Bible Basics , "Let's Talk About the Word"

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORD



WHAT IS THE WORD
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word has it’s origin with Jesus Christ. Since God has no beginning
or ending, we can assume that Word as we know it, did not exist in eternity
past.  God does not tell us the time when the Word was formed in His
mind.

Let me suggest that the beginning in John chapter 1 is the same beginning
in Genesis chapter 1. Even though God has no beginning, everything in
creation has a beginning.

From it’s beginning, the Word became permanent.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD
“The supreme purpose of the written Word  Of God  is revealed in in all He
has done or will do from the beginning of creation  in the farthest reaches of
eternity (Lewis Sperry Chafer). “

The purpose of the recorded Word is for the benefit of mankind. The
purpose of the recorded Word is for man to know God and His righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 9:16-18
 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."


Since the Word is Jesus Christ, it does not contain any errors.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Let me state it another way. Jesus is the way to the Father, He the truth
about the Father. He is the life that is in the Father. ?

The Word is Jesus Christ. If you want to be close to Jesus, study His
Word.

The Word is a guide to man.
Psalms 119:105
 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God needs no counsel, but man does.
In order for the Word to be your guide, you have to study the Word.

HOW DID WE GET THE WRITTEN WORD
As soon as God made man, He gave him rules to live by and made
him responsible for teaching the Word. The Word was given first to
Adam and he was responsible to teach it to his wife. From Adam
the Word, the knowledge of God traveled through generations by word of
mouth until the time of Moses.

It was Moses who first recorded the Word of God. Moses spent
two sets of forty
days on the mountain with God. He came down not only with the Stone
Tablets which he recorded the ten commandments (Exodus 20) but also a book with God’s Words (Exodus 24)

Exodus 24:3-4
"Everything the Lord has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
NIV
Exodus 24:7
 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey."

Throughout the first 5 books of the Bible, God continues to give Israel
additional commands, which were recorded by Moses. ?

The original language of the Old testament was mostly written in Hebrew.
The original language of the New Testament was  written in Greek.
The Bible that we have is 99 percent accurate of the original languages.
The Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Quran Caves of Israel  between 1946
and the 1950’s  confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament that we have
to day. The Dead Sea Scrolls were dated 300 years before the birth of
Christ.

Christ taught from the Old Testament. Christ taught His own Word.

The Old Testament did not try to save man but pointed to the Messiah.
The New Testament presents Christ the Messiah who points to the Father
in Heaven

The Old Testament let circumstances draw men to God.
In the New Testament God drew men through grace to Christ


THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE
How do we know that the Bible that we have is God’s Word?
Let’s consider the physical evidence.
The Bible contains names of people, names of places , times and
events. Most of which can be verified with outside sources. History
books not connected with the Bible confirm it accuracy.

There is archaeology evidence that is continuously confirm the
accuracy of the Bible we have today.

According to The Jerusalem Post in 2018, a group of students from the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem discovered what they think is the
ancient city of Bethsaida recorded in the Old Testament.  This is one
of many discoveries in this century.

There are 66 books in the Bible and 40 different Authors over
a time frame of fifteen hundred years.
The Bible has the same theme throughout, Jesus Christ and
Him crucified.  In Genesis it is Jesus Christ , In Revelation it is
Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
There is 450 years between the last book of the
Old Testament and first  book of the New Testament, yet the theme
is the same between the two testaments.

INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Lets look at the internal evidence. The Bible claims itself to be the
Word of God in both the Old Testament and The New Testament in
hundreds of passages. Like Due 6. 17 -18, Samuel 22,, Romans 10,
1 Cor 2.

Throughout the Bible the Men God used to give His commands and
directions claim the Word to be from God.

The Word foretold events that happen years before they happen.
Events foretold in the Bible are still happening.
God made promises to us in His Word that He continues to
keep. Events foretold in the Bibles are still unfolding before our
eves to day.


EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Let’s look at the external evidence.
God made a world in seven days (God’s Time) that man is
still trying to explain. God made a world so big that man cannot
get to the end of it nor understand its magnitude.

Doctors and scientist are still making discoveries about how the body
works that God created in one day with His Word.

YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The Bible is God’s Word and we have to accepted it by faith

What can you say about the Word that is proof to you that it is
the truth?

What promises has God kept that proves your faith?

What has God done for you that is proof that Word is true?



Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Beginning Of Faith In Action", Genesis 11:31-12:9, 6/2/2019

THE BEGINNING OF FAITH IN ACTION

Genesis 11:31-12:9

INTRODUCTION: THE START OF A NATION
This is the story of the beginning of a blessed nation, The nation began with
one man, Abram. It began with a barren married couple, Abram and Sarai.
Abram may have been near 70 years old. His wife was near the same age.

To hear God’s voice and obey His command to leave his home and relatives
suggest to me that Abram was a God fearing man.

When God gets ready to use you, He will separate you from that which will
distract you. Abram not totally obedient, left Ur with his father and his
nephew lot and his family. Partial obedience come with a cost. God knows
what He wants from us, but it come with sacrifice on our part.

THE CALL OF ABRAM
V.11:31. Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

V.12:1. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
A. When God tells you to do something, you don’t need a committee to decide to
      do it.
    1. God didn’t tell the committee because He didn’t want the committee involved.
    2. Abram told his father, who got his nephew and his wife involved.
B. Everybody has their own baggage.
    1. When others get involved, they may try to change God’s agenda to theirs.
    2. The baggage of others can slow you down and get you off course from
         doing God work.
    3. Abram was told to go to Canaan, but he got stopped in Haran.
    4. He settled in a place that God did not intend for him to be.
B. Abram witness the death of his father and carried the problems of
     his nephew with him.
   1. When you don’t do what God tells you, you add problems to your
        life.
   2. You have to trust God enough to know that He is in charge and knows
       what is best for you.
   3. God will  protect and provide for your family and relatives when you are
       not with them doing His work.
       a. Like God had already done, He would have taken care of the family
           Abram left behind.
        b. God does not put us in a situation to jeopardize our families.
   4. When we do what we want to do, we delay the blessing God has for
        us.
   
