Giving from a Generous Heart

May 6, 2018 Background Scripture: Exodus 25:1 – 7; 35:4 – 29; Leviticus 27:30 – 33; 2 Corinthians 9:6 – 8 Lesson Passage: Exodus 35:20 – 29; Leviticus 27:30 – 33; 2 Corinthians 9:6 – 8 The various offerings presented in the scriptures can be grouped into four categories: sin offering, peace offering, tithe, and freewill offering. The first three are all specified by God and are not negotiable. Only God decides what is appropriate and how much is required. The freewill offering is unique in that it depends solely on the giver. God may specify what is needed of a freewill offering, but He leaves it up to the giver to determine what will be given based on the desires of the giver’s heart. If the need is for gold, the giver will decide if it would be given and how much will be given. The passage of scripture from Exodus describes God’s request for a freewill offering from the people of Israel that would be needed for the construction and furnishing of the tabernacle. Since God provided the plan for the tabernacle and its furnishings, He also provided the list of materials that would be needed to complete it. It is worth noting that the people did not bring the items all at once. Every morning, people kept bringing a freewill offering as they found it in their hearts to do so. The scriptures describe the disposition of the people as having their hearts stirred up or the ones whose spirit made them willing. This could be the reason why it was not all brought at the same time. Some people had not yet been convicted to give for the Lord’s work. But they kept bringing offerings according to God’s request for the tabernacle. The passage of scripture from the New Testament letter also describe a freewill offering. This was being received for the poor saints in the Jerusalem church. It is apparent from the letter that the Christians at Corinth had previously pledged to support the Jerusalem congregation, but they had not followed through by bringing the offering. Paul urged the Corinthians to complete their promise of giving before the missionaries arrived to receive it on behalf of the Jerusalem church. In the lesson passage, Paul connects blessings with the giving. He stated that liberal giving would yield liberal blessings and stingy giving would likewise yield stingy blessings. He reminded them that it was a freewill offering and that it should not be given in a grudging way as though they were being compelled to give it. They should be cheerful or rejoicing in the privilege of giving and this attitude would be pleasing to God. The first passage and the last passage in today’s lesson speak of a freewill offering. The middle passage from Leviticus speaks solely of the tithe (or tenth). The tithe is first introduced in scriptures as an act of faith on the part of Abram over five hundred years before the Law was given to Israel through Moses. In fact, Moses was yet to be born when Abram gave a tenth of his increase as an offering. Tithing was repeated by Abram’s grandson, Jacob, many years later but yet hundreds of years before the giving of the Law. When the Law was given, it included the tithe. It was included not just as an offering but as a holy thing unto the Lord. Including the tithe in the Law as holy, made bringing it an act of obedience and an act of worship. The tithe is an acknowledgement that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Bringing the tithe is an act of agreement that God is the rightful owner and the worshiper is a steward. With this understanding, whether it is the tithe or a freewill offering, the giver should be able to cheerfully bring both with a generous heart. Robert C. Hudson April 18, 2018

Blessing, Glory, Honor Forever

April 29, 2018 Background Scripture: Revelation 5:6 – 14 Lesson Passage: Revelation 5:6 – 14 The twenty-four worshipping elders of last week’s lesson are identified in today’s lesson. Identification is important whenever prophetic writing is under consideration. Prophetic writing is often a combination of facts, symbols, and images. As a result of this mixture of literary devices, prophecy can be extremely difficult to understand and interpret in the absence of clarifying statements or descriptions. Therefore, whenever something within the writing is identified, it adds a measure of clarity as far as understanding and interpreting the writing. In today’s text, the twenty-four elders sung a song of redemption. It is in the lyrics or the words of the song that they identify who they are. The words of the song declare, “and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”. The twenty-four elders consisted of individuals out of every demographic of people on the earth. They were redeemed by the slain Lamb of God. This description of the elders is the same description used for the New Testament church. Put another way, this list of demographics is an enumeration of the “whosoever will” group that heard the gospel message and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. This identification of the twenty-four elders gives us better context for considering the lesson. In the scene described by today’s text, John was viewing the “raptured” church gathered around the throne of God. Their garments and crowns were indicative that they had been glorified and had received their reward (crown of life). In today’s lesson text, the raptured church was worshiping the Lamb who had been deemed worthy to take the book of judgment from God’s hand and remove the seals. The removal of the seals would unleash the final judgments of God. Both heaven and earth will be affected by the final judgments. When the Lamb took the book, the elders and the living creatures worshiped and sang and offered the prayers of the saints before God. After this praise, millions of angels began to exhort the Lamb and declare that He is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. This then led to a universal praise of the Lamb by every creature in heaven and on earth. This universal praise declared that the blessings and honor for God and the Lamb should be eternal. To this universal praise the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders exclaimed, “Amen.” Judgment Day had arrived and the Lamb that was slain to be Savior was now the eternal Judge of the living and the dead. The church, twenty-four elders, was already in heaven before the beginning of the judgments. This was one of the promised blessings for the church; she would not come into judgment. The Lamb had taken the church’s punishment on Calvary. Because of this blessing, all the redeemed should proclaim “Blessings, Glory, and Honor to the Lamb forever!” Robert C. Hudson March 8, 2018

