This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God The Creator",Gen 1:1-3, 9/2/2018

GOD THE CREATOR

Genesis 1:1-13

AWE AND REVERENCE OF GOD

V:1. " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. "

 A. This verse is full of words that we have  difficulty fully

       defining.

    1. Can we fully understand God?

         a. The Hebrew word is Elohiym, the supreme God

         b. Elohiym is a plural noun, but it the one true God.

         c. The word open up the concept of one God in three persons

    2. He has all power (Omnipotent). What does that mean. We have a definition for

        power: force x displacement divide by time. This does not describe God.

    3. We can say God knows everything (Omniscience). I have a limited mind, therefore

        I cannot conceive what all knowledge is.

    4. We can say God is everywhere all the time (Omnipresence).  Every where includes       

         the entire universe, what has been discovered by man and what man has yet to be

         discovered.

    5. The Bible tells us that God is love and His grace and mercy endures forever.

B. "The beginning". The beginning of what?. 

    1. The Bible tells that God has no beginning or ending. He is eternal.

    2. Is it the beginning of time or the beginning of  the creative process?

    3. Why did God decide He needed a universe?

    4. Since God is spirit, why did He need to dress His spirit in flesh?

C. The Word "create" is the Hebrew word "bara" which means to make fat, to do,

     cut down or select.

    1. What method did God use to create the heavens and the earth?

        a. According to Psalms 8:3, creation is the work of God's fingers.

            When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, 

            which you have set in place,

        b. According to Psalms 33:6, heaven was made at the command of His Word

            "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of

              his mouth. "

        c. God speaks and stuff happens according to His will.

        d. The foundation of my faith in God starts here.

    2. The word create implies that Elohiym did something NEW.

C. The word heaven is the Hebrew word "shamayin" which means the expanse or

     sky around the earth.

     It is a plural word which also means an arch.

     a. There appears to be levels of heavens,

         The Apostle Paul said he was called up the third heaven.  2 Cor 12:2

     b. God dwells above the heavens.

         Psalms 8:1

         O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your

         glory above the heavens.

    Is heaven just a meeting place for God?

Proverbs 8:27-30

I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Somewhere between verse one and two is the creation of angels and the fall of

Lucifer the Arch Angel, later to be known as Satan.

The angels were created before God made the earth.

Job 38:4

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

Job 38:7

 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Some theologians claim that shortly after the creation of angels Lucifer fell from

God's grace.

Ezekiel 28:14-15

14 Thou wast the anointed covering cherub, and I had set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou didst walk up and down in the midst of stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways, from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee.

Ezekiel 28:17

 Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground, I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Isaiah 14:12-15

 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!

13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly  In the recesses of the north.

14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the  Most  High.’

15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the  pit.

This may be the reason the earth was first formless and empty.

God allowed sin to enter into His creation

Darkness refers to sin and light to God's righteousness.

LIGHT THE VICTORY OVER SIN

V:2-3 "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,

  and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

A. This verse points to the Holy Trinity, God in three persons.

      a. You have God the Father breathing.

      b. We have the Word, God the Son 

      c. We have the God the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters.

B. God breathed and the earth, formless, empty and dark came into existence.

    1. According to  text, at creation the  earth was an empty mass of something

       covered with water.

    2. The Spirit was there as if guarding the Father's creation.

C. God breathed and there was light.

     1. God gives us a idea of the speed in which He works.

     2. From experiments we know light travels 194188 miles per second.

     3. It take eight minutes for the light to travel from the sun to the earth.

     4. In an instant, what was created in darkness was illuminated.

     5. Until we met Christ we were in spiritual darkness.

D. Jesus is the light of the world.

     1. God introduced sin into His creation.

     2. God created an Angel who would corrupt the world; Lucifer

         Revelation 12:4

         His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The    

         dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might 

         devour her child the moment it was born.

         a. Can you see Mary the birth mother of Jesus and Herod the king in this verse?

     3. Jesus is the victory over sin

        a. The child in Revelation 12:4 is Jesus the light of the world.   

        b. Light is invasive.

        c. Light is complete.

        d. Light is filling.

        e. Light is unending.

        f. Light is victorious.

