MOVING THE GOSPEL
ACTS 19
Ephesus was a major city in Asia. It was important port city.
In the city was the temple Artemis, dedicated to the goddess Diana, one of
the 7 wonders of the world at that time.
CORRECTING AN INCOMPLETE MESSAGE
Acts 19:1-9
19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
A. Some plant the word of God and some water that which was planted.
1. According to Acts 18:24-28. Apollo a man who knew the scriptures
came to Ephesus and taught disciple what he knew about Jesus Christ
with out knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 18:24-25
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was
a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been
instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about
Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
2. What you believe is what you are taught,
3. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no power in the Church.
4. Notice it was 12 disciples and they were not growing.
5, Apollos may have been absent when Peter spoke on the Holy Spirit
a. Or he may not have thought the teaching of the Holy Spirit was important.
b. He may have been taught wrong. Romans 10:1-4
6. However, God can use what little you know to separate His elect from
the wrong crowd.
a. Even though, Apollos teaching was incomplete. it was enough to start
a Church.
CONTINUE STUDING TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
B. It is the responsibility of the teacher to continue his/her education.
1. We should never get to a point where we think we know all
there is to know about God.
Acts 18:26
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Apollos), they invited him to their home and
explained to him the way of God more adequately.
2. When Paul came to Ephesus, he found the disciples that Apollos has taught
and discovered that they knew nothing about the Holy Spirit
3, Apollos had laid a foundation which Paul built upon.
4. Apollos planted and Paul watered.
a. Like John the Baptist, he prepared the way for Paul
C. After Apollos learned about the Holy Spirit, he did not go back
to the disciples at Ephesus and correct his teaching.
1. What was Apollos error?
2. He did not finish what he started
3. We should never fail to correct our teaching.
a, We should never be to proud to say I did not give you the correct interpretation.
b. We should never be to busy to go back to those we have taught
and correct our teaching.
4. Apollos left the church without the power it needed to grow.
a. The text says Apollos was fervent in the spirit? Romans 10:1-4
b. It must not have been the Holy Spirit, but his spirit.
c. We must be careful that we are not led by our own desires but
by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 18:27)
5. There are many people who come to Church without the power of
the Church in there lives.
a. What are the evidences that the power of Church is not in the
life of someone you know that go to Church?
b. Do you ever operate without the power of the Church (Holy Spirit)?
E. Two of the gifts of the Holy Spirit at that time, was the speaking in tongues and
prophesies.
1. Tongues was the speaking of another unlearned language. Act 2:4-11
2. Prophesies was the teaching the wisdom of the scriptures
3. We must be willing to learn from other teachers.
A TIME TO MOVE ON
Acts 19:8-10
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
A. There is a time when you cannot get through to a group of non believers,
that you must move on to another group.
1. It is not profitable to those who believe to keep preaching to those who refuse to
believe.
2. It is not in God’s plan that everyone will be saved. Ephesians 1:4
a. When others fail to see God in the Word in our teaching, it is not our fault.
b. It is our job to proclaim the Word, but not to save anyone.
c. The Word has its own convicting power.
3. You cannot let unbelievers hinder the work of God in You. Philippians 1:6
NEVER USE THE SCRIPTURE FOR PERSONAL GAIN
Acts 19:13-16
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
A. Why do you think God put this account in Scripture?
1. What is the lesson we ought to learn from this?
2. If you don’t believe in Jesus, don’t preach Jesus.
3. Don’t try to exercise the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
without believing in Jesus.
B. Some time God allow stuff to happen to strengthen our faith
1. Acts 19:17-19
When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all
seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of
those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
2. We are always in need of improvement.
3. None of us is without sin.
Acts 19:23-27
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
NIV
A. When ever you are making strides in your faith, someone will come along and
try to discourage you.
1. When your religion affects business and politics, you face problems.
2. The love of money is the root of all evil.
3. People will destroy you, if you mess with their money and position.
B. You know why we can’t get pass laws against gun control?
1. It is because of money and position.
2. Selling guns is big business. It does not matter that our
kids are being killed.
3. Wars continue because somebody is supplying the guns.
C. When you preach what is right, expect a fight.
1. We cannot let the opposition to the Word affect the
preaching of Jesus Christ, no matter what it cost us.
2. Listen to what Jesus said:
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it.
3. Jesus said this for our gain
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
KJV
Friday, April 26, 2019
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God's Grace For His People", Galatians 3:1-14, 4/28/2019
GOD’S GRACE FOR HIS PEOPLE
Galatians 3:1-14
OBEY THE TRUTH, NOT MAN
V:1-4. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
A. Paul established the Church in Galatia during his first missionary journey.
1. He preached Jesus Christ and the Galatians accepted Christ by faith.
2. As usual, after he preached to the believers, the Jews who held to the law
came to undermine his teaching.
3. The Jews who held to the law, questioned Paul’s Apostleship and
thus the authority of his teaching.
B. With the absent of Paul, the Galatians were persuaded that it was
Jesus Christ plus the Law for salvation.
1. Having heard, that Galatians were backing away from their belief
of what had been taught to become believers, Paul wrote this
letter to remind them of their faith.
2. The work of God cannot be done in the flesh.
3. We have to be careful that when we are in the world that
we don’t slip back into our former selves.
4. The temptations of the world are all around to entice us to step
back into sin.
5. It is the constant study of the God’s Word that strengthen us to
follow His commands.