The Lord God Almighty

April 22, 2018 Background Scripture: Revelation 4 Lesson Passage: Revelation 4:1 – 6, 8 – 11 Tamela Mann sings it very well: “I can only imagine!” What will the first glimpse of God feel like to a mortal who at one time would have been instantly destroyed if he dared to look upon a holy God? I don’t believe there is any earthly experience or notion that could prepare one for such a face-to-face encounter. When John used the appearance of precious gems in an attempt to describe his encounter, we must appreciate that he is using earthly things that he was familiar with to try to describe heavenly things that were very unfamiliar to him and us. John’s descriptive language went as far as his previous exposure and experience could carry him. Today’s lesson begins with a lead-in that says: “after these things”. It is important to revisit “these things” before we proceed to look at the text for today. John is a prisoner on the island of Patmos; which is located in the Aegean Sea—an arm of the Mediterranean Sea east of Greece. John saw the risen Lord walking among seven candlesticks. He was told that the candlesticks represented the churches. It is refreshing and instructive to know that the Lord was walking among the churches and observing them. This is made even clearer by the Lord’s request. John was told to write a letter to each of the churches that contained an evaluation of the respective church by the Lord Jesus. John wrote seven short letters. Each letter was addressed to a different church as specified by the Lord. It was after “these things” that John saw an opening in the sky and heard the voice of the one he had seen walking among the candlesticks call him to come up into heaven. According to John’s account, after the invitation, he was immediately standing in the throne room of heaven. There he saw a figure sitting on the throne, twenty-four elders surrounding it, and four living creatures. John gave a dazzling description of the scene. The throne he saw in heaven appeared to be illuminated by many precious gems. (Can you imagine all of the colors of the rainbow emanating from the throne in shimmering fashion?) The throne was surrounded by twenty-four thrones that were occupied by the elders. The four living creatures praised God continuously day and night. Their praise elicited a worship response from the twenty-four elders who were arrayed in their white garments and wearing crowns. Their worship consisted of falling down before the throne and casting their crowns as an offering to the one who sat on the throne. The worship of the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures gives an indication of the awesomeness of God and what it must be like to be found in His presence where His glory has its full expression. Although the scene shifts between heaven and earth as the book continues to unfold, it should be noted that John did not mention the church on earth again until after all judgments had been rendered and a new heaven and a new earth appeared. The focus of the book from this point is on the Lord God Almighty and His judgments. Robert C. Hudson March 8, 2017