GOD COMMENDS HIMSELF

V:4 -5. "God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day."

A. This is what God has done with His Church.

     1. He called the Church out of the world

     2. He set His light in the body of Christ.

B. God introduces the concept of time.

    1. We could say that darkness is the absent of light.

    2. We know by observation from space that the earth is round.

        a. God molded the earth into a ball

    3. God set the earth on an axis to rotate continuously.

    4. He set earth at the proper distance from light to make a

        complete rotation every 24 hours exposing one side to light

        and the other to total darkness.

C. Evening and morning, and day and night are indications of the

     earths rotation.

      1. If you want an idea of the unlimited power of God, consider that He

           created the earth which weights  1.3 x 10²⁵ pounds  

           with his fingers. ( 6 sextillion tons)

     2. In the first day of creation, from nothing, God created the heaven and the earth

        in darkness and set it in light.

GOD CREATED A LOWER AND UPPER REGION

V:6-8 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.

8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning — the second day. "

A. In day two, God created an atmosphere for the earth.

    1. He separated the earth from the heavens.

    2. He separated the waters of the sky from the waters of the earth.

B. God introduces the concept of space.

    1. Space could be considered the distance between two boundaries.

        What is the distance between the earth and the heavens?

    2. Paul said He was called up to the third heaven.

    3. Perhaps the first heaven is the sky we can see.

       a. Perhaps the second heaven is the domain of the angels.

       c. Perhaps the third heaven is the third heaven is God's throne

       d. God does not tells us about the heavens, so the human mind can

           only speculate.

   4. We have no concept of space or distance as God's knows it.

        a. God has made something so big we cannot measure it.

            so vast, we cannot get to it and so complicated we cannot

            understand it.

        b. The distance around the earth is 25,000 miles.

        c. The distance between the earth and the moon is 239,000 miles.

        d. The distance between the earth and the sun is 93 million miles.

        e. God has given us the ability to clearly see the moon and the sun

            while standing on earth.

            Don't miss your shout,  WOW!!!

A SPACE SUITABLE FOR MANS HABITATION

V:9-10. " And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.

10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. "

A. God created a space suitable for man to live.

     Psalms 115:16

    "The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man."

    1. God spoke and there was dry land,   rivers and seas.

    2. Now you can see that the objective of God's creation is man. 

    3. Don't miss your shout.  WOW!!

B. Why did God create the universe for man?

     1. Psalms 8:4-6

         "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

         You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings  and crowned him with glory    

         and honor.

         You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his   

          feet."

    2. Billy Graham said God created man to know Him, to love Him

        and to have fellowship with Him.

    3. 1 John 4:10

       "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an

        atoning sacrifice for our sins. "

GOD MADE EVERYTHING YOU NEED

V:11-13. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.

12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning — the third day

A. On the third day God created everything that man would need to survive.

    1. Originally man was a vegetarian.

    2. It was only after the flood that man was given the desire to eat meat.

    3. Genesis 9:3-4

        Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green

        plants, I now give you everything.

        But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

B. God created man for all the good He created.

    2 Corinthians 9:8

    And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times,

    having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

In Summary

1. There is one supreme God who exist in three persons.

     a. God the Father, God The Son and God the Holy Spirit

     b. God has all power

2. The God we serve is the creator of all things

3. The God we serve made the heavens for Himself.

4. The God we serve made the earth for man

5. The God we serve gave us victory over sin

6. The God we serve provides everything we need.

Rev M Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas 77041

Sermon: Surviving The Storm, "8/19/2018

SURVIVING THE STORM

Mark 6:45-53

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.

48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

In This Life, we are going to face trials and tribulations. Because we are Children of

God , we are Satan's target. He came to steal, kill and to destroy. Jesus said

Matthew 10:22

 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

You can expect that storms will come your way from time to time

In This text, Jesus gives us some pointers of How To Survive A Storm.

Not all storms are caused by the devil.  God creates storms for your

life to teach you His Word.  

