LESSON GOALS:
-To show that God created the heavens and the earth and that he created from nothing.
-To show God’s character and attributes as revealed through creation.
A. INTRODUCTION
Creation is not a theory
It is the truth.
It has not and will not change.
The account of creation helps us see who God is:
• The sovereign creator
• The all – powerful God
• The all – knowing one
• The God who exists by his own power
• The holy and perfect God
B. THE THIRD DAY: DRY LAND, OCEAN, AND ALL FLORA CREATED
Genesis 1: 9-13
God gathered the waters into seas and made the dry ground appear.
Have you ever witnessed the devastation caused by a flood or a tidal wave? What man can think of standing against such forces, much less commanding them? Imagine the power involved in shaping the seas- all in a day! Only Almighty God could command
The waters encircling the earth to move and make the dry ground appear.
Psalms 95:5, Job: 38: 8-11
-God alone, who made the waters of the earth, can control them.
Genesis1: 11-13
God made all of the plants and trees.
-God alone has the knowledge and power to create plant life.
The more scientists study plant life, the more complexities they discover.
God, in his infinite wisdom, was able to create all plant life and to perfectly suit every kind to the rest of the earth’s systems that he was creating.
-God made the plants to produce seeds, which would produce more plants like the originals.
A Fir tree doesn’t produce petunia seeds!
Have you ever made something you liked; only to have it were out? If you want another like it, you have to start over. But when God created plants life, he put within each plant the capability to bear seeds, which sprout into new plants like the first. God is the giver and sustainer of life.
The plants we have today came from those God created in the beginning.
-Why did God make flowers, trees, and plants?
Did God need them?
-God is independent of all things.
-God doesn’t need anything.
God made the plants and trees for man, whom he was going to create next.
-God made the plants to meet our physical needs:
To provide food for us to eat
To give off oxygen for the air we breathe
To provide wood for building
And to provide many other things which are essential to our lives.
-God made the plants to delight us with his love for us:
He didn’t have to make such a variety of colors, sizes, shapes, flowers and fragrances.
A few kinds would have met our needs.
God could have made everything black and white. But instead, he created colors – colors that could be seen by the eyes of the man he would create.
Everything has been tasteless. But God created flavor (and taste buds to taste it)
He did the same thing with fragrances.
-The variety he made was to be a daily reminder of his great love and care for man.
-He made the earth NOT JUST LIVEABLE, BUT TRULY BEATIFUL.
In the plants we can see that God is a God of order- the master designer.
Look at a flower. Each flower of a certain kind has an identifying pattern that makes it recognizable as that kind of flower. The seed from which it grew contained certain characteristics, which always produce that kind of, flower with that kind of orderly petal and stem, arrangement fragrance,etc.
If you were to look at the flower under a magnifying glass, you would see other patterns characteristic of that kind of flower.
If you take a tiny slice of the petal or the stem and put it under a microscope, you would see still more orderly arrangements of minute cells characteristic of that kind of flower.
All these things show us that there is a master designer.
What if you took a handful of marbles and drooped them on the floor? Would they fall into a beautiful pattern?
What if they did happen to land in some pattern? Could you repeat the pattern over and over again?
Now what if you took the marbles one by one and placed them into a pattern of your choosing? You do this over and over; because you designed the pattern and insured it’s repetition. Your design would not be a product of chance; rather, it would reflect the work of a designer – you
What God has created endlessly reflects His work as Master Designer of everything.
When you see a design, bear in mind that there was also a designer. And when you see a design in plants or flowers or any other part of creation, remember that God is the one who is being reflected in that design. It didn’t just happen that way. God designed it all.
- Everything that God created on this day was good.
All these plants were beneficial, lovely – created perfect.
- Thorns and weeds did not exist.
- No fruit was poisonous.
-Vegetables and fruit did not get diseases or spoil.
Everything was perfect in the beginning, because God is perfect, and everything he does is perfect.
Genesis 1:31, Psalm 18:30; 93:5; 99:3,5,9, Isaiah 6:3, James 1:17, Revelation 4:8
C. THE FOURTH DAY: SUN, MOON, AND STARS CREATED
Genesis 1: 14 –19
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – POWERFUL
God spoke, and the sun moon and the stars came into being.
-Only God has the power to create such vastness!
-In Isaiah 44: 24 God says, “…I am the lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth.
Psalm 33:6, Isaiah 40:26
THEME:- GOD IS EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
We can see only a tiny part of the endless reaches of the universe.
Yet God created even the most remote galaxies and stars – he created everything.
How could God have gotten to all those places that are countless light years apart?
-Jeremiah 23:23,24 says, “Am I a God at hand … and not a God afar off… do not I fill heaven and earth?”
-Distance is no problem for God.
-God is everywhere.
-We cannot imagine the immensity of the universe; much less can we comprehend the greatness of God!
Although God is everywhere present in the universe; He is distinct from it.
-The idea that God is everything and everything is God is a concept totally foreign to scripture.
-There is one true God, not many “gods”.
-The Bible refers to the universe and everything in it as God’s creation, not as part of his being.
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – KNOWING
Jeremiah 10:12
God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge are displayed in the universe He created
THEME:- GOD NEVER CHANGES
- God never changes, nor do the laws of his creation.
-Has there ever been a day in your life when the sun didn’t rise and set? Granted, it may have been hidden by clouds, but it did just what it always does, day after day. How about the moon? Do you know that calendars & tidal charts can be made years in advance because the movement & position of the moon & earth & sun are completely predictable?
This certainly isn’t happening by chance; it was designed that way by God himself.
Psalm 104: 19
He wanted us to have an orderly world with dependable days, nights, seasons, and tides.
-We get very excited about seeing one vehicle thrust into a path in space; & we certainly should, for it has taken an unbelievable amount of research & effort to achieve this feat.
But imagine God’s knowledge! Imagine God’s creativity & skill as a master designer! Imagine his power! God spoke, & the entire universe was created!
Psalm 19:1-3
-We need to watch this display & listen to the message God is sending us!
THEME:-GOD IS HOLY.
Everything God made on the fourth day was good.
- God is perfect, & everything he does is perfect.
- God was very pleased with his creation.
Psalm 18:30, 93:5, 99:3,5,9 Isaiah 6:3 James 1:17 Revelation 4:9
D. THE FIFTH DAY: ALL SEA LIFE AND BIRDS CREATED.
Genesis 1:20-23
THEME:- GOD IS LOVE
- Just as he had done in his creation of plant life, God made numerous kinds of water creatures & birds with countless, colourful shapes & designs.
-the more we search the ocean depths & the remote places of the earth, the more kinds of fish & birds we discover!
-Why did God create such variety & beauty?
He did it to show his love to us.
He did it to show us his creative power & understanding.
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – POWERFUL
God made these wonderful things by his great power & understanding.
Psalm 104:24
Could we make even one common sparrow?
-We might make a model or an “imitation”.
-But we will never make a living sparrow.
But God can; He made sparrows & every other creature.
Even the tiniest, most ordinary creatures are God’s creation & are incredibly complex.
E.SIXTH DAY: THE CREATION OF ANIMAL WORLD
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – POWERFUL
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – KNOWING
Genesis 1:24,25
God created an unbelievable number & variety of animals.
