This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Faith In Action, Trusting God While Waiting", 12/3/2017

FAITH IN ACTION, "TRUSTING GOD WHILE WAITING"

Acts 3:11-22

GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

V:11. "While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. "

A. You can always expect the unexpected from the Lord.

    1. A man had been lame from birth, about 40 years.

    2. His only means of support was to beg for money from those going into

        the temple.

    3. He lived off the generosity of those who worshipped the Lord.

    4. He had the support of friends or relatives who brought him to the temple

        each day.

B. On this particular day, he was at the right place at the right time.

   1. Even though he did not have the function of his legs, he used

       the voice God gave him to ask for help.

   2. He was not lazy, he was disable

C. He saw Peter and John going into the temple and ask for      help.

   1. He expected a donation, but he got the unexpected, complete healing

       of his legs, ankles and feet.

   2. God blesses those who come to Him for help.

   3. God blesses those who are persistence in their prayers.

   4. Just because your prayers have not been answered, does not mean they

       want be answered.

   5. You can be sure that God hears your prayers, but He answers them in His time.

GIVE GOD CREDIT FOR THE SUCCESS IN MINISTRY

V:12-13. " When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go."

A. Never take credit for what God has done through you.

    1.We are instruments of God power.

    2. God uses our troubles to show His power.

    3. God uses us to put His power in action.

B. When good things happen to us, we can use them as opportunities to give

     God praise.

   1. We can use what God has done to us as a testimony to proclaim Jesus

       as our Lord and Savior.

   2. Some one is always watching what happens in your life.

   3. Someone can be drawn to Jesus by your testimony.

C. The people of the community witness the healing of the lame man.

   1. They were amazed at how he was healed.

   2. They may have been confused as to how uneducated men were able to

        heal the lame man.

   3. They may have thought Peter and John was responsible for the miracle.

D. Peter used their confusion to proclaim the power of God.

   1. The first thing Peter did was proclaim their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and

       Jacob.

   2. Second Peter introduced them to Jesus as a servant of God.

   3. The third thing Peter did was to proclaim the glory of Jesus

        through His death at the hands of the community.

   4. Peter made the community responsible for the death of Jesus,

       because the Roman government declared Him innocent.

   5. No one in the community spoke up for Jesus doing his trial.

   6. When we keep our mouth closed, we support the majority

        opinion.

 OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES

V:14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you."

A. You should never agree with the popular opinion if you don't have supporting

     evidence.

   1.  The community had the evidence that Jesus was Holy and righteous because

        of His good works.

   2. They had the evidence that Jesus was sent from the Father because they witness

       all His miracles and they heard Him preach the Word of God.

B. The community had no evidence that Jesus was sinful.

   1. The accusers of Jesus couldn't find to men who would agree with the same lie.

   2. They knew Barabbas was a murderer, yet they released him and killed Jesus.

   3. Peter laid the blame of Jesus death on the very ones who were amazed at

       the healing of the lame man.

   4. Peter identifies Jesus with attributes of God the Father; Holy and Righteous.

GOD USES YOUR BAD TO HIS GLORY

V:15. "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. "

A. When you condemn a person without evidence, you may not know how much

     damage you are doing.

   1. God allows bad thing to happen to good people for the benefit of the body of

       Christ.

   2. We are responsible for the bad we do, but God can make it work for good.

  B. Peter introduces Jesus life under the guidance of the Father,

    1. Jesus is introduced as the creator.

    2. You, the community killed Him, but God raised Him from the dead.

    3. You condemned Him but God redeemed Him

C. Peter presents himself and the other disciples as eye witnesses

        to  the death and resurrection of Christ.

    1. Christ was raise by the power of the Father.

    2. While we were not living at the time of Christ death,

         but we can trust the word of the eye witnesses.

    3. Jesus appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection.  1 Cor 15:6

       

D. No one can come to Jesus, unless the Father draws him.  John 6:35

    1, Peter connected the dots so that Israel could be enlighten

        to who Jesus was.

    2. You got to remember that the Jews knew Jesus as the son of a

         carpenter.

        a. They knew Jesus as Mary's boy.

        c. They knew Him as a teacher.

        d. They witness him healing their family members, yet refused to

             see Him as the Son of God.

        e. They knew the human side of Jesus, but not the spiritual side.

   3. Peter proclaimed Jesus as the only Holy and Righteous One.

       1. He presents Jesus as the creator of life.

       2. Peter presents Jesus as more than man, because He was resurrected by

           Father in their time.

