Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP210044S
|
00:01 Hello and welcome to the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:03 On behalf of the Panel, my name is Pastor James Rafferty 00:07 and we are studying the Sabbath School Lesson, 00:09 for the fourth quarter 00:10 and that lesson is entitled: 00:12 Present Truth in the book of Deuteronomy. 00:14 Now, we are on Lesson Number 5, The Stranger in The Gate 00:18 and if you don't have that lesson, 00:19 you can get it... you can acquire it 00:20 if you visit a local Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:23 and if you can't do that, 00:25 you can also acquire it by going online at: 00:28 ABSG.Adventist. org. 00:33 We are so thankful that you're joining us. 00:36 Don't go away because we'll be right back. 00:38 Music... 01:07 James: Hello Friends and welcome to our Sabbath School Panel 01:11 for 3ABN. 01:12 We are studying Present Truth in the book of Deuteronomy. 01:15 We are on Lesson number 5: The Stranger in Your Gate 01:18 and I am flanked by a super crew... 01:22 family of 3ABN Presenters. 01:25 My name is Pastor James Rafferty 01:27 and to my left, I have Jill Morikone. 01:31 Jill: Thank you Pastor James, 01:32 I'm excited to study the Word of God with you 01:34 and with you at home too. 01:35 James: Praise God and past Jill is Ryan Day. 01:39 Ryan: I'm Pastor Ryan Day 01:41 and I am excited to be a part of this Panel as always. 01:43 We're going to be talking about 01:45 your love for the strangers in Egypt. 01:47 James: Amen, and following Ryan... 01:50 Pastor Ryan Day is Pastor Kenny Shelton. 01:52 Kenny: It's always good to study the Word of God 01:54 and I do look forward to this... this lesson specifically. 01:58 James: Amen, praise God 01:59 and last but not least is Shelley Quinn. 02:02 Shelley: It's always so wonderful 02:04 to get to study with you... 02:06 we learn so much from each other 02:08 and I hope you're learning as well. 02:10 James: Amen... amen... 02:12 so our lesson begins with this phrase: 02:16 The Stranger in Thy Gate 02:18 and I've got Sunday which is an introduction 02:21 and then we're going to move into... 02:23 or Sabbath which is the introduction 02:24 and then we're going to move into Sunday: 02:26 Circumcise your hearts. 02:27 Of course, before we do that, 02:29 we need to ask the Holy Spirit to be here 02:33 and guide our minds and our hearts 02:34 and so, I'm going to ask Pastor Ryan Day 02:36 if he would pray for us. 02:37 Ryan: Absolutely... let's pray, 02:39 "Our Father in heaven, Lord, 02:40 we are so blessed and thankful 02:42 again to just be alive another day... 02:43 to be able to breath the fresh breath of life 02:46 that you gave us, Lord, 02:47 and here at this Sabbath School Panel table right now, 02:50 as we're going to go through these individual lessons, Lord, 02:51 may it not just be another lesson, 02:54 may it not be just another Sabbath School Panel 02:56 but may it be one that your Word just comes alive... 02:59 speaks to us Lord 03:00 and draws us to our loving Savior Jesus 03:02 and that goes for all of our Viewers at home. 03:04 Thank You for our Viewers and supporters 03:05 and may You bless them abundantly as well 03:07 as we go through this study today, 03:09 we ask in Jesus' holy name, amen. " 03:11 Panel: Amen... amen. 03:12 James: I was smiling just a little bit there 03:14 because in a sense, I'm a stranger in the gate here, 03:18 this is my first time to host a Sabbath School Panel 03:21 and my friends here... my family here 03:23 were reminding me of the things I needed to do and they said, 03:25 "If you forget something, we'll remind you... " 03:27 and so, they're all like this... 03:29 pray, pray, pray, pray, pray... 03:31 got it... got it... got it. 03:33 Often in my peripheral vision, 03:34 I'm seeing every one of them saying, 03:35 "Got to remember to pray. " 03:37 So, thankful for each one of you 03:39 and for this opportunity that we have to study together 03:41 and to be real in the Word of God. 03:43 Stranger in your gates... Sabbath afternoon. 03:46 You know, the lesson begins with this picture of God's love 03:51 and this picture is so powerful because it tells us 03:55 that love is the first and foremost commandment 03:59 because God brings to us 04:00 to love God with all our heart, mind and soul 04:02 and love our neighbor as ourselves 04:03 but the question I think that's really important for us to ask 04:06 right now... in the context of our world is: 04:10 what is love? 04:12 I believe love has been kidnapped... 04:14 I believe it's been misunderstood, 04:15 I believe it's been misinterpreted 04:17 and so, how do we understand love? 04:20 You know, do we understand love by what politicians tell us 04:23 love is and the loving thing to do is. 04:25 Do we understand love by what people tell us... 04:28 by what doctors tell us... 04:29 by what the majority tells us? 04:31 Is love defined by these... 04:33 these influences that are around us in our world today? 04:37 We believe here at 3ABN that love can only be defined 04:41 by the Word of God... by the Bible. 04:44 We need to open the Bible 04:45 and the Bible will define for us what love is. 04:48 We find that for example, in Exodus chapter 20 04:51 reading verses 1 all the way through to verse 20, 04:54 well verse 17... we realize there 04:57 that love is defined in the context 04:59 of the commandments of God 05:01 which begin... surprisingly enough for some people 05:03 with the phrase, "I am the Lord thy God 05:07 that brought you out of the land of Egypt... 05:08 out of the house of bondage, 05:10 thou shall have no other gods before me. " 05:11 That's the first commandment 05:13 and you see there as you read it 05:14 that it's inclusive of the gospel. 05:16 The gospel is the essence... the foundation of God's love. 05:20 His love for us motivates us 05:23 to have no other God's before Him... 05:25 motivates us not to take His name in vain, 05:27 motivates us to rest in all He's done for us 05:29 with others in His Sabbath 05:31 so, we see that in the Old Testament... 05:33 we also see it in the New Testament... 05:35 a very clear definition of love 05:37 in 1st Corinthians chapter 13. 05:40 Now, I want to tell you something interesting 05:42 about 1st Corinthians chapter 13. 05:44 That's the last place... the last book of the Bible 05:48 that you'd expect to have this incredible definition of love. 05:51 Now, most people... when they read 1st Corinthians 13 05:54 and Paul there waxes eloquent about what love is 05:57 and what love isn't... 05:59 if I have the faith of angels... if I have tongues of angels 06:01 and the faith that can move mountains 06:03 and give all my goods to the poor 06:05 and my body to be burned and I have not love... 06:06 love hopes all things... believes all things... 06:08 endures all things and if I have not love... 06:09 it profits me nothing. 06:11 The reason why this is the last place is because 06:14 1st Corinthians chapter 13... it's surrounded 06:16 with rebuke... admonition... 06:20 Paul is talking to a church that's supposed to be sanctified 06:23 in Jesus... and he actually identifies it that way 06:25 but it's filled with all kinds of backsliding and failures. 06:29 I mean, these people are Paul says: carnally minded. 06:32 They're... they're gluttons at the Lord's Supper... 06:35 they're... they're practicing sexual immorality 06:37 that isn't even heard of in the world. 06:39 These people are... are... are 06:41 coveting the gifts of the Holy Spirit 06:44 so they can use them to exalt themselves 06:46 instead of exalting other people. 06:47 This church is rife... 06:49 is filled with backsliding and apostasy 06:52 and in the midst of all that, 06:54 Paul identifies this principle 06:57 this... this amazing truth of God's love 07:00 and he does that because he knows 07:03 that the only way he can get church back on track... 07:06 that the only way we can get back on track 07:08 is if God's love is identified... 07:11 if God's love is focused. 