This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "All About Jesus", 12/7.2014

ALL ABOUT JESUS

 

Hebrews 1:1-9

  

V:1. " In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways."

 A. In the past God spoke to the prophets many time in many different ways.

      1. Job is reported to be the oldest book in the Bible.   1500 BC

      2. The first five books of the Bible is the Word God dictated to Moses.

          a. The first five book is called the  Torah or the Law.

          b. The Law was given to teach Israel how to worship the true and living God.

          c. The Law set boundaries for all aspects of the life of the Israelites.

      3. In the Old Testament God used prophets, priest and kings to record His word.

      4. God employed scribes to copy and maintain the accuracy of His Word.

 B. God has not allowed His Word to get lost or be changed throughout thousands of

      years of Biblical history.

     1. The Old Testament was given to the nation of Israel to be preserved for all times.

     2. The Old Testament writings inspire and encourage us in God's righteousness.

 

V:2.  But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

 A. The New Testament records the Word of  Jesus Christ to His Apostles.

     1. The New Testament also records the  God inspired works of the Apostles

         proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2. Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us heirs to all promises of God and the Kingdom

         of God.

     3. Jesus, the Son of God, is our elder brother.

 B. In the New Testament God speaks to His Church.

     1. The head of the Church is Jesus Christ.

     2. All who profess Jesus as Lord and Savior are included in the Church.

 C. Jesus is the co creator of the universe and the owner of all things.

     1. All things includes all believers and non believers.

     2. Only believers are heirs to the kingdom of God.

 

V:3. " The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. "

 A. Any man that has seen Jesus has seen the Father,

     1. We have not seen Jesus, but know Him because we believe His Word.

         a. The just lives by faith and not by sight.

         b. The just has been given the ability to understand  God's Word through the

             power of the Holy Spirit.

     2. We have a relationship with the Father through our faith in the Son.

 B. Jesus is not only the creator of all things, but also the sustainer of all things.

     1. It was by His Word that things came into existence .

     2. It is by His Word that everything is sustained.

     3. The Lord is continuously active in His creation.

 C. The blood Jesus shed on the cross atoned for all sins, for all times

     1. We are made clean by our Faith in the Word.

     2. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the father making intercessions for us.

     3. He sat down because His work in creation is complete.

     4. He sat down because His work in redemption is complete.

 

V:4. " So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs."

 A. Angels are created spiritual beings and certainly no match for Jesus.

     1. Jesus is Alpha and Omega.

     2. Jesus has no beginning or ending.

     3. Jesus always existed.

     4. Jesus is the uncaused cause.

 B. The Son was never created, but took on the form of man for our salvation.

    1. No angel ever died for our salvation.

    2. No angel was ever resurrected for our redemption.

    3. No angel is a heir to every thing that was made.

    4. Jesus is superior to all the angels.

    5. Jesus is the High priest, prophet, the Messiah and King.

    6. God never said that a feet of an angel every knee shall bow.  

 

V:5. " For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"?  Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? "

A. The Son of God is applied to the Eternal Son seated at the right hand of the Father.

    1. From time to time the Father calls His angels sons of God.

    2. The high position of Jesus is never compared to the lower spiritual beings of angels.

B. Angels served the Lord doing His earthly ministry.  Matt 4:11

   1. Angels are messengers of God.

   2. They never take on human flesh even though they may appear in human form.

   3. Angels worship the Lord. 

 

V:6 "And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

 A. Jesus is the first born of the dead.

     1. Jesus was the first in human form to die and be resurrected from the dead.

     2. Jesus said, I Am the Resurrection and the Life.

 B. The redeemed are buried in His death and resurrected in His Life.

     1. In ancient Israel, the first born son was the heir to the inheritance of the family.

     2. The first born was a title and position of honor.

     3. The first born of God is Jesus Christ.      Rom 8:29

 

V:7. " In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire."

A. Throughout the Bible angels are found worshipping God.

    

     1. God gave angels the ability to make choices.

     2. Satan was an arch angel before sin was found in him.

B. Angels are God's helpers dispatched to bring the Good News of the Gospel.

    1. Angels are encamped around God's people as protectors.

    2. It was a host of God's angels that presented the good news to shepherds the

        night  Jesus was born.

 

V:8. " But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom."

