This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Hell Is Real", Luke 16:19-31, 7/16/23

 

HELL IS REAL

Luke 16:19-31

STEWARDSHIP IS FELLOWSHIP IN ACTION

Whenever Jesus taught the Word there was always a mixed crowd. There were

the common citizens who came to hear the word and there were His distractors

who came to find fault. His distractors were the Jewish hierarchy which was

Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law, and sometimes chief priests.

Chapter 16 started with a parable of a poor steward of his master's business.

In general, we take better care of our business than God's business. Since

everything we have come from God, then all business belongs to God.

If we are not good stewards of the little we have, God will not make

us rulers of the bigger things He has for us.

The Pharisees after hearing the parable mocked Jesus. They knew it was

directed at their love for money, power, and position rather than the responsibility

of the citizens of the nation of Israel. They coveted their position and wealth

rather than coveting the welfare of the people. Jesus continued to expose their

evil motives.

Next Jesus turned His attention to marriage, God’s premier institution.

God hates divorce. He reminds us of coveting someone outside of marriage is

an act of adultery.

Next, He turned His attention to coveting selfishness over kindness to others

using the parable of Lazarus and the rich man

There is nothing to condemn the rich man for his wealth. He may have gained

all he had through hard work and dedication. His problem was giving all credit to

himself.

There is nothing said to condemn Lazarus for his poor condition. He may have

been born in poor circumstances without the support of family or relatives.

It was Jesus who said the poor would always be with us.

The name Lazarus means God is help. The fact that Lazarus was poor and helpless

suggest that someone was feeding him from time to time.

Jesus highlights the selfishness and lack of compassion of the rich man.

He highlights the needs of the poor among us and our responsibility.

The rich man dressed well ate well and partied well all the while ignoring

the needs of Lazarus placed outside his gate.

God does not condemn the rich man for not using his wealth to feed the poor,

just for ignoring the opportunity to help the one placed at his gate. Not only

is the rich man condemned but all who passed by Lazarus head to the

rich man's palace.

The story points out that life is short. The rich and the poor all die. The story

also points out that death is not the end but just a new beginning. There are

two destinations, heaven or hell determined by our stewardship in this life.

The reward of a Godly life is heaven and the reward of worldly life is hell.

That old saying that when you are dead you are done, is not true. While we

yet live, we have a choice to make heaven our eternal home or do nothing

and end in hell.

DON’T BE A RICH FOOL

V:19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Notice God puts the opportunity to be His servant or a servant of ourselves at

our doorstep. We don't have to go far to serve God. We don't need additional

resources to serve God. All we have to do is use what we have in front

of us.

The greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your mind heart

and soul. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The rich man,

the subject of the story, had no love in his heart for God or man.

The man blessed by God was selfish and thoughtless not to feed Lazarus

the crumbs from his table. When he dressed himself, he put no thought into

clothing Lazarus with used cloth from his closet. When he laid down in the

comfort of his bed at night, he gave no thought to Lazarus laying on the ground

uncovered at his front gate. When the doctors visited him and his family

he gave no thought to having his doctor check on Lazarus. When he drank

the water and wine from his table, he gave no thought to sending a drink to

Lazarus.

God gives us many opportunities to serve if we would only open our heart

to the good, we can do to supply the needs of the poor.

LIFE IS SHORT, MAKE THE BEST OF IT

V:22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire.'

There is a time when each of us will die. What will your record say about you?

Will love and kindness be recorded or selfish desires be printed? Will fellowship

with Jesus be your badge or the devil and his demons be your friends?

Will the Lord know you on your last day on earth or will the record say you rejected

him.

Lazarus endured his poor condition until his death. We find no cry or complaint

to God. We find no record of Lazarus being a troublemaker or a man

of lies. We do find in his name, God is help.

Whoever named him, gave him the hope of God. Someone must have cared

enough to lay Lazarus at the gate of the rich man where help was available.

God even sent the dogs to lick his sores. God protected Lazarus from the hunger of the wild dogs and other wild beast. It is evident that God was

watching over Lazarus.

His presence in heaven speaks volumes to his character. We don’t know

what Lazarus did before his demise. We do know he accepted the Word

of God as the truth for his life. The circumstances of one life are not

indicators of a lack of a relationship with God.