-Some animals are very familiar to us as a part of our daily lives.
-Some can be seen at zoo
-Through television & books, we learn about many more.
God created each kind of animal with unique characteristics, & each kind of animal is capable of reproducing only other animals like itself.
-Dogs have puppies.
-Cats have kittens etc.
-Even in the smallest animal we can see the stamp of the Master Designer.
Only God has the power to create animals.
Man has never created nor will he ever be able to create an animal.
THEME:- GOD IS HOLY.
All of the living things that God made on the fifth & sixth days were good.
Everything He made was good.
Because God is perfect, everything He made was perfect.
Psalm 18:30; 93:5; 99:3,5,9; Isaiah 6:3; James 1:17; Revelation 4:8
F.CONCLUSION
We are daily surrounded by evidences of:
- God’s existence
- God’s infinite power & knowledge
- God’s love
- God’s orderliness
- God’s holiness
- We are surrounded by reminders of a Master Designer who created with skill and purpose.
We can learn a great deal about God by observing the things He has made, but our true understanding of Him & how He created everything must be based on what God has
told us in His word.
Hebrews 11:3
-God, the Creator, the one who was there before the beginning, has given us His record of creation in His word.
Monday, November 10, 2008
LESSON – 4:- GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH (PART – I)
LESSON GOALS:-
• To that God created the heavens and the earth and that he created from nothing.
• To show Gods character and attributes as revealed through his creative acts.
A) INTRODUCTION
Many theories exist about what happened in the beginning.
• There are many theories about how the earth was formed.
• There are many theories about how the earth was formed.
• The things taught in genesis are upheld throughout the rest of scripture.
• God never changed his mind about his record of creation or about any other
• Part of the bible.
• Genesis is an ancient book , but even the New Testament writings affirm the Genesis account of creation.
• Genesis has often been criticized as being a book of Myths.
• But recent archeology has confirmed many exact details, including names of
People and cities back as far as the early chapters of Genesis.
We need to listen to what God says in the bible.
• It is not a book of Myths
• It is a true story
B) IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH GENESIS 1:1
THEME:- GOD IS SUPREME AND SOVEREIGN
1) The word “Genesis” means “beginnings” or “origins”.
• All things had a beginning.
• Nothing / no one (except God) existed before the beginning.
• What then did God use to make the heavens and the earth?
2)“Created” means “ to make out of nothing”
3)“To make something out of nothing” is an idiom in our society.
-Discuss:
If we want to build a house, what do we need?
If you want to bake a cake what do we need?
Can you think of anything you can make without first having materials to use?
HEBREWS 11: 3
-God literally made the heavens and the earth out of nothing.
-God alone can make something out of nothing.
THEME: GOD IS ALL - POWERFUL.
How was it possible for God to make the heavens and the earth out of nothing?
• The bible tells us that nothing is too hard for God.
JEREMIAH 32: 17
• God’s power is beyond our comprehension.
• Is anyone stronger than God?
Angels?
Satan?
Demons?
• No! God alone is all-powerful.
THEME: GOD IS ALL - KNOWING.
How did God know how to make the heavens and the earth?
We had to learn how to do all the things that we do.
• We are not born with knowledge and understanding
• Most of us have gone to school to learn.
• We continue to learn throughout life.
By trial and error
The school of hard knocks
• Some things require highly specialized training, which we have not had.
-There are still many things we don’t know.
Did God someone to teach him?
-Was anyone else living in the beginning who could teach God?
-God did not need someone to teach him how to make the heavens and the earth.
There is nothing that God doesn’t know and completely understand.
Romans 11:33,34
C) THE EARTH, WHEN FIRST CREATED
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty.
• We will see God form it.
• We will see God fill it.
The earth was covered by darkness.
-Try to imagine what it would be like if there were no light anywhere. Have you ever been in a cave with no lights? The darkness is so absolute that you can “feel” it. Imagine this kind of darkness everywhere.
The earth was covered with water.
• There was no dry land
• Water covered the entire world.
• There was no life anywhere on earth
Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 43:7, Psalm 19:13, Romans 1:20a,
Revelation 4:11
GOD WAS READY TO CREATE EVERYTHING
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – POWERFUL
God is all – powerful, and he was about to unleash his mighty power to create.
-The Bible says that the spirit of God “moved upon the face of the waters”
In Henry Morris book, the
Genesis Record, the word “move” means shake, flutter, or hover.
The word suggests the tremendous creative power of God, the
PRIME MOVER of all things.
He alone sets things into motion.
He alone is the source of all energy.
God the Holy Spirit was moving, hovering, fluttering over the waters
Vibrating with dynamic energy to create all things.
-God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit all participated in the mighty act of creation.
-God is one, yet God is there in one, the almighty God the creator of everything.
-We cannot comprehend the trinity; we cannot comprehend God awesome power.
THE FIRST DAY: LIGHT CREATED) (GENESIS: 3 –5)
GENESIS1: 3
THEME; GOD IS ALL POWERFUL.
AND
GOD IS ALL – KNOWING
Only God could create light by simply speaking!
-Wouldn’t it be something if we could simply speak and have light appear? But it doesn’t work that way. No, we are totally dependent on light that was created by God from the beginning of time.
Whenever we see the light of the sun, the moon, or the stars; flip on a light switch; or light a match or a candle; let’s remember that it was God who in the beginning created light.
He alone could do that because He alone is all-powerful &all knowing. He created light out of absolutely nothing.
THEME: GOD IS HOLY.
Genesis: 1:4
The light God made was very good.
-You will notice that each time God created, He said, It is good.
COMPARE:
We are not able to make anything perfect.
-Even though things are useable, they still:
Need repair
Wear out
Are placed because someone designed something better.
-What we make can always be improved upon.
Even the best state –of- the- art stereo equipment is labeled
to indicate the amount of sound distortion it will produce.
Everything man produces is flawed.
But everything God made was perfect.
• God is perfect.
• God is flawless.
• In other words, God is Holy.
Psalms18: 30 says, “As for God, his way is perfect….”
Isaiah6: 3 says “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the lord….”
Genisis1: 5
God divided the light from the darkness.
• He called the light “day”.
• He called the darkness “night”.
• This was the first day in the beginning of the w
THE SECOND DAY: FIRMAMENT CREATED
Genesis: 1:6-8
On the second day God created the air and the sky.
Above this firmament or thin, stretched-out space that we call the atmosphere, God placed some of the water from the world he had created.
Again God merely spoke, and the firmament was created.
Look at the vastness of the sky. We can only see a tiny portion of what encircles the earth. Yet God spoke and created the earth’s entire atmosphere, and it was perfect.
CONCLUSION
Unlike man’s theories, God’s written account of creation has not changed.
-He was there before beginning.
-He is sovereign creator, and he alone knows how all things came to be.
-God has told us throughout his word that he created everything.
As we study the Bible, we see that God is absolutely sovereign, greater than all and more powerful than all.
Nothing is too hard for him.
-He is the source of all energy and the creator of all matter.
-He made everything from nothing.
We have covered the first two days of creation.
• To that God created the heavens and the earth and that he created from nothing.
• To show Gods character and attributes as revealed through his creative acts.
A) INTRODUCTION
Many theories exist about what happened in the beginning.
• There are many theories about how the earth was formed.
