COGIC Power for Living | LET ZION REJOICE – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/30/2014

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This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: know Isaiah's words of hope, good news, and rejoicing; express great joy through heartfelt worship for the Lord's salvation; and respond to God's blessing with exuberant worship.

BIBLE TRUTH: The psalmist and Isaiah tell God's people that God, who reigns above, is their help, shield, and salvation, and that they can put their hope in God and rejoice.

Isaiah 52:1-2, 7-12 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.

12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.

“Happy days are here again!” This is how the people of God felt after Zion was released from captivity and totally freed. Isaiah is so eloquently painting the picture of a princess who has awakened from a deep sleep and sees new beautiful clothing to wear!

Verse 1 begins with shaking the people of God awake, but to also put on her new level of holiness! God was standing by ready to save, heal, strengthen, and deliver…but THEY had to believe it and want it too. These instructions were a prelude of the preparation God was taking them through. “Get ready for your blessing!”

SIDE NOTE: Have you ever been in a really good revival? Many times, these mini spurts of faith-elevation sessions and rejuvenation weekends are just what the Christian needs to put a little spark back into their walk with God. The evangelist manages to push large amounts of faith-filled preaching to you during their tour, and it’s just what you needed! Day-to-day monotony become restrictive and could be a sort of bondage. Our spiritual (and natural) creativity and zeal suffer as a result. “Get ready for a breakthrough” “Believe God for it!” “Praise God in advance!” These events come to aid our walk with God and encourage us to rejoice our way into our blessing! Next time you hear about a great revival in your town, make your way there with tambourine in hand!

Further into the book, Isaiah shares God’s vision to him. He’s visualizing a messenger, specifically his feet, running across the mountains, carrying news of salvation, peace, and happiness! So, now we have Zion who has awakened from a deep and dusty spiritual sleep. She’s adored in her new level of holiness and purity, just in time to prepare for this wonderful news! Just seeing him makes Isaiah jubilant! Finally, everything is as it should be!

Apparently, the rejoicing is a bit contagious. The watchmen on the walls were probably alarmed at first, but then quickly saw that this messenger was bringing some really good news! They became excited as well and began rejoicing and giving thanks “at the mere sight” that the Word of God would be coming to them, and in advance! In verse 9, you see the praise seeping down to the people of Jerusalem. Remember, these folks were captives, persecuted, and weary. They must have begun putting the pieces together in their minds. FINALLY! The message of freedom and peace is here! So, they began rejoicing too!

One of the most important pieces of this passage is a different way Isaiah speaks about the holy arm of God in verse 10. We know the Lord’s arms can hold us and protect us from all harm. His arms are strong enough to uphold us in righteousness, but this verse says He is “flexing his muscles” in the midst of enemies and the nations…this means war!

SIDE NOTE: God’s holy arm indicates power and a strong fight. It’s okay to imagine God in a priestly robe, adorned in holiness and sovereignty. But, what about when He is in battle for us, His children. God will “roll up His sleeves” and “take it to the street” on our behalf. He’s willing to fight for us and we’re certainly NOT in this alone.

So, to answer this exuberant news, God’s people are prescribed to get out of Babylon. Walk away from these sinful and deserted places. Turn from sin and never return, don’t even think of looking back. Be a vessel for only the true and living God. As the lesson closes, God’s salvation is revealed. His people are free because God has made them free, not because they’ve escaped their enemies and fleeing the scene. The chains are broken, so they only need to take them off and walk. Their journey will take them towards the Promised Land.  

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COGIC Power for Living | TRANSFORMATION CONTINUED – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/23/2014

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This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: know what God's Word says about sharing our inheritance with all those who live among us; feel the importance of affirming and appreciating one another as children of God who have made, or can make, new beginnings together; and embrace new beginnings as gifts from God to be enjoyed with others.

BIBLE TRUTH: God provides opportunities for new beginnings throughout the Bible, today and for future generations to share with one another.

Ezekiel 47:13-23 | King James Version (KJV)

13 Thus saith the Lord God; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.

14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.

15 And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;

16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.

17 And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.

18 And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side.

19 And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.

20 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.

21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.

22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel is yet experiencing direction and guidance through visions from God, which are detailing exactly how territories are to be divided, flowing river paths, and a picture of the future worship place for the people of God.

His visions take on such intricate details and cause a sense of delightfulness as they unfold. Theologians point out the similarities of what is being witnessed by Ezekiel and the account of Moses. The Lord Himself is painting picture of the Israelites’ future. Beginning at verse 23, even Aliens, not of Israeli descent would even have a place to dwell, in this vision of new life, so long as they adopted the Mosaic Law.

In the usual fashion of our Lord, His covenant was based upon a two-way street…if you keep His law, you will eat the goodness of the land. It’s the only way that was ever in the design to receive our true inheritance, and it yet continues.

As we reflect upon the beginning of this series of lessons regarding Ezekiel to the end, there is a constant theme…the Glory of God. As seen through the trickle of water flowing from the rivers, to the deep roaring waters which cannot be contained, the glory of God continues to prevail in our own lives, even today. 

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COGIC Power for Living | A TRANSFORMING STREAM – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/16/2014

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This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: know about Ezekiel's vision of life-giving water; appreciate our covenant with God as an ever-deepening river of blessing and commit to communing with God daily.

BIBLE TRUTH: In Ezekiel's vision, water is the symbol of God's presence and blessings that flow God's sanctuary and are available to the earth and its people.

Ezekiel 47:1, 3-12 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

3 When the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

We’re continuing to see into Ezekiel’s vision and its meaning. The majority of the focus here is around the flowing water of the rivers. Look at verse 3. The water only rises to his ankles. In verse 4, it’s up to his knees. By the time we get to verse 5, there’s a pool so large that you can’t even pass over it. And, once this amazingly growing source of life continues to expand, everything within its path comes to life, flourishes, and thrives!

We all learned early on in life that roughly 71% of the world in which we live is covered in water. It can be found in the air, in rivers and oceans, glaciers, and even in soil. So, what’s the significance of this important element? Indeed, it is life’s precious resource. Without water, there would be no oxygen (the air we breathe), and no ability to grow food (the nourishment we need to thrive).

The symbolization of water seen in our lesson references the need for God to flow fluidly in aspect of our lives. Not only should God be consulted for external decisions that affect us, but the Holy Ghost be free to flow inside of us, to provide the leading and guiding that we need each day. All of God is all we need. When you find a life with no God, you’ll find a desert and dry-like being. Fruitlessness is commonplace there. Only god’s healing flow can restore, revive, and renew such places. The promise that God makes in these verse 12 holds true for us today. We have the blessed assurance that He will heal such places.

Listen to Marvin Sapps as he sings about rivers flowing!

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COGIC Power for Living | THE ALTAR, A SIGN OF HOPE – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/9/2014

THE ALTAR, A SIGN OF HOPE – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/9/2014

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This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

 

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: review the instructions Ezekiel received for building a new altar and making offerings; reflect on the atonement and renewal; and identify and use personal sacred spaces for atonement and renewal.

 

BIBLE TRUTH: The Israelites could hope for release from their iniquities by making sin sacrifices in the sacred space of the altar that stood before the Temple.

 

Ezekiel 43:13-21 | King James Version (KJV)

 

 

13 And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.

 

14 And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.

 

15 So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.

 

16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.

 

17 And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.

 

18 And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord God; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.

 

19 And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord God, a young bullock for a sin offering.

 

20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.

 

21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.

 

Still exploring Ezekiel’s vision, we see that God has a wondrous plan. Holiness has always been His way. Ezekiel’s vision has brought a restoration and salvation plan for the people of God. God left nothing up to the imagination of the people. No man can ever have the glory of what God has planned, as He NEVER shares His glory.

The sacrifices would need a sanctified place to be received. Special care needed to be given to ensure that the people of God knew EXACTLY how this place was to be used. This is considered a restoration because there was previously a system in place during the time of the Mosaic Covenant. Based upon the wayward hearts and minds, and what happens when a human leans unto their own understanding, this system was blemished and destroyed. The altar, in Ezekiel’s vision, was in the very center of the new temple. This is where true worship would be conducted.

SIDE NOTE: Our bodies represent the temple of God, if we are in Him. And, as in John 4:23, true worshippers are a breath of fresh air to God. His design has always been for worship to be at the core of our being. Our relationship with God must remain in calibration, otherwise we will be off kilter in our lives. When you hear people say, “I feel like I am missing something in my life”, it’s usually a tale tell sign that they are not in covenant with God and His plan for their life.

Imagine the refreshing which resulted from carefully executing God's plan, through Ezekiel's vision. Animal blood sacrifices for the atonement of sin in these chapters, was a precursor to that of the Son of God.

"What can wash away my sin?" NOTHING but the blood of Jesus. "What can make me whole again?" NOTHING but the blood of Jesus!

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COGIC Power for Living | GOD'S DIVINE GLORY RETURNS – Adult Sunday School Lesson for 11/2/2014

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This review is brought to you by the Kentucky First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.  

LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will: comprehend the vision of God's holy and merciful glory in the Temple; associate a sense of holiness of place with the presence and mercy of God, and grow in respect for the sacredness of worship settings.

BIBLE TRUTH: God's calming presence can be felt in sacred places where He is truly worshiped.

Ezekiel 43:1-12 | King James Version (KJV)

1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:

2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.

5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.

7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.

9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.

10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.

11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

If you have ever been involved in the building up of a home, work location, or, in this case, a new church…it’s really exciting! The developer or builder has to share their vision of the new facility with precise blueprints and even lay out the framework, so those who are looking on can understand what they will be moving into. This is what Ezekiel is doing for God’s people. He begins in verse 1, describing the physical dimensions of the temple. This is a refreshing change from when God is prescribing for the city to be destroyed in Chapter 9 of this book.

Ezekiel is having a vision, where the Holy Ghost is taking him on a virtual tour of the new temple! He sees the spirit of God coming into the east side, where it had departed Solomon’s temple previously when the Babylonians destroyed it. Then, in verse 3, the vision carries him into the inner courts. We all know that’s the location of the “Holy of Holies”. Only the most sacred could enter there. But, why is all of this so important? God is sharing through Ezekiel that the temple is a place for Him to rest His presence. This was to be a place of no condemnation or hypocrisy. Formerly, the Israelites and leaders defiled the temple by burying their kings too close to the temple. God has standards and His ground is sacred. They didn’t respect this in the past. Their actions were considered spiritual prostitution (verse 7). You can’t mix holiness with worldliness. God was willing to forgive His people, He allowed Ezekiel to champion His vision to let the people know they would be receiving another chance…but they MUST adhere strictly to His instructions, being careful not to deviate in any way, from the plan.

Take a look at the blueprint:

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