THE COVENANT WITH ABRAM; THE START OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
V:12.2-5. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
A. God promises blessing to those who are obedient to Him.
     1. There are seven “I wills” in the covenant God made with Abram.
     2. The I wills were  promises that were not conditional on Abram but
          the goodness of the Lord
     3. When you are blessed, those around you are blessed also.
     4. When God blesses you , He can also blesses generation after you.
B. You may never know how many people are blessed by you being obedient
     to God’s commands.
   1. According to God, Abram obedience would be a blessing to all the
       world.
   2. We all need each other and are connected by the grace of God.
   3. You never know what blessing God has for you as a result of someone
        else’s presence.
      4. The hand you hold may be the blessing you seek.
      5. We just celebrated Memorial day, a day set aside to remember
          veterans who died in past wars.
          a. Each of us are blessed because of their fight and death.
          b. Every non white person is blessed by the conviction and actions
              of Dr. Martian Luther King.
          c. The new race for equality blesses all nationalities. All this is because
              one man took a stand for justice.
C. Out of all the people in Ur, God chose Abram to bless.
    1. God blesses those who have their focus on Him.
    2. God has a plan for each of us which can only be recognized when
         our focus is on God.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK REQUIRES CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
WITH GOD.
V:6. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
A. God gave Abram the second part of His covenant with him some time later.
    1. God does not always tell us all that is involved in His plan for us at
         one time.
    2. We have to trust that God knows what we need when we need it.
    3. If God revealed all we are going to go through at one time, we
        might get discouraged and start questioning Him.
B. The first part of the covenant was a blessing to all nations
    1. The second part of the covenant was the promise of land given to
         the Israelites.
    2. No matter where we go, it is our job to worship  the Lord.
    3.  We should prepare a special place to worship the Lord.
    4. Everyday is a day of Worship
    5. We should make time in our schedule to worship God.
C. We should praise God not just for what He has done but also for the
      promises He has made to us.
   1. We are blessed along the way to our blessings.
   2. Abram did not live to see the fulfillment of the promise.
   3. But He believed God and acted on the promise.
   4. Faith is believing the Word of God without proof.
   5. We should live like we have already received the promises of God.

PREPARE A PLACE OF WORSHIP
V:8-9. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
A. The names God gave the places where Abram set up camp has meaning.
      1. Shechem means shoulder of strength.
      2. Moreh means teach or teaching.
      3. Bethel means house of God.
      4. Ai means ruins; the scene of Joshua victory over the Canaanites.
B. Wherever we go, God is our strength.
         1. Knowledge of God gives us power
         2. Whenever we follow Gods direction we are covered
              by His power and directed by His wisdom.
         3. Spiritual knowledge comes from the power of Christ.

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:
revmmitichell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Basics, "Let's Talk About Sin" 5/26/2019

LET’S TALK ABOUT SIN



WHAT IS SIN?
Sin is nonconformity to the character of God. Sin is against God.
Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is disobedience to God’s commands.

The doctrine of Sin is presented in the Bible in three aspects.
   1. Personal sin (Romans 3:23).
       Everything in daily life that fails to conform to the character of God.
   2. The sin nature of man.   Romans 5:19
       Adams initial sin cause him to fall from the grace of God. He became
       an entirely different person. He became depraved, degenerate and
      only capable of begetting posterity. That is capable producing only
      sinful generations.
   3. Sin is presented as imputed to our account because of Adam’s sin.
       Romans 5:12-18

SIN IN HEAVEN
Sin began in heaven, before the foundation of the earth. Sin began with one
angel, Lucifer.

ANGELS CREATED BEFORE THE EARTH
Job 38:4-8
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

   The angels were created before the earth was made.

THE ORIGIN OF SIN IN ANGELS
Ezekiel 28:12-13
'This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth;

God created the angels perfect with the ability to make choices.
They could choose God or choose their own agenda.

A. Guardian Cherub. Lucifer,  became violent and corrupted one third of the 
     angels  in Heaven.
Revelation 12:4-5
4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.
NIV

Isaiah 14:12-16
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Sin began because Lucifer became proud of his beauty.
Sin began in his heart.
Because pride corrupts, God said, I hate the proud.
I think it is ok to speak well of yourself as along as you don’t
began to think you are better than others.
Satan was not content with himself or his position.

Sin begins when we covet what others have
Those who covet what others have may become violent.
Sin results in a separation from God

Sin grows as we covet the position, the power and authority of others.
Satan decided that he wanted to be above God.

Sin begins when we began to talk to ourselves and not God. We are
headed down the road of sin when God is not our focus.

Sin is destructive. First to us and next to those we associate with.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR SIN
Why would God create an angel with the ability to sin?
Since Lucifer corrupted heaven, why would God send him
to the earth which had not been created?

2 Timothy 1:8-10
 But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
NIV
Ephesians 1:4-7
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Both of these passages proclaim that God planed a world with sin
in it before the world was made

The text tells us that when God  redeems us from sin, it is His pleasure and His will.
We were chosen to give God praise, even though we sin and fall short of
his glory.

Sin promotes the worst in us, but drives us to the best in God.

THE POWER OF SIN IN THE WORLD
God ordained sin when he made Lucifer the Arch Angel with the ability to
make choices.
God chose a powerful angel to promote sin
Sin changes our character,

WHAT LUCIFER WAS BEFORE HIS SIN
He was Lucifer the son of the morning       Isaiah 14:12
He was the day star                                      Isaiah 14:12
He was anointed a guarding cherub             Ezekiel 28:14

When sin was found in him, his whole character changed. 
                                                                                                         WHAT
WHAT LUCIFER BECAME                                           JESUS IS 
He became violent.           Ezekiel 28:16                                          Gentle
He is Satan,  the adversary      Matthew 12:26                                 Protector
He is the father of lies        John 8:44                                               Truth
He is Beelzebub, the lord of the flies (or dung)                        Lord of lords
 Matthew 12:44
He is a deceiver                                  Revelation 12:9                 Light
He is the Accuser                               Revelations 12: 10             Counselor
He  came to steal kill and destroy.     John 10:10                         Build you up
He is the ruler of this world               John 14:30                         Ruler of   
                                                                                             Heaven and Earth         
                                                                                                   
He is the prince of the air                   Ephesians 2:2                Prince of Peace
He is the tempter                                 Matthew 4:3                      Redeemer
He is your enemy                                Matthew 13:39                      Friend
He is Belial   (vileness)                       2 Corinthians  6:15               Holy
He is the Devil, slanderer                    Matthew 4:1                    Encourager

