This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The New Heaven And The New Earth, Our Eternal Hope", 11/6/2016

THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH, OUR ETERNAL HOPE

Revelation 21:1-10

OUR FINAL DESTINATION

V:1. "The New Heaven and Earth 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

A. God's plan of redemption includes a new home in a new heaven and a new earth.

     1. When Lucifer, the Arch Angel, known as Satan, sinned he corrupted heaven.

     2. When Adam and Eve sinned, they corrupted the earth.

     3. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God immediately activated

         His plan of redemption for mankind by promising a redeemer, Jesus Christ

         our Lord and Savior.   Genesis 3:15.

B. The Apostle, we call St John, on the Isle of Patmos, was given this vision of a

      New heaven and a New earth.

   1. Jesus,  our Lord and Savior', death on the cross fulfilled all the requirements of the

       Law and ushered in this Age of Grace we now live in.

   2. At the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this Age of Grace will

      end followed by the rapture of the Church.

   3. A seven year tribulation will immediately follow in which Satan will be bound in

       Hell forever.

   4. All believers will enter this newly created heaven and earth to live with Christ

       for eternity.  

   5. This is our eternal hope, Good News for every believer.

OUR NEW CITY

V:2 . "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband."

A. All throughout the New Testament, Christ is proclaimed as the bridegroom and

     we the Church, His bride.

    1. I want to point out to all believers, particularly to all single women and single

        parents that Christ is your current Husband.

    2. The current heaven and the current earth is corrupt.

    3. God created the heaven and the earth without sin.

    4. God's plan of redemption covers His entire creation.

B. Jerusalem means city of peace.

   1. The current Jerusalem is far from a city of peace.

   2. Since man is corrupt, the city of Jerusalem is also corrupt.

   3. God will restore  His creation to it's original state of innocence.

   4. Jesus is righteous, so His bride must be righteous.

   5. Like Jesus, The bridegroom should take His bride to a new place of residence.

  

THE ETERNAL GOD WITH US

V:3. " And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them."

A. At the resurrection, all the saints of God will be housed in an incorruptible body.

    1. Our current bodies  are the temple of the Lord.

    2. The problem is our current bodies are made of flesh and full of sin.

B. The resurrected bodies will be without spot or wrinkle, therefore without the

     ability to sin.

   1. Our focus will be 100% on God.

   2. We will be God's people and God will be our God.

   3. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

   4. In this new heaven and new earth we will have the dwelling of the God Head.

GLORIOUS LIVING

V:4.  "And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

A. In this new environment, God will completely captivate us.

    1. All of our needs will be met forever.

    2. Our incorruptible state will be totally different from our current state.

    3. We will be spirit beings, without any earthly or fleshly desires or feelings.

B. In this New Heaven and New Earth, we will be transformed completely

    into the image and likeness of Christ.

    1. I suppose our eternal state will be like the reincarnate Christ.

    2. The old fleshly state will be completely gone and a new state of innocence

        and complete dependence will take it's place. 

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

V:5.  " And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And

 He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

 A. It is God the Father who will renew us to our original state at creation.

     1. It will be a better state because we will not have a mind capable of sin.

     2. We will not have a body capable of corruption.

     3. We will be in a state of complete peace and joy.

B. We can believe this because the Holy Father said so.

    1. We have never known the newness that the father speaks of.

    2. We have never been in a situation where everything is new.

    3. Our carnel infinite minds cannot conceive what this is.

    4. Eyes have not seem and ears have not heard what God has in store  for us.    

THE FINISH PRODUCT

V:6. " Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost."

A. Salvation is without cost. It is a free gift from God.

    1. God identified us to be with Him before the foundation of the earth.   Eph 1:4

    2. All we have to do is to believe to receive these wonderful blessings.

B. The end of God's redemptive process will have its completion.

   1. The Lord said it is done.

   2. We will enjoy eternal life with Christ.

   3. God, the uncaused cause is the author of all of this.

C. In my mind, I cannot imagine anything that does not have a beginning or an ending.

   1. Everything I can see has a beginning and an ending.

   2. The Just live by faith and not by sight.

   3. The Lord said, "I Am Alpha and Omega."

   4. Because the Lord said it, my faith says it is true.

D. We ought to have a thirst for the truth which is the Word of God.

    1. When we thirst for Christ, God promises to satisfy us from the spring of the

         water of life, which is the Holy Spirit.

