This Week's Bible Study Lesson, "God Is Preparing You For A Mission", Exodus 3:1-12, 6'29'2017

YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES ARE THE PREPARATIONS

FOR GOD'S MISSION

Exodus 3:1-12

The story of Moses begins in chapter 2. It began at a time in Egypt

when the Pharaoh of Egypt decided that the population of the Hebrews

in the land was growing to fast. He sent his soldiers to kill all new born

male babies.

Moses mother prepared a basket to float in the Nile river near the

place where the Pharaoh daughter was bathing. She heard the baby

cry and took him as her son.

Moses was raise and educated in the Pharaoh's house until he was

40 years old. He saw an Egyptian fighting  one of his Hebrew brothers.

He killed the Egyptian and as a result fled to Midian. There ,Moses

spent 40 years as shepherd of his father in laws flock.

GOD CHOSE YOU

V:1. " Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God."

A. God prepares us for the job He has for us to do.

    1. At the time of God's  called Moses was 80 years old.

    2. The first 40 years of Moses life was spent being raised and educated

        in the Pharaoh's household .

    3. The next 40 years of Moses life was spent as a shepherd under the

         Priest of Midian.

    4. The final 40 years of Moses life was spent leading Israel in the

        desert.

        a. Under the priest of Midian he learned the important of family .

        b. He learned responsibility and leadership.

        c. He learned to worship the one true and living God.

B. Our experiences in life, good and bad, are the training God uses

     to prepare us for the mission.

    1. Our experiences may seem like a desert in which there is no end in sight.

    2. But rest assured  that our experience are the training ground for a mission

        God has prepared for us.

    3. Any pride Moses had of being raised in the Pharaoh's house had

        been replaced with humility.

    4. Any knowledge of the idol gods of Egypt had been replace with the

        knowledge of one true living God.

    5. Any anger he had against the Egyptians had been replaced with

        the peace he had with his Midian family.

SOMETIMES GOD USES ANGELS TO GET OUR ATTENTION

V:2-3. " There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight — why the bush does not burn up."

A. God has a way of drawing us to Himself.

    1. God used a visual miracle to capture Moses curiosity.

    2. Moses must have gazed at the burning bush for quite some time to

        determine that it was not consumed by the fire.

    3. Moses my not have seen the angel at first because he does not mention

        him when he decided to get closer to the bush.

    4. When we study the Word of God it is important to investigate that which

         we do not understand.

    5. We can gain much knowledge in our investigation.

    6. We should never claim that we know everything about a passage of

         scripture.  There is always more to learn

GOD CAPTURES OUR CURIOSITY WITH HIS WORD

V:4. " When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."

A. Whenever we investigate the Word, we will be drawn closer to the Word.

     1. God observes our study of the Word.

     2. When we get into a deep study of the Word we will hear the voice of God.

B. It is important for us to respond to the voice of the Lord.

     1. Moses response was one of complete submission.

     2. To Moses, God voice may have been  audible. There is nothing

         to suggest any other method.

     3. How do we know when God is speaking to us?

         a. We have the complete Bible and it is closed.

         b. According to Revelation 22:18 states that we cannot add anything to the Word,

             and we cannot take any thing away from the Word.

     4. God speaks to us today through His Word.

     5. Any questions we have can be answered from the Word.

     6. From the Word, God speaks to our situations. 

GOD CLEANS US UP FOR HIS USE

V:5. "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

A. Anytime we open the Bible we are standing on Holy ground.

    1. It is the Word that cleanse us.   John 15:3

    2. We should turn off any secular music, free our minds of any worries

         so we can concentrate  on the Word.

    3. It is the distractions around us that prevents us from hearing God's

        voice.

    4. Notice, Moses was alone when God spoke to him.

THANK GOD FOR THOSE WHO INTRODUCED US TO THE WORD

V:6. " Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

A. Moses may have learned about God through his mother who kept him until the

     age of three.

    1. Moses my have developed a relationship with God through his father in law,

        the Priest of Midian.

    2. He feared the Lord.

    3. Perhaps,  He had been taught  not to look at God.   Acts 7:32

    4.  In the present of the Lord we are nothing but dirty rags.

B. God identified Himself with the relationship with Moses forefathers.

   1. As parents we should emphasize our relationship with the Father

       to our children.

   2. Our children should learn about God first through us.

   3. We are commanded to teach the Word to our children.   Due 4:10

GOD KNOWS YOUR TROUBLES

V:7. " The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. "

A. Our deliverance starts with prayer.

    1. God knows what we are going through and He waits on us to reach out to Him.

    2. True success in life begins with prayer.

B. Before you start praying, God has the answer to your prayers.

    1. God prepared Moses from his birth to be the deliverer of Israel.

    2. Israel's deliverance was eighty years in the making. 

    3. Just because your prayers have not been answered, don't mean that

        God does not have the solution.