• There are many theories about how the earth was formed.
• The things taught in genesis are upheld throughout the rest of scripture.
• God never changed his mind about his record of creation or about any other
• Part of the bible.
• Genesis is an ancient book , but even the New Testament writings affirm the Genesis account of creation.
• Genesis has often been criticized as being a book of Myths.
• But recent archeology has confirmed many exact details, including names of
People and cities back as far as the early chapters of Genesis.
We need to listen to what God says in the bible.
• It is not a book of Myths
• It is a true story
B) IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH GENESIS 1:1
THEME:- GOD IS SUPREME AND SOVEREIGN
1) The word “Genesis” means “beginnings” or “origins”.
• All things had a beginning.
• Nothing / no one (except God) existed before the beginning.
• What then did God use to make the heavens and the earth?
2)“Created” means “ to make out of nothing”
3)“To make something out of nothing” is an idiom in our society.
-Discuss:
If we want to build a house, what do we need?
If you want to bake a cake what do we need?
Can you think of anything you can make without first having materials to use?
HEBREWS 11: 3
-God literally made the heavens and the earth out of nothing.
-God alone can make something out of nothing.
THEME: GOD IS ALL - POWERFUL.
How was it possible for God to make the heavens and the earth out of nothing?
• The bible tells us that nothing is too hard for God.
JEREMIAH 32: 17
• God’s power is beyond our comprehension.
• Is anyone stronger than God?
Angels?
Satan?
Demons?
• No! God alone is all-powerful.
THEME: GOD IS ALL - KNOWING.
How did God know how to make the heavens and the earth?
We had to learn how to do all the things that we do.
• We are not born with knowledge and understanding
• Most of us have gone to school to learn.
• We continue to learn throughout life.
By trial and error
The school of hard knocks
• Some things require highly specialized training, which we have not had.
-There are still many things we don’t know.
Did God someone to teach him?
-Was anyone else living in the beginning who could teach God?
-God did not need someone to teach him how to make the heavens and the earth.
There is nothing that God doesn’t know and completely understand.
Romans 11:33,34
C) THE EARTH, WHEN FIRST CREATED
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty.
• We will see God form it.
• We will see God fill it.
The earth was covered by darkness.
-Try to imagine what it would be like if there were no light anywhere. Have you ever been in a cave with no lights? The darkness is so absolute that you can “feel” it. Imagine this kind of darkness everywhere.
The earth was covered with water.
• There was no dry land
• Water covered the entire world.
• There was no life anywhere on earth
Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 43:7, Psalm 19:13, Romans 1:20a,
Revelation 4:11
GOD WAS READY TO CREATE EVERYTHING
THEME:- GOD IS ALL – POWERFUL
God is all – powerful, and he was about to unleash his mighty power to create.
-The Bible says that the spirit of God “moved upon the face of the waters”
In Henry Morris book, the
Genesis Record, the word “move” means shake, flutter, or hover.
The word suggests the tremendous creative power of God, the
PRIME MOVER of all things.
He alone sets things into motion.
He alone is the source of all energy.
God the Holy Spirit was moving, hovering, fluttering over the waters
Vibrating with dynamic energy to create all things.
-God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit all participated in the mighty act of creation.
-God is one, yet God is there in one, the almighty God the creator of everything.
-We cannot comprehend the trinity; we cannot comprehend God awesome power.
THE FIRST DAY: LIGHT CREATED) (GENESIS: 3 –5)
GENESIS1: 3
THEME; GOD IS ALL POWERFUL.
AND
GOD IS ALL – KNOWING
Only God could create light by simply speaking!
-Wouldn’t it be something if we could simply speak and have light appear? But it doesn’t work that way. No, we are totally dependent on light that was created by God from the beginning of time.
Whenever we see the light of the sun, the moon, or the stars; flip on a light switch; or light a match or a candle; let’s remember that it was God who in the beginning created light.
He alone could do that because He alone is all-powerful &all knowing. He created light out of absolutely nothing.
THEME: GOD IS HOLY.
Genesis: 1:4
The light God made was very good.
-You will notice that each time God created, He said, It is good.
COMPARE:
We are not able to make anything perfect.
-Even though things are useable, they still:
Need repair
Wear out
Are placed because someone designed something better.
-What we make can always be improved upon.
Even the best state –of- the- art stereo equipment is labeled
to indicate the amount of sound distortion it will produce.
Everything man produces is flawed.
But everything God made was perfect.
• God is perfect.
• God is flawless.
• In other words, God is Holy.
Psalms18: 30 says, “As for God, his way is perfect….”
Isaiah6: 3 says “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the lord….”
Genisis1: 5
God divided the light from the darkness.
• He called the light “day”.
• He called the darkness “night”.
• This was the first day in the beginning of the w
THE SECOND DAY: FIRMAMENT CREATED
Genesis: 1:6-8
On the second day God created the air and the sky.
Above this firmament or thin, stretched-out space that we call the atmosphere, God placed some of the water from the world he had created.
Again God merely spoke, and the firmament was created.
Look at the vastness of the sky. We can only see a tiny portion of what encircles the earth. Yet God spoke and created the earth’s entire atmosphere, and it was perfect.
CONCLUSION
Unlike man’s theories, God’s written account of creation has not changed.
-He was there before beginning.
-He is sovereign creator, and he alone knows how all things came to be.
-God has told us throughout his word that he created everything.
As we study the Bible, we see that God is absolutely sovereign, greater than all and more powerful than all.
Nothing is too hard for him.
-He is the source of all energy and the creator of all matter.
-He made everything from nothing.
We have covered the first two days of creation.
LESSON –3:- GOD CREATED SPIRIT BEINGS. LUCIFER REBELLED
1) God who is holy, sovereign, greater than all created beings
2) God created all things perfect.
3) It shows God’s sovereignty and holiness in dealing with Lucifer’s willful rebellion against God.
AIM: - 1) To see sovereignty and omnipotence of God
2) To see seriousness of rebellion against God.
In our society Satan is given increasing attention in films, book, music, games, etc.
2 Corinthians 11:14: Satan fooled some like Eve; others made knowing steps of rebellion
(Adam).
Satan: a liar, a thief, a deceiver (Revelation 20:10-15)
An accuser and a murderer
Job 32:27, Matthew 16:18, Revelation 1:8
Our enemy is strong. But OUR GOD IS STRONGER THAN ALL.
All spirits (all angels) witnessed the creation of the earth.
THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED ALL OF THE SPIRIT BEINGS PERFECT
Colossians 1:16 John 1:3 Spirits
Angels
Cherubim
Seraphim
The host of the Lord, host of heaven
Power
Principalities
Rulers in high places
Stars or morning stars
Before beginning none were alive. God gave them life. They wouldn’t have life, if God had not given it to them.
Nehemiah 9:6
God lived before them eternally.
God didn’t give material body i.e. no flesh and blood, but sometimes they show themselves to people as human beings and may also appear in other forms.
Genesis 3:24, Genesis 19:1, Ezekiel 1:5 – 24
Spirits were created to serve God
Spirits means God’s angels
The word “Angel” means messengers or servants.
Because God created them, they rightfully belong to God.
B) GOD CREATED SPIRITS PERFECT
1) God created all spirits perfect; not one of them was evil or unkind.