6. There are several signs to know you are slipping.
a. We know we are slipping when we tell every one our problems
before we tell God.
b. We know we are slipping when our prayers become short and all
about us.
c. We know we are slipping when salvation is a word and not a life style.
d. We know we are slipping when all we want to hear is “I am alright
preaching” rather than “what I need to change for God.”
THE JUST LIVE BY FAITH AND NOT BY WORKS
V:5-7. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,
doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
A. To please God, it is faith plus nothing.
1. We woke up this morning, not because we are good, but because of God’s love.
2. John 3:16 says whoever believes shall be saved, not whoever believes and good
works.
B. Abraham is the father of faith, because he believed God was going to make
him the father of many nations. He would never live to see it but
he believed it.
1. Abraham lived 400 years before the Law was given to the Jews,
and it was faith plus nothing that pleased God.
2. The Law was never given to us, so we have never been under
the Law.
3. It cannot be faith plus the law for us. It is faith by reason
of God’s grace.
C. The Jews are not the only ones who have a claim to Abraham.
1. We (Gentiles) have a claim to him as our father of faith.
2. Jesus death on the cross ratified our sanctification and justification
in himself.
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH BEGAN WITH ABRAHAM
V:8-9. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
A. Before the foundation of the world we were God’s elect.
1. Before we were born God knew we would be born in sin and destined
for hell.
2. God, before the foundation of the world, planned a way out of hell
into his kingdom.
3. The promise to Abraham foresaw the blood of Christ on the cross
for our salvation.
4. Before Abraham, God plan of salvation was in motion, for He said
to Satan in the Garden of Eden, He (Jesus) will bruise you on the head.
B. God promised to Himself our salvation by His grace.
1. Since Jesus and the Father are one, God sent Himself to the
cross for our salvation.
2. By introducing our works to salvation, we are saying that we can pay God
back for His death on the cross.
3. Jesus put an end to that thought, when He said that any good we do is nothing
more than a filthy rag.
THE LAW A TUTOR UNTIL CHRIST CAME
V:10-11. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
A. The law was never given to save.
1. The was given as a tutor until Christ came. Galatians 3:24
2. No man has ever been able to keep the whole law.
B. While we are not under the law, it is still a reference to the righteousness of God.
1. Jesus did not get rid of the law, He fulfilled all the requirements of the law.
2. It is from the that we know to worship one God and one God only.
3. It is from the law that we know what sin is.
4. It is from the law that we know what pleases God.
THE EVIDENCES OF FAITH
V:12-14. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
A. The evidence of our faith is how we stand on God’s Word in face of adversity,
1. The evidence of our faith is when we stand on God’s Word, when others are
falling away.
2. The evidence of God’s Word is when we stand on God’s Word when others
are changing the Word to fit their desires.
B. The law is a set of standards that God gave to a particular people, for a
set time frame.
1. The purpose of the law was to raise a generations of people who would be
the example of God’s righteousness to the world.
2. From the law we learn the consequence of disobedience.
3. From the law we learn the blessing of obedience.
4. From the law we learn the Love of God for His people.
5. Looking back at the law we see the benefits of God’s
grace and mercy towards us.
THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE
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 face book and
visit my blogs; revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
Galatians 3:1-14
OBEY THE TRUTH, NOT MAN
V:1-4. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
A. Paul established the Church in Galatia during his first missionary journey.
1. He preached Jesus Christ and the Galatians accepted Christ by faith.
2. As usual, after he preached to the believers, the Jews who held to the law
came to undermine his teaching.
3. The Jews who held to the law, questioned Paul’s Apostleship and
thus the authority of his teaching.
B. With the absent of Paul, the Galatians were persuaded that it was
Jesus Christ plus the Law for salvation.
1. Having heard, that Galatians were backing away from their belief
of what had been taught to become believers, Paul wrote this
letter to remind them of their faith.
2. The work of God cannot be done in the flesh.
3. We have to be careful that when we are in the world that
we don’t slip back into our former selves.
4. The temptations of the world are all around to entice us to step
back into sin.
5. It is the constant study of the God’s Word that strengthen us to
follow His commands.
6. There are several signs to know you are slipping.
a. We know we are slipping when we tell every one our problems
before we tell God.
b. We know we are slipping when our prayers become short and all
about us.
c. We know we are slipping when salvation is a word and not a life style.
d. We know we are slipping when all we want to hear is “I am alright
preaching” rather than “what I need to change for God.”
THE JUST LIVE BY FAITH AND NOT BY WORKS
V:5-7. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,
doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
A. To please God, it is faith plus nothing.
1. We woke up this morning, not because we are good, but because of God’s love.
2. John 3:16 says whoever believes shall be saved, not whoever believes and good
works.
B. Abraham is the father of faith, because he believed God was going to make
him the father of many nations. He would never live to see it but
he believed it.
1. Abraham lived 400 years before the Law was given to the Jews,
and it was faith plus nothing that pleased God.
2. The Law was never given to us, so we have never been under
the Law.
3. It cannot be faith plus the law for us. It is faith by reason
of God’s grace.
C. The Jews are not the only ones who have a claim to Abraham.
1. We (Gentiles) have a claim to him as our father of faith.
2. Jesus death on the cross ratified our sanctification and justification
in himself.
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH BEGAN WITH ABRAHAM
V:8-9. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
A. Before the foundation of the world we were God’s elect.
1. Before we were born God knew we would be born in sin and destined
for hell.
2. God, before the foundation of the world, planned a way out of hell
into his kingdom.
3. The promise to Abraham foresaw the blood of Christ on the cross
for our salvation.
