Bible Basics , "Let's Talk About the Word"

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORD



WHAT IS THE WORD
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word has it’s origin with Jesus Christ. Since God has no beginning
or ending, we can assume that Word as we know it, did not exist in eternity
past.  God does not tell us the time when the Word was formed in His
mind.

Let me suggest that the beginning in John chapter 1 is the same beginning
in Genesis chapter 1. Even though God has no beginning, everything in
creation has a beginning.

From it’s beginning, the Word became permanent.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD
“The supreme purpose of the written Word  Of God  is revealed in in all He
has done or will do from the beginning of creation  in the farthest reaches of
eternity (Lewis Sperry Chafer). “

The purpose of the recorded Word is for the benefit of mankind. The
purpose of the recorded Word is for man to know God and His righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 9:16-18
 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."


Since the Word is Jesus Christ, it does not contain any errors.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Let me state it another way. Jesus is the way to the Father, He the truth
about the Father. He is the life that is in the Father. ?

The Word is Jesus Christ. If you want to be close to Jesus, study His
Word.

The Word is a guide to man.
Psalms 119:105
 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God needs no counsel, but man does.
In order for the Word to be your guide, you have to study the Word.

HOW DID WE GET THE WRITTEN WORD
As soon as God made man, He gave him rules to live by and made
him responsible for teaching the Word. The Word was given first to
Adam and he was responsible to teach it to his wife. From Adam
the Word, the knowledge of God traveled through generations by word of
mouth until the time of Moses.

It was Moses who first recorded the Word of God. Moses spent
two sets of forty
days on the mountain with God. He came down not only with the Stone
Tablets which he recorded the ten commandments (Exodus 20) but also a book with God’s Words (Exodus 24)

Exodus 24:3-4
"Everything the Lord has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.
NIV
Exodus 24:7
 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey."

Throughout the first 5 books of the Bible, God continues to give Israel
additional commands, which were recorded by Moses. ?

The original language of the Old testament was mostly written in Hebrew.
The original language of the New Testament was  written in Greek.
The Bible that we have is 99 percent accurate of the original languages.
The Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Quran Caves of Israel  between 1946
and the 1950’s  confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament that we have
to day. The Dead Sea Scrolls were dated 300 years before the birth of
Christ.

Christ taught from the Old Testament. Christ taught His own Word.

The Old Testament did not try to save man but pointed to the Messiah.
The New Testament presents Christ the Messiah who points to the Father
in Heaven

The Old Testament let circumstances draw men to God.
In the New Testament God drew men through grace to Christ


THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE
How do we know that the Bible that we have is God’s Word?
Let’s consider the physical evidence.
The Bible contains names of people, names of places , times and
events. Most of which can be verified with outside sources. History
books not connected with the Bible confirm it accuracy.

There is archaeology evidence that is continuously confirm the
accuracy of the Bible we have today.

According to The Jerusalem Post in 2018, a group of students from the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem discovered what they think is the
ancient city of Bethsaida recorded in the Old Testament.  This is one
of many discoveries in this century.

There are 66 books in the Bible and 40 different Authors over
a time frame of fifteen hundred years.
The Bible has the same theme throughout, Jesus Christ and
Him crucified.  In Genesis it is Jesus Christ , In Revelation it is
Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
There is 450 years between the last book of the
Old Testament and first  book of the New Testament, yet the theme
is the same between the two testaments.

INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Lets look at the internal evidence. The Bible claims itself to be the
Word of God in both the Old Testament and The New Testament in
hundreds of passages. Like Due 6. 17 -18, Samuel 22,, Romans 10,
1 Cor 2.

Throughout the Bible the Men God used to give His commands and
directions claim the Word to be from God.

The Word foretold events that happen years before they happen.
Events foretold in the Bible are still happening.
God made promises to us in His Word that He continues to
keep. Events foretold in the Bibles are still unfolding before our
eves to day.


EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE
Let’s look at the external evidence.
God made a world in seven days (God’s Time) that man is
still trying to explain. God made a world so big that man cannot
get to the end of it nor understand its magnitude.

Doctors and scientist are still making discoveries about how the body
works that God created in one day with His Word.

YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The Bible is God’s Word and we have to accepted it by faith

What can you say about the Word that is proof to you that it is
the truth?

What promises has God kept that proves your faith?

