This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Grace Of Giving", 8/31/2014

THE GRACE OF GIVING

 

2 Corinthians 8:1-14

 

Giving starts with the Lord. He gives to us out of His abundance so that we may be able

share with those in need. The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. The Lord does

not promise that we will  have all we want, but He did promise that we will have all we need.

 

God blesses us through the hands of others, both Christian and none Christian.

Sometimes when we barely have enough to take care of our needs, He tests our love

for Him by asking us to give to the needs of others.

 

 

V:1. " And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches."

 A. We should all be role models of the grace of God's giving.

     1. From the start of the Christian Church in Jerusalem, all the believers put all their

         resources in a common pool.

        a. Everyone's need were  met.

        b. Those who had, meet the needs of those who were lacking.

    2. The times  changed and the members of the Jerusalem Church were destitute

        and in need of help.

 B. When the need of the Jerusalem Church became known, Paul instructed other

      Churches  to take up a collection to meet their needs.

   1. Paul used the generous giving of the Macedonian Church as a model for other

       Churches.

   2. We should set the example of generous giving for the world to follow.

 C. The God we serve works out our circumstances so that we need each other.

 

V:2. " Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty  

 welled up in rich generosity."

 A. The members of the Macedonian Church were also destitute.

     1. Yet, out of their poverty, they gave generously.

     2. God's grace is sufficient for us to give regardless of our circumstances.

 B. God uses the circumstances of others to show us how blessed we are.

     1. There is always someone with worst circumstances than yours.

     2. When we can show others love when our circumstance are in not good,

         it is a testimony  to our faith in Jesus.

 

 V:3. " For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their

   ability. Entirely on their own."

    A. The Macedonian Church did not hesitate to help even though they did not have the

         means to help.

        1. Their willingness to help resulted in a generous offering.

        2. If we have a willingness to help, God will multiply what we give to meet the

            needs of others.

       3. God can find resources in us that we do not know we have.

       4. What we take for granted, may be valuable to others.

   B.  It is not how much we have that counts, but our desire to use what we have that

        God blesses.   

      1. Jesus took a little boy's lunch and feed five thousand men.

      2. Jesus took one boy's desire to help and blessed many.

 

V:4. " They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."

 A. Paul did not asked the Macedonian Church for a donation because of their

      improvised conditions.

    1. Having heard of the need of the Jerusalem Church, they begged Paul to

        include them in this grace giving.

    2. When we have a desire to help, God will make away.

    3. When many give a little, it can end up being much.

 B. It is a privilege to work in partnership with Jesus to support the gospel.

     1. We become effective servants of Jesus when we make it our business  to

         help others in need.

     2. The evidence of our love for God shows up in our service.

    3. We show ourselves as a friend of Jesus by what we are willing to do for others.

 

  V:5" And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and  

   then to us in keeping with God's will."

  A. We can do all things through Christ who strengthen us.

      1. To be a good servant, we must first give ourselves to the Lord.

      2. We were purchased by the blood Jesus shed on the cross.

 B. When we yield  ourselves to the guidance and directions of the Holy Spirit,

     we will always do more than is expected of us.

     1. We can accomplish nothing without the help of Jesus.

     2. Jesus said if we abide in Him and His Word in us, we can ask what we will

         and it will be done.

 

V:6. "So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to

 completion this act of grace on your part."

 A. When we start a project for God, we ought to bring it to a completion.

      1. Every project for God should have specific purpose.

      2. Every project should have a plan.

      3. Every project should have a list of participants.

      4. Every project  should have a start date and a completion date.

      5. Every project needs dedicated workers.

 B. All money collected must be used for the purpose it was given.

     1. The purpose of the collection was to help the poor saints in Jerusalem.

     2. What we do for other lifts us up in the same manner.

     3. Service has it's reward in pleasing God.

 

V: 7 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete  

  earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

 A. To be like Jesus we must excel in every area of God's favor.

 1. The first area to excel is faith.

    a . We must first believe in Jesus and His crucifixion.

    b. We must believe that He is in control of all areas of our lives.

 2. We must excel in speech.

     a. We should make it our business to give God praise and honor.

     b. We should be ready to give encouragement to others

     c. We should control our tongue so that we speak good of everyone.

 3. We must excel in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

     a. Let this mind be in you that also was in Jesus Christ.

     c. Our study of God's Word is the wisdom we need to live a successful

         Godly life.

