This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The God Of Our Trouble", Exodus 17:1-7, 9/13/2020

 

THE GOD OF OUR TROUBLES

 

Ex 17:1-7

 

GOD DESIGNS TEST FOR OUR LIVES

V:1. The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."

Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?"

A. God’s divine plan grew Israel into a nation through 400 years of slavery  

     in Egypt.

    1. He took them from slavery to freedom.

    2. He took them from Egypt to the promised land.

    3. The distance from Egypt to the promised land is 526 miles

    4. At 25 miles per day on foot, it should have taken 21 days.

B. To get Israel from a slave mentality to a free mentality, God

     allowed Israel to wander in the desert for 40 years.

    1. Life is a series of tests.

    2. God put Israel through a series of tests to get them out of their

        slave mentality.

    3. It was God himself that guided them to places in the desert without

       food and without water.

    4. It was God’s way of getting Israel from looking back at what they

        had in slavery to see the opportunities of being free under Him.

    5. God designs tests for our lives to get us to trust Him.

C. There was no water in Rephidim, the place God brought Israel too.

    1. Israel looked at their circumstance and complained.

    2. The moment you start complaining is the moment

        you blind yourself to God blessings.

    3. During the three months out of slavery, they had been in

        situations where God had provided for their needs.

    4. The moment you start complaining, you shut down your prayer

        life.

    5. The moment you start complaining, you shut down your memory

        of what God has done and what God is doing.

    6. Your  “lack of” is God’s opportunity to be glorified.

D. When you need something you should ask for it in a grateful manner.

    1. Moses was the intercessor between God and Israel.

    2. Israel talked to Moses as if he was the cause of their lack of water.

    3. They could not see God as being in control and that their complaints

        was against Him.

    4. We cannot demand anything from God, but we can request anything.

    5. Jesus is our intercessor.

 

GOD SETS THE CONDITIONS FOR OUR TESTS

V:3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

A. God does not allow trials in our lives to destroy us, but to strengthen us.

     1. Trials are designed to make us see our weakness and areas of

          improvement

     2. Trials will make you face your fears.

         a. Israel was afraid to die.

         b. Israel was afraid to take responsibility for their lives as free people.

         c. They complained because they had no plan to be free.

     3. The leaders of Israel didn’t council together on how they would get

          to the promised land.

     4. They did council together to complain.

B. Notice the extreme pressure Moses experienced. God’s chosen leader was

     attacked for doing his duty.

    1. Moses was the leader of a people that could not be satisfied.

    2. They placed all their problems on Moses.

    3. They were like newborn babes; cry until you get what you want,

    4. Leaders have to be grounded in the Lord.

    5. The head of every household has to lead the charge to prayer.

    6. The head of every household has to comfort their family with

         the assurance of God's presence.

 

GOD IS THE SOLUTION TO OUR TEST

V:5 The Lord answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massaha and Meribahb because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord  saying, "Is the Lord  among us or not?"

A. Above all, leaders have to follow the directions of the Lord.

    1. You and I must stay in tune with the Lord so we can hear His voice.

    2. We are most effective when we let God order our steps.

    3. The complaint leaders were taken to a rock at Horeb which

          Moses struck with his rod.

          a. They witness water coming out of a rock in abundance

               for the people to drink.

          b. The best way to calm those who complain is to allow them

               to see God working through you.

    4. A picture is worth 1000 words.

         a. Since the elders saw the work of God, they could take that news    

             back to the people.

         b. Knowing that God is with you, give you the ability to see

             God working in all areas of your life.

        c. Perhaps they looked to the sky and saw the cloud that covered

            them by day and fire that lighted their way at night.

     5. We cannot take the everyday blessing of God for granted.

         They are all miracles,

 

   B. The burden of daily living should be shared with the Lord in prayer

       1. God instructed Moses to get a council of elders to take with Him

            to witness His glory.

       2. There will always be people who are gifted with leadership abilities

            who can cause trouble or promote peace and unity.

       3. Moses under God's directions chose the complaint leaders

           to accompany him to the site of the miracle.

