Lesson 1 BEING PREPARED FOR THE RESURRECTION April 1, 2018
(His Resurrection Made Ours Possible)
KEY VERSE: 1Pe_1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
LESSON PREVIEW
There is no greater hope than the hope of the resurrection. Death is not the final abode. There will be a resurrection. The scripture teaches a resurrection for the righteous and one for the unrighteous. The unrighteous will be resurrected to experience what the Bible terms as everlasting punishment but the righteous will be resurrected to eternal life according to the Word of God. Jesus made possible a glorious resurrection for the Child of God through His own death, triumphing over it.
PROOF OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
We know for sure that something out of the ordinary happen when Jesus was here nearly two millenniums ago because His name and cause continues to live on in various ways. Today Christianity has the largest following of all religions. The Bible which records the life and resurrection of Jesus is the most read book of all times. The Gregorian calendar is internationally the most widely used civil calendar and dates backward to the birth of Christ. What was it about this person that causes Him to stand out? It was no doubt the life that He lived and the fact that He rose from the grave.
Paul speaks to the Corinthian church about the large number of people that witnessed the resurrected Jesus. Paul got to see for himself the resurrected Jesus as he was on his way to Damascus to hinder the work of this one who rose from the grave. He was an unbeliever in the resurrection story but quickly had a change of mind when the Lord appeared to him.
RESURRECTION POWER
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
There are some things in life that mankind has not been able to conquer on his own. Death is certainly one of those things. God’s Son, Jesus Christ not only conquered death but made a show of it openly, says Paul to the Colossian saints. Paul to the Corinthian church speaks of death and the grave as if they were living entities and able to understand. He in a mockingly way asks death where is thy sting and he asks the grave where is thy victory.
Of course, death and the grave are not actual living entities but if they were, it might have gone something like this when the Lord was placed in the grave. Mr Death comes up to tell Mr. Grave that the one who has just been placed in his holding cell is the one who called Himself the Son of God and that He had made a statement that in three days He would rise again. Mr. Grave says you don’t have to worry about that. You know my reputation. When I get someone there is no escape. So, Mr. Death descends back down to wherever he came from. On the second day that Jesus was in the grave, Mr. Death ascends back up to check on the status of Jesus. He says to Mr. Grave, do you still have the one who called Himself the Son of God. Mr. Grave says, just like I told you yesterday, when I get someone there is no escape. So, Mr. Death descends back down again. On the third day Mr. Death checks in on Jesus again. He says to Mr. Grave, do you still have the one who called Himself the Son of God. Mr. Grave is at a loss of words and he doesn’t have an explanation for what happened. His powers were useless on Jesus. Something had pulled back the clutches of the grave. Neither death nor the grave could hold Him.
To understand as Paul put it, that death was swallowed up by victory is a wonderful thought. Death does have a doorway and Jesus opened it.
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION MADE POSSIBLE OUR RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE
1Pe_1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 15 that, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” There is only one person who has power over death and He has already demonstrated that power some two thousand years ago when He Himself rose victoriously from the grave. What a wonderful way to describe Christ and His resurrection by the use of the word, “firstfruits.” When fruit matures there is a seed within it that can be planted, and the same kind of fruit will come to life again. Christ is the first and only fruit of its kind. There is nothing else that can be planted in our hearts that will prepare us for a resurrection unto eternal life. Our future resurrection is made possible by His. Paul says it is in Him (Christ) that we shall be made alive.
FOCAL POINT
C.H. Spurgeon told the story of a child who found some beautiful eggs in a bird’s nest. Sometime later the child went back again and then returned to his mother crying, “Mother, I had some beautiful eggs in this nest and now they’re destroyed! There’s nothing left but a few pieces of broken shell.” His mother explained to him that the eggs were not destroyed but that there were little birds inside those eggs and now they have escaped and have flown away and are probably at the very moment singing, soaring the skies and enjoying their new world.