HOW WE SIN
From what we know about Satan, How do we get into sin?
1. Sin begins in the heart. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.                                                   
     Proverbs 4:23
         
2. Pride leads us into sin.  God hates the proud   Proverbs  16:5
     
3. We walk into sin; the steps of a good man are order by the Lord
4. We can think ourselves into sin    Proverbs 23:7
5. We can neglect ourselves into sin    James 4:17
6. We can be disobedient and sin
7. We can envy ourselves into sin
8. We can covet ourselves into sin     Exodus 20:17
9. We can be jealous and fall into sin.
10. We can lust ourselves into sin .    Col 3:5
11. We can drink ourselves into sin.  Don’t get with wine
       Ephesians 5:18
12. We can hate others and  sin.
13. Sin can began when we are not content with ourselves
      or what we have.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SIN
1. It has to be for our good
    Since all thing works for the good of those who love the Lord
    and are called according to His purposes
2. Without sin we would not understand God’s grace and mercy
3. Without sin we would not understand God’s love.
4. When we fall into sin, we learn to rely on God

Consequences of sin
Lost of fellowship with the Father
Lost Blessings

HOW TO ERADICATE SIN FROM OUR LIVES
1. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2. Summit yourself to guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pray without ceasing
4. Be obedient to God’s commands


Rev. M. Mitchell 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "How To Be A Brother/Sister In Christ", Galatians 6:1-10, 5/26/2019

HOW TO BE A BROTHER/SISTER IN CHRIST

Galatians 6:1-10

GIVE GODLY COUNSEL
V:1  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
A. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
    1. We all have faults.
    2. None of us is ever free from sin.
    3. We all need correcting from time to time.
    4. We should never see the sins of others and claim we are not
        guilty of the same.
    5. In the sight of the Lord all faults carry an equal punishment
        which is death.
B. Our job is to come along side a brother and sister with love and
    compassion to aid them in restoring their fellowship with Jesus.
   1. It is easy to point the finger at another person without seeing
       your own need for redemption.
   2. We never know why a person is doing what they are doing because
       we are not walking in their shoes.
   3. By pointing out another persons fault, we ignore the law of Christ
       which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

SUPPORT EACH OTHER
V:2-3 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
A. We are not he judge or jury of anyone, may it never be.
    1. Christ is the judge.
    2. We should not judge so we want be judged.
    3. By the same measure, we measure others, we will be measured.
B. When we judge someone, we placing ourselves above them in
     character and worth.
   1. The biggest lie that Satan tells us is that we are better than “that”.
       whatever “that “ is.
   2. We deceive ourselves when we think we are above the faults of others.
   3. God will take us through difficulties, to make us see ourselves in the
       true light.



V:4-5. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
A. Everyday we should look in the mirror and see what reflection we see.
   1. Are we the person that we are complaining about?
   2. Are we the person that we are judging?
   3. Are we worse than the person we are judging?
B. Have we taken our faith from Jesus and placed it in the actions
    of the one we are complaining about?
   1. Does the situation that we are in define who we are?
   2. Have we done all we can to be at the place we desire to be?
   3. Have we done all we can to be the person we desire to be?
C. We are God’s children. Our big brother is Jesus.
   1. Jesus said that if our works glorify the Father, we can ask what we
      want and it will be done.
   2. We should not depend on anyone but Jesus.
   3. Depending on Jesus has it’s requirements.
       a. We must do the right things.
       b. We must love our neighbors as ourselves.
   4. A lazy person cannot enjoy the fruits of Jesus.
      a. We must work to improve ourselves and leave the
          rest to Jesus.
   5. We are more valuable to ourselves and others when we work
       utilizing the gifts and talents God has given us.

SUPPORT YOU PASTOR
V:6. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
A. Your pastor was selected by God through you to be your shepherd.
    1. We are commanded to support him and his family financially.
    2. You would not go to a restaurant, eat a meal without paying the bill.
    3. That is what we do when we neglect to give the pastor a love offering.
    4. Our pastor feeds us spiritually each Sunday and through out the week.
B. The Pastor needs more than a handshake and a smile from us.
    1. We must remind ourselves that what we do for Christ is rewarded
         multifold.
    2. When you support your shepherd, you are supporting the ministry of
        Christ.

        2 Corinthians 9:10-11
           Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

YOU WILL ANSWER TO GOD
V:7-8. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
A. We serve a God who sees every thing we do.
     1. He is tolerant of our ignorance and disobedience.
     2. Because He loves us, He chastises us for our disobedience.
     3. When we are disobedient, we lose fellowship with Him.
     4. It can only be restored with repentance and our asking for forgiveness.
B. We have a choice to make, serve God or serve ourselves.
    1. Serving ourselves leads us down a road that ends in sin.
    2. The consequences of sin is reaping God’s hand of correction.
    3. Serving God leads to blessing untold.

ALWAYS DO GOOD TO OTHERS
V:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
A. The Christian road is not always easy.
    1. Being a child of the king does not eliminate trials and tribulation.
    2. In fact following Jesus leads to problems from time to time.
    3. God will not allow anything we face to destroy us.
    4. He said, He would never leave us or forsake us.
    5. I believe that the trials we face, are designed to increase our faith
         perfect us into God’s graces.
B. We should bless others with what God has blessed us with.
  1. The blessing we share, become a channel for more blessings.
  2. If we can be trusted to be faithful  with what we have, God
       will trust us with more.
  3. Our first priority of doing good should be the household
     faith.
  4. Every brother and sister in Christ is our family.
  5. After God, family comes next.
  6. Doing good to our neighbors is an important part of the
      Christian faith because it draws others to faith.

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
       

Bible Basics, "Defining God"

DEFINING GOD

Can you adequately define God?

Can you tell me who God is to you based on your experience?

Everyone has had an encounter with God. Do you recognize all that
He does for you?

All of us know God personally in different degrees.
Can you really know all there is to know about God?
I don’t think so. We know what God has said about Himself.

1 John 4:8 states:
 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

  Do we know what love He is taking about?

Jesus asked His disciples, two questions. Matthew 16:13-14
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
The second question was Matthew 16:15-16
"But who do you say that I am?"  16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

It is not important what other people say God is. It what you say God is ,that is
important to you.

What God is to you may be different from what God is to others? It is ok to have
a appreciation of God because we all have unique experiences. He is the same
God, but we view Him differently.

