Brotherhood Lesson, "Being Led By The Spirit"

BEING LED BY THE LORD

Matthew 2:1-12

 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

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.  Ephesians 6:11-12

GOD USES YOUR PASSION TO DRAW YOU TO HIM

V.1-2. " After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

A. Some times God speaks to you through your passion.

    1. The Magi may have been Astrologers, religious men and magicians.

    2. Whatever they were,  their focus was vertical, toward the sky.

    3. Let me suggest that they were more religious than the Jewish leaders.

    4. The Jewish religious leaders were focused horizontal.

        a. They were concerned about how other people saw them.

        b. Their focus was on power, authority and riches.

B. The Star was seen in both the east and Israel.

    1. The shepherd saw the light the night of Jesus birth and broadcasted it

         throughout Bethlehem without making an impact .

    2. Israel had their long awaited Messiah in front of them and didn't recognize

        Him. They were blinded by their passion of status and control.

        Daniel 9:25

        Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to

        restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and

        threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in

        troublous times.

       The Old Testament recorded the time, the place and the method of Jesus birth.

       The Jewish leader had this information but refused to live by it.

LET THE WORD CONVICT YOUR HEART

    3. The Magi were impacted and convinced by what they saw was the birth

        of a King.

C. Being convinced, of what they saw, they made a commitment to seek out the

     King.

   1. The Magi recognized the Star as something special

   2. It may be possible that they had a copy of the Old Testament.

        Numbers 24:17

        "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a    

         scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all   

         the sons of Sheth. "

Micah 5:2

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

   3. Not only were they Astrologers, but also mathematicians. They were able to    

       triangulate  the position of the Star as pointing to Bethlehem. 

YOU CAN LEARN FORM PEOPLE OF OTHER CULTURES     

D. Let me make some suggestions about  the Magi

     1.They studied the Word.

     2. They were convicted by the Word.

     3. They were committed to worship the King.

     4. They acted on their belief

     5. Isaiah 7:14

        a. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and    

            will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

        b. The name Immanuel means "God with us" which is symbolic  for Messiah.

 E. I believe the Magi were wise not only because of their education

      but because they came looking for the king.

PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH MAY BELIEVE THE CONTENT OF THE WORD

V:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

  A. When the Herod was  disturbed all Israel had reason to be disturbed.

       1. To protect his position he killed his previous wife, brother in law

           and sons.

       2.  He had a reputation for being cruel.

 B. Anyone that threaten Herod position would be eliminated

THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW GOD KNOW BELIEVERS (YOU)

V:4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he

   asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

A. Like the Magi, Herod the king trusted the accuracy of the Word.

     The Jewish leaders, who were keepers of the Word, knew the scripture concerning the

     coming of the Messiah, but were not phased by the news of His birth.

   1. One of the jobs of a believer  is to search the scriptures to discover its truth.

   2. The ruling Jews neglected their duty.

   3. We fail not only our selves but our families when we fail to study the scripture.

B. The ruling Jews had the information about the birth of Jesus 1 to 2 years earlier

    1. See verse 16

GOD MAY USE THE ENEMY TO GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS

V:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

A. God does not give you all information concerning your research at one time.

    1. He leads you in a direction to get what you need at the time of your need.

    2. God sometimes uses different sources to give you the information you seek.

        a. He used the Herod the King

        b. He used the Jewish leader call by Herod.

B. God does not always tell you what danger you are in.

    1. God protects you in dangerous situation on way to serve Him.

    2. Herod had the resources to kill the Magi at any time.

C. In our research, every discovery confirms our conviction of the truth.

    1. Their research of the stars reveal a special star, A unique star which

        confirm Numbers 24:17

    2. They recorded the exact time of the appetence of the star.

    3. The appearance of the star confirm Daniel 9:25

    4. Their questioning of Herod and the Jewish leaders reveal the birth place

        to be Bethlehem which confirm Micah 5:2

WE MUST ACT ON THE INSITE GOD GIVES

V:9-10. " After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

A. God leads those who seek Him to Himself

    1. When you serve the Lord, He continues to confirm

         His directions to you.

    2. The wise men had not seen the star since Jesus birth.

    3. After visiting Herod, God place the star before them to

        guide them to Jesus.

  B. Jeremiah 29:13

      You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

    Matthew 6:33

    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to     

    you as well.

QUESTIONS FOR GOD

C. Why did the Lord wait until after the Magi visited Herod to place

      the guiding star back in the sky?

