Lesson 4 Family God's Way "Success in Family Finance "

FAMILY GOD'S WAY

FINANCES   LESSON 4

FEED YOUR SPIRIT AND SOUL

How many of you have a regular exercise program? How many of you are

concerned about weight gain? How many are you are dieting?

We put a lot of emphasis's on our appearance.  We want out bodies to look

their best. We buy clothes to make us look and feel good.

And this we should do. The body is the temple of the Lord. We should want

the Lord's temple to look it's best. We should want the Lord's temple to look

its best for our spouses and our children.

But did you know that you are composed of three elements, body, spirit and a

soul? God formed Adam out of the dust of the earth, breath into him (spirit)

and he became a living soul.

Some time we neglect the feeding of the soul and the spirit. These two can only be

properly feed with the Word of God.

The soul is said to be the seat of all our emotions; anger, joy, love, frustrations,

anxiety . The spirit guides all our decisions.

We can be fed by the TV, the internet and other people. Most of the time

what we get from the world will be lies, deceptions and half truths.

When it comes to our finances we need the Word of God to feed us.

Let's begin with the start of Jesus ministry. After His baptism, Jesus was led

to the desert to be tempted by the devil.

We live in a desert of temptation.

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus could have easily showed out. He did not need a stone to make bread.

He could have spoke and bread would have appeared. Satan was appealing

to the flesh of Jesus. But Jesus put the feeding of the soul and the spirit

first.  

Most of our lives we haven been trying to prove we can do stuff without God.

We feed the flesh with our resources first.

All our lives we have we have been trying to make bread out of stones

We serve a God that can make bread out of nothing

Everything we try to do without God is making bread out of stone

We feed the flesh while leaving the spirit and the soul desolate.

PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR FINANCES

Exodus 13:1-2

 The Lord said to Moses,

"Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."

Exodus 34:26

 "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."

The word "first" is used 377 time in the Bible. It is used 216 times in the Old Testament.

It is a very important word to God. God want to be first in your life.

Notice, this is God talking to a nation He had just formed. He was about to give them

everything they needed to survive.

The Land He took them to, was full with animals and trees and vegetables.

What God was saying is that from everything that produce, put Me first.

It is God who gives us a job, income and families. God is the source of all our

resources. He commands us to put Him first.  That is a habit we have to develop

and exercise. God gives to us first, so we can give Him back to him our first.

After being tempted by the devil ,Jesus showed us that we need to feed the

soul and the spirit first with His Word.

Successful finances began with the Word of God. Otherwise we are attempting

to make bread out of stone.  Look around you, and you will see some

successful stones, that soon crumble with out God. Look at all the

successful movie stars and entertainers who have failed in the long run.

The world presents us with stones.

According to the TV, The internet we need stuff to be happy.

We need more stuff to replace the old stuff that is still working.

we need the latest and newest stuff.

No add ever says pay God first before you buy our stuff.

If companies understood that the  origin of  everything came from God

they would push putting God first and sell more stuff.

TRUST GOD TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS

2 Corinthians 9:10-11

 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

NIV

One of the Salesmen that I admire most is Mattress Max

God first and sales a lot of stuff. He gives back to the neighborhood

that supports his business.

Proverbs 22:9

9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul says these words,

 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

YOUR GIVING ACTIVATES YOUR RECIEVING

Malachi 3:10

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Its the obedient giving that activates God's promise of receiving.

Luke 6:38

 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

It is the giving that activates the receiving

Proverbs 22:9

9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Dr Charles Stanley in one of his sermons said he was taught by his mother

that out of his income he should; Give Some, Save Some and Spend Some.

REDUCE YOUR CREDIT CARD DEBT

Deuteronomy 28:12-13

 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

Proverbs 22:7

7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

NIV

The TV, the internet and all news media want you to believe to be happy

you need more stuff.  You need more stuff to replace the stuff  you have

that is still good.

To make sure you have more stuff, credit card companies bombard you

approved credit card deals. Stores offer you discounts to open a credit card

in their name. Miss one payment and you have a 30 percent interest rate.

BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOUR HAVE

Hebrews 13:5

 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

All adds are designed to make you discontent with what you have.

Learning to be content with what you have will reduce the desire to go

shopping for what you don't need.