07:13 In fact, Paul begins with a focus 07:15 in 1st Corinthians of God's love. 07:17 Again, he calls the church "Sanctified... " 07:19 that's an act of faith on God's part 07:21 when we think about the church and the condition it's in. 07:24 But when God acts in us... towards us by faith, 07:28 it motivates us to live up to what God sees in us... 07:32 our potential and that's what Paul does 07:33 and then he goes right to the cross... 07:35 you know, the job of the preacher 07:37 is to get across country to Calvary as fast as possible 07:41 and so, God gets across... 07:43 Paul gets across country to Calvary as fast as possible, 07:45 he talks about... in... in 1st Corinthians 1 he talks about 07:48 Christ crucified... he says, "Foolishness... it's... 07:50 it's ridiculous to... to the world 07:53 and to the... to educated... 07:54 but for us... the cross is the power of God... " 07:57 and I don't want to know anything else he says 08:00 in chapter 2 but Jesus Christ and Him crucified 08:02 and this love is what causes us as strangers in the gate 08:08 to realize something of God's character. 08:11 It draws us not only to God 08:13 but it draws us to His people 08:14 and the... the... the amazingly challenging thing is 08:18 is that many times when God's love comes into the human heart 08:22 and that person starts looking for God's people, 08:25 that sometimes they get in contact with the people 08:28 who aren't actually revealing the love of God. 08:31 Now, why is that? why is that? 08:32 I think one of the reasons is because we as Christians 08:35 many times are... are insecure 08:37 in our relationship with God... we're insecure 08:40 and we become negative... we become critical... 08:42 we become judgmental, you know, 08:44 there's a lot of hypocrisy that takes place 08:46 so, it's really vital for us... 08:48 if we find ourselves in the condition that Paul outlines 08:50 in 1st Corinthians... 08:52 it's really vital for us to saturate ourselves in God's love 08:55 so that... so that when we come into communion... 08:59 we come into fellowship... 09:00 despite our failures we know that God is there for us. 09:04 So, the lesson for Sabbath begins with this phrase: 09:07 The Stranger in the Gate 09:08 and then it goes into Sunday's Lesson 09:10 which has the title: circumcise your hearts... 09:13 circumcise your hearts. 09:15 Now, what does that mean? circumcise your hearts? 09:17 It's based in Deuteronomy chapter 10 09:20 verses 1 through 11, so let's just open our Bibles 09:23 there to Deuteronomy chapter 10 09:25 and we'll begin with verse 1 09:28 and we'll read all the way through to verse 11. 09:31 Deuteronomy chapter 10, 09:33 "At that time the Lord said unto me, 09:34 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, 09:37 and come up unto me into the mount, 09:39 and make thee an ark of wood. 09:40 And I will write on the tables 09:42 the words that were in the first tables 09:44 which thou breakest 09:46 and thou shalt put them in the ark. ' 09:47 And I made an ark of shittim wood, 09:49 and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, 09:52 and went unto the mount... " verse 3 09:53 "having the two tables in my hand... " 09:55 and verse 4, "And He... God... wrote on the tables, 09:58 according to the first writing, 09:59 the ten commandments, 10:01 which the Lord spake unto you in the mount 10:03 out of the midst of the fire in the day of assembly: 10:05 and the Lord gave them unto me. 10:07 And I turned myself... " verse 5... 10:09 "and I came down from the mount 10:11 and put the tables in the ark which I had made; 10:13 that there they be, as the Lord commanded me. 10:16 And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth 10:19 of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: 10:23 there Aaron died, and there he was buried; 10:26 and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office 10:29 in his stead. 10:30 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; 10:34 and from Gudgodah they went to Jotbath... " 10:37 I should have read these words ahead of time, I think. 10:39 Panel: Laughter. Ryan: You're doing great. 10:41 James: We need to have... 10:43 we need to have Ryan in here with the Hebrew. 10:44 "A land of rivers and waters. " 10:46 Now, the point here that I want to bring out 10:49 before we run out of time in this intro is 10:53 that... the... the... the... the act of God 10:56 re-writing the Ten Commandments 10:58 because you remember, Moses broke the Ten Commandments 11:00 almost immediately... 11:01 40 days after they had made this covenant with God... 11:05 they were dancing around the golden calf and partying 11:09 and Moses came down and... 11:11 in absolute horror he just broke the Ten Commandments 11:15 which was... 11:16 which was the evidence that the covenant had been broken 11:18 not by God but by the people. 11:19 So, God's re-writing of these Ten Commandments 11:22 was His way of saying, "I forgive you. " 11:24 Panel: Hmmm... 11:25 James: It was His way of manifesting love toward us 11:28 before we manifested love toward Him. 11:30 In other words, He's stepping back into this relationship... 11:33 He's stepping back into this agreement if you will... 11:35 He's stepping back into His promise 11:37 to put His law in our hearts and minds 11:40 and He's doing this by faith. 11:41 The tables of stone re-done tell us of God's forgiveness 11:46 and it's really important for us to recognize this 11:48 because when we look at the circumcising of our hearts, 11:52 it's the cutting away of our flesh 11:55 which really means, the cutting away of our dependence 11:59 on our flesh. 12:00 The reason why the people failed initially 12:04 in their covenant agreement with God 12:06 was because they were too quick to say, 12:08 "All that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient. " 12:11 They were too quick to rely upon themselves. 12:13 They were too quick to choose 12:15 the source of their strength as themselves 12:18 and God wants to cut that self-sufficiency away. 12:20 He wants to cut that self-dependence away from us... 12:23 away from our hearts 12:24 and so, circumcision was kind of like a... a symbolic way 12:28 of revealing... 12:30 picturing that relationship that God wants us to have with Him, 12:33 that cutting away of the flesh is that cutting away 12:36 of dependence on ourselves 12:37 and that's what the focus that we see here 12:40 in relationship to Sunday's lesson is. 12:42 Circumcision of our hearts was a reminder 12:45 that the law is there to convict us of sin... 12:48 the law is there to show us our need of Christ 12:50 but the law cannot save us, we're not saved by the law. 12:53 The law leads us to Jesus 12:56 so that we can be justified by faith 12:58 and so, God has to put that law in place. 13:01 If... if He doesn't replace the law of God, 13:03 we have no way of being convicted of our sins 13:06 and it's really interesting to me, 13:07 so many people today... 13:09 so many Christians today... 13:10 so many pastors today are saying, "You know, 13:13 that old law... those old Ten Commandments... 13:15 they were nailed to the cross. " 13:17 Really? So where does that leave us? 13:18 That leaves us without the conviction of sin 13:20 and if that leaves us without the conviction of sin, 13:22 where are we? 13:23 "If we confess our sins, 13:25 He's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins 13:26 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " 13:28 What if we don't confess them? 13:29 What if we don't know what sin is? 13:31 Romans 7:7, Paul says, "I wouldn't have known sin, 13:33 but by the law... " 13:34 in Romans 3 verse 19, Paul says, 13:36 "The law came so that every mouth will be stopped 13:39 and all the world will become guilty before God... " 13:41 and under that guilt, we're led to Jesus. 13:45 Panel: That's right. Wow! 13:46 James: We are led to Jesus to receive justification by faith 13:48 in His righteousness and not on our own. 13:51 So, that is our introduction 13:52 and from that introduction, 13:54 I'm going to hand it over to Jill. 13:56 Jill: Thank you so much Pastor James. 13:57 I just want to say this, 13:59 we're delighted to have you on the Sabbath School Panel. 14:01 Pastor James has been part of 3ABN for many years 14:04 as far as appearing on Programs, 14:05 but we're so glad that he's officially part of the family 14:08 and on Sabbath School. 