A. God's Glory is manifested best in His Son.

    1. The redemption of mankind is God's most glorious accomplishment.

    2. Redeeming man for Heaven is the completion of His divine plan.

B.  Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior exemplifies God divine love, His Grace and His

      mercy.

   1. God endless power is shown in the atonement of the sins of all mankind with the

       blood of His Son shed on the cross.

   2. Jesus atoning blood spans all time from the creation of man to His second coming

       to take all believers into heaven.

C. The righteousness of God is imputed upon all of God elect.

    1. At the right hand of God, Jesus reigns on the throne forever.

    2. Jesus is the High Priest and the King forever.

 

V:9. " You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

 A. Jesus humbled himself before the Father and became man to teach the righteousness

      of the Father.

    1. Even thought there was no sin in Jesus, He became sin for mankind.

    2. He sacrificed His life for the lives of God's elect.

    3. The sacrifice of His life made peace between man and God.

    4. His life satisfied God's demand for justice for the sins of man.

B. Jesus became man so that we could have life and have it abundantly.

 

KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON JESUS

  

Rev. M. Mitchell, Asst Pastor of GMBC

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Hope, The Good News To Remember" 11/30/2014

 

 

HOPE, THE GOOD NEWS TO BE REMEMBERED

 

Isaiah 52:1-2, 7-12

 

V:52. " Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again."

 A. The word "Awake" means open your eyes.

      1. Believers should always be alert.

      2. We can not experience the glory of God, if we are not in tuned to His Word.

 B. To clothe ourselves in the strength of the Lord, we must put on the full armor

      of God.

      1. We need protection from the world we live in.

      2. We are under attack all day long.

      3. Satan and his demons never rest in their effort to steal, kill and destroy.

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

             schemes."   Eph 6:11-17

 C. It is obedience to the Word of God that cleans us up.  John 15:3

     1. When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, the clean up process begins.

     2. When we walk according to the Word of God, we put on garments of splendor.

 

V:2. " Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the  

  chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. "

  A. The common way of sitting in ancient Israel was on the floor with legs crossed.

      1. Before our relationship with Christ, we were all sitting in the dust of life.

      2. Dust is nothing and we are nothing without Christ.

      3. We must remember that God created Adam from the dust of the earth.

      4. God can take our dusty souls and redeem them to eternal life.

  B. Even though we have been redeemed, we still walk in the dust of life.

      1. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up.

      2. We must continuously make efforts to shake off the dust of life.

          a. We must shake off the sins in our lives.

          b. We make shake off the lust of life.

          c. We must shake off the envy of life.

          d. We must shake off the hates in our lives.

          e. We must shake off unselfishness.

    C.  We must rise up, shake the dust and take on the righteousness of God.

         1. We must present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.

         2. We must continuously take on an unselfish attitude.

         3. We must put God first in all our decisions and activities.

         4. It is the Lord who lifts us up and sets us on a higher plain near Him.

    D. Sin is the chain that binds us to this world.

        1. The more we satisfy the flesh, the more we are chained to our old self.

        2. We must seek the righteousness of God to break the chains that bind us.

 

 

Isaiah 52:7-12

V:7. " How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

A. It was the angel Gabriel who brought the good news to Zachariah that he and his wife  

     in their old age, would have a baby. (John the Baptist)

  1. It was the angel Gabriel that brought the good news to Mary, a virgin, that she was

      selected to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah.

  2. It was a host of angels from the Lord that brought the good news to the shepherds in

       the night that the Savior had been born in Bethlehem.

B. Everyone needs to hear a good Word from the Lord.

  1. The world is filled with bad news.

  2. We get bad news from the news media, the internet, face book and twitter.

  3. The world focuses on the bad when there is more good around.

  4. You can only find eternal hope in the word of God.

  5. We should make it our business to encourage others.   

 C. The death of the Lord on the cross made it possible for all to inherit eternal life.

   1. Jesus gave us the great commission to proclaim the Gospel to everyone we meet.

   2. It is the attitude of blessing others with words of encouragement in the Lord

       that draws us closer.   

 

 V:8. " Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the

   Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes."

  A. A watchman was normally posted on a tower as the lookout for approaching 

       enemies.