What has God done for you that is proof that Word is true?



Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Beginning Of Faith In Action", Genesis 11:31-12:9, 6/2/2019

THE BEGINNING OF FAITH IN ACTION

Genesis 11:31-12:9

INTRODUCTION: THE START OF A NATION
This is the story of the beginning of a blessed nation, The nation began with
one man, Abram. It began with a barren married couple, Abram and Sarai.
Abram may have been near 70 years old. His wife was near the same age.

To hear God’s voice and obey His command to leave his home and relatives
suggest to me that Abram was a God fearing man.

When God gets ready to use you, He will separate you from that which will
distract you. Abram not totally obedient, left Ur with his father and his
nephew lot and his family. Partial obedience come with a cost. God knows
what He wants from us, but it come with sacrifice on our part.

THE CALL OF ABRAM
V.11:31. Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

V.12:1. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
A. When God tells you to do something, you don’t need a committee to decide to
      do it.
    1. God didn’t tell the committee because He didn’t want the committee involved.
    2. Abram told his father, who got his nephew and his wife involved.
B. Everybody has their own baggage.
    1. When others get involved, they may try to change God’s agenda to theirs.
    2. The baggage of others can slow you down and get you off course from
         doing God work.
    3. Abram was told to go to Canaan, but he got stopped in Haran.
    4. He settled in a place that God did not intend for him to be.
B. Abram witness the death of his father and carried the problems of
     his nephew with him.
   1. When you don’t do what God tells you, you add problems to your
        life.
   2. You have to trust God enough to know that He is in charge and knows
       what is best for you.
   3. God will  protect and provide for your family and relatives when you are
       not with them doing His work.
       a. Like God had already done, He would have taken care of the family
           Abram left behind.
        b. God does not put us in a situation to jeopardize our families.
   4. When we do what we want to do, we delay the blessing God has for
        us.
   
THE COVENANT WITH ABRAM; THE START OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
V:12.2-5. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
A. God promises blessing to those who are obedient to Him.
     1. There are seven “I wills” in the covenant God made with Abram.
     2. The I wills were  promises that were not conditional on Abram but
          the goodness of the Lord
     3. When you are blessed, those around you are blessed also.
     4. When God blesses you , He can also blesses generation after you.
B. You may never know how many people are blessed by you being obedient
     to God’s commands.
   1. According to God, Abram obedience would be a blessing to all the
       world.
   2. We all need each other and are connected by the grace of God.
   3. You never know what blessing God has for you as a result of someone
        else’s presence.
      4. The hand you hold may be the blessing you seek.
      5. We just celebrated Memorial day, a day set aside to remember
          veterans who died in past wars.
          a. Each of us are blessed because of their fight and death.
          b. Every non white person is blessed by the conviction and actions
              of Dr. Martian Luther King.
          c. The new race for equality blesses all nationalities. All this is because
              one man took a stand for justice.
C. Out of all the people in Ur, God chose Abram to bless.
    1. God blesses those who have their focus on Him.
    2. God has a plan for each of us which can only be recognized when
         our focus is on God.

THE CHRISTIAN WALK REQUIRES CONSTANT COMMUNICATION
WITH GOD.
V:6. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
A. God gave Abram the second part of His covenant with him some time later.
    1. God does not always tell us all that is involved in His plan for us at
         one time.
    2. We have to trust that God knows what we need when we need it.
    3. If God revealed all we are going to go through at one time, we
        might get discouraged and start questioning Him.
B. The first part of the covenant was a blessing to all nations
    1. The second part of the covenant was the promise of land given to
         the Israelites.
    2. No matter where we go, it is our job to worship  the Lord.
    3.  We should prepare a special place to worship the Lord.
    4. Everyday is a day of Worship
    5. We should make time in our schedule to worship God.
C. We should praise God not just for what He has done but also for the
      promises He has made to us.
   1. We are blessed along the way to our blessings.
   2. Abram did not live to see the fulfillment of the promise.
   3. But He believed God and acted on the promise.
   4. Faith is believing the Word of God without proof.
   5. We should live like we have already received the promises of God.