4. Before Abraham, God plan of salvation was in motion, for He said
to Satan in the Garden of Eden, He (Jesus) will bruise you on the head.
B. God promised to Himself our salvation by His grace.
1. Since Jesus and the Father are one, God sent Himself to the
cross for our salvation.
2. By introducing our works to salvation, we are saying that we can pay God
back for His death on the cross.
3. Jesus put an end to that thought, when He said that any good we do is nothing
more than a filthy rag.
THE LAW A TUTOR UNTIL CHRIST CAME
V:10-11. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
A. The law was never given to save.
1. The was given as a tutor until Christ came. Galatians 3:24
2. No man has ever been able to keep the whole law.
B. While we are not under the law, it is still a reference to the righteousness of God.
1. Jesus did not get rid of the law, He fulfilled all the requirements of the law.
2. It is from the that we know to worship one God and one God only.
3. It is from the law that we know what sin is.
4. It is from the law that we know what pleases God.
THE EVIDENCES OF FAITH
V:12-14. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
A. The evidence of our faith is how we stand on God’s Word in face of adversity,
1. The evidence of our faith is when we stand on God’s Word, when others are
falling away.
2. The evidence of God’s Word is when we stand on God’s Word when others
are changing the Word to fit their desires.
B. The law is a set of standards that God gave to a particular people, for a
set time frame.
1. The purpose of the law was to raise a generations of people who would be
the example of God’s righteousness to the world.
2. From the law we learn the consequence of disobedience.
3. From the law we learn the blessing of obedience.
4. From the law we learn the Love of God for His people.
5. Looking back at the law we see the benefits of God’s
grace and mercy towards us.
THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE
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 face book and
visit my blogs; revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 18, 2019
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Galatians 6:6-9. Matthew 28, 4.21/2019
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
THE RESURRECTION FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN
Galatians 1:6-9, Matthew 28
Galatians 1:6-9
ONE LORD, ONE JESUS, ONE SPIRIT
There is one Gospel, The Gospel of Grace.
There is one Christ, The Christ of Salvation
There is one Lord, the Lord of forgiveness
There is one Spirit of Truth
All who accept Christ as their personal Savior are
brought to the throne of His Glory
All who reject Christ as Lord and Savior, are condemned
to the agony of hell for eternity.
Matthew 28
THE GREATEST STORY
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the greatest Story ever told.
It is a story of the Love of God providing a way to salvation
for all mankind.
I have heard it said that behind every successful man stands a strong woman
God, in this text give a dialog of the ministry of women who brought
Good news of Jesus resurrection to the men who had failed Him
doing His trial and crucifixion.
RIGHT MOTIVES, WRONG MISSION
These woman worked behind the scenes supporting Jesus in His
ministry on earth. They didn’t have a voice, but they stood behind
the greatest voice of all times.
Early Sunday Morning before daylight they carried spices to anoint,
body of Jesus for his final burial.
Put Jesus first on your list. Serve Him first. Don’t wait till you
are all worn out, then give Jesus what left of your energy.
We have an urgency to serve Jesus. Tomorrow is not promised to
us. Every moment with Jesus is a moment in heaven.
NOT TRUSTING THE WORD BRINGS PAIN
If the women and the disciples had listen to Jesus, the trip to the tomb
and their sorrows would have been unnecessary.
Oh what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to
Jesus in prayer.
Jesus told them at least four time recorded in the Gospel of Matthew,
4 time recorded in the Gospel of John and three time record in the
Gospel of Mark of His death and resurrection.
They had been traumatized watching Jesus die on the cross.
They were sadden to lose their beloved leader to cruel men.
These women and the disciples was operating like they were serving a
dead Jesus.
Anybody ever been there?. Ever been in a situation where you could
not see your way out? You got worried, frustrated and depressed because
it seemed like Jesus was not concerned about you. You were operating like
you were serving a dead Jesus. Every time you get angry, ever time you
frustrated and up set and lose hope, you are in the dead Jesus syndrome.
The only way to stay out of the dead Jesus syndrome is to trust His Word.
The women went on a mission to serve a dead Jesus, but came away
with the mission to proclaim the Gospel of Life.
The went away worried and sad but come from the tomb with Joy
and hope.
When your motive are right, Jesus will correct your mission.
The apostle Paul had His mission corrected by the Lord
a number of times.
NOTHING TO HARD FOR GOD
On the way to the tomb, the women were worried about how they would
get pass the Roman Guards and who would roll away the stone
covering the tomb.
We serve a God of all possibilities. What is impossible for us is always
possible for God. God has a solution for those who serve Him.
When the women got to the tomb, an angel that looked like lighting
in gleaming white clothing, had rolled away the stone and was sitting
on top of it. The Roman Guards were laid out like dead men
Because of their faithfulness, the women were the first to see
the resurrected Jesus. They were the first to worship Jesus
alive after the crucifixion. They were the first to have their
joy restored.
We are blessed when we serve God faithfully. God will reveal to
us wisdom that He will not give to the world.
GOD CAN OPEN ALL DOORS
Whatever stands in your way, God can move. Whatever is holding
you back, God can loose.
The God we serve wants the best for you. All you got to do is trust
and serve Him.
CORRECTION OF THE MISSION
In all our ways, we must acknowledge God and He will
direct our path. If our mind is set on Jesus, God will
put us in the right direction.
LET THE WORD BE YOUR GUIDE
When you are troubled, God will come along beside you and put
His arms around you.
Fear not said the Angel.
The Roman guards were laid out like dead men.
God can put fear into your worst enemy.