    2. Therefore our thirst ought to be satisfied now because we have the indwelling

         of the Holy Spirit.

    3. What keeps us in the thirst mode is our unyielding spirit to the Holy Spirit.

        a. It is the Spirit that refreshes and invigorates our bodies.

        b. It is the Spirit that purifies our thoughts and renders us fruitful.

 

WE ARE OVERCOMERS

V:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."

A. The over comers are those who are of the household of faith.

     1. Eternal victory is ours through our faith in the death and resurrection

         Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

     2. Jesus paid our sin debt in full with the blood He shed on the cross.

     3. We are adopted sons and daughters of the Holy Father through our faith in

          Jesus.

     4. The Word says O death O death where is your sting?   1 Co  15:55

B. Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.

    1. Since we are sons and daughters, we inherit all that God has.

    2. The new heaven, the new earth and the new Jerusalem is our by inheritance.

    3. God is our Father and we are His sons and daughters.

    4. We have a personal relationship with the Father through our faith in Jesus.

  

THOSE DOOMED TO HELL

V:8.  "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

A. God lists the attitudes of those who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven but are

     doomed to the eternal hell.

   1. The Cowardly.

       a. Those who claim to be for Christ, but deny Him in the face of persecution,

   2. The Unbelieving.

        a. Those who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

        b. Jesus presented Himself to the world, but the world rejected Him.

   3. The Abominable.

        a. Those who are polluted with unnatural lust.

  4. Murderers

      a. Those who take away the life of a person for any cause.

      b. Those who hate their brothers in their heart,

  5. Immoral persons

     a. Adulterers, fornicators, male and female prostitutes,

  6. Sorcerers

     a. Those who pretend to produce supernatural effects by a devilish agency.

  7. Idolaters

    a. Those who worship idol gods.

  8. Liars.

    a. Those who speak against the Word of God.

    b. Those who pervert the Word of God for their own selfish benefits.    

B. We can find our sins in any of these categories.

    1. Thank God for His amazing Grace, calling us out of the world of these sins and

        and covering our sins with blood of His Son.

    2. No one can escape any of these sins, without God's divine intervention.

    3. No one can come to Jesus without being drawn by the Father.

THANK GOD FOR CHOOSING US FOR HEAVEN

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas 77010

For more lessons, visit my blogs and follow me on facebook

"www,revmmitchell.com" and "goodnewsrecmitc.blogspot.com"

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Witnessing For Christ" 10/30/2016

WITNESSING  FOR CHRIST

Hebrews 12:1-13

FOCUSING ON CHRIST

V:1-2. " Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

A. God has placed before us many examples of men and women of faith who have

     served God giving up their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

     1. We have all the patriots and the prophets who trusted God to guide and

          protect them in proclamation of God's Word as our examples.

     2. All of the disciples of Jesus experience hardships and death for the sake

         of the faith.

 B. Sin detracts us from the righteousness of God.

    1. All sin is a rebellion against God.

    2. Sin hinders us from doing the work of God.

C. Jesus our Lord and Savior  is the perfect role model of faith.

   1. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

   2. Jesus endured the cross for our sin because of His obedience to the Father.

   3. His death on the cross earned Him the position of High Priest, King and

       intercessor at the right hand of the Father.

   4. The cross was the death chosen for the worst of criminals.

        a. Jesus knew no sin, but died for all our sins.

        b. Jesus allow sinful men to crucify Him for our eternal life.

   5. All believers have to keep their focus on Jesus to run this Christian race.

      a. When we take our focus off Jesus, the ways of the world seem more important.

      b. When we are not focused on Jesus the lies of Satan become the focus.                                                            

THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

V:3-5. " For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. A Father's Discipline 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;"

A. When we consider that Jesus endure the cross for our sakes. it should give us.

     confidence that the Lord will enable us to endure whatever we face for His sake.