 4. We must excel in earnestness.

     a. Our focus should always be the righteousness of God.

     b. Our aim should be to do what is right in all situations.

 5. We must excel in our love for one another.

    a. Love is the foundation of Christian faith.

    b. God is love.

    c. We must love God first and our neighbor as ourselves.

 6. The Lord wants us to excel in giving.

    a. God favored us with His love.

    b. We must love our neighbor enough to help when needed.

B. God favored us with His grace and mercy

   1. Christ died while we were  yet sinners.

   2. It was because of God's love that He sent His Son to be our Savior.

   3. It should be because of love that we help those in need, especially those

       of the household of faith.

 

V:8. " I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by

 comparing it with the earnestness of others."

A. Sometimes we think we are doing well serving Christ until we hear of the

     faith of others.

   1. Not that we should measure ourselves by others, but it is good to  know that there is

      always more that we could do.

  2. When we think we are stretched to the limit, it good to know that God can

      stretch us more.

B. The test of our love is what we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of others.

   1. God does not command us to sacrifice beyond our means.

   2. The Apostle Paul points out that if we have a desire, God will provide the way.  

   3. When we are weak, God is our strength.

 

V:9. " For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

 A. Jesus is the ultimate example of sacrificial love.

    1. He become poor and we became rich in the Father's love.

    2. Jesus faith in the Father's love sealed the eternal destiny of all His elect. 

 B. When we lend our lives to the Father for the sake of others, we can accomplish

      the extraordinary.

    1. Whatever we do for others out of love works to our good.

    2. Jesus was lifted up and all power over heaven and earth was given to Him.

    3. If we are faithful over a few thing, God will make us rulers over many things.

 

 V:10. " And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you  

  were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so."

  A. After the start of the collection efforts in Corinth, there were some doubt that

       the money would be use for the purpose it was given.

      1. The collection efforts had stopped.

      2. Paul reminded the Corinthians of their initial desires to help.

 B. There will always be those in the Church who do not see the need to help others.

     1. When we began what God has called us to do, we must leave the success of

         our efforts to the Father.

     2. We are not immune to the wise of the Devil without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

     3. We must be careful that we are not listening to the wrong voices. 

 

 V:11. " Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by

   your completion of it, according to your means."

 A. God gives us the means to do what He calls us to do.

    1. God makes the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ our responsibility.

    2. We all have different earthly fathers, but one heavenly Father.

    3. We are all related by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

 B. Whatever we vow to the Father, we should complete.

    1. The Word says, it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not keep it.

    2. Our yes should be yes.

 

 V:12. " For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,

  not according to what he does not have."

 A. God expect us to give as we have been blessed.

    1. Whatever we give God willingly and without grudging, He accepts

    2. It is not how much we have to give but how much heart we have when we

        give.

   3. God loves a cheerful giver.

B. God does not judge us by what we do not have.

   1. Our giving is not a  competition.

   1. Our giving is a result of our love.

 

 V:13. " Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but  

   that there might be equality."

 A. God does not require us to neglect our needs to satisfy the desires of others.

     1. God does not require us to support those who are able to work, but refuse

         to work.

    2 . God does require us to support the Church of Jesus Christ

    3. A generous spirit will come to the aid of those who are truly in need.

 

 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty

   will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.

  A. What goes around comes around.

      1. When we are generous in our giving to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

           we are storing treasures in heaven.

      2. At some point in our life we may find ourselves in need.

          a. Our generosity will return to us in our time of need.

  B. God keeps track of our giving and will return to us many times what we give in

       grace giving.

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell,  Asst Pastor of GMBC

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Suffering For Christ" 8/24/2014

SUFFERING FOR CHRIST

 

2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 7:2

 

 

V:1. " As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain."

 A. We have all been saved by the grace of God.

     1. God chose us not because of our worth, but because of His divine love.

     2. We are not worthy of His choice.

     3. Before God, we are no more than filthy rags.

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

B. God chose us because of His plan of redemption for mankind.

     1. He looked forward from the time before the foundation of the World

         and saw a world that He would make perfect become imperfect by sin.

     2. God chose us (the Church) and commission us to take the good news of

         His Son's redeeming blood to the ends of the earth.

        a. Faith in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus for our sins

            restores us to fellowship with the Father.