Back to my original question, can you completely define God?

Look at what God told Moses when he was sent on the mission to free the
Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Exodus 3:14

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Thought out the Bible God uses events and personal situations to describe who
He is. We can get a better picture of who God is when we compare notes.

Genesis 15:1
Lord came to Abram in a vision:

"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Exodus 20:2-4
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
He is the God of freedom.

Isaiah 44:6-7
6 "This is what the Lord says —
Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Malachi 1:14
For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.


There are number of names of God that are describes with personal situation
        1. Abba: Father , The God who is our daddy.  Mark 14:36, Gal 4:6, Roman 8:15

         2. Adonai   The God who is in Charge.     Malachi  1:6

         3. El Elyon  The Most High God  Isa 14:14, Ps 7:17

         4. El Olam    The Everlasting God   Ps 90:2

          5. El Roi       The God Who Sees   Gen 16:13, Ps 91:1

          6. El Shaddai   The Almighty God   Gen 17:1-2

         7. Elohim          The creator God   Gen 1:1, Ps 19:1   

         8. Yahweh         The God who is always there Gen 2:4, Ex 30:7,
                                    Ex 3:13-14 (The I Am God)
         9. Yahweh Yireh  The Lord Will Provide    Gen 22:14

         10. Yahweh Nissi     The Lord My Banner: His protection, leadership,
                                           deliverance      Ex 17:15         
         11. Jehovah Rapha    The Lord Who Heals You     Ex 15:26

         12. Yahweh Shalom      The Lord Of Peace    Judges 6:24

          13. Jehovah Tisdkenu    The Lord Our Righteousness  Jer 23:6

              14. Jehovah Shammah     The Lord Is Present  Ezekiel 48:55

              15. Jehovah Rohi              The Lord is my Shepherd    Ps 23:1

              16. Jehovah Sabbath          The Lord Of Host      Isa  6:1-3

              17,  Jehovah Gmolah         The God Of Recompense    Jer 51:6

What is single greatest act of God’s Love?

How do we receive God’s Love on a daily basis?
      1. Life
      2. Provisions
      3. Protection
      4. Forgiveness
      5. Tolerance
      6. Guidance
      7. Answering our prayers
     
           


     

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Christians Basics" Galatians 3:26-4:7, 5/19/2019

CHRISTIAN BASICS

Galatians 3:26-4:7

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER
V:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
A. The key to a relationship with God the Father is faith in Jesus.
     1. The father of faith is Abraham. He believed God and was counted righteous
     2. The way to the Father is to believe that Jesus death on the cross atoned
          for your sins.
B. God has become our Father and Jesus our big brother.
    1. God considers all believers one with Jesus.
    2. It  is the spiritual baptism that washes us clean before God.
C. To put on Christ is to take on His spirit.
     1. To put Christ is to take on His interest
     2. To put on Christ is to copy His Character.
     3. To put on Christ is to copy His manners.
     4. To put on Christ is to pursue the will of the Father.
     5. To put on Christ is proclaim His conversation.
     6. To put on Christ is receive His Joy.
     7. To put on Christ is to bathe in His peace.
     8. To put on Christ is to walk after His example.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN CHRIST
V:28-29. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
A. God is no respecter of person.
     1. In Christ, we are all one.
     2. No one can claim to be more than or better than anyone else.
     3. This agrees with Jesus response to His disciples when ask if a woman had
          seven husbands while she lived, whose wife would she be in heaven?
          Mark 12:24-26
         24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or   
         the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in   
         marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

GOD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR US     
B. Not only does the Father take ownership of all believers, but Christ take ownership
     of all believers.
    1. We see people by race or color, We see people by status or position. But God
         is color blind. God sees us all the same.
    2. The promise God made to Abraham was that he would be the father of many
         nations.
    3. Since Christ is the promise seed of Abraham and we have taken on Christ,
        then we (believers in Christ) are all the seed of Abraham.
    4. The blessing God promised to Abraham was eternal life.
    5. Therefore through faith in Jesus Christ, we have eternal life.

WE ARE GOD’S ELECT
V.4:1-3 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
A. There are two classes of peoples in the world. Those who are children of God and
      then there are those who are slaves of the devil.
     1. When we were young, we were all under the guardianship of our parents.
     2. In our immaturity, we were under the guidance and directions of our
         guardians, but slaves (non elect), and free people (the elect) .
     3. Every believer was predestined before the foundation of the earth to be in
         Christ
         We were born in the world until the time set to be called out of the world by the   
         Father.
     4. Until being called out of the world, God’s elect was no different than the
         none elect.
B. God elect is always, God’s elect  regardless of maturity level.
    1. God allows us to have experiences in our immaturity, that is while in the
        world so that we experience sin and the consequences of sin.
    2. All of our experiences in the world in retrospect, helps us understand
        the work of God in our lives.
    3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things   
       of the world.

WE ARE ON GOD’S TIME
V:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born 
    of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under
    the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
A. God has a plan for our redemption from sin.
     1. God’s plan of redemption was activated in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve
         disobeyed God’s command.
     2. Through His promises and 42 generations of time, He brought forth His son
          to be our redeemer.
B. In the Garden of Eden, God promised a woman seed to be victorious over Satan.
     1.  Jesus born by the Holy Spirit took on Human flesh in the body of Mary.
     2. Jesus was born under the Law to redeem Jews under the Law.
     3. Also because we are son’s through faith in the promise seed (Jesus),
         we have been adopted as sons.


SONS OF GOD BY FAITH
V:6-7.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
A. We have in this verse the God head working in unity. God the Father, God the Son
      and God the Holy Spirit.
    1.The person of The Father, sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins.
    2. The person of the Father sent the Spirit of the Son into our heart.
B. Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
   1. Without hearing there will be no faith.
   2. It is the Spirit of the Son in us that receives the faith.
   3. To each is given a measure of faith.
   4. It is God the Father who determines when the measure of faith is given.
   5. We can only become son after the measure of faith is given.
C. To those who are not God’s elect, the Spirit of His Son is never given.
   1. They never mature and see the Word of God as foolishness.
   2. The world without God is on a downhill spiral.


