In the first chapter of Genesis we read of the creation, with the first words from God, “let there be light”, (v.3). In this chapter we then see that the word was involved, the light was involved and life. These are three basic components that we see in the book of John chapter one. In verses 6 through 18 we read about “the light”. In this lesson we are asking, “Why Did the Word Become Flesh?” There are many answers, and we’ll investigate them beginning in the book of John. Notice the first answer in verse 12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”. Jesus the Word came to gives man the right to become the children of God…
The Faith of the Nobleman Webster defines “miracle” as, “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs”. Oxford Dictionary says of miracles, “A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency”. In our time the word miracle…
SERENITY – WISDOM FROM GOD
In our lesson we want to talk about the simple practical things that we can and cannot change. We’ll begin at the end of the phrase with, the wisdom to know the difference between the two. This wisdom begins not with our own understanding, but with petition to God for His guidance and His wisdom to discern these things.
“5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6). We all can ask God for wisdom Remember Solomon who could have asked for anything, any material thing in the world, but he asked God for wisdom, and that God gave him along with what he didn’t ask for. When we pray to God for wisdom it can come from many different sources, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.
We will also talk about the serenity and peace that comes with wisdom, and knowledge, as we are guided by the wisdom from above…
CONTENTMENT
“11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [a]be abased, and I know how to [b]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12).
We will consider in this lesson the secret of contentment, have we learned that secret? Are we content with what we have? Our society trains us to want more of everything. So, how do we find contentment? Listen in and see.
HIS DEATH – OUR LIFE
We will look at the scripture and see the significance of the death of Christ and the how it applies to the church. Consider Jesus’ words, “25 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
The best way that we can represent Him, is to understand the power of the gospel. His death brings resurrection power into our lives, and brings within us the ability to resist and stand strong and even stand as light in this dark world.
TALK IS CHEAP
My hope is to give you some words of encouragement and to strengthen you from the word of God.
President Lincoln was a man who certainly knew failure before he knew victory having lost many more elections than those which he won. In the scripture we read of one man, Simon Peter, who was a fisherman, selected by Christ to be one of the twelve yet mostly known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. When Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and be killed, it was Peter that rebuked the Lord. Peter in his eagerness, while on the mount of transfiguration, proposed setting up the three tabernacles, quickly being rebuked by the voice of God from heaven.
And it was Peter who said to the Lord, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Yet we read that was not what happen for in sight of Jesus when Peter was “accused” of being one of the Lord’s disciples Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times (vv.54-62).
Yes Talk is Cheap! We find in this text Peter’s bold declaration of loyalty, which I believe even Peter would admit was his greatest failure. From this I want to share with you 4 lessons which I hope will strengthen and encourage us all in our walk in faith.
Anyone Can Fail!
The Enemy Is Ruthless!
The Savior is For Us!
The Failure of Life Can Be the Springboard of Greatness
Please listen in as we learn these four great lessons…
THE PERFECT LOVE
We know from the Holy Scriptures that God is love and that we can continue in that love. In this lesson we will be seeking a greater understanding about God’s love as described in 1 John 4:18 as “perfect love”.
The Glorious gospel, intertwined with the purpose of the commandments as it says in verse 5, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [b]sincere faith,” Therefore, we know that sincere faith comes from a good and honest heart that accepts the word of God.
So, as we think about love we know that it is described in a few ways that we would like to explore in this lesson…
CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH – A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Paul’s referring to Christ in this passage, He is the image of the invisible God. It pleased God to send His Son into the world that He might redeem His people. It pleased Him to bruise His own Son, put Him to death, as Isaiah said, and not for His own sake but for ours.
How much more personal can that be, and that is the relationship that God through Christ wants with you…
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES: “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[a] shall surely die.”” Genesis 2:16-17
Since the beginning people have been blessed with free will to make decisions, good or bad, and since that time we all are accountable for our decisions, good or bad. As was the case with Adam and Eve in the garden who were commanded by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and chose to eat, thus the first sin against God. That has continued throughout every generation since that time. We cannot blame God, nor can we blame Adam, nor our grandparents, and neither our parents for our sin and the consequence of sin. We all are solely responsible for the choices we make, good or bad. We are all deserving of praise from God, or punishment based on the choices we make in life. Therefore, I would think that making choices for how we live, work, play, and yes serve are paramount.
Joshua made it clear, “14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of [a]the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of [b]the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).
Will you answer like the people who answered, “16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;”? (Joshua 24:16)
GO FISH!
“19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
We all must understand the command in verse 19 was given to the Lord’s eleven disciples, and they did exactly that. But, the reason many saints in the kingdom have, and continue to fall short, is because they focus on verse 19, and slip passed verse 20 which is just as commanding. The command to teach “them to observe all things that I have commanded you”. Them is you!
In this lesson we will focus on the idea of all God’s children fishing for lost souls and bringing glory to God in the process.