     3. Jesus, Himself said the workers are few, but the harvest is plentiful.

         a. The Church is the "few" among the many of the world.

         b. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the world will remain in darkness.

 C. All believers in Jesus Christ have the responsibility to preach the Good News

     of Jesus to all they meet.

    1. We would be taking God's grace in vain if we do not proclaim Jesus as Lord

         and Savior.

    2. God has favored us with redemption and we MUST proclaim Jesus to the rest of the

        world.

    3. We are God's workman and His vessels of service.

    4. To not serve the Lord is an ungrateful, selfish and thoughtless act.

    5. God chose us to serve and give Him glory and honor.

  

V:2. " For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I

  helped you."  I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."

A. What goes around comes around.

    1. When we were dead in our sins, God sent His Son to be sin for us by His death

         on the cross.

    2. It was the favor of God the Father to hear our cry for deliverance from the sins

        of this world.

   3. The time when God sent His Son down from heaven to shed His blood on the

        cross was the time of our salvation.

 B. Now, the time has come for us (the Church of Jesus Christ) to get busy proclaiming

      Gospel of  Jesus Christ.

    1. Time is not on our side, because we don't know when our time is up on this

        earth.

 

    2. Death is in the forecast for everybody and only the Father knows the time.

 C. Now that we have the testimony of Jesus in our lives, we MUST proclaim it

      to all we meet.

      1. We could be hear today and gone tomorrow.

      2. They could be here today and gone tomorrow.

           a. It is a sad day when we see someone laying in a casket that we had a chance to

               to be a witness for Christ and did not.

           b. Everybody need to hear a word from God through you.

           c. You maybe the only Church they attend.

           d. You may be the light that God intended for them to see.

       

V:3. " We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited
 A. It is our responsibility to think like Jesus, talk like Jesus and walk as Jesus walked.

     1. If we have been saved by the grace of God and act like the world, we become

         a stumbling block to the unsaved.

     2. We must continue to grow in the Lord, so those around us can grow in the Lord.

 B. We discredit our Christian faith when we continue to act like the world.

    1. Since the old man in us has died, he should never raise his ugly head.

    2. Only the new man in Christ should be alive in us.

    3. When we give credit, it should be to the Lord and Him only.

    4. When we give honor, it should be to the Lord and Him only.

 

V:4. "Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance;

  in troubles, hardships and distresses."

  A. Working for God is not always easy.

      1. God promised  that in serving Him we will face adversities.

      2. God also promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.

  B. In every problem we face serving God, we should  trust that God will be the solution.

      1. As we face the problems of this life we must always act upon the Word of God.

      2. Our Christian character should always shine  before us.

  C. All of the apostles of Jesus Christ faced persecutions and  suffered from cruel

       the punishment of their accusers and faced want for the basic necessities of life.

     1. They faced at times insurmountable difficulties, yet they kept their faith in

         Jesus Christ.

     2. They were able to endure tough times because they trusted God to deliver them. 

 

 V:5. " In beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger."

  A. Paul was beat at least five times for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      1. Paul was imprisoned for the success of his preaching because others worshiped

          idols became upset.

      2. Paul and his co workers in Christ worked to support themselves.

          a. They chose not to burden the Church who also were suffering.

          b. A workman is worth his wage.

          c. They considered their wage paid in full by Christ death on the cross.

 B. Paul was ship wrecked while on  a trip to Rome to be unjustly accused.

      1. He ministered to the men on the ship and to natives on the island they

          landed on.

      2. Under all of his conditions, he kept his focus on his mission for Jesus.

 

 

V:6. " In purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere

  love;"

 A. Despite all the adversity Paul and his co workers faced, their thoughts were always

     pure.

    1. They kept their focus on words of Jesus and not the actions of man.

    2. Paul did not allow his love for God, his  love for the brethren or is love for his

        enemies to be controlled by the hateful actions of others.

 B. Paul continued to study the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

    1. Understanding the Word of God gives us the wisdom to treats others with the

         love of God.

     2.  It is  the Word of God that gives us hope in all situations.

 C. Patience is a Christian virtue that can only be learned when we learn to trust  the

      Lord to provide us with all our needs.

    1. The Lord has been patience with us.

    2. We must learn to be patience with others.

 D.  Knowing that God is our provider, frees us to consider the concerns of others.

 E. When we understand the love of God, we can treat others with love.

 

 V:7. " In truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the

  right hand and in the left."