THANK GOD FOR INCLUDING US IN HIS ELECT


Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041

For more lesson, follow me on face book and visit my blogs:
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrecmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Study: "What You Do When You Love Someone" Mark 14:3-9

WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE

Mark 14:3-9

LET THE GOOD IN YOU BE KNOWN IN THE GOOD YOU DO
V:3. While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
A, It was the Jewish tradition to anoint kings and priest for service,
    1. It was also a Jewish tradition to anoint the heads of important guest in their
        homes with oil.
    2, The alabaster box of pure nard was a very expensive  perfume imported
        from India or South Arabia
    3. It was worth a years salary of a normal worker.
       ( In today’s dollars at 10 dollars an hour it would be 21,000 dollars)
B. Mark does not identify the woman or her economic status.
    1. Some think she was Mary the sister of Martha or Mary Magdalene
        who Jesus cast out seven demons.
        a. John 11:1-2 identifies this woman as Mary the sister of Martha and
            Lazarus.
    2. It does not matter who she was, because it was an act of extreme kindness.
        a. It showed here love, respect and generosity for the guest of the house.
        b. It may have showed her gratitude for something Jesus did for her.

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN RECIEVE
My first point in this lesson, is that no expense should be spared to
show your respect for Jesus,
   a. You cannot beat God’s giving
   b. Jesus lavishly gave His life for us and we ought to lavishly give
       ourselves to Jesus.

GOD LOVES A HUMBLE SPIRIT
Jesus and the other guest would have been seated on the floor in a reclining
position with His feet behind him.
     a. You have to humble yourself to serve Jesus.
     b. John 12 says she washed Jesus head and feet with her hair,
     c. The hair of a woman is her glory ( 1 Cor 11:15)
     d. She had to get on her knees to wash Jesus hair and bow down
         on her knees to wash His feet.

NOT ASHAMED OF JESUS
You cannot be ashamed to praise Jesus openly.
  Matthew 10:33
  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is   
  in heaven.

You should give a person flowers before they die.

What you do for God will be made known to men
write this down Mark.  Write this down John.                                                                                                 There are several consequences to the woman’s act of worship.
   1. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
        a. when we serve God sacrificially, there is a spiritually
            fragrance that reaches the God in heaven
  2. Your gracious gift is accepted by Jesus and commended to the Father.
  3. Jesus will commend you before man.
  4. Someone will be envious and try to belittle what you have done
      for Jesus.

CRITICISM COMES AFTER YOUR SERVICE
V:4-5. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
A. There will always be someone who will criticize what is value to you
      but has no value to them.
     1. Why should someone be concerned about what you do with your money
          to praise God.
     2.  The evidence of your devotion to someone is the what you are willing to do
          for them.
     3. The evidence of your love for Jesus is what you are willing to sacrifice
         for Him.
B. The people that criticize you will always have some unrelated reason
     to justify their criticism.
    1. The people who criticize may be jealous that they didn’t think to
        do what you did and didn’t get the spot light.
    2.  They may be jealous that you didn’t do that for them.
    3. People who criticize are assuming you neglect to do something they deem
        important.
    4. You should not criticize someone because their values are not the
        same as yours. 

JESUS APPROVES YOUR SERVICE WHILE OTHES ARE COMPLAINING
V:6-8 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.  8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
A. God keeps track of the good you do for Him
    1. What ever you do for God will be multiplied many fold and given                         
         back to you.  Any where from ten to 100 fold.
    2. It is interesting that God does not keep track of your sins and
        multiple them back to you.
    3. You ought to do more for Jesus than you do for someone in need.
    4. The one who has a heart for Jesus, will find ways to serve others
        in the name of Jesus.
B. You should always do the best you can for everyone in the name
     of Jesus.
   1. If you are generous, God will always give you more opportunity and resources
       to be more generous.

GOD ORDAINS YOUR SERVICE TO HIM
C. People may never understand the importance of what you do for Jesus.
    1. People may never understand how God views your service to Him.
    2. When God drives your heart, you will do things that others would not
        think about.
    3. What the woman did was a divinely ordained act.
    4. She probably didn’t know that she was anointing Jesus for the supreme act
        of holy sacrifice.
    5.  God will use your servant attitude to show others the importance or service.

GOD ESTABLISHES A HEAVENLY MEMORIAL FOR YOR DEDICATION
 V:9.  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
A. Long after you are gone. God will make sure people know the
     quality of your service.
   1. You dedication to God will written down in memory banks of many
        people.
   2. What you do for God stores up treasures in Heaven.
   3. People see what you do, but God see the heart in what you do.
B. Mary gave her best in faith and love but others gave their worst
     in hatred and unbelief.
    1. What do you want to be known for after you die?
    2. What are you doing now to be known for that?


Rev. M. Mitchell                                                                                                         3                                                                                                                 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Promise Of Salvation" Galatians 3:15-15, 5/12/2019

THE PROMISE OF SALVATION

Galatians 3:15-25


THE PROMISE OF SALVATION FOR ALL
V:15-18.  Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.   17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
A. First, Let us consider the reason for the promise.
    1. Adam and Eve was placed in the Garden  with one command from God
        which they could not keep.
    2. They ate from the Tree of Knowledge and of Good and Evil  at the persuasion
        of Satan.
    3. As a result, sin entered into the human race and man introduced the eternal hell
        into his life,
    4. God made a promise of salvation with Himself for man,
        Genesis 3:14-15
        So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,

        "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals!
        You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
         And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
         and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,
         and you will strike his heel."
   5. Original sin began with the woman’s deception and salvation for man
       began with the woman’s conception.
   6. The woman’s offspring  or seed is Jesus Christ.
B. Now lets look at the promise to Abraham.
    1. Genesis 12:1-4
     The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's   
      household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation
      and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
      I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
      and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
    2. All the people on the earth includes Israel and all other nations.
    3. The blessing is salvation for everyone who believe in Jesus, the woman’s
        offspring or seed.
    4. God repeats his promise to Abraham several times.                                       1                               
       Genesis 13:16
       I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the   
       dust, then your offspring could be counted.
       a. Notice is offspring, singular not plural.
       b. Notice that the dust of the earth is plural in subject.
       c. From Jesus, the woman’s seed comes many believers that
         cannot be counted.
C. Let’s look at the longevity of the Promise to Abraham.
   1. The promise to Abraham is a forever promise.
   2. It will never be terminated.
   3. Every believer is covered by the promise God made to Abraham.
D. The Law came 430 years after the promise to Abraham.
   1. The Law was given to a particular people in a particular place
       for a particular time.
   2. The particular people is the Jews.
   3. The promise to Abraham was eternal life for all believers.
   4. The Law was a school master until the promise seed came into human
        flesh.
   5. The law does not promise eternal life, just repentance of sin.
     