PREPARE A PLACE OF WORSHIP
V:8-9. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
A. The names God gave the places where Abram set up camp has meaning.
      1. Shechem means shoulder of strength.
      2. Moreh means teach or teaching.
      3. Bethel means house of God.
      4. Ai means ruins; the scene of Joshua victory over the Canaanites.
B. Wherever we go, God is our strength.
         1. Knowledge of God gives us power
         2. Whenever we follow Gods direction we are covered
              by His power and directed by His wisdom.
         3. Spiritual knowledge comes from the power of Christ.

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 face book and visit my blogs:
revmmitichell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Basics, "Let's Talk About Sin" 5/26/2019

LET’S TALK ABOUT SIN



WHAT IS SIN?
Sin is nonconformity to the character of God. Sin is against God.
Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is disobedience to God’s commands.

The doctrine of Sin is presented in the Bible in three aspects.
   1. Personal sin (Romans 3:23).
       Everything in daily life that fails to conform to the character of God.
   2. The sin nature of man.   Romans 5:19
       Adams initial sin cause him to fall from the grace of God. He became
       an entirely different person. He became depraved, degenerate and
      only capable of begetting posterity. That is capable producing only
      sinful generations.
   3. Sin is presented as imputed to our account because of Adam’s sin.
       Romans 5:12-18

SIN IN HEAVEN
Sin began in heaven, before the foundation of the earth. Sin began with one
angel, Lucifer.

ANGELS CREATED BEFORE THE EARTH
Job 38:4-8
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

   The angels were created before the earth was made.

THE ORIGIN OF SIN IN ANGELS
Ezekiel 28:12-13
'This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth;

God created the angels perfect with the ability to make choices.
They could choose God or choose their own agenda.

A. Guardian Cherub. Lucifer,  became violent and corrupted one third of the 
     angels  in Heaven.
Revelation 12:4-5
4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.
NIV

Isaiah 14:12-16
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Sin began because Lucifer became proud of his beauty.
Sin began in his heart.
Because pride corrupts, God said, I hate the proud.
I think it is ok to speak well of yourself as along as you don’t
began to think you are better than others.
Satan was not content with himself or his position.

Sin begins when we covet what others have
Those who covet what others have may become violent.
Sin results in a separation from God

Sin grows as we covet the position, the power and authority of others.
Satan decided that he wanted to be above God.

Sin begins when we began to talk to ourselves and not God. We are
headed down the road of sin when God is not our focus.

Sin is destructive. First to us and next to those we associate with.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR SIN
Why would God create an angel with the ability to sin?
Since Lucifer corrupted heaven, why would God send him
to the earth which had not been created?

2 Timothy 1:8-10
 But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
NIV
Ephesians 1:4-7
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.

Both of these passages proclaim that God planed a world with sin
in it before the world was made

The text tells us that when God  redeems us from sin, it is His pleasure and His will.
We were chosen to give God praise, even though we sin and fall short of
his glory.

Sin promotes the worst in us, but drives us to the best in God.

THE POWER OF SIN IN THE WORLD
God ordained sin when he made Lucifer the Arch Angel with the ability to
make choices.
God chose a powerful angel to promote sin
Sin changes our character,

WHAT LUCIFER WAS BEFORE HIS SIN
He was Lucifer the son of the morning       Isaiah 14:12
He was the day star                                      Isaiah 14:12
He was anointed a guarding cherub             Ezekiel 28:14

When sin was found in him, his whole character changed. 
                                                                                                         WHAT
WHAT LUCIFER BECAME                                           JESUS IS 
He became violent.           Ezekiel 28:16                                          Gentle
He is Satan,  the adversary      Matthew 12:26                                 Protector
He is the father of lies        John 8:44                                               Truth
He is Beelzebub, the lord of the flies (or dung)                        Lord of lords
 Matthew 12:44
He is a deceiver                                  Revelation 12:9                 Light
He is the Accuser                               Revelations 12: 10             Counselor
He  came to steal kill and destroy.     John 10:10                         Build you up
He is the ruler of this world               John 14:30                         Ruler of   
                                                                                             Heaven and Earth         
                                                                                                   
He is the prince of the air                   Ephesians 2:2                Prince of Peace
He is the tempter                                 Matthew 4:3                      Redeemer
He is your enemy                                Matthew 13:39                      Friend
He is Belial   (vileness)                       2 Corinthians  6:15               Holy
He is the Devil, slanderer                    Matthew 4:1                    Encourager

HOW WE SIN
From what we know about Satan, How do we get into sin?
1. Sin begins in the heart. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.                                                   
     Proverbs 4:23
         
