Bible Study Series: Marriage And Family, Lesson 2

 

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

 

 

Among human beings, do you believe that there is a perfect marriage?

In my life time I have known a lot of good marriages. I know a lot of

marriages where the couple stayed together until one partner died.

I am not sure that any of these marriages were perfect.

 

I think all marriages have problems from time to time. The key is

how problems are resolved to stay together.

Unfortunately, many marriages end in divorce. Even among church folk.

That’s life, but there is way to improve the statistics.

 

Last week we discussed the fact that God created us for His glory and

commands us to put Him first in our lives. No marriage can move toward

perfection without God being first.

 

In this lesson, I want to look at the first marriage between Adam and Eve

and how God put them together.

 

MARRIAGE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE                

Gen 1:27-28

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

 

God’s design for marriage was to populate the earth with people who

looked like Him.  Not only was the first family purposed to look like

God, but be the image of God.

 

God gave the marriage everything to be successful.

     Communication

     Resources

     Directions

     Authority

     

 

GOD IS THE SOLUTION TO MARRIAGE

Gen 2:18

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

 

The Hebrew word for alone is “bad’ God used a double negative to describe

Man without a partner:  not good and bad.

 

MAN INCOMPLETE WITHOUT A TREASURE

 

Watch this Ladies, you complete the man.  Without women, men are

in a bad situation.

    

Gen 2:18

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

 

The word help is the Hebrew word ezer which means one who helps, and a treasure

 

Man is not complete without the treasure of a woman

A treasure is something important. A treasure is something you

Protect.  A treasure is something of great value. A treasure is

Something you live for.

 

MAN NEEDS SOMEONE IN HIS FACE

The Hebrew word for meet is neged which means front of or before

your face.

 

God created a treasure for man to be in his face. Man is not complete

Without the treasure of a woman that is in his face.

 

According to the text, It is a bad situation when we don’t have someone connected to us to talk to and help make decisions.

 

Gen 2:22-24

Then the Lord  God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called 'woman,

for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

 

God took the DNA of Adam and made Eve.

Adam’s treasure was made in the image and likeness of himself.

 

TOGETHERNESS THE KEY TO MARRIAGE

The word cleave is the Hebrew word, dabaq which means to abide fast

Pursue hard.   Man is commanded to pursue hard his treasure.

He is commanded to abide fast with his treasure.

 

The word flesh is the Hebrew word basar which means an extension of ,

or corresponding to.

 

Man is commanded to pursue hard the extension of himself,

which is his treasure. 

 

The wife comes before family. Her opinions and ideas are more important than family.  The man and his wife work together and if necessary over

looks outside influence.

 

MARRIAGE MADE WITHOUT SECERTS  

Gen 2:25

The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

 

There should be no secrets between man and his wife.

In a perfect marriage there are no secrets.

We are not to hide stuff from each other.

When we are troubled it should be discussed with our treasure,

 

Until sin entered their hearts, they were innocent.

 

When they disobeyed God’s command, the first couple was kicked out

Of the garden of Eden and had to start over in the harsh realities of

life.

 

The perfect marriage became imperfect. We all are a result of the

first marriage becoming imperfect. We cannot change the past,

But we can affect the future.

 

THE ONE PERFECT MARRIAGE

There is one perfect marriage. It is the one you and

I establish with Jesus Christ.  It is the role model for all

marriages.

 

It not prefect because of us, but it is perfect because of Jesus Christ the

bridegroom. When we accepted Christ we became His bride.

 

Let’s examine the marriage between Christ and us, the church.

 

MARRIAGE MADE BEAUTIFUL IN CHRIST

    

Isa 61:10-11

I delight greatly in the Lord ;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord  will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

 

MADE PERFECT IN CHRIST

    

Heb 12:23-24

You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 

    

 

 

1 John 4:17

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

 

MADE PREFECT IN CHRIST LOVE

    

Rom 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Eph 5:1-2

5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

MARRIAGE MADE PERFECT BECAUSE OF FORGIVENESS

   

Rom 3:21-25

21 But now  righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

MARRIAGE MADE PERFECT BECAUSE OF GRACE

 Eph 2:5-6

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

 

MARRIAGE MADE PERFECT IN A NEW CREATION

    

2 Cor 5:17-18

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

MARRIAGE  MADE PERFECT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

John 16:7-11

7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

 

MARRIAGE  MADE PERFECT THROUGH WEAKNESS

 

2 Cor 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

MARRIAGE IS MADE PERFECT IN TRUST

   

Prov 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

MARRIAGE TO JESUS IS PERMENANT

    

Eph 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Resurrection, God's Power Over Death", John 11:33-44, 2/28/2021

     

THE RESURRECTION, God’S POWER OVER DEATH

John 11:33-44

THE TROUBLE OF UNBELIEF

V:33 When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping    

     which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

A. Jesus reacted to the  weak state of mind of  Mary and the mourners 

     following her.