        4. It is God’s design that we see Him at work in our lives.

 

THANK GOD FOR HIS TEST

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North

Houston, Texas 77041

 

For More Lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs

revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Bible Study Series: "Encouragement In The Mist Of Trouble", I Thessalonians 3

 

               ENCOURAGEMENT  IN THE MIST OF   

                                        TROUBLE

 

1 THESSALONIANS 3

 

Change always brings opposition. Change makes us uncomfortable.            Pushing change can sometimes result in violence and death.

 

The church was born in the mist of opposition from the Jewish

Religious leaders. They incited violence which resulted in the

death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His apostles and

many disciples. Out of the violence, a Church grew that

changed the world.

 

At Philippi Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison

because of the objections by the Jews to their preaching of the Gospel.                                          They left Philippi and came to Thessalonica.

   

Acts 17:2-5  Paul and Silas at Thessalonica

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

 

But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.

 

According to the text, Paul and Silas spent at least three weeks in

Thessalonica before being forced to leave. At Philippi and Thessalonica,

Churches were started and flourish in the mist of persecution.

 

1 Thessalonians 3     

THE WORK OF THE PASTORS

V:1. So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.

A. Paul and Silas abruptly left Thessalonica to save their lives from a mob

     promoted by Jewish religious folk. 

     1. Paul grieve that he left the newly converted Christians in the mist

        of a Jewish mob.

    2. Timothy returned from Thessalonica with the news that the young   

        church was continuing in the faith of Jesus Christ.

    3. Our job is the proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and let

        the Holy Spirit do the rest.

    4. Paul, forced out of Thessalonica, didn’t have the pleasure of selecting

       a pastor, yet the Church flourished.

B. God shows His love for us by what He does not let happen to us.

     1. First, God showed His love by sending Paul and Silas to preach

         the Gospel and convict those chosen.

     2. Second, God showed His love by sending the indwelling of Holy Spirit

         to comfort the believers during trials and tribulations.

     3. Third, He strengthen the minds of believes to endure their

          trying circumstances.

     4. Forth,  God showed His love by sending Timothy to encourage the

         young believers.

     5. Fifth, God sends His leaders through trials to strengthen their

         faith in preaching the Gospel.

     6. God will not allow Satan to tear down what He builds up.

     7. This should encourage our pastors that God is fully in control, and   

          their work will be prosperous  in the Lord.

 

THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTOR

V:4. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I (Paul) could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.

6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

A. You never know what your pastors are going through to keep you

     lifted up in prayer.

  1. When they have not heard from you, they are naturally concerned

      about your welfare because you are sheep under their care.

  2. Doing this zoom church time, to not see the faces or hear the

      voices of the members is troubling to the shepherds.

  3. For the members we don’t hear about, or hear from gives us

     cause for concern.

    a. We don’t know if they are sick or well.

    b. We don’t know if the devil has led them astray.

B. To hear good news about the testimonies of the members is always

     encouraging to the shepherd.

   1. I would be willing to bet, that your pastor and his wife has a desire to

       see each of the members in the flesh.

   2. It is encouraging to the pastors to know that you are lifting them up

       in prayer.

 

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTORS

V:7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

A. Our Pastors need encouraging just as we do.

    1. They are encouraged to know that we are persevering in theses

         troubling time.

    2. Your pastors lives are tied to your faith in the Lord.

    3. Your pastor joy is tied to your spiritual well being in the Lord

B. The pastors job requires them to continuously be in prayer for you.

   1. We can encourage our pastors with phone calls, with texts and

       by showing our face on zoom.

   2. It is the pastors desire to know what areas you need encouraging.

   3. As pastors, we thank God for you because you enrich our lives.

 

A PRAYER FOR YOU FROM THE PASTOR

V:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

A. It is the pastor’s prayer, that the Lord Jesus clear out what is hindering

     Us from fellowshipping together in the sanctuary.

   1. Love is the most important characteristic of the Christian faith.

   2. It is the pastors desire that God will make your love overflow

      for all believers and non believers.

  3. It is the pastor prayer that your heart be continuously strengthen

      a. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.

      b. It is your pastors desire that your primary issue be the love of God.

B. It is the desire of the Pastor that you be blameless before the Father

    1. Therefore confess your sins daily to have a flesh fellowship

        with Jesus.