While others are in fear, you will be comforted.
While others are lost, God will give you a clear vision
They started the day focused on Jesus death, but God
wants us focused on His resurrection and our new life in Him.
JESUS IS ALIVE
The Angel told the women, you are looking for Jesus. He is not
here, He has risen.
The stone was rolled away from the tomb, not to let Jesus out, but
let us look in and see that it was empty.
The empty tomb was victory over death.
It was victory over Satan and his demons
The song say;
Victory is mine. Victory is mine today.
I told Satan get thee behind
Victory is mine today
Joy is mine
Joy is mine to day
Happiness is mine. Happiness is mine today
The angel said come see the place where the Lord lay.
Sometime we need to see with our own eyes.
It was proof that Jesus had risen. The wrapping around His body was
was still intact as if He had risen through them
One angel was sitting at the head of the wrapping
and one angel was sitting at the foot of the wrapping
The face cloth was folded and place in another place.
It was proof that Jesus had risen
THE TRUTH REVEALED
Prior to Jesus death and resurrection, everyone saw Jesus as
son of Joseph the carpenter and Mary. Apparently the secret of the virgin birth was only known to Joseph and Elizabeth her cousin.
The empty tomb was a reason for Mary the mother of Jesus to
reveal her secret, that Jesus was born to her through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Only Mary could tell the story
of the virgin birth of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.
Mary, at last could finally see Jesus as the Son Of God.
Without Mary’s testimony the complete story of Jesus
could not be told.
Without Mary’s testimony we wouldn’t know that Jesus
was God from the beginning and God of all times
THE MISSION CHANGED
The women were reminded that Jesus told them that He would
be crucified and rise on the third day.
The angel told the woman to go quickly tell the disciples
Their new mission was to proclaim the
Good News to the disciples.
Tell them Jesus would meet them in Galilee, was the direction
of the angel
God knows when you have messed up. He does not judge you
in you messed up situation. Jesus redeems you from your
situation.
The disciples were hiding out. Scared for their lives. After all
they killed Jesus. Jesus knows what on your mind, but He has
plan to put you on the right track.
Jesus, especially wanted Peter to know that he was forgiven and
included in the ministry of the Church.
You can’t get to messed up that Jesus can’t clean you up.
Don’t put yourself on a guilt trip because you have sinned and
fallen into the temptation of the flesh.
THE CHURCH STARTED
God will meet you where you are. The disciples were
hiding out in Jerusalem. But Jesus met them on their own turf.
It is 90 miles from Jerusalem to Galilee, a 5 day walk.
It will cost you something to serve Jesus
The ministry started in Galilee, and the Church was lunched
from Galilee.
After His resurrection, Jesus was given all power in heaven and in
the earth.
We serve a Jesus who has unlimited authority and unlimited
power. He’s on our side, He’s on our side, He’s on our side.
Jesus gave the Church its mission. Go to
every nation baptizing them in the name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost.
We are in the greatest group of all time. We have the greatest mission
in all the world. We serve the one true and living God.
Jesus orchestrated His own death and resurrection
He said no one take my life. I have the power to lay it down
and the power to take it up again.
He endured the shame of the cross so you and I could
meet Him in heaven and live an eternal life with
God.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041.
THE RESURRECTION FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN
Galatians 1:6-9, Matthew 28
Galatians 1:6-9
ONE LORD, ONE JESUS, ONE SPIRIT
There is one Gospel, The Gospel of Grace.
There is one Christ, The Christ of Salvation
There is one Lord, the Lord of forgiveness
There is one Spirit of Truth
All who accept Christ as their personal Savior are
brought to the throne of His Glory
All who reject Christ as Lord and Savior, are condemned
to the agony of hell for eternity.
Matthew 28
THE GREATEST STORY
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the greatest Story ever told.
It is a story of the Love of God providing a way to salvation
for all mankind.
I have heard it said that behind every successful man stands a strong woman
God, in this text give a dialog of the ministry of women who brought
Good news of Jesus resurrection to the men who had failed Him
doing His trial and crucifixion.
RIGHT MOTIVES, WRONG MISSION
These woman worked behind the scenes supporting Jesus in His
ministry on earth. They didn’t have a voice, but they stood behind
the greatest voice of all times.
Early Sunday Morning before daylight they carried spices to anoint,
body of Jesus for his final burial.
Put Jesus first on your list. Serve Him first. Don’t wait till you
are all worn out, then give Jesus what left of your energy.
We have an urgency to serve Jesus. Tomorrow is not promised to
us. Every moment with Jesus is a moment in heaven.
NOT TRUSTING THE WORD BRINGS PAIN
If the women and the disciples had listen to Jesus, the trip to the tomb
and their sorrows would have been unnecessary.
Oh what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to
Jesus in prayer.
Jesus told them at least four time recorded in the Gospel of Matthew,
4 time recorded in the Gospel of John and three time record in the
Gospel of Mark of His death and resurrection.
They had been traumatized watching Jesus die on the cross.
They were sadden to lose their beloved leader to cruel men.
These women and the disciples was operating like they were serving a
dead Jesus.
Anybody ever been there?. Ever been in a situation where you could
not see your way out? You got worried, frustrated and depressed because
it seemed like Jesus was not concerned about you. You were operating like
you were serving a dead Jesus. Every time you get angry, ever time you
frustrated and up set and lose hope, you are in the dead Jesus syndrome.
The only way to stay out of the dead Jesus syndrome is to trust His Word.
The women went on a mission to serve a dead Jesus, but came away
with the mission to proclaim the Gospel of Life.
