In God's Time

In this lesson we again deal with the vicissities of life, as described by Solomon. We will look at the contrast of life, and examine why we must rely on our faith ultimately. In our finite wisdom, there is no way we can obtain the depth of God's knowledge. Man's knowledge reaches a stopping point, God's knowledge doesn't. In this lesson we will take a look, at the things in our life that are constant. Become cognizant of the reality, that we are at God's grace and mercy. You are proven to be powerless in your destiny. That's not reason to be afraid, but know the God we serve is righteous and merciful. For those that believe and trust in his promises. He has assured you of eternal life. Giving you something to live for, in spite of lifes ups and downs.

Ecclesiastes 3
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Here we look at all the things that we encounter in life. A synopsis of sorts for the phases of our existence. A time to be born, a time to die. For every action, there is a reaction. Depending on the time, and to whom it happens. Sometimes we welcome death, in the form of the death penalty.Is whether we consider it good or bad. We forget the days the sun was shining, when it rains more than we think it should. There is nothing in life, that has just one side. What would happen if it were left up to us as individuals. Somewhere along the line we would mess it up. We would be shortsighted and biased, in our decisions. Any of these things mentioned above. What would happen if it didn't have an opposite. We might end up with an overpopulated,loud, swamp like world, full of hate.


Passage Ecclesiastes 3:14-15:

14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

It has already been set. God is not just the author and finisher of our faith, but of everything. There is nothing that needs to be added, and nothing that needs to be taken away. If we learn what God says about it. That's the closest man will come to full knowledge.

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive



Solomon didn't have an intercessor like we do now.I think sometimes we forget, the people of the old testament didn't have what Christians have today. We have his son Jesus, which is what makes us hold firmly to this hope. The same hope the writer of Ecclesiastes had. All things come to past, in God's time.

Next Weeks Lesson 4/ 30/ 2006

In God's Time

Bible Background* Ecclesiastes 3

Printed Text* Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 14-15

Devotional Reading * Psalm 34:1-8

Finding Life's Meaning

We examine the fact here that every aspect of life, was here before we came. Everything will remain after we are gone. No matter what you might accomplish in this life, it's only for a season. Now that we have come to understand Gods commitment to his children. We must nourish and develope our commitment to him. It is widely assumed that the book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, though that is not for sure. We do know that the writer was knowledgeable and had a diverse understanding of people in general. Wise like Solomon was known to be. The writer addressed how meaningless life is, in the absence of a relationship with God.

Ecclesiastes 1
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

The first verse is probably the first reason, this book is thought to be written by Solomon. The very first proclamation is, that all is just a passing moment in time. No matter what you accomplish on this earth. Here on earth your life must come to an end. We as Christians know, only those things we do for God will last. The only thing we can do, is surrender our personal lives. There is nothing else we can give him, he possesses all. When we look at nature itself. It gives us an example of Gods infinite power. When we consider the earths elements, the wind, water and the sun. They all continue to function, in spite of mans involvement. Man has made countless attempts to harness it's power. With little or no success. Man has been allowed to use them for our benefit, to some degree. Periodically we are reminded through hardship and disaster. We still cannot control what ultimately happens. It's only by Gods grace, we don't encounter their wrath.

Ecclesiastes 1:9:
9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

This is one of my favorite verses in the bible. Everything we see in this life, has already happened before. Using our earthly knowledge, or human logic. We wouldn't continue to be optimistic, and hope for better times. When we put our faith other than in God, we come up short. If we follow the laws of gravity,"what goes up, must come down". Or Murphy's law,"what can go wrong, probably will". Everything would would end with a negative result. There are two sides to everything even life. There is the good, and there is the bad. To embrace the good and alleviate the bad. We must accept and follow, Gods plan for our lives.