       3. Peter presents Jesus with all  power to heal.

FAITH IN JESUS ANSWERS PRAYERS

V:16. " By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

A. Under the Law the Jews knew "faith"  as it related to keeping God's commands.

    1. Here Peter introduces "faith" as it relates to belief in the power of Jesus.

    2. Peter equates Jesus with God the Father through the power of healing.

B. By faith in the "name of Jesus" a lame man was made to walk.

    1. There is power in the "name of Jesus".

    2. There is healing in the "name of Jesus"

    3. There is resurrection in the " name of Jesus"

    4. Under the Law the Jews worshipped God.

    5. We are taught to worship Jesus under Grace.

    6. Jesus and the Father are one,

    7. The lame man was broken under the Law but made complete under Grace.

YOUR IGNORANCE MAY GLORIFY GOD

V:17-18.  "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. "

A. God introduces "ignorance" as a lack of knowledge about Jesus.

    1. He uses ignorance to draw us to Jesus,

    2. In this case, the  drawing card was the healing of the lame man,

        which was 40 years in the making.

B. This "ignorance" was part of God's plan of redemption.

    1. The  prophets had spoke of Jesus suffering.

    2. It was the ignorance of man that led Jesus to the cross,

        fulfilling the prophecy.     Isa 53:10

STEPS TO SALVATION

V:19-20. " Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. "

A. Peter introduces the steps of Salvation.

    1, Repent

    2. Turn to God

    3. The atonement of sins

    4. Regeneration

 B. The Messiah had been long preached to the Jews as their salvation by the prophets.

    1. The Jews were anticipating the coming of their promised Messiah.

    2. Because of their ignorance they didn't know Him when He showed up.

    3. Peter proclaims Jesus as the appointed Messiah.

    4. The same Jesus they crucified is the Messiah that saves them.

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

V:21. : He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as

  he promised long ago through his holy prophets. "

A. Peter proclaim, the coming of the Messiah, His death and resurrection and

     His second coming.

   1. The Pharisees, a ruling Jewish sect believed in the resurrection.  

   2.  Herod, the Roman tetrarch, believed in the resurrection (Matt 14:2).

   2. Peter confirmed the Jewish belief by proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.

B. The healing of the lame man got the Jewish community attention which

      Peter used to preach Jesus as their appointed savior.

   1. The hearts and minds of those who accepted Jesus as their Messiah

        by faith were prepared for the second coming of Jesus.

   2. God keeps His promises in His time.

   3. We were all drawn to Christ in the Father's time.

   4. We should all be anticipating the glorious return of our Lord and

        Savior, Jesus Christ.

PRAISE GOD FOR LOVING US

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 or visit my

blogs, revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Communion, Remembering The Cross", 11/26/2017

COMMUNION, REMEMBERING THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 11:23-12:1

LOOKING BACK

V:23-24. " For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

A. Paul not being a disciple at the time of Jesus death, received this information after

     he became a disciple.

    1. According to his statement in  Galatians 1:2, he did not receive it from the apostles

        but directly from the mouth of Jesus after his conversion..

B. Jesus told His disciples to remember His death.

    1. Remember that He was  unjustly accused.

    2. Remember that He was lied on.

    3. Remember that He was betrayed.

    4. Remember that He was abandoned. 

    5. Remember that His death was voluntary.

    6. Remember that His death was a substitute for our sins.

    7. Remember that He was found innocence by the Romans but the

        leaders of Jerusalem and chief priests demanded his

        crucifixion because of envy.

    8. Remember that His death was planned by the Father at the hands of

        His accusers.

    9. Remember that His death fulfilled all the requirements of the law.

   10. Remember that His death put end to the judgment of the Law.

   11. Remember that His death was because of the love of

         His Father for the world.

LOOKING FORWARD

25. " In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

A. The wine represents His resurrection.

    1. The wine represents redemption from sin

    2. The wine represents a new life in Christ.

    3. The wine represent a new covenant in His blood.

    4. The wine represents the Grace of God.

    5. The wine represents Christ shed blood on the cross

    6. The wine represents His blood, the atonement for the

        sins of the world, believers and none believers.

CONSIDERING THE PRESENT, THE DUTY OF BELIEVERS

26 "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. "

A, It is the responsibility of the believer to participate in the celebration of the

     the death of Jesus.

