Bible Study Series: Dealing With Bullies

 HANDLING ADVERSITY

1 SAMUEL  17:1-54

THE BEGINNING OF BULLING

We are living in a world where bullying is a common activity. It all started

In the heavenly realm. Lucifer, now called Satan decide he wanted to be

Like God and set his throne in the heavens. Because of his pride, Lucifer

Was kicked out of the high heavens and became the angel of darkness.

He landed on earth and began his work to destroy God’s family. 

While bullying isn’t a new phenomenon, it is a major problem.

•  Children deal with bullies every day at school. Some then come home to a bully in the home.

•  People work with bullies on their jobs.

•  There are bullies among our neighbors.

•  There are bullies in the church.

•  There are bullies out in public.

•  Bullies are everywhere.

•  Bullies inhabit every sphere of our lives.

 Bullying is defined as, “the use of threats of coercion to intimidate others. It is the activity of repeated aggressive behavior intended to hurt another person, either physically or emotionally.” Bullying can include verbal harassment and threats, physical assaults, or coercion. Coercion is “the use of intimidation or force to force someone into doing your will.” So, bullying is characterized by someone who behaves in certain ways to gain power over others. (Notes from the Sermon Notebook (SN)

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF A BULLY 

Here are some of the defining characteristics of a bully:

•  Lacks empathy for others.

•  Needs to control others.

•  Gets angry quickly.

•  Constantly reminds others of their weaknesses.

•  Picks on those who don’t comply with his expectations.

•  Makes others afraid through threats.

•  Uses physical aggression to intimidate and control.

•  Defies any who would share or correct his power.

Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and they wear all types of external packages.

•  Children can be bullies.

•   Husbands and wives can be bullies.

•   Elderly people can bully others.

•   Rich people, poor people, wise people, and foolish people can be bullies.

•  Teenagers can be bullies

•  Preachers and Deacons can be bullies.

•  They are everywhere, and they are all the same.

•  They are small-minded, evil-hearted people who want the power to control those who live around them.

SEE A BULLY AND BELIEVE THAT HE IS

 Anyone who has faith in Almighty God, and a little courage in their heart, can see the      

  bullies in their lives put in their place.

 The story of David and Goliath points to the way to handle a bully.

•  If you had asked Israel about Goliath, they would have said, “This is a hopeless situation.”

•  If you had asked King Saul, he would have said, “This is hopeless!”

•  If you had asked David, he would have said, “Goliath is a bully, and God is about to deal with him!” (SN)

 

  HOW THIS BULLY IS DESCRIBED ( V:1-24)

A. His Source - Our text says that Goliath was a “Philistine.” The Philistines were one of the Canaanite tribes left over from Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. They were powerful, warlike people.  They were pagan idolaters, who worshipped the fish-god Dagon, of Judah in the east. 

 B.   His Size (V:4-7)

 The Philistines chose to fight Israel. Their biggest weapon was a giant named Goliath. His name means “splendor”. Goliath was from the city of Gath”

      Goliath was not an ordinary soldier.

•  He stood “six cubits and a span.” This means that he was “9’ 9” tall,” v. 4.

•  He wore copper armor that covered his body from head to toe, v. 5-6.

•  Walking before Goliath was a soldier who carried another shield to help protect him from any arrows or spears launched by his enemies. (SN)

.  His Statements (V:8-10, 16. 23)

- Goliath came out from the Philistine lines and challenges the Israelites to a fight. He mocks them and calls them cowards, v. 8.  He demands that they send out a soldier to fight him, v. 8. Goliath did this twice every day for forty days, v. 16. Goliath was a persistent bully who did not give up. He was determined to get what he wanted from the Israelites.

 D.  His Success 

     Verse 11 says when Israel heard the taunts of Goliath, they were “dismayed, and greatly afraid.” The word “dismayed” means “to break down from fear.” The phrase “greatly afraid” suggests they overcome with an “exceeding great terror.” The army of Israel was horror-struck, petrified, panic-stricken, and alarmed! The presence, appearance, and threats of the giant Goliath left the soldiers and king of Israel paralyzed with fear. (SN)

Because of his size and strength, he held absolute power over Israel and King Saul.

     From time to time, we will face some type of bullying in our Life. 

        Some problems arise in life that can assume power over us.

         Some people are large in our minds, to the point where we fear           

    them and what they might do to us.

  Some circumstances and situations overwhelm us with their intensity.

   Sometimes the bullies we face leave us not knowing what to do or where to turn.