Spurgeon went on to explain that when we look at our departed loved ones, many think, “wow is this all that life is and is this all that we have left” but “NO” for a Christian only the shell has been broken and the life that was in it has escaped to new heights, to a world unknown, a new world, a world without end eternal in the heavens.
Other Scriptural Helps
1 Thess. 4:16-17, Matt. 25:46, Rom. 6:5
Lesson 8 May 20, 2018
PREPARING FOR THE END TIMES (BY UNDERSTANDING APOSTASY IS A SIGN)
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KEY VERSE: 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
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LESSON PREVIEW: It seems in every generation there are those who come to know the truth and then turn from it. According to scripture the last days will be filled with people and groups who for one reason or another have turned away from God’s word. There is little doubt that there is already wide spread apostasy in our day and hour. A definite drift from the truth has taken place and is continuing to take place. The drift has taken many individuals and groups so far from the Bible that the real truth now appears as strange stuff to the ears of many. In this lesson we speak of apostasy (which means a falling away) as a sign of the end times.
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BIBLE LESSON:
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2Ch 34:14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.
2Ch 34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
On Guard Against Seducing Spirits And Doctrines Of Devils (1Ti 4:1,2; Mat 24:11)
Paul gives us some idea on how and why apostasy will be on a large scale in the last day. He mentions “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” Those words coupled with the words of the Lord concerning the rise of false prophets in the last days should be a warning for us not to believe every spirit but to try them by the word of God. The Spirit of God and the word of God are our greatest sources of protection against the deception of the enemy. Satan will use human instruments often disguised as angels of light or ministers of light to disseminate false doctrine. We should understand that there are those who are deceived and then those who are doing the deceiving. Many are knowingly preaching and teaching false doctrine and they often do it for things like power, position and profit. The enemy’s last day plan includes a distortion of the truth. He offers ANOTHER GOSPEL – ANOTHER SALVATION – ANOTHER STANDARD FOR LIVING, all the time pretending it is the same as was in Jesus and Paul’s day.
We are living in a day when many traditional values and beliefs have become obsolete. A blindness has crept in to churches and hearts, much like that of the Laodicean church in the book of Revelation and they cannot see and do not know that they cannot see.
Understanding Apostasy As A Sign And Standing Fast (2 Th 2:3; 2 Th 2:15)
According to scripture apostasy is a sign of the end time. Many preach the rise of evil as a sign of the last days and are correct in doing so but that is not apostasy. Much of the wickedness that takes place in this world comes from those who have never known God or the truth and again that is not apostasy. Apostasy means (as Paul put it) a departure from the faith. Apostasy is one of the greatest signs of the end time and yet few really understand it and comprehend what is going on around them. The Christian community is in dire need of a great awakening to the departure from Bible doctrine that is going on and has been for some time.
More and more groups are relenting to the pressures that be and fewer and fewer are standing for truth. Preachers talk about standing our ground on certain issues and that may be well and good but what many do not realize, is that there has already been much ground given up. We are living in a day when people are so far from the truth that when they see the truth, they do not recognize it.
Paul used the words, “stand fast.” It’s alright to be different or even unique in your beliefs if they are founded upon the word of God. In doing so you fit in with the group of those like Noah, Jerimiah, Paul and Jesus. All of these knew what it was like to stand alone and separate from popular opinion. Each one of these had a message to proclaim that was different from those around them. Their words called for change and conformity to the ways of God. Any preaching that doesn’t include such things is worth little to the ears that hear it.
Forsaken Truth (2Ch 34:13; 2Ch 34:21)
Apostasy doesn’t happen overnight. It seldom if ever takes place instantly or abruptly. It is a gradual process. Sometimes it takes a generation or two for a truth to become lost or obscured from sight and then the next generation, unless it is seeking God is in the dark concerning that particular truth.