14:10 You have a wealth of Bible knowledge, so thank you. 14:12 I have Monday which is: Love the Stranger. 14:15 Now, I took the liberty... 14:16 I'm not sure I ever did this before 14:18 with the Sabbath School Panel, 14:19 of re-naming my lesson. 14:21 So, the name of the lesson I've given 14:25 is: You are not the only one chosen. 14:28 Panel: Well... hmmm... 14:29 Jill: Let's look at Deuteronomy 4 verse 37 14:31 and we're going to look at a few verses here. 14:33 Deuteronomy 4 verse 37, 14:35 And because He loved your fathers... " 14:38 God loved... this is the children of Israel. 14:41 "Therefore He chose their descendants after them; 14:44 and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, 14:47 with His mighty power... " 14:48 The children of Israel were called out of Egypt. 14:50 They were chosen... they were delivered... 14:53 they were loved... 14:54 yet... they were not the only ones chosen. 14:59 Turn over to Deuteronomy 7, 15:01 we're going to look at Deuteronomy 7 15:03 verses 6 through 8. 15:05 "You are a holy people to the Lord your God; 15:07 the Lord your God has chosen you 15:10 to be a people to Himself, 15:11 a special treasure above all the peoples 15:14 on the face of the earth. 15:15 The Lord did not set His love on you 15:18 nor choose you 15:19 because you were more in number than any other people, 15:21 for you were the least of all the peoples; 15:24 but because the Lord loves you, 15:26 and because He would give the oath 15:28 which He swore to your fathers, 15:30 the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, 15:33 and redeemed you from the house of bondage, 15:35 from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. " 15:36 Panel: Hmmm... 15:38 Jill: Again it's the same premise. 15:39 God delivered them... 15:41 God redeemed them... 15:42 God brought them out of Egypt. 15:44 They were chosen... they were special... 15:46 they were highly favored... they were loved. 15:49 And yet, "You are not the only one chosen. " 15:53 Come down to Galatians. 15:54 Galatians chapter 3 verse 26, 15:57 we find that not only were the children of Israel chosen 16:00 but spiritual Israel... children of the promise... 16:04 the church of God today is chosen. 16:06 Galatians 3:26... "You are all sons of God 16:09 through faith in Christ Jesus. 16:10 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 16:13 have put on Christ. " 16:15 Jump down to verse 29, 16:16 "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, 16:19 and heirs according to the promise. " 16:22 The promises extended to the children of Israel 16:24 are extended down through the ages to you and I today. 16:27 We have become spiritual Israel. 16:29 If we are Christ's... 16:31 yet, we are not the only ones chosen. 16:36 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 16:37 Jill: 1st Peter 2:9, 16:38 you... we... are a chosen generation, 16:41 a royal priesthood, 16:43 a holy nation... " God's own special people, 16:45 that we would proclaim the praises of Him 16:47 who called us out of darkness into this marvelous light, 16:50 yet, we are not the only ones chosen. 16:55 Ryan: That's right. 16:57 Jill: Revelation 14 verse 12. 16:58 This is a verse we like to quote 17:00 as Seventh-day Adventists Christians... 17:02 "Here is the patience of the saints; 17:05 here are those who keep the commandments of God 17:07 and have the faith of Jesus. " 17:08 The testimony of Jesus... 17:10 God's end-time movement 17:12 would keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus... 17:14 the Spirit of Prophecy... 17:16 yet, we are not the only ones chosen. 17:21 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 17:22 Jill: It's easy to become isolated. 17:23 It's easy to become superior. 17:26 It's easy to become elitist 17:28 and say, "We are chosen... 17:30 we have the Spirit of Prophecy... 17:32 we pay tithe... 17:34 we eat vegemeat... 17:36 we keep the Seventh-day Sabbath... 17:39 we understand the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. " 17:43 Several years ago, 17:44 Greg and I had the privilege to go to Israel 17:46 and we went to the Dead Sea. 17:48 Now, when you see the river that flows into the Dead Sea, 17:52 it's beautiful and it's life giving 17:54 and it's powerful 17:55 but there is no outlet in the Dead Sea 17:57 and when you walk in... we swam in the Dead Sea. 18:00 When you walk in, you just float... 18:02 it's dead... why? 18:04 We can take in truth 18:05 but if we don't give... 18:07 if we don't share... 18:09 if we don't share who God is 18:11 and that the gospel is not exclusive, 18:14 the gospel is inclusive... 18:16 we become like the Dead Sea. 18:19 You see, we are not the only ones chosen. 18:21 Panel: That's right... hmmm... hmmm... 18:23 Jill: Turn with me to the book of Ezekiel. 18:25 Ezekiel 16... I love this passage. 18:27 If you look at the beginning, you see this unwanted baby 18:30 that is thrown out in the open field. 18:33 Nobody wanted it 18:34 and it was covered in its own blood. 18:36 Nobody cleaned it... 18:38 nobody wrapped it... 18:39 nobody covered it... 18:41 nobody cut the umbilical cord 18:42 and yet, God looked at this baby... 18:44 this is representative, of course, 18:45 of the Nation of Israel 18:47 and God said, "Live... I love you... " 18:49 is representative down through the steam of time of you and I. 18:52 I love you... I want you... 18:54 I will clean you... I will cover you... 18:55 I will marry you... 18:57 and then what happens in this nation... these people... 19:00 us... who God has called? 19:02 We look in verse 13... the second half of verse 13. 19:05 Ezekiel 16:13... 19:07 "You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. " 19:11 Your fame went out among the nations 19:14 because of your beauty, 19:15 for it was perfect through My splendor 19:18 which I bestowed on you... 19:20 But you trusted in your own beauty, 19:22 played the harlot because of your fame, 19:25 and poured out your harlotry on everyone 19:28 passing by who would have it. " 19:30 Why did they walk away from God? 19:32 They became proud in who they were. 19:34 Proud in what God had given to them. 19:37 God gave the beauty... God gave the fame... 19:39 the purpose of both was to point back to God. 19:42 Never never think that we are special because we have truth. 19:46 That truth is extended to everyone. 19:48 Because we were somehow chosen by God 19:51 because that call to be God's child is extended to everyone. 19:54 Because we were somehow wanted... 19:56 God wants all of us. 19:58 You see, the gospel is inclusive, 19:59 it's not exclusive. 20:01 The gospel is for sinners not just saints... 20:03 the gospel is for the outcast... the marginalized... 20:06 the stranger in your gates... 20:08 not just the accepted and the elite. 20:09 The gospel is for the stranger not just the chosen. 20:14 The gospel is for everyone. 20:15 Panel: Amen. 20:17 Jill: So let's look at Deuteronomy 10, 20:18 love the stranger 20:19 and as we look at loving the stranger, 20:21 we remember that we were not the only ones chosen. 20:25 God wanted everybody. 20:27 Deuteronomy 10 verse 17, 20:30 "For the Lord your God is God of gods 20:32 and Lord of lords, 20:34 the great God, mighty and awesome, 20:36 who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. " 20:39 What is he saying? 20:40 God is sovereign... 20:42 God is Lord over all. 20:43 God has supremacy over everything. 20:46 There are no lesser Gods... 20:48 God is the one true God. 20:50 He is the great God... He is the mighty God. 20:52 He is the awesome God 20:54 and in light of that in who our God is 20:58 and our God's sovereignty as the lesson brought out, 21:01 our God is impartial... 21:03 our God is fair... 21:05 our God is just. 21:07 Let's look at the next verse, verse 18, 21:09 "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, 21:12 and loves the stranger, 21:15 giving him food and clothing. " 21:17 This powerful God... this sovereign God... 21:20 this God who is above everything. 21:22 He cares for even the widows. 21:24 He cares for those who are oppressed. 21:27 He cares for the stranger. 21:29 He cares for all... 21:31 I think of... in the Word of God, 21:32 we have the widow with the two mites. 