    1. While Martha and Mary had faith that Jesus could heal, they had no

        faith that Jesus could do anything after Lazarus' death.

    2. Martha was given the revelation by Jesus that He was the resurrection 

        and the life, but paid no attention to it.

B. The word groaned is the Greek word embrimaomai  which means to snort 

     with anger.

    1. The word troubled is the Greek word etaraxen which means agitate

        or loss of calmness. 

    2. Jesus was angry and agitated because of the lack of faith of His  

        disciples.

    3. When believers don't trust in the power of Jesus, He becomes angry and    

         agitated.

    4. Don’t go to Jesus in prayer if you don’t believe He will answer

        your prayer. 

    5. Notice, Jesus knew the moment Lazarus became ill but waited until

        Mary and Martha prayed to respond.

    6. Jesus becomes upset at our unbelief when we are claiming Him as   

        Savior.

WHERE UNBELIEF ENDS, JESUS BEGINS

V:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come   

    and see.

35 Jesus wept.

A. Mary and Martha had the Resurrection and the Life in front of them

     But couldn't see Jesus in that role in their present situation.

    1. Death is just temporary, but at every funeral, we act if it is permanent.

    2.  The body houses the spirit and the soul.

    3. At death the spirit and the soul exits the body and returns to the Lord. 

    4. In a sense, that is the first resurrection.   2 Corinthians 5:8

B. The word weeping for the crowd is the Greek word klaio which means

            wail aloud.

            a. It was the Jewish tradition for mourners to wail at the death of a 

                love one.

            b. Wailing had no real meaning, other than prolonging the grief.

     1.  The word wept is the Greek word dakruo which means the 

              silent shedding of tears.

     2. We are not told why Jesus wept.

          a. Maybe he wept because of respect for the grief of Mary and Martha.

          b. Or maybe Jesus wept because of the unbelief of the ones He 

              loved. 

     3. His weeping showed His humanity. He feels what we feel.

     4. His weeping showed His divinity in the concern for the emotional

         welfare of believers.

UNBELIEF AGITATES, BELIEF COMFORTS

V:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

A. The groaning of Jesus indicated He was angry and upset with those

     Who had witnessed His miracles yet limited His power and authority.

     1. Maybe Jesus was upset because His disciples saw a closed door

         to their prayers.

     2. It is possible that Jesus was upset with those who witness His

         miracles and still saw Him as an ordinary man and not God.

B. Just because Jesus does not answer your prayers in your time

     frame does not mean He does not have the power. 

    1. Just because Jesus does not answer your prayers the way He

        answered others, don’t mean your prayers have not been heard.

    2. Jesus works in His time and His way so that you and non-believers will

        see His power and authority. 

    3. Your hardships become the way Jesus glorifies and magnifies Himself.

REMOVE THE STONE OF UNBELIEF

V:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

A. The problem with us is we see what we see and believe that is all 

     there is.

    1. We have a tendency to limit what Jesus can do based on what we

         have experienced in the past.

    2. Martha’s reply indicated that she believed it was too late for Jesus

        to answer her prayer.

    3. As far as she knew Lazarus had been in the tomb 4 days and his

        body was decaying. 

    4. Based on what she knew the body of Lazarus had begun to stink.

B. Jesus knew that Martha did not believe His previous revelation

     to her that He was the Resurrection and the Life.

      1. She focused on what she knew rather than believe in something

          new.

       2. Jesus loves us enough to ignore our ignorance to bless us

           with His favor. 

C. It is good to be reminded of the Word when we began to doubt the

     Power of God. 

    1. It is good to be reminded of the Word when we are faced with 

        believing that Jesus can do what we see as impossible.

    2. When witness Jesus doing the impossible, He is glorified before

        our eyes.

        

A PRAYER OF CONFIDENCE

V:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

A. Notice Jesus worshipped the Father in prayer. 

     1. He thanked the Father for answering the prayer before He offered the

        prayer.

     2. Jesus expressed His confidence in the Father to do what He asked.

     3. His eyes were focused on the Father during the prayer,

     4. Jesus stood at the place of the dead offering a prayer for the dead.

B. We should take away the stone of unbelief from our heart before we

     go to God in prayer.

    1. We were born dead in our sins and spiritually blind.

    2. We need Jesus to bring us out from the grave yard of sin.

    3. Jesus came to us when we didn’t know to come to Him.

    4. Before Jesus, we were in sin but didn’t know that it was

        graveyard of life.

  

THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

V:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

A. Only Jesus can call us from the grave.

      1. No one can come to Jesus unless He is drawn by the Father.

          John 6:44

      2. Jesus chose to call Lazarus from the grave showing grace and

          mercy to Mary and Martha.   John 15:16

      3. He favored Lazarus with a resurrection so that the onlookers could

          witness His works.

B. It is Jesus who loosed us from the grave clothes of sin.

      1. It is Jesus who took away the napkin of blindness from

          our eyes.