   1. Jesus came down from heaven and took on human flesh, therefore He knows

       what we face day to day.

   2. The Lord will never put more on us than what we can endure.

   3. Whatever we encounter for Christ is nothing compared to what Christ

       experience on the cross.

   4. We have not yet offered our lives to defend our faith in the  Gospel'

B. Since we are in the flesh. we will sin from time to time.

   1. Because of our sins God will discipline us.

   2. We must recognize that the discipline of the Lord is designed to call

       attention to our sins and to strength our faith.

   3. We must see God's discipline as a sign of His love for us.

   4. Just as our earthly fathers discipline us when we were disobedient, so

       God does the same.

THE DISCIPLINE OF CHRIST

V:6-8. " FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."

A. We are adopted sons and daughter of the Father through our faith in Jesus Christ.

    1. God's loving discipline of us is proof of our sonship.

    2. God discipline of us is proof of His love for us.

    3. What earthly father does not discipline the child that he loves?

   4. If parents don't  discipline their children, they do not truly love them.   Prov 13:24

B. Those who God loves were chosen before the foundation of the earth.

   1. Those who God allows to remain in their sin are not His sons.

   2. It is because of His grace that we are His chosen.

   3. Many are called, but few are chosen.  Matt  22:14

OBEDIENCE TO OUR PARENTS

V:9-10. " Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness."

A. Most of us learned to be obedient from our mothers and fathers.

    1. In the time that I grew up, parents in the community had oversight over

        the neighbors kids and could discipline them if necessary.

    2. In addition the schools had the authority to discipline any student.

B. Our earthly parents and overseers discipline us to teach us right from wrong

     and as a way to keep order in  society.

    1. As we grew up we carried those values into our adult lives.

    2. The discipline of our parents ended when we left home.

C. The discipline of our heavenly Father does not comes with belts and words.

   1. The discipline of our heavenly Father comes through trials and tribulations.

   2. The  discipline of the Heavenly Father is designed to strengthen us in areas of

       weakness.

   3. The good and the bad that happens in our lives are designed to work out

       for our good.

   4. The Word of God teaches us about the righteousness of God.

   5. We learn the true meaning of God's righteousness through our life

        experiences.

   6. God's discipline prepares us for His work that gives Him glory.

   7. God's discipline prepares us to be role models for Christ to others.

   8. The discipline of the Lord prepares us for successful living.

THE EFFECT OF GOD'S DISCIPLINE

V:11. " All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

A. I remember a story about a beautiful Vase that a women saw on a store room

     shelf.  The woman told the Vase that it was beautiful. The Vase responded that

     it was not always beautiful. It stared out as an ugly piece of clay. It's owner took it

     through a painful process of molding shaping. The Vase said then I was put into a hot

     burning fire. It was very painful. Once out of the fire, my owner dressed me in

     beautiful colors and placed me here for all to see. Because of that process, I am

     beautiful to the eye.

   1. Life with our heavenly Father is a painful  process of molding and shaping.

   2. It is the trouble that God allows into our lives that molds and shapes us into

       vessels that He wants us to be.

B. The Lord chastises those that He loves.

   1. We must learn to appreciate the Lord's chastisement as His way of shaping

         us into vessels of His righteousness.

   2. Instead of complaining about the trouble in our lives, we should

       learn to be grateful that He loves us enough to trouble us.

   3.  We all start out as ugly clay that God molds and shapes into beautiful

        vessels of light.

GROWING IN THE SPIRIT

 V:12-13. " Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."

A. Discipleship starts when we study God Word and become obedient.

    1. Discipleship continues when we allow the Word to change our minds and attitudes

        to be more like Christ.

    2. Any person in Christ is a new creation.

    3. Spiritual growth in the Word never cease.

    4. My wife reminds me that getting better never ends.

B. Stewardship is when we put the Word of God in action.

    1. Stewardship is when the Word of God is the guide for every decision

        we make and every action we take.

