God has made a covenant with many of you, but here lies the challenge: some of you have broken the covenant that the Lord made with you. Now, let me ask you, how can you expect the Lord to be pleased with you after breaking such an important promise?

Do you really think everything will be just fine after disregarding the covenant? My dear brother or sister, it simply can’t be well with you.

When we dive into the Word of God, we see that the Lord established a covenant with our ancestors. One significant promise was that Hebrew slaves would work for only six years, and at the end of that period, they would be set free. However, there was a troubling incident where some people freed their Hebrew slaves only to bring them back into slavery. As a result of this violation of the covenant, the Lord declared that they would become a horror to the nations. Yikes! Jeremiah 34:11
[11]But afterward they turned around and caused the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go free to return [to their former masters] and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

Reflective Questions about the Teaching

a) What covenant did the Lord make with the ancestors of the Israelites?

b) Did some of the Israelites break this covenant?

c) What actions led them to break the covenant the Lord had made with them?

d) What did the Lord say He would do to them in relation to the nations?

e) What spiritual realizations can we draw from this in our current context?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, grant me the strength to uphold the terms of the covenant You have made with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You know, fulfilling the purpose that the LORD has set for you truly hinges on receiving clear instructions from Him. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, though—how many of us, after receiving those divine instructions, still decide to take a detour? It’s like getting GPS directions and then insisting on using a map from the 90s!

As we deepen our relationship with the LORD, it’s essential to recognize that He can provide us with instructions meant for both the present and the future. Just look at Joshua! As he prepared to lead the Israelites across the Jordan, God gave him some pretty specific instructions to follow right then and there. He was told to gather leaders from each of the twelve tribes of Israel and have them collect stones from the middle of the Jordan River. These stones were to be piled at their campsite that evening— (Joshua 4:1-4)1. WHEN ALL the nation had fully passed over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,2. “Take twelve men from among the people, one man from every tribe,3. And command them, ‘Take twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm; carry them over with you and leave them at the place where you lodge tonight.'”4. Then Joshua called the twelve men of the Israelites whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.

Now, let’s take a moment for some reflection:

a) Are you aware of the instructions that the Lord has given you?

b) Have you received any instructions from the Lord that you should focus on now or in the future?

c) What specific instructions did the LORD give to Joshua to act upon immediately as he prepared to cross the Jordan River?

d) How purposeful are God’s instructions in our everyday lives?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m grateful for the instructions You’ve given me. I pray that I will diligently follow each one in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now, I’ve never seen a Muslim texting or WhatsApping when they step into a mosque—maybe I’m wrong, but they certainly honor their place of worship. So, what’s going on in the house of the Lord?

Sometimes, you might not even realize it’s the house of the Lord with all the distractions! The devil has truly succeeded in diverting people’s attention from their spiritual focus whenever they enter the house of the Lord.

You see someone texting during the sermon, or scrolling through WhatsApp amidst the worship program. Back in the days of Ezra, things were quite different. People genuinely honored the public reading of Scripture. When God’s servant Ezra read the book of the law of Moses, the people stood up in respect for the Word of God he was sharing. Nehemiah 8:5 reminds us: “Ezra opened the book in sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.” Now, that’s what I call respect!

Reflective Questions About the Teaching:

a) Do you honor the public reading of Scripture?

b) In what ways do you show your respect during the reading?

c) What happened when Ezra began reading the book of the law of Moses?

d) How has the devil managed to distract people spiritually, especially when they come to the house of the Lord?

e) What is your purpose for taking notes during our teaching?

f) Share some lessons you’ve learned in reference to this topic.

Confession Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, help me not to be spiritually distracted whenever I come into the house of the Lord. Let’s keep our phones in our pockets and our hearts open!

Have you ever wondered what puts a cap on God’s blessings? Well, let’s dive into this intriguing topic. It seems that God may reconsider His promises if we decide to turn our backs on Him and embrace evil.

How far you travel in life is primarily determined by your relationship with the Lord and your commitment to steering clear of sin.

One of the major hurdles to experiencing the Lord’s blessings is sin itself. Whenever we stray off the path, the blessings of the Lord can’t quite shine through us. It’s like trying to see the stars in broad daylight! Take a look at the book of Jeremiah. God declares intentions to plant and build a nation, but if that nation turns away from Him or ignores His guidance, well, the blessings take a backseat.

As Jeremiah 18:9-10 points out:[9] At another time, I will suddenly speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will build up and plant it;[10] And if they do evil in My sight, refusing to obey My voice, then I will regret and reverse My decision concerning the good with which I said I would benefit them.

So, let’s keep our hearts aligned with God and embrace the blessings He has in store for us!

Looking at David’s journeys, we see that he was supported during his time in a place called Mahanaim. He received food from a wealthy old man named Barzillai. However, as time passed and Barzillai grew older, David suggested that he could travel with him to Jerusalem, offering him all the resources he had. To this, Barzillai humbly replied that instead, his son Kimham should receive all that David had to offer. (2 Samuel 19:32-35)

[32] Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he remained at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. [33] And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem.”
[34] And Barzillai said to the king, “How much longer have I to live, that it would be worthwhile for me to go up with the king to Jerusalem? [35] I am this day eighty years old. Could I now [be useful as a counselor to] discern between good and evil? Can your servant appreciate what I eat or drink? Can I any longer enjoy the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be still a burden to my lord the king?”