In Josiah’s day, he had sent out orders to repair the house of God. Somewhere in the process or preparation of this refurbishing was found the book of the law which had been thrown aside and disregarded for many years. The people had already lost knowledge of many of the things that were recorded in it. There were things that they should have been doing, that they were not doing and things that they should have not being doing, that they were doing. This passage of scripture poses a question for us today, “are there any truths that have been tossed aside that I do not know of?”
Focal Point
Did you know that outward adornment was taught against by some of the main line churches up until the mid to late 1800’s and by other well know church organizations up until the late 1900’s.
Did you know that at one time many more church groups taught against divorce and remarriage than they do now?
Some years from now if the Lord tarries, people will be saying, “did you know that churches once taught against the homosexual lifestyle.” If some people would search back down the historical path of where their church organization came from, they may be surprised to find that the lists of “THOU SHALT NOTS” were much larger at one time than they are now.
We need to take the good advice of “buy the truth and sell it not.” Prov. 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
Jude 1:3, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Cor. 4:4
Lesson 9 May 27, 2018
PREPARING FOR THE END TIMES
(By understanding a great increase of iniquity is a sign)
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KEY VERSE: Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
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LESSON PREVIEW: Not long ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly that “Biblical prophecies are being realized.” Many Christians around the world believe that the world is now living in the biblical end times. A person doesn’t have to be a theologian to recognize that prophecies are being fulfilled before our very eyes. Among the clearest of the prophecies is the rapid increase of wickedness in the world.
BIBLE LESSON
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
THE RISE IN INIQUITY CREDITED TO FALSE TEACHING (Mat 24:11-14)
Among the many signs that we find in the Bible pointing to the end time is the increase of iniquity. Jesus used the words “iniquity shall abound” and by that meant iniquity shall increase or multiply. When you take into consideration the original Greek word for “abound,” it can also be taken as saying, “that it is an iniquity that is being produced by other iniquity.” This definition ties in well with verse eleven where Jesus says, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” It seems that Jesus was saying that false teachers would have a part in the increase of iniquity in the last days. It is deceitful and heretical preaching, which in itself is sinful, that will produce more iniquity in those who hear it. It should be clear to anyone that has some amount of reasoning that when preachers make allowance for sin and justify it as they are doing today, that it will only serve to produce more sin. The rise of evil is directly connected to false teaching.
THE PROLIFERATION OF SIN IS ALL AROUND US (2 Ti 3:1-3, 13)
The promotion of sin in this world seems to be at an all-time high. Up until the last century there were no such things as televisions and computers. While these things can be used for good, the devil has clearly taken advantage of them himself, to accomplish his agenda. Just about any kind of sin there is, is only a few clicks away on the computer and the television has already polluted many hearts and minds.
All these evil characteristics that we find in 2 Timothy chapter 3 are paraded before us and glamourized through these modern inventions of the last century. Paul says that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Such people as Paul mentioned are taking advantage of these modern technologies to increase the flood of wickedness in our day.
One of the evil characteristics that Paul mentioned in these verses was “without natural affection.” Jesus Himself refers to the day of Lot when talking about the last days. He tells us that there are some similarities between the two. We know from studying about the time of Lot that it was a time when homosexual activity was taking place and God showed His displeasure with it. He sent a fiery bombardment from the heavens on the city of Sodom to destroy it. If that is not a show of God’s displeasure with that kind of judgement enacted, then it is hard to say what would be. There appears to be a world-wide push again in these last few years to bring about these societal woes that were in Lot’s day. The new-found technology is playing a part in bombarding homes and hearts once again with this kind of evil.
TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES (Luk 21:34,35)
Our world is rapidly deteriorating morally and spiritually and at a rate that is mind-staggering to the person who understands Bible prophecy. It is strange that much of the lost world does not seem to understand this. A spiritual darkness is upon this world and it is very evident that the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of multitudes of people.
Jesus points out that when a person’s life is filled with evil that it affects their mind and understanding of things. He compared sin in the heart to a state of drunkenness. One who is drunk is not alert to his surroundings and a person who lives in sin is also intoxicated and incapable of understanding what is really going on around him.
Jesus also used the word snare. A snare catches things or people that are not alert to the surroundings. Jesus was indicating that a lack of awareness will exists among the inhabitants of the earth as the end time approaches. The lost world will not be aware that the day of the Lord is upon them. Jesus will come as a thief in the night and they will be left to suffer great tribulations. It is for this reason that Jesus said, “take heed to yourselves.”
FOCAL POINT
There is a small tree which grows in Southeast Asia known as the Judas-tree. From its branches grow gorgeous blossoms. These blossoms look like scarlet sunbeams. The brilliant beauty of the crimson flowers attracts thousands of insects. Wild bees also try to draw honey from their exquisitely shaped cups. But every insect that comes to rest on the edge of its blossom is overcome. It is overcome by a fatal drug which the flower-juice contains. And the insect drops dead upon the ground below. So, when you walk around a Judas-tree, you often see the soft grass littered with dead and dying insects. The Judas-tree reminds us of the deceitfulness sin and Jesus’ words “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
Jude 1:1-7, 1 Tim. 4:1-2, 2 Tim. 3:4-5, Matt. 24:37-39
Lesson 10 June 3, 2018
PREPARING FOR THE END TIMES
(By understanding a lack of self-control is a sign)
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KEY VERSE: 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
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LESSON PREVIEW: This lesson focuses on a subject that the scripture associates with the last days. Paul uses the word incontinent here to describe the condition of a world full of people who have no control over their lives. The word incontinent can be defined as meaning “lack of self-restraint, uncontrolled or lacking in self-control.” There has always been individuals that would fit into this category of people who have no control over their lives, but God’s word tells us that the last days will be climaxed by a world out of control.
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BIBLE LESSON
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
THE MASTER HAS BECOME THE SERVANT (2Tim. 3:1-3)
What a picture Paul paints for us here of the end times where men and women have become enslaved to their environment. In the beginning God put mankind in control over all those things around them but in the end, it will have turned around where the things of the world will be dictating to mankind what they are to do. We already see many enslaved to things like alcohol, drugs and pornography but also there are other things that people have become addicted to, that many do not think about as controlling their lives. Many have become addicted to pleasures such as the television, the internet or other recreational activities.
These things of themselves are not necessarily wrong but when they have such a control over our lives that we cannot limit our time that we spend on them, we have become the slave of them. Too often the things that people are drawn into under the guise or pretense of being good and enjoyable to them, often end up being their master.
RELIGION WITHOUT POWER IS A SIGN (2Tim. 3:5)
Today much of what goes on in many churches is strictly formality. This is what Paul was referring to when he used the term “form of godliness.” There is nothing wrong with doing some things orderly and even repetitively but when it becomes for show and God’s presence and power is absent, then such actions are in vain. There is a spiritual emptiness in many groups that classify themselves as a Christian group. It is not because they do not sing gospel songs, fail to do good deeds or even talk of God’s love but God’s power to transform lives is missing.
General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, said the following words before his death, “I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration; politics without God; and Heaven without Hell.” We are now in those days that William Booth was speaking of where there are those who deny the power of the Holy Ghost. There are those who deny the power of regeneration that comes with salvation and those who reject the sanctifying power of God that is able to keep us holy. There are many groups who once taught these things but who have now given in to the pressures of the day. This abandoning of the power of God in churches is one of the reasons why people cannot find deliverance from those things that have enslaved them and is also in itself a sign of the end time, according to Paul.