2. Pride leads us into sin.  God hates the proud   Proverbs  16:5
     
3. We walk into sin; the steps of a good man are order by the Lord
4. We can think ourselves into sin    Proverbs 23:7
5. We can neglect ourselves into sin    James 4:17
6. We can be disobedient and sin
7. We can envy ourselves into sin
8. We can covet ourselves into sin     Exodus 20:17
9. We can be jealous and fall into sin.
10. We can lust ourselves into sin .    Col 3:5
11. We can drink ourselves into sin.  Don’t get with wine
       Ephesians 5:18
12. We can hate others and  sin.
13. Sin can began when we are not content with ourselves
      or what we have.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SIN
1. It has to be for our good
    Since all thing works for the good of those who love the Lord
    and are called according to His purposes
2. Without sin we would not understand God’s grace and mercy
3. Without sin we would not understand God’s love.
4. When we fall into sin, we learn to rely on God

Consequences of sin
Lost of fellowship with the Father
Lost Blessings

HOW TO ERADICATE SIN FROM OUR LIVES
1. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2. Summit yourself to guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pray without ceasing
4. Be obedient to God’s commands


Rev. M. Mitchell 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "How To Be A Brother/Sister In Christ", Galatians 6:1-10, 5/26/2019

HOW TO BE A BROTHER/SISTER IN CHRIST

Galatians 6:1-10

GIVE GODLY COUNSEL
V:1  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
A. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
    1. We all have faults.
    2. None of us is ever free from sin.
    3. We all need correcting from time to time.
    4. We should never see the sins of others and claim we are not
        guilty of the same.
    5. In the sight of the Lord all faults carry an equal punishment
        which is death.
B. Our job is to come along side a brother and sister with love and
    compassion to aid them in restoring their fellowship with Jesus.
   1. It is easy to point the finger at another person without seeing
       your own need for redemption.
   2. We never know why a person is doing what they are doing because
       we are not walking in their shoes.
   3. By pointing out another persons fault, we ignore the law of Christ
       which is to love your neighbor as yourself.

SUPPORT EACH OTHER
V:2-3 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
A. We are not he judge or jury of anyone, may it never be.
    1. Christ is the judge.
    2. We should not judge so we want be judged.
    3. By the same measure, we measure others, we will be measured.
B. When we judge someone, we placing ourselves above them in
     character and worth.
   1. The biggest lie that Satan tells us is that we are better than “that”.
       whatever “that “ is.
   2. We deceive ourselves when we think we are above the faults of others.
   3. God will take us through difficulties, to make us see ourselves in the
       true light.



V:4-5. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
A. Everyday we should look in the mirror and see what reflection we see.
   1. Are we the person that we are complaining about?
   2. Are we the person that we are judging?
   3. Are we worse than the person we are judging?
B. Have we taken our faith from Jesus and placed it in the actions
    of the one we are complaining about?
   1. Does the situation that we are in define who we are?
   2. Have we done all we can to be at the place we desire to be?
   3. Have we done all we can to be the person we desire to be?
C. We are God’s children. Our big brother is Jesus.
   1. Jesus said that if our works glorify the Father, we can ask what we
      want and it will be done.
   2. We should not depend on anyone but Jesus.
   3. Depending on Jesus has it’s requirements.
       a. We must do the right things.
       b. We must love our neighbors as ourselves.
   4. A lazy person cannot enjoy the fruits of Jesus.
      a. We must work to improve ourselves and leave the
          rest to Jesus.
   5. We are more valuable to ourselves and others when we work
       utilizing the gifts and talents God has given us.

SUPPORT YOU PASTOR
V:6. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
A. Your pastor was selected by God through you to be your shepherd.
    1. We are commanded to support him and his family financially.
    2. You would not go to a restaurant, eat a meal without paying the bill.
    3. That is what we do when we neglect to give the pastor a love offering.
    4. Our pastor feeds us spiritually each Sunday and through out the week.
B. The Pastor needs more than a handshake and a smile from us.
    1. We must remind ourselves that what we do for Christ is rewarded
         multifold.
    2. When you support your shepherd, you are supporting the ministry of
        Christ.