   2. It is the pastors prayer that your hope be in second coming of the

       Lord Jesus Christ

   3. It is the desire of your pastor that you spend eternity with Jesus.

 

 

IN SUMMARY WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR PASTORS BY:

 

APPRECIATING THE WORK THEY DO

 

UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE

 

DOING SOMETHING PERSONAL TO ENCOURAGE

 

PHONE CALLS AND TEXTS

 

PRAY FOR THEM DAILY

 

THANK GOD FOR OUR PASTORS

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

 

Join us to night for live Bible Study

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Gratefulness Sees No Complaints", Exodus 16:1-15, 9/6/2020

 

   

 

GRATEFULNESS SEES NO COMPLAINTS

 

Exodus  16:1-15

 

PRACTICE BEING GRATEFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

V:1.  The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord 's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

A. You can take the man out of slavery, but you make never get slavery out of the man.

    1. Freedom comes with responsibility.

    2. The first responsibility of freedom is gratefulness

    3. Freedom comes because of the conviction and labor of someone.

B. The Israelites cried out to God because of their slavery in Egypt.

    1. They witness the power of God through the 10 plagues and the

        death of the Egyptian army in the Red sea.

    2. Two months later they complained about their freedom.

    3. In Slavery, all the choices are made for you.

    4. In freedom, you have to make choices and be responsible for

        self and family,

C. Complaining focuses on you, and gratefulness focuses on God.

    1. Complaining blocks your view of the blessing in front of you.

    2. Gratefulness opens the door to the wealth of God.

    3. The same God that brought them out of slavery will protect

         them in their freedom.

 

BLESSINGS ARE DESIGNED TO TEST OUR OBEDIENCE

V:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way, I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day, they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

A. God hears our complaints as well as our praise.

    1. We must remember that Israel was just beginning their history

         with God as free people.

    2.  Two months earlier, they knew about God But did not recognized

         Him as God of their lives or the miracles was His

         work on their behalf.

   3. Before we judge the newly freed Israelites, consider our

       history when we first met Jesus.

      4. We heard about Jesus from someone, but we had to learn to trust

           Him.

      5. I would be willing to bet, that you did not have complete trust

          in Jesus, two months after you accepted Him as your personal

          savior.

     6. It was not until you left home and got on your own that you

          learn to call on Jesus.

    B. As for me, I had some years of touch times, after I tried

          all I  knew that didn't work before I decided to trust Jesus

       1.  I had some growing up time in the Lord.

       2.  Their grumbling at Moses was really at the Lord who freed them.

       3. That sounds like me.

       4. I complained about not having enough to eat when I had a full

           loaf of bread in my hand.

       5. I could see the end of the bread, but could not see the hand that

           gave me the bread.

       6. You know you are maturing when you see the last piece of bread,

            but trust God to give you another loaf.

   C. Every day, God rains down blessings on us.

       1. The question is, do we see God in the blessings?

       2. The newly freed Israelites would have to learn to trust God.

       3. God started their training by answering their grumbling

           with enough bread and meat for a day for six days in a row.

    4. On the sixth day, they were commanded to gather enough for

         the seventh day.

     5. This would the start of the Sabbath memorial.

 

GIVE GOD THE CREDIT FOR THE GOOD IN YOUR LIFE

V:6.  So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we,  that you should grumble against us?" 8 Moses also said, "You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord ."

A. God gives us pastors to remind us of His Words and His works. 

     1. Pastors are given to us to hear God's instructions for our lives.

     2. When we complain against the Pastors, we are complaining against

          God.

B. It is the job of the pastor to bring attention to the Word, so you can see

           The glory of God at work.

       1. God had performed 11  miracles to bring Israel out

           of Egypt.

        2. They did not see God in the miracles.

        3. Moses gave The Israelites a specific Word from the Lord

            that they would have meat in the evenings and all the bread

           they could eat in the morning.

        4. Some time for you to take God seriously, He will do something

            specific to satisfy your need.

 

START YOUR DAY WITH THE LORD

V:9.  Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.'"

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord  your God.'"

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.

A. When the Lord speaks, you will know that it is Him working in

      your life.

    1. The Israelites, a million-plus people was in the desert where there was

         no abundant life.

     2.  Yet quail covered the ground at night and bread covered the ground

           in the morning.

    3. Let’s state it again, they were in the desert, there was nothing to

        eat.

