Bible Study Series: Is God Concerned About Your Politics?

  IS GOD CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR POLITICS?

Jeremiah 23:1-9 

With all that is going on in the world to day, is God concerned?

Is He concerned about your welfare?

Is God concerned about the condition of our government?

The answer is yes. It is always yes. 

In 2020 our president and his cabinet, upset about losing the election,

decided to try to overthrow the election results to keep himself in office.

126 Senators, and 17 State Attorney Generals agreed together to discount 

your right to vote. In other words, since you didn’t vote for me, you don’t

matter as a human being.

If I can deny your vote, the next step is to deny that you exist.

Is God concerned?  The answer is yes. Is God concerned about politics?

The answer is yes.

Lets look at some Biblical facts.

The word politics is from the Greek word politika which means affairs of cities, making decisions.

After the flood, God gave Noah and his son the right of self government.

    

Gen 9:5-7

I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 

6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed;

for in the image of God has God made man. 

7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." 

God gave Moses the laws and commands for man to live by,

Laws of self government   

Ex 24:3-4

When Moses went and told the people all the Lord 's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the Lord  has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.

Under King David, God establish church and state.

The priest were given responsibility of the religious activities and the 

King the responsibility of the state.

            

2 Sam 5:3

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord , and they anointed David king over Israel. 

Exodus 28:3-4

Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.  

God gave man the responsibility of self government establishing the

Politics of the nation. Religion, His commands and laws were the

guiding principles of  government.

The problems with government and deceitful men is nothing new to God.

In our text the prophet Jeremiah is given a message from God of the coming

destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the people and their captivity in Babylon for 70 years. 

I want you to notice that the Lord held the leaders responsible

for the downfall of the nation of Israel.

I. GOD IS INVOLVED IN OUR TROUBLES

 GOD’S DISSATISFACTION    

Jeremiah  23:1-9

V:1 "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord . 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the Lord . 

A. The word “woe’ is the Hebrew word howy which expresses pain and

      dissatisfaction.

    1. God was totally dissatisfied with the leaders of Israel because they 

         used their position for selfish gain and governed unjustly.

    2. Leaders have great influence over people. Their influence can be 

        positive or negative.

    3. Position carries the responsibility of leading according to the will

         of God.

B. God is up to date on what leaders do, good or bad. 

    1. There is a reward for those who lead according to righteousness.

    2. There is a severe penalty for leaders who mislead God people.

C. Leading people for your own personal agenda has negative and

     devastating effects on the people.

     1. Misleading can be destructive.

     2. Misleading can be confusing.

     3. Misleading can drive people away from the truth.

     4. Misleading is a failure to look after the welfare of the people.

Ask yourself these question?

     1. How many people have died of Covid 19 because they didn’t have

         the right information.

      2. How many people are confused about the science of protecting

          themselves against Covid 19.

      3. How many people have died with Covid 19 believing they didn’t

          have Covid 19.

      4. Could more lives have been saved if the word about the dangers of 

          Covid 19 had been spread sooner?

II. GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR OUR TROUBLES

DON’T ABUSE YOUR LEADERSHIP POSITION

B. Leaders who abuse the power and authority given to them for their

    Personal gain will pay a price. The leaders of this country who fail to look

    After the welfare of the people placed under their charge have some dark      

    days ahead of them.  Its in the text.

   1. God may uses evil men to bring trials and tribulations into

       our lives.

         

        Jeremiah  27:6-8

        Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar   

        king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. 7    

        All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time 

        for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate    

        (defeat) him. 

         If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar 

         king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that 

         nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the Lord , until I 

         destroy it by his hand. 

    2. God does not change. He is the same today as yesterday.

            

         Mal 3:6

         For I am the Lord , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not 

         consumed.

     3. It is possible that the God we serve set up our present administration 

         and this virus as a wakeup call to the entire world.

     4. We don’t want to believe that we had anything to do with this situation.

          a. The sins of each of us are part of the problem.

          b. God holds the leaders responsible, but the whole world suffers.

     5. The good news is, God has planned our recovery.

III. GOD PROMISES RESTORATION  

GOD WILL BRING OUT OF YOUR SITUATION 

V:3 "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries      

 where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where   

 they will be fruitful and increase in number.

A. God is in charge. But He is tolerant of us to wait and give us time 

     to get right with Him.

    1. You have heard the saying, it was the straw that broke the camels

         back.

       a. Actually the straw was building up on the camel’s back for a long

           time. 

       b. It was that one last straw that tipped the scale with devastating

           effects.

       c. Each of us adds straws to the camels back with our sins.

    2. The world has been in violation of God’s commands for a long

         time. God’s tolerance ran out. 

B. The law was given to Moses around 1490 BC. 

    1. Israel ignore God commands. It was 586 BC when the Babylonians

        took Israel hostage then came back and burned down the temple

        and the city walls. 

     2. Jeremiah gave the last warning to Israel to get right before God

          which was ignored, just prior to the Babylonian exile.

         a. God’s tolerance came to an end  (Jeremiah 26:6).

C. Like Israel, God tolerance with the world came to an end.

     1. It is my opinion that this worldwide virus is God’s punishment

          for the sins of the world.

     2. It is a wake up call to get right before God.

     3. The 1918 virus may have been a wake up call for the 2020 virus.

         The 1918 Spanish flu killed 500 million people.

  D. God’s punishment is a wakeup call to bring us to the realization

       that He is sovereign, compassionate and loving enough in His

       chastisement to bring us back into right fellowship with Him.      

      1. The proper way to see this virus is the loving chastisement of

           the Lord before He set us before His Glory.