Let me set the stage for this text. Jesus had just fed five thousand men not

including women and children with five biscuits and two small fish.  A boy had

brought this for his lunch.

The disciples missed the message.  Jesus can take what you have and make it all you need.

He fed the crowd spiritual food, followed by physical food. The disciples missed the

message. Jesus is not only concerned about you soul but also you physical body.

Jesus could have easily followed Satan suggestion and made bread out of stone or

caused manner to fall from heaven.

Jesus could have easily cast a net on the side one of the boat, and pull up enough fish

to feed all the people.  The disciples missed the message. If Jesus made

everything out of nothing. He could surly make more fish and bread out of

fish and bread.

The disciples missed the message, Jesus is the bread of life.

That is the trouble with the Church.  God's miracles are in front of us, but we are

still troubled. We got the Word in print and still miss the message of hope.

peace and joy.

Let me suggest, that there was something going on with the disciples , before they

got in the boat.

They have forgot to buy bread for the evening meal. Jesus exposed their error

when He decided to feed the crowd. The only thing to eat in the camp was the

lunch of a little boy.

The disciples wanted to send the  crowd away. But Jesus fed the crowd.

Not only did the disciples have to serve the five thousand, but they had to clean

up after the crowd.  They picked up 12 baskets of scrapes.

The text say, verse 52

 "for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened"

The disciples missed the message. They were physically tired.

You can't serve God with you own strength, but with God's

You cannot think on your own serving God.

This story is given in three of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark and John

We gain insight into this story from each

Mark 6:45-46

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

We learn from the Gospel of John that the reason Jesus made the disciple get in the

boat was to keep them from being involved in the crowd mess. They want to force

Jesus to be King. Can you imaging 5000 men rushing Jesus to make Him king.

Jesus may have performed a miracle to quite down the crowd.

There are some thing God don't want you involved. The disciples had already missed

the message of the 5 loaves. This would have only pump them up. One would want to 

be seated on the right and another on the left side of Jesus. And other would want to

know who was the best preacher.

The feeding of the five thousand was the message. The storm that Jesus

put them through was the lesson.

This is a special message for the Church.  Jesus dismissed the crowd.

This is a message for believers in Jesus Christ.

Point 1.  To survive the storm we must keep in mind:

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

                b. God is in control of your life

                c. He closes some doors and He opens others

                d. Jesus may send  you  into the storm to teach you a lesson

Lets follow the text because it give us what need to know about Surviving A Storm

Point 2. Before you start each day spend some time in prayer.

            

          You got an intercessor looking after you.

           Jesus went up to the mountain to pray.

          He sits high and He looks low.

          The text tells us that prayed form sun down to 3Am in the morning

          He know what's going to happen in your life before it happens

      

Point 3. To survive the storm you need a relationship with Jesus.

Jesus commanded the disciples to get into a boat and go to the

other side of the lake while He dismissed the crowd.

While the disciples were traveling in the lake. Jesus was on the mountain

praying. The Lord does not pray for the world.

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. We don't know what we

are going to run into doing the day.

The disciples left in calm water, but soon found themselves in troubled waters.

They were doing what Jesus told them to do , they were where they supposed to

 be,  but was in the middle of a storm. They were rowing, toiling to keep the

boat on course.

Point 3. To survive the storm, you need to fellowship with Jesus.

    There is a difference between relationship and fellowship

    Relationship is establish when you accept Christ as your personal Savior.

    Fellowship is following God's commands

    Confessing your sins. and repentance.

They had a relationship with Lord, They had fellowship with Lord.

but they were still in a storm.

Just because you are doing everything God has call you to do don't

eliminate the storms from your life.

It was Jesus who sent them into the Storm.

In a storm you have to remember that you belong to Jesus.

He allowed you to be in the storm and He will carry you through the storm

Point 4.  To survive the storm you need  be the church in the storm.

Here is what I notice about the disciples in the boat.

It was filled with church folk, the 12 disciples,  with no power.

The 12 disciples  were experts of handling a boat. They

were fisherman. But they were no match for the

storm they were in.

