Sister Teri Sunday School 12/15/13

Sister Teri Sunday School 12/15/13

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

What son is he whom the father chastens not?

The scripture tells us that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.  No chastening seems joyous when it is happening.  If we can get a vision of what He wants to work in us, His will, then it will help us to endure the chastening.  Not with an attitude, but to submit ourselves under it.

Let us be willing to endure the chastening and let it do its work.  The chastening is not joyous but the end result is.

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Let us let the grace of God heal that which is impaired in our life.  We have impairments in the way we handle situations, respond, perceive and react to things where we need God to instruct and change us by His grace.

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

If we resist God, then bitterness will spring up and instead of being an instrument for good we will become an instrument for evil.  I’ve seen it, people get bitter and soon they are sowing discord and are letting that bitterness defile others. 

Bitterness is an indicator of resistance to the cross; there is too much ‘self’ on board.

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

If there is any flesh in us worth holding onto at the cost of missing heaven?  You may think, “Some of these things God doesn’t care about and are not that big of a deal.”  Read these next scriptures:

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

They did not want to hear and could not endure the command so asked not to hear.  We don’t want to close our ears to the Spirit of God.  However it would come we would not want to close our ears to it. 

We want to submit to the work of the cross.  When we come to the cross and die it opens us to the work of the resurrection in our lives and God can make us new.  If we don’t come to the cross and endure then we will not be open to the resurrection.

Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

We have witnesses where people have gone before and God has worked in them and we see that result.  We have no excuse, what was available to them is available to us. 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

This will be fulfilled and is being fulfilled.  He has promised.  The saints will be shaken and God will work to shake out everything that is not like Him.

‘Removing those things that are shaken’ means removing those things that are temporal.  The eternal things of God cannot be shaken and will remain.  God desires that anything that is not like that be removed.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Our God is a consuming fire.

The grace we desire is the divine influence within and it’s work without.  We must let everything that is reprovable go to the cross and let the fire cleanse it from us.  If we are not willing to go to the cross and present ourselves a willing sacrifice then we will not be cleansed.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The power of the cross enables the Word and Spirit of God to do their work in us.  When we came to God in repentance we came to the cross and God did the initial work in us in changing us and our desires.  There is still the perfecting that needs to be done. 

We come to God for sanctification where the carnal nature is cleansed from us but there is an ongoing perfection that must take place in us where the Spirit deals with our heart and we allow the fire to cleanse us.

The Spirit of God will work a righteousness in us that we cannot do on our own.  On our own we can go to our enemies and be kind yet still be resentful.  We can have through the Spirit of God forgiveness for one that even has not asked for forgiveness and we can pray for them.

Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

We all had the attitude of living for ourselves with very little regard for the Word of God; that is wickedness.   

Jesus came to deliver us from that attitude and bring us to an attitude of oneness with Him and His will.

Jesus came to the cross to show the way.

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

We cannot get right by following a bunch of rules, fixing up the outside but not being right on the inside.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

He is living in us guiding us in every aspect of our living and then God works His righteousness in us by His grace.  We are not a great strong person.  We have to realize our insufficiency in order to be brought to the place where we can live for Him.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The Spirit of God in us.

Gal 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gal 5:5  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

First the love of God and then His love working in us.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

All the law is fulfilled in one word, “Love.”  As long as we are protecting ourselves, our interests, our desires, and our plans then we will not be able to submit to the will of God.  We must get all that crucified. 

We are now under the influence of the Spirit: there is not a bunch of rules, the Spirit of God influences.  It is not a rigid conformity but a natural flowing of the influence of the Word of God.

It is the Spirit’s fruit and not our fruit.  We can put on a show of some of these things in our life maybe successfully but the events of life will reveal it.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

These are the natural flowing of the Spirit in us as we crucify our flesh and yield to Him.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

As we bring our will to God and let it be crucified then God can work that new creature in us all by His Spirit and nothing in ourselves.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Be like minded with Christ having the same love, mind, and spirit as Christ; having the same view, motivation and interest as Christ. 

It is not one accord with each other but in one accord with Christ. If we do this then we will be in one accord with each other.

Let’s get a view of the needs of others.  There is always a clearer vision of our own desires and our own wills.  But let us get our eyes above that and try to get the mind of Christ and see His vision beyond ourselves. 

He died on the cross but look at the resurrection that followed: Every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Without complaint let us yield ourselves to the potter’s hands and to the fire that in this world we may be lights for the glory of God and not for our own glory.

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

If we are perfect in all that God has shown us let us be thus minded. 

Are we willing to suffer the loss of all things for Christ?  Let go of our righteousness and fully yield to His?  Hold the power of His resurrection in us?  Hold all the ground He has given us while continuing to press?

Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Php 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Beware of those that say that we don’t need to crucify the flesh.  They say that because their god is the flesh; they love pleasure more than the cross. 

They have a show of righteousness.  But because they have not crucified the flesh then it will rise up.  Their lives and intentions are for earthly things.  Ours is eternal.  We want Him to subdue all to himself.  We want to be like Him in every way.

If we want to come where He is, we must get our eyes off of ourselves and our interests; we must take up the cross and follow Him.