The went away worried and sad but come from the tomb with Joy
and hope.
When your motive are right, Jesus will correct your mission.
The apostle Paul had His mission corrected by the Lord
a number of times.
NOTHING TO HARD FOR GOD
On the way to the tomb, the women were worried about how they would
get pass the Roman Guards and who would roll away the stone
covering the tomb.
We serve a God of all possibilities. What is impossible for us is always
possible for God. God has a solution for those who serve Him.
When the women got to the tomb, an angel that looked like lighting
in gleaming white clothing, had rolled away the stone and was sitting
on top of it. The Roman Guards were laid out like dead men
Because of their faithfulness, the women were the first to see
the resurrected Jesus. They were the first to worship Jesus
alive after the crucifixion. They were the first to have their
joy restored.
We are blessed when we serve God faithfully. God will reveal to
us wisdom that He will not give to the world.
GOD CAN OPEN ALL DOORS
Whatever stands in your way, God can move. Whatever is holding
you back, God can loose.
The God we serve wants the best for you. All you got to do is trust
and serve Him.
CORRECTION OF THE MISSION
In all our ways, we must acknowledge God and He will
direct our path. If our mind is set on Jesus, God will
put us in the right direction.
LET THE WORD BE YOUR GUIDE
When you are troubled, God will come along beside you and put
His arms around you.
Fear not said the Angel.
The Roman guards were laid out like dead men.
God can put fear into your worst enemy.
While others are in fear, you will be comforted.
While others are lost, God will give you a clear vision
They started the day focused on Jesus death, but God
wants us focused on His resurrection and our new life in Him.
JESUS IS ALIVE
The Angel told the women, you are looking for Jesus. He is not
here, He has risen.
The stone was rolled away from the tomb, not to let Jesus out, but
let us look in and see that it was empty.
The empty tomb was victory over death.
It was victory over Satan and his demons
The song say;
Victory is mine. Victory is mine today.
I told Satan get thee behind
Victory is mine today
Joy is mine
Joy is mine to day
Happiness is mine. Happiness is mine today
The angel said come see the place where the Lord lay.
Sometime we need to see with our own eyes.
It was proof that Jesus had risen. The wrapping around His body was
was still intact as if He had risen through them
One angel was sitting at the head of the wrapping
and one angel was sitting at the foot of the wrapping
The face cloth was folded and place in another place.
It was proof that Jesus had risen
THE TRUTH REVEALED
Prior to Jesus death and resurrection, everyone saw Jesus as
son of Joseph the carpenter and Mary. Apparently the secret of the virgin birth was only known to Joseph and Elizabeth her cousin.
The empty tomb was a reason for Mary the mother of Jesus to
reveal her secret, that Jesus was born to her through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Only Mary could tell the story
of the virgin birth of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.
Mary, at last could finally see Jesus as the Son Of God.
Without Mary’s testimony the complete story of Jesus
could not be told.
Without Mary’s testimony we wouldn’t know that Jesus
was God from the beginning and God of all times
THE MISSION CHANGED
The women were reminded that Jesus told them that He would
be crucified and rise on the third day.
The angel told the woman to go quickly tell the disciples
Their new mission was to proclaim the
Good News to the disciples.
Tell them Jesus would meet them in Galilee, was the direction
of the angel
God knows when you have messed up. He does not judge you
in you messed up situation. Jesus redeems you from your
situation.
The disciples were hiding out. Scared for their lives. After all
they killed Jesus. Jesus knows what on your mind, but He has
plan to put you on the right track.
Jesus, especially wanted Peter to know that he was forgiven and
included in the ministry of the Church.
You can’t get to messed up that Jesus can’t clean you up.
Don’t put yourself on a guilt trip because you have sinned and
fallen into the temptation of the flesh.
THE CHURCH STARTED
God will meet you where you are. The disciples were
hiding out in Jerusalem. But Jesus met them on their own turf.
It is 90 miles from Jerusalem to Galilee, a 5 day walk.
It will cost you something to serve Jesus
The ministry started in Galilee, and the Church was lunched
from Galilee.
After His resurrection, Jesus was given all power in heaven and in
the earth.
We serve a Jesus who has unlimited authority and unlimited
power. He’s on our side, He’s on our side, He’s on our side.
Jesus gave the Church its mission. Go to
every nation baptizing them in the name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost.
We are in the greatest group of all time. We have the greatest mission
in all the world. We serve the one true and living God.
Jesus orchestrated His own death and resurrection
He said no one take my life. I have the power to lay it down
and the power to take it up again.
He endured the shame of the cross so you and I could
meet Him in heaven and live an eternal life with
God.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Rev M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041.
Friday, April 12, 2019
A Study Of Acts, 'Resolving Differences Of Interpretation", Acts 15
RESOLVING DIFFERENCES OF INTERPRETATION
ACTS 15
Have you ever had a difference of opinion with another
person and that difference destroyed the relationship or closed the door to a
new relationship?
What happens when the disagreement is based on what you have
been taught, based on
what you have learned or based on your experience. How do
you handle the
situation without falling out with the person.
SATAN IS BEHIND ALL DISAGREEMENTS
1. He came to steal,
kill and destroy
2. Recognize that
the devil is behind every disagreement.
Luke 11:17-20
17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any
kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against
itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom
stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19
Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them
out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the
finger of God, then the kingdom of God
3. The devil wants to destroy unity
a. Psalms 133:1
How good and
pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
b. Unity can be
destroyed when there is disagreements.
