Bible Study Series: Purposed To Be God's Family

 PURPOSED TO BE GOD’S FAMILY

THE BEGINNING OF FAMILY

It is good to have a family. We all started with a mother and a father. We may

have brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and cousins. You were born

into a certain family according to God’s design. We had no choice

in the matter. We were put on earth because God want a family.

According to Ephesians 1:4. God saw you before the creation began.

Ephesians 1:4-6

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

You were made to be God’s family and to give Him pleasure. You were formed

according to His will.

According to the creation narrative God first created a comfortable environment

for man to live and work (Genesis 1:1-25)

Three things to remember:

1. We were created by God for God's pleasure Ephesians 1:4

2. We were created in God’s image Genesis 2:26-28

3. We were created to have dominion over the earth Genesis 2:26-28

Adam was created first and given the job of naming each species of animals

God created after their own kind. Genesis 2:19-20

Let me suggest that after naming all the animals, Adam knew the

value of family. It was God who decided that Adam needed a helpmate.

God put Adam to sleep and formed Eve around one of his rib bones

Genesis 2:21

God’s first command to Adam and Eve was to be fruitful.

Genesis 1:28

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Starting with Adam and Eve, God ordained individual families.

Genesis 2:3

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

Just as the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are unified in purpose, the man

and his wife must be unified in the purpose of being obedient to the Father.

In our previous lesson, we discuss life being a Test, A Trust, and a Temporary.

Adam and Eve failed the Test that God designed for them.

In the middle of the Garden of Eden, their heavenly home, God planted

the Tree of Knowledge and Of Good And Evil with the specific command

not to eat from that tree. It was a test of obedience.

Being tempted by the devil, that is listening to the wrong voice without

consulting God, the first family faced the harsh reality of disobedience.

They were locked out of their home and forced to work the land by the

sweat of their brows.

SIN DOES NOT CHANGE GOD’S PLAN

Our sins do not change God's desire for us to be part of His family.

Sin is the vehicle God uses to discipline us in love. God’s plan

includes our restoration.

Hebrews 2:11-12

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Once Adam and Eve destroyed their relationship with the Father, it had to be

reestablished through the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ.

The old man of sin came alive and reign in man until Jesus was born in the flesh.

After Adam and Eve sinned, man was born in sin and shaped in inequity.

God’s desire for us to be His family does not change.

Malachi 3:6

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God could have ended mankind with Adam and Eve's sins. Their sin was part of

His plan. God included our ignorance and disobedience in His plan for the family.

CHOSEN TO SERVE

James 1:14

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

We were chosen to serve God. Anyone that decides to do anything is subject to making

mistakes or wrong choices. In the process of doing we may rub

someone the wrong way. God makes allowances for us to learn His way.

Like Adam and Eve, we may not totally consider the consequences of our

decisions. God's love for us includes His discipline. The benefit of God’s

discipline is the wisdom we learn to pay closer attention to His commands.

Galatians 3:2-3

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

It is obedience to the Word of God that brings life. No one man can keep the

whole law, therefore if brings condemnation.

God has given His family, the Holy Spirit to help us know His truth. You really

want no the value of the Word of God until you experience the consequences of

disobedience.

God did not create family to destroy it for disobedience, but to grow it

through life’s experiences to be more like Him.

We were made in His image and His likeness. But we have to experience life to

grow like Jesus. In that light, we cannot judge Adam and Eve’s sin since they

like all family members were on a path of growth. We all have a learning curve.

FAMILY IS SELECTIVE

Family is selective. God made everyone, but He did not select everyone to be in

His family. Some God chose and some God did not choose. God is sovereign,

He can do as He wills.

Romans 9:18-20

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he

wants to harden.

19 One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?

In the midst of all the none chosen people, God keeps track of His family.

Throughout your lifetime, you will never be lost as a family member.

John 6:39

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

Not only can you not get lost, but God planned the day that you would be called

out of the world of darkness.