I can identify with the disciples in that boat.

I started my Engineering career in the Gulf of Mexico on offshore platforms

Some time I had to travel by boat 70 miles to the platforms.

At the boat docks the waters were calm.

But out in the Gulf, it didn't take much wind to stir up the water.

I remember waves 10 to 15 feet that toast the our 100 foot boat up

up and down . Nothing but water all around you. I didn't know

where we were and couldn't see where we were going.

I had to rely on the caption of the crew boat.

In the storms of life there are some ups and some downs.

The storms can push you form side to side

Point 5.  Jesus knows your struggles

              You are never in a situation where Jesus does not have His eyes on you.

Look at verse 47, Jesus from the mountain,  saw the disciples fighting the

waves in the boat.

They had been rowing 8 to 9 hours and were only

three to four miles out into the sea. And it was dark. From

sun down to 3 Am in the morning they only half way to the other side.

The lessons of the Bible are learn doing the trials of life

The Church was in the boat but there was no power in the Church.

Here why.

There was no praying going on in the boat

There was no praise going on in the boat

There was no meditation on the Word going on in the boat.

There was no Church going on in the boat.

They had just left Church where there was teaching, there

was miracles, there healing and rejoicing.

The disciples didn't get the message . They didn't take the

Church into the storm.

Ministry in your life don't begin in these four walls. It begins in the world

where the storms of life rage.

No matter where you are, you are still the Church.

At work, you the church

At the grocery store, you the church

On the highway, you still the Church.

When trouble come your way, You are still the church

Storms in your life begin at unexpected times.

To survive the storm, you must remember that you are the church.

We are partners with Jesus, and there is power over storms in the

 Church.

Point 6. To survive the storm, you need to recognize that Jesus is the author of your storm

             He will send you into the storm designed to just for you.

             He will protect you in the Storm

             Storm don't cloud the Lord's vision  of you

Jesus know where you are in the storm

It was in the early morning hours when Jesus came walking on

Water

The text says it is the fourth watch.  from 3 Am to 6 AM

Jesus had been praying all night for His Church

In the middle of your storm, Jesus is interceding for you.

Point 7. To survive the storm you need to see the storm as God's way

              of teaching you a lesson.

             When you are in a storm, you need to ask God what is He trying

             to teach you.?

             What weakness is He trying to strengthen?

Notice the attitude of the disciples  in the storm, verse 50

50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

   a.  They were afraid, that not the church

   b.  They were superstitious , they first identified Jesus as a ghost,  that's not the church

   c.  They were focused on the storm rather than the author of the

        storm.. That's not the attitude of the Church

They had Jesus in front of them, but they saw a ghost.

Satan works on your fears, but the Lord puts your fears to rest

The  Lord Jesus encourages us doing times of trouble

He comes along side of us, wraps His arms around us

    a. Take courage

    b. It is I

    c. Don't be afraid

Jesus intends for you to be calm doing the storm

The storm was set before them so that they could learn to look above their

circumstance and trust the Lord.

Point 8. To survive the storm need to keep in mind focused on  Jesus

     He will never leave  you or forsake you

Jesus delayed coming until the forth watch.  3 to 6 Am

God gives us time to struggle on our own.

Jesus allows His disciple to come to end of their strength.

He gave them time to come to their need for Jesus

Jesus came walking on top of the waves  early in the morning before daylight

The disciples had Jesus in front of them, but thought the saw a Ghost.

Satan Get involve in your struggles when you are about have a breakthrough

They had been fighting the waves all night long.

They were physically and mentally worn out

A powerless church can't recognize the Work of Jesus

In John chapter 6  say when Jesus steps into the boat they were

immediately on the other side.

When we trust Jesus, all our troubles are laid aside.

When you going through the storm, you ought to praise God.

You don't have to ride out the storm by your self.

When you are in the middle of the Storm, praise Jesus.

Psalms 22:3

"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

If you want to feel the presence of the Lord, just start praising

Him.

Point 10. Never cease to be amazed with what God does for you

Mark 6:51

 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were

completely amazed.

The disciple had been with Jesus for three years. They had witnessed all kinds

of miracles.  But they were amazed.

They had never seen Jesus walk on water before. They had never seen anyone

walk on water at the command of Jesus.

Isaiah 64:4

  "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear,

   neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him            

   that  waiteth for him."

Storms are designed to teach us to wait on the Lord

Storm are designed to teach you to see God in all His Glory in

every day living.

The end of your storm is around the corner. Just wait patiently on Him.

Always expect God to do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ask or

concieve

Mark 6:52

 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

 

The word harden is the Greek word "pooroo" which mean s their minds

were dull, they were unable to perceive.

The message of the loaves, the truth that 5000 was feed with five biscuits and two

small fish was to prove Jesus Deity, to prove That Jesus is the Supreme God.

The disciples didn't learn the first lesson so Jesus designed a storm to

prove His deity.

He walked on water to prove He was the Lord over gravity

He stepped in the boat and the storm ceased to proved that He has authority

over His creation.

The disciples didn't get the lesson about feeding of 5000 so Jesus

designed a storm to teach them the same lesson.

To survive the storms of life you must believe that Jesus you serve is the Supreme God.

   He is a provider

   He can take what little you have and make it all you need

   He is a protector

   He is a comforter

   He is a doctor

   He has complete control of your life

   He loves you enough to continue to teach you that He is the Supreme God.

Is there anyone here that don't know Jesus as the Supreme God.

The doors of the Church are open to You.

He died on the cross one Friday afternoon and Rose Sunday Morning

to prove that He is the Supreme God.

..He is seated at the right hand of the Father to prove that He is the Supreme God.

..He is making intercessions for you right now to prove that He is the Supreme God.

..He is standing at the gates of heaven waiting on you  to accept His

  right hand of fellowship to prove that He is the Supreme God.

How many storms does Jesus has to send you through to prove that

He is the Supreme God?

Amen.

Bible Study, "Trust The Lord" 8./22/2018

TRUST THE LORD

Psalms 62:1-12

CALMNESS IN THE LORD

V:1. "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation."

 A.  Who can I trust?

      What does trust look like?

      What does trust feel like ?

       How do I react in a trust situation?

B.  Who can I trust ?

    1.  I can't trust me. I am too messed up

    2. I make to many mistakes

    3. I have limited resources  and limited power.

    4. The only person that never changes is God.

C. What does  trust look like?

   1. You have to make a decision to trust.

   2. You have to conclude that you  can't handle your situations.

   3. You have to make a decision to confide in Jesus

       a. Make a decision to have confidence in his power.

       b. You have to develop a feeling that you can trust God

D. How do I react to my decision to trust God.

    1. Each day you must go to God in prayer.

    2. Any time a decision need to be made, you must take it

        to God first.

    3. Any time there is a problem, take it to God immediately.

    4. Learn to patient with God.

    5. Expect God to take care of the problem on His time.

D. You have come to the conclusion that your salvation

     come from the Lord.

   1. Your personal safety rest with the Lord.

   2. The word wait is the Hebrew word duwmiyah which mean silent ,still or calm.

   3. You have to make a decision to be calm.

       a. Calmness is a mental state.

       b. Calmness is tied to complete trust.

           Psalms 46:10-11

           Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be

           exalted in the earth."

           The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

      c. If you are fearful or worried, you are not calm.

          That is the influence of the devil

          2 Timothy 1:7

         For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a 

         sound mind.

GOD YOUR PROTECTOR

V:2.  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

 A. This is a resolution

      1. This does not mean that there will be no problems.

      2. You have to conclude that when problems arise you will stand on your

          rock.

         a. Must conclude that God is your strength (rock)

         b. Must conclude that God is your protector

         c. You must conclude that God will defend you.

         d. Must decide that you will stand on your conclusions.

         e. Must decide that you are not going to change your mind

             and doubt God no matter what the circumstances are.

SATAN NEVER CEASE HIS ATTACK ON YOU

V:3-4. " How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as    

  a  bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellence: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly."

