This Week's Bible Study Notes, "God Has a Job For You", Ezekiel 3:1-11, 7/22/2017

GOD HAS A JOB FOR EACH BELIEVER

Ezekiel 3:1-11

STUDY THE WORD OF GOD

V:1. " And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel."

A. God has a mission for every believer.

    1. We are all responsible for spreading the Word of God to others.

    2. Matthew 28:19 is the commission that Jesus gave to us to spread the

        Good news.

B. First, we must have our hearts set to hear a word from the Lord.

    1. Second, we must study God's Word to know His voice.

    2. Third, we have  make ourselves available to God.

    3. Forth, we have to submit ourselves to the Will of God. 

V:2. " So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. "

 A. We have to be willing to follow God's Word.

 B. We have to meditate on the Word for a deeper understanding.

MEDITATE ON THE WORD DAY AND NIGHT

V:3. " Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. "

A. We have to digest the Word.

   1. Let the Word become part of your thinking process.

   2. Let the Word replace your fleshly thinking.

   3. Let the Word become your source of directions.

B. Acquire a taste for the sweetness of the Word

   1. The Word is life.

   2. The Word is good for reproof, and directions.

   3. The Word is enlightening

   4. The Word is Encouraging

   5. The Word is Cleaning.

   6. The Word is purifying

   7. The Word is love.

   8. We must learn to appreciate the value of the Word to our lives.

YOU ARE ORDAINED TO PROCLAIM THE WORD

V:4. " He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. "

A. Notice, Ezekiel is considered a Son.

    1. A true Son loves his Father.

    2. A true Son is obedient to his Father

    3. The phrase "Son of man" emphasizes Ezekiel mission for Christ.

    4. Ezekiel's spirit had been raised to serve God.

B. The Word of God commissions you to be a servant.

     1.The Word directs you to specific people.

     2. The Word directs you to specific places.

     3. The Word is given to you so you can be the light to  others. 

GOD WILL PREPARE THE PEOPLE TO HEAR THE WORD

V:5-6. " You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel—

6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. "

A. God sends you out to proclaim His Word to people who can understand

     your language.

   1. To the people God's send you, His message will be easily understood.

   2. The Word of God is given to His elect.

B. God will not send you to those He did not predestine to hear the Word.

   1. The Word of God is foolish to the world.

   2. The world is not given the spirit to hear the Word.

   3. God's elect are given the ability to understand the Word.

   4. God's elect are given the choice to obey the Word.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHO IS LISTENING

V:7. " But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. "

A. Israel had been taken captive by the Babylonians.

     1. The nation would be in captivity for 70 years because of their

         disobedience.

     2. Disobedience was ingrained in their hearts for hundreds of years.

B. God sent them a message to remind them of consequences of their disobedience

    and to promise redemption if they turned back to Him.

C. God knows the condition of our hearts.

    1. Israel was set in their ways of disobedience.

    2. They did not intend to change even though they were being punished.

    3. There is no excuse for not obeying the Word of God.

GOD IS YOUR STRENGTH IN SERVICE  

V:8. " But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. "

 A. God prepares us for the mission,

    1. He fortifies us with faith in His Word.

    2. He gives us a mind determined to preach the Word regardless of the

        opposition we face.

V:9. " I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."

A. As determined as the opposition is against God, He will make you

     more determine for Him.

   1. God strengthens our faith to handle the problems we will face to serve Him.

   2. God's grace is sufficient for us to endure  the trouble .

B. When serving God, there is nothing to fear.

    1. God knows in advance that people will get upset with you and threaten your

        life when He sends you out with His message.

    2. The battle is not ours, it is the Lord.

    3. God is our protector during the mission.

    4. God want us to succeed in our mission, even though the people will not change and

        follow Him.

    5. Our job is not to change folk, but give them the tools to change.

MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS TO PROCLAIM THE WORD

V:10. " And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you."

A. God gives us the keys to success in the mission and in our lives.

     1. Listen to the Word of God.

         a. Listen is the verb.

         b. Carefully modifies and emphasis  the action of listening.

      2.  We have to come to an understanding of the importance of the mission.

         a. It is important that we spend time studying the Bible.

         b. Not only do we have to study the Word, but we have to spend time

            in meditation in the Word.

  B.  The phrase "take to heart" is the Hebrew word "labad"

        which means to take courage, get comfortable with the Word God wants

        you to give to His people.