Follow Me

April 15, 2018 Background Scripture: John 21:15 – 25 Lesson Passage: John 21:15 – 25 Today’s lesson is a continuation from last week of the encounter between the risen Jesus and his disciples. At this time, most of the disciples of Jesus had encountered him for the third time after his resurrection from the dead. They were sure it was him, but they did not dare to ask concerning his identity. After they ate of the fish and bread that Jesus cooked on the shore, Jesus and Peter went for a walk. As stated in last week’s notes, Peter was a natural leader. If this group of disciples were going to get on the right track, then Peter needed to be on the right track because he had great influence over them. They were going to follow Peter. Jesus was preparing to leave and ascend back to heaven. His disciples will be tasked with winning the world for Christ by preaching the good news and demonstrating signs and wonders. Therefore, Jesus inquired concerning Peter’s devotion to him. Peter assured Jesus that he was still his friend. Jesus’ question and Peter’s response were like two ships passing in the night; they shared a common waterway but were heading in two different directions. Jesus’ inquiry concerning Peter’s personal devotion that could only be present as a result of benevolent love was answered by Peter in terms of mere friendship. The mission that Jesus was sending his disciples on demanded more than mere friendship from his disciples. They needed to exhibit a benevolent love towards Jesus that would lead to self-sacrifice for Christ’s sake and therefore, the sake of the gospel. If Peter could submit himself to this level of sacrificial humility, he would lead the others to follow likewise. Peter, likely suffering from self-doubt as a result of his epic failure of character during the pre-crucifixion trials of Jesus, could not bring himself to commit to the level of personal devotion that Jesus was asking of him. Jesus accepted Peter’s disposition for now with the admonishment to Peter that when he matures, he will be led by someone else to go places he would not want to. In other words, Peter would commit to this level of devotion to Christ later on as the Holy Spirit guided him. Peter would have his own day of crucifixion just as Jesus had his in submission to the will of the Father. When Peter noticed John following them, he asked Jesus, in essence, “What would be John’s fate?” The question brought a sharp response from Jesus. The answer to that was between Jesus and John and not a matter for Peter to concern himself with. Peter was to concern himself with following Christ. Too often, we fail to focus on our ministry and calling of God because we are too concerned about someone else. Each of us need to stay in our lane and not be consumed with how God chooses to deal with another Christian. Every relationship with Jesus is personal. How God interacts or what He requires of others in their relationship with Him should not be of concern to us. Every Christian should concern themselves with strengthening their personal relationship with Christ and then seek to help others do the same. Jesus beckons us all: “Follow me!” Robert C. Hudson March 7, 2017

The Risen Lord Appears

April 8, 2018 Background Scripture: John 21:1 – 14 Lesson Passage: John 21:1 – 14 Sometimes, we don’t know what to do with ourselves. We don’t always have the patience to just wait. Especially if we are at that awkward time between accepting the salvation of Christ and finding our place in ministry. That’s when we need to learn to wait on God for additional instructions through others, through prayer, through meditation on the word of God, or sometimes as a direct revelation from God. Unfortunately, right after we are saved, we still feel responsible for ourselves and our activities, or lack thereof; even though we might not know exactly what we should be doing at the time. The eleven disciples had all seen the risen Jesus at least twice, but now things were different. The environment was not like it was before the trials, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. They had seen Jesus, but he was not hanging out with them like he did before. Their relationship with Jesus just wasn’t the same. This was one of those occasions when Jesus was not with them and four of the disciples were not around; so, Peter decided to do what he knew how to do well. Peter declared, “I am going fishing.” The other six disciples who were with him announced that they were going to join him. (Peter was a natural leader. Even when he wasn’t sure what he ought to do, the others followed him.) They fished all night and did not catch any fish. Even professionals have those fruitless days. As the night gave way to morning, they saw a man standing on the shore observing them, but they did not recognize who he was. The man called out to them and asked how their fishing was going. They answered and told him that they did not have any fish. In other words, according to the fishermen, the fish are not biting today. The man on the shore told them to throw their fishing net on the right side of the boat. They complied and could not pull the net back in the boat because of the large catch of fish. At least three of the disciples in the boat were known to be fishermen by trade: Peter, James, and John. How could a stranger standing on the shore know more about fishing than these professional fishermen who had labored all night and come up empty handed? John knew the answer. John said, “That man is the Lord.” Peter put on his fisherman’s coat and jumped into the water to go to shore. The others followed in the boat; dragging the net full of fish. When they came to shore, they found the man cooking fish and bread on an open fire. How’s that for adding insult to injury. The fishermen had fished all night and caught nothing. The man on the shore had caught fish and was already cooking a fish and bread breakfast. He invited them to bring their fish to the fire and eat. Characteristically, Jesus served them fish and bread. Although they suspected this was Jesus, they all appeared to be too afraid to ask him concerning his identity. For all but Thomas, this was their third encounter with the risen Jesus. Jesus was still helping them be successful and serving them what they needed. This is the only recorded miracle of Jesus after his resurrection, and the only recorded instance of Jesus cooking! The risen Lord had appeared and was still amazing as ever. Robert C. Hudson March 7, 2017