      2. It is Jesus who sets us free from sin to embrace eternal life.

C. According to verse 42 the purpose of the death and resurrection of

     Lazarus was for the  unbelievers to see the power and authority

     Jesus over death.  

   1. The resurrection of Lazarus was done publicly for many to

        witness the glory of God.

   2. The resurrection of Lazarus was recorded for our all believers

       to have confidence in the second coming of Christ.

THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041.

Bible Series: Marriage And Family: Lesson 1

 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

FAMILY IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S GLORY

1. YOU ARE KNOWN BY GOD

  

     * GOD KEEPS TRACK OF WHAT YOU DO

     *  HE SPOKE AND THE WORLD WAS CREATED

    *  HE SPOKE AGAIN AND EVERY LIVING THING

        WAS DESTORY EXCEPT THAT WHICH HE PUT

        NOAH’S ARK

2. TWO DESTINATIONS; HEAVEN OR HELL

     *   Matt 7:13-14

         "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the 

           road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small 

           is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

3. HEALTHLY FEAR OF GOD

      

      * Ps 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. 

       *Prov 1:7

        The fear of the Lord  is the beginning of knowledge,

         but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

      * Prov 19:23

         The fear of the Lord  leads to life:

         Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. 

      *  Ps 147:11

          the Lord  delights in those who fear him,

           who put their hope in his unfailing love. 

STARE AT GOD

      *  MAKE GOD YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS

      * Eph 5:10

         and find out what pleases the Lord. 11

      * LESSON FROM THE ANGELS 

        

         Isa 6:3

         And they were calling to one another:

         "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord  Almighty;

          the whole earth is full of his glory." 

   

         Rev 4:8

         Day and night they never stop saying:

         "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

    

      * LESSON FROM KING DAVID

     

         Ps 27:4

         One thing I ask of the Lord ,this is what I seek:

         that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

         all the days of my life,

         to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

         and to seek him in his temple. 

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

       * ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THINGS

               

          Gal 6:7-8

          Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he    

          sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that 

          nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit,    

          from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

    

    

         * 2 Peter 3:17-18

            Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your   

             guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless 

             men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace     

             and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory    

             both now and forever! Amen.

          

       * DON’T PLAY INTO THE HAND OF SATAN

          Eph 6:12

          For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,   

          against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and 

          against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

    

WORSHIP GOD NOT FAMILY

        * GOD DON’T WANT TO BE SECOND

         

           Matt 10:37-38

           "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy   

           of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not 

           worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow 

            me is not worthy of me. 

       *  ONLY BY WORSHIPPING GOD DO NO HOW TO TREAT   

           FAMILY

       *  Col 1:16-17

          For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,  

          visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; 

          all things were created by him and for him. 

           ORDER OF OUR AFFECTIONS                        BIBICAL ORDER

                    

             1.  GOD                                                                  GOD

              

             2.  FAMILY

             3.  FRIENDS

             4.  WORK

              5. PROSSESSIONS                                      2.    FAMILY,         

                                                                                            FRIEND

                                                                                            WORK

                                                                                            POSSESSIONS

           *   1 Cor 10:31

                So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the   

                 glory of God. 

THERE IS MUCH AT STAKE

        * LIFE TIME OF SANTIFICATION

                    

            Phil 3:12

            Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made   

            perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took   

            hold of me. 

       *   LIGHT OF THE WORLD

    

            Matt 5:16

            In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see   

            your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

       * ATTITUDE OF CONTENTMENT

              

         Phil 2:14-17

        Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may   

        become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked 

        and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 

       16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the 

        day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 

SUMMARY

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Learning From Your Circumstances", John 11:17-32, 2/21/2021

     

LEARNING FROM YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

John 11:17-32

Experience is a good teacher. Throughout my lifetime, I have learned

how to do things right by doing them wrong first. For example putting

Up a baby bed. There is a picture on the box, hard could it be? 

The picture is the way; wrong. Reading the directions and follow

the instructions saves time.

Throughout the Bible, God uses the problems of men and women to

show His power and authority. The Bible is our instruction book for 

life.  How often do run our lives without following God’s commands?

In this text, Jesus used the death of Lazarus  to teach the true meaning

of the resurrection. Mary and Martha had to learn to trust Jesus’s 

design for their situation.

TRUST JESUS TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYER

V:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 

21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 

A. The process of faith building begins with a problem that we

      can’t handle and therefore call on Jesus. 

    1. Prior to Jesus arriving at Bethany, the following happen:

      

        PRAYER REQUEST

            Mary and Martha called on Jesus for help.

        JOYFUL EXPECTATION

             We should joyfully expect Jesus to answer our prayers.

        LAPSE OF FAITH

           1.  Mary and Martha were grieving because Jesus did

                 Not come before Lazarus died.

            2. We must learn to not doubt God’s love for us and

                 learn to accept His way of caring for us.