WORK HARD FOR WHAT YOU WANT

Proverbs 14:23

 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 28:19

 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

NIV

NEVER COSIGN FOR ANY ONE

Never cosign a note for anyone. Not your good buddy, your brother or sister

or even mom and dad. Help when you can help, but don't cosign.

No one will protect your credit like you.

Proverbs 11:15

15 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

Proverbs 17:18

A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

NIV

Proverbs 22:26-27

 Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;

27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

SEEK GODLY COUNSEL

Psalms 1:1-2

 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS YOU WANT

Philippians 4:6

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 7:7

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:11

 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

John 14:14

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus On His Throne", 4/29/2018

                                                                       

                                           JESUS ON HIS THRONE

Revelation 5:6-14

THE THRONE

V:6. " Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. "

A. The scene is the throne of God in heaven.

     1. John saw the resurrected Jesus surrounded by His redeemed Church.                              

         Matt 25:31-46

     2. The time of this scene is after the rapture of the Church and just

          prior to the tribulation.

     3. All believers will meet with Christ in Heaven.    I Thess 4:16-17

B. We will find Christ as an offering for us.

     1. We are reminded that Christ died for our sins.

     2. We are reminded of the privilege  we have of being the presence of the

          Lord.

C. Seven is the number of completion.

    1. The horns may represent His complete power and authority.

    2. The seven eyes may represent His complete knowledge.

D. The four living creatures may represent the four gospels.

     1.The good news about Jesus Christ has been presented to all the world.

     2. Christ will not return until the gospel has been preach to the ends of the

          earth.   Matthew 28:19,  Matt 24:14

E. The seven spirits may represent the seven fold operation of the Holy Spirit.

    1. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer throughout the world.

    2. By the power of the Holy Spirit should proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

THE BOOK OF THE END TIMES

V:7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. "

A. The taking of the scroll from the right hand may represent the completed work of

      the Lord in redeeming mankind.

    1. The moving of the scroll may represent Jesus completed work of redemption

        and the beginning of the work of judgment.

    2. The posture of the entire church should be one of worship of the Lord.

    3. Before the Lord we should bow in humble submission.

    4. We are reminded of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

B. The prayers of the saints are presented to the Lord on the throne.

    1. Our prayers never go unnoticed or unheard.

    2. The harps may represent the joy Jesus has in receiving our prayers.

    3. It is the joy of the Lord to answer our prayers.   John 16:24.

C. The contents of the scroll are the events of God's judgment to reclaim the world

     to himself and to put an end to the ruler of darkness.

   1. The events contained in the scroll are the fulfillment of the prophecy in

       Daniel chapter 7 -10   Matt 24:15

   2. The vision of Ezekiel in chapter 2 and 3  contain the same prophetic

        announcements and  judgments.

   3. Scripture confirms and interprets itself.

PRAISE THE LORD WITH A NEW SONG

V:9-10. " And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

A. Only the Lord Jesus is worthy to open the scroll.

    1. It was Jesus, who is one with the Father who died on the cross to redeem mankind.

    2. It is the blood of Jesus that atoned for the sins of the entire world.

B. The Lord Jesus is gentle as a lamb in His love for His redeemed.

    1. He is fierce as any beast when it come to executing His judgment

        for wrath of unbelievers.  

    2. They that  worshipped the Lord sang a new song of His worthiness.

    3. We ought to write new songs of thanksgiving to the  Lord for

        His goodness to us.

C. The Lord Jesus has established each believer as priest of the Gospel.

    1. We hold the truth in our hearts to proclaim to the world.

    2. We are stewards of gifts of God to inform the world

         of the goodness of the Lord. 

THE HOLY CHOIR

V:11-12. " Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!"

A. The angels that worship the Lord cannot be numbered,

     1. The praise and honor due the Lord cannot be measured

     2. All power over heaven and earth has been given to Him.

B. Jesus earned His praise through His sacrifice for our sins.

    1. He became poor, that we could become rich.

    2. He was cursed and spit on so that we might be lifted up.

C. He was considered a fool that we might become wise.

    1. The fear of Him is beginning of knowledge.

    2. All love and joy is wrapped up in obedience to His commands,

THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

V:13-14. " Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,       for ever and ever!"