James 4:1
What causes fights
and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that
battle within you?
NIV
DON'T ARGUE, DISUSS THE DIFFERENCES
V:1-4 Differences can easily create divisions
A. The church at Antioch
preaching Jesus Christ the risen savior.
1. Some Jewish
Christian came down from Judea teaching the new Gentile Christians
that they
could not be saved unless they were circumcised.
2. Paul and
Barnabas argued that salvation is by Grace through faith and
not of works.
B. A group including Paul and Barnabas was sent to Jerusalem
the issue of
circumcism with the Church leaders
1. The difference
was based on scripture and the interpretation of scripture.
2. Satan is at his
best when Church members can't agree with each other.
C. Problem with the teachers
1. The Jews from Judea
were teaching what they had been taught.
a. It is very
important that teachers know what they are teaching.
b. Study to show
yourself approved so that the man or woman
can rightly
divide the word of truth
c. Given before the Law to Abraham
Genesis 17:10-11 (2000 years before Christ birth)
This is my covenant with you and your
descendants after you, the covenant you
are to keep: Every male among you shall be
circumcised. 11 You are to undergo
circumcision, and it will be the sign of
the covenant between me and you.
b. Given to
Moses as the Law
Leviticus 12:3 (1500 years before Christ birth)
On
the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.
2. The Jews were
right if they lived under the Law.
3. All the
requirements of the Law had been fulfilled with the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke 24:44
He (Jesus) said
to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:
Everything must
be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and the Psalms."
4. Paul and
Barnabas were right because the Church operates under Grace.
Romans 1:16
I am not
ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
5. It is important
to know how to apply scripture to the right situation.
a. Observation
b.
Investigation
c. Application
d. Be careful
not to take scripture out of its contents,
V:6-9 RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE ARE DIFFERENCE WAYS
OF DOING
THINGS
A. God has a
different way of operation based on The Times
1. Jeremiah
31:31-32
"The time
is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel Judah
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
though I was a husband to them," declares the Lord.
2. Under the Law,
purification was done through
sacrificing of animals
3. Under grace
purification is done through the Word.
Acts 10:15
The voice
(God) spoke to him (Peter) a second time, "Do not call anything
impure that God has made clean."
Matthew 9:17
Neither do men pour new wine into old
wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst,
the wine will
run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into
new wineskins, and both are preserved."
Much of the
covenant God made with Israel
Yet there
were some portion still ongoing. The new covenant Jesus ratified with
his blood
included some of the promises God made under the Law.
John 15:3-5
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to
you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO A THIRD SPIRITUAL PARTY
Acts 15:12-15
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to
Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done
among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up:
"Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first
showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words
of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
COME TO AN AGREEMENT BASE ON GODLY DISCUSSION
Acts 15:19-22
"And so my
judgment is that we should not insist that the Gentiles who turn to God must
obey our Jewish laws, 20 except that we should write to them to refrain from
eating meat sacrificed to idols, from all fornication, and also from eating
unbled meat of strangled animals. 21 For these things have been preached
against in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations."
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Be The Example For Others To Follow, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3.10, 4/14/2019
BE THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:10
BE THANKFUL FOR OTHERS IN CHRIST
V:13-15. “ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. “
A. It is good when we thank God for other brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. We all play an important role in the building of God’s Church.
2. God loved us so much that before the foundation of the world, He chose us
in Christ.
3. It is not by any worth that we have that we are saved, but the grace of God.
B. Having been born into this world, He called us out.
1. To those He called He justified.
2. Those He Justified, He sanctified.
3. Having no belief in God, He gave us a measure of faith to believe in Him.
C. He called us, so that we might glorify Him with good works.
1. It was the death of His Son that put into motion our way to salvation
2. We have the Gospel truths to guide our steps and to grow our faith.
3. Having knowledge of the Word which is our sword, we can stand firm
against all evil
ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN CHRIST
V:16-17. “He gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. “
A. It is from faith in God’s Word that we draw encouragement, hope, joy and peace.
1. Jesus began a good work in us which He will see to completion.
2. It is our job as believers to serve God with gifts, talents and resources, that
He has given us.
B, It is our job to spread the Good News of salvation to all we come in contact
with.
1. Not only that, we are to live our lives according to God’s commands as
example for others to follow.
2. Our lives ought to be a sermon in progress.
3. Every time the world see us they should get more Godly examples.
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
V:3:1-3. “ Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. “
A. Paul recognized the power of corporate prayer.
1. He called on the Churches that He established to pray for the success
of the mission.
2. We ought always be in prayer for our pastors, their families and all
work to spread the Gospel.
3. Satan and his demons are on the attack to prevent the spread of the
Gospel.
4. From what we read of Paul, he faced persecution in every city
he preached and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
B. Our prayers affect us first, then the one they are directed.
1. Praying to God illuminate our sins and force us to ask forgiveness.
2. It is our prayer that in some way cause God to act on the one
prayed for.
C. We should pray the God put His arm of protection around those
serve Him and open doors for the Gospel to be preached .
1. Those we pray for, are blessed by God.
2. We also become the beneficiaries of our prayers for others
serving God.
3. Jesus said that whatever we ask the Father in His name would
be done for us.
EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK OF OTHERS
V:4-5. “ We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the
things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's
perseverance. “
A. It is good to be encouraged to continue in God’s work by our teachers,
1. as teachers, we need to take time to conceder the work others are doing
for the Lord and express our confidence in them.
2. We never know if someone is feeling discouraged by the work they are doing.
3. Every one matters, and they need to hear us say so.
B. In this day and age, it is easy to text others and express your appreciation
for their service.