    4. God works on His time for us.

GOD HAS PREPARED A SOLUTION TO YOUR TROUBLES

V:8-9.   So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. "

A. God keeps His promises.

    1. Four hundred and thirty years earlier God promised Abraham that his descendants

        would inherit this land.    Genesis 17:8

    2. God has an odd way of keeping His promises.

        a. He allowed Israel to grow to be a nation in slavery in Egypt.

        b. This time of slavery was in His promise to Abraham.    Genesis 15:13

        c. God does not tell us why He chose this way of keeping His promise.

        d. I can only suggest that everything God does is designed to give Him

            glory.

B. WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS YOURS

     1. God allowed six groups of people to inhabit the promise land and to

         make it prosperous.

     2. These groups held the land until God decided to replace them with Israel.

     3. At the time God made the promise to Abraham, the nation of Israel was only

         in  His mind.

     4. You never know what blessings God is holding for you.

     5. Galatians 6:9   says "do not get weary in well doing, for in due time, if you don't

         faint, you will reap a harvest."

WE ARE ON A SUCCESSFUL MISSION FOR GOD

V:10-11. " So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

A. God saved you so you be part of the salvation of others.

    1. When Moses was born, God saved him from death by the Pharaoh of Egypt.

    2. God trained Moses in the Pharaoh's house.

        a. God allowed Moses to make the mistake of killing an Egyptian.

        b. God drove Moses out of Egypt into Midian

       c. God allowed Moses 40 years to grow into the Man He could use.

WITH GOD, THERE WILL BE SUCCESS

V:12. " And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

A. God will never send you on a mission without His power and authority.

    1. God will be with you in the mission.

    2. Your success is a sign to the world of His glory.

B. You must worship the Lord in His house in His way.

    1. When you review your success in the mission give God

         the credit.

    2. Thank God for allowing you to serve.

THANK GOD FOR INCLUDING YOU IN HIS MISSION

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

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

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Bible Study Lesson, "A Call To Serve:, Mark 8:1-9, 6/22/2017

A CALL TO HELP

Mark 8:1-9

IT IS JESUS WHO CALL US TO SERVE

V:1. " During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "

A. The doors of Churches are open through out the world to feed the Word of

      God to the people.

    1. People come to church for different reasons.

        a. Some are hungry for the Word.

        b. Some come to be entertained.

        c. Some come to out of curiosity .

    2. Regardless of what reason they come, they will be affected by the

        Word of God they hear.

B. Jesus knows everyone that is in the crowd.

    1. Jesus knows the needs of everyone who come to church.

    2. Jesus will call His disciples, all of us who have accepted Him as our

        personal savior to serve.

    3. We were save to serve, not to sit on the sidelines.

    4. There is enough need for everyone to serve.

C. Jesus not only knows our spiritual needs, but He also  knows our physical needs.

    1. In this verse, Jesus had labored in the Word, and the people were hungry.

    2. The Word of God will satisfy our spiritual needs, but it is the work of God

         through the disciples who satisfies the physical needs.

    3. Notice in the text, when Jesus called, the disciple came.

    4. If we truly want to serve we have listen to the Words of Jesus.

    5. Not only do we have to listen, but we have to make ourselves available

        to serve.

      

SERVE WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION

V:2 "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat."

V:3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."

A. It is one thing to know the needs of someone, but it is another thing to act with

     compassion.

   1. The first step is to know the needs of another person.

   2. The second step to have compassion for another person and want to help.

B. Jesus took time to access the needs of the crowd.

   1. He knew their situation.

   2. He also knew the severity of their  situation.

C. In Houston, at every busy intersection, you are likely to find someone with a sign

        saying  I need help.

    1. Before you reach into your pocket, take time to access the situation.

    2. You may find a need or you may find a scam.

    3. Jesus always helped those who were in need.

    4. I would guess that everyone looking help has needs.

        a. Determining whether the need is financial, spiritual or both is the

            problem.

        b. In order to determine a person need, you have to spend time with

            them.

        c. Jesus spent three days with the crowd.

        d. Often times, we act with our emotions and not with knowledge and love.

        e. A hand out will feed a person for a moment, but will not address the

            underlying cause of the problem.