  A. Paul spoke the Word of God. He proclaimed only the Gospel that he received from

       Jesus.

      1. Paul did not give his opinions, just the truth.

      2. Unbelievers don't need our opinions.

          a. They need to hear  the Word  of God.

          b. The truth does not always agree with unbelievers, but it is what they need to hear.

  B. We can not convince anyone to believe in God.

      1. The power is in the Word of God.

      2. God prepares the heart of those we come in contact with to receive His Word from

          us.

 C. The tools God has given His servants are the Spirit and Faith.

     1. In the right hand is the Spirit.

         a. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

         b. The power of the Spirit enables us to be aggressive in our witness for Christ.

     2. In the left hand is the Shield of faith.

         a. With faith, we can defend ourselves against the fiery darts of Satan,

         b. Temptations are always present, therefore we have to be on guard to keep

             from falling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V:8. " Through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as

   impostors."

  A. The work of a Christian should give God glory and honor.

       1. The world sometimes dishonors the Christian workers.

       2. We must hold fast to our faith, because any honor due us comes from the Father.

  B.  Some will give a good report on the work of a Christian.

      1. Others seeing the same work will give a bad report.

      2. There are those who find joy in the work of the servants of God.

      3. At the same time, there  will be those filled with criticism.

      4. God is our reward.

      5. We should not look for the praise of man.

 C. Our genuine work and love for our brothers will sometimes be consider as false.

      1. Not everyone will see the Christian  in a positive light.

      2. God has predestined those who will receive  the light.  

      3. Since we don't know who will receive the Word of Truth, we proclaim it

          to everyone.

 

V:9. " Known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed."

 A. God's workers are known by Him.

      1. We must witness to those we know and those who are strangers to us.

      2.  We must at all time be  Christ role model.

 B. Paul and his co laborers were expose to death during their trials and tribulations.

     1. By the grace of God they survived.

     2. When they were weak, God was their strength.

 C. Paul and his co laborer were beaten for preaching the Gospel of Jesus.

     1. Their enemies intended to kill them on the spot, but their lives were in

          God's hands.

     2. The lesson to learn  is God is always in control of our lives.

 

 V:10 "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and

   yet possessing everything."

  A. Paul and his co laborers endured the sorrows of  the ministry of Christ.

      1. They were taunted by some and sneered at by others.

      2. They at times  were without food and the comforts of life.

      3. Paul counted his sorrows as joy.

  B. Many was made rich by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      1. It is the knowledge and the wisdom  of God that makes a man rich in the

          Spirit.

  C.  Christians may not possess the riches of the world, but they are heirs to  the

        Kingdom of God.

       1. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

       2. God our Father has everything we need.

 

V:11. " We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you."

  A. The speech of a Christian should be the plain truth of the Gospel.

       1. We should never use deceptive language.

    2. Our yes should be yes  and our no's should be no.

    3. We should not imply what we do not mean.

 B.  The heart of a Christian worker should be enlarged toward other believers.

    1. We must speak the truth in love.

    2. We should encourage other in the ways of the Lord.

    3. We should be concerned about spiritual growth and development of others.

    4. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should uplift and enlighten others.

 

 V:12. " We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours

   from us."

  A.  Christian workers should hold other believer in high esteem.

       1. We should  be concerned about the welfare of others.

       2. We may find that others have little regards for us.

  B. What we can be sure of is God hold a strong affection for his servants.

      1. Our reward is stored in heaven.

      2. If we don't faint we will reap a harvest of love.

 

V:13. " As a fair exchange — I speak as to my children — open wide your hearts also."

  A. A Christian worker ought to see those he /she teach as children of God.

      1. Like a parent, our love for the brethren should be without limits.

      2. A Spiritually mature Christian should be tolerant with those growing

          in the spirit.

 B. Our hope in the Lord is that some day those we help will show their

      gratitude by helping  others grow in the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 7:2

V:2. " Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no

 one, we have exploited no one

 A. We are commanded to treat Christian workers with love and respect.

    1. Those who love the Lord treat everyone  they way they want to be treated.

    2. True love will not allow us to mistreat others.

    3. If we love others, we will not attempt to use them for our benefit.

 B. We are role models to others.

   1. Someone is always taking note of how we treat others.

   2. We should treat others as Christ treats us.

 

 

Rev. Mitchell,  Asst Pastor of GMBC

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Hidden Treasure In Us", 8/17/2014

 

THE HIDDEN TREASURE IN US

2 Corinthians 4:1-15

 

V:1. " Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."

