This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Born To Be Blessed", Duet 18:9-22, 3/1/2020

   

BORN TO BE BLESSED

Deuteronomy  18:9-22

THE LORD HAS BLESSINGS STORED FOR YOU
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
A. The first thing I see in the text is God has blessing stored up for
     Us that has others holding for us
    1. Second, I see that God has some activities He commands us to
        do and some actives that He command us not to do to be
        good stewards of His blessings.

   2. God has standards that He wants us to live by.
   3. The third thing I see is that God has two administrations He has

        designed for us to live by.
      a. He has the religious administration that He set through His priest.
          The Levite priest were the ministers of His Word.
      b. He has His civil leaders

          Moses was the first governmental official. He was the general of
          The army.

GOD SETS US APART FOR HIS GLORY
B. God developed a unique nation. He gave them His commands to govern
     them and Priest to minister the commands.
     1. By His holy word, God separates us from the world.

     2. Out of all the nations that existed, God created a new nation and
         called them His own to serve and worship Him.
C. God does not want us to take on the habits of the world around us.
     1. We are commanded not to learn the ways of the world or imitate them.
     2. We can only escape exposure to the world by keeping our focus
          on the Word of God.
 D. God gave Israel a land that He promised to Abraham and his descendants
      over 400 years earlier.
      1. God expected Israel to be good stewards of that which He gave them.
      2. God has blessed us with gifts and talents to be used to build the body
         of Christ.
      3. We are to be role models of His righteousness.

DON’T DO WHAT DISPLEASES GOD
V:10. Let no one is found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in a  fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices, the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

A. God listed 7 evil and detestable practices of the nation the Israelites
     would face.
   1. Anything that man does to predict the future is evil.
   2. Anything that man does to worship himself or idol gods is evil
   3. Any scarifies man makes to idol gods is evil
   4. Any attempt to communicate with the dead is evil.
   5. Anything that man does to harm another person is evil
   6. Sacrificing human life for the worship of idols is evil.
   7. Anyone who practice magic spells or observe signs and omens
      is evil. 
B. We have to be careful who we associate with.
    1. We should avoid those who practice that which is prohibited by
        God.
    2. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel to those who practice
        a lifestyle of  sin in hope that they will turn to Christ.


FOLLOW GOD’S COMMANDS
V:13. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

A. God set us aside to be a Holy Nation.
    1. We are to live according to God’s standards.
    2. When others look at us they should see role models for Christ.
    3. People who are doing what God detests will

       try to entice you into believing what they practice will be
       beneficial to you.
       a. We are commanded not to listen and focus on God
       b. The best thing we can do is not to visit places where people
           practice that which God detests.

B. Those who hold what God has for you, want to have it very long.
    1. God will make a way for you to get what others are holding for you.

    2. What God has for you is for you.
    3. Some of the blessings that has for you is because of the prayers
        of  your parents, grandparents and long gone ancestors
    4. Israel was blessed with promise land because of the faithfulness
        and obedience of Abraham. 

LISTEN TO JESUS
V:15.  The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord  your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the Lord  our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

A. We have to be careful about what we ask God to do for us.

     He may grant our request, but it may not be the best for us.
   1. In Exodus 20:19, God called all the people of Israel to the
       mountain to hear His commandments. His voice was preceded
       by thunder and fire.
   2. The Israelite became afraid and asked to hear only the Word of God 
       from Moses. 
   3. God’s direct input in our lives is the sure way to keep us on track
       and focused on His righteousness.
   4. Anytime we back away from God we are headed downhill.

   5. Man is not capable of giving us God's Word without a fleshly input
       which distorts the true meaning.
B. It is easy for us to take the Word of God given by man for granted.
   1. When a preacher speaks the Word of God, we have to wonder if
       he is speaking the truth or mixing his agenda with the truth.
   2. God promised a Messiah which is Jesus Christ to the Israelites.
   3. However, Jesus came to Israel 1443 years after Moses.

   4. After Moses came Joshua, then priests, then Judges, then kings
       then Jesus.
   5. Israel went from being an independent nation to a divided

       nation to a nation controlled by the Romans by time Moses
       prophecy was fulfilled.
C. The Israelites ask for a prophet just like Moses.
     1. Moses was a type of Christ.
     2. Moses was the prophet of God who delivered Israel for slavery
         in Egypt.
     3. Christ delivers all believers from the bondage of sin.
     4. We are commanded to listen to Christ for He is the living
         Word.
     5. If you want to be close to Christ, study His Word.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IN HIS WAY AND TIME
V:17. The Lord said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

A. God answers prayers in His time and in His way.
    1. Because of their prayers, they would get a prophet (Jesus Christ)
       but not until they had suffered many years of wars and destruction.
    2. They were forced to live at the hands of corrupt kings.
    3. Their way of life would be degraded to second class citizens in the
        land God gave them.
B. The Israelites were held accountable to God’s commands given them
     by Moses.
    1. They suffered the consequences of their sins.
    2. We should let Israel suffering from rejecting God commands be

        a lesson to us to follow God.
   3. On judgment day we all will have to give an account to God of what
       we have done.

THE PENALTY OF MISLEADING OTHERS

V:20. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death."
21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord ?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

A. This is a warning to all preachers and teachers to teach the Word of
     God in truth and love.
   1. 2 Tim 2:15
      Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to 
      be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

   2. We have been given this ministry of teaching to edify and build-up

        the body of Christ.
   3. We must study the Word for ourselves.
   4. We cannot fully rely on anyone to know the Word completely.
   5. When we know the Word for ourselves we will not be easily
        misled by anyone.
B. I have found in my personal Bible Study, that I get the most out of my
     efforts when I study the Bible  S L O W L Y.
   1. When I have done all I can do, it always good for me to put
        the text down and meditate on what I have studied.
   2. When I come back to the text, I most often find that the Holy Spirit

       has revealed more areas of study and better enlightenment of
       what I have studied.
   3. You can never study the Bible too much.

C. The Bible is complete and inerrant.
    1. The way we know that a person is not speaking the truth
         is to compare his statements with Word.
    2. There are many people who use the Word God out of its
         context to support their ideals.
    3. We are all servants of God and have duty to use the Word to                   
        build-up the body of Christ brings glory to God.


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

For more lessons follow me on facebook and visit my blogs:
Revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday Lesson, "Living As A Disciple Of Christ", Luke 17:1-10, 2/23/2020

LIVING AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

Luke 17:1-10

GET YOURSELF RIGHT BEFORE GOD

V:1.  Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves.
A. Disciples are those who are ready to learn from Jesus.
    1. Every Christian will not be a disciple.
    2. Some Christians would rather rest on the bench with Jesus
        as Savior, but not Lord over their lives.
B Everyday living as a disciple of Jesus requires constant
   evaluation of your deeds and actions
 1. Sin and temptations are always knocking at our door ready
     to come in.
 2. The good news is that we control our doors.
 3. Every day we have to continually make decisions to keep   
     Satan
out of our daily activities.
4. We sin knowingly and unknowingly.
    a. Unless someone tells us we may never know if our
       statements or acts are hurtful to others.
    b. it is not possible for us to live without sinning.
           
           Rom 3:23-24
           23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are   
           justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by 
           Christ Jesus.
      c. When we know our sin, just ask for God forgiveness.

  5. The problem comes when we knowingly lead people into sin or
      try to entrap others into sin.
  a. God becomes upset with our sinful actions,
      especially when it comes to the spiritually immature.

  b. The spiritually immature, the little ones, are the babes in
       Christ.
 6. I suggest that you don’t want to be in the hands of an angry 
     God.
7. Notice Jesus is talking to His disciples,
    He said watch yourself.
   1. Our actions can get us out of fellowship with God.
   2. Since Jesus was speaking to His disciples, there must be
       a severe penalty before you die for deceiving or leading
       astray those in Christ.
   3. You can be a disciple without Christian behavior.
   4. Let me suggest that Jesus left us with an example of Judas.

       He was among the disciples but because of his sin he became
       So distraught after betraying Jesus that he hung himself.
       a. You can claim discipleship without being a Christian.
       b. In Judas three years of walking with Jesus, he never
           believed in Him.
             