            3. We must find joy in waiting on Jesus.

            

    B. OUR IMPERFECT  KNOWLEDGE IS THE REASON     

        FOR GRIEF

        “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

   

     1. They had faith that Jesus could heal their brother’s sickness.

     2. What they didn’t consider was Jesus could heal from a

         distance.

     3. They did not consider why Jesus allowed their brother to die.

         a. God has a reason for your circumstance.

         b. God uses your circumstances to give Him glory and to bless others.

     4 Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus sickness was not unto death

     5. Because we only see what we want, we miss the glory of God. 

CORRECTING IMPERPECT KNOWLEDGE

V:23.  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 

24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 

A. Mary and Martha studied the Word at the feet of the Word.

    1. They took Jesus at His Word.

    2. They believed they understood what He had said.

B. There is more meaning in the Word of God than you and

     I can understand at one time.

       1. God blesses us with the understanding we need at the time of our

           crisis and sometimes in our crisis.

        2. Some Jews believed in the resurrection after death.

        3. Martha didn’t want a resurrection in the future, she wanted relief 

            now.

        4. The reason we study the Word is to learn to accept God’s way.

        5. Life’s circumstances are good teachers.

C. John 3:16 makes it clear that eternal life belongs to those who believe

     In Jesus. 

    1. It is the trials and tribulation we face that cause us to search for a   

        deeper  understanding  of God’s Word.

    2. Martha truly believed that Jesus would come in time to save her 

        brother. 

    3. She did not understand that Jesus would use Lazarus death to show

        His  authority over death.

    4. Jesus claim that “I Am the Resurrection and the life “ may have

        been a statement to hard for Martha to understand in her grief.

     5. When going through trials and tribulation, our faith is tried and tested.

     6. We have to accept the outcome as God’s will for our lives.

     7. Jesus affirmed Martha’s faith without explaining the deeper meaning.

COMFORMATION OF FAITH

V:27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." 

28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you."

A. Martha had a good understanding of the divine Sonship of Jesus, but

     not His total power and authority.

   1. According to the text, Martha did not discuss with Mary the new

       revelation Jesus had given her about Himself.

   2. Martha knew Jesus came into the World but could not understand

       that He was the creator of the World.

   3. Martha knew that Jesus was the Son of God but could not understand 

       that He was God.

B. The proof of Martha’s imcomplete knowledge was her reference to Jesus

     Teacher (master).

    1. Why didn’t Martha say the Christ or the Son of God is asking for you.

    2. Sometimes we use words or phrases to describe Jesus that we do not

        have a clear understanding of.

     3. Martha couldn’t comfort her sister Mary because she had no new

         understanding. 

     4. Martha was given a new revelation by Jesus, but didn’t question

         Him to get a deeper understanding.

     5. We can’t teach what we don’t know.

     6. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

     7. We have to lay aside our circumstances to hear God during

          our circumstances.

     8. We waste the growth in our circumstances worrying about what

         we are not designed to control.

     9. The bottom line is Martha didn’t take to time understand the Word

          given to her by Jesus, so she could not console her sister.

YOUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AFFECTS OTHERS

V:29. When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 

A. When you are hurting, get to Jesus first.

    1. There were mourners with Mary who could not comfort her.

    2. Quickly make your request known to Jesus.

    3. Mary placed her grief at the feet of Jesus.

    4. If you trust Jesus, He will carry you through your grief.

B. Either Martha didn’t take time to comfort Mary with the new

    Revelation from Jesus, or Mary didn’t listen. 

   1. Mary’s regret to Jesus was the same as Martha’s.

   2. They both blamed Jesus for Lazarus death. 

   3. Neither asked Jesus why He didn’t come sooner.

   4. Perhaps Jesus would have given Mary and Martha the same

      answer He gave His disciples; Lazarus sickness is not unto death.

   5. Jesus works in each of our trials to give us the understanding we need.

   6. When you study the Bible and come to something you don’t understand,

       stop until you get an understanding.

   7. When we meditate on the Word, the Holy Spirit will give us an 

         understanding. That is His job.

    

        John 14:26-27

        But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my   

        name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I 

        have said to you. 

8. It is up to you to question God anytime you cannot understand the

    Word. 

9. Communication with God is a two way street.

    a. It is up to you to wait on God to give you an understanding.

    b. Don’t think you know what the Holy Spirit has not confirmed 

        to you.

THANK GOD FOR OUR TRIBULATIONS

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

Bible Study Series: God Is A Romantic, I Samuel 25

 

GOD IS A ROMANTIC

I Samuel 25: 1-42

 

GOD IS LOVE

1 John 4:16-18

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love.

For you to have a meaningful life you must have a divine purpose.

Purpose is not your job, it is not your family, it is not your goals.

Your purpose is Love. Your job, your family and your goals are the

objects by which your divine purpose is manifested. 

After God made Adam, He gave him a job; tend the Garden Of Eden.

God is a romantic, so He gave Adam a wife. 