 A. Because of God's favor, we have been given the ministry of preaching the Gospel

      of Jesus Christ.

    1. We were also equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit who is our teacher and

        guide to the understanding of God's Word.

    2. Every believer has been given gifts to be used in preaching the Gospel and

       building   the body of Christ.

 B. We were baptized in the death of Jesus Christ and raised in the newness of life.

    1. The old man in us is dead and a new creation is alive,

    2. We have victory over sin and an eternal hope in Jesus Christ.

 

 V:2. " Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

A. Having been taken out of the world and placed in the body of Christ, we do not

     practice our old sinful ways.

   1. With the power of the Holy Spirit that indwells us, we can resist the temptations of

       the world and practice the righteousness of God.

   2. With the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that indwells us we can easily recognize

       deceptive schemes of the devil as they develop and put them aside.

B. We preach and teach the Word of Truth.

    1.  God's Word is the guide to our conversation.

    2. Our job is to be a witness for Christ Jesus

    3. The Word convicts and draws unbelievers to Christ.

    4. This ministry of preaching faith in Jesus Christ produces eternal life.

 

V:3. " And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing."

   A. There are those in the world who will not listen to the witness of Jesus Christ.

       1. They are blinded by their own knowledge and will not accept Christ.

       2. It is by God's design that only those who He draws to His Son will be

           saved.  John 6:44

       3. The world will not receive the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 2:14

  B. The God who created the world and all it's inhabitants is a just God.

       1. He gave all mankind the ability to may choices.

       2. Some will choose idol gods made with their hands over the true and

           living God.  

 

V: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see
 the   light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

 A. Satan is the prince of darkness.

     1. He is the father of lies.

     2. He came to steal kill and to destroy.

 B. The reason Satan has dominion over the world is his voice is louder than the voice

      of Jesus in man.

    1. From the beginning, Satan raised his voice against God and was cast out of

       heaven.

       a. The voice of God should have been fixed in the hearts of Adam and Eve.

       b. They allowed the voice of Satan to over ride the voice of God.

    2. The world is blinded by what they hear from Satan.

 C. Believers are the light of Jesus Christ that unbelievers ought to be drawn too.

    1. When our voice is silent, the Gospel is not proclaimed and the Glory do the

         God is not given by us.

    2. It is our job to be a role model for Christ giving honor to the Father.

    3. The world should hear the voice of God from all believers.

 

 V:5. " For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your

   servants for Jesus' sake."

 A. We must push ourselves to the back and promote Christ in all we do and say.

     1. If we put our interest first in our conversation, the interest of Christ will

         takes a back seat and may not be promoted.

     2. We preach Christ not for believers only, but for the sake of the non believers.

 B. We should see ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ.

     1. Christ came down from heaven and took on the role of a servant for us.

     2. His death was in the role of a servant dying for the sins of the world.

     3. Likewise, we are servants who died in Christ so that the glory of God is

         shown through us. 

 

V:6. " For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our

 hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

 A. God started His creative process by bring light out of darkness.

     1. God made Adam in His own image and likeness.

     2. Adam was made to be the light in the Garden of Eden.

         a. God talked with Adam keeping him in his light.

         b. It was Adam's sin that brought darkness into God's creation.

  B. The Word is the knowledge of truth.

      1. God gave us His word to reign in our hearts.

      2. The Word of God should be in our thinking, our talking and our planning. 

  C. The World must be able to see Jesus, the light of the world in us.

      1. We are  the Church that world ought to visit each day.

      2. When our conversation includes Christ, Church is in session.

      3. Anytime Church is in session, God gets the glory.

      4. We have this great opportunity to have Church every day changing lives along
           our   way.

 

 V:7. " But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power
    is    from God and not from us."

 A. The body of Adam was formed from the dust of the earth.

     1. God placed in Adam the treasure of His Word.

     2. Adam became the first earthen vessel of the Word of God.

B. Each believer is an earthen vessel for the Word of God.

    1. Each believer is gifted with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

    2. We are armed by God with His powerful Word to plant the seeds of

        the Gospel into minds of nonbelievers.

    3. We must see ourselves as being on a mission of God to enlighten the world.

 

 V:8. " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair."