 The bully does not have to win!  You can defeat your bully, no matter what, or who it    

  is.

  HOW GOLIATH IS DEFINED (V:25-30)

Goliath threatens Israel. He mocked them and challenged them to send out a man to fight him to the death. He did this eighty times over forty days. Each time, Israel responded by hiding in fear from an opponent they saw as unbeatable. Even their powerful leader, King Saul, did not out to face the giant from Gath. Fear ruled the day in Israel.

HOW YOU SEE A BULLY DETERMINES WHAT YOU DO

A.  Some Saw This Bully As An Opponent(V:25) - When Israel saw and heard Goliath, they said “surely to defy Israel is he come up.” They saw Goliath merely as a threat to their nation. They saw him as a threat to their peace, their prosperity, and their happiness. When this bully stood up, all they could see was him and them. They Could not see beyond how they felt about the matter. This is the view of fear!

 B.  Some Saw This Bully As An Obstacle (v:26)

      Israel saw Goliath as standing between them and what they wanted.

C. Some Saw This Bully As An Opportunity(V:25-30) - The men around David tell him at least three times,  vs. 25, 27, 30, that the man who kills the bully will be rewarded by the king. Verse 25 says “the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel (SN)

D. David saw Goliath as standing between God and what God wanted. David said,              

“…for who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” To David, this issue was bigger than Saul. It was bigger than the army of Israel. It was bigger than all of them put together. To David, this issue was about the glory of God. This was the view of faith! (SN)

  

BULLYS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE GOD’S GLORY

When you accepted Jesus as your personal savior,

You signed up for the battle.

Luke 9:23-25

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 

HOW DO YOU GET PREPARED TO HANDLE A BULLY?

1. Wake up in the morning with Lord on your mind.

2. Meditate on the victories God has won for you.

3. Be prepared to give a testimony of what God has done for you.

4. Recognize that you were chosen for the battle.

2 Corinthians 9:8

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

5. Consider who you are and whose you are.         

a. You are a child of the king.

b. You have king resources.

c. You have the king’s authority.

d. You are awarded the victory of the king.

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.

HOW THIS BULLY WAS DEFEATED

HE WAS DEFEATED BY COURAGE 

Proclaim the victory.

1 Samuel 17:34-37

When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it, and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

The Lord is the same today as He was in the past. He does not change.

•  The Lord has promised to be with you. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” Heb. 13:5.

•  The Lord had promised to see you through to the other side. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,” Isa. 43:2.

•  The Lord has promised to protect you. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD,” Isa.54:17. (SN)

 B.  He Is Defeated By Conviction(V:37-40) 

You have to fight your battles with the gifts and talents that God has given

You.

Saul’s army was equipped with swords, spears, and battle armor,

that David was not familiar with. He was a teenager skilled with a

Slingshot.

 David knew the secret to success wasn’t in the armor of men.

David had the conviction that bullies aren’t defeated by weapons or by the tactics of men. David knew that Goliath would only be defeated by the same power that had enabled him to defeat the lion and the bear. In both those cases, David identified “the Lord” as the source of his victory, v. 36. David’s conviction was that victory was in the hand of the Lord and nowhere else.

1 Samuel 17:45-48

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 

That’s the same conviction we need to see our bullies defeated. We can’t defeat them in our power.

Where we are weak, He is strong. So, we need to forget about what we have done, or what we think we can do, and we need to place our faith in the God Who can!

 “Now unto him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Eph. 3:20. (That includes the power to give us victory over all our bullies.)

C.  He Is Defeated By Confidence(V:41-54) –

      David faced Goliath with the confidence of what God had done in his past.

     David stood on his testimony. If God did it yesterday, He will do it today. 

     The bully in verses 41-47 stood before David. But David saw God standing before him ready to fight the giant.  He put his faith in the Lord, and the Lord didn’t let him down.

 

    •   David reaches into his shepherd’s bag and took out a single stone.

•  He placed that stone in his sling and aimed at Goliath.

•  The stone hit Goliath between the eyes, sunk into his head, and the bully was dead before he hit the ground, v. 49.

 HOW DO YOU GET VICTORY OVER A BULLY?

FAITH IN GOD

It is not by your power or your skill that victory is won. It is your trust in God. 

2 Chronicles 20:15-16

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

God is the key to all your problems, not you.

     Faith in God is the key to handling all adversities in your life.

 “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” Rom. 10:17. And the Word of God says, “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed,” John 8:36. 