14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

A. Everything that has breath ought to praise the Lord

    1. Jesus is seated on throne at the right hand of the Father making intercessions

        for us.

    2. Jesus is eternal.

    3. He is Alpha and Omega

    4. He is the beginning and the end.

B. Jesus knows the end from the beginning.

    1. He predestined us to be with Him in glory before the foundation of the world.

    2. We owe the Lord praise and honor for worthy to be praised.

    3. We owe the Lord praise and honor because of His goodness to us.

Rev M Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For More lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs

revmmitchell.com  and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Family God's Way Lesson 2

FAMILY GOD'S WAY

Lesson 2

COMMUNICATION KEY TO MARRIAGE STABILITY

One of the key tools in marriage is communications.

The devil uses our lack of communication to cause problems in the marriage.

In Genesis chapter 3, Eve had a discussion with the serpent about the Word of

God and made a decision without discussing it with her husband.

She was convinced by the serpent that God was a liar.

Lets analyze this situation:

God gave Adam the command not to eat from the  tree of Knowledge and Of Good and Evil before Eve was created.

Adam and Eve had Bible Study together. We know that because Eve repeated the

command to the serpent. Eve did not have a full understanding of God's command.

She was not convicted in her heart to keep the command.

Eve dishonored the marriage by listen to voice of stranger and making a decision

against an agreed upon family standard without consulting her husband.

God talks to us through His Word and the devil talks against the Word.

1 Timothy 4:1 states, " The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Eve dishonored her head by allowing an outsider to come between her and her husband

and God. Eve was deceived according to 1 Timothy 2:14

" And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. "

When presented with the fruit from the Tree Of Knowledge and of Good And Evil

Adam went along to get along. Adam was knowingly disobedient according to

Romans 5:14, " Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. "

Adam failed to communicate with God before he broke God's command.

Adam dishonored his head (God) by going along with his wife.

Notice, sin did not enter into the world until Adam disobeyed God and sinned.

God placed the responsibility on the head, the husband of the marriage has the

responsibility enforcing God's commands.

If an adult  family member wants to do something against God's command,

you cannot support it.

THE EFFECTS OF SIN IN THE FAMILY

A. It breaks fellowship with God.

      I John 1:6

B. It brings shame to the family.

     They made fig leaves to cover themselves   Genesis 2:25, 3:7

C. It introduces fear into the relationship

     Genesis  3:10

D. It causes conflict between the man and his wife

     Genesis 3:12, 3:13

    Adam blamed Eve.  Eve blamed the serpent. Neither of them

    took responsibility for their sin.

E. It angers God.

     Genesis 3:16, 3

     God got so mad that He kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden

F. It brings hardship in the family

    Genesis 3:17

Immediately, there was conflict in the marriage. There are no prefect marriages,

or perfect relationships, because we are not perfect people.

Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we were all born in sin.

Psalms 51:5 " Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

We can work on our relationships to make them as agreeable as possible.

Psalms 51:5 is the fact, the truth. But conflicts in the marriage derive from our

feelings and not facts. In our conversation a button gets pushed and our feelings get hurt. As result we get angry or upset with each other.

Attached is a partial list of buttons that get pushed

and a partial list of reaction to buttons that get pushed when

there is conflict in the relationship

according to Dr Michael Smalley

from his book Reignite Your Marriage

         

Our feeling are normal, because we are human. When a button gets pushed

you can react in a negative way or a positive way.

Here is an example of what can  happen when we react in a negative way

                                                      The Man

                                                 Feels condemned

                                                       Button

yells                                         Emotional                                     Shuts down

reaction                                    Farris Wheel                                 reaction

                                                     The Woman

                                                    Feels Ignored

                                                         Button

God's directions for our reactions is

Colossians 4:6

" Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Obliviously, when an argument begins, you  are not thinking about grace.

We will be quick to speak the truth to condemn but not to uplift.

In Order to react with grace we have to be in control of our emotions and

feelings so we don't get angry.

Ecclesiastes 7:9

 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Psalms 37:8

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil.

We cannot control how someone else react, but we can control what we do.

 We have to control how we think in relationships. God give us this direction.

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

It is never good to argue when children are present. Find a another time.

You will give your children the wrong impression of marriage.