2) He cannot create anything evil because he is holy.
3) Everything he thinks, says and does is perfect.
C) SPIRITS WERE CREATED WITH GREAT WISDOM AND STRENGTH (Psalms 103:20)
1) Spirits were very intelligent but not all knowing like God is
2) Spirits were strong and able to do amazing things but not all powerful like God.
God is wiser and stronger than all of the spirits.
Bible tells us that God is greater than all.
D) SPIRITS ARE INNUBERABLE (Revelations 5:11)
Because God is almighty he could create so many good, wise and strong spirits.
E) SPIRITS LIVED IN HEAVEN
1) We don’t know where is heaven, certainly not on earth but it is a real place,
mentioned many times in Bible.
2) Heaven is God’s dwelling place; his home though is everywhere all the time.
3) Heaven is a wonderful place, far better than any place we have ever known
or could ever imagine.
F) LUCIFER’S ORINIGAL PLACE IN HEAVEN.
1) God did not create all of the angels exactly the same.
2) Some were more beautiful, intelligent and wise than others.
3) The greatest angel was called Lucifer’s means morning star.
4) God gave Lucifer a very important position in heaven.
5) A place of great authority and power over the other angels.
6) In Ezekiel Lucifer is described as anointed cherub. (Ezekiel 28:14)
7) Lucifer was created perfect - Ezekiel 28:15. (till iniquity was found in him)
G) LUCIFER’S REBELLION
1) Because he was given highest position he should have loved, obeyed and served
God.
2) But after sometime he became proud of his beauty, intelligence and position (Ezekiel 28:17), (Isaiah 14:13,14)
3) Lucifer’s rebellion was an act of the will, a conscious choice.
• Ex :- Suppose that someone was very kind and helpful to you and told you that he loved you. This might be a very pleasant situation. But if you learned that this person was under someone’s strict control and had been forced to act this way and to say that he loved you. His words and action would not be meaningful or pleasant; in fact, they would be offensive.
4) God does not “program” his created beings like robots. He allows them to make meaningful choices – to obey or to disobey.
H) OTHER ANGELS FOLLOWED LUCIFER IN HIS REBELLION.
1) Many of God’s angels followed Lucifer, their leader.
2) They, too, rebelled against God.
(Matthew 25:14)
I) GOD KNEW WHAT LUCIFER AND THE OTHER SPIRITS WERE THINKING AND PLANNING
THEME: - God is everywhere all the time; he knows everything.
Isaiah 14:13, 14
1) God created all of the spirits and he knew what they were thinking and planning.
2) God knew that Lucifer had become proud and wanted to take the place of his maker.
3) God knew Lucifer’s thoughts and the thoughts of each of the rebellious spirits.
4) Nothing can be kept secret from God.
• Nothing can surprise God.
• He knows everything before it ever happens.
• He knows that we are going to think before the thought even comes into our minds.
• He is everywhere.
• He sees everything.
• He knows everything.+
Hebrews 4: 13
I) GOD REMOVED LUCIFER AND HIS FOLLOWERS FROM THEIR POSITION AS GOD’S SERVANTS.
THEME:-GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
Consider
Do you think God would let Lucifer take his position? What do you think God’s reaction was to Lucifer’s selfish ambition?
If someone suddenly tried to take over our government, strong defense measures would be taken immediately. Our government is important and powerful, but think how supremely important and powerful God is!
Who is wiser than God? Who is stronger than God? He has always lived. He lives by his own power. He doesn’t need anything to live He lived before the beginning. He gave life to all of the spirits.
God would not allow Lucifer to take his position.
• No one can take God’s place, because
• He is the only true God
God in great anger removed Lucifer from his important position of leadership over the angels.
God also removed the other angels who followed Lucifer from their place of service in heaven.
They are no longer recorded as Gods servants; they are always in opposition to him.
Job 1:6,7 and 2:1,2 show us that Satan still had access to God in heaven but no longer resided there.
Matthew 25;41 refers to the eventual punishment of “the devil and his Angels.”
J) GOD PREPARED THE LAKE OF THE FIRE LUCIFER AND HIS SPIRIT FOLLOWERS.
THEME:- GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS
THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
1) God prepared a terrible place of everlasting punishment called the Lake of Fire.
2) God will not tolerate disobedience to him; God always punishes those who fight against him.
Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10
K) LUCIFER AND HIS ANGELS HATE GOD.
1) Right from the time when God removed Lucifer and his angels from his service until today, Lucifer and these others spirits have been fighting against God everything he does.
2) Lucifer is now called Satan, which means “ENEMY, ADVERSARY, OPPONENT, OR ACCUSER.”
3) His spirit followers are called demons.
4) Satan is God’s great enemy
• Satan fights against God day and night to try to stop the things God does.
• Satan’s demons help Satan in opposing God.
L. SATAN AND HIS SPIRIT SERVANTS NO LONGER LIVE IN HEAVEN
Satan and his demons are now active all over the earth.
Job 1and 2
M. CLOSING
THEME:- GOD IS SUPREME AND SOVEREIGN
AND
GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS
THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
1) God is the supreme God and the creator of everything, seen and unseen.
2) God is greater than all. Everything he does is perfect and holy.
3) He is greater than all created beings:
• God is greater than the angels.
• God is greater than Satan and the demons.
4) God alone can tell us what happened in the beginning.
5) What the Bible says about the beginnings of the physical world:
• The heavens
• The earth
It is important for us to consider what he says about creation. Remember, God was the only one there before the beginning.
2) God created all things perfect.
3) It shows God’s sovereignty and holiness in dealing with Lucifer’s willful rebellion against God.
AIM: - 1) To see sovereignty and omnipotence of God
2) To see seriousness of rebellion against God.
In our society Satan is given increasing attention in films, book, music, games, etc.
2 Corinthians 11:14: Satan fooled some like Eve; others made knowing steps of rebellion
(Adam).
Satan: a liar, a thief, a deceiver (Revelation 20:10-15)
An accuser and a murderer
Job 32:27, Matthew 16:18, Revelation 1:8
Our enemy is strong. But OUR GOD IS STRONGER THAN ALL.
All spirits (all angels) witnessed the creation of the earth.
THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED ALL OF THE SPIRIT BEINGS PERFECT
Colossians 1:16 John 1:3 Spirits
Angels
Cherubim
Seraphim
The host of the Lord, host of heaven
Power
Principalities
Rulers in high places
Stars or morning stars
Before beginning none were alive. God gave them life. They wouldn’t have life, if God had not given it to them.
Nehemiah 9:6
God lived before them eternally.
God didn’t give material body i.e. no flesh and blood, but sometimes they show themselves to people as human beings and may also appear in other forms.
Genesis 3:24, Genesis 19:1, Ezekiel 1:5 – 24
Spirits were created to serve God
Spirits means God’s angels
The word “Angel” means messengers or servants.
Because God created them, they rightfully belong to God.
B) GOD CREATED SPIRITS PERFECT
1) God created all spirits perfect; not one of them was evil or unkind.
2) He cannot create anything evil because he is holy.
3) Everything he thinks, says and does is perfect.
C) SPIRITS WERE CREATED WITH GREAT WISDOM AND STRENGTH (Psalms 103:20)
1) Spirits were very intelligent but not all knowing like God is
2) Spirits were strong and able to do amazing things but not all powerful like God.