    1. The participation should be one of anticipating the immediate return of the Lord.

    2. Our anticipation should be heighten to the point of being ready to enter into

        heaven with Him.

B. The Church is the role model of faith to the world of  the anticipated return

     of Christ.

   1. Our participation should be with a willing heart filled with gladness.

   2. It is the responsibility of believers to continually proclaim the

       return of  Christ for the sake of non believers.

   3. We need to continually remind ourselves that our days on earth

       have been numbered by the Lord.

   4. We need to continue to remind ourselves not to become attached to

        what we have on earth.

LOOK WITHIN

PREPARATION OF THE MIND FOR THE CELEBRATION

V:27-28. " Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. "

A. We need to prepare our hearts before we participate in the Lord's Supper.

    1. Examine ourselves to see if we have knowingly or unknowingly sinned against

        another brother or sister.

    2. Have we with pride considered ourselves more important than others?

    3. Have we in our thoughts and actions demeaned another person?

    4. If so we have sinned against another person and therefore sinned against the

        body of Christ.

    5. If we find any unconfessed sins we are not worthy to take the Lord's Supper.

        a. Therefore confess your sins before taking the Lord's Supper.

        b. Enter into the communion with a clean heart.

B. Do not become an expert at examining the sins of others.

    1. Become an expert of examining your own sins.

    2. Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, we all have

       something to confess.

    3. When we consider how we have been hurt, we may be able to determine

        how we have hurt others in the same manner.

    4. Confessing our own sins will be the measure we can use to forgive others.

    5. When we figure out that we are imperfect, we will know to confess our sins

        before we take the Lord's Supper.

DIVINE JUDGMENT

V:29. " For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. "

A. The Communion as the Lord's Supper has been named, is not a social

      gathering, but an occasion to reverence  the Lord.

   1. The Communion is an occasion to remember how good God is to us.

   2. The Communion is an occasion to remember the Lord's love

       for us.

B. When we participate in the Communion service as a ritual with a

      heart unconvicted of our sins we bring judgment  upon ourselves.

    1. In order to put ourselves in the right frame of mind we need to

        view the horror of Jesus dying on the cross followed by His

        glorious resurrection.  

    2. Second we need to view Jesus seated at the right hand of the

        Father in the presence making intercessions for us.

 CONSEQUENSES OF IMPROPER CELEBRATION

V:30-31.  That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.

A. The beginning of our new life with Christ is accepting His death and

     resurrection as a divine gift  from Him.

   1. The Spirit of the living God indwells us.

   2. The Spirit must continually  be stirred up with in us to be

        mindful of the Lord's gift.

B.  The weakness of the spiritual mind began when we take the

      work of the Lord on the  cross for granted.

   1.  A mind not focused on the Lord becomes sick with worldly concerns.

   2. Like the prodigal son , we are not in our right mind when we 

       walk away from the Fathers blessings.

C. Since we are talking about believers, the phrase fallen asleep would

     appear to mean the sense of the Lord's presence had become dull.

   1. All of our spiritual blessing are activated by constant participation

       in serving the Lord.

  2. Being constantly reminded of the Lord's death and resurrection

      sharpens our sense of fellowship and communion with the Lord.

DIVINE WORK WITHIN

V:32. "When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."

A. God shows His love for us by His judgment and His loving discipline.

    1. His judgment of us is not unto death but unto a closer relationship with Him.

    2. While He judges our sins He does not execute justice.

    3. Justice would mean eternal death.

B. God judges us and disciplines us according to His will.

    1. His discipline is designed to get our attention and to correct us.

    2. His discipline is designed to effect change in our attitude and

        actions to be more like Jesus.

CORRECT CHANGE IN FELLOWSHIP

V:33-34. " So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.

34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. "

A. It is our attitude of love toward one another that God is concerned about.

    1. Each of us can either positively or negatively affect the spiritual growth

        of others in Christ.

    2. The Communion should be viewed as an outward sign of our devotion to Christ

         and our gratefulness to His work on the cross for our eternal salvation.

B. We have to have a love for Christ before we can have correct love for

      brothers and sisters in Christ.

   1. We show our love for Christ by following His commands and ordinances.

   2. We show our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ by respecting our

        fellowship together.

   3. We should make it our intentions to treat every brother and sister as equal

        partners with Christ.

   4. We should make it our intention to fellowship as equals in Christ.

THANK GOD FOR REMINDING US OF THE WORK ON THE CROSS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 Wes Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons follow me on facebook and visit my

blogs, "revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Prepared For A New Life In Christ:, 11/19/2017

PREPARED FOR A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Hebrews 12:14-16, 18-29

GODLY ATTITUDE

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

A. Two of the prerequisites to enter heaven are peace and holiness.

    1. To live in peace take considerable effort on our part.

    2. We are by nature in opposition to rules and authority.

    3. We have the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to submit to

        authority of the Word of God.

   4. We can submit to those who submit to The Word of God and we

       can avoid those who oppose God.

   5. I think we have to recognize that we cannot associate with some people

       because they are persistence  trouble makers.

B. We should make an effort to pursue the holiness of God.

   1. We first must have an attitude of doing the right thing.

   2. We can treat others with kindness and respect regardless of how we

       are treated.

THE END OF THE OLD COVENENT

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;

19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,

20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."

21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

A. The Jews were under the Law God gave Moses at Mount Horeb.

      1.While God visited with Moses on the mountain, no one was to touch

          it unless they die.

      2. The sound of God was so frighten that the people did not want Him to

          talk to them directly.

      3. They requested that Moses give them the Word from God.

      4. The law could not save, but pointed to their unrighteousness and judgment.

B. Having being freed from slavery in Egypt, they brought slavery with them to

     desert  in the form of idol gods.

    1. They could not make peace with God because of their desire to hold on to the

        past.

    2. They spent 40 years wondering in desert because of their disobedience

        and unbelief.

THE NEW COVENANT IN JESUS

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

A. All of the requirements of the Law given to Moses were fulfilled by the

     death of Jesus on the cross. Matt  5:17

   1. A New covenant of grace was ratified with the blood of Jesus on the cross.

   2. Under the Law, Moses was the mediator between God and Israel.

   3. Under the New Covenant of Grace, Jesus is the mediator between the Church and

       God.

 B. Under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was required as a sacrifice for the

      the atonement of the sins of Israel.

     1. The blood of animals could not save but was a type of the sacrifice of the blood

          Christ shed on the cross which atoned for sins of all men for all times.

     2. Angels rejoiced when Christ was born.

     3. Angels also rejoice every time a person excepts Christ as his/her personal savior.

         Luke 15:10

C. Our Faith in Jesus Christ make us perfect before the Father in Heaven.

     1. We were buried with Jesus in His death and reborn in His resurrection

     2. Any man in Christ is a new creation.

 D. Christ is the first born of the New Creation in Him.

     1. Christ is the first born of the Church.

     2. All believers are members of the body of Christ.

    3. We sons and daughters of God through our faith in Jesus.

OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."

27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

A. Unlike the Israelites  in the desert, we have a complete copy of the Bible,

     God's Holy Word.

    1. We have all the instructions God gave Israel under the Law and all the instructions

        Jesus gave under Grace.

    2. The Israelites could not keep the Law and many perished because of their

        disobedience.

 B. We have the advantage of having the Word of God in print and the power of the

       Holy Spirit to interpret the Word for us.

    1. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that reminds us of God's Words and gives

        us the will and the spirit to obey the Word.

   2. Proverbs 9:10 states; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and

       knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

   3. If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask the Lord and it will be given to him.

C. Because of sin that enter in to God perfect creation, in the Garden of Eden,

     this current heaven and earth will be destroyed after the second coming of Christ.

    1. God will make a   new heaven and new earth in which all believers have

        membership.

    2. We have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be in this new heaven

        and new earth.  Eph 1:4

    3. We owe it to God the Father and Jesus the author of our salvation to be obedient to

        the Word of God.

    4. We are the Church that world should see and be drawn to Christ.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

29 for our "God is a consuming fire."

A. We have to develop an attitude of gratefulness.

     1. We have grown up in world of unbelief and selfishness.

     2. We learned to complain about out our situations.

     3. Our hearts were harden by the world we live in.

B. But by the grace of God we were drawn to Christ.

    1. Armed with the Word of God we are taught to be grateful and thankful.

    2. It is not by our works that we are saved, but by the grace of our Lord and

        Savior Jesus Christ.

C. Everything that has breath should praise the Lord.

    1. If God chose some for heaven, then there are some God did not choose.

    2. If God called some out of the world to Himself, then there are some who He

        left in their sinful state,

    3. We were not chosen because we are good, but because of God's love.

THANK GOD FOR CHOSING US

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

revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Best Is Yet To Come", 11/12/2017

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Jeremiah 31:27-34

THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM

V:27-28 "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals.