21:33 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 21:35 Jill: We have the widow of Nain 21:36 whose son... Jesus raised to life. 21:38 We have the widow of Zarephath who sheltered Elijah 21:41 and whose son was raised to life. 21:43 We have the widow... remember she collected the oil 21:45 to... the miracle was performed 21:47 to save her sons from being sold as slaves. 21:50 The next verse, verse 19... 21:52 "Therefore love the stranger, 21:54 for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. " 21:57 That word "stranger" in Hebrew 22:00 means a stranger... a foreigner 22:02 with no inherited rights. 22:04 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 22:06 Jill: We're called to love those not of our religion... 22:08 those not of our race... 22:09 those not of our culture... 22:11 those not of our status... 22:12 for we are not the only ones chosen 22:14 and if you look... the same word for "stranger" 22:17 the same Hebrew word is used 22:19 and God calls that this stranger 22:22 can also share in the Sabbath rest... 22:24 can also have like obligations to the Nation of Israel. 22:28 Can have similar rights... 22:30 can have similar privileges 22:32 and oppression against a stranger was prohibited. 22:35 So, my closing time... let's look at Psalm 146. 22:39 Psalm 146... we're going to pick it up in verse 5. 22:43 "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, 22:46 whose hope is in the LORD his God. " 22:48 What does that say? God is our helper 22:50 and you and I are called to extend help 22:52 to those who need it most. 22:54 Verse 6, "Who made heaven and earth, 22:56 the sea, and all that in them... is in them; 22:59 who keeps truth forever... " 23:01 what does that say? God isn't changing. 23:02 We are called to be consistent to everyone... 23:05 not just the people we happen to like. 23:07 Verse 7, "Who executes justice for the oppressed. " 23:10 God is our judge... 23:11 we are called to bring justice 23:13 to those who are marginalized and oppressed. 23:16 "Who gives food to the hungry. " 23:18 God is our provider... 23:19 we are called to give food to those who are hungry. 23:21 "The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. " 23:24 God is our deliverer... 23:25 we are called to set free those who are bound. 23:28 Verse 8, The Lord opens the eyes of the blind... " 23:30 God is our healer. 23:32 We are called to provide eyesight 23:34 to those who cannot see. 23:35 "The LORD raises those who are bowed down... " 23:37 God is our encourager... 23:39 we are called to encourage and lift up the downtrodden. 23:42 "The LORD loves the righteous. " 23:44 God is our friend 23:46 and we are called to love and befriend others. 23:49 "God watches over the stranger... " 23:50 He is our protector... 23:52 we are called to protect those who cannot protect themselves. 23:56 Panel: That's right. 23:57 Jill: Love the stranger in your gates 23:59 because you are not the only one chosen. 24:02 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... wow... amen... amen. 24:04 James: What a powerful, powerful thought. 24:07 God wants all of us... 24:10 don't go away... we'll be right back 24:12 because we've got lots more to cover. 24:13 Panel: Amen. 24:17 Music... 24:20 Ever wish you can watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again? 24:23 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter... 24:26 well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com. 24:31 A clean design makes it easy 24:34 to find the program you're looking for. 24:36 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:40 so you can follow along. 24:41 Sharing is easy... 24:43 just click "share" and choose your favorite social media. 24:46 Share a link... save a life for eternity. 24:49 James: Welcome back to the Sabbath School Lesson, 24:52 we're going to kick it off to Ryan for Tuesday's lesson. 24:55 How's that? 24:56 Ryan: That was great, amen, I love the energy... 24:59 I have to continue with that energy 25:01 because the two before me did such a fantastic job... 25:03 I'm Ryan Day and I have Tuesday's lesson 25:07 entitled: For You Were Strangers in Egypt 25:10 and I actually did not plan 25:12 to read this particular quote that came to my mind 25:15 as the two of you were going through Sunday's lesson... 25:17 Monday's lesson... 25:18 wow! this quote came to my mind, 25:21 this comes from Desire of Ages page 309 25:23 and it really just to me speaks to the idea 25:26 that again, the concept of 1st Corinthians chapter 13... 25:30 if we do not have love, what else really matters, right? 25:32 And, of course you know, ministering and... 25:34 to... to our brothers or the stranger 25:36 which is what I'm going to get into during this time... 25:38 this really, really applies here 25:40 and this is the... it's a lengthy quote 25:42 Desire of Ages page 309 but I want you to hear this, 25:45 tune into this... powerful message. 25:46 She says, "The greatest deception of the human mind 25:50 in Christ's day 25:51 was that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. 25:54 In all human experience 25:56 a theoretical knowledge of the truth 25:58 has been proved to be insufficient 26:00 for the saving of the soul. 26:01 It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. 26:05 A zealous regard for what is termed theological truth 26:08 often accompanies a hatred of genuine truth 26:11 as made manifest in the life. 26:13 The darkest chapters of earth's history 26:16 are burdened with the record of crimes 26:18 committed by bigoted religionists. 26:20 The Pharisees claimed to be the children of Abraham, 26:23 and boasted of their possessions of the oracles of God; 26:27 yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, 26:31 malignity, greed for gain, 26:33 and the basest of hypocrisy. 26:36 They thought themselves the greatest religionists 26:38 of the world, 26:39 but their so-called orthodoxy 26:41 led them to crucify the Lord of glory. " 26:44 And this is what she says, 26:45 "The same danger still exists... " 26:48 okay... even for us today. 26:49 "Many take it for granted that they are Christians, 26:52 simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. " 26:56 Okay... 28 Fundamentals... 26:58 all right... but notice... 26:59 "But they have not brought the truth into practical life. 27:03 They have not believed and loved it, 27:04 therefore they have not received the power and grace 27:07 that comes through sanctification of the truth. 27:10 Men may profess faith in the truth; 27:12 but it does not make them sincere, 27:15 kind, patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, 27:19 it is a curse to its possessors, 27:21 and through their influence it is a curse to the world. " 27:24 My goodness... have mercy. 27:25 You know, when I... as I was... 27:27 as I was listening to what you guys were saying, 27:28 that came to my mind simply because 27:30 you know, oftentimes we think that we... 27:32 we again... we're the... as Israel... 27:34 we're the elites... we're God's people... 27:36 you know, we're the remnant church of God, 27:37 we have all these powerful truths 27:39 and we do... we are called by God 27:41 but if we do not have love 27:42 and if we cannot minister again to the stranger, 27:46 because... why? 27:47 Because we once were strangers 27:49 and that's what Tuesday's lesson is all about. 27:51 "For you were strangers in Egypt... " 27:54 Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 19, 27:56 This is where we get this concept from. 27:57 It says, "Therefore... " 27:59 we have to ask... as Brother Asscherick would say, 28:01 "We have to ask, what's that 'therefore,'" right? 28:04 "Therefore... " He says, "Love the stranger, 28:08 for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. " 28:12 He's reminding them of their past 28:14 because God is pouring out His grace... His mercy upon them 28:17 even though they're unworthy... 28:18 even though they don't deserve it, 28:20 He's saying, "Wait a second, 28:21 you have strangers in your midst, 28:22 you need to be reminded that you also once were strangers 28:25 in a strange land and, in fact, 28:26 this was told to them in... 28:28 many, many years prior before this... 28:29 this bondage happened in Egypt, 28:32 of course what it's referring to... 28:33 Genesis chapter 15 verse 13, 28:35 we see there that God had specifically told Abraham... 