   2. Stewardship is serving others with the primary objective to give God praise and glory.

C. Our job as servants of the Lord is to strengthen others with God's words of counsel

     and encouragement.

   1. It is by grace that we are part of God's army of disciples.

   2. It is to our good to be molded and shaped into vessels of righteousness.

   3. Our minds and bodies are strengthen as we faithfully serve God.

THANK GOD FOR CHOOSING US FOR HIS SERVICE

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston Texas, 77010

For more lessons, visit my blogs and follow me on facebook

"www'revmmitchell.com", goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com"

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus OUr High Priest Forever", 10/23/2016

JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST FOREVER

Hebrews 7:1-3, 19-28

A STANDARD FOR GIVING

V:1-2 " For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. "

A. The name Melchizedek is a Hebrew name which means "king of righteousness".

    1. The name Salem is a Hebrew name which means peace from which the name

        Jerusalem  is derived.

    2.  Notice Melchizedek was King and High Priest.

    3. Jesus is our King, High Priest and Prophet.

    4. Jesus is author of our peace and the author of all righteousness.

B. Abraham, a servant of God honored God's High Priest with an offering.

   1. God set the example of  an acceptable offering.

   2. An acceptable offering is ten percent of our gain.

   3. Notice, God does not require us  to give what He has not provided.

   4. Let me say it in another way; God requires us to give back to Him

       a tenth of what He has provided to us.

       a. In other words; don't spend what belongs to God.

       b. In other words; budget your spending  ten percent less than your income.

  C. Abraham was blessed with an income because he trusted God and was

       obedient to His commands.

      1. If you trust God to "get", you ought to trust God "with".

      2. If you trust God to get you job, you ought to trust God with the income

          from your job.

JESUS, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

V:3. " Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. "

A. We can interpret this verse in a number of ways without contradicting God's

      finished creation.

    1. God does not record the birth of Melchizedek and there is no record of his

        mother or father.

    2. God does not record Melchizedek's death.

    3. We could say like Elijah, he was translated into heaven upon completion

         of his mission on earth.

    4. On the other hand, we could say Melchizedek was an angel sent down from

        heaven to be high priest during the time of Abraham.

       a. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament angels always appeared

           to men in male form with a mission from God.

 B. The text says Melchizedek was "made like" the Son of God.

      1. Melchizedek was not the Son of God, but held a position like the Son of God.

      2. He was the High Priest to Abraham.

      3. He was a King of Salem.

      4. The Bible does not record Melchizedek performing any priestly duties.

      5. The Bible does not record Melchizedek performing any duties of a King

          of Salem.

      6. The Bible does not record an end to Melchizedek reign as king.

      7. He was a type that pointed to the position of Christ.

          a. Like Christ, Melchizedek was a king and high priest.

          b. Christ has no beginning or ending and He is King forever and High Priest

              forever.

Hebrews 7:19-28

JESUS, HIGH PRIEST FOREVER

V:19-21. " (For the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'"). "

A. The Law was given as a tutor until Jesus Christ.    Gal  3:24

     1. The Law condemned but could not save.    Rom 3:20

     2. From the Law we learn the righteousness of God.

     3. The Law required animal sacrifices for the atonement of sins.

         a. The problem was that sin remained in man.

         b. Under the Law,  man remained imperfect.

B. Jesus issued a new covenant in His blood.

   1. His blood make us cleans from our sins before the Lord.

   2. Perfection is not in us but in Jesus Christ.

C. Unlike the Levite priests who served for a season, Christ is High Priest

     forever.

   1. Christ was ordained as High Priest by the Father with an oath.

   2. Christ, our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the Father with all power

       over heaven and earth.

   3. No Levite priest was given any power, nor is  seated at the right hand of the Father.

   4. Jesus instituted a  better covenant than the Law,  one that saves.  

THE NEW COVENANT IN JESUS BLOOD    Luke 22:20

V:22-24. " So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently."

A. Jesus death on the cross completed His mission on earth.

     1. His resurrection from the dead signified the acceptance of the Father

         of His completed work.