A. As long as you and I live, there will be something of that will cause us problems.

    1. We cannot expect problems to cease to exist.

    2. Job 14:1

       Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

B. There will be liars and cheater all around us.

    1. Trouble makers will never cease to exist.

    2. The world and its problems are not our problems

    3. We have a problem solver.

A RESOLUTION TO TRUST GOD

V:5-6. " My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

A. We have to continually reaffirm our resolution to trust God.

     1. To increase our confidence in the Lord we should boast in

         our resolution to the Lord.

    2. The more we repeat our resolution to ourselves the more we

         reminded of God's commitment to us.

B. We have to convince ourselves daily of the promises of the Lord.

    1. Isaiah 54:17

        no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that

        accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their

        vindication from me,"  declares the Lord.

RECOMFIRMING THE RESOLUTION TO TRUST GOD

V:7.  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."

Psalms 62:7

 David put His trust in the Lord

1. [In God is my salvation]  That is, his salvation, his safety, his anticipated deliverance,  

    was to come only from God.

2. [And my glory] That in which I glory or boast; the source of all in me that is glorious or honorable. he gloried that there was such a God; he gloried that He was his God.

3. [The rock of my strength] The strong rock; the refuge that cannot be successfully assailed; where I shall feel strong and secure.

4. [My refuge] That to which I may flee for safety.  

TRUST IN THE LORD AT ALL TIMES

8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

A. There should never be a moment that you are not reminding yourself that you

     have put your trust in the Lord.

   1. When everything is going well it is easy to forget to enforce your commitment

       to trust the Lord.

   2. We sometime take God's shelter and protection for granted.

   3. How often do we forget to ask God to protect us before drive off in our car.

B. Therefore we should make it our first priority to bring before the Lord all of the

     issues that we face each day.

   1. Problems show up when we least expect it.

   2. If we have reminded ourselves that God is in control we will not easily be

       distressed.  

PUT NO TRUST IN MAN

V:9. " Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity."

A. In no way should be put our trust in man.

     1. The word "low degree" is Adam

     2. Adam's sin put man out of fellowship with the Lord, thus brought man

        low.

     3. All men are capable lying.

         a. It does not make any difference what position or status they have.

         b. The word vanity mean empty,

     4. We should not put our trust in something that is empty.

B. The only thing we can trust is the Word of God.

DON'T FOLLOW THE WORLD

V.10 "Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

1. The first thing mentioned is oppression; and the idea is, that we must not hope to

     accomplish our object by oppressing others; extorting their property or their service;   

     making them by force subject to us.

2.  Do not resort to theft or robbery, and depend on that for what is needed in life.

     The world is full of burglars and thieves.  Their gain is short lived.

     We live off the fruit of our labor.

3. Those who trust the Lord for the substance will be bless by the Lord

   a. God will bless the labor of those who trust Him.

   b. When we are blessed, our hearts ought to be soften to be generous to

        those in need.

DON'T DENY THE WISDOM OF THE WORD

"11-12 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according   

     to his work.

A. The Word of God is the true guide to successful living.

   1. We deny its existence and effectiveness by ignoring the wisdom that

       is given.

   2. In effect we deny the power of God over our lives when we ignore

       the commands given by Him.

       

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Clean Up Your Act", Col 3:5-18, 8/26/2018

CLEAN UP YOU ACT

Colossians 3:5-18

SINS OF THE FLESH

V:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

A. From the moment we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we are in the

     transformation stage.

    1. The old man of the flesh has died and the new man in Christ has come alive.

    2. The flesh has to be constantly and continually put to death,

    3. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are enabled to do that.

B. Old habits die hard, and resurface from time to time

    1. The sin we were accustom to before Christ, we are convicted of by

         Holy Spirit.  

    2, Since we live in the world, we are constantly exposed to the sins of the

        world.

C. At the top of Paul's list of sins of the flesh is fornication.

     1. Fornication comes from the Greek word, porneia from which we get

         pornography.

        a. Porneia includes, adultery, incest, prostitution.

     2. Uncleanness is described in Romans 1:24

         Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity     

         for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

     3. Inordinate affections are described in Romans 1:26

         Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women     

         exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones: In other word homosexuality.