28:38 it says there "Then He said to Abraham, 28:40 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers 28:42 in a land that is not theirs, 28:44 and will serve them, 28:45 and they will afflict them four hundred years. '" 28:49 So, in other words, 28:50 what God is trying to express here... is He's saying, 28:53 "Remember when you were on the margins of society... " 28:56 outcast... even slaves... 28:58 "and thus at the mercy of those who was stronger than you 29:01 and could often abuse you... " and indeed, they did that often 29:04 and though Israel was a chosen nation called by God, 29:08 a kingdom of priests... 29:09 as we see there in Exodus chapter 19 verse 6, 29:12 and though there were some differences between them 29:15 and the strangers among them, 29:16 especially in regards to, like, religious practices and services 29:19 you see when it came to human rights... and this is key here, 29:22 when it came to human rights, 29:24 the stranger... the widow... the orphan 29:26 needed to be treated with the same fairness and justice 29:29 as the Israelite expected for themselves... 29:32 "Love your neighbor as you love yourself... " 29:34 even the stranger... right? 29:36 and you know, this shouldn't surprise us 29:38 because even Jesus echoed these very words... 29:40 this very concept often throughout His ministry, 29:42 but what comes to my mind is Matthew chapter 7 verse 12, 29:45 right there, in the midst of that great, 29:47 beautiful sermon on the mount. 29:49 Jesus says these words in Matthew chapter 7, verse 12, 29:53 "Therefore, whatever you do... " excuse me... 29:55 "whatever you want men to do to you, 29:57 do also to them... " 29:58 notice, "for this is the Law and the Prophets. " 30:01 Right, that great beautiful rule of: 30:03 Do unto others as you would want done unto you. 30:06 But oftentimes, I think in Christianity, 30:08 we forget that principle. 30:10 We oftentimes sometimes get so focused on our own relationship, 30:13 our own knowledge... our own wisdom of God's Word 30:16 that we forget of the love that we need to be pouring out 30:19 and expressing to others. 30:20 Even that person that you don't know from Adam, 30:23 the stranger within your gates... 30:25 someone that may be from another country... from another faith... 30:28 from another walk of life... 30:31 with another different aspect of life and understanding than you, 30:35 how do you treat that person? 30:37 So, there's a few principles that I took away from this 30:39 that I... as I was studying this lesson, 30:41 a few principles that we need to apply as believers... 30:44 as Christians of the Lord. 30:45 First of all, the way we treat the stranger 30:48 is the way we treat God. 30:49 That's a... that's a... that's an important one. 30:52 The way we treat the stranger is the way we treat God. 30:54 Of course, this comes from Matthew chapter 25 30:56 where Jesus is talking about the judgment... 30:58 the separation between the sheep and the goats 31:00 and notice what He says here in Matthew 25, 31:02 we're going to read verses 24, excuse me, verses 34 through 40 31:08 and it says, "Then the king will say to those on his right hand, 31:10 'Come, you blessed of My Father, 31:12 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 31:14 from the foundation of the world: 31:15 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; 31:18 I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; 31:20 I was a stranger... " there it is... 31:22 "I was a stranger and you took Me in; 31:24 I was naked and you clothed Me; 31:25 I was sick and you visited Me; 31:27 I was in prison and you came to Me. 31:30 Then the righteous will answer Him and say, 31:32 'Lord, when did... when did we see You 31:34 when You were hungry and fed you, 31:35 or when You were thirsty and gave you drink? 31:37 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, 31:40 or naked and clothe You? 31:41 or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 31:44 And the King will answer and say to them, 31:46 'Assuredly, I say to you, 31:47 inasmuch as you did it to one of the least 31:50 of these My brethren... '" 31:52 He says, "you did it to Me. " 31:54 So, again, the way we treat the stranger 31:56 is the way we treat God. 31:57 There should be... this is another great point... 32:00 there's another great principle, 32:01 there should be no difference made 32:02 between us and the foreigner 32:04 especially in the eyes of God, there is no difference. 32:06 Leviticus chapter 19 verse 34, 32:09 notice what the Bible says, 32:11 again, Leviticus 19:34, 32:13 "The stranger who dwells among you 32:15 shall be to you as one born among you, 32:17 and you shall love him as yourself; 32:20 for you were strangers in the land of Egypt... " 32:22 there it is again... 32:23 "for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: 32:25 I am the Lord your God. " 32:27 And, of course, it's echoed even in the writings of Paul. 32:30 Galatians chapter 3 verse 28, 32:32 we referenced Galatians 3 earlier from Jill's lesson, 32:35 Galatians 3 verse 28, 32:36 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 32:38 there is neither slave nor free, 32:40 there is neither male nor female; 32:41 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. " 32:44 God sees us all the same 32:46 so, we have to remember, 32:47 we have to treat the strangers with love, why? 32:49 Because we once were strangers as well. 32:52 All right, let's go to our third principle here. 32:54 Foreigners are to be accepted as a part of the community. 32:58 Now, I'm going to reference these texts... 32:59 there's a lot of text here... 33:01 we have just a little bit of time left here 33:02 but I'm going to reference these texts 33:04 but make the points very clear. 33:05 Number 1: Cities of refuge were available to the Israelites 33:08 and foreigners in cases of accidental murder 33:12 and we see that in Numbers chapter 35 verse 15. 33:15 Also, point number 2 here, 33:17 foreigners were to be included in festivals and celebrations 33:20 mandated in the law, 33:22 so, this is found in Deuteronomy chapter 16 verse 14 33:25 as well as chapter 26 verse 11. 33:27 Some of the tithe collected by the priest was to be used 33:31 to not only feed them and their families 33:33 but also to help provide food for foreigners, 33:35 widows and orphans 33:36 and we see that in Deuteronomy chapter 14 verses 28 to 29. 33:40 Also, farmers... okay... 33:43 we are instructed to leave the... 33:44 leave the gleaning of their fields 33:47 for the poor and the foreigner, Leviticus 23 verse 22, 33:50 and to treat the stranger 33:52 as they would the poor among the Israelites, 33:55 Leviticus chapter 25 verse 35. 33:58 So, again, go back and watch this over again, 33:59 write those down 34:01 because those are very... very important points 34:02 that we also need to be accepting them 34:04 as part of the community. 34:06 Believers are to show hospitality to strangers. 34:08 Hebrews 13:1 and 2, why should we do that? 34:11 It says, "Let brotherly love continue, 34:14 do not forget to entertain... " or to give hospitality 34:17 "to strangers, for by doing so, 34:19 some have unwittingly entertained angels. " 34:23 You don't know who you're talking to 34:24 when you're talking to that stranger... 34:26 it could be an angel 34:27 and how you treat them again 34:28 is how you're not only treating an angel 34:30 but you're also treating the Lord. 34:32 And the last point that I want to make here 34:33 with the little time that I have left... 34:35 at the end of the day, my friends, 34:36 we are all foreigners just passing through. 34:38 Panel: Hmmm... that's right... that's good. 34:40 Ryan: 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 17, 34:41 "And if you call on the Father, 34:43 who without partiality judges according to each one's works, 34:47 conduct yourself throughout the time of your stay here in fear" 34:51 and the NIV... I love it, 34:52 it just makes it a little bit more clearer 34:54 as far as the word that's here, 34:55 it says, "Live out your time as foreigners here 34:58 in reverent fear. " 34:59 We're just a passing through. 35:00 We're all strangers in this land 35:02 but we're preparing for the Promised Land. 35:05 Panel: Amen. Ryan: I love that. 35:07 Kenny: Yes, praise the Lord, thank you. 35:09 You know, what I'm gathering already 35:10 from what I've heard already from the lesson is... 35:12 Jesus said, "On these two hang all the laws... " 35:14 right? Panel: That's right. 35:16 Kenny: Duty to God 35:17 and then, there's duty to our... our fellowman 35:19 and this is very clear... Lesson Number 5... 35:22 this is Wednesday's lesson, 35:23 I name is Pastor Kenny Shelton 35:25 and we're going to judge righteously 35:27 so, what we've learned beautifully there... 35:28 now, we've got to put it in operation... 35:30 Judge Righteously... 35:31 and I find sometime maybe... haven't always done that 35:35 and I think we need to. 35:37 There's an outcry in our land today... 35:39 I'm talking about a big outcry. 35:41 It's going on in our world today about justice. 35:44 We're all crying for justice 35:46 and sometimes we have to be careful, 35:47 if it's, "I want what's coming to me... " 35:48 be careful... you asked that... you might get it. 35:50 Now, think about that, 35:52 you know, everyone just wants a fair shake. 35:54 Really they do... just give me a fair shake 35:56 and so, you know, 35:57 our Constitution talks about giving us a fair shake 35:59 and it talks about life and liberty 36:03 and pursuit of happiness and justice for all. 36:05 That's what we're talking about here, 36:07 judge righteously so that's what we want. 36:10 Is it really possible to judge righteously? 36:12 Is it possible if we think about it? 36:15 Or give justice and equality 36:17 but listen, to someone who doesn't know Christ. 36:20 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 36:21 Kenny: Think about it, someone who doesn't know Christ. 36:23 someone who does know Christ, is there a difference? 36:26 If Christ is not in the heart, 36:28 we make, maybe different decisions. 36:30 How often we hear in the world that the... 36:33 about the weak and about the poor 36:35 and the... they never get the same advantages 36:38 as maybe the rich and those with, you know, the good job. 36:41 All of a sudden, I think about... 36:44 and you might... you might experience this, 36:47 you can go to an airport, you know, 36:49 and you can be dressed up 36:51 and may I say you get a little R E S P E C T. 36:53 You get a little respect... somebody still with me? 36:57 Yeah, dress up a little bit and go to a restaurant... 37:01 you get a little bit more respect 37:02 than if you go in like you're going to a picnic. 37:04 Not that maybe you want that... 37:06 but I'm just saying that it just seems like it... 37:08 that's kind of what happens... 37:10 that's not really judging righteously 37:13 because we... we prefer one above the other here... 37:17 we think maybe they have something 37:18 and... so we want to do a little more for them... 37:21 you know, tip might be a little bit more or something... 37:24 I don't know... you know... 37:25 it could be just that simple, you know. 37:27 Well, think about that. 37:28 We've been called to reflect the character of God. 37:31 I think that's very important in our Lesson. 37:34 Paul wrote it this way in Galatians 4:19. 37:36 I like the way he started out, he said, "My little children. " 37:39 I say that a lot of times, it just kind of... 37:42 not really jokingly but I say, 37:43 "Okay children lets... " you know, 37:45 those who are, you know, a little older in the faith 37:47 I say, "Come on children, let's go. " 37:48 Let's... I want it to be a little more respect, 37:51 Paul did it with respect, he said, "My little children, 37:53 of whom I travail in birth again 37:56 Christ be formed in you... " I like that. 37:59 We're not going to be any justice 38:01 unless Christ is formed within us. 38:02 When he says, "My little children... " 38:04 it's an expression to me of love that he has 38:07 but at the same time, he was showing spiritual immaturity 38:11 to these individuals... 38:12 he was looking at them... talking to them... 38:14 he understood where they were at spiritually 38:16 and he was trying to reach them and he says, 38:17 "Here I am... I'm going to have to travail 38:19 like a woman actually in birth again 38:21 until Christ is formed within you. " 38:23 People were coming into the church... 38:25 people were leaving the church. 38:27 They were... they were weak spiritually 38:29 and Paul was trying to get their attention 38:30 the way we should today... 38:32 he said... until Christ is formed within you 38:34 and that means... to me... 38:35 it's... it's full stature right there 38:37 in Ephesians 4:13. 38:39 Adventist Home page 423... 38:41 it says... there's an interesting quote here 38:44 "True polish... true polish and true politeness 38:47 is obtained only from a practical knowledge 38:50 of the gospel of Christ. 38:52 True politeness... true courtesy is a kindness shown to all: 38:57 high, low, rich and poor. " 39:00 Now, you can see a lot of the injustice done today... 39:02 it's just... there's not... the respect's not there... 39:05 the same is not shown, you know, 39:07 we... we... even in... in our job 39:09 or even in ministry sometimes. 39:11 We kind of look around like, "I'd better be careful... " 39:15 who... who can do the most for me? 39:17 Panel: Laughter. 39:18 Kenny: We have to be willing to do... 39:20 if we're doing it the way the Bible says... 39:22 the same for every person... it's the same. 39:23 Panel: That's right... amen. 39:25 Kenny: He's no respecter of persons... 39:26 we read some of those so we know that... 39:28 Jesus gave these powerful words 39:29 and again you read that, I think, Brother Ryan, 39:31 was that... somebody did... Matthew 7:12... 39:33 it's the... I call it the golden rule there, 39:35 "However you want men to do to you, just do to them. " 39:37 What a different world that would be... 39:39 what a wonderful place maybe it would be to live 39:41 and even in this world right here 39:43 if we just... would treat each other 39:45 the way that we would like to be treated. 39:47 Signs of the Times, September 9, 1886, it says, 39:51 "A willingness to do by... by others 39:54 as we would like them to do to us... " 39:57 notice, "would banish half of the ills of life. " 40:00 Panel: Hmmm... 40:02 Kenny: You know, we got a lot of ills in this life, 40:03 I mean, we agree with that, there's a lot of problems 40:05 but just simply treating each other 40:07 the way we'd like to be treated 40:08 is going to banish some of that, 40:10 we're... we're faced with... 40:11 I'm talking about a challenge in God's people. 40:13 His challenge is Number 1: to be holy... 40:16 Leviticus 19:2, "Be holy as He is holy. " 40:19 So, I'm challenged with that aspect... 40:22 I'm challenged with that but I know the possibility... 40:24 but I know all things are possible through Christ 40:26 and that's the one He's going to taking back to heaven with Him. 40:28 We have the... you might have brought out the principle... 40:32 we have... God's given us information 40:34 of how this can all be obtained 40:36 and actually it's through Him 40:38 and so, we just kind of take the one, two, three... 40:41 we give our life to Him... 40:42 we go to church... we give our offerings... 40:44 our tithes and we do this and we do that... 40:46 that was the same as Israel. 40:48 Israel had all the knowledge they needed 40:51 but it was all on the out and not in the inward man. 40:55 If they neglected the poor... 40:57 if they mistreated the weak... 41:00 what good was all the rest of it? 41:02 It's interesting notice... to do one thing right 41:06 and leave all the others undone, 41:08 Matthew 23:23, Jesus said, 41:11 "You have omitted... " what? 41:12 "the weightier matters of the law, 41:14 judgment, mercy, faith... " 41:17 these are... you to... what? 41:19 "have done, and not leave the others undone. " 41:22 See, we might do all these other things... 41:24 and hears good... people see it... 41:25 people hear it: blah... blah... blah... blah... blah... 41:27 but we're not doing what the Bible says to do. 41:29 Panel: That's right. 41:30 Kenny: So, are we really following 41:31 what Christ would have us to do? 41:33 Well, we need to maybe re-evaluate... I do... I know. 41:34 Our lesson gives four passages of Scripture 41:36 to try to figure out the common thing here, 41:39 maybe we can get as many as we can here. 41:41 Deuteronomy 1:16, it says here, 41:43 "And I charge your judges at this time, saying, 41:47 'Hear the cause between your brethren... 41:49 judge righteously between... '" what? 41:52 "every man and his brother, 41:54 and the stranger... " that you brought out there, 41:56 "is... is with him. " 41:57 Every one of us is to receive equal treatment. 42:01 Judges are to be impartial 42:05 but a lot of times when a person comes in 42:08 or you're trying to judge something... 42:10 we look at the outward of man... 42:12 one of our lessons brings that out a little further... 42:14 the faceless... they look at the face of the individual 42:17 and try to make a judgment based upon that. 42:18 Deuteronomy 16:19 says, 42:20 "Thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a... " notice this, 42:24 "a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise 42:27 and prevent the... the words of the righteous. " 42:30 So, sometimes you have to be careful about... 42:33 sometimes we give gifts 42:34 and it's a nice thing to be able to do all that and so on 42:36 but do we give everyone kind of the same gift? 42:39 Do we... do we spend the same amount on this one 42:42 as we do on this one over here? 42:44 Or will it do us some good if we spend more... 42:45 okay, you know what I'm talking about here. 42:47 Judge righteously is what the Bible is telling us to do. 42:51 God is no respecter of persons, why are we 42:54 unless there is some selfish motives of the heart. 42:57 When it comes to right doing... judgment cannot... 43:01 notice that... respect that person... 43:02 respect here... what does that mean? 43:04 "Respect" here means that we are not to recognize 43:07 that's the word "face" is here... 43:08 or show a difference between those... you know... 43:11 and the stranger. 43:12 We must be careful about bearing gifts. 43:15 I like to give... and you know, 43:17 everybody likes to receive gifts and I'm no exception to that 43:19 but we have to be careful. 43:21 Psalm 26... notice this... 10 says this, 43:23 "We must be careful of someone who... 43:26 in whose hand is mischief 43:28 and the right hand is full of bribes. " 43:31 Interesting... 43:32 in a sense could it be that we are trying to bribe our way? 43:36 You know, if we're not doing from the right motives 43:39 of the heart and treating everyone the same, 43:40 you know, I've often said to myself... 43:42 doing construction for years and so on and so forth, 43:45 we're all the same... 43:46 you may have a boss on the job... 43:47 you may this on here... and the work is a different... 43:49 we're all the same that's the bottom line. 43:50 All of us here... if we're required to into... 43:53 be careful now... 43:55 if we get into a septic tank 43:56 and shovel things you don't want to shovel, 43:58 I'd be the first to get in it... 43:59 be the first to get in 44:01 and then people are apt to... 44:02 to want to follow that, you see what I mean 44:04 so... that's... but no one's any better than anybody else 44:08 and so we need to make sure we judge properly. 44:11 Psalm 26:11 says... 44:13 tell us of our position as a child of God, 44:15 "But as for me, I will walk in my... " 44:18 notice this, "integrity... 44:19 redeem me and be... " what? "merciful unto me. " 44:23 Deuteronomy 24:17 says this, 44:27 "Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger 44:29 nor the fatherless, 44:31 nor take a widow's raiment to pledge. " 44:33 Justice is not to be denied even for the most helpless... 44:37 stranger... widow... we can't do that, right? 44:40 And you know, you see that when you... 44:41 when you go to court and you've got big bucks, 44:44 you can hire a big fancy million... is this okay? 44:46 Million-dollar lawyer to take care of you 44:49 and the other guy sitting next to you 44:51 might be as innocent as can be 44:52 but you're going to get a State's person appointed to you 44:55 who got so many cases, 44:57 he can't... he can't look after you... 44:58 somebody's not getting a fair shake 45:00 but God's asking us as Christians 45:02 to give everybody a fair shake 45:04 and don't be a respecter of persons... 45:06 God's not... why should we? 45:08 Panel: Amen... amen. 45:10 Shelley: This is a fired-up Panel. 45:14 I'm Shelley Quinn and I have Thursday's lesson: 45:19 Pure Religion Before God. 45:22 When you think about something that's pure, 45:24 it's uncontaminated 45:26 and I think that pure religion 45:30 is a relationship of love, 45:33 you know, I sometimes say, "We've got too much religion 45:37 and not enough Christianity going on. 45:39 So, pure religion is to have that love relationship with God 45:46 and then we are channels of His love. 45:48 This... I'm going to give you all a break this time, 45:50 we're just going to look in two different books. 45:53 Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 24... 45:58 Deuteronomy chapter 24 46:01 because it's so interesting to me... 46:03 you know, God directs His people in all aspects of life 46:08 how we are to act righteously 46:11 and that word "righteously" just means 46:13 it lines up with God's right way of doing and being. 46:19 So, in Deuteronomy 24 verse 10 is where we will begin, 46:24 this is what He's saying, 46:26 "When you lend your brother anything, 46:28 you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. " 46:34 That's interesting. 46:35 "You shall stand outside and the man to whom you lend 46:39 shall bring the pledge out to you. 46:42 If the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight" 46:47 you know... well, I'll break this down in a second... 46:50 "You shall in any case return the pledge to him again 46:54 when the sun goes down, 46:56 that he may sleep in his own garment, 46:58 and bless you: 46:59 and it shall be righteousness to you 47:03 before the Lord your God. " 47:05 I think this is so fascinating that God got so detailed 47:11 in what was righteous, pure, uncontaminated religion. 47:17 He is prohibiting His covenant people 47:21 from taking advantage of the poor 47:24 and, you know, loans to the poor 47:27 were made without interest 47:29 and they were subjected to the forgiveness of the unpaid debt 47:33 in the Sabbatical year now, 47:35 if somebody was a foreigner in commerce, 47:38 hey, they can charge interest on the loans 47:41 but people were to look out for the poor 47:45 and often, the poor had nothing but their outer garment... 47:50 their coat that they could use as a pledge 47:52 and here God is so tenderhearted, 47:55 He says, "Hey, if... if this is what he needs to stay warm, 48:00 even though you've taken it as a pledge, 48:02 give it back to him at night so he can sleep in warmth. 48:05 I mean, that's just amazing to me. 48:08 But the idea that he says, "Don't go into his house... " 48:13 God is showing that He has concern for the dignity 48:21 of the poor... do we? 48:23 Panel: Oh... oh. 48:25 Shelley: I mean, that's so important. 48:26 So, look at Deuteronomy chapter 24 verse 14 now, 48:32 because these principles are how we are to treat people 48:37 who are kind of under our control, if you will. 48:41 "You shall not... " this is Deuteronomy 24:14, 48:45 "You shall not oppress a hired servant 48:48 who is poor and needy, 48:51 whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens 48:55 who is in your land within your gates. 48:58 Each day you shall give him his wages, 49:02 and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor 49:06 and has set his heart on it; 49:08 lest he cry out against you to the Lord, 49:12 and it be sin to you. " 49:15 Day laborers counted on their wages 49:19 just to get by from day to day 49:21 and the rich could not withhold those wages, 49:25 even if they owed them a debt, 49:27 the rich could not garnish their wages as we recall 49:32 so, in the eyes of God, what does this say? 49:35 It would be sin to you... 49:37 it is a sin to oppress the poor. 49:42 We are to be God's witness. 