Romans 8:28-30

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Notice there is a process that God used to form you into His family.

1. Sometime in eternity past, God knew you and determined that you would be

made in the image of His son

2. Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers which included you.

Notice God has moved out of eternity pass, moved past the creation

period to the time frame of your life.

3. Because you were born in sin. God had to perform a cleanup operation.

a. He called you out of the world

b. He justified you through the atoning blood of His Son.

3. He glorified you for His glory

EQUIPPED WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO RESPOND

Because Family members have responsibilities, God equipped you with

usable gifts. You were made capable to do the will of God.

Adam was given the task of naming all the animals God created.

Adam had an amazing vocabulary. He didn't have a book of words but did have the guidance of the Father.

1. God gave you a measure of faith

Romans 12:3

think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God

has given you.

It is through faith that we are able to respond to God’s call. We can do anything

through God who strengthens us.

2. Romans 12:3-9 is a list of gifts to be used according to your faith to serve the

the family.

Serving

Teaching

Encouraging

Helps

Generosity

Leadership

Compassion

A RICH INHERITANCE

As a member of God’s family, you have rich inheritance.

Galatians 4:7

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Ephesians 1:18-19

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

Notice to know and appreciate your given inheritance you have to study God’s word.

The Word of God has been printed and preserved for you. The enlightening is the work

between you and the Holy Spirit.

What is this inheritance?

Spiritual and Social Graces

Wisdom and understanding Ephesians 1:7

Knowledge of His will

Kindness, tolerance, patience Romans 2:4

INHERITANCE ON EARTH

We are God’s portion

Deuteronomy 32:9-10

9 For the Lord's portion is his people,

Jacob his allotted inheritance.

10 In a desert land he found him,

in a barren and howling waste.

He shielded him and cared for him;

he guarded him as the apple of his eye,

God chose you to display His love. You have the Lord as your protector.

He has His eye on you at all times.

You are the Lord’s love song

Isaiah 5:1

I will sing for the one I love

a song about his vineyard:

My loved one had a vineyard

on a fertile hillside.

You are constantly on the mind of the Lord.

God owns everything and He has made you an heir to all He owns.

As family members, we have access to all the riches of the Lord.

Jesus said whatever you ask the Father in my name will be given you.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

If you live long enough you will get old and your body will deteriorate. But

the good news is inward we are being renewed. We are renewed in the mind

and the spirit.

Inheritance Held in Heaven

1 Peter 1:3-4

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you

Jesus has prepared a place for us in Heaven. Some say we have a mansion

waiting for us to enter heaven.

Hebrews 9:15

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

We have been set free from sin and all unrighteousness to receive our eternal

inheritance.

GOD’S FAMILY HAS A MISSION

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Our job is to make disciples by proclaiming the Word of God. We are the Church

that draws people to the Lord. The Word does the convicting, we are just the

instrument of conviction.

Once a person has accepted Christ as their personal

Savior they need to be informed that their confession of faith brought about

an immediate spiritual baptism

The making of disciples does not end with their confession of faith. We have to

teach and encourage the new disciples to study the Word of God.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We have a rich

inheritance in God’s Word.

We have a responsibility to all of God's family to imitate the Jesus Christ

in our living, in our words, and our actions.

In summary, God Has purposes for your existence

LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU, IT IS ABOUT THE LORD

YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BE GOD’S FAMILY

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BE LIKE JESUS

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO SERVE

YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR A MISSION

CLASS QUESTIONS

HOW DOES KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE AFFECT THE WAY

YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?

HOW DOES KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE AFFECT HOW YOU

SEE GOD?

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Great Banquet:, Luke 14:1-24, 7/9/2023

 

THE GREAT BANQUET

Luke 14:1-24

THE SETUP

V:1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

Some people will set you up to mess you up. Not everyone who invites you

to be with them is for you. When people don't like you and invite you to

be with them, chances are they seeking reasons to condemn you.

Those who hated Jesus knew He would heal anyone who came into His presence.