John 20:19-23:
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Here the disciples have confirmation, that Jesus has risen. They have ran to Jerusalem ,in fear of their own lives. In spite of being told on three different occasions, of his resurrection. They did not believe until now. Until they seen him with his pierced side, and the holes in his hands. They knew then beyond a shadow of a doubt. Jesus then commissioned them to carry forth the word. Having witnessed his ministry, and the miracles he had performed. Just as God had sent him, he was sending them. He blessed them with the holy ghost. Having equipped them with everything they needed. To boldly spread to the world, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next Weeks Lesson 4 / 23 / 06

Finding Life's Meaning

Bible Background * Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; John 20:19-23

Printed Text * Ecclesiastes 1: 1-9: John 20: 19-23

Devotional Reading * Luke 24: 36-48

God Responds With Life

I was perplexed, as to how to summarize this lesson. I prayed and asked God, for his guidance on how I should approach this. The focus isn't the transformation from the old to the new testament. I read it several times , gaining a new perspective each time I read it again. It finally came to me on a Friday evening, while I was in worship. Job is thought by some to be, the first book of the bible. It is presumed to have been written around 1500 B.C., by an unknown Israelite. Others believe the bible began with Moses and the Pentateuch, in the first five books of the bible. Which was written between 1446 B.C. and 1406 B.C. For Christians time is measured before and after the life of Jesus Christ. The bible was written in a time span of 1500 years. Then the lesson goes to the book of Mark, and his holy spirit inspired revelation. He talks about the persecution of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection. Being that this lesson is for Easter Sunday, it would seem it would be more about the resurrection of Jesus. Then it came to me it should be more about the grace of God. Job suffered more than most of us can imagine, to prove his devotion to God. Jesus Christ died for us, to give us the same opportunity. In the most dire of situations. God responds with life.

Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death ?

The lord speaks to Job, about his present situation. The Lord responds to Jobs question, with a question. He was asked things, he couldn't possibly answer. How can you question things, without considering where they came from? Who would know better than the creator himself? These verses explore the depth of Gods knowledge. Nothing is new to God, being that he created all. No one has died and ever lived to tell about it. We don't know what happens once you die.


Job 42
1Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job acknowledges the fact that God is over everything. Nothing can be hidden from God, he knows all. In the scripture God always presents himself in the form of the earths elements. We've witnessed Gods power in the form of water and wind. Think about hurricane Andrew Katrina, and the tsunami. They don't have a face, but we know their power. All controlled by our father God. Even until this day, no one has ever seen his face. He came to Job in the form of a whirlwind. Making Job know beyond a doubt, where this word was coming from. Nothing takes the place of God himself, intervening in our lives.

Mark 16
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.


9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

We then jump ahead in scripture, to the new testament. In the old testament, notice how Job never referred to Jesus. He made his appeals directly to God. Unlike we as Christians, have to do today. We have Jesus Christ to speak on our behalf. Most of us would have given up, long before the point where God made his presence known. Here Mary and Mary Magdalene set out to anoint the body of Jesus. They were wondering who would open the grave. When they got there much to their surprise the sepulchure was open, and Jesus was gone. Instead they encountered an angel. Who told them to go and tell the disciples and Peter, what they had saw. Tell them to look to see him in Galilee, as they have been told.

The disciples have scattered by know. In fear of their own lives. Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. The one he removed seven demons from. She went again and told the disciples what she had seen. They still didn't believe her. Then Jesus showed up before the two disciples, as they walked in the country. They came back and told the others. The others still didn't believe, he had risen. After seeing all the miracles Jesus had performed, and being in his company.Why were even the disciples so hard to convince? Could it be because we are suspicious by nature? There again goes that Adamic nature of man. Since Adam and Eve, we can't get past that. It's inherent in our behavior. Verse 7 in my mind, has particular significance. It singles out the disciple Peter. I'm sure he was feeling unsure of himself by now. Having denied Jesus three times. The call was to let Peter know just like us. If we've fallen we can get up. Just like he did for Job when it seemed all hope was lost. Like he did by sending his son Jesus, to die for our sins. God responds with life.