        2 Corinthians 9:10-11
           Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

YOU WILL ANSWER TO GOD
V:7-8. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
A. We serve a God who sees every thing we do.
     1. He is tolerant of our ignorance and disobedience.
     2. Because He loves us, He chastises us for our disobedience.
     3. When we are disobedient, we lose fellowship with Him.
     4. It can only be restored with repentance and our asking for forgiveness.
B. We have a choice to make, serve God or serve ourselves.
    1. Serving ourselves leads us down a road that ends in sin.
    2. The consequences of sin is reaping God’s hand of correction.
    3. Serving God leads to blessing untold.

ALWAYS DO GOOD TO OTHERS
V:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
A. The Christian road is not always easy.
    1. Being a child of the king does not eliminate trials and tribulation.
    2. In fact following Jesus leads to problems from time to time.
    3. God will not allow anything we face to destroy us.
    4. He said, He would never leave us or forsake us.
    5. I believe that the trials we face, are designed to increase our faith
         perfect us into God’s graces.
B. We should bless others with what God has blessed us with.
  1. The blessing we share, become a channel for more blessings.
  2. If we can be trusted to be faithful  with what we have, God
       will trust us with more.
  3. Our first priority of doing good should be the household
     faith.
  4. Every brother and sister in Christ is our family.
  5. After God, family comes next.
  6. Doing good to our neighbors is an important part of the
      Christian faith because it draws others to faith.

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 face book and visit my blogs;
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
       

Bible Basics, "Defining God"

DEFINING GOD

Can you adequately define God?

Can you tell me who God is to you based on your experience?

Everyone has had an encounter with God. Do you recognize all that
He does for you?

All of us know God personally in different degrees.
Can you really know all there is to know about God?
I don’t think so. We know what God has said about Himself.

1 John 4:8 states:
 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

  Do we know what love He is taking about?

Jesus asked His disciples, two questions. Matthew 16:13-14
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
The second question was Matthew 16:15-16
"But who do you say that I am?"  16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

It is not important what other people say God is. It what you say God is ,that is
important to you.

What God is to you may be different from what God is to others? It is ok to have
a appreciation of God because we all have unique experiences. He is the same
God, but we view Him differently.

Back to my original question, can you completely define God?

Look at what God told Moses when he was sent on the mission to free the
Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Exodus 3:14

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Thought out the Bible God uses events and personal situations to describe who
He is. We can get a better picture of who God is when we compare notes.

Genesis 15:1
Lord came to Abram in a vision:

"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Exodus 20:2-4
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
He is the God of freedom.

Isaiah 44:6-7
6 "This is what the Lord says —
Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Malachi 1:14
For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.


There are number of names of God that are describes with personal situation
        1. Abba: Father , The God who is our daddy.  Mark 14:36, Gal 4:6, Roman 8:15

         2. Adonai   The God who is in Charge.     Malachi  1:6

         3. El Elyon  The Most High God  Isa 14:14, Ps 7:17

         4. El Olam    The Everlasting God   Ps 90:2

          5. El Roi       The God Who Sees   Gen 16:13, Ps 91:1

          6. El Shaddai   The Almighty God   Gen 17:1-2

         7. Elohim          The creator God   Gen 1:1, Ps 19:1   

         8. Yahweh         The God who is always there Gen 2:4, Ex 30:7,
                                    Ex 3:13-14 (The I Am God)
         9. Yahweh Yireh  The Lord Will Provide    Gen 22:14

         10. Yahweh Nissi     The Lord My Banner: His protection, leadership,
                                           deliverance      Ex 17:15         
         11. Jehovah Rapha    The Lord Who Heals You     Ex 15:26

         12. Yahweh Shalom      The Lord Of Peace    Judges 6:24

          13. Jehovah Tisdkenu    The Lord Our Righteousness  Jer 23:6

              14. Jehovah Shammah     The Lord Is Present  Ezekiel 48:55

              15. Jehovah Rohi              The Lord is my Shepherd    Ps 23:1

              16. Jehovah Sabbath          The Lord Of Host      Isa  6:1-3

              17,  Jehovah Gmolah         The God Of Recompense    Jer 51:6

What is single greatest act of God’s Love?