You may scare them for ever.

Give yourself time to cool off

SEX IN THE MARRIAGE

God ordained sex. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 1:28

Early in the marriage sex is usually not a problem.

You have to work at making sure you never get to the

point where you make excuses not to have sex with your

spouse.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5

3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Sex is for grownup?. Sex is for responsible grownups.

We should not be making birth control products available to our sons and daughters.

Sex leads to babies.

We must have open and discussions about relationships with our children.

We have to first be good role models for them to follow.

ROLE OF A FATHER

It is one thing to be a husband. It is another thing to be a father

Not every husband wants to be a father.

In the marriage vows we say for better or worst. Half the time it is

for better until I can find something better. We don't want to deal with

the worst for long.

When you are dealing with a mate and children the worst will always

show up.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

One of the most important characteristics of a father is unconditional love.

We must learn the difference between lust and love.

I am of the opinion that there maybe lust at first sight, but not love at

first sight.

Lust is self driven. Love is driven by the best interest of another person.  

Proverbs 6:25 states, " Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her

captivate you with her eyes."

I would say that  attractions begins with lust, before it grows to love.

Jesus defined love this way

John 14:15

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. "

CHILD TRAINING

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Psalms 78:5-7

 He decreed statutes for Jacob  and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,  and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Ephesians 6:4

 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and   

 instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21

 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

 

 Be careful not to belittle your children

 Never call them names other than their own.

DISCIPLINE

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18

 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

 Never discipline your children while you are upset or angry.

Psalms 32:8

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch  

  over you. "

John 13:34-35

 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

NO FAVORITISM

Do not favor one child over another as Jacob did Joseph.

Genesis 37:3

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

NIV

Genesis 37:5

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

NIV

BEING A WIFE

 

WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATOR ARE YOU

   God as the center

   Man and Wife

   Parents

   Friends

FAMILY FINANCES

RASING CHILDREN

BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

God's Design For Family Lesson3

FAMILY GOD'S WAY

Lesson 3

ROLE OF A FATHER

It is one thing to be a husband. It is another thing to be a father

Not every husband wants to be a father.

In the marriage vows we say for better or worst. Half the time it is

for better until I can find something better. We don't want to deal with

the worst for long.

When you are dealing with a mate and children the worst will always

show up.

5 quick comments

1.A Good Father must love the Lord with all his mind, heart and soul.

2. A Good Father loves and respects his  wife.

3. A Good Father must make time for His family.

4. A Good Father must communicate with his family.

5. A Good Father must be careful to discipline his children with love.

 A FATHER MUST HAVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

One of the most important characteristics of a father is unconditional love.

We must learn the difference between lust and love.

I am of the opinion that there maybe lust at first sight, but not love at

first sight.

Lust is self driven. Love is driven by the best interest of another person.  

Proverbs 6:25 states, " Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her

captivate you with her eyes."

I would say that  attractions begins with lust, before it grows to love.

A Father must have eyes only for his wife.

A Father must love his wife like Christ loves the Church

Psalms 17:7-8

7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

Jesus defined love this way

John 14:15

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. "

A FATHER MUST TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN CHILD TRAINING

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Psalms 78:5-7

 He decreed statutes for Jacob  and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,  and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Ephesians 6:4

 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and   

 instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Father's must be careful not to criticize his children, but use every incident to

speak with favor, seasoned with the truth.

Some children may take criticism as rejection.

 

 Be careful not to belittle your children

 Never call them names other than their own.

 A FATHER MUST DISCIPLINE HIS CHILDREN

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18

 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

 Never discipline your children while you are upset or angry.

 Wait until you calm down. But let the child know that discipline will take place

Psalms 32:8

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch 

  over you. "

John 13:34-35

 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

A FATHER MUST SHOW NO FAVORITISM

Do not favor one child over another as Jacob did Joseph.

Genesis 37:3

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

Genesis 37:5

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

NI

THE ROLE OF A WIFE

A wife must love and respect her husband

Ephesians 5:24

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

This is a two way street, Ephesians 5:28 states

"In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

The primary job of the wife is to be a helper to her husband,

Genesis 2:18 states,

 "The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

This does not mean that wife is less than the husband. They are equal partners in the

marriage. The man and his wife must be on the same page. God made us dependant

on each other.