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HANDLE THE BULLIES IN YOUR LIFE

COURAGE

CONVICTION

CONFIDENCE   

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Hope For Salvation", Romans 8:18-27, 4/25/2021

 THE HOPE FOR REDEMPTION

Romans 8:18-27

SUFFERING BEFORE GLORY

V:18. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 

A. When God made His creation it was free from the burden of sin.

1. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, man was subjected to the

To the hardships of life. 

Genesis 3:17-19

 To Adam, he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'

"Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat of it

all the days of your life. 

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 

19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food

until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken;

for dust you are and to dust you will return." 

2. At that same time, God promised a savior in His curse of Satan.

Genesis 3:15

 And I will put enmity  between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel." 

B. Because of the sin of Adam and Eves sin in the garden, all mankind is

Under the curse. 

1. According to verse 20, it was God Himself who allowed man to go under

The curse.

2. It is the will of God to give man hope in salvation.

C. According to verse 21, the curse covers all creation.

1. Salvation is for the children of God.

2. There are some who will reject Jesus, the Savior, and remain under the curse.

3. There are some who are predestined for the hope of salvation.

D. It is the grace of God that allowed our present suffering that we might long

For the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1. It is God’s grace to put us in a state of need to draw us to depend on Him.

2. It is our longing to know God that focuses our attention on our sinfulness. 

3. It is the desire to get from under the penalty of sin that focuses our hearts

On the only one who can atone for our sins.

4. When we look toward the heavens, God gives a glimpse of the glory to come.

THE GIFT OF THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

V:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

A. Sin is a burden that increases with time. 

1. It starts small but grows every day throughout creation.

2. It all started with one disobedience. The eating of the fruit from

The tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. 

3. Sin grew in disobedience to the murder.

4. Sin continued its growth to the flood which destroyed

All families except Noah’s.

B. Those who love the Lord and believe in the second coming Jesus

Christ suffers along with none believers who have no hope.

1. Our suffering has the  advantage of developing our patience

In Lord.

2. Patience strengthens our faith which proves our confidence in the

Blessed hope of Jesus Christ.

C. The first fruit of the blessed hope is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit comforts us in our groaning with a constant reminder

Promises of the Lord.

2. None but God’s chosen receive the Holy Spirit.

3. God’s chosen to wait with great expectations on their final

Adoption as sons into the heavenly home. 

4. We will put on immortality and roam with Jesus in the golden

Streets of heaven.

THE CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF SALVATION     

V:24. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he   

      already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

A. The Greek word for hope is elpida which is the confident expectation of salvation.

1. Salvation is only made possible through Jesus Christ.

2. Therefore we wait patiently for His return to receive His Church. 

B. Our hope is the inward experience and the witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

1. We are not yet perfected. 

2. But our expectation of perfection is based on the living reality of the Lord

And Savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:11-12

 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 

THE INTERCESSION OF THE SPIRIT 

V:26. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 

A. It is essential that the believer recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.

1. When our minds are weak and subject to the influence of the devil, it is

The Holy Spirit strengthens us to resist the devil.

2. We have lots of prayers but are they Holy Spirit directed.

3. We don’t always know what to pray for, yet we know others needs

Our prayers.

4. It is the Holy Spirit that corrects our prayers so that they are in

Will of the Father.

B. According to the text, we have two who intercedes for us. 

1. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit knows our hearts and redirects

Our prayers in the will of the Father.

2. Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father intercedes for us.

3. All of our thoughts are sin infected and cannot reach the Father

Without Jesus intercession

THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF SALVATION

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

 

Bible Study Series; Humility, Proverbs 15:33

 

"Before honor is humility."

— Proverbs 15:33

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

How do you and I obtain humility? Babies are born with a great set

of lungs. For nine month they live in this cozy environment

that is all their own. At the end of the pregnancy they are ejected into

the world. They quickly learn to use their lungs to get what they want.

       They come in to world with a scream!!

     

       When they are hungry they scream, you respond.

       When they are wet, they scream, you respond.

       When they are lonely, they scream, you respond.

       When they are sleepy, they scream, you respond.

Pretty soon they realize the scream works.

It is not long before they realize people like them. People

make smiling faces and talk with different voices.

Besides, everything they do , you like.

Babies learn to be selfish at an early age.

With selfishness come pride. Everything babies do, you

applaud and tell them they are special. 

It not until the terrible twos that parents change the script that

everything they do is not cute any more.

Parents spend the next 18 years trying to correct the pride they 

instilled in the babies years.