In the middle of the Garden was the Tree Of Knowledge, of Good and Evil.

They had one command don’t eat from that tree. The day you do you will die.

The tree was a test of their love for God. They failed the test. So God

gave us the perfect example of our divine purpose. 

    

John 3:16

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

The purpose of Jesus, taking on human flesh, becoming man and dying

On the cross is His Love for us.

If your purpose is, job, family or career, what happens to you when those are

gone? A love one dies, a job ends, a career falls apart, what happens to you?

You still got love. 

God summed up the entire Bible with two commands of divine love

    

Matt 22:37-40

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

This text is the difference between a divine purpose and a job.

    

1 Sam 25:1-3

Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon. 2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings. 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JOB AND DIVINE PURPOSE

NABAL                                          ABIGAIL

JOB                                           DIVINE PURPOSE

FOOL                                              THE FATHERS JOY

MEAN, EVIL                                 Beautiful , Righteous

                                                        Smart

Blessed with wealth                        Blessed with marriage

Stingy                                              Generous

Disrespectful                                   Kind

Selfish                                             Unselfish

Considered self only                       Considered the welfare of the family

Prideful                                            Humble

Sinful                                                Did what was right

Ignored the call to give back             Brought a feast as an offering to David

                                                           and his men

Had a feast fit for a king                    Asked forgiveness for the foolishness 

For himself but did not                      of Nabal. “Let his sin be on me” 

But did not share with David             Prayed for David’s Success

                                                           Accepted David as her lord.

Judged by God and died                    Released from a bad marriage

                                                           Married a man after God’s own heart

GOD IS A ROMANTIC  FULL OF LOVE

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus Is The Resurrection", John 11:1-16, 2/24/2021

     

JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION

John 11:1-16

GOD SETS UP OUR SITUATIONS

V:11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 

A. God loves family. It is no secret.

    1. God creates family for His Glory.

    2. The sisters, Mary and Martha entertained Jesus and His disciples

        when He came to their town.

    3. The sisters showed acts of love by preparing meals and washing

        the feet of Jesus.

     4. They were generous with their resources which they gladly used to

          serve Jesus.

B. We don’t hear much about Lazarus, other than he was the brother 

     Of Mary and Martha.

    1. Outside of their home, we do not hear of any service Lazarus

        rendered to Jesus.

    2. This sickness is the first time he became the center of the conversation.

    3. It is obvious that the family had an intimate relationship with Jesus.

C. When you serve the Lord you can naturally expect that Jesus is

     interested in all areas of your life.

   1. The sisters interceded on behalf of their brother by communicating

       with Jesus.

   2. Our prayers ought not be all about us but should always include the 

       needs of others.

   3. When we serve the Lord we store up treasures in heaven that we 

        can freely call on in times of need.

D. It is alright to remind the Lord of those He loves.

    1. Since God loves a cheerful giver, we conclude that Lazarus 

        was a participant in the service of Mary and Martha.

    2. You don’t have to toot your own horn when you serve the Lord,

         others will do it for you.

GOD HAS THE ANSWER TO OUR SITUATION

V:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 

A. When we are sick. We need to understand that the Lord allows if for

     His glory.

   1. One thing we see in this text is that death is not the end of us, but the

       beginning of something new.

   2. The Lord uses our trials and tribulations to draw others to Himself.

B. The Lord may not come when you want Him but He is always on

     Time.

   1. God heard the prayer of Mary and Martha, but He delay coming.

   2. We have to learn to wait on the Lord.

   3. Waiting teaches us patience.

   4. Waiting is not passive. It is actively serving the Lord.

C. No matter how bad the situation is, this teaches us not to get in

     a rush in making decisions.

   1. Time is in the hands of the Lord. 

   2. God uses time to position us for future blessings.

V.:7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." 

8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" 

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." 

A. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power love, and a sound mind.

     1. The one who fears, does not trust God completely.

     2. Fear is a roadblock to faith.

     3. Fear causes us to see impossibilities and to lose hope.

     4. Fear is walking in the ways of the world which is darkness.

     5.. Fear sees closed doors and dead ends.

     6. Man stumbles in his own inabilities and negative thoughts.

     7. When fear takes charge of us, we do not operate with a sound mind.

 B. Waiting on the Lord has its advantages.

          

       Isa 40:31

       But they that wait upon the Lord  shall renew their strength; they shall    

       mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and   

       they shall walk, and not faint.

      1. Those who trust the Lord know that all things are possible

      2. Those who trust the Lord walk in the light of His glory.

      3. When we trust the Lord, we can expect that all our wants and

          needs are in His hands. 

      4. Whatever we are going through, we go by God's design.

GOD EXPLAINS OUR SITUATION

V:11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up." 

12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 

14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,

A. In my life time, I have experienced the lost of love ones who I prayed

     Long and hard to the all mighty God to recover.

    1. I have also realized the truth of scripture, that we cannot get to our

        heavenly home without physical death.