WITH JESUS, THE JOB IS NEVER TO BIG

V:4.  His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"

A. The flesh always says we don't have enough to help.

     1. The flesh say I don't have time.

     2. The flesh say it is someone else's  problem.

B. The heart of a believer cannot be controlled by the flesh.

    1. The flesh is a stumbling block to the work of God.

    2. The flesh sees our limitation.

    3. But the heart controlled by the Spirit sees everything as possible.

WHAT'S IN YOUR HANDS;  START WITH THAT

V:5 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. "

A. God starts with what we have.

    1. What we have devoted to God is enough to supply the needs of everyone.

    2. God can take what we have and multiply to be enough.

B. We have to start by being thankful for what we have.

    1. We have to be willing to share what we have with others.

    2. Notice, Jesus started by having the crow to sit down.

    3. When you are standing over the crowd you can see the needs of the crowd.

    4. When you are standing over the crowd you can see best how to serve them .

WHAT WE HAVE MAY BE SMALL; WITH GOD IT IS ENOUGH

V:7 "They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them."

A. Once you start serving, other means to serve will be provided.

    1. Everyone has been gifted to give.

    2. Sometime it take one person to start and others will come and share the burden.

B.  We must remember that we are not alone in the process of serving.

    1. When God guides our hearts to a problem, He has the solution.

    2. We don't have to know how, we just need to rely on Jesus, who can.

    3. Notice Jesus started by with giving thanks to the Father for what He had.

    4. A prayer of  thanksgiving opens the resources of Heaven to us.

OUR DESIRE TO SERVE SATISFIES THE LORD

V:8. " The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."

9 About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away"

A. God is satisfied with the effort we put forth in serving others.

    1. Notice, it was the disciples who serves four thousand men not including

        women and children that were there.

    2. There is no mention of any man in the crowd getting involved.

    3. There is no mention of any man in the crowd being converted.

    4. There is no mention of any man in the crowd saying thank you

        for helping me.

B. Sometimes the job of serving will go without thanks from those

     being served.

   1. If we are seeking the rewards of man we may not get it.

   2. Those who serve get their reward from God.

   3. Do not get weary in well doing, for in due season we will

       reap if we do not faint.    Gal 6:9

C. In retrospect, we will realize that our efforts to help accomplished more

    than out human efforts alone.

    1. It is because in the middle of our service God is a work.

    2. It is because God multiplies our efforts to satisfy the needs of all we

        who come to us in need.  

    3. All we have to do is have a willing heart and God will handle the rest.

    4. Whatever we do for others stores treasure in heaven.

 THANK GOD FOR HIS CALL TO SERVE.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

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

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Bible Study Lesson, "Is Satan At Work In Your Home?" Matt 22:1-20, 6/16/2017

SATAN AT WORK IN YOUR HOME

Matthew 22

SATAN OPERATES IN YOUR HOME

1. Satan operates in the best homes

    a. The Chief priest and lawyers set their mind to kill Jesus.  V:2

    b. Why? because of jealously and envy. They didn't want to hear the truth.

    c. They were rebellious against God.

    d. As men and women of the house, we should not tolerate disobedience

        in our children.

2. You will find Satan doing some of his best work in Christian Homes.

3. Judas a member of the 12 disciples was under the influence of Satan..

    a. He was taught the Word.

    b. He served in the church

    c. He was an active team member.   Matt 10:4

4. Judas was the treasurer of the group.

   a. He had one major flaw.  He loved money   John 12:6

   b. One of his jobs was to watch over the offering.  John 13:29

SATAN USES WHAT WE CRAVE TO TEMP US  

5. How did Satan get to Judas?

    a. It was through what he craved.

    b. As men and women of the household, we have to be careful  what we watch.

    c. We have to be careful what our family watch: TV, Internet.

    d. Satan presents all kinds of temptations, but our kids may not have the

        knowledge or strength to resist temptations.

DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN ISOLATE THEMSELVES FROM YOU.

6. The Jewish passover festival was the opportunity for Judas to get money.

   a. Much money was given in the temple treasure doing this time.

   b. Notice how Satan works.

   c. He isolated Judas from his family and his purpose.

   d. He operates in the secret places of our heart.

   e. Judas separated himself from the group and his church,

       to meet with the Chief priest in secret

   f. Notice to parents: Don't let your children operate in secret in

       in your house.

   g. Encourage open conversations about everything.

EVENTUALLY WE WILL ACT ON THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS

Verse 5-6

  7. Judas desire for money was so strong that he sold Jesus out for

      30 pieces of silver.  300 to 600 dollars in our time.

      a. What we see on TV, Internet and on the street is money

           buys happiness.

      b. A  tell tell sign is when we value our stuff more than relationships.

      c. It's all a lie, but many people don't know that.

