A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 26g(a)

Topic: Responsibilities VIIa - Redemption Day I: I'm Saved

Series: Digimon, Power Rangers In Space

Episodes: Piedmon's Last Jest (Digimon), Countdown To Destruction II (Power Rangers In Space)

Lesson PDF link: 26g1.pdf

Introduction

This lesson session is the first of two sessions that focus on God's responsibility to save because He promised all humans this opportunity. It is of course our responsibility to accept Jesus's sacrifice for our sins. I use clips from the Digimon episode "Piedmon's Last Jest" and a clip from the Power Rangers In Space episode "Countdown To Destruction II". This lesson works with some of the specifics of salvation and has an altar call at the end. Everyone needs Jesus!!!!!

Scriptures Used Include: Psalms 40; Deuteronomy 23: 1-8; Leviticus 16; Revelation 12: 10-12; Isaiah 52: 13-53 :12; Hebrews 10: 1-18; Psalms 25; Galatians 3: 13-14; Psalms 91

We are talking about God's responsibility today and the next session in this final installment of the 'responsibilities' lesson set. The finale of this lesson set is reserved for what is God's major purpose in our lives now and forever, which is redemption. When you think of God's redemption, what do you think of? To illustrate this point, I will show an introductory clip and Bible study.

The first thing we will do is to show a couple of clips of a different kind this time. I will show a real life example of team spirit. Can you tell me if it is a good or bad example?

Cartoon Clip Show: Digimon: "Piedmon's Last Jest":

The Bible States (Psalms 40):

Ps 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD? he turned to me and heard my cry.

Ps 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Ps 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Ps 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Ps 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Ps 40:6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

Ps 40:7 Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come' it is written about me in the scroll.

Ps 40:8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.'

Ps 40:9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.

Ps 40:10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

Ps 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD? may your love and your truth always protect me.

Ps 40:12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

Ps 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

Ps 40:14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

Ps 40:15 May those who say to me, 'Aha! Aha!' be appalled at their own shame.

Ps 40:16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

Ps 40:17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Let's picture Gatomon as the God symbol for this part of the lesson. She is saving her friends from a very deep pit that has no net. I want to remind the class that Gatomon said "Kari, hold me tight and don't let go". Isn't this what God does with us all the time? This is meant for the entire digidestined team (all except the Digimon who could fly). As for the ones captured by Piedmon, the sheets or blankets that he is throwing to capture these people and Digimon are symbolizing curses. Piedmon is symbolizing someone that is evil or unrighteous trying to trap the righteous ones. In an attempt to show what God does in such cases even though it is admittedly a loose use of a set of scriptures (I am showing symbols of principles in this case; not the situation in itself) I want to refer you to Deuteronomy 23: 1-8.

The Bible States:

Dt 23:1 No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD.

Dt 23:2 No one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.

Dt 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.

Dt 23:4 For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you.

Dt 23:5 However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Dt 23:6 Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.

Dt 23:7 Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country.

Dt 23:8 The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.

Piedmon's kind of like these groups excluded from the assembly of the righteous. I want to definitely highlight the scripture section on Balaam because he was sent to curse Israel. God turned these curses into blessings. I think that perhaps the ones that got captured may have inadvertently been saved (believe it or not) by Piedmon and therefore the curse he intended would be turned into blessings. The reason I think this is because any one of them could have slipped off of the trapeze and fallen to their death. What does the class think of this thought? Because Gatomon is the God symbol here we need to realize that falling down into the pit is like going astray from God and therefore needing spiritual redemption lest we fall to the bottom and die. Remember the pit of sin has no safety net. It only offers a death-dealing landing. So, God saves us from the slimy pit of sin. If one doesn't know God, this person may ask how this is done. This person may even think that he/she doesn't need saving. A person that doesn't think that redemption is needed is going to be in shame not glory when it runs its course. God has had this in mind from the beginning of sin. In the past, God said to do things this way.

The Bible States:

Lev 16:1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD.

Lev 16:2 The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

Lev 16:3 'This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Lev 16:4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.

Lev 16:5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Lev 16:6 'Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.

Lev 16:7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 16:8 He is to cast lots for the two goats'one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.

