SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
YOUTH STS LESSON
LESSON: 136
TOPIC: THE PROMISED PROPHET
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 18:1-22 MEMORY VERSE: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).
The wisdom of God is past finding concerning all things. The Scripture says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). As Moses the leader of the children of Israel continued to give instructions and directives to them as they were about to enter the Promised Land, the Lord in His wisdom made provisions for the priests and Levites. The Priests and the Levites were His ministers. He therefore instructed His people to take care of them because they were not to have inheritances among them.
Question 1(a): What is an inheritance? (b) What are the inheritances of believers today?
Inheritance as used in the Scripture refers to privileges passed down to offspring. It includes the promise of God to Abraham and his descendants (1 Kings 8:36; Deuteronomy 4:21,38). With this, the children of Israel knew God (Jehovah) as their inheritance (Jeremiah 10:16; Psalm 16:5). However, the New Testament believers’ inheritance is through JESUS Christ who is the heir of God and we are joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:14-17). The inheritance covers both physical and spiritual aspect of our lives (1 Peter 1:3,4; Romans 8:17). Also, the inheritance in Christ is incorruptible, eternal and glorious (1 Peter 1:3; Hebrews 9:15; Ephesians 1:18)
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Question 2: Why did God promise to send Jesus as the Messiah of the whole world?
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus came to the world to save and redeem us from sin. Youths who receive and believe in Him will live righteously by faith (John 1:29).
PRECEPT FOR THE PRIESTS (Deuteronomy 18:1-5; 10:8,9; Numbers 3:6; 8:6-22; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; 1 Timothy 5:17,18; Hebrews 5:1-4)
The priests and the Levites were called by God to minister in the tabernacle. The Lord commanded them not to have any inheritance with their brethren. The Lord was the portion of their inheritance (verse 2). When we surrender our lives to Christ at salvation, we fully belong to Him. He therefore owns us, not only by creation, but also by redemption (1 Corinthians 6:19). However, the Lord who called them made adequate provisions for their welfare. He does not owe anyone nor deny His servants basic necessities of life (Isaiah
51:1,2).
Question 3: From our text, what were the provisions made by God for the priests’ and the Levites’ welfare?
“And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him” (verses 3,4). From our text, the Lord commanded that “they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire”. These offerings included animals from sacrifices, first-fruit of corn, wine and oil. It is our responsibility to be faithful in paying our tithes and offerings regularly.
Question 4: What were the duties of the Priests and the Levites?
“My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense” (2 Chronicles 29:11). The priests had great responsibilities toward God and the people. Some of them were: (1) to make sacrifices for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1-4). The ministers of the gospel do not offer sacrifices because Christ, our Mediator has done that for us (Hebrews 9:24-28). (2) To pray for the needs of the people (2 Chronicles 30:27; Hebrews 7:25). We are to intercede for others too. (3) To bless the people in the name of the Lord (Numbers 6:22-27). “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (verse 9). God is holy and perfect in nature. The children of Israel were charged not to learn the lifestyle and behaviour of the heathen nations. Today, the same charge is given to Christian youths. We are not to learn the abominations of the unconverted, neither should we keep Intimate friendship with the unsaved (Proverbs 22:25; Jeremiah 10:2). We must not join them in worshipping idols (Psalm 106:35,36) or learn their wicked ways. Abominations are detestable things which God hates. They include worshipping and sacrificing to idols (Exodus 8:26), committing immorality and homosexuality (Genesis 39:7-9; Leviticus 18:22,23), wearing of opposite gender’s dressing (Deuteronomy 22:5), wilfully choosing a wrong way (Proverbs 3:32), telling lies (Proverbs 12:22), etc. Those who commit such will be punished here on earth and in eternity (Exodus 18:12,13; Revelation 21:8). The only way of escape from eternal judgment is to repent now and ask for forgiveness.