    2. In 2020 and 2021 we have experienced  a number of deaths

        in our families.

    3. We have also witnessed our prayers being answered in a number of

         recoveries from all sorts of physical illnesses.

    4. Each of us have a predetermined expiration date and a corresponding 

        new birth in Heaven.

B. We will go to sleep on earth and wake up in Heaven

     1. Absent from the body is present with the Lord.

     2. When we look through our eyes, we see death as the end, but

          it is a new beginning.

     3. When we look through our eyes we want a long life, but it is only

         temporary.

GOD GETS THE GLORY FROM OUR SITUATION

V:15 And for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But  let us go to him." 

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." 

A. The death of Lazarus was the opportunity for all to witness the power of

      God over death.

    1. God allows things to happen in our lives so that our faith in Him

         is strengthen.

B. Jesus could have healed Lazarus from a distance.

    1. To know God’s power is to see Him work in our lives on a

         personal level.

     2. The power of God becomes real when it happens to us.

     3. The disciples of Jesus were close to Mary and Martha and

          Lazarus.

     4. They had witnessed the miracles of Jesus many times.

         a. They knew the story of Jonah being swallowed up by a fish

             for three days and spit out on dry land. 

         b. They knew the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman

             whose son had died. Elisha came to her house and raised

             the boy from the dead.  (2 Kings 4:8)

       5. Those were just stories that were not real to them because it

            happen to someone else.

      C. Jesus said I am glad that I was not there when Lazarus died.

           1. His purpose was to make the resurrection real in their lives. 

           2. Until God get rid of the sting of death in your mind, you

                will continue to walk in darkness.

           3. Until you can see the glory of resurrection in the death of a

               love one, you still be bounded to the influence of Satan.

           4. God wants to break that bond so that you live in His hope.

           5. From time to time, trusting in God hurts and disappoints,

               but in the long run, our faith is strengthened. 

THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION

Rev. M Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas  77041

Bible Study Series: A Change Is Going To Come, Mark 8:22-26

 A CHANGE IS GOING TO COME

Mark 8 22-26

      

V:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

YOUR PRAYERS GET GOD’S ATTENTION

V:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

    Bethsaida ( fishing house) 6 miles south of Jerusalem

A. Your prayers get Jesus attention

     1. Those who brought the man to Jesus had faith that He

          could heal the man.

     1. Jesus will do what ask. (So that God gets the glory)

     2. They begged Jesus to touch the man.

     3. Jesus could have heal without a touch,

         but since He was asked, He acted on their request.

     4. According to the text the man had lost his sight (v:25)

B. God does not tell us how the man lost his sight.

     1. He could have lost his sight because of some disease in the

         body.

     2. He could have lost his sight by accident.

     3. Let me suggest that his sight was lost so he could be

         brought to Jesus.

      4. It good to have friends who will bring you to Jesus.

      5. Are you friend enough to bring someone to Jesus?

      6. Will you take time to see someone in need and take

           them to Jesus?

LET JESUS DO THE LEADING

V.23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; 

A. Jesus took the blind man by the hand; the first touch

     1. No better place to be than in the hand of Jesus.

     2. In the hand of Jesus is what you need. 

     3. In the hand of Jesus is where you need to be.

     4. In the hand of Jesus is His love

     5. In the hand of Jesus is His compassion

     6. In the hand of Jesus is His tolerance.

     7. In the hand of Jesus is His forgiveness.

     8. In the hand of Jesus is salvation.

     9. In the hand of Jesus is joy, peace and hope.

    10. In the hand of Jesus are your intercessory prayers.

B. When you got a problem take it to Jesus and leave it with Him.

     1. Don’t expect Jesus to work the same way with everybody.

     2. Everybody is different and every need is different.

     3. In John 9, Jesus came across a man born blind, spit

          on the ground made some mud that He put on the man’s eyes.

          a. The man was told to go wash in the pool of Siloam.

          b. The man did as Jesus said and received his sight.

     4. In Matthew 9:27, Jesus came across two blind men

          who ask for mercy.

          a. Jesus ask if they believed He could heal them.

          b. They said yes. Jesus healed them according to their faith.

     5. In Matthew 10, blind Bartimaeus ask for mercy, and

         Jesus healed him according to his faith.

     6. In other cases, large crowds of people brought the lame, their sick,    

         demon possessed and the blind to Him. He healed them all

         without recorded conversation.

     7. You need to expect that Jesus will do a new thing with you.

     

    EXPECT A NEW THING IN JESUS

     A. Jesus can heal immediately and in the place that you are.

         1. In this case, Jesus, led the man out of the city away form

             the crowd.

         2. Some time you need some alone time with Jesus. 

         3. People don’t always need to hear your conversation with Jesus.

         4. There are times when the crowd will discourage you from

              following Jesus’ instructions.