God allows some to be poor on earth but with a rich inheritance in heaven.

The poor on earth is a visual reminder of how blessed we are and not to take

anything without gratitude. The poor on earth is a reminder of our

responsibility to them.

The rich man while blessed with much on earth was poor in spirit. He gave

no thought to eternal life until he was faced with it. He had a rich bank account

on Earth but nothing but hell stored in Heaven. Had the rich man taken time

to help Lazarus, he may have come to know the God of his hope.

The very man He ignored on earth was the one he ask for help in hell. The rich

drank the best on earth but had nothing to drink in hell. He lived in

comfort on earth but burned in hell. He looks for Lazarus in Heaven to

have pity on him in hell. It was too late.

HELL IS REAL, REJECT THE TICKET

V:25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

The text indicates that there is consciousness after death. Absent from the

body but present with Lord. According to Ecclesiastics at death, the body

returns to the dust from which it came and the spirit returns to the Lord. The

Lord is in charge of heaven and hell. We place ourselves in heaven by our faith

in Jesus or in hell by our unbelief.

Our spirits will have feelings in death. Feelings of joy in heaven and feelings of agony in

hell will be elevated beyond anything we can conceive on earth.

If your final destination is hell, you will know why you are there. It will be no

accident, it will be because of the choice you made. If your

final destination is heaven you spend eternity living in the presence of the

The glory of the Father,

HELL IS TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR OUTCOME

V:27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

30 "'No, Father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Every person living on earth has the opportunity to believe in Jesus. John 3:16 is

not a works salvation. It is a faith salvation. Everyone living on earth is given

the invitation to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Once in hell, you will be there for all eternity. In hell it is too late to consider the

welfare of your relatives. It is obvious from his conversation with Abraham

that while he lived he knew of God but refused to worship Him,

In Hell, you will not be able to reason with the Father about your condition. Those

who believed in fortune tellers will know their lies. There is no communication

between those in Heaven or hell with those still living on Earth. The only person

that can change your final destination is you.

Four things I recommend while you are still alive.

Believe that Heaven is real

Believe that Hell is real

Accept Jesus as your personal Savior immediately.

Proclaim the salvation of the Lord to all your loved ones.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Bible Study Series: Purposed To Be God's Family

 PURPOSED TO BE GOD’S FAMILY

THE BEGINNING OF FAMILY

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

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

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

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

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

Ephesians 1:4-6

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

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

according to His will.

According to the creation narrative God first created a comfortable environment

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

Three things to remember:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genesis 2:21

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

Genesis 1:28

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

Starting with Adam and Eve, God ordained individual families.

Genesis 2:3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

sweat of their brows.

SIN DOES NOT CHANGE GOD’S PLAN

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

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

includes our restoration.

Hebrews 2:11-12

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

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

reestablished through the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

Malachi 3:6

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

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

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

CHOSEN TO SERVE

James 1:14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Galatians 3:2-3

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

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

whole law, therefore if brings condemnation.

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

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

disobedience.

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

through life’s experiences to be more like Him.

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

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

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

FAMILY IS SELECTIVE

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

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

He can do as He wills.

Romans 9:18-20

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

wants to harden.

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

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

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

John 6:39

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

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

out of the world of darkness.

Romans 8:28-30

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

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

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

made in the image of His son

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

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

period to the time frame of your life.

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

a. He called you out of the world

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

3. He glorified you for His glory

EQUIPPED WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO RESPOND

Because Family members have responsibilities, God equipped you with

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

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

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

1. God gave you a measure of faith

Romans 12:3

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

has given you.

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

through God who strengthens us.

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

the family.

Serving

Teaching

Encouraging

Helps

Generosity

Leadership

Compassion

A RICH INHERITANCE

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

Galatians 4:7

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

Ephesians 1:18-19

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

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

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

between you and the Holy Spirit.

What is this inheritance?

Spiritual and Social Graces

Wisdom and understanding Ephesians 1:7

Knowledge of His will

Kindness, tolerance, patience Romans 2:4

INHERITANCE ON EARTH

We are God’s portion

Deuteronomy 32:9-10

9 For the Lord's portion is his people,

Jacob his allotted inheritance.