     2. He became the giver of new life on earth and eternal life in heaven.

     3. Jesus now draws all His elect to himself.

         a. He said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.

         b. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

B. The New Covenant in Jesus blood is  better than the Law because it produces

      eternal life.

   1. The Law leads to death. It was not designed to save.

   2. All the requirements of the Law were fulfilled in the death of Jesus on the cross.

       Matt 5:17

   3. The Levite Priest lived and died, but Jesus is High Priest forever.

   4. The Levite Priest offered sacrifice of animals for  the one time atonement

       of sin.

      a. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for all times and for all sins,

          past, present and future.

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED

V:25-26. " Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;"

A. Once we have accepted Christ Jesus as our personal Savior, we are saved forever.

     1. There is no turning back, because we have become new creations in Christ.

     2. In addition, we are sealed to the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit.  Eph  4:30

B. Even though we are saved, sealed and sanctified by blood of Jesus we are dirty

     rags subject to sin.

   1. Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, knowing our sinful state,

       makes continuous intercessions for us.

   2. The washing of His blood keeps us clean before the Father.   1 Cor  6:11

BECAUSE JESUS LIVES, I LIVE

V: 27-28. " Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."

A. Jesus, being one with Father, was always perfect.    John 10:30

    1. There was never any sin in Him or any desire to sin.

    2. He is the Father of righteousness and He is our righteousness.

B. Having never sinned, He is the perfect, one time sacrifice all the sins of

     all mankind for all times.   Rom  6:9-10

   1. The Levite Priests had to offer sacrifices for their sins before they could offer

       sacrifices for the sins of their people.

   2. The Levite Priests were temporary priests who themselves died in their sins.

   3. Jesus, our permanent High Priest never sinned but died one time for our sins.

   4. Unlike the Levite priests who are still dead, Jesus died and was resurrected

        and lives at the right hand of the Father.

   5. Because Jesus Lives we live.

GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS

I CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO JESUS

HIS LINE IS NEVER BUSY

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas 77010

For more lessons, visit my blogs and follow me on facebook

"www.revmmitchell.com" "and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com"

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Holding On To Our Faith" 10/16/2016

HOLDING ON TO OUR FAITH

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST

V:14. " Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."

A. Jesus, our High Priest  is the one who has made atonement for our sins for

    all times with His shed blood on the cross.

    1. Before Jesus death on the cross, Jews were required to present an unblemished

        animal to the High Priest to be  sacrificed  on the altar.

    2. The blood of the unblemished animal was the payment (atonement) for

         their sins.

    3. The problem was that since their sins were continuous, the sacrifice of animals

        was also continuous.

    4. Jesus death on the cross was the one payment for all sins, past, present and

        future.

B. Jesus death on the cross was accepted by the Father for all the sins of mankind.

   1. Jesus death on the cross finished His work on earth.   John 19:30

   2. Jesus was resurrect after His death and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

C. It is our confession of faith in Him as Lord and Savior that guarantees us a place

     in heaven.  

    1. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.      Hebrew 12:2

    2. Faith in the Lord is not in our natural nature.

    3.We had to be transformed to accept Christ.

    4. Any man in Christ is a new creation.

    5. The world cannot receive Christ.     John 14:17

    6. God decided before the foundation of the earth who would be saved.  Eph 4:1

    7. Are you glad He decided on you?

JESUS KNOWS OUR TROUBLES

 V:15. " For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.

A. Jesus came down from heaven and took on human flesh.

     1. He was both man and God.

     2. He had a human nature and a Godly nature.

     3. He was fully man and fully God.

B. Since Jesus was clothed in flesh, he new our weakness and strength.

    1. Jesus had all the emotions of man.

    2. He got hungry, He got sleepy, He got tired,  He grieved for the lost,

        He got angry and He showed compassion.

C. He was temped by the Devil as soon as He was baptized and anointed for

        ministry of the Gospel. 

    1. Unlike us, He never sinned.

    2. He knew the devil and all his devises.

GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY

V:16. " Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

A. We can come to Jesus in prayer anytime with confidence that He hears our prayers

     and will answer them in His time according to His will.