Thus, Kimham was able to receive help from David,

Reflective Questions about the Teaching

a) What is the purpose of this note?

b) Who is Kimham?

c) Who helped David while he was in Mahanaim?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that as You prosper me, I will also be able to help others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, let’s talk about divine anger. Rest assured, it’s not something that just falls on you out of nowhere! Divine anger from the Lord is not aimed at those who are living in alignment with His purpose. Instead, it’s directed toward those who choose to go against His instructions.

If you decide to do the opposite of what the Lord guides you to do, well, you might want to brace yourself for some divine anger! Take a look at the people of Judah. They experienced divine anger because they turned their backs on the temple of the Lord and started worshiping Asherah. The result? They faced the wrath of the Lord, and it wasn’t pretty! As it says in 2 Chronicles 24:18-19: 18] They forsook the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their sin (guilt). [19] Yet [God] sent prophets to them to bring them again to the Lord; these testified against them, but they would not listen.

Reflective Questions About the Teaching

a) How can we avoid divine anger?

b) How relevant is this teaching to our everyday lives?

c) What lessons have you learned from our study of this topic?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that I will avoid actions that might bring divine anger upon me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Join a Bible-believing church where you will be nourished in spiritual truth!

As a leader, one of my key responsibilities is to share the vision that the Lord has bestowed upon me with others. By doing so, I invite them to join in bearing the burdens of the people and the ministry God has entrusted to me.

I’ve come to realize that the more you share your vision, the more it expands into unexpected and exciting territories.

Conversely, if you keep it all to yourself, it’s like trying to carry a mountain on your back—unpleasant and ultimately fruitless!

Let’s face it, you can’t shoulder the responsibility God has given you all on your lonesome! God is fully aware that we need a team to help us carry those heavy burdens. That’s why He has designed a plan to surround you with people who can assist in this endeavor. But here’s the catch—before they can help you lift the load, God intends to impart His spirit to them just as He instructed Moses to gather 70 leaders to help Him share the burden of the people with Him Numbers 11:16-1716]And the Lord said to Moses, Gather for Me seventy men of the elders of Israel whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; and bring them to the Tent of Meeting and let them stand there with you.
[17]And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take of the Spirit which is upon you and will put It upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not have to bear it yourself alone.

Reflective Questions About the Teaching

a) What was God’s reasoning behind asking Moses to gather 70 leaders?

b) In what ways were the 70 leaders going to support Moses?

c) What significant lessons can we glean from our spiritual approach to leadership?

Let’s dive into these questions with humor and humility, as we explore the wisdom of sharing our burdens!

Let’s face it: the vain of reproach kicks in when we start thinking we’re more important than the LORD. It’s like trying to outshine the sun—good luck with that!

The moment we lift ourselves above the Lord, we begin to disrespect Him and undermine His work. Just look at Belshazzar’s kingdom. God stepped in and divided it, handing it over to the Medes and Persians. Why? Because Belshazzar chose to defy the authority and holiness of the LORD. As it says in Daniel 5:28, “Peres, your kingdom and your kingship are divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (This was foretold in Isaiah 21:2, 5, 9, just to keep things interesting!)

So, let’s remember the importance of humility and keep our sights set on the true source of wisdom!

Many people struggle to fulfill their calling because they become too familiar with God.

It’s like we’ve taken Him for granted and lost the awe that should accompany our relationship with Him.

Consider the story of a king named Belshazzar, who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar. This guy threw a feast for his nobles and, in a rather questionable decision, commanded that the sacred cups taken from the temple of the Lord be used for his party Daniel 5:2-3
[2]Belshazzar, while he was tasting the wine, commanded that the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple [out of the sacred area–the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies] which was in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
[3]Then they brought in the gold and silver vessels which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

—definitely a no-no! As a result, God’s judgment fell upon him, leading to his downfall and death.

Reflective questions about the teaching :

a) According to our teaching, who is Belshazzer?

b) What underlying purpose is highlighted in this perspective?

Let’s remember: even in our humor and familiarity, we should never lose sight of the reverence that God deserves!

Let’s face it: the idea of overthrowing someone whom God has lifted is downright laughable! If God has chosen someone for a purpose, there’s simply no way to knock them off their divine path.

Take David, for instance. When God elevated him, a troublemaker named Sheba, son of Bicri, decided to stir the pot. He boldly proclaimed, “Down with the dynasty of David!” (2 Samuel 20:1). [1] “There happened to be a base and contemptible fellow named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet and said, ‘We have no portion in David and no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel!’” [2] And just like that, all the men of Israel followed Sheba, abandoning David. But guess what? The men of Judah remained loyal to their king, sticking with him from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

In the end, despite Sheba’s antics, he met a fitting fate—his head was cut off and delivered to Joab (2 Samuel 20:22). [22] “Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and cast it down to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his own home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.” [Eccl. 9:13-16.]

Reflective Questions about the Study

a) Can you really overthrow someone who has been lifted by God?

b) From the perspective, who is Sheba?

c) What realizations can you draw from this reference?

Confession Prayer

Dear Lord, I am grateful for this teaching and for lifting me into the pursuit of Your divine purpose. As You guide my steps, I declare that no one will be able to bring me down, in Jesus’ name. Amen.