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
V:19-20.  What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
A. Israel is God’s chosen people to be an example of His righteousness to the world.
    1. The Law was given to the Nation Of Israel because they grew up in 400 years
        of slavery worshipping idol gods.
    2. They were freed from slavery to inhabit the land promise to Abraham and his
         descendants.
    3. The promise land holders until Israel were inhabited by nations who
         worshipped idol gods.
   4. The purpose of the law was to teach Israel the righteousness of God and the
       definition of sin.
B. Israel had to take the promise land from the grounds keepers by trusting in
    God’s power  and authority.
    1. God setup a standard of righteousness, worship and atonement of sins
        which was included in the law.
    2. The law was Israel’s schoolmaster until grace came through the promise
        seed.
    3. The law was inferior to the promise, because the required a mediator which
        Moses to be administered.
        a. Israel was born in sin, raised in sin and could not face God directly.
        a. Israel was also set in sin through their tradition of idol worship.                          2   
    4. The promise given directly from God to Abraham.
        a. Abraham was also born in sin but there is no mention of
           him worshipping idol.
        b. He was a God fearing man when God called him out of his family.
        c. He obeyed God’s command to separate himself from his father
           and mother.
        d. Abraham’s faith was established because he believed God’s word
            without question.
 
FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD’S WORD
V:21-22.  Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
A.. We are constantly under the law as out teacher of God’s righteousness.
      1. Jesus said I did not come to do away with law but to fulfill all the
          requirements of the Law,
     2. It is from the law that we learn God’s commands.
     3. It is from the law that we learn to God’s love.
     4. It is from the law that learn God’s tolerance
     5. It is from the law that God is no respecter of person.
     6. It form the law that we learn God’s forgiveness.
     7. It is from the law that we know what sin is and what
         displeases God.
B. The law and the promise are tied together.
    1. For the promise to be fulfilled in each of our lives is through
        faith in the entire Word of God which includes the law.
   2. Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but my Word is eternal.

RELEASED FROM SIN BY GRACE
V:23-25.  Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
A. The law defines sin but not the way out of sin.
     1. The law is works and works cannot save.
     2. The law requires sacrifice and obedience which no man has been
         ever to accomplish.
B. If we live by the law, we are cursed by the law because we cannot keep it.
    1. But Grace covers all the sins outlined in the law and releases us from
        the penalty of the law.
    2, Grace comes by faith in Jesus Christ, who is the promise seed of
        Abraham..
   3. The promise seed , Jesus, existed before the promise was given to Abraham.             3

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
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Sermon: "Its All About Love", 4/28/2019

ITS ALL ABOUT LOVE


Matthew 22:36-40

God morning Greater Macedonia. It is good to be here with You.
You can stay seated for the moment.

Any time you wake up in the morning is a good day. It is a
good day in the Lord, Amen. I want to thank my Pastor, Vincent Lewis,
for allowing me to address you this morning.  I want to thank you
for coming out to hear a word from God.

In the late 60’s. one of my favorites artist was Sam Cooke. His
voice and his lyrics, even today captivate me. One of my favorites
was a song called Cupid. Walk with me down memory lane.

 Cupid draw back your bow and let your arrow go
 Straight through my lovers heart for me

Cupid please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight through my lovers heart for me.

Our first encounter with love is the warm embrace of a mother.
With a gleam in her eyes, she would always say I love you.
My  second encounter was a pat on the back from my father, with some like
I am proud of you son.

As we grew a new kind of love emerged.
You met this girl or boy and there was a special feeling that moved
all over you.

It was some one you couldn’t keep your eyes off.

Finally you get the courage to say hello and a friendship
began to grow.

Then there is that first kiss that sealed the deal and hormones
began to run in places you never paid attention to.

As you continue from you teen age years to adulthood
You meet your life long partner and love took a different turn

You learn that love is about giving and sharing. Some times
more on the giving side.

When kids come into the picture, love takes a different and more
stressful, but joyful turn.

You learn that love is all about sacrifice, baby bottles and
and late night and early morning diaper changes and feedings.

From elementary school to middle school to high school
and college, you find out that love is not about you, but everyone else.
Some where along the line you lose your identity and  become just mom
or daddy.

Love become more giving than receiving. Love becomes sacrifice after
sacrifice, working, bills and more bills.

You look up one day and discover that you need help and that help
comes from the Love of Jesus.

In Jesus, love takes another turn and another meaning unlike any
of your previous experiences.

Turn with me to Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

A brief prayer
Father, thank you for this opportunity to speak a word from you to
your people. I pray that the Holy Spirit will be our guide and our teacher
this morning. I pray that you will use me to expound upon your word
so that when your people leave this service, they will leave enriched,
empowered and convicted to be the servant you have call them to be.
This is my pray in Jesus name Amen

I want to take a few moments and speak from the subject

“IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE”

For your information, there are four types of love describes in
the Bible.
         Eros       sexual or romantic love

         Phileo      friendship or brotherly love

         Storge      natural affection for kinfolk
 
         Agage       Self sacrificing , what the best for you,
                           moral good will

We are going to focus on the Godly Agape Love

I have four points, I want expound upon this morning

THE AUTHOR OF LOVE

THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE

THE RESPOSIBILITY OF LOVE

THE JOY OF LOVE

The Author of Love is the Lord Himself
1 John 4:16-17
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

Love is a life long journey with Jesus Christ. Once in Jesus, love
becomes the object of daily living.

God is Love and He imparts His love to us continuously. Believe it or not,
God’s love for us started before the foundation of the world.
Before He made Adam, He loved us.
Ephesians 1:4-7
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

We were chosen to be like Christ. We were chosen to Love. Anything other than Love is outside the will of God. In all our activities, Love is the objective.

The God we know, does not need a world for His existence.
He always was and always will be. He has no ending or beginning
Out of His divine Love, He decided to create a world to worship Him.

It was after the world and all the animals were created that He made
man in His own image. He made a perfect world for a perfect man to reside in.
He turned over the authority, over all the animals on land, in the sea and in the sky to man. Look all around you, this is His love for us.