       1. Jesus is not our enemy, He is our friend. He will return to take the church

           to be with Him in heaven.  John 14:3

       2. All believers should be ready and prepared for the second coming of Jesus.

       3. Our objective is not life in this world but Heaven with the Lord.

       4. We should travel the road of life, shouting the joy of the Lord.  

  B. The Lord will come again in a cloud with power and glory and all men will see Him.

        Luke 21:27

       1. Jesus will drop down from heaven with the arch angel.

           a. There will be a great shout after which the arch angel will  blow his horn.

               The dead in Christ will rise and then those still living will be called to heaven.

           b. The word "shout" means a cry of excitement.  1 Thess 4:16

       2. Not only will believers be excited at the Lord's return, but the angels in heaven

           will rejoice.

       3. Heaven is in our mist.

            a, We have the Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

            b. Life on this earth is but a short period, therefore we  should be rejoicing now.

 

V:9. " Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem."

A. When the Lord returns, It will not be a private party.

       1. All believers will rejoice when the Lord comes again.

       2. When we think about the goodness of the Lord, we ought to rejoice.

          a. He took us out of the ruins of life.

          b. He redeemed us from our sins.

          c. He comforts us with love.

 B. Through the death of Jesus Christ, we were adopted into the family of Israel.

      1. We have a home in the new Jerusalem where Jesus will reign.  Gal 4:5

      2.  We are the redeemed of God and we should be ready to say so.  Psalms 107:2

 

 V:10. " The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the

  ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God."

 A. The Lord's Holy Arm is our deliverer.

     1. He delivered us from our sins.

     2 He delivers us from the troubles of the world.

     3. He delivers us from the evil of this world.

     4. He delivers us in times of sickness..

     5. He delivers us from financial problems.

     6. He delivers us from the sorrows of life.

 B. What the Lord does for us, is in the sight of the world.

     1. Since the Lord delivers us in the sight of the world, we should praise Him in

        the sight of the world.

     2. If we deny Jesus before the world, He will deny us before the Father in heaven

         2 Tim 2:12

 

 V:11. " Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord."

 A. When the Lord released the Israelites out of Babylonian Captivity,  they were to leave

      without taking any of the Babylonian unclean habits.

     1. God has released us from the captivity of  sin .

         a. We are commanded to leave our old sinful habits and take on the righteous of

             God.

         b.  Any man in Christ is a new creation.

         b. We were buried in the death of Jesus and resurrected into a new life with Jesus.

 

 V:12. " But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. "

A. God is our guide.

    1. Because we are in Christ, we must submit ourselves to the will of the Father.

    2. It is easy to follow our old ways.

    3. It takes a change in our hearts to follow Christ.

 B. God is our security.

     1. When we make up our minds to follow God, he encamps His angels around us.

     2. No weapon formed against us can prosper.

 

Rev M. Mitchell, Asst Pastor of GMBC

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Setting Boundaries", 11/23/2014

SETTING BOUNDARIES

 

Ezekiel 47:13-23

 

V:13. " This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph."

 

When the Israelites came into the promise land, God divided the land among the 12

tribes. He set boundaries for each tribe. More importantly, were Gods commands.

God's commands are the boundaries of their lives.

 

Over time the boundaries were erased.  God selected people, corrupted themselves by going out side of His boundaries and rejecting His commands.

 

In life we have national boundaries, community boundaries, family boundaries and individual boundaries.

 

In this text, God resets the boundaries for the millennium kingdom.

 

V:14. "You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will become your inheritance."

A. God keep his promises.

    1. Time and circumstances does not change the promises of God.

    2. God made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation

        and set the boundaries of the land recorded in the 13th chapter of Genesis (1900 BC).

    3. The nation of Israel did not take possession of the land until 1450 BC.

 B. Overtime, the boundaries of the land changed because of the disobedience of Israel.

    1. God is not bounded by the boundaries that man sets.

    2. From time to time, God reminds us of His promises and His boundaries.

 

 V:15-20 "This is to be the boundary of the land: "On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, 16 Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary. 18 "On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the east boundary. 19 "On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi [of Egypt] to the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary. 20 "On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the west boundary.