  A. Mission of God is not without trials and tribulation.

      1. God's missionaries are an open target for Satan and his demons.

      2. We are always under the protection of God.

  B. When we awake we must put on the full armor of God, because Satan is on the

       attack.

     1. Christ said take on my yoke and learn of me for my burdens are easy. Mat 11:29-
         30

     2. We gain our strength through trust in God.

 

V:9. " Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

 A. God is more than the whole world against us.

     1. The whole world is against the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2. It is easy to be blinded by the hardships we face from the glory

         of God.

     3. One of the deceptions of Satan is to persuade us into believing that hardships

        are the evidences that God is against us or does not exist.  

     4. But the Word says that temptations are the trying of your faith that develops

         patience, and patience make you perfect and lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

 B. God said that He would never leave you of forsake you.

     1. We have this promise from God that He is working with us to prefect us

          through our trials and tribulations.

     2. Believers must be able to see the work of God through their troubles.

 

V:10. " We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus

  may also be revealed in our body."

 A. We must believe that Jesus died for us.

     1. We must believe that the only way for us to have a relationship with Father is

          through faith in the death of Jesus for our sins.

     2. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus.

 B. Jesus humbled himself to the Father by being nailed to the cross as a curse for sin,

      even though He is equal to the Father.  Phil 2:6

    1. We are eternally alive in Jesus.

         a. Even though we are dead to the world, we are alive in Christ.

    2. People we come in contact with need to hear this testimony directly from us.

    3. We must always be ready to defend our faith.  Phil 1:17

 

 V:11. " For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so
   that   his life may be revealed in our mortal body."

  A. Our life should be nothing but a testimony for what we have received from Christ.

       1. We are in a war with Satan.

       2. We must beat our bodies into submission so that the light of Jesus can shine  

            through us.

  B. The world must see in us the character of Christ.

     1. When Jesus is projected through us, the world will see his light.

     2. When we can maintain our Christian attitude under trials Christ is magnified.

     3. When we can bless when we are curse Christ is magnified.

     4. When we have hope with no end is in sight, Christ is magnified.

 

 V:12. " So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. "

   A. When the world can see the Cross in us, then Christ will be at work in them.

        1. When the world sees a change in us because of our faith in Christ, the Word

            is having it's effect.

        2. There is life in  the Word.

        3. There is light in the Word.

        4. There is salvation in the Word.

        5. There is hope in the Word.

   B. Our increasing faith through trials and tribulation is the evidence that God is at

       work in us.

       1. When we express Christian attitudes under pressure, the world learns from us.

       2. When we are joyful in trials, the world learns Jesus Joy.

 

V:13. "It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. "

 A. King David expressed his trust in God to be his deliverer in Psalms 116.

     1. When we trust in God, we can see that all things work together for our good.

     2. God works  not for our good only, but also that others can see that our faith in

         God is profitable for the soul.

      3. When others are enlighten and drawn to God, He is glorified.

 B. What God did for David, He will also do for us.

     1. In Psalms, David left his testimony to the goodness of God.

     2. We should be a living testimony to the goodness of God.

 

 V:14. " Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also

  raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence."

 A. It was by the Spirit that seed of Jesus was planted in the human body of Mary.

     1. It was by the same spirit that Jesus was comforted through His troubling time

         on earth.

     2. It was by that same spirit that Jesus was raised from the dead and seated at the

         right hand of the Father.

 B.   It is by the same spirit of faith that we are raised with Christ from eternal death

        into eternal life.

     1. We are a living testimony to the power of God to change lives from

         death  and destruction to one of life and enlightenment.  

 V:15. " All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more

   people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."

   A. All of our suffering for Christ benefits other believers and nonbelievers.

       1. God has designed the events of our lives to be the  help in building the body of

           Christ.

       2. We were called out of the world to be God's vessels holding on to the truth

            of the death and resurrection of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

       3. Our knowledge about the Word of God should benefit not only ourselves, but

           others in the body of Christ and those predestined to be drawn to him.

  B. We should be joyful and give thanks for those who are drawn to Christ by our

       Christian service.

      1. The grace of God continues to flow out to other locations  by our

          witness , service and devotion to the great commission of Jesus to take

           the Gospel to the ends of the earth. 

 

LET US BE JOYFUL AND THANKFUL THAT GOD CHOSE US TO BE HIS WITNESSES.

 

Rev. M. Mitchell,  Ass Pastor of GMBC.