KNOW THE CHANGES IN YOUR CHILDREN BEHAVIOR

8. Thinking evil is one thing, but doing evil is a commitment.

    1. Judas was thinking about his evil plan in the mist of Jesus.  Matt 26:25.

    2. You can lie to me but you cannot lie to the Lord.

    3. Once one has made up his mind to do evil, Satan closes the door on right.

        a. Verse 3, Satan entered Judas.

    4. Once a person has made up his mind to do evil, he quit being rational.

        a. He has become selfish.

        b. He does not consider the consequences of his actions.

        c. He sees only personal gain in his evil plan.

        d. He may not consider what he planned is wrong.

        e. He does not consider how his action will hurt others.

        f. The evil in his mind becomes his standard of judgment.

KNOW YOUR CHILDREN'S FRIENDS

V.21. An evil minded person can fellowship with you while stabbing you

          in the back.  Matt 26:25

      1. We need to tell our children that everybody is not their friend.

      2. Anyone that is planning to do wrong is not your friend.

      3. Anyone who talks against family values is not your friend.

      4. Jesus told Judas that he knew that he had planned to betray him.

         a. Judas talking directly to Jesus had an opportunity to confess

             and ask for forgiveness. He Missed the opportunity.

         b. Anyone who refuses to do right is not your friend.

BE AWARE OF GANG ACTIVITY

Mark 14:10

     1. The Sanhedrin Council, 70 men who made up of the Chief Priest, scribes and

          wealthy   men of the community were a gang of bullies.

     2. Judas led the Chief Priest and their guards to Jesus and betrayed

         him with a kiss.   Matt 26:48

     3. Judas, again in the face of Jesus could have ask forgiveness,

         another Missed opportunity.

     4. God gives many opportunities to confess.

CONSTANTLY EXPRESS YOUR LOVE AND ENSURE OPEN CONVERSTION

Matt 27:3-5

    1. Once Judas saw that Jesus was condemned he was filled with remorse.

        a. He confessed to the Chief priest that he was wrong.

        b. He tried to give the money back.

    2. However, he did not have enough remorse to ask Jesus forgiveness.

    3. Judas couldn't find his way back to his friends and family.

    4. Isolated in their rooms our children may feel alone

    5.  Don't miss the daily opportunity to community with family.

    6. We need to tell our children that no matter what they are going through that

         they can come talk it over with  us.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

Act 1:18  The point of no return

   1. Judas committed suicide. He hung himself.

   2. Before he committed suicide, Judas had one last chance to repent.

   3. Judas may have considered his betrayal as an unforgivable sin.

   4. Our children and family need to know  that our love for them has no boundaries.

   5. Jesus said that nothing can separate us from His love.   Rom 8:25

       a. As parents we have to constantly express our love for our children.

       b. Our children are dealing with outside pressures and everything

           may not be ok with them.

   6. We need to know our family enough to spot the signs of depression.

      a. Judas isolated himself from Jesus and the other disciples.

      b. He considered his life of no value.

      c. He denied family and friends the opportunity to counsel and

          console him.

      d. That means that we must take time every day to talk with our family.

      e. It would be good idea to have a regular family time each day. 

      f. As heads of our households, we must ask questions when our kids

         and family members withdraw from us.   

      g. We need to take time daily with hugs and kisses to express our love

           to those close to us.    1 Peter 5:14    

TAKE TIME TO KNOW YOUR FAMILY

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas, 77041

For more lessons visit me on  facebook and my blogs

goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com and www.revmmitchell.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "When God Calls Be Prepared To Serve", 6/11/2017

WHEN GOD CALLS, BE PREPARED TO SERVE

Judges 6:11-19

The story began at verse 1. After the death of Deborah the children of Israel went

back to their evil ways, namely the worship of idol gods. They abandon the God

that delivered them into a state of peace. God sent the Midianites to take all their

crops and force them into caves in the mountain.

Israel cried out to the Lord because of their oppression  and Lord selected Gideon

to be their deliverer. 

Our disobedient behavior angers God. Regardless of our behavior God will answer

our prayers. He chastises those He loves, but He is quick to provide

relief when our prayers are genuine.

In the mist of a disobedient crowd, God always has someone who is

obedient to him that He can call.

Those who God calls, He ordains and equips with all that is necessary to

be successful.

MEN OF GOD SHOULD OPERATE UNDER HIS WISDOM

V:11. " The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

A. Notice, while the rest of Israel was hiding out in caves and in poor conditions,

     Gideon's family was during relatively well.

    1. Gideon's family was obedient to the Lord and were blessed with food that

        was hidden from the enemy.