WHY HAS THE POWER IN CHURCHES LEFT (Matt. 6:13)
Many people and churches today still teach and preach about the power of God. In many cases they talk about the power of God to heal their families, the power of God to supply their wants, the power of God to make them happy and to protect them but the talk about the power of God to live a sanctified life is missing. They seem to believe that God has the power to do just about everything but to make them conquerors over sin and the enemy. Jesus’ own prayer for us was for the kind of power from on high that would deliver us from evil. When Paul spoke of the absence of power concerning those in the end time, he also spoke of the presence of all kinds of iniquity in those same people. They will profess to know God and they will have the appearance of being religious, yet they will lack the necessary power of God that can deliver them from evil.
FOCAL POINT
Preparing for the end times includes understanding not only what will be going on in the world in general but also what will be going on in the religious world. In the same chapter that our text is taken from, Paul also says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” Rather than condemning sin, it is being justified, through sermons, songs and those who are slave to it. God can deliver us from the power of evil now and someday will deliver us from the presence of it.
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
2Co 10:4-5, 2Co 5:17, 2Pe 1:3-4
Lesson 11 June 10,2018
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW
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KEY VERSE: Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
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LESSON PREVIEW: Our key verse was an illustration used by Jesus to explain that to be a disciple of His one must count the cost and then be prepared to pay it. Many take too lightly the preparation part. He went on to tell them that they must take up their cross. Taking up the cross means applying God’s principles to our everyday life. The Bible is filled with principles that if applied to our lives, causes the road ahead to become much easier to travel. Life’s greatest accomplishments doesn’t just fall into our hands. When they happen, God’s principles have been applied.
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BIBLE LESSON
Jos 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
PREPARE BY CONSECRATING YOURSELVES (JOSHUA 3:5)
God had blessings in store for the Israelites but those blessings were dependent upon the Israelites consecrating themselves to the Lord. Their preparation for the Lord blessing them was a ceremonial type of cleansing. When Joshua said sanctify yourselves, it was their way of offering themselves to God. It involved an outward cleansing. Today God still requires consecration but it involves an inward cleansing that God Himself does for us when we completely surrender ourselves to Him. If we live each day consecrated to Him, He will take care of our tomorrows and do wonders for us too. Living holy lives is being prepared for tomorrow.
LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH TOMORROW IN MIND (Matt.7:24-25)
We prepare for tomorrow by building our lives on the principles that are found in the Word of God. Any life that is not built on divine principles will suffer not only in the next life but also in this life. God’s word covers all areas of life and when it is heeded it brings about a fulfillment to the one who has given heed to it.
Prepare for tomorrow through your prayer life. Before Jesus ministry had hardly started He was led into a time of praying and fasting. For 40 days He spent time in prayer and then following that 40 day period His great ministry began. There is no great ministry of laity or preacher without planning to spend much time in prayer. Peter, John, Daniel and others had certain times of prayer. We too should have times dedicated to prayer. There is no greater preparation for Christian service than that of a good prayer life.
Prepare for tomorrow in the way you handle your material possessions. Give that part to God that belongs to Him and do it first. The scripture calls it the “first fruits.” Not only our tithe but everything that God places in our hand we are called to be good stewards of. In Proverbs chapter six we are given the example of the ant that diligently prepares for the future. God says the sluggard makes no preparation for tomorrow. God doesn’t criticize the poor and the hungry but does those who waste their time and possessions. “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Pro 18:9)
Prepare for tomorrow by receiving every spiritual blessing or experience that God offers. The gift of salvation is a wonderful experience that brings with it peace and the hope of eternal life. The experience of sanctification destroys the old adamic nature and replaces it with the divine nature that Peter talks about. The baptism of the Holy Ghost endues one with power for witnessing. These are experiences that a person may receive from God today but will change their future.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, JUST TRUST GOD (MATT. 6:25-26)
While God does want us to live responsible lives and fill the role that He has placed us here for, He does not want us to be consumed with worry and fret over the future. There is a trust that God wants us to have in Him, that when we have done our part, He will do His. When a child of God comes to this place trusting in God, there is real peace that comes with it. If His eyes are on the sparrow, they are for certain on His children. When we learn to trust in this profound truth, we can find rest and comfort in Him. This is part of the abundant life that we read about in the Word of God. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) “We do not have to know what tomorrow holds, just know who holds the tomorrow.”