How do we receive God’s Love on a daily basis?
      1. Life
      2. Provisions
      3. Protection
      4. Forgiveness
      5. Tolerance
      6. Guidance
      7. Answering our prayers
     
           


     

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Christians Basics" Galatians 3:26-4:7, 5/19/2019

CHRISTIAN BASICS

Galatians 3:26-4:7

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER
V:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
A. The key to a relationship with God the Father is faith in Jesus.
     1. The father of faith is Abraham. He believed God and was counted righteous
     2. The way to the Father is to believe that Jesus death on the cross atoned
          for your sins.
B. God has become our Father and Jesus our big brother.
    1. God considers all believers one with Jesus.
    2. It  is the spiritual baptism that washes us clean before God.
C. To put on Christ is to take on His spirit.
     1. To put Christ is to take on His interest
     2. To put on Christ is to copy His Character.
     3. To put on Christ is to copy His manners.
     4. To put on Christ is to pursue the will of the Father.
     5. To put on Christ is proclaim His conversation.
     6. To put on Christ is receive His Joy.
     7. To put on Christ is to bathe in His peace.
     8. To put on Christ is to walk after His example.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN CHRIST
V:28-29. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
A. God is no respecter of person.
     1. In Christ, we are all one.
     2. No one can claim to be more than or better than anyone else.
     3. This agrees with Jesus response to His disciples when ask if a woman had
          seven husbands while she lived, whose wife would she be in heaven?
          Mark 12:24-26
         24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or   
         the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in   
         marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

GOD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR US     
B. Not only does the Father take ownership of all believers, but Christ take ownership
     of all believers.
    1. We see people by race or color, We see people by status or position. But God
         is color blind. God sees us all the same.
    2. The promise God made to Abraham was that he would be the father of many
         nations.
    3. Since Christ is the promise seed of Abraham and we have taken on Christ,
        then we (believers in Christ) are all the seed of Abraham.
    4. The blessing God promised to Abraham was eternal life.
    5. Therefore through faith in Jesus Christ, we have eternal life.

WE ARE GOD’S ELECT
V.4:1-3 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
A. There are two classes of peoples in the world. Those who are children of God and
      then there are those who are slaves of the devil.
     1. When we were young, we were all under the guardianship of our parents.
     2. In our immaturity, we were under the guidance and directions of our
         guardians, but slaves (non elect), and free people (the elect) .
     3. Every believer was predestined before the foundation of the earth to be in
         Christ
         We were born in the world until the time set to be called out of the world by the   
         Father.
     4. Until being called out of the world, God’s elect was no different than the
         none elect.
B. God elect is always, God’s elect  regardless of maturity level.
    1. God allows us to have experiences in our immaturity, that is while in the
        world so that we experience sin and the consequences of sin.
    2. All of our experiences in the world in retrospect, helps us understand
        the work of God in our lives.
    3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things   
       of the world.

WE ARE ON GOD’S TIME
V:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born 
    of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under
    the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
A. God has a plan for our redemption from sin.
     1. God’s plan of redemption was activated in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve
         disobeyed God’s command.
     2. Through His promises and 42 generations of time, He brought forth His son
          to be our redeemer.
B. In the Garden of Eden, God promised a woman seed to be victorious over Satan.
     1.  Jesus born by the Holy Spirit took on Human flesh in the body of Mary.
     2. Jesus was born under the Law to redeem Jews under the Law.
     3. Also because we are son’s through faith in the promise seed (Jesus),
         we have been adopted as sons.


SONS OF GOD BY FAITH
V:6-7.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
A. We have in this verse the God head working in unity. God the Father, God the Son
      and God the Holy Spirit.
    1.The person of The Father, sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins.
    2. The person of the Father sent the Spirit of the Son into our heart.
B. Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
   1. Without hearing there will be no faith.
   2. It is the Spirit of the Son in us that receives the faith.
   3. To each is given a measure of faith.
   4. It is God the Father who determines when the measure of faith is given.
   5. We can only become son after the measure of faith is given.
C. To those who are not God’s elect, the Spirit of His Son is never given.
   1. They never mature and see the Word of God as foolishness.
   2. The world without God is on a downhill spiral.