      2. Instead of being sad, we ought to be joyful.

    

          James 1:2-4

          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.

 

GOD’S PROMISE FOR RESTORATION

V:4. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord . 

5 "The days are coming," declares the Lord ,

"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

and do what is just and right in the land. 

A. there is a time of punishment and a time punishment will end.

     1. The purpose of the punishment is to bring men to their knees    

          so  they call on God and lean on Him.

     2. God gives us time to know our sins and to know our weaknesses.

     3. The time of punishment is a time of repentance.

     4. The time of repentance is the time to strengthen our faith.

B. God revealed himself through His son for our salvation.

    1. The time of repentance is the time of growth to open our

         minds to His son, or draw us back to Him.

     2. Once we are prepared, God introduces His Son, for our salvation.

C. God has planned an end to this situation we are in and our

     restoration.

   1. In 2021, we will have a new administration in the US.

   2. In a couple of days, we will celebrated the birth of our

       righteous king.

   3. Jesus never left us this situation. He is sheltering us in place.

   4. It is the Lord Jesus who will administer justice and see that things

       are done right.  

1V. JESUS IS OUR RESTORATION

TOMORROW SUCCESSES BELONG TO THE LORD

V:6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called: 

The Lord Our Righteousness. 

A. Remember Saul the first king of Israel. God put

     His spirit in him to lead Israel.

    2. God removed His spirit because he disobeyed His command

        to destroy the Amalekites and all they had. King Saul kept

        the best of the goods for himself.  1 Samuel 15:1-9.

    3. God moved His spirit from Saul to David. 

       a. God had anointed David as a teenager to be the King of Israel.

       b. Saul fought David to the day he died because he

           didn’t want to be known as a loser.

    4. David remained faithful through his tough times until

        God placed him on the throne.

B. According to the text, we will live in safety.

    1. Our safety is not because of us, but because of the love

        of our Lord and Savior.

    2. God promised that He is in control of this situation.

    3. God expects us to call on Him in times of trouble.

    4. God expects us to trust Him live with His joy in our lives.

V. JESUS IS OUR JOY AND PEACE

V:7 "So then, the days are coming," declares the Lord , "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the Lord  lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' 8 but they will say, 'As surely as the Lord  lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' Then they will live in their own land." 

A. We have to put the past behind us.

     1. We cannot change the past.

     2. But we can look to the promises of the Lord 

         for today and tomorrow.

B. We are commanded to lay aside all our worries.

    

      Phil 4:6-7

      Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and    

      petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the 

      peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts 

      and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

     1. We can change our focus from negative to positive.

     2. We can quit focusing on that which is out of our control.

     3. We choose to let God handle the problems we are not cabable

          of solving

    

     Phil 4:8-9

     Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,   

     whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if 

     anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9     

     Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me    

      put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

IN SUMMARY

GOD IS INVOLVED IN YOUR TROUBLES

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR TROUBLES

GOD PROMISES RESTORATION

JESUS IS OUR RESTORATION

JESUS IS OUR JOY AND PEACE

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Call To Discipleship", John 1.43-57., 12/27/2020

     

THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

John 1:43-57

IT IS BY GOD’S DESIGN THAT WE ARE CALLED

V:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 

A. The first day of looking for disciples, Jesus selected Peter and Andrew

.

    On the second day, Jesus selected Philip and Nathanael.

   1. Andrew and Peter heard John the Baptist, proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

   2. Jesus selected Phillip, who brought Nathanael to Jesus.

B. Making disciples take time.

   1. Jesus could have chosen all twelve at one time, but His plan       

       included other directing disciples to Him.

   2. Notice, Philip and Nathanael knew Old Testament Scriptures.

   3. Not only did they know scripture, but they believed what they heard.

   4. Their knowledge caused them to anticipate the coming of the Messiah.

   5. They were men who had no formal theological training. 

       but knew the time of the coming of the Messiah and his family

       genealogy. 

       a. Contrast this with the teachers of the law, the Chief Priest and the 

            elders of the religious community.

       b. They were trained in the law and the scriptures but refused to

            believe what was theirs to teach.

   6. We must be in the mindset of constant anticipation of God’s blessing

       base on the promises of God.

   7. At the command of Jesus, those selected followed Him.

   8. You and I were selected to follow Jesus.

JESUS CAME TO US IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES

V:46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

"Come and see," said Philip. 

A. By Nathanael’s own admission, Nazareth was a bad place. It was

    A most unlikely city for Jesus to be born.

    1. Consider the most crime-ridden city in the world and place the

        family of Jesus there.

    2. Consider Mary and Joseph living a life of righteousness in a place

        of high crime.

B. Sometimes God places His best in the worst place.

    1. Out of the worst circumstances, many great and successful

        men and women have been born.

    2. It may be God’s design that strength and character is born under  

        adverse situations.

    3. Nathanael found the answer to his question by believing 

        in Jesus,

     4. Those who seek to know Jesus will be given holy knowledge

          of Him.

         a. Come see said, Philip.

         b. God puts people in our lives to direct us to Jesus.

         c. Our testimony about Jesus comes through our circumstances.

JESUS CALLS LEADERS WHO ARE READY TO SERVE

V:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true   

      Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." 

A. It is a good thing when Jesus recognizes your good character.

    1. This gives us insight into the men Jesus chose to be His disciples.

    2. He chose men like Himself who were born in humble

        circumstances.

    3. To be a disciple of Jesus, you need a desire to know Him.

B. Jesus not only knows your character, but He knows your family.

    1. If there are true Israelites, then there must be impostors. 

    2. Who does Jesus call a true Israelites?

            

         Gal 3:7-9

         Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8   

         The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and 

         announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be 

         blessed through you."  9 So those who have faith are blessed along 

         with Abraham, the man of faith. 