They scheduled a dinner on a Sabbath and invited Jesus and a man with dropsy.

The issue for condemnation was work on the Sabbath. If Jesus healed the man

it would break their law (Leviticus 23:3).

The Pharisees invited witnesses to confirm Jesus breaking the law. The setup was complete with Jesus, the temptation to heal, and witnesses to condemn,

Jesus beat them to punch. He ask the question if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.

He got no response from the legal experts, so He heal the man. Jesus did what the

Pharisees expected but with compassion, love, and the will of the Father.

The work in Leviticus 23 means labor, occupation, or employment. The haters of

Jesus broke their law and tradition by having dinner on the Sabbath. Some

one had to labor to set the table and clean up after the meal.

People live by double standards. They judge you by a standard they don’t live

by. It's wrong for you, but ok for them. The Pharisees and the expert of the law

were not concerned about the man who was healed, but proof for their

condemnation of Jesus.

We cannot let our religious zeal overrule the mercy necessary to help those in

need.

Any encounter with Jesus is an opportunity to learn. Jesus used the setup of the

Pharisees teach the value of the Gospel.

PRACTICAL EXPLANATION OF SCRIPTURE

V:5 Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" 6 And they had nothing to say.

When you don’t understand scripture you need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

What good is scripture if you don’t have the understanding to apply it

to your life? If you don’t first understand a passage of scripture, study and

meditate on it. It is through your study that Holy Spirit works.

Jesus gave a practical example that everyone could understand. If your son fell into

a hole on the Holy Day, would you leave him there until the next day? It requires

work to get him out of the hole.

Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not

man for the Sabbath. The issue was not work but lack of holiness. The Pharisees

and the expert of the law condemned themselves.

PRIDE, HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF

V:7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

In Jewish custom, the Family meal was a time of intimacy. Family members and

the community came together to eat, fellowship, and share ideas, hopes, fears, and joys.

The seats close to the host were an indication of the standing in the community.

People took pride in their position at the table.

Everyone from time to time wants to look good before others. We can get caught up

with looking good that we can forget to be good. For formal occasions, you

dress to be seen. It is normal to want the best seat. It would be better to sit in an

undesirable seat and be asked to move up than to set in the front and be asked to

move back.

People are always watching what you do. A pure heart humbles himself before

God and man. God lifts the humble but brings down the proud.

Proverbs 3:34

He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

.

TREAT THE POOR WITH GENEROSITY

V:12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Hospitality is not always an act of love and grace, but the evidence of pride and

selfishness. It is alright to invite friends, but don't forget to invite those who have

no means to invite you. God blesses us so we can bless others in need.

Those in need may never get invited. You never know how your generosity

will lift the spirit of another person. Jesus set the example by feeding everyone

who came to him when He fed the five thousand men not counting

women and children. Jesus is no respecter of a person.

What is your motive for having a party? It is to gain the praise of men or

to share with others the praise of God. If our motive is the praise of men,

then that's all you get. When we invite the poor we store up treasures in

heaven.

THE BLESSING OF THE KINGDOM

V:15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

The Word of God convicts, enlighten, and encourages the listeners. Having heard

the Word one of the disciples shared His excitement. Those who hear the word

should share it with others. This disciple expressed His belief in the celebration

that would take place in heaven. His focus was not on the current time but on his

eternity with the Father. Unlike the Pharisee and his companions who gave the

dinner to condemn Jesus, this man came to be blessed by the Word.

THE GREAT BANQUET, SALVATION OF MAN

V:16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'

19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yokes of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

22 "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'

23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

The master is God the Father

The banquet takes place in Heaven.

The banquet is for the salvation of the saints.

The meal is the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The invitation is the free grace of salvation

The guest is the world, with the Jews being first.

The Servant is Jesus and His disciples

The invitation was given first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles

The Jewish nation rejected Jesus, and the invitation was gladly

accepted by the Gentiles.