    2. They were innovative in hiding their wheat in a wine press.

    3. When you are devoted to God, He is devoted to your well being.

B. When your devotion is to the Lord you become part of the solution to community

      problems.

    1. When you are devoted to the Lord, you have open ear to hear a word from the Lord.

    2. The Lord visit those whose focus is on Him.

A DIVINE CALL TO SERVE

V:12. " When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

A. The Lord knows who you are and what you are capable of being.

     1. Gideon was a farmer, but Lord defined him as a mighty warrior.

     2. Your present occupation does not determine your potential.

     3. You will be what ever God wants you to be.

B. Gideon was a warrior because he followed the Lord.

     1. Gideon was a warrior because his ear was tuned to the Lord.

     2. Gideon was a warrior because he trusted the Lord.

     3. Gideon was a warrior because feared only the Lord.

         a. His family stayed on their property while the rest of Israel

             fled into the caves.

     4. Gideon was a warrior because he knew the Word of the Lord.

WHEN ANSWERING A CALL SEEK CONFIRMATION IN THE WORD   

V:13. "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

A. A bad situation is not the evidence that God has abandon you.

    1. What God has done in the past, He is able to do in the present.

    2. Israel's oppression  was due to their wide spread disobedience.

B. God didn't abandon Israel, Israel abandon God.

    1. Our disobedience stops the blessing of God.

    2. God did not set us free, for us to put ourselves back in bondage.   

        a. Jesus died to set us free from sin.

        b. The best freedom we have is in obedience to the Lord.

 C. Sometimes we need to look in the mirror see that we are the cause of our trouble.

     1. Sometimes God will allow the righteous to suffer with the unrighteous.

     2. God strengthen the righteous in trouble times to bring about a change in the

         unrighteous.

GOD WILL CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE ALL WE NEED TO SERVE

V:14. " The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

A. We have to be willing and available to serve in what ever capacity God wills for us.

    1. Gideon, a farmer was called to be the savior of Israel.

    2. Gideon, a farmer was given the strength to be the warrior of Israel.

B. Gideon, the farmer already  had what he needed to save Israel.

    1. Gideon. the farmer was commanded to destroy the mighty Midian army.

    2. Notice God didn't send any army, He sent Gideon.

    3. With God on our side, we are more than a whole army.

EXAMINE YOUR WEAKNESSES AND GOD WILL SHOW YOU HIS STRENGTH

V:15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

16 The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

A. God don't need your power to accomplish anything.

     1. He need you to stand for Him so He can manifest His power through you.

     2. Gideon look at the size of his family, not understanding God is all power

         by Himself.

     3. The power of the Gospel is manifested through our stand for God's

          righteousness.

B. We have to understand that God's call, comes with ability to be successful.

     1. We have to trust that God's call comes with His power of success.

     2. We have to understand that God is with us through the battle.

     3. The most important thing to remember is the battle belongs to the Lord.

     4. God only needs you as a soldier that the people can see.

GOD WILL SHOW YOU THROUGH HIS GLORY YOUR CALL

V:17. " Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

A. It is a must that we are able to distinguish between Satan's lies and God's truth.

    1. How can you determine if it is you own flesh talking rather than God.

    2. Whatever God command you to do will be confirmed by His Word.

B. God's commands will never contradict His Word.

    1. Therefore you need a daily diet of The Word of God.

    2. Peace comes to you when you meditate on God's Word.

ASK GOD TO BLESS YOU IN YOUR MISSION FOR HIM

V:18. " Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the Lord said, "I will wait until you return."

A. The Lord is waiting on you to bring an offering to Him/

    1. It is more blessed to give than receive.

    2. Your offering activates His blessing in your life.

B. The offering that God wants most is devotion of your life to Him.

   

 MAKE A SACRIFICE TO THE LORD

19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.

THANK GOD FOR HIS CALL TO SERVE

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lessons follow me on facebook or visit my blogs

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Here I Am Lord Send Me", Judges 4:1-10, 6/4/2017

HERE I AM LORD, SEND ME

Judges 4:1-10

DISOBEDIENCE HAS CONSEQUENCES

V:1-3. After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

2 So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim.

3 Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help.

A. A pattern of disobedience is evident in this passage.

   1. While Ehud, a judge of Israel was living, the people followed the Lord's

       commands.

   2. After Ehud died, Israel returned to their evil ways.

   3. Man left to himself will fail before God.

   4. We need the government of the Lord to keep us on the road to heaven.

   5. God never abandons us, but He chastises us because of His love.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

B. To give us some comfort in the accuracy of the Bible, God always includes

     names, times and places which we can verify in our history books.

