This Week's Sunday School Lesson", It What You Do With Your Relationship Wit Jesus That Counts", 1/28/2018

IT'S WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

WITH JESUS THAT COUNTS

Daniel 10:1-9

In Chapter 9 of Daniel, God had revealed to the Daniel, His plan of redemption

of Israel, the first and second coming of Christ. He had also revealed to Daniel the final defeat of Satan and his demons.

The Bible is a historical account of the works of the Lord.

The truth of the accuracy of the Bible can be found in time, places and people.

The time is the third year of King Cyrus, The place is Persia, The people

are Daniel and King Cyrus,

Daniel was convicted of the truth of the Word  and wanted to know more.

He prepared himself for a visit with God.

Every believer has a relationship with. Jesus. The quality of your relationship

is determined by quality of your prayer life with Jesus.

Daniel understood that God was giving Him revelations of events that will

will take place in the future. He believed the Word of God was true.

Point# 1. You have to be convicted in your heart that the Bible is the truth and

                every word applies to you. 

               Daniel had no doubt in his mind of the truth of the Word.

Point # 2.  You need to develop a strong consistence prayer life with Jesus.

                  God wants to communicate with You,  But you have to give God

                  some quality time.

As stated in verse 2 of chapter 10, Daniel went on a three week fast. He denied

himself the finer foods that he was accustom to eating. He found a place outside

the city to pray.

Point # 3.  If you want hear from God, you need to prepare yourself for an encounter

                 with God.

Point # 4. Find a quiet place where you can be alone with God.

                 Daniel got away from his office. He got away from

                 the responsibilities of His job.

                 Daniel did not let his schedule of activities  get in the way of his

                 time with God.

           

                 Turn off the TV, the cell phone and get away from family

                 and friends.  Daniel took a three week vacation to spend time

                 alone with God. He went to the river side of Hiddekel (Verse 3).

                 The river is also named Tigris or Euphrates

Point # 5.  Be patient with God.

                 Daniel didn't hear from God until after three  weeks into the

                 fast.

                 Just because you have not heard from God, does not mean He

                 did not hear your prayer. God delay does not mean He want

                 answer your prayer.

                 God has a reason for his delay. The  Angelic messenger that he sent

                 had to deal with a demon related issue.

Point # 6.  Don't let your prayers be all about you. Daniel's prayers for the welfare

                 His nation. We ought to be in constant prayer for the well being of

                 the United States of America.

More than likely the image the Daniel saw in His vision  described  in verse 5 and 6                              was the pre-incarnated Jesus Christ. 

                The linen clothing represent purity and priesthood.

                The gold represented royalty of king.

                The Beryl a bluish green gem stone  of the body represents the

                 hardness.  Jesus is harden in the rightness of the Lord. He is

                 unchangeable.

                

                His face was like lightening. Jesus is the bright and shining star

                of great strength.

               His eyes were like a lamp of fire.  Jesus penetrates the hearts and mind

               of believers.

              His arms and feet were like polished brass. Jesus is highly polished

              in the righteousness of God in all His actions.

Point# 7. In the Word of God we must see Jesus in all His glory.

                In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God.

                We must realized that Jesus is active in our lives.

                It is the Word that enlighten us to what Jesus is doing

                in our lives.             

          It is the Word that gives  hope for today and tomorrow.

         The Bible is not about a dead Jesus, But living Jesus.

          On the third day after His crucifixion, He got up with

          all Power in His hands over heaven and earth.

Verse 7 states that the men that were with Daniel were frighten

 by God and went and hide themselves.

Point # 8. God talks to you when He does not communicate with others

The Word of God is intended for believers. Don't expect everyone

around you will accept your God. Some will and some want. Don't

get offended or discouraged.

God designed the Word for you, so you can live with hope in your

heart. The Word was designed for you to live with Joy and Peace.

What is going around us is all evil like a cloud of doom. But we live

above the cloud in the light of the Lord Jesus. 

Point #9. God may not come when you want Him, but He always on time.

Verse 8. God can speak  to us in the lowest point of   our lives.

When we are down and don't know what to do.

It when we are on our knees in prayer is when God shows up

and lets us know that everything is going to be alright.

When we are weak, He is strong.

Point# 10. The God we serve never sleep or slumbers.

Verse 9.  There are times when God talks to believers in their sleep.

I can testify to the truth that God does talk to me in my sleep.