    1. To force the Jewish leaders to search the scriptures concerning Jesus

    1. To remind the Israelites that their Messiah was alive and well.

    2.  To stir up their religious zeal.

    3. To show that we don't have to have all the answers for the work

        God has for us.

4. Why did Joseph wait 2 years before leaving Bethlehem?

    a. His purpose for going to Bethlehem was to get registered.

    b. That being accomplish, why didn't he return to his home in

         Galilee?

5. The answer may be to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies

    Psalms 80:8-9

    You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.

    You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

Hosea 11:1

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

To fulfill this prophecy, Joseph had to take Jesus into Egypt.

Matthew 2:13

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

THE WAY TO WORSHIP THE LORD

V:11 "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. "

A. The text gives us four reasons why the Magi did not see Jesus in the manger

     1. This verse says that they saw Jesus in a house

     2. In this verse "child" is the Greek word paidion which is little child.

     3. In Luke 2:12 the word used for Jesus at his birth is brephos which means

         infant.

     4. In verse 2:16, Herod kill all male children from 2 years and younger

         a. The Greek word for children is pais which mean boy, child , young man

B. Those who seek the Lord will find Him.

     1.  Jeremiah 29:13

      You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

     2. There is a proper way to worship the Lord.

         a. The Magi, humble themselves before the Lord by bowing down.

         b. They worshipped the Lord. reverence or adore  by prostrating themselves

         c. The brought sacrifices to honor Him.

         d. The gold represented His kingship

         e. The Incense represented His deity.

         f. The myrrh represent His  humanity, death, His mission on earth

   

GOD PROTECTS THOSE THAT WORSHIP HIM

V:12. " And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. "

A. Psalms 37:23

    The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

    1. God knows the evil plans of your enemies.

    2. God directs us away from trouble.

  

MAKE IT YOUR GOAL TO FOLLOW GOD'S DIRECTION

Rev. M. Mitchell

God's Vision Keeper Are Helpers Lesson 3

VISION KEEPERS ARE HELPERS

(Book by Kendrix Gardner)  Lesson 3

THE GIFTS OF HELPS

1 Corinthians 12:28-30

28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

The gift of helps can apply to anyone. It is not likely to have a title in the church. Helps

is a ministry that requires you to serve others in need. The one who has the gifts of helps

can serve in every area of ministry.

The gift of helps was first recognized in the early Church with the formation of the

Deacons. In the early Church their was a problem with serving of the Grecian women.

Every member of the Church had put all their resources in to one pool. The Deacons

job was to ensure proper distribution to meet everyone's needs.

Those who serve as helpers have an unselfish spirit. Those  who have the gift of helps

are guided by the Holy Spirit. They have a compassion to serve where ever they

are needed in any capacity.

The greatest servant in the Bible is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the

role model. He said: Mark 10:45-46

 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

We were called out of the world to be God's servants.

1 Peter 4:10

 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Those who serve derive their strength from Christ,

2 Corinthians 13:4

4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.

HELPERS HAVE A HUMBLE HEART

A servant takes the lowest position. Mary Madeline served Jesus faithfully after

her conversion. She showed her love and compassion for Jesus in the way she

served

Luke 7:44

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

John 12:3-4

 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Mary came to Jesus to serve with the resources she was blessed with. What God gave

her, she gave back in service. We should spare no expense to serve God. What

Mary poured on the Lord's feet was a years salary.

Jesus gave us the picture of a servant at the last supper with His disciples.

John 13:4-5

 So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

GREATNESS IS FOUND IN SERVING

Matthew 23:11

The greatest among you will be your servant.

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We have it switch around. We think we are being exalted when we step out in

front of everyone.

HELPERS ARE THE SOLUTION

In the church there will always be problem.

Matthew 26:11

The poor you will always have with you

Helpers see a problem and take on the responsibility to solve it.

Helpers don't run to the Pastor with the problem. Helper run to the

Pastor and offer themselves as the solution.

Since God's house is your house, you shouldn't be told do what you know

need to be done. For example. if you see a piece of paper on the floor or

in the parking lot, pick it up.

Men and boys are bad about not flushing the toilet after urinating

in the Church.

If you are in the Church and a toilet is not flushed, flush it.

Just because you have not been assigned to a particular task,

does not mean you can't get involved.

If you know something is not being done in the Church that need to be done,

maybe that is the ministry you can start.

Romans 12:4-6

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

1 Corinthians 12:18

 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

We are all here to serve each other.  Where would we be without the farmer? Where

would the farmer be without us?