 

A. God set the boundaries of the nation.

    1. In the boundary of the nation, God set the boundary of each family.

    2. As a nation of believers, the Word God is our boundary.

    3. Any time we go outside of God's Word, we go outside of the will of God.

B. One of the major issues of Israel was idolatry.

    1. Thou shall have no other gods before me.

    2. The nation of Israel grew up in Egypt, with a  people who worshipped idols.

    3. God freed Israel from the worship of idol gods and established himself as the one

        true living God of Israel.

    4. From time to time Israel rejected the true and living God in favor idol gods.

    5. Anything we put before God becomes an idol.

    6. Trusting in anything or anyone other than God puts us in idol territory.

 C. Boundaries establishes the standards for living.

    1. With boundaries, there are places you can go and places you can't go.

    2. With boundaries, there are people you can associate with and people you can't be

         around.

    3. With boundaries there are thoughts you can entertain and thoughts you can't

         entertain. Phil 4:8,9

    4. With boundaries there is a God to worship and gods not to worship.

    5. Boundaries set the standard of truth and defines evil.

 D. Notice, God is exact in setting the boundaries of the promise land.

    1. God defined the north, south, east and western edges of the promise land

        with specific places on the map.

    2. God is very specific in identifying those He selected to be part of the body

        of Christ.

    3. God is specific in identifying His truths from that which is false.

    4. God is specific in identifying righteousness from that which is evil

E. Ezekiel's vision set's the stage for the inheritance of the spiritual Israel.

    1. All those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior are the spiritual

        Israel.

    2. The spiritual Israel are all those who obey the commands of God.

       a. Jesus asked the question, "Who are my brothers and Sisters?"

       b. The answer is those who obey God's commands.

 

 V:21-23. "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign Lord.

  

The inheritance of the spiritual Israel can be defined in this manner:   (Pulpit Commentary)

  

A.  IT IS A DIVINELY APPOINTED INHERITANCE.

 

   1. Before the foundation of the world God decided on the redemption of man.

       Eph 1:4-5

   2. God created everything perfect.

       a. It was in God's plan that man would sin and be in need of redemption.

       b. God knows the end from the beginning and everything in between.

   3. At some point in God's creative process, He allowed one of His angels to corrupt

       heaven resulting in the fall of Satan and his demons.  Isa 14:12

  4. We are not told when Satan was kicked out of heaven, but we know he was present

      in the garden of Eden before Adam sinned.

   5. Immediately after Adam's sin, God promised a redeemer for mankind.  Gen 3:15

 

B. IT IS A SPECIAL INHERITANCE FOR EACH BELIEVER

 

  1. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is the promised redeemer.

  2. The death of Jesus on the cross atoned for all of mans sins, but not all men were

     elected to be saved from sin.  Mat 24:31, Ro 8:30

  3. There are two classes of people in  the world; those elected for salvation and those not

      elected for salvation.  2 Tim 2:19

  4. There are those who will receive the Spirit of God and those who will not receive the 

      the Spirit of God.  John 14:17

  5. No one deserves salvation, but God makes us SPECIAL by drawing us to Himself.

      a. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them.  John 6:44

 

C. IT IS A SUFFICIENT INHERITANCE FOR ALL.

 

    1. The Church started with Jesus and His 12 disciples in a very small place on earth.

    2. The Gospel has expanded to most of the earth and is still spreading, according to the

        great commission that Jesus gave us.  Mat. 28:19

    3. The Gospel is by the Grace and Mercy of God and there is no limit to His resources.

    4. There is enough Grace and Mercy for every one God has elected for Himself.

 

D. IT IS A PERPETUAL INHERITANCE.

 

   1. All who accept Jesus has a present inheritance of the righteousness of God and an

       eternal, everlasting righteousness with God.

   2. Jesus said to us, where I Am, there you will be also.

   3. Heaven is present in our mist because we have the indwelling of God's Spirit.

   4. Our inheritance include all the promises in the Bible, the divine Word of Truth.

   5. What the Lord has given us, the world cannot take away.

   6. Neither trials and  tribulations of this world nor death can separate us from the love

       of God.  Ro 8:39

   7. In Jesus Christ, we live forever.  John 3:16

 

 E. WE WERE ALL STRANGERS TO THE INHERIENCE

     1. We all were strangers  to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2. We were all born in sin because of the sin of Adam.

     3. But God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten son, so that

         all who believe in Him have eternal life.