God made the woman so she would have a desire for a man.

Genesis 3:16

"To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

The husband and his wife are to be companions for life.

Malachi 2:14-15 states

14 You ask, "Why?" It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

15 Has not [the Lord] made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. "

WIFE SHOULD SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND

The wife should take instruction from the husband acting as the head. The wife by

her godly attitude will guide her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:14 states;

" For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy."

SEX IN THE MARRIAGE

God ordained sex. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 1:28

Early in the marriage sex is usually not a problem.

You have to work at making sure you never get to the

point where you make excuses not to have sex with your

spouse.

Sex is for grownup?. Sex is for responsible grownups.

We should not be making birth control products available to our sons and daughters.

Sex leads to babies.

We must have open and discussions about relationships with our children.

We have to first be good role models for them to follow.

A WIFE SOULD SATISFY HER HUSBAND SEXUALLY

1 Corinthians 7:3-5

3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Ladies always make yourself desirable to your husbands

You made yourself desirable when you were looking for a husband. Don't

stop because you are married.

Song of Solomon 4:10-12 states;

 "How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!

11 Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.

12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. "

 

Don't make the mistake of thinking that there is not a woman out there waiting

to take your husband just as he is. 

If you want satisfy your husband, there is a woman out there dressed to seduce

with sweet smelling perfume and enticing conversation.

Don't give the devil a chance to pull your husband away from you.

When it come to other women, men sometimes have weak minds.

I would advise you to make sure if your husband look at another woman

he want see anyone as hot and desirable as you are

THE ROLE OF THE CHILDREN

Ephesians 6:1-2

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise—

We have teach our children to be obedient. Proverbs 22:15 states;

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. "

It is the job of the parents to bring their children to Christ.

Luke 18:16 states;

Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

The word suffer is taken from a Greek word " aphiemi" which mean "to send"

Don't think that because your children seem mature, that they want do something foolish.

As parent we must keep our children under our control. We must continue to

study the Bible with our kids.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

Next week we will talk about

FAMILY FINANCES

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "A Glimpse Of Heaven", 4/22/2018

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

Revelation 4:1-11

HEAVEN AN OPEN DOOR

V:1: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

A. Jesus, our Lord and Savior calls us to Himself.

    1. Before the foundation of the earth we were predestined to be with Jesus.

    2. Jesus said to His disciples, heaven is at hand.

    3. Once we accepted Christ, we are heavenly bound.

B. The door to heaven is open to all believers.

    1. At the moment of our death, we will be absent from the body and present with the

        Lord.

    2. Just prior to the tribulation the entire church will be raptured; that is taken up 

        to be with the Lord.

    3. The trumpet may represent the call to march into heaven.

 

THE  THRONE OF GOD

V:2-3. " At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. "

A. Ecclesiastes 3:20-21 says that the body will turn to dust from which it came and

     the spirit will return to the Lord.

    1. We worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

    2. We know that God sits on His heavenly throne.

    3. This gives us some enlightment of how the throne may look.

    4.The appearance in the vision of John, gives us the idea that everything in

        heaven will be transparent.

    3. There will be no hidden truths.

B. The rainbow reminds me of the promise God made to Noah after the flood,

     that He would not destroy the earth by a flood again.

   1. Scene is one of indescribable beauty. 

   2. There will be the beauty of peace and eternal joy.

   3. I cannot imagine a time without trials and sorrows.

   4. The scene is unending beauty.

THE COUNCIL

V:4. " Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. "

A. The 24 elders may be like the Sanhedrin council which was the supreme judicial

      and administration council of the Jews instituted by Moses. 

   1. Their dress may represent their purity before the Lord.

   2. Their crowns my represent victory over the trials they went through, and their

       perseverance and dedication to the Lord.

B. Since 12 is the number of tribes of Israel, 24 may represent two saints from

     each tribe.

   1. The 24 elders may represent the families of all nations drawn to Christ.

THE GLORY OF GOD

V:5. " From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God."

A. We get a glimpse of the power and majesty of the Lord when hear thunder and see

     lightening across the sky.

    1. Thunder, if close enough can rattle our home.

    2. Lightening if close enough can set a house on fire and light up the sky.

B. The seven spirits may represent the seven churches listed in Revelation

     chapter one. 

    1. The seven spirits may represent the seven fold operation of the Holy Spirit.

        Let me suggest the following:

        a. Initiate the Church   Acts 13:1

        b. Giving of gifts to the church   Acts 13:1

        c. Teacher of the Word

        d. Call out God's chosen   Heb 12:25

        e. Equip the chosen for service Acts 13:9-11

        f. Comforter

        g. Sealing of the saints to the day of redemption

A SEA OF TRUTH

V:6.-7 " Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle."

A. The sea of glass may represent purity and calmness.

    1. Those who come before the Lord are washed in the blood of Jesus.

    2. In heaven, there will be an absent of any turmoil.

    3. In heaven there will only be joy and peace.

B. The four beast may represent the four Gospels.

    1. Some suggest that the four beast represent the four motives of power of the human

         soul; reason, anger, desire and conscience.

    2. Others suggest that the four beast represent the four of the Apostles;

         Peter the lion, James the ox, Matthew the man, Paul the eagle.

    3. The four beast are covered with eyes which may represent their unceasing activity

        around the throne of God.

    4. Their many eyes may also represent the omniscience of the Lord

    5. God is aware of all us all the time.

CONSTANT PRAISE

V:8. " Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

A. In Isaiah 6:2 the living creature use two of their wings to cover their face, two to

     cover their feet and two to fly.

     1. This may represent their reverence, humility and obedience.

     2. Before the Lord every knee shall bow.

B. In Heaven, the praise of the Lord will be continuous without ceasing.

    1. Their will be unceasing knowledge of the power and authority of the Lord.

    2. Holy, Holy, Holy may represent the praise of God the Father, God the Son and

        God the Holy Spirit.

    3. Holy, Holy, Holy may represent the way God deals with man;

        creation, redemption and sanctification.

BOW BEFORE THE LORD

V:9-10. " Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "

A. There will be unity of praise of the Lord in heaven.

     1. There will be position in heaven.

     2. The living creature sing praise and give thanks to the Lord.

B. The elders bow before the Lord and lay their crown before Him in

     humble submission.

     1. The eternal character of the Lord is praised.

     2. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end.

GLORIFY GOD

V:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

A. The Lord we serve is the one true living God.

    1. All honor and glory is due Him.

    2. We must be convicted in our minds the God is the creator of everything.

B. Our existence is dependant on the Lord.

    1. Our strength is dependant on the Lord.

    2. All of our abilities are controlled by the Lord.

    3. All honor and praise is do the Lord.

OUR LORD GOD IS WORTHY OF PRAISE

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

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

revmmitichell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Brotherhood Lesson, "What Brothers Will Do For A Brother", Mark 2:1-13

WHAT BROTHERS DO FOR A BROTHER

Mark 2:1-13

1. A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.

2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

IT IS NOT THE NUMBER OF BROTHERS THAT MATTER BUT THE ACTION

3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.

4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

A. There were more people in the crowd than the number of brothers serving.

    1. Those who serve will always be few.

    2. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

THE ATTITUDE OF AN EFECTIVE BROTHERHOOD.

A. They were concerned about their brother.

     1.They had a desire to help their brother.

     2. They sought a solution for his problem.

     3. They believed  the testimony of the crowd about Jesus.

     4. They heard about Jesus being in town.

B. They worked together to help their brother.

     1. They took their brother to the solution; Jesus.

     2. They would not take no for an answer.

C. They ran into a problem trying to get to the solution.

     1. They couldn't get in to see to Jesus

     2.They created a solution to get their brother to Jesus.

     3. Together they carried him to the roof

     4. Together they dropped him down to Jesus

             

THE FAITH OF THE BROTHERHOOD GETS JESUS ATTENTION

V:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

    A. Notice it was their faith that got Jesus attention.

         1. It was their faith caused Jesus to forgive their brothers sins

         2. It was their faith that caused Jesus to heal their brother.

    B. The faith of the brotherhood can make a difference in the lives of others.

         1. Knowing this example that Jesus has given us:

             a. What will your response be to the text?

             b. What can we do as a brotherhood to help others?

             c. Do you know any current needs that this brotherhood can get involved in.