               John 17:12
               While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those   
                that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the 
                son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.


     
   

SEE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE EYES OF GOD
V:3 B. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
A. Once you recognize your sins and deal with them, then you

    You have the power to forgive others.
   1. When we consider, that God is constantly forgiving us, we
       change our mindset to one on constantly forgiving others.

   2. Notice, if someone does you wrong, YOU have the
       responsibility to tell them.
 B. There is no limit on God’s forgiveness.
    1. There should be no limit on your forgiveness.
    2. People don't change overnight.

    3. Therefore, you have to be tolerant, continue to forgive
        until they change.

TAP INTO THE POWER OF YOUR FAITH
V:5. The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
A. One of the key problems with our prayers is the lack of faith that 
    God will do what we ask.
   1. Jesus reminds us that we don’t need more faith.
   2. We need to exercise the faith we have.
B. God gives us a definition of faith

       


        Heb 11:1   (NIV)
       11 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we
 do not see.
     
       1. We have to develop confidence in the God we serve and
           confidence that He will provide the desires of our hearts,
       2. Doubt is the sin that hinders our faith.
             
          James 1:6
          But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who 
          doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
      3. What is the cause of our doubt?
           a. Let me suggest a few reasons.
           b. Lack of knowledge of the promises of God.
           c. Lack of constant prayer.
           d. Lack of patience with God’s timing
           f. Past experience of not having some prayers answered.
 
 SERVE FAITHFULLY WITH A HUMBLE HEART


V:7. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"
A. When we became disciples of Christ, there were certain responsibilities
     Given to us based on God’s plan for our lives.
   1. Jesus uses this illustration to make it plain to us that we deserve no
       special recognition when we do the job God has assigned to us.

   2. Every believer in the body of Christ has jobs assigned by Christ.
B. The real question is, are we fulfilling the duties and responsibilities God
     has assigned to us?

   1. Before we ask God for more, are we faithful servants?
   2. When we ask God for help, are we asking with the right motives?
        James 4:3
       When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,     
        that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
C. We deserve no special recognition for doing what we were called
     To do.
   1. God has gifted us for His call on our lives.
   2. By serving God, we are not doing Him a favor.
   3. All favor comes from God
   4. We don’t deserve to go to heaven, but His Grace and
       Mercy set us apart from the world to be with Him.
D. In verse 17:3, Jesus commands us to watch ourselves.
    1. We are instructed to be cautious.
    2. Every day we have to make decisions about how we treat others.

    3. The way others treat us, good or bad, should not change
         our Christian behavior toward them.

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

For more Lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs:
Revmmitchell.com and goodnewsremitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Cost Of Following Jesus, "Luke 14:25-35, 2'/18/2020

#2 THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS  

   

Luke 14:25-34

OUR AGENDA MUST BE ONE WITH JESUS

V:25. Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

A. In any crowd, there will be people with different agendas.

    1. There will be some who are just curious, but no committed.

    2. There will be some who are there to see what they can get

        for themselves, but not committed.

    3. There will be some who hate the agenda of Jesus.

    4. There will be some who have not made up their mind

        about Jesus.

    5. There will be some who are committed to Jesus and

         ready to build God’s church.

B. Jesus demands that He be first in your life.

    1. God put us first above His own Son.

       John 3:16

       For God so loved the world that He gave only begotten Son.

    2. To follow Jesus, we must put Him first.

C. The Greek word for “hate” in this text means to love less.

    1. The Lord would not contradict His command to honor your

        mother and father.

    2. Putting Jesus first means, living in obedience to His commands.

    3. Living in obedience to God's commands means every other

        consideration is second. And some things are not considered.

    4. According to the text, the order of our love is Jesus, the family then

        self.

    5. Our daily objective ought to be to serve Christ by drawing others

        to Him through our Christian lifestyle.

C. According to the Roman custom of the time, a convicted man was forced

    To carry his cross to the crucifixion site. This was a sign that the

    Roman government was right and the condemned man was wrong.

   1. To carry the burden of the cross for Jesus is to say that Jesus is right

        and the world is wrong.

   2. The burden of the cross requires us to forsake our fleshly desires

       for the righteousness of Christ.