   1. Grace is God's favor. God sits on His throne ready to give us favor.

   2. Mercy is God's kindness or compassion.

   3. God favors those who believe in Him with kindness.

B. God is always available to help with our needs.

   1. We can enjoy heaven on earth through the favors of God who shows us unlimited

       kindness.

   2. This confirms our hope that He will never leave us or forsake us.   I Kings 8:57

JESUS OUR REPRESENTATIVE AT THE THRONE OF GRACE

V:5:1-2.  " Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."

A. God selected the tribe of the Levites to be priests of the Nation of Israel.

    1. Aaron, the first High Priest was chosen to offer sacrifices for the Israelites

        when they came out of Egypt.

    2. God set up an order of priests.

        There were priests who burnt the offering and there were High priests

         who entered the Holy of Holies inside the Tabernacle to make atonement

         for sins.

    3. The High priests had to sanctify themselves before entering the Holy of Holies.

        to be in the presence of God, or they would die in his presence.

B. All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.

    1. Therefore no priest could consider himself above those he served.

    2. It was the job of the priests to bring the sins of the people including their own

        sins before the Lord for forgiveness.

C. Jesus, our high priest represents us before the Father.  

    1. There was no sin in Jesus, so His shed blood was accepted by the Father

         for atonement of all our sins.

    2. He continuously makes  intercession for us before the Father. 

THE CALL OF GOD

V: 3-4. " This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was."

A, None of us are worthy of the call of God.

     1. None of us are worthy of the forgiveness of God.

     2. None of us can claim the righteousness of God.

     3. All of us depend on the Love of God for salvation

B. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever

     believes on Him will not parish, but have eternal life.

    1. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8

    2. Therefore, we cannot claim that our good works or general goodness earns us

        the grace of God,

C. God called us out of the world because of His grace and mercy.

    1. In fact our predestination to be called was before we were born.

    2. Since no one deserves salvation, it is by God's Sovereign design that

        we are  the elect of God.   1 Peter 1:1

    3. God said He will curse who He wants to curse and bless who He wants to bless.

    4. All we can do is be grateful and thankful that we are His chosen.

JESUS IS CHRIST, SON AND HIGH PRIEST

V: 5-6. " So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." 6 And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

A. Jesus said that I and the Father are one.   John 10:30

    1. Jesus did not consider it robbery to submit Himself to the will of the Father.  Php 2:6

    2. He was elected High priest for His obedience to the Father , even unto His

        own death on the Cross.

 B. Jesus is the person of the Son in the Holy Trinity

    1. He is the only person who could be sinless to hold the position of High Priest

        forever.

    2. He is the unblemished sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

 C. The Word does not record the birth or the physical death of Melchizedek.

      1. However Melchizedek would not have existed if Adam and Eve had not birth

          children.

      2. Melchizedek is recorded as High priest who Abraham paid tithes .

 D. Unlike Melchizedek, Christ has no  beginning or ending.

     1. Christ is Alpha and Omega.

     2. He is the beginning and the ending.

     3. Christ is eternal, therefore High Priest forever.

     4. Melchizedek had to be declared righteous by his faith and obedience to God.

     5. The righteousness of Christ has no beginning or ending.

     6. Christ is our eternal righteousness.

THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST, OUR ROLE MODEL

V:7-8. " During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered"

A. Jesus set  the perfect example for life on earth.

   1. He prayed to the Father.

   2. His prayers were sincere.

       a. He prayed petitions.

       b. He prayed from His heart with tears.

       c. He was vocal in His prayers crying out to the Father.

B. He reverenced the Father

     1. He listen to the voice of the Father.

     2. He committed Himself to the will of the Father.

C. He was the perfect Son

    1. He only did what He was directed to do.

    2. Although He had all power, He used it to draw men to Himself.

        He uplifted and encouraged those who came in contact with Him.

   3. Christ hears the prayers of the righteous.

        a.  He answers them according to the will of the Father.

PERFECTION IN JESUS CHRIST

V: 9-10. " And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek."