49:46 We are to be walking memorials of God's truth 49:49 and His righteousness and His love... 49:52 His concern for all. 49:54 So, God is demanding them 49:57 to be kind to the weak and marginalized people. 50:01 That's pure religion in the eyes of God. 50:05 Now, let's turn to James because we're going to be 50:08 in James for a few minutes here. 50:10 James chapter 1... I'm going to look at verse 27, 50:15 James 1:27, 50:17 "Pure and undefiled... " unpolluted religion 50:23 "before God and the Father is this, 50:26 to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, 50:30 and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. " 50:34 Pure religion is based on worshipping God 50:38 and you know what the highest expression of worship is? 50:43 Obedience. 50:44 So, God is saying we are to demonstrate 50:49 by actions of compassion and sacrificial love. 50:53 We're to demonstrate His love to everyone else 50:58 and everything we do is done in God's presence 51:01 and you know this is interesting. 51:02 The orphans and the widows 51:05 generally can't reciprocate, can they? 51:08 So what... we're going to have a pure religion is... 51:13 we are being generous toward them 51:16 if our hearts are the right motivation 51:19 because if you're doing it for a tax deduction, 51:22 I think that's all you get. 51:24 Panel: That's true. 51:25 Shelley: You know, in Micah... we won't turn here 51:27 but Micah 6:8 says, 51:29 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; 51:31 and what does the Lord require of you, 51:35 but to walk justly... to love mercy, 51:39 and be humble before the Lord your God. " 51:41 So, let's continue in James chapter 2... 51:44 James chapter 2 verses... we'll begin with verse 1, 51:48 "My Brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, 51:52 the Lord of glory, with partiality. " 51:55 We've already said, 51:56 God doesn't show any partiality. 51:59 He is not a respecter of people... for... 52:02 verse 2... 52:03 "For if there should come into your assembly 52:05 a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, 52:07 and there should also come in a man in filthy clothes, 52:11 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes 52:14 and say to him, 'Oh, you sit here in a good place... ' 52:18 and say to the poor man, 52:20 'but you stand there,' or 'sit on this footstool,' 52:24 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, 52:28 and become judges with evil thoughts?" 52:32 Ooooh, haven't we all kind of fallen into this trap before? 52:38 Panel: That's right. Shelley: It is a trap. 52:39 The law of love and liberty 52:43 is to... obligates us to treat everyone equally... 52:49 without partiality to race... to rank or to wealth. 52:53 Giving greater attention... 52:57 greater social attention to the rich 53:01 based on their social status 53:03 or any superficial external circumstance. 53:06 What is he saying? 53:08 This is sin... ouch... 53:09 so, it's sin to cater to the rich 53:12 and hold the poor in contempt 53:15 and you know like you said, 53:18 I think sometimes when people do that, 53:21 you see somebody... 53:22 we went to a big... it was a big church ministry 53:26 not an Adventist church 53:28 but we walked in... JD and I... 53:30 we were all dressed up... 53:31 boy, they had Ushers 53:33 and they paraded us right down to the front row 53:36 so we could be on camera. 53:37 Panel: Come on now... hmmm... 53:39 Shelley: Catering to somebody... 53:42 sometimes I think we think we're going to get a... 53:44 maybe a bigger tithe or whatever... 53:47 okay, James 2:5 through 7, 53:50 James 2:5, "Listen, my beloved brethren: 53:54 Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith 53:58 and heirs to the kingdom 54:00 which he promised to those who love Him? 54:03 But you've dishonored the poor man. 54:06 Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 54:10 Do they not blaspheme that noble name 54:14 by which you are called?" 54:15 James 2 verse 8, 54:18 "If you really fulfill the royal law 54:20 according to the Scripture, 54:22 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well; 54:26 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, 54:30 and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 54:33 For whoever shall keep the whole law, 54:36 and yet stumble in one point, 54:38 he is guilty of it all. 54:40 Because He who said, 'Don't commit adultery,' 54:43 also said that you can't lust in your heart. " 54:46 So, the royal law is to love your neighbor as yourself 54:51 and favoritism violates this command. 54:56 It violates God's law 54:58 and if we break one, we're guilty of them all. 55:01 Panel: Hmmm... wow! 55:03 powerful... powerful... beautifully put. 55:04 James: What a great lesson! 55:06 what a great lesson... lots of good, good thoughts there. 55:09 We're going to just see if there is any closing comments 55:13 that our Panel would like to make... Jill. 55:15 Jill: It's an incredible lesson 55:16 I know, the Lord brought conviction to my heart 55:18 as we were just talking here together 55:20 and reading from the Word of God, 55:21 so, just remember that you are not the only one chosen. 55:25 That God so loved the world... 55:27 He gave His only begotten Son 55:29 that whosoever... that's anyone 55:31 believes in Him should have everlasting life. 55:34 Panel: Amen... amen. 55:35 Ryan: Amen... you know, how we treat others 55:37 is a reflection of our relationship 55:39 or lack thereof with God 55:42 and as we have seen here very clearly in this Panel today, 55:45 we... we need the Holy Spirit. 55:47 As... as the Holy Spirit fills us... 55:50 as we behold Jesus Christ in His Word, 55:53 we have the mind of Christ, we have the heart of God 55:56 and therefore, we can serve and love others 55:58 as Jesus has loved us. 55:59 Kenny: Amen, the thought I had was 56:01 there's a lot of unfairness... 56:03 it's everywhere in the world 56:05 but it should not be among God's people. 56:08 We need to pray about it and behold Him, 56:11 you know, and then we are to represent Him 56:14 to the world 56:16 and so, may God help each one of us 56:18 to do what we need to do 56:19 to make sure we love Him supremely 56:21 and love others as ourselves. 56:23 Shelley: Amen, and my Father says that 56:25 that the... the highest expression of God's law 56:31 is to love your neighbor as yourself. 56:33 Love God with all your heart and soul 56:35 and love your neighbor as yourself 56:37 and this includes the stranger in your gate 56:40 and even though the Ten Commandments 56:42 don't specifically talk about this, 56:44 it makes a mockery of our faith 56:47 if we don't follow what these words say. 56:50 Panel: That's right. Ryan: That's true. 56:53 James: The book of Deuteronomy... 56:54 the book of the law is all about love, love, love. 56:58 Loving the stranger... loving the foreigner... 57:01 loving without partiality. 57:03 No wonder Moses renewed it... 57:05 no wonder He said... God said, 57:07 "You've got to give them this law again... " 57:09 because we need it... 57:10 we need it to help us to understand 57:12 what it means to treat people with equity... 57:15 without partiality... 57:17 what it means to be impartial in relationship to race 57:20 and in relationship to riches 57:22 in relationship to rank... 57:24 you know, we... 57:25 God wants us to hold on to the principles of His law 57:28 so that we can understand and get our direction 57:31 in the way of love. 57:33 God's Word defines love. 57:34 Our community doesn't define it, the world doesn't define it. 57:37 No one around us can define love but the Word of God 57:40 and the Word of God has defined it really well in this Lesson. 57:42 You know, each one of us have brought out 57:45 what God... that God wants us 57:47 and that He wants the stranger 57:50 and He wants impartiality 57:51 and that He wants pure religion. 57:54 Panel: Amen. James: He wants all of that 57:55 and that's why He's given us this law. 57:57 So, praise God for the present truth in the book of Deuteronomy 58:00 and we're looking forward to continuing our Study 58:03 in this Quarter... join us next time. 58:05 Panel: Amen... amen. |
Revised 2021-10-27