God said I hate the proud.  But that is what we taught.

Proverbs 16:5-6

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.

Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 

Pride is disgusting to the Lord. The word detest means disgusting.

But we were raise to be proud. Every commercial is designed to show us that we are not as good as we should be.

We need to lose weight. We need make up to hide any flaws. We need

a new wardrobe to be happy. We need the latest exercise program to

be fit. 

After all that, we look in the mirror and we look good.

Mom trained us to be proud. The world bombards us with the idea

of being proud. We buy into it with the purchase of all the latest 

products.

So how do you get out of the proud mode? It goes against the grain. 

What does humility look like?

How do you act when you are humble?

Lets look at the definition.

Humility: synonyms; meekness, consideration, gentleness

                  The word means to be gentle, tender, mild

                  The Christian must show humility to  everybody.

                  Humility has the strength to control and discipline, and

                  does it at the right time. (PWS)

          The humble person is not weak or cowardly, but simply

          loves people and peace.

          To be humble you have to have strength in character.

          The humble person is strong minded controlling himself

          his action and his mouth in adverse situations.

           The humble person denies himself, giving utmost consideration

           to others. In other words, you sit in the background and let

           others have the spot light.

           If someone is suffering, humility steps in to do what it can to help.

           If someone is being mistreated, humility does what it can to stop and 

           correct.

Can you be humble at all times? You can but it takes work. It is a 

character that have to be developed. To empty ourselves of self 

goes against all we have been taught.

It takes a major change in our thinking and attitude to go from

being proud to being humble.

If you going to make a change, what are the benefits of the change?

POSITIVE BLESSINGS FROM HUMILITY

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

Humiliation of soul always brings a positive blessing with it. If we empty our hearts of self, God will fill them with His love.

Psalms 25:9

He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way. 

The blessing of being Humble draws God to your side. 

Who better to guide and lead than GOD. 

When we guide ourselves in our accomplishments we think we 

know more than God. 

God show His love by guiding us in the right way. 

HUMBLENESS CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF GOD

According to Charles Spurgeon; 

 He who desires close communion with Christ should remember the word of the Lord, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word." Stoop if you would climb to heaven. 

Isaiah 57:15

"I live in a high and holy place,

but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

and to revive the heart of the contrite. 

The benefit of being humble is Christ living in you.

When Christ live in you, you can truly say that "I can do all things

through Christ who strengthens me."

A humble spirit lifts Christ up. Christ said If I be lifted up 

I will draw all men to me.

Being humble not only keeps you close to Christ, but draws the

unbeliever to Him. We never know how our words and actions

affect and encourage others.

GO DOWN TO GO UP

Do we not say of Jesus, "He descended that He might ascend"? so must you. You must grow downwards, that you may grow upwards; for the sweetest fellowship with heaven is to be had by humble souls, and by them alone. 

A. Jesus came down from His loft throne to live in the flesh with you 

     and I . On earth he lived like us. looked like us and dealt with the same

     problems of us. He set the example of what He expects of us.

    1. He humbly went to the cross, sacrificing  His life for ours. 

    2. While being tried in the Roman courts, He knew when to speak

         and when to stay silent. While He was being beat with a Roman 

         whip He never defended His righteousness.

B. Our biggest problem is we can't keep silent enough to let the Lord

     speak for us.

    1. Humbleness means we must take the time to listen to the opinions

        of others even when we don't agree with them.

    2. Humbleness does not require a defense of my beliefs, but just

        a statement of what they are. 

    3. Humbleness require the truth from us, but not an argument of the

        lies of others.

HAPPYNESS IS FOUND IN HUMBLENESS

God will deny no blessing to a thoroughly humbled spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," with all its riches and treasures. The whole exchange of God shall be made over by deed of gift to the soul which is humble enough to be able to receive it without growing proud because of it.

A. When we learn that it is not all about us, we will find happiness.

     1. When we quit looking for more, we will find satisfaction in 

          what we have been blessed with.

     2. When we quit look at self, we can see the glory of God.

B. It not all about what I got in my possession.

    1. It is what God has in store for me that I cannot see or conceive.

    2. Being humble allows me boast in Christ and not me.

    3. I can see what I have, but have to wait with expectations for what

        God has in store for me. 

   4. There is nothing new in me, but in Christ there is newness in

        everyday.

   5. Have you ever got something good you were not expecting.

        a. Everybody that got a stimulus check experienced the goodness of 

            God.

        b. I went in office depot to get my tax program. The price on

            the stand was half the price I usually pay.