There are three excuses men give for not accepting Christ as Lord and Savior

WEALTH

The first guest had a field he purchased that needed his attention

He refused the invitation because of his wealth and possessions

was put above God.

WORK

The second invited guest had purchased oxen that needed his attention.

He refused the invitation because he put his work above God

FAMILY

The third invited guest had his marriage that needed his attention.

He refused the invitation because he put family above God

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?

Nothing or no one is more important than God. By no other name

can a man be saved.

Those who reject Jesus don’t get a second chance after the banquet start.

After the invitation was rejected by the Jewish nation, The Gentiles; the poor the cripple, the blind, and the lame were invited lame.

The house was not full, so the servant was sent back out to search the entire world

for people to be brought to the banquet.

The invitation to the Gospel continues today until the second coming of the

Lord when the doors to the banquet will be closed.

Once Christ comes back, all who rejected the invitation will be locked out of

heaven forever.

My advice is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today. Tomorrow is

not promised. The door to the banquet is now closing. Accept the

invitation while you still have time.

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Lord's Prayer", Luke 11:1-13, 7/2/23

 THE LORD’S PRAYER

Luke 11:1-14

JESUS OUR ROLE MODEL

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Jesus is our role model for communication with the Father. Throughout His ministry, Jesus

was constantly in prayer with the Father. He prayed openly where His disciples could see

and sometimes, hear His prayers. The Jews prayed three times a day. The disciples saw Jesus

pray in private places and openly.

Most of us learn to pray from our parents or by watching and listening to others. I find no scripture

with the prayer of John the Baptist. Jesus' disciples had heard John The Baptist's prayer but

wanted Jesus to teach them also. If you want to know how they pray. seek the Lord first.

Jesus prayed more often than the Jewish traditional 3 times a day. He prayed in the morning,

He prayed all night, He prayed before meals, He prayed before and after miracles, He

prayed for the protection of His disciples and He prayed to the Father in troubling times.

Jesus prayed for the Israelites while hanging on the cross.

There is no time or place in our lives that God does not want to hear our prayers.

He is ready to console, instruct and guide at all times.

OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER

V:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say:

The word of God is a lamp to the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 6:23

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

If we ask God for guidance, He will give it in a way we can understand

and it will be profitable for us.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Luke 11:2

V:2 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom comes. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Start your prayer by recognizing God as Father. As a father, it always gives me joy to hear my

children call me father. We should consider the Lord as our Father. He owns us and

we must consider ourselves as His children.

Praise the Lord at all times. We should reverence His name. He is the Holy and we are

sinful. There is a proper way to approach God. We should approach God knowing

who He is.

Elohim The creator

Elohim Chayim The Living God

Abba The Father

Jehovah Jireh The Lord will provide

Jehovah Shalom The Lord is Peace

El Elyon The Most High God

El Kanna The jealous God

El Roi The God Who Sees

Jehovah Ro’i God the Shepherd

Jehovah Nissi The Lord Our Banner

“Your kingdom come, thy will be done as it is in heaven so in earth”

It should be our wish to be at home with God in heaven. This is not our home, we are

just passing through. The salvation of the Lord has been given to us through the atoning

blood of Jesus Christ. He has prepares a room in Heaven for each of us.

It is the will of the Father that we should want in our lives.

What we want in our lives may not be the best for us. Every decision we make

has a consequences, They may be good or bad. We cannot determine the outcome beforehand.

Therefore, before we make a decision, we should ask God to guide us.

Since our goal is heaven, we should want the best version of ourselves on earth.

TRUST

V:3 Give us each day our daily bread.

We must learn to rely on the Lord.

We must be thankful that He provides for us daily.

Be thankful for this day. We should not be anxious for tomorrow. It is not

promised. We have been blessed with today. Take full advantage of what God

is doing now.

Work today. Serve today. Praise today. Be joyful today. Be grateful today.

Do your best today. Think good things today. Bless others today. Love today

Be excited today.

When Moses was leading the Israelites in the desert, God gave them enough Mana for

a day. They could not save anything for the next day. God provided food each day.

That was four thousand years ago. God is still providing today. We can’t eat for tomorrow.

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD

V:4 Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

To have fellowship with the Father we must ask forgiveness and repent.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Because we have been forgiven, we must extend the same mercy to others who have

wronged us.

Forgiveness is for us, not the other person. Forgiveness releases us from the past

Our forgiving others enables God to forgive us.

Matthew 6:15

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

PROTECTION

V:4 And lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil

We can easily be drawn into sin by what we see, what we hear, and what we do.

The devil is active and busy all the time. He came to steal kill and destroy.

The Bible tells us to watch and pray.

At all times we should have a Word of God to share with someone. We can easily be

caught off guard and say something out of character that might unknowingly

offend someone.

The only way to defeat the devil is with the Word of God.

James 4:7-8

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

GOD GIVES US HIS BEST

V:5 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

To have a friend, you must show yourself friendly. Sometimes to be a friend is inconvenient.

When someone needs you, they may need you now. As in this example, the need happen in

the middle of the night.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We are never a burden to God with our requests. We can come to Him at any time and He is

ready to help. We must come to the Lord as a child without any reservations or doubt.

Matthew 18:4

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Children never think they are troubling their parents. They ask for what they want and expect

to receive. We are encouraged to come as a child trusting the Lord.

YOUR BLESSINGS DEPEND ON YOUR FAITH

V:9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

V:11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts

Your blessings depend on what you do before the Lord. There are three action verbs recommended

by the Lord Jesus; Ask, seek, and knock. They require your God-given energy.

Ask: You must open your mouth with a request. James 1 says to ask in faith, believing you will

receive from the Lord.

Seek: You must go looking for what you want. Go to God in prayer. He has all the resources

you need. The earth is His and the fullness thereof.

Psalms 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Knock: Sometimes doors are closed. Some jobs are not posted. You have to go knocking

on doors. Sometimes God closes doors to get us to knock.

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will

come in and eat with him, and he with me.

God is ready to answer our prayers the moment we ask.

We were made for the pleasure of God. The Jesus recommended prayer gives us incite into

what pleases God.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Bible Study: Called To Serve; Mark 3:13-19

 CALLED TO DISCIPLESHIP

Mark 3:13-20

CALLED TO SPREAD THE WORD

V:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve — designating them apostles — that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus' ministry. He preached in the wilderness

and baptized those who followed him. He preached the coming of the Messiah.

Many of John's followers became Jesus' disciples.

John 1:35-37

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus

John was six months older than

than Jesus so perhaps he preached six months before Jesus started His ministry.

Jesus began teaching at thirty years old. Crowds followed Him because He taught the Word

and His healing powers.

Luke 5:15-16

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

We have to spend time in the Word to develop a relationship with Jesus and to know His

power and authority over our lives.

It was Jesus who called us out of the crowd to be His disciples. Those He calls He ordains to be

preachers and teachers of the Word. Jesus gave His apostles power and authority over demons.

Today believers have that same power in the Word.

James 4:7-8

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

We must study the Word before we can teach and preach the Word. Our mission is to proclaim

the Word of God to those we come in contact with (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus knows each believer by name. He knew us before we were born and predestined us

to be with Him (Ephesians 1:4).

Jesus chose 12 apostles after the 12 tribes of Israel. You and I are adopted sons and daughters of

the Father. Jesus is our elder brother.

Some are called to preach. Some are called to teach. Some disciple gets a lot of attention. Others

serve in the background and are never mentioned. Peter, James, and John got the most attention

during Jesus' ministry. Other disciples record the Gospel and the work of Jesus. We all are called

to serve whether in the foreground or the background. Those who get the most attention get

the most criticism.

Throughout the Gospel mission, Jesus adds others to serve; like Paul, Barnabas, Mark, Luke, and James the half-brother of Jesus. Others serve quietly and are never seen.

