Adult Quarterly THE NAMES OF GOD S PEOPLE. Prepared by David O. Johnson. Vol. 100, No. 4 ISSUED SEPTEMBER, 2014 FALL QUARTER

Transcription

1 Baptist Training Course Adult Quarterly Prepared by David O. Johnson Vol. 100, No. 4 ISSUED SEPTEMBER, 2014 FALL QUARTER Outlines by Don Price EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larry.clements@bogardstore.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wayne.sewell@bogardstore.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Kyle Elkins ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins Tammie Sutton CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Deby Turrentine Carolyn Burks Joni Curtis Becky Bazar Cordell PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Copyright 2014 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX THE NAMES OF GOD S PEOPLE Quarterly Aim: To show the many names and titles used in both the Old and New Testament to identify God s people. Since God chose Israel as His people, they carried His name. In the New Testament the ones who are identified with Jesus by Him or His inspired writers are the redeemed and have various names and titles. CONTENTS Lesson 1, September 7, 2014 My People Lesson 2, September 14, 2014 God s Redeemed Nation... 8 Lesson 3, September 21, 2014 Elect Lesson 4, September 28, 2014 Saints Lesson 5, October 5, 2014 Christians Lesson 6, October 12, 2014 Disciples Lesson 7, October 19, 2014 Sons of God Lesson 8, October 26, 2014 Babes in Christ Lesson 9, November 2, 2014 Witnesses Lesson 10, November 9, 2014 Brethren Lesson 11, November 16, 2014 Believers Lesson 12, November 23, 2014 Spiritual Lesson 13, November 30, 2014 Of That Way... 61

2 About the Writer David O. Johnson was born in Hot Springs, AR in 1953, was saved at the age of 7 and baptized by the Ethel MBC, Antlers, OK. Brother Johnson surrendered to the Gospel Ministry in 1976 and was ordained by the Trinity MBC, Camden, AR. He received training from Louisiana Missionary Baptist Seminary (Minden, LA), Missionary Baptist Seminary (Little Rock, AR) and Baylor University (Waco, TX). Brother Johnson has pastored churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. He presently serves as the pastor of Bethel MBC, Paris, AR. He has served as moderator of local and state associations, a member of the Standing Missionary Committee of the ABA, Secretary-Treasurer of Missions for the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma and has served on the Baptist Sunday School Committee since Brother Johnson has been writing BTC literature for Bogard Press since He is the author of one book, What We Believe and Why (published by Bogard Press). Brother Johnson is married to the former Dianne Bryant. He and Dianne have three children (Rebekah, Wendy and Timothy) and seven grandchildren (Blake, Bryant, Caedmon, Hannah, Brady, Jordan and Isaac). Johnson can be contacted at daveoj53@gmail.com. 2

3 LESSON 1, September 7, 2014 My People APPLICATION To show that God is quick to identify Himself with His people, Israel. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Exodus 3:7-22. Related Scripture: Exodus 7:4, 16; 8:1, 20-23; 9:1, 13, 17; 10:3, 4; 22:25; Leviticus 26:12; 1 Samuel 2:29; 9:17; 2 Samuel 7:8; 2 Kings 20:5; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 81:8, 11, 13; Isaiah 3:12; 5:13; 10:2, 24. Devotional Reading: Pharaoh Knew Who God s People Were, Exodus 5:1, 2. Introduction The lessons in this quarterly deal with the various names which are given to the people of God. Since the time of creation, God has dealt with humans in a special way. He did not create humanity as an exercise in futility (knowing they would rebel against Him). He created people so that He would have a race which would devote their worship and honor to Him. He wanted a special people who would be close to Him, and He could be close to them. They were to be His people. Early in history God determined to separate a special group of humanity to Himself. They would be the recipients of an eternal covenant. Their separation began with their forefather, Abram. God called him out while he lived among a heathen and idolatrous people. God wanted Abram to follow and obey Him. The descendants of Abram (whose name was changed to Abraham) would become the chosen nation of God. They would take their 3

4 name after the descendants of Jacob (whose name God changed to Israel, a name meaning he will rule or prevail through God ). Israel grew into a nation while dwelling in slavery in Egypt. The time came when God was ready to separate His people again. They would depart from their bondage and inherit the land promised to Abraham. They would become a nation in the eyes of the world. This lesson deals with the time God prepared a deliverer to lead this nation from slavery into freedom as a sovereign nation. It deals with God s call to His deliverer, Moses. The nation which would come out of Egypt was a special people to God. He wanted them to look upon Him with fondness and worship. To accomplish His purpose, God sent Moses to Egypt to free the Israelites. His message to Moses and the people showed how closely He associated with His people. 1. God s Message to Moses (Exodus 3:7-14) Moses had been raised by Pharaoh s daughter. The time came when he decided to be counted with his native people, the Israelites, and as a result, he had to flee to a different land. He spent the next forty years tending the sheep of his new family. Through these years, God had not forgotten His man. The Lord had a plan for Moses, and the plan was about to play out. It began with a message from God to Moses. A Message of Compassion (verse 7). God s words to Moses identified Him with His people. He called them my people (verse 7). Though many years had transpired and they were in dire circumstances, God still remembered them. He was keenly aware of the affliction and sorrows (verse 7) of His people. He had not abandoned or forsaken them. They endured this harsh treatment to prepare them for departure. Early in their time in Egypt, they had been guests of honor. People easily grow accustomed to comfortable conditions. God did not want them comfortable and accustomed to their lives in Egypt. It was not their homeland. They needed to be ready to move. Though they faced difficult and unpleasant circumstances, the Lord still remembered who they were. They were my people. A Message of Promise (verses 8, 12). Four hundred years earlier, the family of Jacob (Israel) had lived in the land of 4