            I got to the counter, the clerk ringed up the regular price.

            I pointed to the price on the stand. The store manger came over

            and said charge him the price on the stand while she changed 

            the price on the stand to the regular price.

        c. No pride in me, I just showed up and got what God had for me.

SAFETY IN HUMBLENESS

 God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for Him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in His holy war, you would steal the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim; so that you are kept low for your own safety.

A. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

     1. God will not bless us with something that is harmful to us.

Isaiah 30:18

 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;

he rises to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice.

Blessed are all who wait for him! 

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL IN HUMBLENESS

 When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow men. (CS)

Psalms 40:4-5

Blessed is the man

who makes the Lord his trust,

who does not look to the proud,

to those who turn aside to false gods. 

BEAUTY IN HUMBLENESS

 True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden. This is a sauce with which you may season every dish of life, and you will find an improvement in every case. Whether it be prayer or praise, whether it be work or suffering, the genuine salt of humility cannot be used in excess. (CS)

1 Peter 3:4-5

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 

1 Timothy 6:11-13

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.   12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

IN SUMMARY; THE BENEFITS OF HUMILITY

POSITIVE BLESSING

CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF GOD

GO DOWN TO GO UP

HAPPYNESS

SAFETY

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL

BEAUTY

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Work Of Salvation", Romans 6:1-14. 4/18/21

 THE WORK OF SALVATION

Romans 6:1-14

GOD'S NEVER ENDING GRACE

V:1. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

A. Every man in Christ is a new creation. The old self has died and we

    became a new creation in Christ.

    1. We were born enemies of God, but through Christ became friends

         of God.

    2. We have a new position in Christ, but we are still living in sin.

    3. It is the job of the Christian to work out his sold salvation by changing

         his attitude toward sin. 

    4. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to     

         resist the temptation of sin and pursue God's righteousness.

B. We were born in sin and shaped in iniquity. 

     1. It is a holy work in us to detest sin and develop an appetite for God's

         commands. 

     2. In our new state in Christ, any sin committed ought not be intentional

     3. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins and reminds us of the

         immediate need of repentance. 

C. Positionally, we are dead to sin and alive in the righteousness of Jesus  

     Christ.

     1. Experientially we are housed in the corruption of our flesh in 

         need of God's grace to strengthen us to live in righteousness.

     2. Since our hope is in Jesus, we must trust Him to lead us in 

          righteousness.

     3. Paul says we must put on the whole armor of Christ to fight Satan.

     4. The problem is we get up half dressed or not dressed at all to fight

          the battle against sin. 

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

V:4. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 

A. Positionally, the new life in Christ opened the door for us to live eternally

         with Him in the new heaven and new earth.

    1. The new life in Christ does not eliminate the the problems of

        this life.

         Job 14:1

        "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. 

     2. The new life in Christ gives us  guidance and directions

         of the Word to carry us through troubled times. 

     3. This new life in Christ allows us to live in troubled times with

          peace of mind.

           Philippians 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. 

B. Since our hope is in Jesus Christ, we know we will be joined with 

     Him in His second coming. 

     1. We can be sure He has set a home in Heaven for us. 

          John 14:2-3

          In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would   

          told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

          And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive  

          you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

    2. The job of the believer is to pursue the righteousness of God,

         and wait patiently on Him as He works all things in our favor.

      

FREE TO LIVE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

V:6. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin

A. It takes a developing faith in Jesus to understand that we are not under

     the penalty of sin.

    1. Jesus death on the cross freed us from the penalty of sin.

    2. His death did not free us from the work require to resist the

        temptation of sin.

B. Because we are in Christ, we have the responsibility to live

     like Christ.

    1. We can only live in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

    2. Therefore we must make it our business to be submissive to the

         Holy Spirit.

     3. Being free from sin gives the ability to hear the Holy Spirit.

OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST

V:8.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

A. Christ death on the cross was necessary to satisfy the Fathers demand

     for Justice.

     1. The wages of sin is death.

     2. Christ became sin for us and paid our sin debt in full,

         past, presence and future.

     3. Christ death made peace with the Father for us.

     4. His death paid the sin debt for the entire world also.

 B. Christ resurrection was necessary for our redemption, justification

      and sanctification.

    1. His righteousness was imputed on us. 

    2. Christ death did not make us righteous, but set the stage for us to

        pursue His righteousness.

    3. Because we are considered righteous before the Father, we can 

        hope in life with the Father through Jesus Christ.