    3. The impostors of Israel are those who claim the heritage of Abraham

         but have no faith in the word.

THE OMNISCIENCE OF JESUS

V:48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 

A. Before Jesus calls you into the ministry, He knows all about you.

    1. The Lord has been watching you all your life.

    2. The Lord has been protecting you all your life

    3. The Lord has been providing for you all your life.

    4. The Lord knows when you work and when you sleep.

    5. The Lord knows your location at all times. 

B. How do you know me, Jesus?

    1. You have been with me all the time.

    2. You have been directing my life since the day I was born.

    3. You ordered my steps until you call me out.

YOUR TESTIMONY OF FAITH

V:49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." 

50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 

A. Watch this, Nathanael went from seeking Jesus to knowing Jesus.

    1. Nathanael went from doubting that Messiah could come from a

       bad place to know He did.

    1, The knowledge that Jesus was the Son of God did not come

        Nathanael, but from the Holy Spirit.

    2. Jesus asked Peter, who do you say I am. Peters's answer was

        you are the Son of the living God. Jesus replied this did not

        come from flesh and blood, but by the Holy Spirit.

B. Take a note, Nathanael knew who Jesus was before Peter

     gave Jesus his answer. 

   1. Nathanael came to the conclusion of who Jesus was at first sight.

   2. Nathanael came to an early belief in Jesus.

   3. Peter had to walk with Jesus to come to that conclusion. 

   4. Peter was Jesus's rock of faith from the beginning.

       Peter was slow to come to that conclusion.

   5. God gives each of us a measure of faith, that works for

       our individual personalities. 

JESUS WILL ENLIGHTEN YOUR HEART

V: 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 

A. Take a note. Nathanael’s confession of faith bought him immediately

     Into the heavenly realm with Jesus. 

   1. When you start meditating on the Word of God, He will open

        up a heavenly knowledge about Himself.

   2. I cannot imaging what heaven looks like.

   3. Because of Nathanael’s faith, Jesus promised that while he

       lived, he would see the door of heaven open.

B. Not only that, Jesus promise Nathanael that he would see the 

     Angels of God ascending and descending on Him.

   1. Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see God’s divine 

       communication with the Father.

   2. Some come to faith sooner than others, but it is by God’s design.    

    

  John 1:50-51

    As the Son of Man, Jesus left heaven to come to the earth. Jesus used the    

    term "Son of Man" of Himself more than 80 times. It speaks of His 

    humanity and suffering and His work as "the ideal Man." I tell you the 

    truth ("Verily, verily," KJV; lit., "Amen, Amen") occurs

    (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000     

    Cook Communications Ministries)

  3. It was Peter’s experience with Jesus that brought him into a deep faith

      about Jesus.

  4. God designed each of us to learn about Him in our own ways.

THANK GOD FOR THE MINISTRY OF JESUS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "An Introduction To Jesus", John 1:1-14, 12.20/2020

 AN INTRODUCTION TO JESUS

John 1:1-14

THE ETERNAL TIME OF JESUS

V: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. 

A. We have no idea of when the beginning was.

     1. We have to assume it was eternity past.

     2. We also have to assume it is the same time as Genesis 1:1

          in which God in the beginning  created the heavens

          and the earth.

     3. The Word in Greek is the Logos, the entire body of divine doctrine.

          a. Logos is all that God said and didn’t say. 

    

              2 Cor 4:18

              So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For 

              what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

B. The doctrine the” Word was with God” indicate a difference between the    

      Word and God.

     1. The next doctrine “the Word was God” indicates the Word and God

         are the same.

     2. These two gives rise to the persons of God. God the Father and God  

         the Word 

         a. The same God but different in person.

     

     4. The third doctrine, “He was with God in the beginning”

         tells us of the co eternal existence. 

         a. The Word was not made, the Word was not created,

              it always was.

      5. The forth doctrine is there, but hid

         a. Because you are reading this verses, you have been

              drawn by the Holy Spirit.

         b. If you have any understanding, it is because of the power

             of the Holy Spirit.

         c. In the Gospel of John, the writer tell us that to the world

             the Word of God is foolishness.

        d. The Spirit is also a person of God. Therefore we have the trinity,

             the person of God the Father, the person of God The Word (The Son)

            and the person of God  the Holy Spirit. All three are the same God.

C. How do you explain, one God in three persons.

    1. A crude example is water, H2O, one part oxygen and 2 parts hydrogen.

    2. Water can exist in three forms. 

         a. It is a liquid at room temperature.

         b. It becomes steam at boiling point.

         c. It becomes a solid below 32 degrees centigrade. 

   3. Water can not exit in three forms at the same time.

   4. God exists in  three persons at the same time.

D. Lets travel a little further with this crude analysis.

     1. God the Father is everywhere all the time but is thought of

         as being at His heavenly throne.

     2. The person of God the Son (the Word), took on human

          flesh and dwelled among us, but now seated at the right

          hand of the Father.

     3. The person of God the Holy Spirit indwells everyone who

          believes in the Son.

     4. Accept the three persons of God by faith and not human logic.

E. The Word is the co creator of the everything that was made.

     1. One God in three persons created everything

     2. They cannot be separated, but are presented to us with 

          separate missions which work the same in us.

THE LIFE, THE LIGHT AND THE WAY OF JESUS       

V: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. 

A. All life begins in Jesus.

    1. There is no life without Jesus. 

    2. Life is more than daily living. 

    3. Life is in the Word.

    4. Life is the Word.

B. Life is the wisdom of the Lord.

   1. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but every Word of God.