THE PROMISE OF GOD-SENT PROPHET (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Genesis 3:15; Acts 3:22-26; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23; Daniel 9:25; Zechariah 9:9,10; John 1:41; 4:25,26; Isaiah 53:1-12)
“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (verse 15). This was a prophetic pronouncement from Moses, the servant of God. In this declaration, he was specific and clear about where the Prophet would come from among the tribes of Israel. The declaration was as a result of the desire of the children of Israel at Horeb when God spoke to them with thunderings, lightning and the mount was full of smoke (Deuteronomy 18:16; Exodus 20:18-21). In response to their request, God confirmed Moses’ prophetic declaration. Moses was a true and faithful prophet of God. He spoke and God confirmed his words (Hebrews 3:1-3). The promise of God can never fail because He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17,18). Although it may take many years before its fulfilment, it will surely come to pass because God cannot change (Malachi 3:6).
Question 5: From the fulfilment of this prophecy, how should we take the promises of God today?
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33). The promises of God will be fulfilled in our lives when we accept, believe and confess it into our lives “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). Some of the promises of God for youths include: salvation from sins, sanctification and Spirit baptism (Ezekiel 36:25-27), wisdom (James 1:5), healing and health (Jeremiah 33:14,6), provision (Philippians 4:19), guidance (Psalm 48:11), protection and preservation (Psalm 91:1-16) and all good things (Philippians 4:13). The promised Prophet and Messiah in our text truly has its fulfilment in Christ. “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:22,26). To fulfil His ministry and office, Jesus Christ has various titles for our benefits. Some of them are: Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1,2), Beloved Son (Matthew 3:16, 17), Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6), Door and Deliverer (John 10:7,9; Romans 11:26), Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:21-23), Faithful (Revelation 19:11), the Great One (Isaiah 19:20), the High Priest (Hebrews 3:1), the Invisible One (1 Timothy 1:17), the Judge of the whole world (Acts 17:30,31), the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15), the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14), the Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5), the Noble in character (Hebrews 7:26), the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Acts 3:14,15), the Qualifier of the unqualified (1 Timothy 1:12- 15), the Redeemer (Galatians 3:13; Revelation 5:9), the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2), the Teacher from God (John 3:1-3), the Uniqueness of the Father (1 Timothy 6:14-16), the Vine (John 15:1), the Worthy One (Revelation 4:10,11), and so on.
THE PROCLAMATION FROM GOD-SENT PROPHET (Deuteronomy 18:15,18,19; Acts 3:22-26; Hebrews 1:1,2; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Micah 3:8; Isaiah 1:18-20,16,17)
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (verse 18). The Prophet God promised to raise up has great responsibilities to fulfil His ministry. From our text, His main duties are: (1) God will put His words in His mouth and; (2) He will speak exactly all He would command Him to speak to the people. From the beginning, God has always used prophets to speak His words to His people. All true prophets always come with the words of God calling people out of sins to righteousness. Jesus Christ, the greatest Prophet from God did the same (Hebrews 1:1,2). He is the Beloved Son of the Father and the Father gave a commandment to all of us to listen to Him in all things. “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).
Question 6: What are the responsibilities of God-sent preachers and prophets, today?
Jesus said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19,20). The biblical responsibilities of God-sent preachers and prophets include: (a) to preach the word of salvation (Acts 13:26); (b) to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20, 21,27); (c) to warn every man of the judgment to come (Colossians 1:28); (d) to perfect the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13); and € to pray that the word would bear good fruits (Colossians 4:12). It is our duty to hear and obey the word of God (Deuteronomy 18:15). When we refuse to obey the word of God, there are great consequences here on earth and in eternity. The New Testament makes it clear that, “every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?” (verse 21). The way to know false prophets is through the message they preach. Since they are not sent by God, they do not have the truth and therefore cannot speak the truth. Also, their words will not be confirmed by God. There are great dangers in listening to false prophets. They will turn your hearts and affections from God, His words, service and worship. All true believers must stand against false prophets (2 Peter 2:1,2). To be free from the influence of false prophets, we must be watchful about the books we read, the messages we listen to and the fellowship we attend.