   3. The burden of the cross requires us to be submissive to the guidance

        and directions of the Holy Spirit.

   4. The burden of the cross requires us to serve God with the gifts and

       talents He has provided.

   5. The burden of the cross requires our agenda to become one with

       Jesus agenda.

      

  

THE TOWER OF DEFENCE

V:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

A. The tower was a tall lookout station used for observation to guard

     against the enemy.

   1. The enemy to every Christian is Satan and his demons.

   2. We have to build a defense against Satan.

   3. Eph 6:13-18 outlines our tower of defense:

      “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil    

      comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done

      everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled

      around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and

      with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of

      peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which

      you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the

      helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

      18 And pray in the Spirit.”

    4. Notice that our tower of defense is trusting in God’s protection and

        provisions.

    5. As Christians, we stand on God’s promises and noting else.

B. Satan goes to and fro to see who he may destroy.

   1. The moment you declare Jesus as Lord and Savior, you become

       his target.

   2. Friends and relatives may be who he uses to Polk fun at your

       religion.

   3. In addition, you may face all kinds of temptations to draw you

      away from Christ.

   4. Therefore we must always  guard  our hearts and minds

       from being distracted from Christ.

THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, IT’S THE LORD

V:31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

A. We are in a constant battle with Satan.

    1.  The Apostle Paul stated it as follows;

         

     Romans 7:21-25

     I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do    

     good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23    

     But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my   

     mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my  

     members.   

      24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of

      death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!

  2. We cannot make peace with the devil, but we can make peace

      with Christ.

  3. To make peace with Jesus is to take up the cross and follow Him.

  4. The cost of discipleship is to put our trust in Christ and not rely

     on self.

B. The battle that we are in, is fought in the spiritual realm which we

     are not capable of winning without Christ.

    

    “Ephesians 6:11-12

      12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,  

      against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against

      the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 1. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord and allow Him to work in

     our favor.

 2.   2 Chronicles 20:15

      For the battle is not yours, but God's.

 3. Jesus rose from the dead with all power over heaven and earth in

     victory over Satan and his demons.

 4. We have no business in a battle that is already won.

WE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

V:34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

A. Salt was designed with a purpose.

    1. It seasons that which it comes in contact with.

    2. Salt adds flavor to food.

    3. Salt preserves food.

    4. Salt can be corrupted by rain and lose its quality.

        a. Salt contains sodium chloride which is water-soluble.

        b. Our love for Christ should not be dissolved by the lust of

            the world.

B. The life of a Christian is designed to be the salt of the earth.

    1. We are to affect those we come in contact with by proclaiming

         the Word of God.

    2. It is our job to season our conversation with love, grace, and mercy,

       and compassion for everyone.

    3. When we proclaim Christ, the Holy Spirit works in the lives

        of the hearers.

 C. If we lose our desire to serve Christ we become corrupt and useless

      to the Church.

      1. According to the Apostle Paul, it is the temptations of life that

         derails our intentions to serve,

    

      “ Heb 12:1

        12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud    

        of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so     

        easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before  

        us,”

     2. It is up to us to stay focused on Christ and serve Him through which

         success in  mission is obtained.

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For More lessons follow me on facebook and visit my blogs

Revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Cost Of Following Jesus:, Luke 9:51-62, 2/9/2020

   

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

Luke 9:51-62

DETERMINED TO DO GOD’S WILL

V:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

A. Jesus, in obedience to the Father, headed to His crucifixion in Jerusalem.

     1. Our Lord sets the example of obedience in the face of adversity.

     2. Even when it seems not to our advantage, following God’s commands

         is always the best solution.

B. God designs adversity for us to test and strengthen our faith in Him.

    1. Since we are in Christ, we are in His protection.

    2. Instead of saying, “why me” we should ask God to strengthen us

        to do His will.

    3. Jesus said to the Father, not my will but let your will be done.

PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS IN ADVERSITY

V:52.  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

A. As believers, our job is to get non believers ready to receive Christ by

     proclaiming the good news about Him to them.

    1. Not everyone will believe the word from you or want to hear you.

    2. At times in our lives, we all have rejected a word about Jesus or

        at least part of someone’s teaching.