   2. Physical life is in the blood that flows through the flesh.

   3. Spiritual life is in the Word that flow according to the Spirit,

       in the hearts of every believer.

   4. Without the Word, one does not know how live life fully.

   5. Since the word is light. One who does not have the Word,

       lives in darkness.

   6. With the Word one lives in all the promises of God. 

   7. With the Word one lives in continual hope of the presence

        and the future.

    8. Darkness is the absent of the Word which is death.

C. Without the Word, one lives under the influence of Satan. 

      1. The influence of Satan is false light which eventually becomes

           doom and gloom. 

      2. The influence of Satan works to block any view of true light.

THE WITNESS OF JESUS

V:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 

A. From birth, John’s mission was to be a testimony of Jesus.

     1. We have all been given the same mission.

     2. Like John, God knows our names and have called us to 

         proclaim the life that is Jesus.

     3. We become a living sermon that draws others to Christ.

     4. John taught the Word of God that led to the baptism of

          repentance. 

     5. He did not claim to be Jesus, but led others to Him. 

B. John prepared the hearts of others to believe in Jesus when

     He showed show up in their lives.

    1. Since Jesus is the true light, then there must be a false light

    2. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

    3. Unfortunately, the false light leads many to their death.

    4. But thank God that the true light that influences us, draws us to 

       our heavenly home.

    5. We were predestined for light before the foundation of the world

         Ephesians 1:4

THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE UNBELIEF OF JESUS

V:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

 

 Note: The pronoun He is the Greek word ekeinos. 

           It is a properly of persons, things, times or places. 

A. Jesus stepped out of heaven, put on human flesh and became man and

     dwelled among us. 

   1. The Father brought His Son down through 42 generations to

        be king of kings and Lord of Lords.

   2. Jesus made the world with his power and authority.

   3. He prophesied His coming starting in Geneses chapter 3

       and in the books of Isaiah, Malachi and others.

   4. The Jews had the complete Old Testament 300 years before

       His human birth. 

   5. The Jewish leaders made known to King Herod at least 2 years

         after His birth the date and location of His birth from

         Old Testament prophecies.  

    6. The Jewish leaders failed to see God’s Word as the truth. 

B. Rather than believe the miracles they witness by Jesus, the

     Chief priest and elders of Israel, mocked Him and degraded Him.

     1. The leaders blinded themselves to His presence by their unbelief.

     2. The good thing is many of the everyday people were looking for

         the coming of the Messiah that they were taught by those who 

         refused to believe.    

THE POWER TO BELIEVE

 V:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 

A. In this text you can see the dynamics of the religious community.

     1. The Word was taught by the leaders who didn’t believe the text.

     2. Many of those who were taught, believed what was taught by men

         who refused to  believe. 

     3. We can see this played out after Jesus first reading of Isaiah in the

          Galilean synagogue.

     4. He claimed the scripture was fulfilled in their hearing in the  

         synagogue.

       5. They drove him out of town to throw Him down a clift. (Luke 4:28-  

            33)  

 B. Jesus provides the opportunity of a new birth through belief in

     Him.

    1. This new birth is a new creation in Jesus through the power of

         the Holy Spirit.

    2. You and I have no part in the new creation. It is all Jesus

    3. Our job through the Holy Spirit is to receive Jesus as Lord and

        Savior.

          

        John 6:43-44

        Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent    

        me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN OUR LIVES

V: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. 

A. In Matthew 1:20-21 the writer records how Jesus took on human flesh

    

      But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in    

      a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary 

      home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy 

      Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 

      Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 

    1. Jesus maintained His deity in human form.

    2. He was fully God, but also human.

    3. He had two separate natures that were not mixed.

B. Even though Jesus was in human form, He was full of grace and truth.

    1. Grace is favor; there was no room in Him for non favor.

    2. His mission is to favor His people with eternal life.

    3. He was full of truth.

        There was no room in Him for lies and deceptions.

    4. He was made man but not by man. 

    5. He was the only man without sin because He was God.

THANK GOD FOR THR KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS

    

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041 

Bible Study Series: Growing Strength In The Lord, 2 Kings 6:1-7

     

GROWING STRENGTH IN THE WORD

2 Kings 6:1-7

In this text I want to direct our focus on what it takes for us

to grow in the Lord. 

                       Three basic steps

                   Training in God’s Word

                   Testing in God’s Word

                   Glory in God’s Word

I  TRAINING IN GOD’S WORD

V:1. The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live."

And he said, "Go." 

A. What we notice in this text, Elisha was the teacher for a school of   

     prophets.  The first 5 books of the Bible, the Torah was the subject.

     Elisha wasn't only a traveling preacher and a miracle-working prophet,    

     but he was also the overseer of several schools of the prophets where 

     young men called to ministry were trained and encouraged. We know 

     there were schools in Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho (2:1-5) and also in 

     Samuel's hometown of Ramah (1 Sam 19:22-24), but there may have   

     been others. 

     (from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 )

2. We are required to train the next generation of teachers.

3.  It is every Christian job to teach the Word of God to those

    God has put in their midst. 

 

    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.

 4. The job of teaching the Word must start in the home.

 5. Most often the Word will not be found in the world.

 6. Our children must be under the influence of the Word before

     leave home.

PASTOR’S AID

 B. It is good for a pastor to have people who see problems in the ministry.

    1. Those who see the problems must offer solutions.

    1. Those who make suggestions should be willing to 

        be involved in the improvements.

    2. God want to see us grow spiritually.

    3. God also want the church to grow in numbers.

    4. The great commission give us the job of making disciples

        Matthew 28:19.