   4. Birds don’t flock together where there is nothing to eat.

       a. The first miracle was a large number of birds coming to the ground

            where there is nothing to eat,

       b. It is believed that migrating quail flew at night and hid during

            the day.

       c. The second miracle is they were in large enough numbers to

           feed a million-plus people.

        d. The third miracle is the quail didn't fly away when humans

             came toward them.

      5. This was clearly the glory of God.

B. The next event was a miracle that had never happen before.

     1. In the morning, thin flakes appeared on the ground

         after the dew dried.

     2. The flakes were in abundance enough to feed a million

         -plus people.

     3. God provides what we need to draw us close to Him.

 

GOD KNOW HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION

V:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For    they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Lord  has given you to eat.

A. The Lord is the bread of life,

     1. The true bread is the Word of God.

     2. Each time we study God's Word we are eating spiritual

         bread.

     3. Digesting the spiritual bread strengthens the mind.

B. Each time we study God’s Word we ought to have questions

     That leads us the deeper investigation.

   1. Reading the Word ought to wet your appetite for the wisdom of

       God.

   2. The wisdom of man is full of deceptions, miss information

         and selfish desires.

   3. The wisdom of God promotes unselfish behavior, humbleness, and

        the righteousness of God.

   4. When the Israelites saw the work of God, they wanted to know

        what is it, because all they knew was the evilness of man.

  C. They had to labor for food in slavery.

    1. But the Lord gave them food at no cost.

    2. God's salvation is free to us. All we have to do is open our

        and receive it.

          

THANK GOD FOR HIS TENDER MERCIES

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

 

For more lessons, follow me on facebook and vist my

Blogs; revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Study Series: 1 Thessalonians 1, "Lifting You Up"

 

   

LIFTING YOU UP

 

 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

GREET WITH ENCOURAGEMENT

V:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

A. Paul was known as Saul before His conversion. The Hebrew name

    Saul means “asked for”. It was the Holy Spirit who said set aside for me

    Saul and Barnabas for the mission to the Gentiles. (Act 13:2)

   Paul’s Roman name  (Paul) means little.

  1. On the second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas had a fallen out

      over Mark’s commitment  (Act 15:40).  Silas joined Paul in

      the second  journey,  The name Silas means wood or third.

  2. Timothy was converted and baptized by Paul on his first

      missionary journey in Lystra  (Acts 14:6).

      The name Timothy means God honored.

  3. The meaning of the names of these men given to them at birth,

       suggest to me that they were chosen by God before they were

       born for the mission of the Gospel.

   4. Do you believe you were chosen by God to serve Him?

       a. Have you identified your area of service?

       b. How do you see your service benefiting the Church?

       c. Everything starts with how you see your relationship with

           Christ.

B. Notice, God’s instructions are specific to your needs.

    1. Timothy had just returned from Thessalonica with a report

        on the condition of the church members.

    2. Paul’s letter is one of encouragement and instruction. 

C. Why does Paul need to say “in God the Father and the Lord

     Jesus Christ since they are both one?

    1. Let me suggest that Paul was dealing with a young Church

        that knew God the Father from their teaching in the Synagogues.

    2. They had just been introduced to Jesus as the Christ and messiah.

    3. They had to believe Paul and Silas without having seen Jesus.

    4. The leading Jews ran Paul out of city claiming his teachings

       were against their Law and against the Romans government.

   5. It was the person of God  the Father who sent Jesus to us.

      1. It was the person of God the Son who put on human flesh to

           die for our sin.

       2. It was the person of God the Son who sent the Person of God          

           the Holy Spirit to indwell us and be our comforter.

           Thus, one God in three persons.

        3. Until Paul preached Jesus the Thessalonians had no knowledge

            of Jesus the Messiah or the Holy Spirit.

        4. Paul is reminding us of our hope in Jesus.

D. Paul starts the letter off with a greeting, grace and peace.

    1. Grace is God’s favor. The Greek word used is “charis”, God’s

       Divine influence of the heart. This lead to joy and graditude

    2. The Greek word for peace is eirene which means prosperity.

    3. Let’s greet each other with grace and peace

        Joy and prosperity.

 

       Lets do an exercise , There are        people on zoom now

       Pick a name  Say say Grace and Peace to you __________                                                                                                                                                                                      

     

      We need to see  grace and peace as encouraging words.

    

       Prov 12:25

       Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word                         

       maketh it glad.

 

   4. The young church was under constant persecution, yet kept

       their faith in Jesus.

   5. Grace and peace is not the absent of problems.

       God’s grace and peace elevates you above your

       personal situation, and puts you spiritually in Jesus.

    6. Your expectation is Jesus will take care of your problems.

 

PRAY FOR EACH OTHER

V:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. The one thing you can do for other is mention names of believers in your    

     prayers. Prayer activates God’s power

    1. We are going through a time when there is a falling away from

         the church.

    2, This Bible Study group is the strength of the church.

    3. Paul says I always make mention of you.

B. We have to thank God for each other.

    1. We are all in this together.

    2. We cannot let this pandemic and economic down turn

        stop us from serving God.

C. Paul gives us three characteristics for Christian growth and development

    

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Three characteristics of these believers stood out in Paul's mind.

      1st, they had performed an important work produced by (lit., "of") faith   

             in Christ. Verse 9 mentions that they had turned to the true God

              from  idols. Faith in Christ had produced true repentance.

 

      2^nd  they performed labor (‎kopou‎, "toil") prompted by (lit., "of")   

           love for Christ. This consisted in their serving the living and true

             God (v.9) in the midst of persecution (v. 6).

 

         3rd, they had endurance (‎hypomones‎, lit., "a bearing up patiently   

                 under a heavy load"; cf. 2 Thess 1:4) inspired by (lit., "of")   

               hope in    Christ. Specifically they were waiting for God's Son  

                 from  heaven

 

(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983,

 

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR CALLING

V:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7

A. We are family loved by God.

    1. No greater love than Jesus.

    2. No greater friend than Jesus.

    3. No greater provider than Jesus

    4. No greater protector than Jesus.

B. You were chosen by Jesus to be here now serving Him.

   

      John 15:16-17

      You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you    

      should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever

       you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

 

   1. Watch this; the key to you having what you need is serving Jesus.

   2. God gave you the Gospel with POWER

       There is power in the Word Of God

          a. power to change

          b. Power to encourage

          c. Power to uplift

     3. God gave you the Gospel with the Holy Spirit.

         The Holy Spirit is our spiritual conscience.

     4. God gave you the Gospel with conviction.

          Hope

          Peace

          Joy

          Confidence in His promises

C. The Word of God is full of real life role models

     1. Men like Paul and Silas, who traveled the country

         preaching the Gospel while being lied on

         And persecuted

         They kept their faith regardless of their circumstances

     2. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark on dry land.

         All the while being laugh at by his neighbors.

     3. Moses stood against Pharaoh’s powerful and well trained army

         with just his staff in his hand.

     4. Joseph kept his faith in God after being sold into slavery by

         his brothers, lied on by Potiphar’s wife, neglected by men he

         helped in prison. Yet he rose to second in command to the

         Pharaoh of  Egypt.

     5. As we mature in the Lord, it is our job to be role models for

        for others to follow.

     6. There is joy in obedience to God’s Word.

 

 

                                                           

LET YOUR LIFE BE A TALE OF GOOD GOSSIP

V:7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

A. You are a role model, good or bad.

    1. Someone is look at what you do and influenced by your actions.

    2. You  may never know who is watching and taking notes.

    3. But know this, some one is always watching.

    4. Information about you spreads much father than you know.

    5. In this age of multimedia, your reputation can be known around

        the world in an instant.

B. The question is, do you want to be a role model for Jesus?

    1. We should let out conversation reflect the hope we have in Jesus.

    

        Phil 4:8-9

        Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,    

        whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if    

        anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

 

    2. What you think about is what you will talk about.

    3.  The convictions that your thoughts bring you to, is what you will

         act on.

    

         Phil 4:9

         Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in  

          me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

     4. People will gossip. Therefore, give them some good gossip.

     5. Since people will repeat what you said, let them repeat you testimony

         about Jesus.

     6. Since people will report what you did, let them see you serving the

         Lord and giving Him praise.

 

 

IN SUMMARY , BE THE ONE WHO ENCOURAGES

 

GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH ENCOURAGEMENT

 

PRAY DAILY FOR EACH OTHER

 

THANK GOD FOR EACH BELIEVER

 

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR CALLING

 

LET YOUT LIFE BE A TALE OF GOOD GOSSIP

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell