Sis Teri Sunday School 2/20/11

Sis Teri Sunday School 2/20/11

Jesus was the word made flesh.  He lived the word in human form.  He came and proved it was possible to live a holy life in these conditions.  He was exposed to the flesh; He was exposed to the devil; He was exposed to people that ridiculed Him.  He proved it was possible to live a holy life in these conditions.  If we will live the Word as He did, then we can live a holy life and win souls as He did.

John 1:1-8 KJVR

(1)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(2)  The same was in the beginning with God.

(3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

(4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

(5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

(7)  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

(8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Whatever light we have we are trying to reveal to others.  We are not trying to reveal ourselves, or our own light.  We are trying to reveal the true light of the Word of God.

John 1:9-12 KJVR

(9)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

(10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

(11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

(12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

This is the plan of God that we would become His children, truly reconciled to Him.

John 1:13-15 KJVR

(13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(14)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

(15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John recognized that Jesus was God in the flesh.  Jesus was born after him, but He was before him.  No one today has seen God, but we can live in such a way that we bear witness of Him, and that through our lives others can know God.  

John 1:16-18 KJVR

(16)  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

(17)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

(18)  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

We’re not trying to judge any one, we are just telling the truth.  There is good news in the Word as well as consequences.  There is a remedy; you don’t have to suffer the consequences.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJVR

(13)  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Effectually – to be active and working.  If we receive the Word as the Word of God, it will work to make us as He desires us to be.

This Word is filled with promises that we can depend on, blessings and curses; there are conditions for receiving the blessings and consequences if we don’t follow the conditions.

Psalms 19:7-11 KJVR

(7)  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

(8)  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

(9)  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

(10)  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

(11)  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Converting means to be restored, turned, brought back.  This is the plan of God for every soul.

God is faithful and will continue to work circumstances in lives so that they can see the lies of the enemy.  God can use times of sickness and hard times to draw on hearts.  We need to be receptive to the Spirit of God and speak when God says speak.

Cleanses – purifies and sanctifies.

John 15:3 KJVR

(3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 17:17 KJVR

(17)  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Ephesians 5:23-27 KJVR

(23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

(24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

(25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

(26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

(27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

When we first come to God He cleanses us from all sin but there is a continual cleansing that continues to take place.  When we have repented and God has cleaned us up, we are accountable before God as little children.  If we go back to that which we know is wrong, then that is sin.  There are things that we don’t know are wrong yet and God is able to show us and lead us continually into His way.

1 John 1:9 KJVR

(9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 1:15-25 KJVR

(15)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

(16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

(17)  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

(18)  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

(19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

(20)  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

(21)  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

(22)  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

(23)  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

(24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

(25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Verses 15 and 16 tell us that the Word of God is that we be ‘Holy as He is Holy’.  We cannot have fellowship with God if there is rebellion in us.  

Before He created the world, He had a plan and a remedy for us.  He gave us a choice knowing that we would probably fail.  He made a way that we could be reconciled to Him.

Verse 21-23 tells of how to be reconciled to Him.  It takes the triune God to reconcile us and keep us.

We were in the flesh living for fleshly temporal things and neglecting the eternal.  Conviction causes the flesh to wither; conviction doesn’t feel good.  May God help us to help souls recognize that some of the discontent they feel is the Spirit of God drawing on their hearts.  They are going from one patch of “green grass” to another and hoping for satisfaction from each new fleshly thing that attracts them.  They are seeking after the wrong things.  There is a better way.  Only obeying God and His Word can satisfy.