Ephesians 1:5-6

5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

All believers have a place, a purpose, and a mission.

TRAINED TO SERVE

Mark 6:6-14

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

8 These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff — no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Jesus is our example for spreading the Gospel. Where ever we go, we are the voice of Jesus.

We have been called to serve, We have been sent to preach with Jesus’ power and authority.

We wrestle not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness in high places. We have to

have to follow the directions of Jesus to be successful in the mission He has given us.

Our armor is the Word of God. We are to depend on Him for provisions and protection.

Jesus has prepared the way, we have to be willing to go where He sends us.

We can expect that some will reject the Word of God. Our job is not to convince or

prove the Word, it is to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. If we are not received it

our job to leave that person in a corrupt state. We have no further obligation to

those who reject the Word.

We must be careful not to condemn those who reject the Word. They are hearing the word

about Jesus for the first time. Some other believers may come and water what was planted

and their belief begins.

In the Church, there are believers and pretenders. Judas was chosen by Jesus, but

he was a pretender. The pretenders remind us of ourselves. How much of the Word do

we accept and how much do we reject because of the lust of our flesh? We are all in

a growing process. We may have Jesus as Lord and Savior cemented in our faith, but

not be completely submitted to all the Word of God.

Bible Study Series: What Drives Your Life?

 WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE?

REVIEW OF CHAPTER 3

There are two questions to consider in this chapter

1. What Drives Your Life?

2. What are the benefits of a purpose-driven life?

WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE

Everyone has something that drives them. It may be your desire to be successful.

It may be your desire to be left alone. It may be a desire to have an easy life. What

ever it is, it is unique to you.

Rick Warren gives us five things that drive people.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN BY GUILT

Sometimes it is Monday morning quarterbacking. I should have, I could have, or I wish I

did this or that. Sometimes we look at past decisions as if another decision would GIVE

better results. The truth is the past and all thinking in the world want to change

anything. Putting yourself on the guilt trip changes nothing. Guilt brings you down, but

will never lift you. Guilt is emotional self-punishment.

Psalms 38:4

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

Guilt squeezes the joy out of life. You never know what people are carrying

in their hearts. They may be smiling on the outside, but grieving on the inside.

Job 31:33

33 if I have concealed my sin as men do, by hiding my guilt in my heart.

We have to release ourselves from the past so we can move toward the future.

The Apostle Paul made up his mind to move toward the future.

Philippians 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If you are on a guilt trip, you must let it go. There is no future in guilt.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN BY RESENTMENT AND

 ANGER

Resentment is an ill feeling toward someone for some reason. It could be because

they have what you want or have been given what you believe you deserve.

Resentment is toxic because it destroys you on the inside and blocks meaningful

relationships. Resentment is failure to realize that what God has for you is

for you.

Job 5:2

2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

When you resent someone, you don’t hurt them, you hurt yourself.

Resentment allows you to be controlled by what you don’t have.

Resentment takes your mind off what God is doing in your life.

Job 36:13-14

The godless in heart harbor resentment;

even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

Resentment blocks any thought of the help we have in God.

MANY PEOPLE ARE CONTROLLED BY FEAR.

Fear is a lack of faith in God. Fear cause you to focus on what you cannot

control rather than focus on the one who is in control.

Many times we fear what could be or what could happen. That kind of fear can

stop you from being creative or taking risks that could lead to success.

There is nothing wrong with fear, as long as it is the fear of the Lord

The devil operates on your fear. Fear can paralyze you into doing nothing.

2 Timothy 1:7

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

God has given us the power to reason, think and make proper decisions. Under His

guidance success is at hand.

God has given us the spirit to love. Love requires commitment and sacrifice.

Many times we don't love others as we should because we fear the commitment

that goes with it.

God has given us a sound mind. When you know the Word of God, you know the

promises of God which allow you to make decisions that will change the world.