Ephesians 2:22

 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit

Ephesians 4:16-17

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

All of us has work to do in the body of Christ. None of us should covet  another

persons gift.  we should focus on what we can do with the gifts God has given us.

VISION KEEPERS ARE LIVING SACRIFICES

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

In order to serve, you have to see yourself as a sacrifice worth having.

There is always someone who can benefit from your service.

There is always someone who is in need of what you have to offer.

I cannot sing and I am off key when I dance. But on first and third Sundays,

I be in youth church making a fool out of myself trying to encourage

the youth to praise God.

Christ gave His life for me. It not to much for me to be foolish in my

heart felt worship with the youth.

Hebrews 13:15

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name.

If I am going to be foolish, why not be a fool for Jesus.

Matthew 9:13

But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

You can make a sacrifice with out mercy. But you can't show mercy without a

sacrifice.

The very first sacrifice made in the Bible was in the Garden of Eden, when God

killed an animal to make a covering for Adam and Eve after they sinned.

Do you realized that when Satan the Arch Angel sinned, God did not make an

offering for his sin. Let me suggest that the reason is that Satan's sin was

of the spirit, but Adam's sin was of the flesh.

It takes a blood sacrifice to cover our sins. Jesus shed His blood on the cross

for you and me.

It should be nothing for us to sacrifice time and money to serve others.

GOD SACRIFICES HIS GRACE AND MERCY FOR US.

Grace is God's favor toward us. Mercy is God's forgiveness of our sins.

Romans 3:22-23

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.

Each day God makes a sacrifice for us through the blood of His Son.

Romans 3:25-26

 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Everyday we have to make a choice to sacrifice ourselves to God.

It is either, the world or God.

John 15:19

 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

WE ARE WINNERS WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD

The flesh in us want to chose the world. The Spirit in us which is of Jesus

chooses Him

Romans 7:23-25

 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is normal to be pulled away from serving God. That is the weakness in us which

is of the flesh. It takes the strength of Jesus to resist the flesh to serve God.

To serve God is a constant battle against the flesh. Satan don't take no

days off. Satan constantly reminds you that it don't take serving to get

into heaven.

Ephesians 6:11-12

 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

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.

REV. M, MITCHELL

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Grace Of Giving", 8/12/2018

THE GRACE OF GIVING

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Chapter 8 starts off with a progress  report of the giving in a special offering

by the Macedonian Churches. The Churches in Jerusalem was in dire need and

the churches in Macedonia rose to the occasion. They themselves were in poverty, but

gave generously above their means by the grace of God.

In fact the Macedonia Churches, not considering their own needs, begged to give in the

special offering to the Jerusalem churches. They sacrificed themselves for the better

good of others.

EXCEL IN THE GRACE OF GIVING

V:7-8 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

A. I think that it is good encouragement to hear about the generosity of others to

     those in need.

    1. The Macedonia Churches didn't have it to give, but their desire to give

        cause the grace of God to fall fresh on them so they were able to give

        well above their means.

    2. God  can make away out of no way.

    3. With a desire to give, God can take the little you have and multiply it

        to take care of your needs and the needs of the receiver of your desires.

B. We can do all things through faith in our God who strengthens us.

   1. No matter how bad you situation is, there is someone who in worst

       shape than you.

   2. There are some areas where it is easy for us to excel in because of

       grace God has given us.

   3. The Churches at Corinth believed in God, proclaim the Gospel, studied the

       Word and had a genuine love for one another.

   4. Paul gave the a good old pat on the back for excellent in these areas.

C. Paul encouraged the Corinthian Churches to give the same energy and zeal to

     the "grace of giving".

    1. Grace is God's favor towards us.

    2. Every day we awake we are showered with God's grace.

    3. Since God has shown us favor in areas of our lives, we ought

        favor others with generosity in our giving to their needs.

   4. The needs of others is a window of opportunity for us to

       express our love in a tangible way to them.

D. In this case, the Apostle Paul was not commanding the churches to give,

     but urging them to give as a show of the sincerity of their love

     to brothers and sisters in need.  

JESUS ,THE EXAMPLE OF GIVING

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

A. The greatest example of love is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    1. In heaven, Jesus was second in the Holy Trinity, and rich beyond any

       measure we can conceive of.  

    2. For the joy of our eternal life, Jesus stepped down out of heaven and

        was born into a poor family to die on the cross for our sins.