God is wiser and stronger than all of the spirits.
Bible tells us that God is greater than all.
D) SPIRITS ARE INNUBERABLE (Revelations 5:11)
Because God is almighty he could create so many good, wise and strong spirits.
E) SPIRITS LIVED IN HEAVEN
1) We don’t know where is heaven, certainly not on earth but it is a real place,
mentioned many times in Bible.
2) Heaven is God’s dwelling place; his home though is everywhere all the time.
3) Heaven is a wonderful place, far better than any place we have ever known
or could ever imagine.
F) LUCIFER’S ORINIGAL PLACE IN HEAVEN.
1) God did not create all of the angels exactly the same.
2) Some were more beautiful, intelligent and wise than others.
3) The greatest angel was called Lucifer’s means morning star.
4) God gave Lucifer a very important position in heaven.
5) A place of great authority and power over the other angels.
6) In Ezekiel Lucifer is described as anointed cherub. (Ezekiel 28:14)
7) Lucifer was created perfect - Ezekiel 28:15. (till iniquity was found in him)
G) LUCIFER’S REBELLION
1) Because he was given highest position he should have loved, obeyed and served
God.
2) But after sometime he became proud of his beauty, intelligence and position (Ezekiel 28:17), (Isaiah 14:13,14)
3) Lucifer’s rebellion was an act of the will, a conscious choice.
• Ex :- Suppose that someone was very kind and helpful to you and told you that he loved you. This might be a very pleasant situation. But if you learned that this person was under someone’s strict control and had been forced to act this way and to say that he loved you. His words and action would not be meaningful or pleasant; in fact, they would be offensive.
4) God does not “program” his created beings like robots. He allows them to make meaningful choices – to obey or to disobey.
H) OTHER ANGELS FOLLOWED LUCIFER IN HIS REBELLION.
1) Many of God’s angels followed Lucifer, their leader.
2) They, too, rebelled against God.
(Matthew 25:14)
I) GOD KNEW WHAT LUCIFER AND THE OTHER SPIRITS WERE THINKING AND PLANNING
THEME: - God is everywhere all the time; he knows everything.
Isaiah 14:13, 14
1) God created all of the spirits and he knew what they were thinking and planning.
2) God knew that Lucifer had become proud and wanted to take the place of his maker.
3) God knew Lucifer’s thoughts and the thoughts of each of the rebellious spirits.
4) Nothing can be kept secret from God.
• Nothing can surprise God.
• He knows everything before it ever happens.
• He knows that we are going to think before the thought even comes into our minds.
• He is everywhere.
• He sees everything.
• He knows everything.+
Hebrews 4: 13
I) GOD REMOVED LUCIFER AND HIS FOLLOWERS FROM THEIR POSITION AS GOD’S SERVANTS.
THEME:-GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
Consider
Do you think God would let Lucifer take his position? What do you think God’s reaction was to Lucifer’s selfish ambition?
If someone suddenly tried to take over our government, strong defense measures would be taken immediately. Our government is important and powerful, but think how supremely important and powerful God is!
Who is wiser than God? Who is stronger than God? He has always lived. He lives by his own power. He doesn’t need anything to live He lived before the beginning. He gave life to all of the spirits.
God would not allow Lucifer to take his position.
• No one can take God’s place, because
• He is the only true God
God in great anger removed Lucifer from his important position of leadership over the angels.
God also removed the other angels who followed Lucifer from their place of service in heaven.
They are no longer recorded as Gods servants; they are always in opposition to him.
Job 1:6,7 and 2:1,2 show us that Satan still had access to God in heaven but no longer resided there.
Matthew 25;41 refers to the eventual punishment of “the devil and his Angels.”
J) GOD PREPARED THE LAKE OF THE FIRE LUCIFER AND HIS SPIRIT FOLLOWERS.
THEME:- GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS
THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
1) God prepared a terrible place of everlasting punishment called the Lake of Fire.
2) God will not tolerate disobedience to him; God always punishes those who fight against him.
Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10
K) LUCIFER AND HIS ANGELS HATE GOD.
1) Right from the time when God removed Lucifer and his angels from his service until today, Lucifer and these others spirits have been fighting against God everything he does.
2) Lucifer is now called Satan, which means “ENEMY, ADVERSARY, OPPONENT, OR ACCUSER.”
3) His spirit followers are called demons.
4) Satan is God’s great enemy
• Satan fights against God day and night to try to stop the things God does.
• Satan’s demons help Satan in opposing God.
L. SATAN AND HIS SPIRIT SERVANTS NO LONGER LIVE IN HEAVEN
Satan and his demons are now active all over the earth.
Job 1and 2
M. CLOSING
THEME:- GOD IS SUPREME AND SOVEREIGN
AND
GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HE DEMANDS DEATH AS
THE PAYMENT FOR SIN.
1) God is the supreme God and the creator of everything, seen and unseen.
2) God is greater than all. Everything he does is perfect and holy.
3) He is greater than all created beings:
• God is greater than the angels.
• God is greater than Satan and the demons.
4) God alone can tell us what happened in the beginning.
5) What the Bible says about the beginnings of the physical world:
• The heavens
• The earth
It is important for us to consider what he says about creation. Remember, God was the only one there before the beginning.
LESSON – 2:- GOD ALONE
People are thinking that they are showing weakness if they allow (put) god his rightful place.
1) God’s existence before all things.
JOB: 38:4 PS: 50:21 ISAIAH 43:10, 46:9,10 55:8,9
COL: 1:17 HEB: 1:10-12, REV: 1:8
2) God is supreme and sovereign
3) God communicates with man and does not change.
4) THE TRINITY
GENESIS: 1:1,2 1:26, 3:22, MATTHEW: 28:17&19, ROMANS: 8:26&34 11CORINTHIANS: 13:14 EPHESIANS: 1:17 2:13,18 HEB: 9:14
The word trinity does not appear in scripture but the fact trinity is evident from Genesis to Revelation.
If we fail to teach TRINITY in the beginning and throughout Old Testament, it will be more difficult to teach the deity of Jesus when we come his story of birth. (John: 8:58-Before Abraham was I AM)
Since the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Old Testament, the subject of trinity cannot be avoided (Gen: 1:2, 6:3) Gen: 1:26 uses plural ‘us’ and our
THE BIBLE IS HIS STORY
1) How great is god? (Cause students to think)
2) How important is he?
3) Did he have a beginning?
4) Will he have an end?
5) Where did he come from?
6) What does God need?
A) Only god is eternal. Genesis1:1 Here Hebrew word god is a plural word
There was a beginning to all. But we cannot see that they had a beginning, except god himself.
Before the beginning. There was
NO UNIVERSE
NO EARTH
NO ANGELS
NODEVIL
NO PLANTS
NO ANIMALS
NO PEOPLE
All these had specific beginning.
God alone had no beginning and god will have no end. God is eternal.
Therefore God is supreme and sovereign. Psalms: 90:2.
There never was a time when God did not exist.
GOD HAS
1) No beginning
2) Not created
3) Has always been alive
4) Has always been and will always be the same
5) God can never die.
God alone existed before all things, he had need of sustain him exodus 3; 14
God is completely independent of everything and everyone.