Lev 16:9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering.

Lev 16:10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.

Lev 16:11 'Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.

Lev 16:12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain.

Lev 16:13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

Lev 16:14 He is to take some of the bull's blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.

Lev 16:15 'He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it.

Lev 16:16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Lev 16:17 No one is to be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

Lev 16:18 'Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.

Lev 16:19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Lev 16:20 'When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.

Lev 16:21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites'all their sins'and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.

Lev 16:22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the desert.

Lev 16:23 'Then Aaron is to go into the Tent of Meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.

Lev 16:24 He shall bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people.

Lev 16:25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

Lev 16:26 'The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.

Lev 16:27 The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; their hides, flesh and offal are to be burned up.

Lev 16:28 The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.

Lev 16:29 'This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work'whether nativeborn or an alien living among you'

Lev 16:30 because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins.

Lev 16:31 It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.

Lev 16:32 The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments

Lev 16:33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community.

Lev 16:34 'This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.' And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.

What do you think of this kind of redemption; is this an easy way to get saved?

If we take this scripture for what it says, we see that most of us in this room right now (if not all of us), do not have these kinds of animals or goods, nor do we have an altar up to specs. We would be totally lost without what God's done for us with a forever sacrifice (symbolized by our next clips).

Cartoon Clip Show: The Power Rangers In Space: "Countdown To Destruction II":

In this clip, we see a huge battle. The Red Ranger fights against Astronema and Ecliptor. Andros accidentally hurts Astronema very badly and she collapses. We see something interesting as Ecliptor accuses Andros of wrongdoing. Ecliptor says: "How could you: your own sister?" I think this is similar to what the Devil tries to pull with us.

The Bible States:

Rev 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

Rev 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.'

These accusations though should be and are meaningless to a Christian. Just give it to Jesus when this happens. Andros shouldn't feel as bad as this in that sense. He didn't do anything wrong in my view. As for the next section of the clip, Andros defeats Ecliptor and Zordon is sacrificed for the liberation of the universe and the actual redemption of the four villains shown to be Divatox, Rita, Zedd, and finally Astronema herself. Folks, I give you Karone!!! But now, back to Zordon's sacrifice. He would definitely be the God/Jesus symbol here because Zordon wished to sacrifice himself and God (in the form of Jesus) willed the sacrifice of himself. God gave his only son that we might live.

There is a really cool parallel between the Old and New Testaments here. The Isaiah scriptures here prophesy about this sacrifice, which was of course fulfilled.

The Bible States:

Isa 52:13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Isa 52:14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him. his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.

Isa 52:15 so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isa 53:1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Isa 53:2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isa 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Isa 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Isa 53:10 Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

Isa 53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light'' of life'' and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Isa 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Zordon didn't say much after he said he must be sacrificed. This is the symbol of the sheep being silent before the shearers. Remember the evil Machine King. The Bible says kings would shut their mouths before this other King that we know is Jesus Christ. I believe that the Machine King being silent (just before his destruction) is the symbol here. Of course everyone had to be and everyone will be with King Jesus as well.

Now for the New Testament parallel and the definite contrast to Leviticus 16 (because we live under the New Covenant).

The Bible States:

Heb 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming'not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Heb 10:2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

Heb 10:3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

Heb 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Heb 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;

Heb 10:6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.

Heb 10:7 Then I said, 'Here I am'it is written about me in the scroll' I have come to do your will, O God.' '

Heb 10:8 First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made).

Heb 10:9 Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second.

Heb 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Heb 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Heb 10:12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

Heb 10:13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,

Heb 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Heb 10:15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

Heb 10:16 'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.'

Heb 10:17 Then he adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'

Heb 10:18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

We need to remember the four villains that were redeemed. Right before their destruction would have happened they might have said this prayer (Remember Zordon is the God/Jesus character here)

The Bible States:

PS 25:1 LORD, I worship you.

Ps 25:2 My God, I trust in you. Don't let me be put to shame. Don't let my enemies win the battle over me.

Ps 25:3 Those who put their hope in you will never be put to shame. But those who can't be trusted will be put to shame. They have no excuse.