THANK GOD FOR INCLUDING US IN HIS ELECT


Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041

For more lesson, follow me on face book and visit my blogs:
revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrecmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Study: "What You Do When You Love Someone" Mark 14:3-9

WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE

Mark 14:3-9

LET THE GOOD IN YOU BE KNOWN IN THE GOOD YOU DO
V:3. While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
A, It was the Jewish tradition to anoint kings and priest for service,
    1. It was also a Jewish tradition to anoint the heads of important guest in their
        homes with oil.
    2, The alabaster box of pure nard was a very expensive  perfume imported
        from India or South Arabia
    3. It was worth a years salary of a normal worker.
       ( In today’s dollars at 10 dollars an hour it would be 21,000 dollars)
B. Mark does not identify the woman or her economic status.
    1. Some think she was Mary the sister of Martha or Mary Magdalene
        who Jesus cast out seven demons.
        a. John 11:1-2 identifies this woman as Mary the sister of Martha and
            Lazarus.
    2. It does not matter who she was, because it was an act of extreme kindness.
        a. It showed here love, respect and generosity for the guest of the house.
        b. It may have showed her gratitude for something Jesus did for her.

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN RECIEVE
My first point in this lesson, is that no expense should be spared to
show your respect for Jesus,
   a. You cannot beat God’s giving
   b. Jesus lavishly gave His life for us and we ought to lavishly give
       ourselves to Jesus.

GOD LOVES A HUMBLE SPIRIT
Jesus and the other guest would have been seated on the floor in a reclining
position with His feet behind him.
     a. You have to humble yourself to serve Jesus.
     b. John 12 says she washed Jesus head and feet with her hair,
     c. The hair of a woman is her glory ( 1 Cor 11:15)
     d. She had to get on her knees to wash Jesus hair and bow down
         on her knees to wash His feet.

NOT ASHAMED OF JESUS
You cannot be ashamed to praise Jesus openly.
  Matthew 10:33
  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is   
  in heaven.

You should give a person flowers before they die.

What you do for God will be made known to men
write this down Mark.  Write this down John.                                                                                                 There are several consequences to the woman’s act of worship.
   1. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
        a. when we serve God sacrificially, there is a spiritually
            fragrance that reaches the God in heaven
  2. Your gracious gift is accepted by Jesus and commended to the Father.
  3. Jesus will commend you before man.
  4. Someone will be envious and try to belittle what you have done
      for Jesus.

CRITICISM COMES AFTER YOUR SERVICE
V:4-5. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
A. There will always be someone who will criticize what is value to you
      but has no value to them.
     1. Why should someone be concerned about what you do with your money
          to praise God.
     2.  The evidence of your devotion to someone is the what you are willing to do
          for them.
     3. The evidence of your love for Jesus is what you are willing to sacrifice
         for Him.
B. The people that criticize you will always have some unrelated reason
     to justify their criticism.
    1. The people who criticize may be jealous that they didn’t think to
        do what you did and didn’t get the spot light.
    2.  They may be jealous that you didn’t do that for them.
    3. People who criticize are assuming you neglect to do something they deem
        important.
    4. You should not criticize someone because their values are not the
        same as yours. 

JESUS APPROVES YOUR SERVICE WHILE OTHES ARE COMPLAINING
V:6-8 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.  8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
A. God keeps track of the good you do for Him
    1. What ever you do for God will be multiplied many fold and given                         
         back to you.  Any where from ten to 100 fold.
    2. It is interesting that God does not keep track of your sins and
        multiple them back to you.
    3. You ought to do more for Jesus than you do for someone in need.
    4. The one who has a heart for Jesus, will find ways to serve others
        in the name of Jesus.
B. You should always do the best you can for everyone in the name
     of Jesus.
   1. If you are generous, God will always give you more opportunity and resources
       to be more generous.

GOD ORDAINS YOUR SERVICE TO HIM
C. People may never understand the importance of what you do for Jesus.
    1. People may never understand how God views your service to Him.
    2. When God drives your heart, you will do things that others would not
        think about.
    3. What the woman did was a divinely ordained act.
    4. She probably didn’t know that she was anointing Jesus for the supreme act
        of holy sacrifice.
    5.  God will use your servant attitude to show others the importance or service.

GOD ESTABLISHES A HEAVENLY MEMORIAL FOR YOR DEDICATION
 V:9.  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
A. Long after you are gone. God will make sure people know the
     quality of your service.
   1. You dedication to God will written down in memory banks of many
        people.
   2. What you do for God stores up treasures in Heaven.
   3. People see what you do, but God see the heart in what you do.
B. Mary gave her best in faith and love but others gave their worst
     in hatred and unbelief.
    1. What do you want to be known for after you die?
    2. What are you doing now to be known for that?


Rev. M. Mitchell                                                                                                         3