      1. The word "all" means every word that God give you.

      2. Don't leave anything out of the message.

      3. I think that there are times when we want to proclaim only the Word

          that is agreeable to us.

        a. Some of God's Word goes against our lifestyle and opinions.

        b. There may be some things that we don't want to change, so

            we ignore God's Word that points out that sin.

        c. All scripture is inspired by God and good for reproof and corrections.

C. The messenger (that's us) have to firmly believe God's Word in order

     to convince anyone of it's truth.

   1. Just because God's Word offends someone, does not relieve us of the                   

       responsibility of proclaiming the Word.

   2. The Word of God is not designed to make you feel good, it is design to change you

       into His righteousness. 

DO YOUR JOB AND LEAVE THE CHANGE TO GOD

V:11. " Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is

          what the  Sovereign Lord says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."

 A. We are commanded by God to tell our people what He said.

      1. Our job is to repeat the Word of God verbatim as it was given to us.

      2. We should never change the Word of God to make it less offensive

           to others.

B. We were not given the responsibility to determine if people listen to the Word

      or not listen to the Word. 

    1. Our responsibility is to proclaim God's Word.

    2. God will take care of the listening part.

    3. We fail when we decide who will listen.

THANK GOR FOR CHOOSING US TO PROCLAIM THE WORD.

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons follow me on facebook and my

blogs  www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Bible Study Lesson, "The Working Of The Holy Spirit", Acts 13:1-12, 7/15/2017

THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ACTS 13:1-12

1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

(They met an agent of the devil)

7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

10 "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

 

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE TEXT

1.The Holy Spirit Calls us To Service.

    a. The call to service is activated by:

          Worship

          Fasting

          Prayer

2. The Holy Spirit Separates Us From The Crowd

3. The Holy Spirit Ordains us for His Work

4. The Holy Spirit Empowers Us For The Mission

5. The Holy Spirit Convicts Us To Do The Mission

6. The Holy Spirit Prepares Us For The Mission

      a. It was 17 years after Paul's conversion before He got the call

          to serve.

      b. He wanted to serve immediately after his conversion but God

          set up a road block in the Jerusalem council.

      c. Paul may have needed those 17 years as training for the mission

         the Holy Spirit called him into.

7. The Holy Spirits Closes Doors

8. The Holy Spirit Selects The Mission For Us.

9. The Holy Spirit Sets Up Events That Exposes Our Faith.

10. Our Faith Under Trials Cause Others to  Believe In Jesus

11. Victory is in the hands of the Lord.

12. You have to have the confidence to proclaim the victory.

13. You have to know the devil when you see him.

13. You need faith to put the devil in his place.

14. By your words, God will move the devil out of your way.

15. When you stand for God, He will draw others to Himself

      through your testimony.

This Week's Bible Study Lesson. "A Vision Of Service", Isaiah 6:1-8, 7/7/2017

VISIONS OF SERVICE

Isaiah 6:1-8

VISIONS OF THE WORD AS A RESULT OF YOUR MEDITATION

V:1. " In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. "

A. God identifies events with times, places and people to give us confidence in His

     Word.

    1. In a vision God gave Isaiah the revelation of the Holiness of His throne.

    2. Since no man has seen God at any time, Isaiah vision was of the Lord was

        Jesus.

B. This vision emphasizes the position of Christ.

    1. First it is a reining position. He is on the throne at all times.

        a. He is king of kings

        b. He has authority

        c. It is a royal position

        d. All power over heaven and earth has been given to Him.

            He is Omnipotent

    2. Second He is high and lifted up.

        a. At the name of Jesus every head shall bow and every knee shall bend.

        b.  Jesus said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Myself.

        c. Jesus, our caretaker, has us in His view at all times.

            He is Omniscience

    3. Third, He is everywhere all the time, He is Omnipresence

        a. He is king over every nation

        b. His train filled the House.

        c. Jesus will return after the Gospel is preach through out the world.

    4. Forth, His throne is in the most holy place, the temple.

        a. The body of each believer is the temple of the Lord.

        b. He reigns over us. He reigns in us.

        c. He fills us with his presence.

THE PRAISE TEAM

V:2.  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

  

One Hebrew meaning of Seraph is to burn.  Perhaps Isaiah saw the angels in bright

flaming appearance. Maybe similar to the angel Moses saw in the burning bush.

A. One of the jobs of angels is the continuous praise of Lord.

    1. Six wings, not seven, because they are not complete in themselves.

    2. Before the Lord they used two of their wings to cover their faces.

        They reverence the Lord with highest respect.