PS 25:4 LORD, show me your ways. Teach me how to follow you.

Ps 25:5 Guide me in your truth. Teach me. You are God my Savior. I put my hope in you all day long.

PS 25:6 LORD, remember your great mercy and love. You have shown them to your people for a long time.

Ps 25:7 Don't remember the sins I committed when I was young. Don't remember how often I refused to obey you. Remember me because you love me. LORD, you are good.

Ps 25:8 The LORD is honest and good. He teaches sinners to walk in his ways.

Ps 25:9 He shows those who aren't proud how to do what is right. He teaches them his ways.

Ps 25:10 All of the LORD's ways are loving and faithful for those who obey what his covenant commands.

PS 25:11 LORD, be true to your name. Forgive my sin, even though it is great.

Ps 25:12 Who is the man who has respect for the LORD? God will teach him the way he has chosen for him.

Ps 25:13 Things will always go well for him. His children will be given the land.

Ps 25:14 The LORD shares his plans with those who have respect for him. He makes his covenant known to them.

Ps 25:15 My eyes always look to the LORD. He alone can set my feet free from the trap.

Ps 25:16 Turn to me and show me your favor. I am lonely and hurting.

Ps 25:17 The troubles of my heart have increased. Set me free from my great pain.

Ps 25:18 Look at how I'm hurting! See how much I suffer! Take away all of my sins.

Ps 25:19 Look at how many enemies I have! See how terrible their hatred is for me!

Ps 25:20 Guard my life. Save me. Don't let me be put to shame. I go to you for safety.

Ps 25:21 May my honest and good life keep me safe. I have put my hope in you.

Ps 25:22 God, set Israel free from all of their troubles!

This is a prayer from King David of repentance for the nation of Israel (national sins) and personal sins that he has committed. We are mostly focusing on the personal type here. We need to remember also that in our clips, Andros is the one who killed Zordon. This is symbolic of us. We are responsible for killing our Lord and Savior because we sinned.

The Bible States:

Gal 3:13 Christ set us free from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. It is written, 'Everyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse.'

Gal 3:14 Christ Jesus set us free so that the blessing given to Abraham would come to non-Jews through Christ. He did it so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by believing in Christ.

So, you see we need to have faith in Jesus's sacrifice and his resurrection and repent earnestly of our sins. Do you remember Piedmon? Well, he is definitely unrighteous. I will show his defeat.

Clip #4: Digimon: "Piedmon's Last Jest":

The Bible States:

Ps 91:1 The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.

Ps 91:2 I will say about the LORD, 'He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him.'

Ps 91:3 He will certainly save you from hidden traps and from deadly sickness.

Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.

Ps 91:5 You won't have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won't have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.

Ps 91:6 You won't have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness. You won't have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.

Ps 91:7 A thousand may fall dead at your side. Ten thousand may fall near your right hand. But no harm will come to you.

Ps 91:8 You will see with your own eyes how God punishes sinful people.

Ps 91:9 The LORD is the one who keeps you safe. So let the Most High God be like a home to you.

Ps 91:10 Then no harm will come to you. No terrible plague will come near your tent.

Ps 91:11 The LORD will command his angels to take good care of you.

Ps 91:12 They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone.

Ps 91:13 You will walk all over lions and cobras. You will crush mighty lions and poisonous snakes.

Ps 91:14 The LORD says, 'I will save the one who loves me. I will keep him safe, because he trusts in me.

Ps 91:15 He will call out to me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will save him and honor him.

Ps 91:16 I will give him a long and full life. I will save him.'

Do you want to be like Piedmon or be Jesus's disciple? Piedmon wasn't saved because of his wickedness. He was destroyed in the 'Gate Of Destiny'. I don't think we want this happening to us. We want Psalms 91 to apply to us (I would hope).

What have we learned? How will you apply this to your life? If you have not come to Jesus, I am asking you to now. Please don't throw this opportunity away. You don't have to answer out loud or even right now (even though this is preferable). If some of those reading isn't saved, you will be prayed for, in hopes that the God of truth will convince you of this sacrifice and come into your heart now and forever.