The lessons for today were for our “5th Sunday” lessons, where we do a mix of scripture readings and songs that focus on a particular subject for lesson one, then the second lesson finished up with that same theme.
The subject for today was “Our Security” for both first and second lessons. Instead of images of slides from the lessons, or photos, below the lesson recordings you will find a quickly converted transcript of the lessons. Hopefully this will be more useful for study for our members and visitors to our site.
Click on the lessons below, then use the text further down to read/copy as needed.
Transcript (quickly edited)
Lesson One:
Below is a list of the passages, songs, and then invitation for lesson one:
- 2 Samuel 22:1-16
- 2 Samuel 22:47-51
- A Mighty Fortress
- Hide Me, Rock of Ages
- The Battle Belongs to the Lord
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11
- Philippians 1:27-30
- Be Still My Soul
- Awesome God
- Prayer
- 2 Samuel 23:1-7
- 2 Timothy 2:19-21
- Be With Me Lord
- How Great Thou Art
- I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
Invitation:
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 – “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.”
- 1 Peter 2:4-10 – “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.“ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,“ and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”
- All to Jesus I Surrender
- Thomas’ Song
- Lord’s Supper
Lesson Two:
- Many do whatever is necessary to have security.
- They put all kinds of locks on their houses, security and alarm systems and weapons to protect themselves with.
- Some even have trained security people to protect them from harm.
- Everyone wants security for themselves and their families.
- When it comes to the security of Christians, how do we look at this subject?
- Do we trust in ourselves or in others to provide a sense of security or do we look to God?
- Where does true security and long lasting security exist?
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Other humans – Psalm 118:8
- It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Houses (earthly possessions) – Amos 5:4-15 – “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live; but do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. Seek the LORD and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel-You who turn justice to wormwood, and lay righteousness to rest in the earth!“ He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; the LORD is His name. He rains ruin upon the strong, so that fury comes upon the fortress. They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Houses (earthly possessions) – Amos 5:4-15 – “Therefore, because you tread down the poor and take grain taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate. Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Riches – Psalm 49:6-14 – “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him-for the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever-that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit. For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the way of those who are foolish, and of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- National leaders – Psalm 146:1-4 – “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Earthly weapons – Psalm 44:1-8 – “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Oppression or Intimidation – Psalm 62:8-11 – “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Military might – Psalm 20:7-9 – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Other nations or allies – Isaiah 31:1-5 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together. “
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Other nations or allies – Isaiah 31:1-5 – “For thus the LORD has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise), So the LORD of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; passing over, He will preserve it.”
Things We Must Not Put Our Trust IN
- Other humans
- Houses
- Riches
- Nation leaders
- Earthly weapons
- Oppression or Intimidation
- Military might
- Other nations or allies
- Our security is not found in these!!
Who is Our Security?
- We read in the first assembly from 2 Timothy 2:19 that the Lord knows those who are His
- We need to trust Him with all our hearts – Proverbs 3:5
- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Who is Our Security?
- He is our Shield – Psalm 115:8-11 – “Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.”
- He is Our Shield
Who is Our Security?
- He is our Stronghold – Nahum 1:2-7 – “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”
- He is Our Stronghold
Who is Our Security?
- He is our Refuge & Fortress – Psalm 91:1-7 – “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.“ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place”
- He is Our Refuge and Fortress
Who is Our Security?
- He is Everlasting Strength – Isaiah 26:1-4 – “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”
Who is Our Security?
- We read in the first assembly from 2 Timothy 2:19 that the Lord knows those who are His
- We need to trust Him with all our hearts – Proverbs 3:5
- He is our Shield – Psalm 115:8-9
- He is our Stronghold – Nahum 1:2-7
- He is our Refuge & Fortress – Psalm 91:1-7
- He is Everlasting Strength – Isaiah 26:1-4
- How Can God Secure Us?
He knows those that are His
How Can God Secure Us?
- Ezekiel 9:1-11 – “Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.“ And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple.”
How Can God Secure Us?
- Ezekiel 9:1-11 – “And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.“ To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.”
How Can God Secure Us?
- Ezekiel 9:1-11 – “So they began with the elders who were before the temple. Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city. So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”
How Can God Secure Us?
- Ezekiel 9:1-11 – “Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!‘ And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.“ Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”
How Can God Secure Us?
- He knows those that are His
- Ezekiel 9:1-11
- The Babylonians have successfully fought against Israel
- Many have been taken into captivity (Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.)
- Nebuchadnezzar is coming back to destroy Jerusalem
- How can God possibly protect the faithful, the remnant?
- He gives Ezekiel a clear picture of His power and might in this vision.
How Can God Secure Us?
- God is our Strength and Salvation – Isaiah 12:1-6 –“And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’“ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
- How Can God Secure Us?
- He will never leave us or forsake us – Hebrews 13:5-7 (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 56:4) – “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.“ So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?“ Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
How Can God Secure Us?
- He knows those that are His
- Ezekiel 9:1-11
- The Babylonians have successfully fought against Israel
- Many have been taken into captivity (Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.)
- Nebuchadnezzar is coming back to destroy Jerusalem
- How can God possibly protect the faithful, the remnant?
- He gives Ezekiel a clear picture of His power and might in this vision.
- God is our Strength and Salvation – Isaiah 12:1-6
- He will never leave us or forsake us – Hebrews 13:5-7 (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 56:4)
Closing:
- To be pleasing to God, we must put our total trust in Him.
- We must not fear him who can kill our bodies, but fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.
- If we have confidence in God, we know He will keep us eternally secure if we will continue in His word.
- Do you want that security today?
- Then obey Him in faith!!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.