THEME FOR BIBLE LESSONS FOR FOURTH QUARTER, 2018

The Church of God in Prophecy

For this quarter I feel it would be good to bring back from the archives a lesson series written by Bro. Leslie Busbee. For those of you who are new to this curriculum, Bro. Leslie wrote the Bible Lessons starting in the early 1980’s until illness overtook him in 2015. After his death in 2016, I had several people tell me that they surely missed Bro. Leslie’s lessons! Truly, he was a student of the scriptures and presented the truths of God’s Word under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As his daughter, I was personally aware of the burden, prayer and time he put into each book.

The scriptures presented in these lessons were very instrumental in showing me a personal vision of the church of God, securing my feet into a firm foundation of truth and helping me to stand amidst many opposing winds of doctrine. My prayer is that our readers today would also be blessed by a personal revelation of God’s church as we study His Word together.

The last three lessons of this series are about the birth of Jesus Christ, a topic that was especially dear to my father’s heart and “brand new” to him every Christmas season.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

 

OCTOBER 7, 2018

THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD’S HOLINESS

 

Isaiah 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

5 0 house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

 

MEMORY VERSE: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

—Psalm 48:1

 

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Despite the fact that many people profess godliness, use the name Church of God, and do not live up to the Bible’s holy standard, the plan and purpose for His Church remains the same. The Church of God is to be lifted up in holiness and righteousness above the confusion and evil of the world, in peace and purity from all sin. Her name is written in heaven, and she is a place of refuge from all the troubles of this life.

 

WORD DEFINITIONS

 

Isaiah 2:2 “ln the top of the mountains”: in the heights of perfect love and holiness of heart and life. “Above the hills”: above all the creeds and organizations void of spiritual life that are operated by men.

Isaiah 2:4 “Swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks”: Instead of fighting against each other with the Word of God, we apply the Word of God to our lives, upturning the soil of our souls, preparing us to let the truth grow and prosper in our hearts, and pruning off from our lives every unfruitful branch.

Isaiah 4:1 “Seven women shall take hold of one man”: This is definitely spiritual language and refers to the numerous organizations of men who recognize the right name of the Church, but are in darkness as to what it means to be worthy of that name.

 

LESSON BACKGROUND

 

The scriptures in our lesson today are referring to God’s Church in this present Gospel age. The prophet’s keen vision was transpiercing the ages with spiritual understanding of the people of God united under Christ, lifted up in His grace and holiness, taught of Him, being judged and redeemed by the Word and blood of Christ, and covered and protected by His blessedness.

This is what the Christian Church under Christ is to be like. It is purely spiritual language that we have speaking to us in our lesson today. It is not to be taken in a literal sense that the house of God is to be set in the literal mountains somewhere. Why, that would put it in Nepal/China among the Himalayan mountains where the common people would have no access! No, it is not to be carried out literally. It is a truly spiritual experience to have this high and holy way carried out in our lives in this world. Let us picture Zion, which is the spiritual name for the Church (meaning clear, bright, and sunny) in the light of our lesson as being lifted up above this old world of sin and sorrow, triumphant in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

 

DISCUSSION:

  1. Is it possible for us to attain unto the holiness and righteous heights of Zion in our human understanding and strength?
  2. What is the attraction that causes men and women to flow unto the city of God?
  3. What is the attitude of the worldly and carnal mind when confronted with the standard of holiness that God has for His Church?
  4. What will a sincere and humble soul who is thirsting for righteousness say when he sees the high and holy standard of the Church of God?
  5. What are we to do with the holy weapons of plowshares and pruning hooks?
  6. What is the invitation to souls today that is found in our lesson?
  7. Explain how people attempt to be called by the right name and yet wear their “own apparel.”
  8. What will be the status of everyone who remains in Jerusalem?
  9. How is the filth and blood purged from Jerusalem?
  10. What do the terms “Zion” and “Jerusalem” refer to?

 

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

 

Many times when the standard of holiness that God wills and designs for people today is preached and expounded, the reaction in the heart of man is, “Oh, I could never live like that!” or, “That is too high a plane for me to get up to!” or, “There is no way that man can live up to that kind of teaching!” Many accept these ideas and never seek to attain unto the holiness of the Lord.

I once heard of an old army captain back in the time of the early morning church. He had heard of the Christians and was curious to know who and what kind of people they really were. He crept up in the shadows near the Christians’ assembly and, from his unseen position, listened to what the preacher said. He was so struck by the high plane of living that was preached and brought out, that he came away and told his associates that there was no possible way for any man live to what that preacher had said. He went as far as to say that there would be only one way that it could be done, and he could not see how that would be, of course. The only way to live that way would be if a man could be changed from the ordinary and be given a new heart and mind. He recognized that man in his natural condition could not live like that, but what he did not realize was that God had a way to do just that; that is, give a man a new heart, soul, and mind.

The enemy turns many people away from the truth because of this. People need to realize that we can only successfully live a Christian life by being raised up by the power of the resurrection of Christ to His holy life of faith and love. This lifts us up in Him and we can bear the name “Church of God” unashamed, wearing the garments of holiness and feasting on His heavenly manna. Praise the Lord!

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

 

REFLECTIONS

 

Mountains have played a significant role in Bible history. God told Abraham to offer Isaac on one of the mountains of Moriah. Genesis 22:14 says, “And Abraham called the name of the place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” This is close to where our Savior was crucified on Mount Calvary near Jerusalem. God also spoke to Moses, gave him the law, and visited Israel on Mount Sinai.

The majesty of mountains speak to us of greatness, might, stability, permanence and strength. Psalm 87:1 states, “His foundation is in the holy mountains.” Psalm 125:1-2 says, “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.”

A mountain can also offer quietness, solitude and rest. The cares and responsibilities of this life can be so taxing and wearisome. Jesus often escaped the stress and noises of the crowd by going up into a mountain to pray alone.

We have also heard of mountaintop experiences. They are special places where God is revealed to us in a spectacular or wonderful way. Mark 9:2 tells us that, “Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.” The glory of the Son of Man was revealed to them in a wonderful way. The Lord will do this, at times, to prepare us for a difficult time ahead. “He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places” (Psalm 18:33).

Mountains have also been a place of hiding and refuge from an enemy. Jesus told his people that when they saw Jerusalem encompassed, they were to flee to the mountains.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills (The Septuagint rendering is mountains), from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). The Lord is our mountain of stability, strength, quietness, and refuge. Let us be thankful and continue to trust in His wonderful name!

—Bro. Bob Wilson