1. I Believe it is important to let people know that we are praying for
their success in the ministry.
2. Often times people working it in support roles don’t get the recognition
they deserve.
STAY AWAY FROM LAZY BELIEVERS
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
A. Apparently Paul have received word that there were some believers who
believed that Christ would be returning soon and saw no need to serve
in any way.
1. Some believed that they had no need to work but live off the labors
others..
2. The members of the Church in Jerusalem had sold their possessions
to support the ministry.
3. Perhaps the word was out that they could live off the offering to the
Church.
B. Paul reminded the Church at Thessalonica, of their example of
his example of working daily to support himself while
teaching the Gospel.
1. Paul commanded the working believers not to associate with lazy
believers.
2. He laid down the rule, if a man didn’t work, he shouldn’t eat.
3. We are not only responsible for ourselves, but responsible to be
role models for others.
BE THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW
V: 9-10. “ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
A. The Church is not a welfare organization.
1. Donations are given to promote the mission of Jesus Christ.
2. The Church should help believers who cannot help themselves.
3. However, the Church is under no obligation to help those who are
able and will not work.
B. Paul was not a pastor of a Church, but an evangelist and a church
planter.
1. He could have easily expected the Church to take care of him,
sense he took care of the Church with his spiritual labors.
2. Paul chose to be the example that he wanted the average
Church member to be.
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 face book and visit
my blogs, goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.comand
revmmitchell.com
Friday, April 5, 2019
A Study Of Acts "The Power Of Prayer" Acts 12
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Acts 12
SATAN HAS POWER
A.. Never underestimate the power of Satan.
Matthew 12:24: He is the prince of demons
John 12:24: He is the prince of this
world
Ephesians 2:2: He is the ruler of the
kingdom of the air.
He is an
expert in temptation
1.We live in a
time when it appears that the rich and the powerful
can get away with any wrong doing. It is
a time when the truth
is easily set aside for a lie. It is a
time when an accusation without
proof can destroy a persons career.
2. Regardless of
what is going on, God is always in charge.
a.
Those who do wrong may appear to get away without punishment.
b. Every person will have to answer to
God for all they do.
B. Herod kill Apostle
James ( the brother of John) and got the approval
of the ruling
Jews.
1. Herod was not
concerned about life of others, but his approval rating.
2. Does that seem
like anyone we know today?
3. Herod got the
approval for one murder, so he plan to kill Peter.
4. In a sense,
Herod was a type of the antichrist, rejecting Christ
and
persecuting the Church.
C. Satan never stops his attack on Christians.
1. Satan's attack
does not affect God's plan for us.
2. We may not be
able to understand God's plan, but
all things works
according to His will.
GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL EVIL
Verse 4-5.
A. The evil that man plans, cannot work unless God approves.
1. Herod killed
James but was not allowed to kill Peter.
2. After James
death and Peter arrest, the Church went into
corporate
prayer.
3. It may have
been the prayer of the church, that caused God
to send an
angel to release Peter.
a. Prayer increases
the faith of the one praying.
b. Prayer
affects the mind of the one the prayer is directed.
4. Herod had Peter
guarded by 16 Roman soldiers ; 4 sets of
four each.
5. Nothing is to
hard for God.
B. It is interesting to note that God allowed James to die,
but not Peter.
1. It was the
brothers James and John who asked that they be allowed
to sit at the
right and left hand of Jesus when He came into His
kingdom.
2. Jesus said no.
but they would endure persecution. Matthew 20:20-23
3. We have to be
careful what we ask for.
a. James was
killed, and John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos.
4. Peter may have
remembered the words Jesus spoke to him in John 21: 18-19
John 21:17-19
Jesus said,
"Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed
yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out
your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want
to go." 19 Jesus said this to
indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to
him, "Follow me!"
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Verses 6-8.
A. You don't have a problem that God can't solve.
1. Peter was
guarded by 16 soldiers
2. Peter was
chained between two soldiers
3. The 16 soldiers
may have been frozen in time as
Peter was released by the angel
4. The Church was
in continuous prayer.
B. We can expect God to do the impossible.
1. God expects us
to be obedient and do the possible.
2. God
never does what we can do for ourselves.
3. We have all
been given gifts and talents to do God's
work.
C. Peter was released out of prison.
1. He had to make
a decision to continue in the ministry.
2. It was up to
Peter what he did next.
3. We don't stop
the ministry because we run into trouble.
THE POWER OF GOD'S WILL
Verse 11-14
1. When God has done the impossible, we need to
use our blessing
as a testimony to others.
2. The church was amazed at Peters release.
3. It is always encouraging to hear the recover of those
we pray for.
4. The Church was praying for the life of Peter, but was
surprised when he
show up at their door alive.
5. Spread the word of the goodness of God. V:16-17.
6. Other may be grieving at lost of a love one or dealing
some issue and
need encouragement and our prayers.
THE WRATH OF GOD
V:20-23
A. An evil mine continues in his/her ways.
1. God hates the
proud.
2, He will not be
mocked
B. While those who mock God,
have their way for awhile,
their doom is
sure.
1. God can hurt
people in unexpected ways.
2. Herod was eaten
by worms.
3. The devil sets
you up for a big fall.
4. While Herod had
an audience with the people,
God gave him
one more chance to praise him.
5. Herod praised
himself, his death was immediate.