I can go to sleep not understanding the Word and wake up with

a clearer understanding of the Word. It happen to me frequently.

You got to study and meditate on God's Word to get this service

from God.

                

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, "Prayer Time, A Powerful Time" 1/21/2018

PRAYER TIME, A POWERFUL TIME

 Daniel 9:4-9, 15-19

Daniel studied the scripture and discovered that God was getting ready to redeem

his nation out of captivity. Daniel found hope in studying God Word. Israel was

punished by God because of their repeated sins.  (Jer 25:11-12)

No matter how bad you have been, you can find hope in the Word. The  Word establishes

God as the sole authority and each of us as His servants. God chastises those He

loves.

V:4 "I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, "Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

A. You are in a privilege position to know that you can go to God in prayer.

     1. Prayer is your base line of communication with God.

     2.God does not give everyone the knowledge that they can come to Him in prayer.

     3. To the world, the Word of God is foolishness.

         John 14:17 states: "the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it 

         neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will         

         be in you."

   B. Prayer is a time to confess your sins.

       1. It is a privilege because confession arouses God's forgiveness.

       2. Forgiveness is freeing, because we can let go of the past.

       3. We can forgive ourselves because God forgives us.

       4. We can forgive others, because God forgives us.

   C. Daniel found hope in the Word.

       1. He found peace in the Word.

       2. He found joy in the Word.

       3. He found love in the Word.

       4. He found forgiveness in the Word.

       5. He found God's kindness in the Word.

CONFESSION OF SIN

V:5-6. "We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.

6 "Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. "

A. Daniel's prayer was a cooperate prayer.

    1. He prayed for those that were in captivity and those that were left in the home

        land.

     2. Daniel included himself in the sins of the nation.

     3. We can look around us and see the sins of all people.

B. Sometimes God is looking for us to pray for the lost.

     1. Someone prayed for us when we were lost.

     2. If it had not been for the prayers of others we might not have made it.

     3. We have not been good all our lives. We need to include ourselves in the

          confession of the nations sins.

     4. We are a product of our environment.

RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

V:7-8.  "Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day — to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You.

8 "Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You."

A, God has not changed,

     1. God is the same today as He was yesterday.

     2. God's standard of righteousness is always the same.

B. It is us that have rejected God's righteousness.

    1. We change the interpretation of God's Word to fit our way of thinking.

    2. We can't always see our sins because we are blinded by our own

         standard of righteousness.

    3. Our standard of righteousness is no righteousness at all.

C. Change in our lives begin when we accept responsibility for our

     situation.

   1. The nation of Israel was in captivity because they disobeyed God's

        commands for hundreds of years.

   2. Their existence in captivity was because of God's mercy.

   3. They deserved death, but mercy saved them.

REFLECTING ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD

V:15.  "And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day — we have sinned, we have been wicked. "

A, It is good to remember how good God has been to us.

    1. We have a track record with God that tough times can't erase.

    2. God's chastisement of us is a record of His love and mercy.

B. The fact that we have a mind to recognize His chastisement

     is a blessing.

   1. If we can see God's chastisement as an act of His love, it gives us

       hope in redemption.

   2. We could let our dire circumstances drive us to despair or drive us

        to prayer.

   3. Prayer is a vehicle of hope and trust.

   4. We can choose prayer or we can choose anger and frustration,   

   5. We can choose God's love or Satan's lies.

CONFIDENCE AND BLODNESS IN PRAYER

V:16.  "O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. "

A. When you know God's Word, you can be bold in your prayers.

     1. You are just asking God to do what He said He was going to do.

     2. Daniel read in the Word that God said, He was going to bring

         Israel back to the promise land. (Jer 25:11).

     3. God's plan is not determine by our obedience, but His love.

     4. It is an act of God's love to turn His anger and wrath away from us.

B. God's plan goes beyond us.

     1. God's plan includes all believers,

     2. God blesses us in spite of our sin so other can come to know His love. 

THE POWER OF PRAYER

V:17-18 "So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.

18 "O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion."

A. Our prayers activates God's love for us.

    1. IT is good to remind God of what He said He said He was going to do.

    2. God does not forget anything.

        a. It is the believers that need reminding so our faith can be strengthen

        b. We need to be reminded of God Word so our hope is renewed.

        c. We need to be reminded of God's promises in the deep dark hours of our trouble

            so Satan can't get a foot hold in our minds.