    3. God was tolerant with us; therefore we ought to accept rejection

        and be tolerant with others,

B. The high minded disciples were ready to destroy those who rejected Jesus.

     with fire.

    1. They were ready to get revenge because their master was rejected.

    2. It was the pride of their religion that drove them to the extreme

        measure of persecution.

    2. You cannot condemn others because they don’t value what you

         value.

 C. Notice, Jesus did not tell the disciples to shake the dust off their feet

      As He did when He sent the twelve out to heal and spread

      Word in Luke 9:5.

    1. It was the compassion of our Lord to give the seed that was planted

        by the disciples time to germinate in the hearts of the hearers.

    2. Jesus by his rebuke of James and John makes it plain to us that

        the spirit of evil which is Satan, works in us to find fault in those

        who disagree with our beliefs.

   3. Second, Jesus makes it plain that our mission is to save souls

       and not to destroy that which He created.

   4. Thirdly, once we have proclaim the Word, even though rejected,

       our job is to walk away and let the Holy Spirit do it’s work in the

       hearts of the hearers.

D. The disciple had knowledge of Old Testament Scriptures.

    1. Like us, they picked and chose scriptures to justify their attitude.

    2. We must be careful not to take scripture out of its context to

        justify our actions or opinions.

    3. Scripture should be used to enlighten, uplift and build up the hearers.

    4. We should never use God’s Word to condemn others.

    5. We are not the judge, just the messengers.

    6. In all our efforts, we cannot persuade anyone to believe in Jesus,

        but we can be the light that leads them to Him.

COUNT THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

V:57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

A. It is good to get excited about the Gospel, but we must be realistic about

     what we expect following Jesus to do for us.

    1. Salvation come though our faith in Jesus, but it does not eliminate

        hardships, adversity or pain.

    2. God does not tell us anything about the man who came to Him.

         a. He does tell us that following Him comes with some discomfort.

         b. Jesus reminds us that others who don’t know Him, may do

        well while you struggle in comparison.

    3. Following Jesus comes with inner peace and joy in the mist of

        trials and tribulations.

B. One must be ready to endure the cost of following Jesus.

    Luke 14:28

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR DISOBEDIENCE

V:59.  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me

  first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

A. This second potential follower put his own obligations before the mission 

      of Jesus.

    1. If our plans are not designed to glorify the Father, they are dead in the

        world.

    2. To follow Christ we must be estranged from the world.

    3. The world will always present us with opportunities

        which we must weigh against following Christ.

B. God wants first place in our lives

   1. It is only by putting Him first that we can clearly hear his voice.

   3. It is only by putting God first that we will act according

       to His will promptly.

C. Jesus design for our lives is that we preach the Word in season

     And out of season.

    1. Jesus said

        But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

        will be given to you as well.     Matthew 6:33

    2.  If Jesus is first, any obligation we have will be met.

FAMILY IS BLESSED ABUNDANTLY WHEN GOD IS FIRST

V:61.  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

A. We do have an obligation to our families.

     1. But family has to second to God.

     2. Putting God first insures the best for family.

B. There will be times when the believer will have to choose serving

     God over family events.

     1. I can assure you that sometimes the choice we make to serve God

         will cause some short term conflicts.

     2. I can also assure you that God is conscience of our sacrifice and

         family will be blessed by our devotion to Him.

C. We should not hesitate or second guess our devotion to God.

     1. We should give our time to God willingly.

          Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not     

          grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

           2 Cor 9:7

        2. God created and ordained family and His will is sufficient for all

            the provisions of family.

        3. If our decision to serve God cause conflicts in our minds, we should

            check our devotion to God.

    

           Luke 14:26

           If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,  

           and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he   

           cannot be my disciple.

          a. The word hate used in this verse is the Greek word “miseo” which

              means to love less

          b. Our first love must be God.

          c. If we love God first, there is Godly love for everybody else,

             and it will be sufficient.

         d. If we do God’s work, He will take care of the family

             If you don’t believe me, ask Peter. Jesus heal his mother in the

             middle of the mission.     Matthew 8:14-15

          

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

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

revmmitichell.com  and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com