Rev. M. Mitchell
This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Events Prior To The Second Coming Of Christ" 2 Thessalonians 2, 4/7/19
THE EVENTS PRIOR TO
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
2 Thessalonians
2:1-17
According to Christ Himself, prior to his second coming will
be the following;
Matthew 24:6-8
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it
that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to
come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There
will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the
beginning of birth pains.
When I consider what is happening around the world today,
including the US
see the birth pains that Christ foretold. It is no doubt,
that we are closer to Christ
second coming that the time of the writing of Matthew. It is
up to us to heed the
signs before us and be ready for Christ return.
The following is an
article about the end times from The Wiersbe's Expository
Outlines of 2
Thessalonians chapter 2. Because this is
an important subject
with lots of confusion, I thought it would be good for you
to see another
interpretation.
I. The Apostasy Must Take
Place (2:1-3)
The word "apostasy" means "a falling
away." Here it refers to a falling away from the truth of the Word of God.
While there were certainly false teachers in Paul's day, the church at large
was united on the truths of the Word of God. If you met another Christian, you
knew he believed in the Word of God, the deity of Christ, and the salvation by
faith in Christ. This is certainly not true today! We live in a day of
"Christian unbelief "; people say they are Christians, yet deny the
deity of Christ, the inspiration of the Bible, and so on.
This apostasy, or falling away from the truth, is promised
in 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3. We are living in apostate days right now, which
indicates that the coming of the Lord is near. The professing church
(Christendom) has departed from the faith.
II. The Temple Must
Paul promises the rise of a world dictator, the "man of
sin ... son of perdition" (v. 3). He is not talking about a world system,
but a person who will head up a world system. This "man of sin"
contrasts with Christ, the Savior from sin. He is the son of perdition; Christ
is the Son of God. He is the liar; Christ is the Truth. We commonly call this
man "the Antichrist," which means both "against Christ" as
well as "instead of Christ." This world ruler will be energized by
the devil and will unite the nations of Europe in a
great federation (the ten horns of Daniel's image, Daniel 7). According to
Revelation 17, the Antichrist will cooperate with the apostate world church in
his rise to power, and then will destroy this religious system when he doesn't
need it anymore.
The program is as follows: (1) the church will be raptured;
(2) the Antichrist will begin his rise to power in a peaceful way; (3) he will
unite Europe and make a seven-year covenant with Israel to protect it (see
Daniel 9); (4) after three and one-half years he will break that covenant and
invade Israel; (5) he will abolish all religion and set himself up to be
worshiped (Revelation 13); (6) at the end of the seven-year tribulation period
(Day of the Lord), Christ will return to earth and destroy the Antichrist and
his system. Both the OT and NT predict the return of the Jews to Palestine
III. The Restrainer Must
Be Removed (2:6-12)
Satan's mystery of iniquity is already working in the world,
and we can see its godless activities increasing rapidly. What, then, holds
back Satan's evil program and the rise of the Antichrist? God has a
"restrainer" in the world, which we believe is the Holy Spirit
working in and through the church. God has "times and seasons" marked
out (1 Thessalonians 5:1), and even Satan cannot get God off schedule. The One
who hinders in v. 7 is the Spirit, and He will continue to hinder Satan's
activities until He is taken "out of the midst" when the church is
raptured. Of course, the Spirit will still work on earth, since people will
believe and be saved after the rapture; but His hindering ministry through the
body of Christ will end. This will give Satan free course to fill the cup of
iniquity to the full.
Satan will work through the Antichrist in miraculous powers
(vv. 9-10), just as the magicians in Egypt 2:22 ) and get the world to accept and worship
him. Men would rather believe a lie than the truth! Of course, true believers
who are saved after the rapture will not be deceived; it is the lost who will
be deluded and ultimately end up in hell. They will believe the lie, which is
worshiping and serving the creature instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25 ).
IV. The Church Must Be
Completed (2:13 -17)
The Day of the Lord applies to the Gentile nations and the
Jews, but not to the church. It is a day of wrath, and the church is not
destined for wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10 ;
5:9). The purpose of the Tribulation is the punishment of the Gentiles and the
purification of the Jewish nation, which by this time has returned to its own
land in unbelief. But Antichrist cannot begin his rise to power until Christ
has taken the church from the earth. What a contrast between the church and the
followers of Antichrist! We have been saved by believing the Truth; they will
be damned because they believe a lie. We have believed the good news of the
Gospel; they believe the false promises of the devil. We have been chosen for
glory; they are destined for hell.
Paul makes a wonderful application: stand fast! Don't be
moved by world convulsions, political upheavals, or religious apostasy. All
these things must take place, but God is still on the throne. As the end of the
age draws near, it will be more and more difficult to live for Christ and serve
Him. What should the Christian do? Hold on to the Word of God! Don't listen to
the ties of the devil - the teachings of the cults, the sugar-coated promises
of false teachers.
Hold to the Word of God! We have in Christ and His Word
eternal encouragement and good hope.
We must keep on working. "Every good word and
work" (v. 17) is a good motto to follow in these dark days. Keep on giving
out the Word; keep on working for Christ. As we win others to Christ, we are
building up the body. When the body is completed, it will be caught away to
glory. This is what Peter means by "hastening the coming of the day of
God" (2 Peter 3:11 -12). As long
as the church is in the world, Satan's program of wickedness is held back; but
once the church is gone, Satan will have more freedom. He will seek to destroy Israel
These are great and challenging days. May we be found
faithful when He comes!
(from Wiersbe's
Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Copyright © 1992 by Chariot Victor
Publishing, an imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights
reserved.)
Rev. M. Mitchell
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