Week 34 Distinctions Between Light and Dark
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”
J.K. Rowling
Passage
1“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug.
2“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”
3Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.
4“Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
5“My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
6“Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane.
Isaiah 51:1–6 (NASB95)
"Cloudy Sun" by Richard Garten is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Background
Quote-Joanne Rowling born 31 July 1965, also known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She wrote Harry Potter, a seven-volume children's fantasy series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has sold over 500 million copies, been translated into at least 70 languages, and spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The Casual Vacancy (2012) was her first novel for adults. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, as Robert Galbraith.
Passage-The book of Isaiah is Narrative History, Prophetic Oracle, and even a Parable (chapter 5). The prophet Isaiah wrote it at approximately 700 B.C. (Chapters 40-66, written later in his life approx. 681 B.C.). Isaiah is the first book in the section called Major Prophets. They are called Major Prophets because of the large amount of material they wrote not because their message was more important than any other prophet’s was. Isaiah contains some of the most incredible prophecies of any book. It contains foreknowledge, in incredible details about the Messiah, and the future reign of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the book of Isaiah was to call God’s nation, the nation of Judah, back to faithfulness and to declare the coming Messiah “Immanuel”. God calls and commissions His prophet to declare to Judah and Israel condemnation, conviction, and ultimately great hope.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
We make decisions every day. We try to rightly divide the good from the bad. We believe we are good people. What do we believe about other people and what does all this do to influence the decisions we make?
Ask: Does the idea that both good and evil live inside everyone?
Point: It should.
Ask: Do you believe both good and evil are inside every person?
Point: First Reading R Romans 3:9–11 (NASB95)
Ask: This makes us all happy and filled with joy, right?
Point: Probably not.
Ask: Why not?
Point: This is a question to drive discussion. There is no wrong answer. The idea that we have the capacity to do evil within us should be disturbing because that means everyone has the capacity to hurt others.
Ask: Is this advantageous for us to know and admit as a fact of our personal make up?
Point: Yes. Knowing that the capacity to cause harm to others is within me means I can choose to not do that and instead choose to do good rather than harm.
Ask: Do you believe that good things await you, that you can do good for others and others can do good for you?
Point: Re-read verse 3 from today’s passage.
Ask: How do we obtain this good for ourselves and how do we give it to others?
Point: Re-read verse 4 from today’s passage.
Ask: When camping at night and the oppressive darkness is all around what do we bring with us to drive off that darkness?
Point: A flashlight, lantern, or we build a fire.
Ask: Has God given us a similar “flashlight” to drive off the darkness?
Point: Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (NASB95)
Ask: Re-read verse 4 of the Second Reading. If Satan is blinding the people of the world who cannot see the truth what does that mean?
Point: It means this is not a battle of flesh and bone but of spirit.
Third Reading Ephesians 6:10–12 (NASB95)
Ask: Walking around with a flashlight in bull armor can we hide?
Point: No.
Ask: If we cannot hide, we are going to be seen. What implication does that have on our faith and our belief in Jesus Christ?
Closing Statement
11It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:11–15 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Read the two Psalms at the end of this lesson and review the First Reading. Write in your journal as much or as little as you are lead to write about these three scripture as it relates to your walk with Jesus.
Question 2 Re-read the closing statement for this week’s lesson. Juxtapose the First Reading with the Closing statement and write your thoughts in your journal.
Question 3 What do questions one and two have to do with the title of this week’s lesson?
Question 4 What do the preceding three questions have to do with the light you carry for Jesus?
Scripture
First Reading
9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
11There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;
Romans 3:9–11 (NASB95)
Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-2
Second Reading
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
6For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (NASB95)
Third Reading
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10–12 (NASB95)
Fools of this Generation
1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.
2The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God.
3They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14:1–3 (NASB95)
1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good.
2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God.
3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 53:1–3 (NASB95)