B. God knows our trouble because they are part of His growth plan for us.

   1. There is power in knowing that what God does is for His sake.

   2. It is good to know that we are included in His sake.

   3. Since we are include in His sake, our situation will work out for our

       good.

C. We have to humble ourselves in prayer before God.

    1. We can do nothing to deserve God's blessings.

    2. God  hates the proud, but He has regard for the humble.

D. Notice, we can appeal to the compassion of the Lord for our help.

    1. Daniel is a role model for the proper attitude toward God.

    2. He followed God's commands.

    3. He humble himself before the Lord.

    4. He did not consider himself to be without sin.

    5. He continued in prayer with God.

    6. He prayed according to the Word of God.

    7. He expected God to keep His Word.

    8. He recognized that he had an obligation to pray for his nation.

    9. He recognized the power of prayer.

   10. He recognized the positive results of prayer.

         God hears the prayers of the righteous.  Pr 15:29'

  

 EXPECTING AN ANSWER FROM GOD.

V:19 "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

A. The Lord takes an active part in our prayer life:

     1. He hears our prayers.

     2. He forgives our sins.

     3. He listens to our prayer request.

     4. God acts according to our requests.

B. Everything God does is for His sake.

     1. God has a vested interest in the well being of His Church.

     2. God's Church is the role model for the world.

C. God's Church serves as a monument to His goodness.

     1. God's Church serves as victory over Satan and His demons.

     2. God's Church serves as the way to salvation.

     3. God's Church serves as a model to His righteousness.

     4. God Church serves as an example of His love.

D. We have the authority to pray for what we want.

     1. Jesus said; "What ever you ask the Father in My name will

         be done for you."

     2. Jesus gives us the assurance that our prayers will be answered.

You can expect God to do exceedingly abundantly more than you can

ask or conceive.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons, follow me on facebook or visit my

blogs, revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc,blogspot.com

SERMON, Taking The Church To The Streets", Mark 5:1-20

TAKING THE CHURCH TO THE STREETS

Mark 5:1-15

When you leave the Church, what does the world see? Do they see you

hurriedly on you way to get home or to some other destination or do they see

a church full of love and compassion?

V:1-3. "They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.

2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him,

3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; "

A. Jesus took the Church to the streets.

     We are not much of a church unless the world knows we have a relationship with

      Jesus.            

 1. When you get into the street, you will meet someone who needs your help

v.4. " because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. "

    1.Devilish person is powerful.

    2. You cannot keep the devil out of your community

    3. No amount of security systems or burglar bars will keep the devil out.

V:5. " Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. "

A. The community had given up on the man.

     He was just a trouble maker

     He was an out cast to the community.

V:6 . "Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;

A. There is some good in the worst of Us.

     1. There is some bad in the beat of us.

     2. The world knows the church when it see it.

     3. Do people see you as cold and uncaring?

     4. Or do they see compassion and love.

B. Notice that there was a community around the man.

    1. There was no prayer meeting going on.

    2. No one was trying to get the man off the street.

    3. The community was trying to bind the man to the street.

V.7-8. "and shouting with a loud voice, he said, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!"

8 For He had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"

A. We don't have power over the Devil. but the Jesus we serve has power.

    1. The devil has to get permission from Jesus to enter into a person.

    2. The key is to have relationship with Jesus so Devil cant get close to you.

V:9-10 . "And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country."

A. When you meet up with a devilish person you may be dealing with many devils.

    1. The person is messed up because he is hearing many evil voices.

    2. But can be controlled by the power of God.

V:11-13. " Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain.

12 The demons implored Him, saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them."

13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. "

Why do you think Jesus gave the devil permission to go into the pigs?

They were unclean animals. Jews were to have no dealing with pigs

While the Jews didn't eat pork, they took the liberty to buy and sale.

Sometime God has to remove from our lives what is not good for us.

V:14-15. " Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.

15 They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. "

Notice the attitude of the community. They were no concerned about the well

being of their neighbor. They were concerned about the lost of their pigs.

The key to the Lesson

Mark 5:18-20

As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.

 And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you."

Go tell someone about the good ness of the Lord.

Let summarize the text.

1. When you come out of Church, you should come out with a mission.

    a. The great commission , take the Gospel to the end of the earth

2. See your environment as the place where you can help.

    a. You will run across someone who will need a Word from the

         Lord from You.

3. See the good in other people even if no good is oblivious.

    Remember, there is some good in the worst of us and some bad in

    the best of us.