28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the Lord. "

A. This is the prophecy of the coming Millennium Kingdom in which Christ will reign

     on earth.  (Millennium means 1000 years)     Rev 20:1-4

   1. The time frame is after the second coming of Christ.

   2. We know that this time frame is before the New Heaven and New Earth

       because there will be no animals after the final judgment.

B. When Jesus come back again all the Church will  raptured into heaven

     to reign with Him.   I Thes 4:13-17

   1. Jesus will wage a war against Satan who will be defeated and locked in a

       special hell where he will not have any influence.

   2. A remnant of Jews will survive the war? and be taken into the Millennium

       to grow a Nation obedient to Christ.

C. During the Millennium, Israel will serve Christ as He reigns on earth.

BIBLE INTERPRETATION, THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

V:29-30 "In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

30 Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes — his own teeth will be set on edge. "

A. We have to be careful to separate scripture from traditional sayings that propagate

     through out the Church that are not based on the Bible.

   1. This saying was based on a misinterpretation of scripture. Lev 18:25

   2.The Jews held the belief that their current misfortunes was based on the sins of their

       ancestors.

B. Before the death and resurrection of Christ, man did not have the indwelling of the

     Holy Spirit.

   1. The people of Israel relied on the priest on the interpretation of scripture.

   2. The authority of scripture was second to their traditions.

C. After the resurrection of Christ, all believers are given the indwelling of the Holy

     Spirit.    John 14:26

   1. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to teach the Word of God to believers.

   2. When we study God's Word we have an in house interpreter.     

  

JESUS CHRIST, THE NEW COVENANT

V:31-32. "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,"   declares the Lord. "

A. The old covenant that God made with Israel was the Law.

    1. The Law was conditional on the obedience of the nation.

    2. Israel could not keep the Law.

    3. The Law could not save, but pointed to their sinfulness.

    4. The Israelites continuously  broke God's Law before they were placed

         in the promise land.

    5. God protected the Nation of Israel in desert and in the promise land.

B. The New Covenant was an everlasting covenant ratified with the blood of Jesus

     on the Cross.    Matt 26:28

    1. This new covenant is none conditional.

    2. It is not based on man, but the shed blood of Jesus.

    3. We are continuously reminded of this covenant by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

         John 14:26

THE INDEWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,"  declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

A. Two time frames may be indicated here.

    1. The Church had it beginning with Jewish believers.

    2. Peter preach on one occasion and 3000 Jews were saved. He preach on another 

        occasion  and 5000 thousands Jews were saved.  Act 2 and 3

    3. The sins of all believers are atoned by their faith in the death and resurrection

        of Jesus.

    4. Based on our faith, God becomes our God and we become His people.

    5. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we have instant recall of God's Word.

    6. The Church age will end with the second coming of Christ.  1 Thes 4:13-17

B. The second time frame is the Millennium Kingdom.

    1. During this time frame after end of the Church Age, God will deal with Israel

        only.

    2. A remnant of Israel will survive the tribulation and grow a nation in

        the Millennium Kingdom.   Romans 9:27

    3. Doing this second time frame. Christ, the Word will reign on earth

        and be in the hearts of all men.     Rev 20:1-4

THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY

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,  revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Honoring God By Keeping His Commands", 11/5/2017

HONORING GOD BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDS

Numbers 25:10-13, 1 Samuel 2:30-36

INTRODUCTION

When I was growing up, the parents in the neighborhood had watch over all

the children. It common and expected that any parent in the neighborhood

could discipline another parents child when he/she saw the child doing something

wrong. There was no looking the other way.

We are at the point in America, where parents get upset when others give

their children Godly instruction.

When Israel was formed as a nation out of Egypt there was no separation of

church and state. They had only God's commands to live by.

God protected His honor by punishing those who dishonored Him.

HONORING GOD BY SERVING

Numbers 25:10-14

V:10 The Lord said to Moses,

11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. "

A. Being a Christian comes with tremendous responsibility.

     1. Jesus said, take up your cross and follow me.

     2. When the Israelite came out of Egypt, God gave them His commands.

     3. One of the commands was, thou shall have no other God before Me.

     4. Many of the men of Israel disobeyed God by marrying Moabite women

         who worshipped Bael.