10 In a desert land he found him,

in a barren and howling waste.

He shielded him and cared for him;

he guarded him as the apple of his eye,

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

He has His eye on you at all times.

You are the Lord’s love song

Isaiah 5:1

I will sing for the one I love

a song about his vineyard:

My loved one had a vineyard

on a fertile hillside.

You are constantly on the mind of the Lord.

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

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

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

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

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

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

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

and the spirit.

Inheritance Held in Heaven

1 Peter 1:3-4

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

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

waiting for us to enter heaven.

Hebrews 9:15

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

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

inheritance.

GOD’S FAMILY HAS A MISSION

Matthew 28:19-20

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

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

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

instrument of conviction.

Once a person has accepted Christ as their personal

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

an immediate spiritual baptism

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

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

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

inheritance in God’s Word.

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

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

In summary, God Has purposes for your existence

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

YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR GOD’S PLEASURE

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BE GOD’S FAMILY

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BE LIKE JESUS

YOU WERE CHOSEN TO SERVE

YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR A MISSION

CLASS QUESTIONS

HOW DOES KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE AFFECT THE WAY

YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?

HOW DOES KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE AFFECT HOW YOU

SEE GOD?

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

 

THE GREAT BANQUET

Luke 14:1-24

THE SETUP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

condemnation of Jesus.

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

need.

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

Pharisees teach the value of the Gospel.

PRACTICAL EXPLANATION OF SCRIPTURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

work to get him out of the hole.

Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not

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

and the expert of the law condemned themselves.

PRIDE, HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF

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

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

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

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

People took pride in their position at the table.

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

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

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

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

move back.

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

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

Proverbs 3:34

He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

.

TREAT THE POOR WITH GENEROSITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

heaven.

THE BLESSING OF THE KINGDOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE GREAT BANQUET, SALVATION OF MAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The master is God the Father

The banquet takes place in Heaven.

The banquet is for the salvation of the saints.

The meal is the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The invitation is the free grace of salvation

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

The Servant is Jesus and His disciples

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

The Jewish nation rejected Jesus, and the invitation was gladly

accepted by the Gentiles.

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

WEALTH

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

He refused the invitation because of his wealth and possessions

was put above God.

WORK

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

He refused the invitation because he put his work above God

FAMILY

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

He refused the invitation because he put family above God

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

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

can a man be saved.

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

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

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

for people to be brought to the banquet.

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

Lord when the doors to the banquet will be closed.

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

heaven forever.

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

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

invitation while you still have time.

Rev. M. Mitchell

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

 THE LORD’S PRAYER

Luke 11:1-14

JESUS OUR ROLE MODEL

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

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

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

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

pray in private places and openly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus prayed for the Israelites while hanging on the cross.

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

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

OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER

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

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

Proverbs 6:23

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

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

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

and it will be profitable for us.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Luke 11:2

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

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

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

we must consider ourselves as His children.

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

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

who He is.

Elohim The creator

Elohim Chayim The Living God

Abba The Father

Jehovah Jireh The Lord will provide

Jehovah Shalom The Lord is Peace

El Elyon The Most High God

El Kanna The jealous God

El Roi The God Who Sees

Jehovah Ro’i God the Shepherd

Jehovah Nissi The Lord Our Banner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRUST

V:3 Give us each day our daily bread.

We must learn to rely on the Lord.

We must be thankful that He provides for us daily.

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

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

is doing now.

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

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

Be excited today.

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

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

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

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD

V:4 Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

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

1 John 1:9

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

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

wronged us.

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

Our forgiving others enables God to forgive us.

Matthew 6:15

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

PROTECTION

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

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

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

The Bible tells us to watch and pray.

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

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

offend someone.

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

James 4:7-8

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

GOD GIVES US HIS BEST

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

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

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

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

the middle of the night.

Hebrews 4:16

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

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

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

Matthew 18:4

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

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

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

YOUR BLESSINGS DEPEND ON YOUR FAITH

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

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

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

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

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

receive from the Lord.

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

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

Psalms 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you,

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

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

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

Revelation 3:20

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

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

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

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

what pleases God.

Rev. M. Mitchell