FOCAL POINT
Never stop preparing for tomorrow. Moses great calling to lead the Children of Israel out of bondage did not come until He was 80 years old.
Many people live today as if there were no tomorrow. We need to live today as if there is an eternity, because there is.
Live every day so there will be no regrets tomorrow.
What we do today, affects what we will be doing tomorrow.
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
Prov. 6:6-11, Matt. 25:1-13, Jer.29:11-13, Luke 14:25-33
Lesson 12 June 17, 2018
PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE
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KEY VERSE: Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
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LESSON PREVIEW: Marriage is the sacred union between one man and one woman. It was God Himself who designed this union and it is so important in the eyes of God that His word tells us that once it is formed, it is unto death. Through the years there has been those who have sought to lessen the importance of marriage and because of this many do not take serious thought when considering entering into matrimony. This lesson reminds us why we should take great thought and care when choosing a spouse. It is as the scripture clearly states, “till death do us part.”
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BIBLE LESSON
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE (Mat. 19:5-6, Rom. 7:2-3)
Having a good understanding of what the Bible says about marriage is a great place to start before choosing a spouse in life and actually even before dating. Friendships often lead into something more permanent like marriage and so it is very important that a person choose wisely even with whom they form close relationships, especially since marriage is for life.
The religious world today is filled with many false misrepresentations of the institution of marriage and has made many allowances for the dissolving of the union of marriage. God’s Word still reads the same marriage consists of one man and one woman and this union is until death.
MARRIAGE IS FOR SUPPORT (Gen. 2:18, Eph. 5:28)
When looking for the right person to enter into this holy estate called marriage with, the Word of God reveals some things that a person should look for in an individual. One attribute that a woman should look for in a man is that of being a considerate person. A self-centered individual will not be pleasant to live with. If a man is constantly seeking to promote himself instead of lifting up others, there is a good chance that he will do the same to the woman he marries. The Word of God portrays the ideal husband as one who considers and cares for his wife as well as he does his own self. A good husband will not only be a person who seeks to be a provider and protector for the physical wellbeing of his wife but also for the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of his wife.
A wife that is self-centered would also be an individual that is hard to live with. The ideal marriage is where both cares for the other as well as they do for themselves. Men, you too should look for a woman that is considerate of others. Even though a good marriage requires of both husband and wife a certain amount of submitting one to another, a wife should reverence her husband as the head of the family.
There are also other things associated with marriage that one should consider before making that step. Things like finances, children, work ethics and differences in personalities should be taken into consideration. Much thought should go into a marriage before it takes place. Real love in a marriage is characterized by a caring and gentle spirit each one has toward the other.
MARRIAGE NEEDS A LOT OF CONSIDERATION (2Co 6:14)
In the Old Testament we see the effects of God’s people inter-marrying with people who served other gods and the outcome was not good. In various Old Testament scriptures God warned His people against the practice because He knew the influence would be too much for some of them. In the New Testament we find these words of Paul to the Corinthian church where he states not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” When considering marriage, a person should think about the pressures of life that they will have to contend with if they marry someone who does not know God or is of a different belief. Not only will you need the spiritual support of a Godly spouse but if there are children, they will too. Never rush in to something so important as marriage. Never, ever, marry without first praying about it and getting God’s approval.
FOCAL POINT
Marriage is a sacred institution and the oldest on record. The enemy of mankind would like to destroy it and has made many attempts to do so. We are living in a time where God’s design for this union is under great attack. The enemy wants so bad to destroy it because it is so great of a support system against harm when it is operating properly. All one has to do is look at lives where God’s design for the family unit is not followed to see the pain and heartache that can take place.