  1. These first three verses set the stage for Israel's cry for help from God.

  2. Their disobedience was the cause of their trouble.

  3. Their disobedience cause God to choose an enemy to punish them.

  4. The lesson here, is God sometimes uses evil means to show us our

      evil behavior and bring us to our knees.

  5. God may use evil means to draw us back to Him.

C. God gives us time in our misery to correct our behavior.

   1. God used Jabin to oppressed Israel for twenty years.

   2. God  used Laban to oppress Jacob the patriarch of

       their family for twenty years to bring him to his right mind 600 years earlier.

 

GOD HAS WILLING SERVANTS

V:4-5. " Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. "

A. God selects good leaders to direct His people.

   1. Deborah was a servant of the Lord.

   2. Deborah listen to the Word of the Lord.

   3. Deborah was submissive to her husband even though she held a higher position.

B. Deborah had the wisdom to determine what was right and to resolve

     conflicts between her people.

   1. Deborah trusted the Word of God to guide her.

   2. Deborah gained the respect of the people by following God.

   3. What we learn from Deborah is that success follows obedience to

        the Lord's commands.

THE BEST ADVICE ; FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN

V:6. " She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. "

A. While Deborah was in charge, she readily back down, to let God lead His people

      in His way.

    1. God chose Barak to lead the army of Israel into battle against their enemy.

    2. God selected the men He want to go in battle.

    3. Deborah stood behind God's choice.

B. A good leader  consults God before making any decisions.

    1. A good leader follows God's directives.

    2. A good leader informs others of the Word of God.

    3. A good leader follows all  of the Lord's commands.

    4. A Good leader adds nothing to the Word of God nor takes anything away from

        the Word.

GOD WILL SET A TRAP FOR YOUR ENEMY

V:7. " I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands."

A. God has a plan for your deliverance.

    1. Your deliverance starts with prayer.

    2. Your deliverance is sure when you are obedient to God's commands.

B. Notice, God controls all the events during Israel's deliverance.

   1. While your enemy is busy planning to attack you, God has planned their

       demise.

   2. God will ensure that you are victorious in any battle when you are

       obedient to Him.  

   3. God will set the place and the time for your victory over the enemy.

YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT

V:8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I

       won't  ."

 A. There are times that you may have to encourage others to do the work

      that God called them to do.

    1. Some people, for lack of faith will not act without your help.

    2. We need to be available and willing to be the shoulders that others

         lean on.

   B. Sometimes we have the go the extra mile and help others in the mission

       that  God set for them.

     1. Barak lack faith in his ability to carry out God's plan.

     2. Barak may have feared the enemy more than he trusted God.

     3. Barak trusted Deborah's confidence in God.

     4. Our confidence in the power of God influence others.

THE TRIALS WE FACE DEVELOPS OUR FAITH

V:9-10. "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,

10 where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

A. There are consequences in not trusting God.

    1. God is able to do with you what He planned for you.

    2. If you don't trust God, you will lose the experience of the victory

        with God.

B. Barak did not trust God, therefore lost the confidence he could have gained

     by allowing God to use him alone.

   1. Barak also lost the respect of his men because the victory was given to

       a women.

   2. Trusting God through one situation, prepares us for the next trial.

   3. Deborah trusted God in her position as judge, which gave her confidence

       in the battle against the enemy of Israel.

   4. When God calls us to serve, He will give us the resources, the strength and

       the encouragement to be successful.  

THANK GOD FOR OUR SALVATION

For more lessons, follow me on facebook, or my blogs

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrev.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Father Knows Best", Jonah 4:1-11, 5/28/2017

THE FATHERS KNOWS BEST

Jonah 4:1 - 11

CHECK YOUR ANGER

V:1-2."But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."

A. Not everyone in the Church agrees with mission of the Church.

    1. Jonah completed the job God called Him to do but he was not happy

    2. He became angry while he was proclaiming the Gospel to Ninevites.

    3. God loves a cheerful giver.

        a. We don't store up treasures in heaven when we do something

            in the name of Lord and our heart is not in the service.

        b. Jonah ran through Nineveh, not because he loved the Ninevites, but

            because he feared what God would do to him if he disobeyed

B. You cannot serve the Lord in your anger.

   1. An angry person is not a rational person.

   2. Anger is an emotion that we should never act upon.

   3. Jonah was angry with God because He did not destroy 600,000 people.

   4. What Jonah failed to realize is that God can change the heart of an

       evil person to be one of righteousness.

   5. Jonah failed to consider that God had shown him mercy in his disobedient

       behavior.