    5. You cannot make disciples without the Word.

         Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

C. When the church is growing in numbers, members should 

     Be willing to support and finance the building program.

   1. The meeting place of Elisha’s students was not large enough

        to handle the number of students who wanted to be taught.

   2. It was one of the students who presented the problem to

       Elisha.

   2. Any ideas should be approved by the pastor.

   3. It was one of the students, who offered the solution and

       got the student body involved in the building program.

   4. When we all work together we can accomplish great things

       for the Lord.

SERVANT WITH A PURPOSE

 V: 3 Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?"

"I will," Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.

A. We should never start a program for the church without the

      Blessings of the pastor.

    1. While we may have ideas for improvement, that can always be

        improved with the pastors oversight. 

    2. While we are focused on the project,  the pastor views the entire church

         program.

 B.  Notice, the students considered themselves servants of Elisha.

     1. God places shepherds before us, and we are his sheep.

     2. It is when we set ourselves above or equal to the shepherd that

         we get in trouble.

II TESTING IN THE WORD

V:5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" 

A. In process of serving God we may suffer loss.

    1. There are times when I am putting together a project, that I 

        fail to read the directions.

    2. That is usually costly. That’s when I ask God for help.

B. These students were probably poor and had no tools.

     1. One was resourceful enough to borrow an axe,

     2. Like me, he probably didn’t ask the owner how to use and

         maintain the axe.

     3. While he was cutting down a tree the axe head flew off the handle

          fell into the Jordan river.

     4. He didn’t know to check the axe head to see if it was sliding

          off the handle.

          a. Had the student examine the axe he may have noticed that

              Axe head wasn’t secure on the handle.

     5. The Word of God is our axe and the Lord is the handle.

         a. We should examine our beliefs to see if we not sliding

             away from the Word of God.

         b. It is easy to get so involved in a project for God

             that you forget the God you are serving.

         c. Someone will say something you don’t like and you

             fly off the handle.

        d, We have to make sure the Word is secure in our minds

              continuously 

TEST OF CHARACTER

C. The servant quickly realized his error and took responsibility

     for the lost.

    1. He understood, that it was his responsibility to return the axe

        in the condition he got it.

    2. Being poor, this lost would add an extra burden to him.

    3. What we lose serving God. He can return

        a. The servant immediately called on the Lord for help

        b. He kept his eye on the place the axe head fell.

THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST

  D. When we think about the axe we can get some spiritual 

        Insight.

      1. Before we go to work for the Lord we need to insure that

         cutting edge of the axe is sharp. 

        a. The Word is sharper than a two edged sword.

        b. When we don’t stay in the Word we lose our sharpness.

        c. The Word becomes dull in our heart when we spend

             two much time in the World.

        d. This pandemic has given us reason to stay away from the 

            church and thus the study of the Word.

      2. We cannot do the work of God without a cutting edge.

           a. The world don’t need to hear what we think, they

                need hear what God said.

           b. If The edge is not sharp. It takes more effort to cut

           c. You can’t be effect proclaiming the Gospel if you

               don’t know the Word.

           d. If the servant didn’t know the power of the Word, he

               would not have known to call on the Lord for help

       3. We recover our edge when we go to the Lord in prayer

            and meditate on the Word.

       4. The edge is sharpen by actual experience.

       5. Life creates circumstances that causes us to call on God.

       6. It is the interaction with God through our circumstances                          

             that strengthen our faith

III GLORY IN THE WORD

THE RECOVERY

V:6 The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 

CONFESSION OF SIN

A. God is ready and waiting for our prayers.

    1. Where did we fall.

    2. Confessing our sins to Lord is beginning of our recovery.

    3. How do we get into sin? We let our flesh dictate our desires.

    4. The axe head comes off the handle when our desires become selfish.

TOTAL RELIANCE ON GOD

 B.  Our lost is an opportunity for God to do a miracle in our lives.

     1. Iron is heavier than water, so it will fall to the bottom.

     2. Elisha put a stick in the water which made the axe head float to

         surface.

        a. It was a quiet miracle from a powerful God through a compassionate

            shepherd.

        b. We are co partners with God.  God raised the axe head, but the

             servant put his hand in the water to retrieve the axe head 

      THE GLORY OF GOD

       3. The recovery of this lost axe head gave the whole school an 

           illustration of the power and sovereignty of God.

       4. This shows that there is no problem to big or to small that

           God want handle for us.

       5. In the course of serving God we find encouragement when we

            witness the miracles of God.

          God is interested and cares about the small and trivial incidents 

          in our lives. He tells us to pray about everything and to cast all our  

          cares on Him. 

      6. It is easy to become frustrated when the work we do for the Lord

           stalled out or hits a dead end.

                

         Phil 4:6-7

         Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and 

         petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

SUMMARY

GOD KNOWS US INTIMATELY 

HE DESIGNS TEST FOR OUR LIVES 

     TO BRING US TO A PLACE OF HUMILITY AND  

     DEPENDANCY

      

     TO FORCE OUR FAITH TO THE SURFACE

   

     TO HELP US SEE OUR WEAKNESS

     TO STRENGTHEN OUR WALK WITH HIM

 

      TO SHOW HIS POWER, SOVEREIGNTY, AND 

      GLORY

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Making Of Disciples", John 1:25-49, 12/13/2020

 THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES

John 1:29-45

INTRODUCTION TO JESUS

V:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." 

A. It is good to know Jesus

    1. It is better to know His mission

    2. He came to die for our sins

    3. John gives us the way He died

    

    Isaiah 53:7-8

    7 He was oppressed and afflicted,

    yet he did not open his mouth;

    he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

    and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

    so he did not open his mouth. 

    8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

     And who can speak of his descendants?

     Exodus 29:38-39

     This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a 

     year old.

    4. Jesus is our sacrificial lamb.

        a. Let me suggest that the age of the lamb represents the one true

            and living God.

        b. The meat of a one-year-old lamb is tender.

        c. Jesus is our tender loving lamb. 

B. Jesus surpassed John because He was before John

    1. John was born of a woman.

    2. Jesus is eternal and took on human flesh in a woman

    3. Jesus is God, John was a servant of God

    4. John was given the mission, of proclaiming the coming of God.

    5. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us with the mission of redeeming man

C. There is a difference between revelation and enlightenment.

     1. Information about God that had not been known before

         is a revelation.

     2. Enlightenment is the understanding of the revelation of

        God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

    3. John got a revelation of Jesus through the power of the Holy

        Spirit.

    4. You and I get enlightened by the revelation of God.

    5. The revelation of God is the entire Bible.

YOUR TESTIMONY AFFECTS OTHERS

V:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." 

A. John was given the revelation of the presence of Jesus through

     Power of the Holy.

   1. John was given the revelation that He would know Jesus by

       the Spirit that rested upon Him.

       a. No one has ever seen the Holy Spirit, but God made it known

           to John in His appearance as a dove.

       b. This not strange, since angels which are spirit beings have

            appeared as men in the Old and New Testaments,

   2. John's baptism was one of water for repentance of sin

   3. Jesus baptism is by the Holy Spirit for the redemption of Sin

B. John was inspired to testify who was the Son of God. 

    1. Each time we study the Word of God we are enlightened

        to understand the revelation.

    2. Having been enlightened by the Word, we are inspired to 

        testify to the goodness of Jesus

C. Because of his obedience, John was given the first sight of

     the Redeemer ready to fulfill all prophecies,

    1. Our obedience puts us in a position to understand the entire

        revelations of Jesus.

    2, John's baptism didn't save anyone.

        a. John's baptism enlightened men to the penalty of their sins.

        b. John's baptism inspired men to repent which set them up

            for the future salvation of Jesus.

         c. Prior to the advent of Jesus, faith in the Word of God which

             is Jesus, saved, 

         d. Abraham believed and therefore was declared righteous.

         e. Isaac and Jacob never saw Jesus but believed the Word

             which was handed down to them by Abraham and 

            confirmed by the angels of God and therefore were saved.

TO KNOW JESUS, SPEND TIME WITH HIM

V:35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" 

They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 

39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." 

A. Watch this, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

     1. Andrew and the other disciple  heard the Word, witness the Word and   

         followed the Word.

     2. They believed the WORD was Jesus, their long-awaited Messiah.

     3. They went with Jesus to dwell with Him and learn of Him.

B. Prophets before did the planting, John did the watering, and Jesus

     caused the growth in Andrew and the other disciple.

    1. Andrew and Peter believed the Word, repented of their sins under

        John and was set to be disciples of Jesus.

    2. You and I are no different. 

         a. We heard the Word from mom or dad or someone inspired

             us to become disciples of Jesus.

         b. We have not seen Jesus, but we believe the Word which is

             Jesus and He live in our hearts.

     3. We, like Andrew we need to ask ourselves, what do we

          want from Jesus?

          a. I want to dwell with him, know more about Him, and see

              His work in my life.

INFLUENCE OTHERS TO FOLLOW JESUS

Verse 39b. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. 

40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

A. To know Jesus you have to spend some time with Him.

     1. Andrew and the other disciple, to come under the influence

         of Him.

     2. Under the influence of Jesus we are convicted in our hearts that He is

         who He says He is.  I AM WHO I AM.

     3. The first job of a disciple of Jesus is to find somebody and tell them

          About their Messiah,

      4.  Look at the instructions God gives, start at home with those close

           to you.

           a. Andrew went first to tell Peter His brother.

           b. Andrews testimony was so convincing, that Peter went to 

               meet Jesus,

           c. You never know who you are influencing when you proclaim

               Jesus.

           d. Andrew never wrote a book, but He started the writing in 

                Peter.

           e. Andrew never preached a sermon, but he started the preaching

               in Peter.

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE BY JESUS

V:42b. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will  

 be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). 

A. Pay attention to this:

     You don't always have to be in the foreground to influence the life

      Of someone, God uses to do great things. 

    1. You don't hear of any great works of Andrew, but he was there with

         Peter, encouraging and supporting him.

    2. I will never forget this.

        a. When I came to Greater Macedonia Baptist Church the first

             Sunday Morning, It was Deaconess Emma Morning who

             waited in her car till I and my wife got out of our car.

        b. She greeted us outside the church, escorted us into the church

             and introduced us to the church body.

        c. To this day, I am encouraged by Deaconess Morning every time

             I see and talk to her.

         d. It was her warm welcome that made me feel at home.

B. Peter became the rock that Jesus built His Church.

    1. God used Andrew to bring Peter into His inter circle

    2. If you never get any recognition for your service, remember

        this, that God is using you to bring others to Christ.

       

THANK GOD FOR YOUR CALLING

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

Bible Study Series: The Blessing In Your Tragedy", 2 Kings 5:1-15

     

THE BLESSING IN YOUR TRAGEDY

2 Kings 5:1-15

God arranges circumstances and people in your life to fulfill His

purposes. 

This lesson has three main points

    1. YOUR TRAGEDY BECOMES YOUR MISSION

    2. YOUR MISSION BECOMES YOUR TESTIMONY

    3. YOUR TESTIMONY DRAWS OTHERS TO CHRIST.

ARRANGED CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET GOD

V:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord  had given victory to Aram  (over Israel).

He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 

GOD GIVES US THREE POWERFUL RESUMES

A. The Resume of Naaman

     1. God recommends the character of Naaman to us

     2. According the Word, Naaman was the commander of army of the

         enemy of Israel.

     3. He was the commander of the army.

         a. He was a great man

         b. He was highly regarded

         c. He was a valiant soldier

         d. God gave him victory over Israel.

      4. Everybody on the other side may not be your enemy.

          a. Naaman did not have anything to do with where he was born

          b. But, he made a choice to live a good life

          c. He treated other well, We know this because he was

              recommended by the young girl, who was a captive from Israel

          d. He had an issue. He had leprosy 

          e. God blessed Naaman with this issue to bring him salvation

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES

B. The resume of the young girl, a captive from Israel

       1. She had a good attitude

       2. It is possible that her family had been killed in the war.

       3. She was taken captive and forced to serve the wife of the enemy,

       4. BUT, She did not dwell on her tragedy.

       5. She accepted her position as a slave, but her mind was free.

       6. She was free to have love and compassion

       7.  She was free to use her wisdom to recommend her master to God.

       8. She was free to have faith in the power of God.

       9. Don’t let your circumstances control your love for God.

C. The resume of her parents.

     1. They trained their daughter to trust God   (parenting advice)

     2. They trained their daughter to be obedient

     3.  By training their daughter to trust God, they set her

          up to deal with the  problems of life

          

        

THE VALUE OF YOUR TESTIMONY

V:4  Naaman, went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had      

      said. 

A. God did not give the girl a name, but He tells about her faith

   1. Her circumstances did not change her faith.

   2. She proclaimed the power and authority of God to a man in

       need. 

 B. Her tragedy became her mission

    1. Its in the text

    2. She probably lost her parents and family in the war.

    3. She was taken captive into a foreign land.

    4. She was force to serve the wife of her enemy.

    5. She had every reason to be angry, depressed and upset.

    6. But she had faith in God

C. Look at the strength of her faith

    1. God put her in a situation where her faith became her mission.

    2. She was place in the household of a man with leprosy.

    

    3. Her testimony was so convincing that when she told

        Naaman’s wife,  the wife told Naaman and Naaman told

        Told his master, the King .

    5.  Her testimony was so convincing that everybody that heard her

         recommendation believed the  God of  Israel was a healer. 

    6. Out of the mouth of babes comes the praises of God.

THE BLESSING OF YOUR TRAGEDY

V:5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." 

A. The same king that fought against Israel, killed people in Israel

     And took captives out of Israel wanted to pay Israel to heal his

     Servant.

    1. In todays dollars, 10 talents of silver would be 165,000dollars

    2. In todays dollars, six thousands schekels of gold would be

        worth 2.8 million dollars

    3. It is good to have money, but you can’t buy God.

B. The faith of the girl didn’t immediate translate into

      faith for Naaman, but a desire to be healed

    1. You can tell people about God, but they have to meet God

         for themselves

    2. Your job is not to save, but to proclaim the Word.

    3. Her proclamation caused others to seek God.

BLINDED BY SELFISHNESS

V:7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" 

A. The King was blinded by his limitations.

    1. He was blinded by his failure to see the power of God

        through the works of the prophets, Elijah and  Elisha (1 kings 19:16

    2. Joram, king of Israel was blinded by his lack of trust in God.

    3. He knew of God but had no relationship with God.

        The king used the word  “Elohyim”, the supreme God

    3. Joram couldn’t see an opportunity in front him.

    4. Joram was focused on himself rather than the needs of others.

B. It is up to us to see the opportunities in our circumstances,

     1. Some see things in a negative light and a curse.

     2. Others see our circumstances in a positive light and 

          blessings from God.

C. Naaman was sent with letter from his king to Joram king

     Of Israel  to order  the prophet to heal him.

    1. Naaman  went to the king to buy his healing,

    2. The king of Israel saw the request as a reason King of Aram

         wanted to start a fight.

            

Joram was dismayed when he read the letter from Ben-Hadad II. Tearing one's robes indicated great anxiety and distress (cf. 2:12; 6:30; 11:14). Israel and Aram had been at peace, but it appeared to Joram that Ben-Hadad was trying to pick a fight again as he had done with Joram's father Ahab (cf. 1 Kings 20:1-3). Joram did not realize that Naaman did not expect him to cure the leprosy. Elisha did not even enter Joram's mind. The Israelite king had no use for that prophet who constantly opposed him. Joram wanted as little contact with him as possible. 

(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary)

 

    

WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS FOR YOU

V:8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." 

A. What God has for you is for you.

     1. Even though Naaman  met with a fustrated king,

         God made sure that the man of God heard his request.

     2. Elisha ask the King Joram to send Naaman to him.

     3. Elisha’s purpose was so that King of Aram would

         know that God is in control

B. God’s commands are simple but sometimes unbelievable.

    1. Water is water, so you would think any water ought to do.

    2. But God’s directions were to wash in the Jordan river seven

        times.

    3. Seven is the number of completion

    4. God rested on the seventh day of creation.

    5. God promised to give us rest.

    6. It was not the water that cured, but the obedience to the

        command in the water that was the cure.

    

THE CONVERSION OF NAAMAN

V:11. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord  his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. 

13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant." 

A. God’s blessing and our pride don’t go together.

    1. Naaman got angry because there was no grand ceremony for

        his healing.

    2. It was beneath his high position to wash in the Jordan river.

    3. Pride and anger can cause you to lose the blessing God has for you.

B. Sometimes God put humble people in your mist to counsel you

     in your prideful attitude. 

    1. Thank God for the wisdom of those He place in our mist.

    2. It is a wise man who submits to the will of the Father. 

YOUR TROUBLE IS YOUR BLESSING

C. God uses the troubles in your life to draw you to Himself.

    1. Leprosy was the motive God used to draw Naaman to Himself. 

    2. Naaman had to be brought to point where he was willing to listen to 

        voice of the prophet recommened by the slave girl

    3. He had to get rid of his pride and humble himself to the

         prophet of God.

    4.  He had to obey the instructions of God.

     5. Naaman had to see the power of God in his life to

         believe in God.

IN SUMMARY

YOUR TRAGEDY BECOMES YOUR MISSION

YOUR MISSION BECOMES YOUR TESTIMONY

YOUR TESTIMONY DRAWS OTHERS TO CHRIST

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Defending Your Belief In Christ", John 1:15-28, 12/6/2020

 

   

DEFENDING YOUR BELIEF IN CHRIST

 

John 1:15-28

 

CHRIST THE HEAD, YOU THE DISCIPLE

V:15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

A. John was born six months before the birth of Jesus in the flesh.

    1. John spoke of the eternity of Jesus.

    2. Jesus, the Son of God was not born, He always was.

    3. Jesus is spirit.

    4. The spirit of Jesus was placed in the body of Mary by the power

         of Holy Spirit where it took on human flesh and became man.

B. The ruling Jews were blind to this fact and refused to accept it.

    1. John was a godly man, but Jesus was God in a human body.

    2. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

    3. John had human abilities, Jesus has supernatural abilities

    4. John was limited, Jesus has no limits

    5. I can talk about John in the past, but Jesus is present.   

 

THE BLESSINGS OF HIS BIRTH

V:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

A. God's grace is limitless. It flows continually.

   1.  Grace is God's divine favor. It is only limited by our disobedience.

   2. Every day God, favor is fresh and new.

   3. Every breath we take is by God's grace.

B. Man may favor you from time to time, but God's

     favor is all the time.

 

THE SAVING VALUE OF GRACE

V:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

A. The first five books of the Bible,  the Torah, is the Jewish law.

     1. God dictated these books to Moses, who gave them to the nation

         of Israel.

     2. The law is God's commands which no man has been able to keep.

     3. The law condemns.

B. Grace saves.

    1. Truth is the entire body of the Bible.

    2.  Standing by the truth, we all deserve to die.

    3.  Truth without grace is condemnation by the Law.

    4. It is the grace of God that redeems sinful man,

 

THE FATHER TESTIFIES FOR THE SON

V:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the   

  Father's side, has made him known.

A. The eternity of Jesus is made known here.

     1. His oneness with Father is identified.

     2. His position at the right hand of the Father is identified.

B. It is God the Father who proclaims the position of the Son.

    1. We see the unity of the God head and separation of the

         persons of God.

    2. The person of the Father in heaven.

    3. The person of the Son came to earth as the redeemer,

    4. The person of the Holy Spirit indwells us.

 

PREPARE YOUR DEFENSE FOR YOUR BELIEF

V:19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."

A. At some point in your life, you may have to defend your faith in Jesus.

    1. We should always be on guard to defend our belief in Jesus in

         the present of church members and outside the church.

     2. You will never know where a person is in his/her spiritual

          growth.

B. Our first obligation is to confess who we are.

    1. We are not holier than Jesus.

    2. We have made some mistakes in life.

    3. We are God's work in progress.

    4. We are not as bad as we use to be, but we are not as

         good as we should be.

 

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST?

V:21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?"

He answered, "No."

22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

A. People will always evaluate your worth. 

     1. Beat them to the punch, take a self-assessment.

     2. Look into the mirror and see who you really are

     3. If you are realistic, you will say you are nothing but

         dirty rag in need of God's grace.

     4. No thought of grander will enter your mind.

B. People need to see the real you. In fact, you need to

     see the real you.   

    1. I am not a prophet, I am not Elijah. I am a person 

        who loves Christ.

    2. I I believe in Jesus and I am growing in Christ.

    3. Don't look to me to see perfection, you will be

        disappointed.

    4. My goal is to be like Christ, but my flaws continue to

        surface.

 

DISCIPLES PROCLAIMING JESUS CHRIST

V:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

A. Who are you?

     1. You are the one fulfilling the great commission.

     2. You are the one proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ,

          with the hope of making disciples.

     3. You leave the saving to Christ, who baptize them in the

          name of the Father. The Son and the Holy Spirit.

B. Who are you?

    1. Just a servant of the most High God.

    2. I have been redeemed, I am joyful, full of hope

        and at peace with God.

    3. I proclaim Jesus as Lord, because….

        a. When I was blind, He gave me sight.

        b. When I was lost, He found me.

        c. When I was down, He lifted me up.

        d. When I was sad, He gave me His joy.

 

 

OUR MISSION

V:26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

A. It is sad that most of the world doesn't know Christ.

     1. Most of the world stand in the pride of self-aggrandizement.

     2. Most of the world is unaware that Christ is in their midst,

         with open arms waiting to receive them.

B. You are a humble servant standing in the glory of God.

    1. Our prayer is that all come to know Christ as their

        Lord and Savior.

    2. What we do is proclaim the Word in our unworthy position

    3. What we know is Jesus, king of kings, Lord of lords,

         our redeemer, keeper, and provider.

    4. Like Paul, I determine to no nothing, but Jesus Christ and

        Him crucified.

 

THANK GOD FOR JESUS

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston ParkWay North

Houston, Texas 77041.

 

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