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
Mat 19:9, 1Co 5:1, 1Co 7:2
Lesson 13 June 24, 2018
PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE WORLD
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KEY VERSE: Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
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LESSON PREVIEW: The opportunity to prepare our children for entering into the world only comes around one time. Once they reach adulthood they have already stepped into the arena of life and whether they are prepared for life or not they are being put to the test. By the time a child is 6 or 7 years old much of their character is formed. Education for the person may continue on all through life but generally the greatest opportunity for the parent to influence the education and training of their child is while they are still at home. The earlier the parent starts the training, generally the more effective.
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BIBLE LESSON
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deu 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Teaching them the word (Deu. 6:6-9)
Teach your children the importance of the Word of God. Also teach them to love and trust what it says, for in doing so you are helping to create a desire in them to receive more of it into their lives. When these words of Deuteronomy were fulfilled in the day they were first given, those parents too were indicating the importance of God’s Word by making it so big a part of their life. We should take the opportunity while our children are still at home to introduce them to as much of the word as we can while at the same time showing them the value of doing so. If the child seldom or never sees their parent picking up the Bible imagine what that says about importance. When they see the Bible picked up on a daily basis by their parent, the importance of it becomes more evident to them.
HELPING THEM APPLY GOD’S WORD TO THEIR LIVES (Pro 22:6)
Teaching biblical principles to our children are a very important part of the parent’s responsibility in bringing their child up but there is a need to take it a step farther. Help them to put it into practice. Training them how to apply those principles can make all the difference whether their child grows up to serve the Lord or not. Often there is the feeling that if we surround our children with spiritual things such as taking them to church and other Christian activities and allow them to see our Christian walk, then they will know what is right and that is all we can do but that is far from the truth. All those things are needful but there is more that needs to be done. They need training!
We can train our children on how to serve the Lord in many ways. We can help them learn how to apply God’s command to witness to others by things like, taking them to pass out tracts and by helping them to formulate words and sentences that will lead others to Christ. We can help them learn how to apply God’s principles for tithing by getting them to tithe on the things that they receive in life, like allowances or gifts and then point out how God blesses them when they have done this. We can help them learn how they can be faithful to God in the face of opposition by sitting down with them when they are going through trying times and helping them figure out what they should do, based on the Word of God. Here’s an important part that you don’t want to leave out. As you train your child in the ways of God, always – always -always show “CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CHILD” that they can be successful in these things.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE PARENTS (2 Tim. 3:15; 1:5)
There is no person that has more potential to influence the life of a person than their parents. Generally speaking, they have their children during that formative time of life when much of who they will become is already being established. Some people think that they can leave the responsibility of teaching their children about spiritual issues in the hand of the church or some other individual. What many parents don’t seem to understand is that no one has greater potential to influence their child than they do and if the child sees their parent or parents regarding God’s way as insignificant then at some point in life they might very well count it insignificant too.
Timothy had a parent and grandparent that got it right. Paul recognized the influence that the mother and grandmother had on this man’s life. We need to get it right too. As a parent, at the top of our list of desires should be to see our children make heaven. Perhaps some parents just don’t realize the importance of the part they play in their child’s life in relations to whether they make it to heaven or not but regardless of this the child still suffers. Time is wasting for many parents to step up and provide the spiritual leadership and inspiration that their children need.
Some of the most inspiring and touching testimonies are those of people who testify of why they are serving God and reveal that it was the faithfulness to God of their parents. Some speak of having a praying mother or father who they credit their being saved to. Others speak of how they remember their mother or father worshiping God or praying for them and calling out their name in prayer. Children will remember such things and they will have lasting effects on them.
FOCAL POINT
Preparing the child for the road ahead is much easier than trying to watch every turn they make through life. We can save ourselves a lot of worries and heartaches in life by taking the time and opportunity in the early days of our child’s life to instill in them what is valuable to God. What is valuable to God will certainly add value to their lives also.
OTHER SCRIPTURAL HELPS
Eccl.10:18, Prov. 22:7, Prov. 22:29, Prov. 3:9-10
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