    3. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, himself, to atone for our sin

B. 1 Peter 3:18

      For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to     

      God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

    1. Being in Christ Jesus, we have access to all abundance which is Christ.

    2. What ever we sow in the name of Jesus will be multiplied in all

         abundance.

    3. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

        Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and   

        increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

       11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every

        occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

MAKE A VOW TO GIVE AND KEEP IT

V:10-11. " And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you   

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

 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your

 completion of it, according to your means. "

A. Whatever we start for Christ, we should complete.

    1. When we make a vow, we should be careful to fulfill it, because others

        rely on our trust worthiness.

    2. Others may find encouragement to give because of our generosity.

    3. Maybe the Churches in Macedonia were encouraged to give because of

        what they heard the Corinthian  Churches were doing.

B. God blesses the start of good works to their completion.

    1. We should never loose heart in doing good.

    2. It is the Spirit of God that drives us to start and it should be the spirit of

        God that strengthen us to complete a good work.

    3. Galatians 6:9-10

        Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest

       if we do not give up.   Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,

       especially to those   who belong to the family of believers.

     4. We must never forget that whatever we sacrifice for others in the name

          of Jesus stores up treasures in Heaven for us.

        Luke 6:38

        Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together  

        and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will   

        be measured to you."

GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR GIVING

V:12. " For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. "

A. God will never ask us to give what He has not already blessed us with.

    1. Malachi 3:10

       Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test 

       me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates

       of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

    2. The tithe is 10 percent of a blessing that God has already given to us.

        1. To give we must arrange our priorities so God is first in our activities.

        2. Before we pay any bills, we are commanded to pay God first.

 B. Giving is a command with a promise of more giving from God.

     1. we may never be able to see how we can live off of ninety percent of our

         income.

     2. There in lies the problem our desire to see before we give.

     3. The just live by faith and not by sight.

SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE

V:13-14. " Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,"

A. What goes around comes around is an tried and tested saying that is based on the

      Word of God.

     1. 2 Corinthians 9:6

        Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows

        generously will also reap generously.

    2. God gives to us so that we can give to others so that His will shall be done.

    3. We are not an island to ourselves.

    4. We all need each other,

B. God never told us that serving Him would be easy.

    1. He did tell us that we would face trials and tribulations because of

        our love for Him.

        Luke 23:31

        For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

        John 15:20

        Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If   

        they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying,

        they will keep yours also.

    2. Jesus also promised that He would never leave us or forsake us.

    3. The Churches in Jerusalem were facing persecution because of

         teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      a. Their need arrived from their love for Christ.

      b. God used the generosity of the Churches in other cities to provide for

          needs.

 EQUALITY AMONG BELIEVERS      

15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

A. If the world was equal, there would be no rich or poor people.

     1. Unfortunately we live in a world where the rich get richer and the

         poor get poorer.

     2. In the Church  it is not so. We are all equal under the Lord.

         1 Corinthians 12:25-26

          so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal   

         concern for each other.

         26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part

         rejoices with it.

B. In order to be in a mode of sharing you have to have a unselfish attitude.

    1. To go along with the unselfishness is total dependence on God.

    2. To give up the excess of life is to live each day with the assurance that

         God will take care of tomorrow.

    3.Giving takes on a whole new priority when you put God at center of your

     existence.

    4. The reason of our existence is God's continuous giving to every area of our

          lives.

POINT TO REMEMBER ABOUT GIVING

   Here are four things I have learned about giving.

     1. We should give joyfully

          2 Corinthians 9:7

          Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or  

          under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

      2. We should give Sacrificially.

           We don't test our faith unless we push our giving to the limit.

           We there no way to know how much you can give unless you

           trust God with your finances.

           Hebrews 11:4

           By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was

          commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by

          faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

      3. We should give Expectantly.

           Luke 6:38

           Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together

          and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it

          will be measured to you."

         There is no way to get the running over blessing unless you give trusting

          that God will fulfill His promise.

      4. We should give Completely.

           To give completely you have step out on faith and let God support you.

            Matthew 14:28-29

           "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

            "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and  

             came toward Jesus. "

 

           Since God said it, you have to believe it and act upon it.

   

           I heard a preacher say that giving completely means:

           "NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, AND NO REGRETS.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston Texas, 77041

For more lesson, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs

revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Vision Keepers Are Spirit Spirit Filled, Lesson 2

VISION KEEPERS ARE SPIRIT FILLED

(Book By Kendrix Gardner)

The Holy Spirit is the power that drives the Church. The disciples

selected by Jesus and trained by Him for three and a half years

did not become effective until they received the Holy Spirit sent by Him.

Acts 1:8

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

 witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Every believer, receives   the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the moment they

accept Christ as their personal Savior.

Ephesians 1:13

 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;

 in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Every believer has the power of the Holy Spirit, but most believer don't

know how to use this great resource.

The Church without the use of the Holy Spirit is like a car with out a battery.

In general on 20 percent of the Church is active serving God. The goal

should be to get 100 percent of the Church serving God.

The Holy Spirit is not a thing or influence, it is the third person in the Holy

Trinity. The Work of the Church is done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In this lesson we will try to get a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit are

two separate operations.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a one time operation that take place at

moment a believer accepts Christ as their personal Savior.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is an on going every day operation.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a personal choice that has to made

every day.

Ephesians 5:18

 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Under the influence of Alcohol all your filters come off and you may

say what is truly on your mind.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, your ignorance comes off and you

become guided by the wisdom of the Word of God.

John 14:26

26 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.

To learn all things, you have to be in a teachable mode. If I am watching one of my

favorite  TV programs, chances are, I will not be in a Holy Spirit teachable mode.

To be reminded of what Jesus said, I have to have read, studied and meditated on

His Word, which is recorded in the Bible.

It was after the Holy Spirit was given to Church, the 120 men and women (Acts 1:15,

Acts 2:1-4) in the house that it began to grow.  Peter preached and 3000 were saved in one day ( Act 2:41). We can do no work for God without the power of the

Holy Spirit.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Birth Into The Body Of Christ.

    Romans 7:4

   So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might   

   belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear

   fruit to God.

  James 1:18-19

  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits

  of all he created.

 John 3:6

 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit

Jesus was born into flesh by the Holy Spirit. Likewise, we are into the body of

Christ by the Spirit.

2. The Holy Spirit Baptizes us Into The Body Of Christ

     Acts 1:5

    For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy    

    Spirit."

    1 Corinthians 12:13

    For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave     

    or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

   The baptism of the Spirit is the moment the Spirit began to operate in the life of a    

   believer. The Holy Spirit make us partakers of the spiritual gifts and actuates the

   working of the spiritual body. We are made equal members of the Holy brotherhood.

3. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer.

     Luke 11:13

     If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much

     more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

    Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your

    salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of

    promise,

Ephesians 4:30

 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Upon belief, the Holy Spirit becomes our spiritual conscience

It reminds us of the Word of God. It Convicts us of our sins

It empowers us to do God's work.

The believer is never alone. Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT SEALS THE BELIEVER

According to the two previous verses, once saved always saved.

There is no turning back to our previous life.

We can only go forward growing in the Spirit.

We can grieve the Holy Spirit with our sinfulness. Even though out home in

 heaven is sure, we will face consequences for our unfaithfulness.

God is tolerant to work with us until good work Jesus began in us is completed.

5. The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us.

    Sanctification means to be made holy and set apart for God's us.

    Positional sanctification is the state that was placed on us even though

    we are still in a sinful state.

    Progressive Sanctification is the on going continuous work that God does in

    us to make us more like Christ.

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS THE BELIEVER WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS

     1 Corinthians 12:28

     28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third  

     teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to

     help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of

     tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

7. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES AND DIRECTS THE BELIEVERS

     John 16:13-14

     But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not     

     speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to    

     come.

     Romans 8:14

     because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

 

     The Holy Spirit led Abraham to be the father of faith.

     The Holy Spirit guided King David through all his battles with

     with his enemies.

     The Holy Spirit guided Apostle Paul through out all his missionary

      journeys setting up churches ending in Rome.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Humble Shall See God:, 8/5/2018

THE HUMBLE SHALL SEE GOD

Romans 2:1-12

NO EXCUSE FOR YOUR JUDGMENT

V:1." You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. "

A. The therefore  in this verse implies a conclusion that has been made based on the

     argument in chapter 1 of Romans.

    1. The conclusion is that an man knows the character of God and the power of God

        through creation which he observes. Not only that, but man has experienced the

        blessing of God through out his life.

    2. Knowing the existence  of God, the man in question has chosen to reject his

        knowledge of God in favor of his evil desires.

B. Those who reject God and His righteousness are fighting a war among themselves.

    1. They want the justice of God applied to themselves without being obedient to

        God who they reject.

    2. To pass judgment means you have to a have a standard by which your judgment is

         based. 