   

OUR POWER OVER SIN

V:11.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 

A. Now that Christ has settled our sin debt, we can live in Him.

     1. Each day we have a clean slate through forgiveness of our

         sins.

     2. Forgiveness starts with repentance.

     3. We have to turn away from the sin that comes our way.

B.   Getting rid of our sin habit is not passive, but active.

     1. We live in the flesh, therefore we have to fight against the

          desires of the flesh.

      2. We have to first take an inventory of ourselves to see the sins

           that have become normal in our lives.

         3. In the mirror, what is about me that is displeasing to God?

         4. Turn away from the sinful habits, and replace them with

             Godly habits. 

         5. This is an ongoing process that has no end on earth.

LIVING UNDER GOD'S GRACE

V:13.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 

A. There is some good in the worst of us and some bad in the best of

      us. 

    1. Since we are in Christ, we have a conscience of sin. 

    2. Replace all sin activities with activities that are pleasing to God. 

B. We are the masters of our soul. Therefore, claim the victory over sin

     that Jesus has brought for us with His blood.

    1. All power over heaven and earth has been given to Christ.

    2. Therefore all power over sin in our lives have been given to

         us.

    3. The favor of God is readily available to us to overcome our sin 

         habits and pursue His righteousness.

THANK GOD FOR PAYING OUR SIN DEBT

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, "Made Right With God Through Faith", Romans 5:1-11, 4/11/2021

 MADE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH FAITH

Romans 5:1-11

OUR JUSTIFICATION

V:1. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

A. Several commonly used terms set the stage for the text.

     1. Justified:  To count righteous; to put in a right relationship with God.

         It means to reckon, to credit, to judge. It does not mean to make  

         righteous. Justification is necessary, because man rebelled against

         God and took his life into his own hands.

     2. Justification comes through faith in Jesus

         Faith:  To believe, to fully trust in; to have confidence; to have

                      reliance

         Faith means both to believe and be faithful to the belief

         Notice: It is solely God acting on us, His justification to put us in        

                      a mind of faith.

     3. Grace: Highest privilege, It is a gift of favor; unmerited and   

         undeserved. Grace is a place we were brought. It is a position we

         are placed.  (Practical Word Studies Of The New Testament)  

B. We were born in sin and shaped in iniquity.

    1. Our born position cannot change without the blood Jesus shed on

         the cross.

    2. Our original place and position of sin only changes  by the new place

        and position of grace gained through faith in Jesus.

    3. It is Christ acting on us in faith that keep us in right standings

        with the Father.  

C. The word stand is from the Greek word histemi which means to 

     abide, appoint, covenant.  

    1. We stand or abide in God's grace which gives us joy in His

         Glory.

     2. The word hope means to expect with confidence; to anticipate  

         knowing.

     3. All of our hope is God acting on us in the place of Grace to

         to give us joy in eternal life.  

THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING

V:3. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

A. The word suffering means trouble, and distress in trials and tribulation. 

      1. To the world. suffering can lead to  discouragements, despair and

           hopelessness.

      2. To those in Christ, suffering becomes purposeful and meaningful.

      3. In Christ our welfare is in His hand and always has a His

          desired outcome which works to our benefit.

B. God gives us 3 benefits of suffering which blend together.

     1. Perseverance :  The word means to be steadfast and constant: to 

         endure. To be faithful in doing good works.

     2. Character: Character is displayed in our conversation, ways and

         conduct.  The believers thoughts are to be free of covetousness

         and focused on Christ.(PWS)  

     3. Hope:  To expect with confidence

     4. Suffering develops us mentally and physically. 

         a. Mentally because we learn to trust God.

         b. Physically because we learn we can do all things through

             Christ who strengthens us.

C. We are not disappointed because of the love of God and the indwelling

      of the Holy Spirit.

    1. We have a history of God keeping His promises.

    2. We have the present history of God taking care of us.

    3. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what God said and

         what God has done and is doing in the present.

GOD'S DEMAND FOR JUSTICE

V:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

A. In Genesis 3, God promised Satan that a woman seed would bruise

     him on the head because influenced man to sin.

    1. According to C. I. Scofield that proclamation was  made 4000

        years before the birth of Christ.

     2. The woman seed is Christ Himself.

B. Because of Adam's sin, all mankind was cast into sin.

    1. To satisfy God's demand for justice, a perfect sacrifice was 

         required.