Fear can be an excuse we use to keep from doing anything.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVEN BY MATERIALISM

Some think that if I had more money, I would be happier. Some think that

If I had more stuff, I would be happier. The truth is the joy of having more money

or more stuff is short-lived. There will always be something newer, bigger

and more expensive than your mind will drift toward. There is no lasting

satisfaction in having more.

If your mind is set on getting a new car. It's only new the moment you drive it

off the dealership. Whatever you buy can get old and obsolete by the world's standards.

If your focus is on the new and the more, where is your joy when it becomes old and

less in your mind?

We must learn to be content with what we have and content with God that

provides what we need. Discontentment is a complaint against the God we serve.

John 16:23

Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

We must put God first in our lives. If we are grateful for what we have and serve God, He will

gives us what we need and want.

Luke 12:31

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

DRIVEN BY THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS.

If your desire is to be approved by man, you will often be disappointed. Man will

love you today and hate you tomorrow. Man will praise you today and curse you

tomorrow.

The people in Jerusalem praise Jesus when He came riding into town on a donkey.

But yelled to crucify him during His trial. One moment they wanted Him as king and

the next moment they treat our Savior as the worst criminal.

The only approval that counts is the approval of God,

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

If you are driven by anything other than pleasing God, your life will be a disappointment.

All of the above can be seen as negatives. They all lead to your unhappiness.

In my opinion, the number thing that ought to drive us is

 God's Love

We were made in love. 1 John 4:16

We were made for love 1 John 4: 16

We were made by love 1 John 4:8

We were made to extend our love

It is Love that is the foundation of the family. We should be anchored in Love

THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE

According to Rick Warren, knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life

God has a purpose for every believer. Every believer has work prepared for them

Psalms 138:8

8 The Lord will fulfill [his purpose] for me;

your love, O Lord, endures forever —

do not abandon the works of your hands.

We may be driven by goals and aspirations and make plans to achieve them, but God's

plan for us will be accomplished.

Proverbs 19:21-22

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE GIVES LIFE MEANING

Colossians 2:2-4

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom have hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Five elements of God’s purpose for us are given;

1. To be encouraged in the heart

2. To be united in love in the body of Christ

3. To have a complete understanding

4. You can only know your purpose through Jesus Christ

5. To be enlightened to the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE SIMPLIFIED YOUR

 LIFE

When you know your purpose you are not driven by the changing doctrine of man.

Everyone has an opinion of what you ought to be doing. You can get confused

and misled by the thoughts of men.

All we need are the commands of God to guide our lives.

Proverbs 13:14-15

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Our job is to ensure that our ways are pleasing to God

Psalms 37:23

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

The Word of the Lord provides wisdom for our lives

Psalms 19:7-8

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE FOCUSES YOUR LIFE

In this world, many temptations lead us away from God.

1 Corinthians 7:36

And this I speak for your profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Psalms 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE MOTIVATES YOUR

 LIFE

That which we are passionate about we will act upon and talk about

Jesus was passionate about the Father. He spoke not His own words but the words of

the Father

John 7:16-17

Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.

Purpose in life requires commitment and obedience.

Matthew 26:38

39 And he went a little further and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

People will know your passion by what you do and say. Jesus was passionate about His mission

to save us from our sins

Acts 1:3

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Jesus wanted the world to know that the cross was not death, but eternal life.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE PREPARES YOU FOR

 ETERNITY

Ecclesiastes 3:11-12

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

God has much more in store for us than we can think or conceive.

We were not put on Earth to stay on Earth. We were created to serve God and proclaim

His name.

Since we are new creations in Christ. We were created to be with Christ

John 12:25-26

who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Our Purpose is to serve the Lord in spirit and truth.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE HEIGHTENS YOUR

 LOVE

FOR GOD

FOR FAMILY

FOR MANKIND

CLASS QUESTION

WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU, WHAT WOULD

THEY SAY DRIVES YOU?

WHAT DO YOU SAY YOUR PURPOSE IS?

Rev. M. Mitchell