         5. In this case it is believed that Jesus led the man out of the city 

             because of their unbelief.

             a. Jesus fed 4000 men not including women and children

                 with 7 biscuits and a few fish.

              b. Yet the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked for a sign from

                     Heaven. 

          6. The man was physically blind, but the leaders were spiritually

               blinded.

          7. They witness the miracles of Jesus, but refused to see the God in   

              Him.

          8. It is one thing to know you can do something. It is another thing to

              give God the credit for working through you. 

          9. It is one thing to go to work. It is another to go to work for the

              glory of God.

          10. Some people want you to see them. It is better to want people to

             see the God. 

B.  Jesus took the blind man out side the city.

     1. The city had no spiritual insight.

     2. To do something different, some time you have get outside

          your sphere of influence.

     3. The text says Jesus took.

         a. The word took is the Greek word epilambanomai which means

             to seize for help.

         b. The blind man needed help, but in order to get him help, Jesus

              took hold of Him. Jesus took charge of the blind man.

      4. The text says Jesus led.

          a. The word led is the Greek word ekphero which means to bear out

               or carry out.

       5. The blind man needed help.

           In order to get him help, Jesus took charge of the man and carried 

           him out of his situation.

       6. Watch this: when you ask Jesus for help, you got to be willing to

            let Him take charge of you and take you out of the mess you are in.  C. I remember a couple years back, I had this persistence cough.

      1. All my doctors were in the Memorial city area.

      2. They all prescribed similar treatments which didn’t help.

      3. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus changed my treatment to   

          the Woodlands area.

          a. The doctors prescribed different treatments which got my problem

               under control. 

          b. The new set of doctors are influenced by different education. 

ISOLATE YOURSELF FROM DISTURBING INFLUENCES

V:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

A. Once out side the city Jesus spit in the man’s eyes

    1. During Jesus time, spitting in a man face was a sign of total 

        disrespect. 

       a. During the trial of Jesus, the soldiers spit in Jesus face and mocked

          him to show their hatred. Matthew 26:67, 27:30

       b. Had the crowd witness the spitting, they would pronounce judgment.

    2. Jesus is the water of life.

        a. Jesus spit in the man face to bring life to all the functions that enable  

            one to see.

         b. It is also possible that man’s eye lids were stuck together and needed

             living water to give lubrication to open. 

      3. Jesus put His hand on the blind man and asked what do you see ? 

          His sight was blurred. He could  see men walking like trees.

      4. Note, this is the first recorded conversation Jesus had with the blind 

          man. 

          a. The man needed to be reprogrammed.

              In his blindness, he had got use to the voice and touch of men 

              Leading him in the wrong direction.

          b. In blindness, sounds and touch become key to survival.

          c. He got familiar with Jesus touch

          d. He needed to become familiar with the voice of Jesus . 

     5. Jesus touched him again and made him look up and his sight

          was restored  

          a. The Latin word for spit is spuo which we get our English word spue

             The Word is related to down.

          b. We need the continuous spue down of the life giving water of 

               Jesus to keep from going spiritually blind.

DO YOU KNOW THE TOUCH OF JESUS? 

DO YOU KNOW HIS VOICE?

 

OBEDIENCE IS KEY TO SPIRITUAL SIGHT

V:26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town,   

     nor tell it to any in the town.

A. Your house should be place of peace. 

     1. If there is someone in you house that is discouraging,

         quit listening to them.

     2. Be influenced by the Word of God.

     3. Follow the directions of the Word.

B. Once you are under the influence of Jesus, you cannot go back to the   

     influence of the world.

   1. When Jesus has recovered you from the world, you have to change

        where you go.

   2. You also have to change who you go with.

   3. You need to get new friends in Jesus.

   4. There is a tendency to want to go back to where you are comfortable.

   5. You have to continuously fight the temptation and find new comfort 

       in Jesus.  

C. The command to not tell anyone in the town seem strange.

    1. It appears that Jesus had determine that the town was unfit for 

        spiritual sight because of their unbelief.

    2. Perhaps the command was given to protect the man from being

        re-influenced by the world.

D. Notice there was no recorded discussion form Jesus about faith

     to the previously blind man.

    1. He had the touch of Jesus

    2. He had the voice of Jesus

    3. He had the miracle work of Jesus in his life.

    4. Jesus left the faith of the man who received his sight to grow through

        his testimony.  

SUMMARY

YOUR PRAYERS GETS GOD’S ATTENTION

PUT YOUR PROBLEM IN THE HAND OF JESUS

LET JESUS LEAD

EXPECT A NEW THING FROM JESUS

GET RID OF DISTURBING INFLUENCES

FOLLOW GOD’S COMMANDS

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Understanding Jesus As God", John 8:48-59. 2/7/2021

         

UNDERSTANDING JESUS AS GOD

John 8:48-59

THE WAY TO SALVATION

V:48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" 

49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 

A. Jesus was responding to the religious leaders who refused to believe He 

     was the long-awaited Messiah who came down from the Father.