     2. Only Jesus, the Son of God could satisfy God's demand for justice.

     3. Why God waited so long for the right time is beyond me.

     4. Let me suggest the following:

          a. A thousand years to us is but a day to God.

          b. It was God's plan to bring Jesus through 42 generations

               of His promise people to be born of a virgin.

C. We were born without the power to fight Satan.

     1. We were born without the power to save ourselves from

          eternal damnation. 

     2. We were born without the desire to know God.

         a. The Word says there is none righteous, no not one.

         b. The Word says all have sinned and fall short of the

             glory of God.

         c. Without Jesus we are hopeless.

 THE LOVE OF GOD        

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

A. With all my sins, I don't deserve anyone to die for me.

     1. To protect a child or a love one, someone would put themselves

          in harms way.

     2. Our soldiers and police officers put themselves in harm's way 

         everyday, but not expecting to die.

B. Christ purpose for descending to earth was to die.

    1. God made perfect earth, but He did not make perfect men.

    2. God gave man the ability to make decisions, knowing at some

         time man would corrupt himself.

    3. It was out of God's grace that He allowed man to sin, so that

         Jesus could be our salvation.

     4. God's love for mankind was demonstrated on the cross 

          with Jesus voluntarily dying for our sins.

     5. We were born in sin, shaped in iniquity, but predestined to

          abide in Christ.

 

THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

V:9. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 

A. The sacrifice of an animal, was started in the Garden of Eden. 

     1. God killed an animal to make a covering for Adam and Eve,

     2. The sacrifice of the animal did not provide salvation.

     3. They were covered until grace came.

B. We can infer that Adam and Eve were obedient to God after being

      locked out of the Garden of Eden.

    1. They taught their sons to listen to God and make sacrifices to

         him.

    2. The sin of Adam and Eve affected their sons and all following  

        generations.

    3. The sin of Adam and Eve set in motion the salvation of mankind.

RECONCILED THROUGH FAITH

V:10.  For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

A. The death of Christ on the cross opens the door for us to be considered

     right before God.

    1. In sin, we are enemies of God. 

    2. In sin, we reject God's commands and follow the influence of Satan.

    3. The word enemy in Greek means a legal opponent against God

         as an opponent in a lawsuit.

B. While we were legal opponents against God, Jesus died for our sins.

     1. Jesus took our place on the cross.

     2. Because of the death of Jesus on the cross we are restored to 

         friendship with the Father.

         a. Jesus settled the law suit.

     3. Our faith in Jesus causes a thorough change in our position.

     4. We are changed from enemy to friend.

     5. Jesus' righteousness was imputed to us while He died on the cross. 

REJOICING IN THE WORK OF CHRIST

V:11.  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

A. In Christ there is a change in what gives us joy.

     1. The word rejoice means inner gladness, and deep-seated pleasure.

         It is a dept of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart

         (PWS).

     2. We have the assurance and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ

          leads us into eternal life.

B. This joy we have, the world didn't give it and the world can't

     take it away.

     1. This joy we have is not based on circumstances of this

          earth, but the Lord Himself,

     2. This joy we have does not change when the wind changes its

         directions.

      3. This joy we have is the same from day to day.

      4. This joy we have rests on our expected hope in the finished

           work of Christ.

THANK GOD FOR THE JOY I HAVE IN 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, "The Resurrection, Our Salvation:, Romans 4:18-25, Luke 24:1-9, 4/4/2021

 

THE RESURRECTION, OUR SALVATION

Romans 4:18-25, Luke 24:1-9

FAITH IN ACTION

V:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."    19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

A. Abraham was 70 years old when God made the covenant with him that

          He would be the father of many nations.

        1. Abraham waited 30 years for God to fulfill His promise.

        2. God allowed Abraham to experience the ups and downs in a

                  Life of faithfulness.

        3. It was through the experiences of life that Abraham learned to trust

                  God in all his activities.

B. There were times when Abraham failed to trust God and made decisions

          based on his fleshly thoughts that could have ended badly.

        1. He lied to King Abimelech of Gerar    that Sarah was his sister to save       

                his life. (Genesis 20:1-6)

        2. But God came to the    King in a dream and warned him not to touch     

                Sarah.

        3. When Sarah became impatient in wanting a child, Abraham listened to

                her voice rather than trust God.

                a. At Sarah suggestion to he took her maiden and had Ishmael.

                b. The decision caused trouble in the marriage.

                c. Through the mistakes Abraham made, he learned to put

                          complete confidence in God’s Word.

