Bro Rick Sunday School 6/5/11

Bro Rick Sunday School 6/5/11

Where would we be if it had not been for those that have gone before us that kept the faith?

Act 14:19  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Paul had previously been in Antioch and Iconium and had to leave those places and the people from there followed him and stoned him. 

Act 14:20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Act 14:21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Paul didn’t let anything discourage him.  He went right on spreading the gospel and encouraging the saints.   Discouragements would come but be like Paul and let nothing discourage you.

There are tribulations in life.  May God help us to keep right on serving Him.

Act 16:19  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

Act 16:20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

Act 16:21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

Act 16:22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

It is wonderful how Paul had such encouragement and such faith in God.  What a good example!

From The Life of St Paul by James Stocker:

It seems that Paul was expressly sent into the world to do a work.  God had prepared him to do great work.  So has God prepared you to do a great work.  He is trying to prepare us. 

Paul went to places where people knew nothing of Christ and had to lay a foundation where there was none.  We’re not in a position where there is opposition to spread the gospel.  We have another challenge.  We’re living in the Evening Light and the light has been spread everywhere but it seems to be getting darker.

What abilities has God given you to use for Him?  Just like God used the abilities that He gave Paul, He wants to use the abilities that He has given us to help souls to get saved.

Christianity got the opportunity of showing the whole world through Paul the full power that it obtained.  Paul yielded his natural abilities to God.  How does God want to better use our natural abilities? 

Paul never afterwards had any other desire than to be the echo of Christ to the world.  One reason why Paul had such a consecration is because he felt a great debt to do all he could to repay for how he’d persecuted the church.

The truest motto for His life was “I live but yet not I, Christ liveth in me.”  We can study Christ’s character in Paul.  We need to live so that others can see Christ in us.  It is amazing that we can have Christ in us.

His knowledge of the scriptures gave Paul a wonderful experience of being able to teach.  He reproved Peter when Peter got off track with the Gentiles.  Paul had the capacity to give answers to the world because of his knowledge of the scriptures.  He was a continuation of Christ’s teachings. 

His leading topic was to show why Christ’s death was needed.  His mind was constantly getting deeper and deeper in this subject.  I’d like to be getting deeper and deeper into God.

His lifelong devotion to this theme made him what he was to the church of that day and this. We need to meditate and think of God.  How much time do we spend meditating on the things of God? 

He cheerfully bore suffering.  In him Jesus Christ went forth to evangelize the world using his hands, his feet, his thinking and tongue to be a witness for Him.

He felt that he was the least of Christ’s disciples because he’d persecuted the church.

Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

The truth will stir things up, yet we need to be willing to speak the truth.  There is a snare that we can get caught in by not wanting to be bold for fear of offending someone.  Yet we need to be willing to speak the truth; truth will stir things up.

May God help us to not live by feelings, but to just keep on going forward for God.

Act 13:50  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Paul was forced to leave Antioch where he’d boldly taught the history of Jesus, his death, and salvation.  How would it feel to be like Paul to be put out, to be homeless, yet to stay encouraged and live close to God.  This was his calling, may God help us to know our calling. 

Paul could have stayed away from those places where he knew it would be difficult but he was willing to go anyway.

Adam Clark said that Paul was one man in 10,000,000.  It might be more.  We really need to be thankful for those that have gone on before. 

Joshua had to face giants, chariots of iron and real opposition. 

Jos 6:1  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Jos 6:2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

Jos 6:3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

I’m thankful that Joshua was willing to do unusual things in obedience to God.  He was a good example of sanctification.  Ours is not to question, it is to obey.  We need to maintain an experience so that God can use us.  We need to be virtuous at any cost.

Gen 37:8  And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Gen 37:28  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Some of the strongest opposition that we may meet could come from our own family.  Joseph went through this and maintained a good attitude.

Gen 39:2  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Because of this Joseph was in a position to be used.

Gen 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Gen 39:8  But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

Gen 39:9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Thank God for all that have gone before us that maintained their integrity and held their position.  We may suffer for standing up for God, but God will bless us for it.  Joseph could have been lifted up in pride but he maintained his humility and gave God the glory.

Where ever Joseph went he prospered because of his good attitude.  He was thrown into prison and was made the head of it.  In whatever situation Joseph was thrown, he kept the right attitude and prospered.  If he had let any root of bitterness work, God would not have been able to use him.

Gen 41:38  And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

God will prosper us if we will obey Him and do His will.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

1Sa 17:37  David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

One of the reasons God was able to bless David was because he was so faithful to give God the credit.

1Sa 17:39  And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

David had wisdom and understanding.  When a person gets saved and walks with God, God will create more and more of a sound mind as he walks with God.  David himself communed with God and worshipped God.

1Sa 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

1Sa 18:1  And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

David had a quality about him that caused others to love him.

1Sa 18:5  And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

1Sa 18:11  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

David didn’t make a big scene out of that, he just avoided Saul and got out of that situation.  We can learn from David when we’re in a situation that is not good to just remove ourselves.

1Sa 24:4  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

1Sa 24:5  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

1Sa 24:6  And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

David was not haughty over his victory but had a meek and tender heart.  He had respect even to his enemy. 

2Sa 3:1  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

It was because David had integrity and these wonderful attributes that he waxed stronger and stronger.  We can be the same if we will maintain our integrity.