   6. Jonah failed to consider that God saved him in the mist of his sin.

C. We are all recovering from some sinful behavior.

   1. Not everybody is happy with your recovery.

   2. Some people are jealous when you turn toward the Lord.

   3. Jonah got angry because He knew God would save all of Nineveh.

   4. Jonah's agenda was not God's agenda.

D. We must never pray that God give another person what we think

      they deserve.

   1. We serve a compassionate God who blesses who He wants to bless

       and curses who He wants to curse.

   2. We should be glad that God does not use our standard of justice because

       we would be cursed.

   3. To be truthful none of us deserves God's grave or mercy.

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

   4. Before we condemn another person, we should consider the mercy

       that God has shown us.

LIFE IS MORE THAN MY THOUGHTS

V:3-4. " Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."

 4 But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

A. Since Jonah's prayer of destruction for Nineveh was not heard by God, he decided

     that life was not worth living.

  1. Jonah's thoughts were irrational because he was angry with God.

  2. An irrational person is capable of taking his own life when their situation

      does not turn out in their favor.

  3. An angry person is selfish because he considers his own agenda.

  4. A selfish person fails to consider the good he can do for others.

  5. An angry and selfish person denies God the opportunity to use  him for

      the good of others.

B. We never have reason to be angry with God. 

   1. We serve a loving and caring God. If it was not so, we would cease to

       exist.

  2. By Jonah's own standard of justice, God should have allowed the fish to kill him.

  3. Before we consider revenge on another person, we need to consider

      the grace showed us when we were in sin.

GOD BLESSES INSPITE OF OUR SINS

V: 5-6. " Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine."

A. Sometimes while we are considering our selfish agendas, God is setting us up

     for a lesson in life that will change us.

   1. Notice Jonah had been save from his disobedience, but he didn't want God to

      save the inhabitants of Nineveh from their disobedience.

   2. Any compassion that was in Jonah was blinded by his selfish agenda.

   3. Jonah did not consider that among the 600000 population of Nineveh

       that there were men, women and children who were innocence of the evil

       of the ruling class.

B. Notice God blessed Jonah with shelter from the sun while he was hoping that

     the same God would not show compassion to innocence people.

   1. Just because everything seem to be going well does not mean everything

       is right between you and God.

   2. God has ways of bring you to you right mind.

   3. Sometimes God shows you how  good He is  before He shows you

       how bad you are.

  

GOD HAS AWAY OF GETTING US TO SEE HIS VIEW

V:7-8. " But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."

A. Here is the lesson; You can't expect God to bless you while praying that He curse others.

   1. God blessed Jonah's situation one day and cursed it the next day.

   2. God blessed Jonah with shade one day and cursed him with scorching sun

       the next day.

   3. God blessed Jonah with pleasure one day and pain the next day.

   4. God blessed Jonah with the desire to live one day and the wish to die the

       next day.

   5. I can only assume that God wanted Jonah to have a perspective between

       blessings and curses.

B. The evil you wish for others may be the same evil you face.

   1. It is when we are in trouble that we earnestly call on God.

   2. The lesson is, when others are in trouble we should earnestly

        pray to God for their salvation.

WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE ANGRY

V: 9-10. " But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." 10 But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight."

A. Most of what God's provides for us, we put forth no effort to get.

    1. The air we breath, the water we drank, the food we eat was put here for us

         when God created the earth.

    2. We have no right to be angry with God if He gives us more or takes what

         He gave.

 B. The lesson is that we put more emphasis on perishable things we have than the

      spiritual needs of ourselves and others.

    1. God provides an open door for eternal life for everyone.

    2. It is our job to proclaim the Gospel and lead others to the door of salvation.

    3. A selfish person only considers his own needs.

    4. God wants us to concerned about the spiritual needs of others.

C. There were 120000 innocent children in Nineveh.

    1. Jonah did not consider the welfare of innocent whole hoping

        God would kill an entire city.

   2. We should make our decision based on the grace and mercy God has

        shown us.

EVERYONE DESERVES GOD'S FAVOR

11. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" 

A. God's Agenda  is always more important than our personal agendas.

     1. God has a plan that does not include our personal opinions.

     2. God sees what is best for the entire body of Christ.

     3. We can see only what we know or have experience.

B. All things works together for the good of those who love the Lord

    and are called according to His purposes.

    1. We don't know who God has called.

    2. Therefore we cannot eliminate anyone, no matter

         what we think about them.

   3. We cannot judge the call of Christ to His people.

   4. Our opinions may work against the call of God.

   5. In Jonah's case he wanted to work against the will of God.

C. It is our job to love everyone with the expectation that God has

     it all worked out.