 

 F. GOD'S BOUNDARIES BENIFIT ALL BELIEVERS.

 

     1. God set the boundaries of Israel to separate them from the pagan nations around

          them.

        a. God gave Israel His law so that Israel would not follow the ways of the world.

        b. The Church is under the laws of God.

    2. Boundaries separates us, the Church,  from the ways of the world.

        a. Boundaries separates love from hate.

        b. Boundaries separates righteousness from sin.

        c. Boundaries separates good from evil.

        d. Boundaries separates hope from hopelessness.

        e. Boundaries separates joy from sorrow.

        f. Boundaries separates right relationships from wrong relationships.

        g. Boundaries separates heaven from hell.

        h. Boundaries separates successful living from unsuccessful living.

        i. Boundaries separates peace from disruptions.

        j. Boundaries separates God from Satan.

 

THANK GOD FOR HIS BOUNDARIES

 

Rev. M. Mitchell,  Asst Pastor of GMBC

 

        

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Living Water", 11/16/2014

THE LIVING WATER

 

Ezekiel 47:1-12

 

V:1-2 " The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side."

A. The more you study God's Word, the more His divine plan will be revealed to you.

    1. Sometimes God uses physical examples to explain Spiritual concepts.

    2. Ezekiel observed water flowing out of the temple though the temple gate.

    3. The entrance to the temple faced east.

    4. Ezekiel was led outside the gate and around the temple.

        a. He observed that the water was flowing from the south side of the temple toward

            the east.

        b. The south side is  the right of the altar.

        c. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.

B. Jesus is the source of life.

    1. Jesus is the living water.  John 7:38

    2. From the temple of God flows all wisdom.

    3. From the temple of God though Jesus Christ flows eternal life.  

    4. All that we need flows from God.

        a. Seek first the kingdom of God and all thing necessary for life will be given to you.

            Mat 6:33

        b. The Word of God flows from the altar.

        c. Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word of God.   Mat. 4:4

 

 V:3. " As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep."

 A. The Word of God comes to us first in bits and pieces that we can understand.

     1. The more we study God's Word, the deeper our understanding gets.

     2. Jesus started His ministry on earth with 12 disciples that He selected.

        a. The ministry continued to grow as the Word was proclaimed.

        b. We continue to grow spiritually, as we continue our study of the Word.

    3. We first start our life with Christ as carnal Christians.

        a. We are more emerged in ourselves than the Word of God.

        b. Once baptized in Jesus, the feet are wet but the heart is still unchanged.

 B. As Jesus continued teaching the Word of God, more and more people were

     drawn to Him.

     1. In one setting, He fed 5000 and in another setting, He fed 4000 people.

     2. Our job is to first be fed so that we can feed others the Word of God.

 

 V:4. " He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist."

 A. The more we study the Word, the more we are emerged in the Word and in the Spirit

      of God.

    1. The more we study the Word of God, the more distant we become from our worldly

        ways.

    2. We have to put off the flesh to put on the spirit of God.

 B. If we view the cubit as time, God continues to reveal His Word to us throughout our

   life time.

  1. God began revealing His plan of redemption in the Garden of Eden after the sin of

      Adam.

  2. He selected Abraham as the father of faith.

     a. From Abraham, He grew a nation in slavery who He called His people.

     b. Through 42 generations, He brought Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

     c. The Church of Jesus Christ was born with His death on the cross and His

         resurrection.

 

V:5. " He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in — a river that no one could cross."

 A. At some point in our spiritual growth we should be completely emerged in the Word

     of God.

    1. We should be filled with the Spirit of God and totally committed to Him.

    2. When we become completely filled with the Spirit, worldly ways will have no place

         in our lives.

   3. There ought to come a time in our lives when we should quit swimming and start

        walking on water.

   4. With the Lord Jesus in our lives, we have supernatural powers.

 B. Jesus commanded His disciple to get in a ship and go to the other side of the sea.

    1. They toiled all night against the waves of the sea and made little progress.

        a. Their problem was, they failed to take Jesus on their trip.

        b. Jesus was not in their hearts.

    2.  When Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he stepped out of the boat and started

         walking toward Him. Mat 14:29

C. We will always have situations that we can't handle.

   1. With Jesus, all things are possible.

   2. When our lives are totally focused on the will of God, nothing will be impossible

       for us.  Mat 17:20

   3. We must trust the Lord to answer our prayers.

 

V:6. " He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river."