A. Christ perfection in the eyes of the Father was made complete with

     His death and resurrection.

    1. All power over heaven and earth was given to Him upon His resurrection.

    2. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father and is High priest

        forever.

B. Jesus is the reason for our salvation.

   1. Eternal life can only be obtained by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus

       Christ, as our Lord and savior.

   2. Salvation is a free gift from the Father.

   3. Salvation for all who believe in Jesus Christ, was ordained before the foundation of

       the earth.

C. Our personal Salvation is based on our obedience to the Word of God.

     1. I am not talking about works.

     2. Obedience requires three things:

        a. Hearing

        b. Listening

        c. Conforming

     3. Consider John 3:16.

         a. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that hat who

             ever  believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

        b. The first part of the verse is God's commitment to Us; The life of His son.

        c. The second part of the verse is our commitment to Him;  our belief.

        d. The third part of the verse, is God's promise to us; eternal life.

     4. Believe is an action word.

        a. It is a conscience action on our part to trust the Gospel.

        b. Trust is not an option, it is a requirement.

        c. The first act of obedience is to believe that Jesus died for your sins.

    5. The evidence of obedience is in the keeping of God's commands.

       a. The act of belief transforms the whole body.

          (1). There is an immediate indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

          (2). There is an immediate sealing of the believer until the day of redemption.

       b. Any man/woman in Christ is a new creation.

           (1). The old man (old self) has died.   Romans 6:6

           (2). A new man in Christ has come alive.  Romans 6:11

Praise God For Jesus Christ.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston Texas 77010

For more lessons, visit my blogs and follow me on Facebook

"www.revmmitchell.com" and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus, The High Priest", 10/9/2016

JESUS, THE HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 3:1-6,  Matthew 24-29

THE HIGH PRIEST

V:1. " Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; "

A. From time to time, we need to reflect on who Jesus really is.

     1. He is our Lord and Savior.

     2. He is the payment for our sins.

     3. He satisfied God's demand for justice for our disobedience.

     4. He fulfilled all the requirements of the Law.

     5. He is our righteousness.

     6. He is our protector.

     7. He is our provider

B. Jesus is our High Priest.

     1. All prayers are directed to the Father in His name.

     2. He is the mediator between us and the Father

     3. He is the first born of the dead.

     4. He is a brother to us

C. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

    1. He elected us to be the called out of the world.

    2. He is the Way, The Truth and the Life.

    3. It is His blood that makes us holy before the Father.

D. Jesus is an Apostle, that is an ambassador of the Father.

   1. Even though Jesus is equal to the Father, He humbled Himself

       to serve the Father.

   2. While on earth, He only spoke the words of the Father.

   3. Jesus came down from heaven as a representative of the Father.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF JESUS

V:2-3." He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.

3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. "

A. Jesus was faithful unto death.

    1. Jesus was appointed by the Father to be our salvation

    2. He is a mighty good role model.

    3. Like Moses He was appointed to be the salvation of a nation,

    4, Unlike Moses He has no beginning or ending

    5. Like Moses He delivered God's elect out of bondage.

    6. Unlike Moses He did not have to be saved to become the nations deliverer.

    7. Unlike Moses He did not begin in sin

    8. Like Moses He proclaimed the Word of God.

B. Moses built God's house on the foundation the Word

   1. Jesus is the foundation

   2. Like Moses, His works glorified the Father.

   3. Unlike Moses, Jesus is the glory of the Father.

   4. Moses honored the Father with his obedience.

   5. Jesus is the honor of the Father.

JESUS,  ARCHITECT OF THE WORLD

V:4. " For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. "

 A. God is the architect of all things.

      1. Everything that is built is built according to His plans.

      2. The nation of Israel was built according to God's plan.

      3. The tabernacle that was built in the desert after Israel came out of

           Egypt was built according to God's exact specification .