As far as the eye can see and the mind can conceive is God’s Love

The word love is not a passive word. It is not a warm fuzzy feeling.
The Word love is a verb, an action word.

God describes His love as Agape. It is derived from a word that means agony,
Agape is the nature of God’s Love toward his Son.
Agape is the nature of God’s love for us
Agape Love is known by the actions it prompts.

John 3:16,  God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have eternal life.

We sang a song last week with these words
    They hung him high, they stretched Him wide
    He hung His head and died for you and I.
    That’s Love.

    But that not how the story end, In three days He rose again
    That’s Love.

1 Peter 2:24
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  That’s Love


Romans 5:7-8
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Every day when you wake up and see the bright sun light and feel the warmth of its heat, That’s Love.
When you walk into your house and see your shelves  stocked
with can goods , vegetables and fruit and freezer  full of meats.
That’s God’s love

When I was growing up, I spent time on my grandparents farm
The didn’t have no money, but the grew all types of vegetables
and Fruit

They knew God’s love from what He did for them from year to year.
God provided the seed they planted and water them with His rain and cause
things to grow.  They always had something to share with anybody
that came by.   That’s Love.

God is the author of Love then

WE HAVE A  COMMAND TO LOVE
Its in the text
Matthew 22:37
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Love the Lord. This is a command, not an option. Our first objective in life
ought to be to learn how to Love the Lord.
   1. Love must be sincere; with all your heart
   2. Love is intelligent; with all your mind
       You have to make a choice to love the Lord
        You have to make choice to put God first
   3. Love is emotional; with all your soul
       If you love the Lord you are going to make some noise
       People will know you love the Lord by what you talk about’
       People will know you love the Lord by what you shout about
   4. Love is intense and energetic; with all your strength
       If you love the Lord you will labor and toil for God’s glory.
       Every moment of every day is a time to glorify God.

   5. To love God is to delight in Him
       The thought of the goodness of the Lord ought to put a
       smile on your face.
   6. To love God is give praise and honor continuously.
   7. To love God is to be obedient to His commands
        God would rather obedience than sacrifice.
    8. To love God is to want to know more and more about
         Him and to know what pleases Him.
         If you love God you will come to Bible Study
         If you love God you will come to Sunday School
         If you love God you will study your Bible on your own
To love God is to stay in communication with Him
We are commanded to pray without ceasing,

The second command is Love you neighbor as yourself.
The Lord says the second command is like the first;
The way you treat yourself is  the way you treat your neighbor.

    If you love your neighbor, you do him/her no harm
    If you love your neighbor, you will not envy what they have
    If you love your neighbor you be joyful when they are joyful

    If you love your neighbor you will want the best for them
    If you love your neighbor, you will help when they need help.

The text says, that if you can Just love God and love you neighbor
you will automatically keep all  God’s other commands.  These two
are the basis for all the law and the prophets’ 
Love covers a multitude of sins

THE RESPOSIBILITY OF LOVE   
My third point is there is a responsibility to Love.
God is the Author of love, we have the command to love
and we have a responsibility to Love

We are expected to treat everyone the same way
God is no respecter of person.
1 Corinthian 13:4-7 gives us a picture of what love looks like.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

There is a lot in these 4 verses. Let me break it down for you

 a. Love is patient,  not in a haste to judge or criticize one another
 b. Love is tolerant  Not everyone is on the same page. We all do
     things differently. We must make allowances for our differences
     It is the differences that make us unique.

  c. Love is kind.  It never hurts to be kind
        Proverbs 12:25
        An anxious heart weighs a man down,
        but a kind word cheers him up.

  God made us dependant on each other. It’s our Job to encourage one
  another.

 d. Love does not envy. I am glad you got what you got, and hope you get   
     more

 e. Love does not boast, it is not proud.
     What do I have to boast about? Everything I have came from God.
     What do I have to be proud of? Every energy I exert, every 
     accomplishment  is through the power of God. I am what I am by the 
     Grace of God.   God hates the proud.


f. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no 
   record of wrongs.
This is an attitude that you and I have to work on. We were born selfish.
We were born to scream  to get mom’s attention. From a baby, out of the
womb, we cried when were wet and hungry.  We screamed when we wanted
attention. When we got what we wanted we calm down.

If we tell the truth, Some of that is still in us. It is a sign of maturity
when we learn to be considerate of others. It is a sign of Love when
we make a decision to put the needs of others before our own.

g. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
   There is only one truth, and that is the Word of God.
    I cannot tell you how important it is for you to know God’s
    word for yourself.
Psalms 119:105-106
 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous 
 laws.

Evil brings you down. God’s righteousness lifts you up
If I be lifted up. I will draw all men to myself, Jesus said
There should be joy in doing the right thing.

h. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
    You protect those you love. That’s normal instinct.
     But you have to trust God for His protection.
     No matter what you are going through, your hope has be in the God of
     Love.  He will not let you down
     God will not put more on you than you can endure.

We have the Author Of Love
The Command to Love, The Responsibilities of Love and finally there is;

JOY IN LOVE

I have three grandkids in Houston. One is 2, another is 4 and the oldest is 6.
From time to time, which is often, my wife and I have the Joy of keeping
all three at same time.

We are always amazed at the stages of their growth and development
Every time we see them there is something new the blesses our heart.
We get a chance to spoil them for a while, then send them back home.

Working with all three of them can be very trying. But it keeps us young
at heart. There is always  something that they will do to put a smile
on  our faces. It not long after they leave our house, that we are
rejoicing that we had them and looking forward to the next time
And all the while, there is something that they did or said that keeps
us smiling.

It is the Love that we show others, that returns to us multifold.
It is the joy we share with others that invigorates our souls.

Every one of us, are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all family.
We got one Father, God Himself and one big Brother, Jesus, who is our
friend for life. We got the Holy Spirit inside us, that reminds us of
the Love of God that has molded us into one big family.

Each time we get together here at GMBC is a family reunion.
We sang together, pray together and rejoice together.


John 15:10-13
Just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
NIV
John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Look at your neighbor on the left and say neighbor it is the love I have for you that give me joy when I see you

Look to your right. Neighbor, it is the love I have for you, that gives me joy
when I see you.

There is Joy in Love, unspeakable Joy in Jesus Christ.