    4. Evil Concupiscence  is longing for what is forbidden.

    5. Covetousness is greediness which includes extortion and fraudulency.

AVOID THE WRATH OF GOD

V:6-7 "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

         In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."

 A. After the second coming of Christ the world will be judged.

     1. All non believers will be cast into the lake of fire

     2. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

         He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord       

        Jesus.

       They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of  

        the Lord and from the majesty of his power

  B. Believers who practice sin will suffer the consequence of  their sin here on

       earth.

      1. This will include unanswered prayers trials and tribulations.

CLEAN UP YOUR ATTIUDE

V:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy  

       communication out of your mouth.

     1. Our constant transformation into a god like state requires

         a change in our attitude.

     2. This requires a voluntary restriction of what we expose ourselves to

          including what we watch on TV and the internet and the places

          we visit.

   3. As we grow spiritually there will be change in our conversation from

      worldly concerns to Godly influenced concerns for others.

TELL THE TRUTH

V:9-10." Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

A. As we grow spiritually, our conversation should be filled with the grace of the

    Word of God.

    1. The lies we were accustomed to telling ourselves and other ought no longer

         be acceptable to us.

    2. Lying is the fruits of sin.

    3. Lying corrupts the nature of man and the fruits he produced.

    2. We should begin to let the Word of God guide our thoughts and conversations.

B. Other should be able to see the Church in us in our conversations on actions.

    1. Lying is a product of the old man and truth is the result of our godly

        transformation.

    2. We are the Church everywhere we go.

   

ONLY TWO RACES; SINNER AND BELIEVERS

V:11. " Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

A. God does not have but two races of peoples.

     1. There is a race of believers and a race on non believers.

     2. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 B. Believers are under the grace of God.

     1. Non believers are left to their own devices and the influence of Satan.

QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN

V:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

A. Believers should commit themselves to the guidance and direction of the

     Holy Spirit.

   1. The new man that has come alive, must look like the Christ he represents.

   2. The study of the Word of God is a requirement for the continual

       spiritual growth of the believer.

   3. We need personal Bible Study along with corporate Bible Study.

       We are commanded to come together with other Christians in

       fellowship and study of God's Word.

       Hebrews 10:24-26

       And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

       Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but  

       exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

  B. We must treat others the way we want to be treated. 

       1. God has forgiven our sins, past, present and future.

       2. We must be tolerant with one another and forever forgiving.                                                                                                                                 

PUT ON LOVE

V:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

A. The key to Christian living begins with God greatest commands.

     Matthew 22:37-39

    "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your 

     mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

     And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

 1. When we see everyone in the eyes of love, all hate, intolerance, malice

     and unforgiveness is dissolved.

 2. Before us will be children of God in various stages of development.

B. With all thoughts of evil and ill will behinds us, can live in peace with

      others.

    1. For those who tend to harm us, we empowered to leave vengeance to

        Lord, and trust Him to have our best interest in mind.

    2. The best way to start each day is with thanksgiving.

    3. Being thankful eliminates all complaints.

GIVE GOD THE PRAISE

V:16 -17. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

A. Here is the urgency to study the Word of God for ourselves.

     2 Timothy 2:15-16

     Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,   

     rightly dividing the word of truth.

  1. Without a personal  knowledge of the Word, we do not have the tools

       to treat other with the love God commands.

  2. Psalms 111:10

     The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have 

     good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

 3. We cannot apply God's commands to our everyday living if we have no understanding

      of the Word.

B. I believe it is through our trials and tribulations that we learn to trust God

     and to live for Him.

    1. One of the great concepts God sets before us is the Sacrifice of His Son.

    2. Romans 12:1-2

       Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as  

       living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

       Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the  

       renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is    

       his good, pleasing and perfect will.

   3. When we see ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, we will have no

        reservations serving others.

        Proverbs 22:4

        Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.

BE WHAT GOD CALL YOU TO BE

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Teaxs 77041

For more lesson follow me on facebook and

visit my blogs; revmmitchell,com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com