DON'T GET DISCOURAGE BY NONE BELIEVERS

V:6-7.  "Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,

  7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God

       alone?"

A. There will always be people that want believe in Jesus or the miracles of Jesus

     1. The devil is at his best when you have doubt.

     2. The devil is at his best when we fail to act.

B. Do you think that we have some unbelievers in the brotherhood in our church?

    1. What can we do as a small group to show the importance of the brotherhood?

     

PUT ME FIRST OR PUT GOD FIRST

V:8-9. " Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?

9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?

A. It is easy to do nothing.

    1. It is easy to doubt the important of the brotherhood.

    2. We all have families, jobs and agendas

    3. The devil is effective in  influencing  us that our own priorities

         should take up all of our time.  

NEVER FORGET THAT WITH JESUS WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

V:10-11. " But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic,

11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

A. People benefit from the efforts of the brotherhood.

OTHERS ARE WATCHING THE SERVICE OF THE BROTHERHOOD.

V:12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

A.  You never know who is watching you from a distance.

B. You never know who will be encouraged by your activities.

C. God gets the glory when we act as a brotherhood.

God's Design For Family, Lesson 1

GOD'S DESIGN FOR FAMILY

Lesson 1

FAMILY, A DIVINE INSTITUTION

Family is a divine institution.  Family was created by God.

In Genesis 1:26   , God said let us make man in our own image and own likeness.

It was a collaborative effort by God the Father, God the Son  and

God the Holy Spirit.

Family is special to God. No other creature that God made did He say

"let us".

It was on the  sixth day after God had created the Heavens and the earth

and all plants and  animals that he created man. God made an environment

suitable for man to live.  Gen 1:28-31

What does it mean, let us create man in our own image and likeness?

Let me suggest that God gave man the power to reason and think.

Since God is creative, God the Father  made man with the ability to be creative.

God the Son gave man the Word.

God the Holy Spirit gave man the power to live according to the Word .

In Genesis 2:18        God said, It is not good for man to live alone.

God decided that Adam needed a help mate. He made us dependant on

each other. By God's design, we are social creatures.

1 Corinthians 11:11

 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

God performed the first surgery. He was the anesthesiologist  and surgeon.

God put Adam to sleep, took a rib out of his side  and formed Eve.

When Adam awoke, God presented Eve to Him.  The first

marriage was ordained and performed by God

THE BEGINNING OF FAMILY

Family began with an adult man and adult woman who were married.

When God presented Eve to Adam, he said, she is bone of my bone and                      flesh of my flesh.  One man and one woman.

In Genesis  1:28, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.

Therefore God ordained sex. Notice it is sex between to adults, a male

and a female.

Thus family consist of a man , a woman and children.  Not two men and children,

not two women and children. Family has the ability to reproduce itself.

Can two men produce a child? Can two women produce a child?

Homosexuality is the devil's doing. It did not come from God.

Homosexuality is the devil's way of destroying the family unit.

The norm for our society is anything goes. Same sex marriages have been

legalized in all 50 states.  Many of our television personalities, both men

and women are openly homosexual.

Leviticus 18:22

22 "'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Romans 1:26-27

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

Because of the universal acceptance of homosexuality, the Church has to teach

family values. If we don't emphasize God's family values, our children will

accept what the world teaches them. Never think that your children are not

influenced by what they see.

This problem is nothing new. The events of the book of Leviticus is dated

1400 years before the birth of Christ. Our values may change, but God does not.

Numbers 23:19 states " God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not

fulfill?"

THE MARRIAGE

What does the marriage look like?

MARRIAGE HAS A HEAD

The head of the man is God. The head of the woman is man.

1 Corinthians 11:3 states "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

By God's design, man should be the head of the family.

THE HEAD

What does God mean by man being the head?

The word "head" is the Greek word "kephale" which means taking hold of, top,

 or cornerstone.

Christ is the cornerstone of the Church. The husband is the cornerstone of the marriage,

According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, the word head suggest two things,

subordination and origination.

 Christ was subordinated (subject)  to the Father in His work as an agent to the creator

 (the Father).

Man , the head is subject to Christ and also an agent of Christ.

The Husband as the head of the family follows Christ because he is the agent of Christ

in the marriage.