      5. God instructed  Moses to kill 24000 who participated in the worship of Bael.

B. One Israelite brought his foreign wife to church (the tent meeting) in defiance

     of God command while the nation was weeping.

    1. Phinehas, a priest followed the man and his wife out of the meeting and

        killed both of them.

    2. Phinehas in his position as priest honored God by killing the couple

        who dishonored God.

    3. As a result, God stopped the curse on Israel.

    4. Phinehas was a type of "Jesus" whose sacrifice atoned for the sins of Israel.

    5. Never underestimate the power of your prayers.

    6. Your prayers maybe the only mediator between your neighbors sins and God.

PEACE, A BLESSING OF SERVICE

V:12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.

13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was

     zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

A. God honors those who honor Him before others.

   1. In this case, God promised Phinehas that his family would produce

       generations of priest.

   2. When we honor God with our service we are setting stage for our descendants

        to be part of the body of Christ.

   3. Train up a child in the way they should go, and when hte gets old he will not

      depart from it.

    4. Each believer has the awesome responsibility of training children they come

        in contact with.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HONORING GOD

1 Samuel 2:30-36

V:30 "Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line "

A. The promise to Phinehas of an everlasting  priesthood in book of Numbers was made

     400 years earlier.

    1. Eli the priest of Israel around 1100 BC allowed his sons to dishonor God

        before the people of Israel. Eli failed to discipline his sons when they profaned

        the sacrifices of God by taking the best for themselves.

   2. As a result of Eli's failure to discipline his sons, he took part in dishonoring

       God.

   3.  Generations of Eli's family were denied the privilege of priesthood because

        of his failure to discipline his sons.

B. We can choose not to honor God with our lives and thus forfeit the promises

      God made for us.

   1. God is not mocked. He will not honor our disobedient behavior.

   2. Every parent has the responsibility to teach their children to obey God's

       commands.

   3. We guarantee the future success of our children by the way we discipline them.

   4. No doubt Eli knew the failures of Israel because of their disobedience, yet

       he failed to own up to his responsibility to discipline his own sons.

   5. What ever we do as parents affects our children. 

.

THE EFFECT ON YOUR FAMILY FOR NOT HONORING GOD

V:32-33. " and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family line there will never be an old man.

33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from my altar will be spared only to blind your eyes with tears and to grieve your heart, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. "

A. Honor your mother and your father and your days will be long.

   1. The first curse on Eli's descendants was short lives.

   2. Eli's descendants would not live to be old men giving wisdom to the next

       generation.  

B. The second curse to Eli's descendants, was some were prevented from being

     priest.

     1. It is a blessing to be allowed to serve God.

     2. It is a curse when you don't have the desire to serve God.

C. The third curse to Eli's descendants was grieving hearts of parents who

     would see their children die in the prime of their lives.

    1. The consequences of dishonoring God with our lives is a lower  quality of

        life of our children.

    2. It is selfish behavior on our parts as parents not to serve God and not to

        teach our children to honor God.

    3. After God, the welfare of our children ought to be our first priority.

YOU CAN BE REPLACED

V:34-36 "'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to 

  you, they will both die on the same day.

  I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart

  and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one  

  always.

 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece  

 of silver and a crust of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can

 have food to eat."'"

A. Imaging being told by your successor, the one you trained, that your services would no

     longer be required.

   1. Eli's was the voice of God until he stopped honoring God with his life and the

       life of his sons.

   2. God placed in Eli's service his successor,  Samuel .

   3. Imaging being told by your successor that both your sons would die on the same day.

B. We should never want to get into a position where God stop speaking to us, but speaks

     to others about our demise.

   1. We should never take the position that God has given us for granted.

   2. We can easily be replaced.

   3. God blessed us with gifts and talents so that others might benefit and that

       He gets the glory.

C. Samuel was the priest of Israel that God raised up after Eli.

    1. The Levite tribe, priests of Israel, were not given land to cultivate for their

        living.

    2. They were to serve God with the sacrifices of the offerings of the people

         to God for atonement of their sins.

       a. They were given a portion of the sacrifices for their survival.

       b. Because of Eli's failure to teach his sons their office and to discipline

           them, his descendants was forced to beg for their subsistence.

    3. God does not place us in position for ourselves, but for the benefit

        His people.

    4. If we fail to be faithful in the position He has placed us, He can replace

        us with another faithful person.

THANK GOD FOR HIS TOLLERANCE

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 vist my blogs

"goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com" and revmmitchell.com