Why We Celebrate Easter

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Next Weeks Lesson 4/16/ 06

God Responds With Life

Bible Background * Job 38: 1-4, 16-17; 42:1-6; Mark 16

Printed Text * Job 38:1, 4, 16-17; 42: 1-2,5; Mark 16:1-7,9-14,20

Devotional Reading * Luke 24:1-9

When All Seems Hopeless

We dig farther into the calamities of Job. Last we were introduced to Job being offered up to the devil, as a test to his faith. We see Job was stripped of all his worldly possessions. We determined that's where it hurts the worse. In spite of his tribulations, he remained steadfast. We are instructed as Christians to ultimately trust God, to intervene on our behalf. I pointed out that not only is Job an example of patience, but perserverance as well. Last week were told what we should do, this week we talk about why.

Job 14
1Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.


11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

12So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

In verse 1 of the lesson, Job includes everyone within the sound of his voice, or readers of these words. Every living soul, is born of a woman. Here he says life will be short in comparison to eternity. Most of us live much longer than a few days. This is another example of a parable. Here we use the flower as an analogy. We can visualize how flowers bloom and die, all in a matter of seasons. We can make scripture live, when we view life in this manner. The next two verses describe to us death. Which we all can relate to, or at least understand.Once you physically die, on this earth that's all. You could be buried under water, it wouldn't matter to you.Zombies don't exist other than in the movies.

13O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

Here Job begins his pleas to God, on his personal situation. In his reverence to Gods sovereignty, notice how he asks on behalf of all mankind. Here he recognizes the unimmutable fact, that all power is in Gods hand. Job has questions like anyone else, but he takes pain to remain respectful. Something else we as Christians should emulate, about Job's behavior. Job did things decent and in order, even in the worst of times. We can't let troublesome times, cause us to revert to our worldly ways. Job is aware of his actions. He knows he hasn't done anything wrong. Here he is asking God, is there a reason for his suffering. Job knows he has been obedient, and feels he is not deserving. In spite of his devotion, he is still having these unexplained troubles. In my opinion Job is indirectly asking God, are you true to your word?

Job 32: 6,8
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Job 34:12:

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Job 37:14:

14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God

Job 37:22:

22Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

After Job has talked to his friends Eliphaz, who thought Job may have been a hypocrite. Bildad who wanted to rub the scripture, in his face. Zophar who wanted him to be aware, that it could have been worse. All of them had well meaning intentions. Nothing they said helped the situation though. Isn't that just like us today. In our limited knowledge we attempt to explain Gods actions. Choosing our personal desires over truth. Here we are introduced to the Buzite Elihu, son of Barachel. He points out that he respects the fact that Job is older than him, but he begs to differ with what he has heard. He is aware of the conversation, Job has had with his three friends. He is angered by the fact, that no one has pointed out the truth. They don't know the reason all this is happening. In man's vast reasoning he doesn't possess, the ability to figure out Gods plan. The answers can only be found with God himself. Elihu appeals to Job to hold fast to his faith. See what the end is going to be, and expect God to see him through. Elihu is reemphasizing when all seems hopeless. Rely on the author and finisher of our faith.

Funny !!!

A Sunday school teacher was giving her class the assignment for the next week.

"Next Sunday," she said, "we are going to talk about liars, and in preparation for our lesson I want you all to read the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark."

The following week, at the beginning of the class meeting, the teacher said, "Now then, all of you who have prepared for the lesson by reading the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark, please step to the front of the room."

About half the class rose and came forward.

"The rest of you may leave," said the teacher, "these students are the ones I want to talk to. There is no Seventeenth Chapter in the Book of Mark."

Next Weeks Lesson 4 / 9 / 06

When All Seems Hopeless

Bible Background * Job 14; 32:1-8; 34:10-15; 37:14-24

Printed Text * Job 14:1-2, 11-17; 32:6, 8; 34:12; 37:1, 22

Devotional Reading * Job 36:24-33