THE REWARD OF FAITH

V:21b. being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness

A. God does not tell us why He waited thirty years to fulfill His promise

          of a son to Abraham.

        1. Let me suggest that God was getting Abraham ready for    the

                next stage    of elevation in his life.

        2. Abraham became the father of righteousness and the human

                  example of faithfulness for all generations.

B. The trials and tribulation we experience in life are not all about

            us.

        1. We were selected to be God’s living role models.

        2. As a living role model our testimony draws others to

                Christ.

ABRAHAM'S FAITH IS PROOF FOR OUR FAITH

V:24b. For us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

A. Faith develops over time using our life experiences to build our

          confidence in the Father.

        1.The Word was designed to give us living examples to trust God

                for what is humanly impossible.

        2. We have to learn that nothing is to hard for God.

        3. You are never to old for God to fulfill a promise to you.

        4. Faith does not have an expiration date.

        5. Use your time waiting on the Lord to grow your faith.

B. The testimony of others of what God did in their lives should give

          us confidence in the Word of God.

      1. Because Abraham believed God, his hope was fulfilled.

      2. Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah was just the beginning of the

              promise.

      3. The promise of a seed to bless all nations was fulfilled in the

                death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

      4. The promise God made to Adam of a woman's seed bruising

                Satan on the head was fulfilled in Christ.

Luke 24:1-9

THE PROMISE FULFILLED

V:24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

A. The worship for Christians was changed from Saturday to Sunday,           

          because of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning.

          1. Your worship of Christ should begin early in the morning.

          2. The women disciples of Jesus took on the responsibility of

                    preparing the body of Jesus for burial.

          3. We all have gifts and skills that we should volunteer for the

                    worship of the Lord.

B. The women used their own resources and sacrificed their time

            to serve the Lord.

          1. It is obvious they planned the event together.

          2. It is good when Christians get together for special events for

          the Lord.

        3. The Lord is in our planning and comforts us in our services   

GOD FAVORS THOSE WHO SERVE

V:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

A. While the women were on their way to the tomb, they were worried

                about how they would move the stone from the tomb.

          1. They may have also been concerned about getting permission

                  armed Roman guards.

          2. While we are trying to figure it out, God had worked it out.

         

GOD REMINDS US OF HIS PROMISES

V:4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?

A. When you study the Word of God, you must believe that it applies to

            you.

          1. Those who worship the Lord will be rewarded for their belief.

          2. The woman came in dedication to pay their final respects to

                    Lord with their service.

          3.    They    came in grief but were rewarded the Good news of the

                      resurrection of the Lord.

B. They came looking for the dead, but found the living.   

          1. How many time do we wake up with a dead Jesus; that is

                  no hope, or joy for the day.

          2. How much of our day is spent worrying about events we cannot

                  control.

          3. How many times to we need to be reminded that our Savior is

                  alive and ready to provide for our needs.

          4. Life is full of dark days, but there is joy in the morning for

                  those who wait on the Lord.

            5. The events of the week end happen just as Jesus said, but their

                      unbelief resulted in nights of sorrows.

                      " O What needless pain We Bear, All Because We Do Not Carry

                        Everything To God In Prayer".       

THE GOOD NEWS REVEALED TO THE FAITHFUL

V:6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"    8 Then they remembered his words.

A. When you study God's Word you will not understand it completely

            at one time.

        1. It is your actual experiences that help you apply the Word

                correctly.

        2. Your trials and tribulations to shed light on the true meaning of

                  God's Word.

        3.    The way you understand the Word for your situation, may be

                  different for some one else.

          4. To understand the truth in the resurrection, Jesus disciples needed

                    the experience on the empty tomb on Sunday morning.

          5. To guide their understanding in the right direction they needed

                    the reminder of the Word from God's angels.

B. Sometimes the true meaning of the Word does not register with us

          until we have a real situation that impacts our lives.

        1. The text says, they remembered the Words of Jesus when reminded.

        2. God does exactly what He said He will do, we just have to

                wait with joyful expectations.

THE GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED

V:9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

A. Good news should always be shared with the Church Body.

          1. A good word lifts the heart.

          2. We never know what others are going through.

B. God gives us the right word at the right time to share with

          those He has prepared to hear it.

        1. It is up to us to be receptive to a word from the Lord.

        2. The eleven apostles were devastated over the death of Jesus.

        3. God used the women disciples to bring them the Good News

                about the resurrection.

        4. God comfort those He loves to set them on a new journey

                of faithful service.

THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 770415