That is God is supreme and sovereign
He does not need the earth or anything on it
God doesn’t need air to breathe
God doesn’t need food to eat
God doesn’t need water to drink
GOD DOESN’T NEED SUN
He can see perfectly without any light
Does not sleep. No need of day or night
Doesn’t need any source of energy
He never gets tired, thirsty or
B) In God’s word although there is only one God, there are 3 persons who are equally God
Matthew 28: 19 & Genesis 1: 26
God the father
God the son
God the Holy Spirit
There is the father who is God, the son who is God
And the Holy Spirit who is God. CONFUSING?
God is much greater than we can imagine
God is beyond our understanding, beyond our ability to comprehend.
Is 40:20
ABOUT US
1) Could we have been born without parents?
2) Could we have survived as infants without care?
3) Could we have learned to be productive adults without teaching?
OUR BODIES
1) Could we have lived without food and water?
2) Could we have lives without oxygen?
3) How many days could we function rationally without sleep?
4) How could we survive without protection against UV rays?
THEREFORE GOD IS SPIRIT 1) God does not have material body.
2) God does not have bodily needs.
3) God is in all places at the same time.
4) God is everywhere all the time. But he is not in everything and everything is not God. Because is the creator.
Jeremiah: 23:23,24, Psalms: 139:7-12, Romans: 11:33,36, Jeremiah: 10:6
Sovereign means “Ruler, supreme in power, chief, effective in highest degree. Therefore God is greater than all and more important than all. He is the highest authority. And man should be under God’s authority and listen to everything God says.
1) God’s existence before all things.
JOB: 38:4 PS: 50:21 ISAIAH 43:10, 46:9,10 55:8,9
COL: 1:17 HEB: 1:10-12, REV: 1:8
2) God is supreme and sovereign
3) God communicates with man and does not change.
4) THE TRINITY
GENESIS: 1:1,2 1:26, 3:22, MATTHEW: 28:17&19, ROMANS: 8:26&34 11CORINTHIANS: 13:14 EPHESIANS: 1:17 2:13,18 HEB: 9:14
The word trinity does not appear in scripture but the fact trinity is evident from Genesis to Revelation.
If we fail to teach TRINITY in the beginning and throughout Old Testament, it will be more difficult to teach the deity of Jesus when we come his story of birth. (John: 8:58-Before Abraham was I AM)
Since the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Old Testament, the subject of trinity cannot be avoided (Gen: 1:2, 6:3) Gen: 1:26 uses plural ‘us’ and our
THE BIBLE IS HIS STORY
1) How great is god? (Cause students to think)
2) How important is he?
3) Did he have a beginning?
4) Will he have an end?
5) Where did he come from?
6) What does God need?
A) Only god is eternal. Genesis1:1 Here Hebrew word god is a plural word
There was a beginning to all. But we cannot see that they had a beginning, except god himself.
Before the beginning. There was
NO UNIVERSE
NO EARTH
NO ANGELS
NODEVIL
NO PLANTS
NO ANIMALS
NO PEOPLE
All these had specific beginning.
God alone had no beginning and god will have no end. God is eternal.
Therefore God is supreme and sovereign. Psalms: 90:2.
There never was a time when God did not exist.
GOD HAS
1) No beginning
2) Not created
3) Has always been alive
4) Has always been and will always be the same
5) God can never die.
God alone existed before all things, he had need of sustain him exodus 3; 14
God is completely independent of everything and everyone.
That is God is supreme and sovereign
He does not need the earth or anything on it
God doesn’t need air to breathe
God doesn’t need food to eat
God doesn’t need water to drink
GOD DOESN’T NEED SUN
He can see perfectly without any light
Does not sleep. No need of day or night
Doesn’t need any source of energy
He never gets tired, thirsty or
B) In God’s word although there is only one God, there are 3 persons who are equally God
Matthew 28: 19 & Genesis 1: 26
God the father
God the son
God the Holy Spirit
There is the father who is God, the son who is God
And the Holy Spirit who is God. CONFUSING?
God is much greater than we can imagine
God is beyond our understanding, beyond our ability to comprehend.
Is 40:20
ABOUT US
1) Could we have been born without parents?
2) Could we have survived as infants without care?
3) Could we have learned to be productive adults without teaching?
OUR BODIES
1) Could we have lived without food and water?
2) Could we have lives without oxygen?
3) How many days could we function rationally without sleep?
4) How could we survive without protection against UV rays?
THEREFORE GOD IS SPIRIT 1) God does not have material body.
2) God does not have bodily needs.
3) God is in all places at the same time.
4) God is everywhere all the time. But he is not in everything and everything is not God. Because is the creator.
Jeremiah: 23:23,24, Psalms: 139:7-12, Romans: 11:33,36, Jeremiah: 10:6
Sovereign means “Ruler, supreme in power, chief, effective in highest degree. Therefore God is greater than all and more important than all. He is the highest authority. And man should be under God’s authority and listen to everything God says.
FIRM FOUNDATIONS
Facts can be learned quickly. Foundations themes are not. Misconceptions too are built over a lifetime. Foundations cannot be done overnight.
Duet; 6; 6-9
Continuous learning 11 TIMOTHY 3:14,15
Make learning interesting, build patiently
Gospel- Romans 1:3 1Corinthians 15:3,4
LESSON – 1:- INTRODUCING THE BIBLE
A) Book of all books
B) Big book
C) Authored by god
PEOPLE –
1) Who never come to church but know bible
2) Who go to church week after week but never open their bible
3) Who never take time to read & study the word
4) Who think bible is a book from which they can pickup ideas they like
5) Who realize that bible deserves respect
BIBLE CONTAINS
1) Gods word
2) Gives clear sight to confused, blinded minds
3) Penetrates sin stained hearts
GOD IS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER OF THE BIBLE
1) Who he is
2) What he does
3) What he is like
WHERE THE BIBLE CAME FROM
11 timothy 3: 16
11 Peter 1:20,21
BIBLE HAS ABSOLUTE UNITY
1) From the beginning to end
2) Because god its one author
BIBLE WITH STOOD TEST OF TIME
It has accurate
1) Historical record A
2) Places
3) Cultural details
4) Dates
5) Names (we will learn as we study future lesson)
BIBLE HAS ANSWERS
1) For the most important questions of life with absolute authority
2) Tells about ourselves
3) Our relations hip with him
4) To the world around us
5) To one another for now and all for eternity
BIBLE HAS NOT & WILL NOT CHANGE
1) Bible is God’ personal message to each of us. The most important message will be given to us
2) Bible tells what he thinks of us and what he sees as our greatest need
3) God wrote the bible to each one of us personally
4) He wrote it to communicate with people [with you and me]
5) Bible is the most quoted the most published the most translated the most influential book in the history of mankind
6) Bible will not change as other textbooks; scientific texts, which drastically change every few years because more is learned and old theories, are replaced. Psalms: 119:89
CONCLUSION
God is the author. He chose special people called prophets. All Jewish people except Luke. Many of them lived at different times and is written by about forty authors. It took about 1600 years before all Gods’ words are written.
God’s word was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
God’s word taught in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT is able to transform minds and hearts.