4. See others as children of God.

    Don't just see a criminal, a homeless person, a drug dealer.

    See a person lost is a sea of sin who needs help

5. See yourself as the responsible party.

    God has bless us with a relationship with Jesus.

    That relationship comes with responsibility. Mark 5:18-20

YOUR TESTIMONY IS IMPORTANT

The reason for your troubles is so you can have a testimony.

The city was without an active church

The needed to see the power of Jesus over demons

They needed a constant reminder of what Jesus could do in their lives.

This previously demon possessed man was the Church the community

would see in Jesus Christ.

    

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Living By Faith", 1/14/2018

LIVING BY FAITH

Daniel 3:19-28

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."

25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,

27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

WALKING WITH CHRIST

A walk with Christ is a walk through faith with God getting the glory of

our lives.

100 years before the Babylonian captivity, because of their sins,

God spoke a word to Isaiah about His glory through their captivity,

Isaiah 43:7  Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

Isaiah 43:12. "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God."

Prior to Daniel's captivity at 16 years old, he was taught by his parents to follow

God's commands. His walk of faith in Babylonian captivity honored God and

gave Him glory.

BUILDING A BLOCK OF FAITH

The illustration below is an attempt to show how Daniel built a block of faith as he

honored God with his obedience.

DANIEL'S BLOCK OF FAITH   (EVENTS THROUGH CHAPTER 3)

AGE          EVENTS                          DECISION                       RESULT

              -------------------------------

 40         l   Fiery furnace               l        Not to worship idols     kings decree to worship

              l                                        l        and bow to the             Daniel's God

              l                                        l         king's statue

              l                                        l   

              l    Daniel's interpretation l         Prayer to God              Saved the lives of

              l    of kings dream             l        With his friends            king's advisors

              l                                         l

19          l   Babylonian Education  l       Not to defile               10 times smarter    

              l    completion                   l       himself by eating        than kings advisors

              l                                         l       king's food

              l                                         l

16          l   Family training to         l       Not to defile                Influenced his three

              l  worship God                  l       Himself                        friends  not to defile

              l                                         l                                            themselves

              l                                         l

              ---------------------------------

Faith in God does not eliminate trials in your life, but guarantees them to build

you faith.

God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to burst with pride so that he would build a

gold statue of himself for all to worship. I believe God set up this situation up so

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three high public figures would refuse

to worship the kings statue so He would be glorified  (Isa 43:7).

BOLDNESS THROUGH FAITH

Look at what Shadrach, Meshach and Abennego told the king;

1. The God we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace;  Represented

    their knowledge of God.

2. Our God will deliver us from your hand; Represented their trust in God.

3. We will not serve your gods; Represented their commitment to their God.

4. We will not worship bow down to your golden image; Represented their

     obedience to their God.

To Daniel and his three friends death by the king's hand was not an issue to consider. The issue to them was eternal life with God.

OUR TROUBLES GIVES GOD GLORY

As we mature as Christians, we must come to realize that we will face

trouble in our lives which are not the end of anything. God allows our

troubles so that we may glorify Him with our faith.

The King heated up the furnace 10 times hotter than normal. Even the

kings men who took Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego bound to the furnace

died.

JESUS IS WITH US IN OUR HARDSHIPS

God placed His Son in the fire to protect His servants. When the King

looked in the furnace, He saw four men walk in the mist of the fire.

I can only image in middle of their trouble, the three men of faith

was singing, praying and praising God. Jesus said where two or more

are gathered in may name, I am in the mist.   

The King called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the fire.

It was as if they had not been in the furnace because there was not even

a smell of the fire on them.

OUR FAITH BRINGS KNOWLEDGE OF GOD TO UNBELIEVERS

As a result the king made a decree that no one should talk against the

God of all god. The King call the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's

God the most high God.

A pagan nation who worshiped idol gods was introduced to the one

true living God. They became eye witnesses to the power of God.

This was because of the trouble Daniel and his friend faced serving

the one true living God.

GOD GETS GLORY WHEN WE ENDURE TRIALS

Verse 3:28 is the story of a pagan king's enlightenment:

"Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. "

God was glorified through the trial of the fiery furnace.

We must learn to thank God for our days, whether we see them as good or bad.

All things work to the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to

His purposes.

The events of our lives is not all about us.  It is about building the body of Christ.

God in His infinite wisdom, allows us to experience trials , so that

others can be drawn to Jesus through our faith.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons follow me on facebook and my blogs

revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com