      4. The order of worship for the Israelites was God's design.

B. God housed His spirit in our bodies designed by Himself.

     1. The bodies of God's elect, which is us, is God's tabernacle, built by Him.

     2. We were built for God, by God to give Him glory.

     3. Our sole purpose for existing is to glorify God.

JESUS,  A FAITHFUL SERVANT

V:5-6. " Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;

6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house — whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. "

A. Moses faithfully followed God's directions to bring Israel out of slavery and guided

     them forty years in the desert.

   1. For Moses, serving the Lord came with the constant complaining of his people.

   2. From time to time, Moses counsel according to the Lord's word was rejected

       by the nation.

   3. Serving the Lord often comes with problems from the people who are

       being served.

   4. It is our job to faithfully serve the Lord with the confidence that He will see

        through our trouble.

   5. Our troubles are part of God's design for or lives.   James 1:1-4

B. Jesus our Lord and Savior was faithful to serve unto death for the future

     glory of salvation made available to all men/women.

   1. Christ built the Church on his blood for the glory of the Father.

   2. We all serve as building blocks in the Church of Jesus Christ.

   3. Our hope is in Jesus who has prepared a place for us in heaven.

   4. To serve God in spirit and truth we must exercise our faith day in and day out.

   5. It is the confidence in God's Word that will guide us successfully through all

       situations.

A WISE MAN

Matthew 7:24-29

V:24. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "

A. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

    1. Everything we need to know about every situation we will encounter is found

        in the Word of God.

    2. According to Ecc 1:9, there is nothing new under the sun.

    3. You cannot find any  counsel better than Word of the all knowing

         Sovereign God.

    4. Why would you take advise from someone who does not know the end from the

         end from the beginning?

B. Jesus is the foundation for successful living.

   1.  A wise man takes time to study the Word of God.

   2. A wise man meditates on the Word of God day and night,

   3. When we meditate on God's Word, we are allowing Him to

        talk to us. and give us guidance and directions.

THE EFFECT OF BEING WISE  

V:25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock."

A. We are not only required to study the Word of God but make

     our plan of action based on the Word.

   1. In life we are faced with difficult decisions.

   2. Who knows the right decision to make but God?

B. We will always face storms in our lives.

   1. We should not run from the storms but learn how to exist in the

       storms according the Word of God.

   2. Storms are actually good for us, because they teach to stand fast

       and rely on God.

   3. Jesus is our rock and our salvation.

C. Faith in the Word of  God is the key to successful living.

   1. Jesus told Peter, after his confession of faith, "upon this rock I

      will build my Church.

   2. We are the house of God founded on the Word of God.

   3. We must operate on the faith that God is our guide.

A FOOLISH MAN

V:26-27. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall."

A. A man without the Word of God is left to the winds of the world.

    1. No lasting truth will be in the world.

    2. The world operates on what is popular and not what is right all the time.

B. Making decisions base on the worlds opinion can lead to disaster.

   1. The opinions of the world changes as other thoughts become popular.

   2. A foundation based on popular opinion is crumbling from the start.

   3. The world is full of half truth mixed with personal opinions.

   4. Truth can only be found in the Word of God.

   5. It is foolish to make decisions without God's guidance.

GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

V:28-29. " When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."

A. It is possible that the leading Jews began developing their traditions once

     they were taking into Babylonian captivity.  600 BC

   1. By the time Jesus was born in the flesh, the Jews consider their traditions

       as the authority over the Bible. Mark 7:8

   2. The Word of God was read by the Jews doing the life of Jesus on earth but was not

       considered the authority.

B. The Word of God is the authority.

    1. Our traditions and opinions have no place in the study of God's Word.

    2. You cannot depend on other people to have the correct interpretation

        of God's Word.

    3. The Lord has gifted each believer with indwelling of the Holy Spirit

         who teaches the Word as we study. John 14:26

C. When you study the Word of God for yourself and apply it to

      your situations, you will be amazed at the truth in the Word.

   1. You can expect that God will do what His Word says He will do.

   2. When you obey the commands of God you will be amazed at the unexpected

        blessing that will come into your life.

   3. There is power in the Word of God.

LIFE IS BLESSED WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas 77010

For more of my lesson visit my blogs

"www.revmmitchell.com"

"goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com"