Duet; 6; 6-9
Continuous learning 11 TIMOTHY 3:14,15
Make learning interesting, build patiently
Gospel- Romans 1:3 1Corinthians 15:3,4
LESSON – 1:- INTRODUCING THE BIBLE
A) Book of all books
B) Big book
C) Authored by god
PEOPLE –
1) Who never come to church but know bible
2) Who go to church week after week but never open their bible
3) Who never take time to read & study the word
4) Who think bible is a book from which they can pickup ideas they like
5) Who realize that bible deserves respect
BIBLE CONTAINS
1) Gods word
2) Gives clear sight to confused, blinded minds
3) Penetrates sin stained hearts
GOD IS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER OF THE BIBLE
1) Who he is
2) What he does
3) What he is like
WHERE THE BIBLE CAME FROM
11 timothy 3: 16
11 Peter 1:20,21
BIBLE HAS ABSOLUTE UNITY
1) From the beginning to end
2) Because god its one author
BIBLE WITH STOOD TEST OF TIME
It has accurate
1) Historical record A
2) Places
3) Cultural details
4) Dates
5) Names (we will learn as we study future lesson)
BIBLE HAS ANSWERS
1) For the most important questions of life with absolute authority
2) Tells about ourselves
3) Our relations hip with him
4) To the world around us
5) To one another for now and all for eternity
BIBLE HAS NOT & WILL NOT CHANGE
1) Bible is God’ personal message to each of us. The most important message will be given to us
2) Bible tells what he thinks of us and what he sees as our greatest need
3) God wrote the bible to each one of us personally
4) He wrote it to communicate with people [with you and me]
5) Bible is the most quoted the most published the most translated the most influential book in the history of mankind
6) Bible will not change as other textbooks; scientific texts, which drastically change every few years because more is learned and old theories, are replaced. Psalms: 119:89
CONCLUSION
God is the author. He chose special people called prophets. All Jewish people except Luke. Many of them lived at different times and is written by about forty authors. It took about 1600 years before all Gods’ words are written.
God’s word was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
God’s word taught in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT is able to transform minds and hearts.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Don't Serve the Problem
Don't Serve the Problem : Kenneth Copeland
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him.
– Isaiah 55:7
You can't win a victory as long as the problem is the biggest thing in your life!
The Lord woke me up to that fact a few years ago. At that time I was facing some difficulties in my ministry that seemed so big to me, I thought about them from morning till night. Even though I was standing against them, I was thinking more about those problems than about the scripture promises I was standing on.
Then I saw something in Matthew 6:24-25:
"Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life."
I'd read that scripture hundreds of times, but that day I saw something I'd never noticed before. I saw that immediately after Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters," He said, "Take no thought." Suddenly it hit me: We serve our thoughts!
That's why Isaiah 55 says for us to forsake our thoughts, and by the Word, take God's thoughts. That's why 2 Corinthians 10:5 says to cast out thoughts that challenge the Word and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Do you want deliverance from your problems today?
Then quit serving them! Quit allowing them to consume your thought life. And don't wait until circumstances change to do it. Instead, realize that circumstances won't ever change until you switch from wrong to right thinking.
I know that's not easy to do, especially in the midst of heavy darkness and trial. But you can do it if you'll do these three things:
First, remember you aren't alone. You have the Word (God's thoughts). You have the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and you have the mind of Christ.
Second, get around people who are full of faith. Instead of rehearsing your problem, let them do the talking. Make yourself listen. Join in with their faith and resist darkness.
Third, praise God. Do whatever it takes to make yourself praise. When you begin to praise, God's presence will turn back those worried thoughts and make them fall!
Your problems are not the biggest thing in your life. Jesus is. Serve Him with your thoughts and He will set you free!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
You Don't Have to Fall
You Don't Have to Fall----Kenneth Copeland
Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
– 2 Peter 1:10 You shall never fall. When you think about it, that's a startling statement, isn't it? Most of us have been tripped up by the devil so many times we don't like to think about it.
But the Word of God says it doesn't have to be that way. He says there's something that can keep us on our feet. What is it? Diligence.
If you haven't already, you need to realize how important diligence is. You need to face the fact that you simply can't live a life of victory without it.
You can't stand strong on the Word of God and not pick your Bible up during the week. Sunday morning alone isn't going to get the job done. Yet most believers try to get by on that. That's precisely why we have thousands of churches all over the world filled with born-again people who don't have enough faith to blow their hats off. No diligence.
I remember several years ago when I ministered to a lady who was healed of cancer. She'd gotten into the Word, taken a stand of faith, and had been delivered. But several years later she called me and said, "Brother Copeland, I wish you'd pray for me. This cancer has come back on me again."
Right away I recalled the scripture the Lord had given us to stand on those years before: "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." So I said, "Get your Bible and let's go back to Isaiah 54:17."
In the background I could hear her whispering to someone else in the room, "Where's my Bible?" When I heard that, I almost cried out. I knew she wasn't going to make it. Why? No diligence.
Listen, this is a daily thing. The devil's out there 24 hours a day devising ways to make us fall. Jesus is on the throne 24 hours a day giving us power to resist him, and we need to be exercising our faith all the time.
If you're going to stand in the days ahead, you're going to need a lot more than Sunday school faith. You're going to need some full-grown, mountain-moving faith, and there's only one way to get that: By giving yourself to the Word more diligently than you ever have before.
Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; and no matter how slippery the situation gets, you won't have to fall!
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-10
Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
– 2 Peter 1:10 You shall never fall. When you think about it, that's a startling statement, isn't it? Most of us have been tripped up by the devil so many times we don't like to think about it.
But the Word of God says it doesn't have to be that way. He says there's something that can keep us on our feet. What is it? Diligence.
If you haven't already, you need to realize how important diligence is. You need to face the fact that you simply can't live a life of victory without it.
You can't stand strong on the Word of God and not pick your Bible up during the week. Sunday morning alone isn't going to get the job done. Yet most believers try to get by on that. That's precisely why we have thousands of churches all over the world filled with born-again people who don't have enough faith to blow their hats off. No diligence.
I remember several years ago when I ministered to a lady who was healed of cancer. She'd gotten into the Word, taken a stand of faith, and had been delivered. But several years later she called me and said, "Brother Copeland, I wish you'd pray for me. This cancer has come back on me again."
Right away I recalled the scripture the Lord had given us to stand on those years before: "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." So I said, "Get your Bible and let's go back to Isaiah 54:17."
In the background I could hear her whispering to someone else in the room, "Where's my Bible?" When I heard that, I almost cried out. I knew she wasn't going to make it. Why? No diligence.
Listen, this is a daily thing. The devil's out there 24 hours a day devising ways to make us fall. Jesus is on the throne 24 hours a day giving us power to resist him, and we need to be exercising our faith all the time.
If you're going to stand in the days ahead, you're going to need a lot more than Sunday school faith. You're going to need some full-grown, mountain-moving faith, and there's only one way to get that: By giving yourself to the Word more diligently than you ever have before.
Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; and no matter how slippery the situation gets, you won't have to fall!
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-10
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Joseph's life-Excerpts from RBC
Root of bitterness is hate, symptom of bitterness is sarcasm, result of bitterness is manipulation.
Joseph distinguished himself as a young man of skill and ability, but it became clear that those talents were not the key to his life. The real key was " The Lord was with Joseph".