 A. We should make it our duty to get a clear understanding of God's Word.

     1. God said, in all your getting, get an understanding. Prov 4:7

     2. The just live by faith and not by sight.  2 Cor 5:7

 B. We should start with a  passage of scripture and fully understand it before moving to

      the next passage.

    1. There are some Biblical concepts that are basic that we must understand before we

        can move to the next level.

    2. The Apostle Paul stated that he determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and

        Him crucified.  1 Cor 2:2

    3. John 3:16 is basic. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

        that whoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have everlasting life."

     4. If we can understand the basics;

         a. We can understand love

         b. We can understand forgiveness

       c. We can understand the cleaning power of the blood of Jesus

       d. We can understand salvation

       e. We can understand the way to heaven  

  C. Ezekiel came to an understanding that all life flows from the altar of God.    

 

V:7. " When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river."

 A. Anything that is planted by the river of life grows and prospers.

     1. The water of Christ is a living water.

     2. The water of Christ is refreshing water.

     3. The water of Christ is redeeming water.

 B. We should become like a tree planted by the river of life.

     1. We should be rooted and grounded in Jesus.

     2. The winds of life may blow hard, we will bend but not be broken down.

     3. A tree that is planted by the river is continuously nourished. 

     4. A tree planted by the river of life continuously grows stronger.

     5. The Lord is our strength and our redeemer.

 

V:8. " He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh."

 A. The living water ran towards the dead sea, the lowest point on earth.

     1. The dead sea has a high salt content and nothing lives in it.

     2. Once the living water entered a dead substance, it became alive.

 B. Without Jesus, the world is dead in its sins.

     1. Without Jesus, the world is barren of any fruit.

     2. Without Jesus, the world cannot produce anything of value.

 C. Before Jesus came into our lives, we were dead in our sins.

     1. Once we established a relationship with Jesus, we became  new creations.

     2. Being alive in Christ opens a  new world of opportunities for us.

     3. Being in the light, God gives us insight and hope for tomorrow.

 

V:9. " Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live."

A. There is an abundance in the Lord.

     1. The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of.

     2. Jesus said, I came that you might have life and  have it more abundantly.

 B. In Jesus, there is an abundance of  Joy.

     1. In Jesus, there is an abundance of peace.

     2. In Jesus, there is an abundance of  love.

     3. In Jesus, there is an abundance of wisdom.

        a. If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask the Lord.

        b. In Jesus, there is a continuous newness of life.

 

 V:10. " Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. "

A.  Peter and John, Andrew and James were fisherman of fish.     Mat 4:18

      1. In Jesus, they became fishermen of men.

      2. Life is not about us, but what we can do for others.

B. We stand in the living waters of Jesus, so we can proclaim the good news about Jesus.

     1. In life, there are people from all nations of the world.

     2. Everyone we meet should hear the Word of God.

     3. Anyone in the dark needs the  light of Jesus Christ.

     4. We are the universal Church that possess the ability to enlighten the world.

     5. Jesus gave all believers the great commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the

         earth.

 

V:11. " But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt."

 A. There are those who will hear the Word, but will reject it.

     1. There are people who enjoy being in the swamps of life.

     2. There hearts are evil and all their thoughts are evil.

 B. Jesus sent His disciples out two by two  to proclaim  the word of God.

     1. They were told if any household would not receive them,  shake

        the dust off and move on.

     2. The Word is the blessing of God.

         a. Those who reject the Word, reject the blessing of God.

         b. Those who reject the Word are condemned to  eternal hell.

 

V:12. " Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

 A. In Jesus, we are constantly being renewed.

     1. God has blessings for us that we cannot think or conceive.

     2. It is our duty to be servants of the Lord.

     3. Those who serve the Lord are a blessing to others.

 B. When we put God first, He puts us first.

     1. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up.

     2. When we give God our best, He gives us His best.

 C. We have already received the Lord's best, His Son.

     1. Our true healing is everlasting life with the Lord.

     2. With Jesus in our life, heaven is in our mist.

   "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to 

    springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Rev.7:17

 

Rev. M. Mitchell   Asst Pastor Of GMBC