Thank God for His Grace and Mercy

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 or visit my my blogs

www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God Gives Second Chances" JOnah 3:1-10, 5/21/2017

GOD GIVES SECOND CHANCES

Jonah 3:1-10

WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS FOR YOU

V:1-2. " Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:

2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

A. Jonah fresh out of the mouth of a great fish was given a second chance to

     obey God's command.

   1. Inside the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed, confessed his sins and vowed to

       follow God.

   2. We serve a God that chastises us  to bring us into a close relationship with Him.

   3. It is His mercy that allows for our forgiveness.

B. At one time Ninevah was the capital of the Assyrian Empire.

   1. Since The Assyrians were  the enemies  of Israel, Jonah didn't think they

       were worth saving.

   2. To do God's work, we have to come to the conclusion, that none of us

       deserve the mercy of God.

   3. To do God's work, we have to submit to the will of God.

   4. To do God's word we cannot consider that we are better than anyone.

C. A second time, God commanded Jonah to go proclaim His message to

    the Ninevinites.

   1. This time he went, but his heart was not changed about the Assyrians

       deserving God's mercy.

   2. God blesses who he wants to bless and cruses who He wants to curse.

   3. God does not need our approval to bless others.

   4. Just as God has bless us, there my be others who don't think we are

       deserving.

GOD USES US TO SPREAD THE WORD

V:3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city — a visit required three days."

A. Ninevah , by the account of some was 60 miles wide with 150000 to

     600,000 inhabitants.

   1. We have to be careful that we don't judge everyone of a race by the

        reputation of a few.

   2. No matter how bad we judge a person to be, we don't know what God has

       done to change their hearts.

B. God can take a prostitute and put her in the choir sing praises to Him

    1. He can take a drug dealer and make him a Deacon in the church.

    2. God took each of us and made us His disciples.

THE POWER OF YOUR TESTIMONY

V:4-5. " On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. "

God "

A. The Ninevites worshiped idol god, yet the proclamation of Jonah about God

     impending wrath cause fear in their hearts.

   1. They abandon their beliefs in idols and believed the Word of God.

   2. There is power in the Word of God to change hearts.

B. Don't ever underestimate the power of your testimony about God.

   1. By the time you open your mouth. God has prepared the hearts of others

       to receive your testimony.

   2. Whatever God has call you to do, He has prepare the way for your success in

        the ministry.

   3. All of The Ninevites put on sackcloth and fasted as a show of their repentant

       hearts.

   4. Sometimes God will put  fear in us to cause us to seek His forgiveness. 

IF YOU START AT THE BOTTOM YOU WILL REACH THE TOP

V:6-7. " When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink."

A. To get to the man at the top, God can start a revival in those at the bottom.

    1. You may at times feel like there is no value in your devotion to God. but others

        will notice what you are doing.

    2. There had to be one Ninevite who first believe God and everyone else followed.

    3. If you going to follow a crowd  you ought to follow one that is following God.

B. When the king heard the message of the Lord from Jonah, he put on sackcloth

       and prayed and made a law that everyone do the same.

   1. when you act on what you believe, others are affected.

   2. Jonah's journey started with the local people and end up with King

       taking a stand for the righteousness of God.

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO PRAY

V:8-9. " But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.

9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

A. The fear of the Lord's Word of wrath cause the King to realize His corruption'

     and the corruption of his people.

    1. The king made up his mind to change for his sake and the sake of his people.

    2. A responsible leader looks out for the welfare of his people.

 B. It is a wise man who receives the council of the Lord.

    1. Absent of the Word of God, we have nothing to compare evil with

        righteousness.

    2. There is non righteous, no not one.

    3. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of the Lord.

    4. You will not find righteousness in the heart of man unless he is changed

        by the Lord.

C. God promises the best for us if we will turn from our wicked ways.

    1. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states;

         "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves

           and pray and   seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

          then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will

           heal their land. "

     2.  The king recognized this doctrine and put it into practice

     3. We must learn that our greatest prosperity is found in the Lord.  

GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS

Verse 10. " When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he

  had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. "

  A. The Lord is always true to His Word.

      1. There is no failure in the Lord.

      2. The Lord loves us so much that He exchanged the life of His

          Son for ours.

  B. God gives mercy to those who call on Him.

     1. When everyone else gives up on you, God is on your side.

     2. God does not consider the opinions of man against His elect.

     3. In Jonah's mind  all the people of Ninevah deserved death for

         sins against man,

     4. But God determine that He would redeem them.

THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY