loved the Lord so much that he wanted to use his wealth of resources, given to him by his great God, to build a grand temple in which to worship the Lord. Nathan, David’s most trusted confidante, has just “touched and agreed” with him that David should build the Lord a temple.

Image from Wikipedia

Side Note: This is a scripture that should resonate with spiritual leaders, especially pastors. When David told Nathan what his desires were, Nathan advised David to “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you” (2 Sam. 7:3), instead of seeking God first. It’s easy for us to see how this misjudgment could have occurred…looking at what Nathan witnessed, God was with David. How else could he have been this blessed in the city and in the field? The Lord MUST have been with him. Nathan was looking at the human track record of David, but only God knows our beginning and end, our peaks and valleys, or strengths and weaknesses. This is something Nathan could have never know was coming down the pike. Before a spiritual counselor responds from his/her position to those being counseled, understand that the response should always be one that has been given by the Lord, and not a common sense judgment call.

During this time, King David was experiencing triumph and victory at every turn. In this particular passage, he is reigning over Jerusalem and thinking ahead of how he will continue to honor God for His grace and favor. Nathan was a friend and encourager for David, but he was first a prophet for God.

We see here that the Lord is instructing David not to move forward with building Him a temple, through the counsel of Nathan. God said "No" to David's offer because David was a man of war, and God wanted a man of peace to build His temple. 1 Chronicles 22:8-10 explains this: But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight . . . a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest . . . He shall be build a house for My name.

So, God is honored that David would want to build Him a temple. He eases David’s mind and lets him know that He would provide a place for the people of Israel, which David loved. But, furthermore, God wanted David to understand that through his bloodline would come someone who come and “establish his kingdom…He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

An eternal kingdom could only be established by and for an eternal God. Jesus, the Messiah, is promised here. The answer of this promise is even greater than the original desire of David’s heart.

A key take away is the heart and mind of David. He was experiencing success and knew it was all because of God. His desire to “give back” is one that can set an example to those today who find great success in their business, family, health, gifts and abilities, and intellect. All of this comes from God. Always think about how to honor God by finding a way to give back.

Visit our International COGIC Sunday School Site.