Tuesday, September 20, 2016

“Everlasting Covenant” Adult Sunday School Lesson


International Sunday School Lesson
For Sunday September 25, 2016

Purpose: To see how we can engage with God and one another to keep God’s everlasting covenant

Bible Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Background Scripture: Isaiah 61

Key Verse: I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and dishonesty. I will faithfully give them their wage, and make with them an enduring covenant. (Isaiah 61:8)

Isaiah 61:1-4 (CEB)
(1) The Lord God’s spirit is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners, (2) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and a day of vindication for our God, to comfort all who mourn, (3) to provide for Zion’s mourners, to give them a crown in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, a mantle of praise in place of discouragement. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, planted by the Lord to glorify himself. (4) They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore formerly deserted places; they will renew ruined cities, places deserted in generations past.

Isaiah 61: 8-11 (CEB)
(8) I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and dishonesty. I will faithfully give them their wage, and make with them an enduring covenant. (9) Their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them will recognize that they are a people blessed by the Lord. (10) I surely rejoice in the Lord; my heart is joyful because of my God, because he has clothed me with clothes of victory, wrapped me in a robe of righteousness like a bridegroom in a priestly crown, and like a bride adorned in jewelry. (11) As the earth puts out its growth, and as a garden grows its seeds, so the Lord God will grow righteousness and praise before all the nations.


Some Thoughts by Burgess Walter

As I write this my wife and I along with our entire family are facing one of the most difficult moments anyone can face. Yesterday, we lost, but heaven gained, our 39-year-old grandson. Within a very short period of time, because of severe complications from a diabetic episode, Scotty was called home. It reminds us of how fragile life is, we consistently take life too lightly. In the twinkling of an eye everything changes.

We have great comfort from knowing, we did not lose Scott, we know exactly where he is.  I can assure you that in this deepest darkest hour God provides us with a comforter and His grace.

Today’s lesson is about being able to trust God and His covenants in our deepest darkest hours. I can assure you God is faithful and trustworthy.  I marvel at those that face these terrible times without hope and a peace that only He can provide. That would be hell for me, and I think it gives us an understanding that God’s goodness doesn’t wait till we get to heaven.  Glory for us is now as we walk and trust in a God that does not fail.

There is little more to say, I have experienced it. My hymn is simply “Jesus Never Fails”


1 comment:

Seun Afolabi Esq. said...

Accept our condolences. May his soul rest in peace and God grant members of the family fortitude to bear the loss.