5 Canaan. The land had been promised to them during the time of Abraham. It was their homeland even though they had not lived there for four hundred years. Now, God declared their rightful possession of the land. Though at that time, various tribes inhabited the land, it was Israel s by a covenant with God. It was a land flowing with milk and honey (verse 8), meaning a productive and beautiful land. To assure Moses and the people of their soon departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke of what they were to do when they were delivered. They were to come to the mountain and worship God there. That act would begin their religious life as a nation. The Lord promised they would depart and begin a new national life. A Message of Information (verse 14). Moses was uncertain about how to proceed. He had been away from Egypt for forty years. Why would the people believe him? How would they know God had spoken to him? The Lord wanted to give assurance to Moses and the people; therefore, He spoke of His identity. In response to Moses question about who God was, He declared, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you (verse 14). This is the great covenant name God had with Israel. Jesus applied this name to Himself when He declared, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). God s people should understand who He is. He has never hidden Himself from us. God gave valuable information to a man who would be His representative both to the nation of Israel and the pharaoh of Egypt. The message God gave to His man was important in challenging him to do the work to which he was called. Objections were answered, and Moses was to receive his instructions. Such a truth is valuable today. Christians should understand who has called them into service. Realizing the person and character of God will be a challenge to proper living and service. 2. God s Command (Exodus 3:15-19) God had a specific work for Moses to accomplish. He was to return to Egypt and stand before the pharaoh of the land with God s command, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go (verse 18). Before that command would be issued, Moses had to meet with the people of Israel. They needed 5

6 to be reminded that they were the people of God. This was the beginning of Moses work in Egypt. They needed to remember their spiritual heritage. Their God was identified as, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob (verse 16). Their national distinctiveness came through their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The covenant with their God began with Abraham and was passed from generation to generation. Their name was derived from Jacob or Israel. This name reminded them that their strength came from God. Only He could deliver them from slavery. They needed to remember their spiritual heritage. They also needed to remember His covenant with them. He had promised Abraham and his descendants they would possess the land of Canaan. The Lord s statement concerning the land of Canaan should have encouraged them because His promises are secure. Though the land was inhabited by various groups of people, it was rightfully Israel s land, and God would make sure they came into possession of it. The Lord told Moses that he would stand before Pharaoh and issue the command of God. The Israelites needed to go into the wilderness to worship their God. This was required. The Lord also warned Moses that Pharaoh would not listen to the command. And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand (verse 19). He would not readily release his workforce. It would take a mighty hand, strong compulsion for Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Though commanded by God, he would not quickly relent. 3. God s Provision (Exodus 3:20-22) The case had been laid before Moses. He knew God s purpose in delivering the people of Israel from bondage. Moses was the human instrument the Lord would use to accomplish His purpose. Now, He began to reveal how He would accomplish their release. God would bring terrible plagues upon the land of Egypt. I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders (verse 20). The wonders that He would do were marvelous and extraordinary. They were not common events which happened to fall in a certain order. These works of God were out of the ordinary 6

7 and brought difficulty upon the land. As plague after plague fell upon the land, the common people began to understand the God of Israel was something special. Even the idolatrous priests of the land had to acknowledge that the works being accomplished were from the finger of God (Ex. 8:19). The devastation on Egypt was so overwhelming that the people proclaimed, We be all dead men (Ex. 12:33). Every family in the land of Egypt was affected by the plagues. When the final plague fell upon the land, all people felt the loss. Every family lost someone when the firstborn of families and animals died. It was only after this terrible punishment that the pharaoh relented and allowed the people to depart. God had proven Himself to be true when He did smite [strike severely] Egypt with all my wonders (Ex. 3:20). God also provided for their future needs as He gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians (verses 21, 22). The people of Israel had worked as slaves for Egypt for years. They had built cities and memorials to Pharaoh. They had little to show for all their labors. Now, their wages would be paid. When God turned the hearts of the Egyptians toward the people of Israel, His people began receiving the wealth of the land. Gold, silver, precious stones and expensive cloth came into the possession of the Israelites. They were set for their impending journey. They were also ready for the time when God would instruct them on how to properly offer Him worship. They had gifts to bring for His honor and glory. God had given the wealth of Egypt to His people. Conclusion Israel is the chosen nation of God. They are His people. This began with Abraham and has not changed. Though the nation did not receive Jesus as its Messiah, they remain the chosen nation of God. The time will come when they will turn to Jesus and as a nation will embrace Him as their Messiah. Then, they will not only be the chosen nation of God, but they will be the children of God. What a glorious prospect for a people who today have not received Him. There is hope for the future. 7