    3. With two of their wings, they covered their feet indicating their service

         is completely dedicated to the Lord.

    4. And with two wings, they flew around the throne indicating their ongoing

        activity in praise and worship.

    5. We should reverence the Lord, serve the Lord and continuously praise Him.

OUR SONG OF PRAISE

V:3. " And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the    

   whole earth is full of his glory."

  A. There should be unity in our worship.

      1. It is good when we assemble together for the sole purpose of praising the Lord.

      2. We do not exist on our own but by the power and the authority of God. 

      3. In Him we live, move and have our being.      Acts 17:28

      4. Therefore, we ought to find pleasure and honor in worshipping God.

  B. First the angels recognized the Holy trinity.

      1. They sang Holy three times.

           a. One for the Father

           b. One for the Son 

           c. One for the Holy Spirit.

      2. They recognized the sacred, moral nature of God.

      3. Second they proclaimed the supreme power and authority of the Lord.

      4. Third, they proclaimed the universal, infinite  glory of The Father.  

GOD SHOULD ROCK YOUR WORLD

V:4. " At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was

        filled with smoke. "

    A. God can cause the rocks to praise Him.    Luke 19:40

        1. Inanimate objects are under the control of God.

        2. At the sound of the voice of God the foundation of the temple

            moved in harmony and reverence to Him.

        3. Every believer is a building block of the Church.

        4. Surely the moment we encounter the Word of God we ought to

            tremble  with fear and reverence.

        5. Because of God's goodness, we ought to be motivated to praise Him.

  B. This temple that we live in should always be filled with the knowledge of His

       presence.

      1. What an awesome privilege it is to house the power of God.

      2. What an awesome responsibility it is to serve an awesome God. 

REPENT AND BE REFRESHED

V:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

A. The first step to repentance is to recognize and confess your sins.

     1. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins.

     2. It does not matter that we were called by God, empowered by God or

         anointed by Him to serve, we are still sinners.

     3. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

B. We must recognize that we can be influenced by our environment.

     1. What we see, what we hear and who we surround ourselves with

          can influence us to sin.

     2. We cannot isolate ourselves from the world, be we can insulate ourselves

          from sins of the world with the study of God's Word.

     3. An Active prayer life fills our minds with righteousness of God and

         pushes out sin.

C. We are not worthy to be in the presents of the Lord.

    1. But Jesus our covered our sinfulness with His shed blood on the cross.

    2. We should never forget the power of the Word to cleanses us from all

         unrighteousness.   John 15:3

COUNTED RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN THE WORD

V:6-7. " Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

A. Jesus has baptized us with fire and water.

     1. It is only Jesus who is the atonement for our sins.

     2. Our confession of  faith gives us immediate access to God's forgiveness,

          his grace and his mercy.

B. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world.

    1. His death on the cross satisfied God's demand for justice.

    2. Faith in the Word of God convicts us , justifies us, cleanse us and redeems us

        from the wrath of God.

ACCEPTING THE CALL TO SERVE

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

A. It only after you have established a relationship with Jesus that the Lord

     calls you to serve.

   1. Today we hear the voice of the Lord through the Word.

   2. Every believer has been called to serve.

   3. We are the Ambassadors for Christ.

B We are commanded to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Mat 28:19

   1. God owns the mission He calls us to perform.

   2. God takes responsibility for the mission

   2. God empower us to be successful on the mission.

   3. Our mission is to proclaim the Word of God to others.

C. Whom Shall I Send?

     1. He can't send sinners.  John 14: 17

         a. The world don't know God.

         b. The world will not accept God.

     2. Every believer should be available to send on the mission

D. Who will go for Us?

     1. Not Every believer that is call will respond.

     2. All believers are not called to the same mission.

     3. We have the same objective: Lifting Jesus

     3. Believers are called to missions designed for them.

   

E. There is only one expectable answer to God's call to serve ,which is yes.

   1.Isaiah said. "Here I am Send Me". 

      a. He pointed the finger at himself. 

      b. His response was immediate.

      c. His response was voluntary .

      d. He made himself available.

      e. He made himself accountable.

      f. He responded with enthusiasm.

   2. Serving God blesses your life.  

   3. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than receive."   Acts 20:35

THANK GOD FOR REDEEMING US TO SERVE

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For More Lessons follow me on facebook and visit my blogs

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com