    1. Those who want to accuse you will claim everything you say is a lie.

    2. Your accusers will say the most defiled things about you.

    3. The religious leaders consider Jesus a threat because He drew large

        crowds and exposed their hypocrisy. 

B. The religious leaders were eyewitnesses to the miracles of Jesus

     but claimed they were done under the influence of the devil.

    1. The Jews hated the Samaritans, so they claimed He was a Samaritan

        knowing He was from Galilee.

        b. To the Jews a Samaritan was unworthy of any credit.

        c. They consider Jesus deranged because He spoke the Word of God

            and did the work of God.

    2. There are times when you have to defend yourself and tell people who

        you are and claim God as your Father.

        a. Jesus honored the Father, which a demon would never do.

        b. The religious leaders dishonored the Father by their hatred of Jesus.

    3. Jesus claimed His deity by claiming the Father seeks His glory.

    4. Jesus claim Himself as the way to salvation through obedience

        to His Word.

IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

V:52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" 

A. The religious leaders were focused on the physical aspects of life.

      1. Jesus spoke of the spiritual and eternal aspects of life

          which His accusers could not understand.

      2. You can point to the place where the dead body is buried,

           but the has no place on earth.

      3. The spirit returns to the Lord.

B. The religious leaders pick which portion of the Old Testament they want 

      to believe.

     1. They had the complete Old Testament 300 years before the birth

          of Jesus.

       2. Had they read Genesis chapter 1, they would have known that the

           body has a spirit and a soul.

       3. Had they read Ecclesiastics 12:7, they would have known that the

           body returns to dust and the spirit returns to the Father.

       4. When we read the Bible to justify our position, we can always find

            scripture to justify it out of context.

To understand the religious conflict that Jesus dealt with, you must understand the players. ( from the Bible Journey)

The High Priests were both secular and religious leaders of the Jewish community. There was sometimes more than one ‘high priest’ or ‘chief priest’ (Greek, ‘archiereus’ meaning ‘arch-priest’). Annas and Caiaphas, for example, are both mentioned in the gospels (see Luke 3:2 & Matthew 26:14). Annas was appointed high priest in 6AD, and Caiaphas was appointed from 15 to 36AD.

Pharisees were the radical thinkers of their day, moving on beyond the written Law of Moses and re-interpreting 'traditional' Judaism. They believed not only in the immortality of the soul (the ongoing life of an individual after death), but also in the transmigration of souls ('re-incarnation'). 

Sadducees, on the other hand, were extremely conservative in their religious views. They believed only in the written Law of Moses (the 'Torah' contained in the first five books of the Jewish Scriptures) and rejected any later 'customs' or oral traditions. So they did not believe in any form of life after death and were in continuous conflict with the Pharisees.

C. The first problem with religious leaders of Jesus time was the High 

     Priests were not from the Levite tribe chosen by God. During the 2 BC  

     the High Priest became a political position chosen by kings. The Bible    

     became a tool of judgment mixed with Jewish tradition.

   1. The religious leaders lack spiritual insight because they listen to their

       traditions, rather than God. Political power and prestige became

       a substitute for the living God. 

    2. Jesus was a problem to the religious leaders because He was a public

         figure who spoke with authority and influenced many to become 

         disciples.

    3. There are many voices outside the church. We must be careful that

        the voice we listen to is the Bible.

THE GLORY OF JESUS

V:54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." 

A. Jesus did not glorify Himself, He left that to the Father.

    1. The Father’s glory was the work of some in belief and

         the disbelief of His accusers.

B. Jesus claimed His knowledge of the Father and the lack of

     knowledge of His accusers.

   1. Jesus claimed His eternity.

   2. He existed before Abraham.

   3. He revealed Himself to Abraham.  Genesis 18:16-22

THE ETERNAL EXISTENCE OF JESUS

V:57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" 

58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. 

A. Jesus spoke of His eternal existence which the Jews could not understand.

     1. In Genesis 18, God promised Abraham that He would be the Father

         of many nations.

         a. At that time, Abraham had no children, and the nation of

             Israel would not be formed until 400 years later.

         b. Abraham believed God and was counted righteous.

B. The Jewish leaders were so protective of their position that they

     became envious, jealous, and violent.

   1. The truth hurts.

   2. They heard the Truth from the Truth and rejected Jesus in favor of

       their own beliefs. 

   3. Jesus's only crime was revealing the Truth. 

   4. The Jewish leader’s sin was rejecting the Truth.

   5. After hearing the truth, the Jewish leaders wanted mob justice.

   6. Their emotions brought out the worst in them.

        a. Anyone who rejected their view was a traitor.

   7. They taught and proclaimed the Word, but only applied it to support

       their position.

   8. We must be careful not to see the Word of God in our view but in 

       God’s Will.

   9. When discussing God’s Word, check your emotions.

   10. If you are not careful, your emotions can lead you away from the Truth.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas  77041