    3. If we do not live by the standard which we judge, then we condemn ourselves.

    4. Consider a thief who steal from others, but hold a gun on one who steals

        from him.

        a. Has not the thief condemned himself?

        b. The war within the thief is from the fact that he is trying to hold his friends  and

            others to a   standard of  righteousness that he himself  refuses to live by.

C. There is no excuse for his behavior or his judgment because his standard demonstrates

     a knowledge of right from wrong.

    1. He cannot claim ignorance of God because he recognizes God with his judgment.

    2. According to Roman 1, God has given him over to his evil desires because he

        refuses to glorify Him or give Him tanks.

YOU SHALL NO THE TRUTH

V:2-3. " Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?

A. The only truth that we can live by is the Word of God.

    1. Luke 6:37

       Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: 

       forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

    2. We must live by God's standards and not our own.

    3. Before we judge someone, we should look at ourselves to be sure that we are not

        doing the things what we  judge others.

B. We will be judged by the same standard that we judge others.

    1. To judge is to take the place of God.

    2. Rarely do we know the whole story, because we have not walked in another

        mans shoes.

DON'T TAKE GOD'S KINDNESS FOR GRANTED

V:4-5. " Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."

A. To judge another person is to show a lack of tolerance. kindness and compassion.

    1. If we consider our short comings, we will realize the  mercy of God on us

        through out our lives.

    2. When we realized the kindness of God toward us, we should want our

         hearts and action to be pleasing to God.

    3. Because we want to please God we will repent our sin as soon as we

        recognize them.

B. The person or persons in question in this text does not repent but continue in

     their evil judgment and actions toward others.

   1. As a result is storing up God's wrath against himself.

   2. Galatians 6:8

      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.

   3. God is the judge of our actions.

YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW  

V:6-7. " God "will give to each person according to what he has done."

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. "

A. There are two types of peoples in the world.

     1. Those who obey God's commands are the ones who love Him.

     2. Those who reject God, store up His wrath for themselves.

     3. All actions have consequences, good or bad.

B. Those who loves the Lord seek His glory and honor.

    1. Those who love the Lord have a pattern of righteousness.

    2. Those who believe in God have eternal life with Him as their destination.

    3. The Christian objection should be to please God with all his heart, mind,

        soul and strength.

STORE UP TREATURES IN HEAVEN OR STORE GOD'S WRATH

V:8-9. " But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

A. This second group walk and live under the influence of Satan and his demons.

    1. A person under the influence of Satan is self centered.

    2. A person who rejects God, rejects His authority over his life.

    3. He has made himself an idol or worships something other than the

        true and living God.

     4. As a result he walks after the evil of this world and seeks to satisfy his

         evil desires.

     5. His evil desires leads to evil actions which stores up the wrath of God.

B. Those who follow after their own desires are not under the protection of God.

    1. Job 14:1

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

    2. Believers and non believers will have trouble in their lives.

    3. Believers have God to protect them in their troubles and to carry

        through their troubles.

    4. Non believers are stuck in their troubles.

    5. The troubles of a non believer is the wrath of God.

    6. The troubles of a believer are faith growing opportunities.

JESUS JOY IS FOUND IN OBEDIENCE

V:10-11. " but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

11 For God does not show favoritism. "

A. Those who humble themselves before God will be lift up by God.

     1. Psalms 149:4

         For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

     2. Isaiah 66:2

         Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the 

         Lord. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and

         trembles at my word.

B. To the Lord, there is neither Jew or Gentile, but the one who trust Him.

     1. The Lord's grace and mercy falls fresh each day on those who worship Him.

     2. The Word of God came first to the Jew, alone with all His blessings.

     3. After the death and resurrection of Jesus salvation came to the Gentiles.

     4. God honors all who follow His commands.

ETERNAL JOY OR ETERNAL HELL, YOUR CHOICE

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

A. Romans 6:23

     For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

   1. The Gentiles (which is us) have never been under the penalty of the Law.

   2. The Law applied to the Jews which they could not keep.

   3. The Law was never designed to save, but to show our sinfulness.

   4. We are doom to an eternal hell if we do not accept Christ as our personal Savior.

   5. Ephesians 2:4-5

       But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

       made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace

        you have been saved.

    6. Abraham  by faith in the Word of God, was considered righteous and

        received eternal life with Christ.

C. Jesus death on the Cross open the door to heaven to all who believe in Jesus

     (the Word), Jews and Gentiles alike.

JUDGE NOT AND YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor OF Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

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

remmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com