THE HUSBAND

Ephesians 5:25-29

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

THE WIFE

Ephesians 5:22 states, " Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord"

1 Peter 3:1-2 states, " Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives."

Since the marriage is an agent of Christ, then it ought to operate like a localized Church.

In the Church there is praise and worship. In the Church there is preaching and

teaching of the Word of God. Out of the Church come evangelism. In the Church

there is private and cooperate prayer.

In the family there should be Bible Study, prayer, praise and worship lead by the head.

WHAT A MAN LOOK'S LIKE

What does a man look like?  How would you describe a man  to you daughter?

How would tell your son what a man is?

If you just point to yourself as a male and say a man looks like me,

Your son or daughter want get the full picture.

What are the characteristics of an adult man. He is not just some male who can have

sex and produce a baby. Dogs do that. All of us ware a mask that hides who

we really are. Your clothes, make up,  shoes are what we put on. Just because

someone  looks good does not make them good. You can buy looks good out of the

store. 

Strip away the clothes and the good looks and what do you have?

Lets see what God says:

1. FOLLOW GOD'S HOUSE RULES

We live in God's creation.   1 Cor 1:26

Before God made Eve, God put Adam in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam a home.

Adam had a relationship with God. Adam listen to the Word of God.

God gave Adam some house rules. You may eat from every tree in the Garden except

the tree of knowledge and of good and evil.  One  quality of  good man is he

follows God's commands.  Gen 2:17

2. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

The first characteristic of a good man is he has a relationship with God.

 Gen 1:26

3. PLACE OF HIS OWN

The second characteristic of a  good man is he has a place of his own.

Ladies if you are looking for a man, you might want to find out

what he owns. Does he live with his momma. Does he have his own place.

Gen 2:24

3. MAN SHOULD HAVE A JOB

The next thing God did for Adam was to give him a job. God made Adam responsible for

the up keep of His Garden.  A responsible  man has a job. 

God made Adam responsible for taking care of His garden.   Gen 1:28,  Gen 2:1, 2:15

 

4. ABILITY TO MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS

A man should have the ability to make good decisions. God brought all the animals to

Adam to see what he would name them.  Genesis   Gen 2;19 

WHAT MAKES A GOOD HUSBAND

There is a difference between a man and a husband.

Every man is not suited to be a husband.

1. RESPECT FOR HIS WIFE

God presented Eve to Adam after he was established.

Adam owned his marriage. She is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.

Adam had respect for his wife.   Gen 2;23

Not every man want to be married. Not every man want the responsibility of

raising and taking care of children.   Not every man want to be the cornerstone

of the marriage.

God made Adam and Eve compatible. Ladies, every man is not for you. Men, every woman is not for you. We have to teach that to our children.

The worst thing you can do is overlook what  God has presented to you

about  a man before getting into a relationship.

2. THE DESIRE TO BECOME ONE WITH HIS WIFE

In Genesis 2;24     God said the two should become one flesh. In marriage, there is

no longer me, but us.. It not what I want but what we want. 50 percent of all  marriages                       fail because they never get to that point.  If the marriage does not start with a man that

wants to be cornerstone, it will be hard to get to be one flesh.

3.  A DESIRE TO BE UNIFIED

From the beginning of the human race, God said, "let us".  There is unity in the

Holy Trinity. For a marriage to survive there has to be unity. One common goal.

There should be one unified voice

A house divided cannot stand.  Luke 11:17 states, " Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall."

My wife constantly reminds me, that we have to be on the same page.

 4. PROVIDE A  LIVING SPACE

A married couple must have their own space.

Genesis   2:24 says a man shall leave his mother and father and be joined

to his wife.

A man and his wife must be free from the control of their parents.

By all means, they should seek the advice and council from parents.

But any decisions in the marriage should be made by the couple.

We have to teach our sons and daughters God's directions for marriage.

The Word says that you should not be unequally yoked.

For those of you who are not married, consider God's directions

5. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

When we are considering a relationship, it should be with

a person who has a relationship with God.

One who believes in God should not consider marriage to one who

rejects God.

2 Corinthians 6:14 states, " Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? "

It is up to us to chose the right mate based on God's instructions.

We can't blame God if we chose wrong.

Rev M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041