God is the Author of Love

We have a Command To Love

We Have A Responsibility To Love

There is Joy In Love

Remember Life is “All About Love”


Is there anyone here that don’t know the Love of Jesus Christ

Let me get every one to close your eyes

It you are here today and don’t know Jesus as your personal savior
raise your hand.

Eyes close  If you are here today and don’t have a Church Home
raise your hand. Don’t be ashamed, we have all been here at the same place
Don’t let this day go by with out Jesus in your life. This moment is not
promised. Tomorrow is not promised.

Amen

Rev. M. Mitchell

Bible Study Lesson, "Jesus, The Good Shepherd", Ezekiel 34:11-25

JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Ezekiel 34:11-25

In the 23 psalms, the Lord describes Himself as a shepherd
What are some of the benefits of allowing Jesus to be your
shepherd from the 23 Psalms?
      a.
      b.
      c.
      d.
What do you have to do for Jesus to be your shepherd?

In 1 Samuel 17:31-37, God shows us how a shepherd operates when HE selected David
to be King.

In the new testament, Jesus told Peter, If you love me, feed my sheep.

If the Lord is your shepherd, then you have to be His sheep.
The problem is we don’t want to be known as sheep.
Sheep are dumb.
Sheep get lost
Sheep have poor eye sight in front of themselves
Sheep are not aggressive
Sheep have a one track mind
Sheep are defenseless
Sheep are totally dependant on their owner.

No man want to be seen in that light.
With this “Me Too” movement, no woman want to be seen in that light.

The fact is, the only way Jesus can be your Shepherd, is you have to be
His sheep. You have to see yourself with a sheep mentality

Consider this, before we met Jesus we were dumb to the truth.
Before we met Jesus we were lost in a sea of sin.
Before we met Jesus we were living in the dark
    we were trying to see with eyes blinded to the truth
    The Just live by faith and not by sight.
Before we met Jesus we thought we had to make it on our own by
aggressively pursing our goals
Before we met Jesus we had a one track mind, follow the world.
Before we met Jesus we thought we could protect ourselves, but
we were defenseless against the world.
 
Now that you know what we were, you can appreciate the work Jesus has to
do continuously for us.

THE COMPASSION OF GOD
11 "'This is what the Lord God says: I, myself, will search for my sheep and take care of them. 12 As a shepherd takes care of his scattered flock when it is found, I will take care of my sheep.
I will save them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day
A. Once in Jesus, God takes ownership of you
     1. God knows where you are.
     2. You can not get lost from God.
     3. We can easily get scattered from the Lord from what we face in this world.
          a. We get scattered when we caught up in perusing  our goals and objectives
               without considering God.
          b. We can get lost when we try to keep up with the world.
          c. We can get lost when make decisions without considering how
               God gets the glory
           
B. God promises to take care of you
    1. God looks at us knowing what we need.
    2. No matter what you get into, God can get you out of it.
    3. God knows that you will have some dark or trying times
    4. You need not worry, because God is here to rescue you.
         a. If we want God’s help we have see our selves as His sheep.
         b. We must come to Him humble and honest

GOD WILL DRAW US BACK TO HIMSELF
13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries. I will bring them to their own land and pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the places where people live in the land.
A. God  has a home for His people
    1. There will be times when you get distance from God.
    2. There may be times when your hope seem to die and your joy turn to sadness.
B. God will bring you back to your right mind.
    1. You have to yield yourself to His guidance
    2. God has a way of bringing you into fellowship with other believers
    3. There are some places we should not be.

GOD IS COMMITTED TO GIVE YOU HIS BEST
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and they will eat grass on the high mountains of Israel. They will lie down on good ground where they eat grass, and they will eat in rich grassland on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed my flock and lead them to rest, says the Lord God.
16 I will search for the lost, bring back those that strayed away, put bandages on those that were hurt, and make the weak strong. But I will destroy those sheep that are fat and strong. I will tend the sheep with fairness.
A. God reserves the best for those He shepherd.
    1. The best place we can be is under the protection of the Lord.
    2. He will provide for our needs and protect us.
        From the 23 Psalms, The will prepare a table before us in
        presence of our enemies.
B. The Lord promises to heal the wounded
   1. He promises to strengthen us when we are weak
   2. The Lord promises to take vengeance on our enemies.
   3. He promise treat us fairly.

GOD WILL BE THE JUDGE
17 "'This is what the Lord God says: As for you, my flock, I will judge between one sheep and another, between the male sheep and the male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to eat grass in the good land? Must you crush the rest of the grass with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you make the rest of the water muddy with your feet? 19 Must my flock eat what you crush, and must they drink what you make muddy with your feet?
A. Not every one in the Church is acts like one of God’s sheep.
    1. God will Judge those who mistreat you
    2. He knows when you are treating other right
    3. He knows those who misuse His kindness
    4. They will not go unpunished.
GOD IS THE JUDGE.
20 "'So this is what the Lord God says to them: I, myself, will judge between the fat sheep and the thin sheep. 21 You push with your side and with your shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away. 22 So I will save my flock; they will not be hurt anymore. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 Then I will put over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and tend them and be their shepherd. 24 Then I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a ruler among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.
B. God will Judge between the true believers and the hypocrites
    1. God will allow evil to prevail for a while
    2. Sometimes it appears that those who do the most evil, prosper more.
    3. Some times it appears that those who follow Christ suffer the most.
    4. What is God’s purpose for evil?
    5.  How do we reconcile in our mind, that all things work together
        for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes?
C. Christ is our model for suffering.
    1. Israel went through 42 generations of suffering before Christ
        came on the scene    and  He suffered more for them and us.
    2. James 1:2-5

        Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because 
        you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must   
         finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
    3. The purpose of our suffering is to grow us into maturity
        a. We cannot be complete without suffering
        b. We cannot understand the glory of God without suffering.
        c. You cannot learn to persevere unless you have been through something.
        d. Your testimony want be complete without suffering.
D. One day someone God will put in your life will need your testimony
     to get through what they are going through.
    1. There is someone out there now who have not figured out that
        they can trust God.
    2. Somebody need to understand that they are just sheep in need of
        of a shepherd.
    3. The only shepherd that lead you to still waters is Jesus.
        a. The only shepherd that can lead you to green pastures is Jesus.
        b. The only shepherd that will prepare a table before you in the
            presence of your enemies is Jesus.
       c. The only shepherd that can provide joy in the mist of trials is
           Jesus.

Rev. M. Mitchell