God's presence was the difference.Trials often come on the heals of our greatest successes.
Joseph looked beyond the immediate to the ultimate, recognizing the consequences that such sin would have on his relationship with God.
Joseph did not flirt with sin, argue with it or reason with it, he fled from it.
Often life isn't fair- but our responsibility is to do right and leave the consequences to God.
Joseph's character was under construction as he was shaped by adversity, punished by men and honored by God.
He recognized that he belonged to God.He recognized sin's affect on others.He recognized sin as defiance against God.
Life in a falled world seldom rewards right living.
God is in control of our lives.Nothing happens by accident.
Single most important character of a true leader: He was "a man in whom is the spirit of God."
Qualifications of a true leader are not merely physical, they are spiritual. It is not just about talents or skill but about character and relationship with God.Key character qualities of a great eader are internal, not external. They deal with knowing God, not with being great.
Joseph distinguished himself as a young man of skill and ability, but it became clear that those talents were not the key to his life. The real key was " The Lord was with Joseph".
God's presence was the difference.Trials often come on the heals of our greatest successes.
Joseph looked beyond the immediate to the ultimate, recognizing the consequences that such sin would have on his relationship with God.
Joseph did not flirt with sin, argue with it or reason with it, he fled from it.
Often life isn't fair- but our responsibility is to do right and leave the consequences to God.
Joseph's character was under construction as he was shaped by adversity, punished by men and honored by God.
He recognized that he belonged to God.He recognized sin's affect on others.He recognized sin as defiance against God.
Life in a falled world seldom rewards right living.
God is in control of our lives.Nothing happens by accident.
Single most important character of a true leader: He was "a man in whom is the spirit of God."
Qualifications of a true leader are not merely physical, they are spiritual. It is not just about talents or skill but about character and relationship with God.Key character qualities of a great eader are internal, not external. They deal with knowing God, not with being great.
Step Into the Light
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
– Psalm 119:105
As long as you live by the Word of God, you never have to be in the dark again. You never have to remain in confusion about which path to take. You never have to grope blindly along, struggling to find your own way.
Isn't that great? Isn't it exciting to know that the Word of God will give you all the light you need every day of your life if you'll allow it to?
Build your faith in that Word and renew your commitment to it as you make this confession today:
"Father, in the Name of Jesus, I commit myself to walk in Your Word. I recognize that Your Word is integrity itself-- steadfast, sure, eternal--and I trust my life to its provisions.
"You have sent Your Word forth into my heart. I let it dwell in me richly in all wisdom. It does not depart out of my mouth; I meditate in it day and night so that I may diligently act on it. Your Word is an incorruptible seed, abiding in my spirit, and it's growing mightily in me now, producing Your nature, Your life.
"I thank You, Father, that Your Word is my counsel, my shield, my buckler, my powerful weapon in battle. It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It makes my way straight before me, and I never stumble or fall for my steps are ordered by Your Word.
"I recognize the strategies and deceits of Satan and I put a stop to them by speaking Your Word out of my mouth in faith.
"I am confident, Father, that You are at work in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure. I exalt Your Word. I hold it in high esteem and give it first place in my life. I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation--the living Word of God. Amen!"
– Psalm 119:105
As long as you live by the Word of God, you never have to be in the dark again. You never have to remain in confusion about which path to take. You never have to grope blindly along, struggling to find your own way.
Isn't that great? Isn't it exciting to know that the Word of God will give you all the light you need every day of your life if you'll allow it to?
Build your faith in that Word and renew your commitment to it as you make this confession today:
"Father, in the Name of Jesus, I commit myself to walk in Your Word. I recognize that Your Word is integrity itself-- steadfast, sure, eternal--and I trust my life to its provisions.
"You have sent Your Word forth into my heart. I let it dwell in me richly in all wisdom. It does not depart out of my mouth; I meditate in it day and night so that I may diligently act on it. Your Word is an incorruptible seed, abiding in my spirit, and it's growing mightily in me now, producing Your nature, Your life.
"I thank You, Father, that Your Word is my counsel, my shield, my buckler, my powerful weapon in battle. It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It makes my way straight before me, and I never stumble or fall for my steps are ordered by Your Word.
"I recognize the strategies and deceits of Satan and I put a stop to them by speaking Your Word out of my mouth in faith.
"I am confident, Father, that You are at work in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure. I exalt Your Word. I hold it in high esteem and give it first place in my life. I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation--the living Word of God. Amen!"
Friday, May 9, 2008
Bitterness
http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics/bitterness.html
Bitterness is one of the most crushing mental problems in a person's life. When a Christian is bitter, there is a loss of close fellowship with the Lord and a hindrance in one's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.. Bitterness causes a loss of many of the blessings of the normal Christian life, including emotional stability, peace, and joy. And bitterness results in the loss of production of good works (gold, silver, precious stones) which are a major source of blessing and reward in the plan of God.
Bitterness is a devastating mental attitude sin, and it triggers a wide range of other sins, such as:
Hatred, Cruelty, Antagonism, Self-pity, Unteachableness (implacability), Vindictiveness and desires for revenge, Prideful ambition (arrogance)
Recovery From Bitterness
Isa 38:17, "Behold, bitterness became deliverance to me. In Your love You have delivered my soul out of the pit of destruction; for You have cast all my sins behind my back."
. Confession of Sin
Personal sin leads to bitterness. You must deal with sin on a daily basis by confessing and moving on. If you don't do this, sin becomes a burden which clouds your joy, drains your spiritual energy, and destroys your productivity and vitality. In short, sin is always depressing.
1 John 1:9 states that when you confess your sins, God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
In privacy, make a list of your mental attitude sins, verbal sins, and behavior sins. Ask the Lord to make you aware of the habits of your own life. Respond immediately to the Holy Spirit when He uses the Word to spotlight your sin. Name the sin to God. Make it a spiritual habit to confess sins whenever they show up in your life.
o Love is free from bitterness.
o Joy pushes bitterness out.
o Bitterness can not coexist with peace in the soul of the believer filled with the Holy spirit.o Longsuffering gives the ability to deal with bitterness and other troubles.
o Gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are fruits of righteousness, which is divine good. Divine good takes the place of bitterness.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Believer
Bitterness is one of the most crushing mental problems in a person's life. When a Christian is bitter, there is a loss of close fellowship with the Lord and a hindrance in one's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.. Bitterness causes a loss of many of the blessings of the normal Christian life, including emotional stability, peace, and joy. And bitterness results in the loss of production of good works (gold, silver, precious stones) which are a major source of blessing and reward in the plan of God.
Bitterness is a devastating mental attitude sin, and it triggers a wide range of other sins, such as:
Hatred, Cruelty, Antagonism, Self-pity, Unteachableness (implacability), Vindictiveness and desires for revenge, Prideful ambition (arrogance)
Recovery From Bitterness
Isa 38:17, "Behold, bitterness became deliverance to me. In Your love You have delivered my soul out of the pit of destruction; for You have cast all my sins behind my back."
. Confession of Sin
Personal sin leads to bitterness. You must deal with sin on a daily basis by confessing and moving on. If you don't do this, sin becomes a burden which clouds your joy, drains your spiritual energy, and destroys your productivity and vitality. In short, sin is always depressing.
1 John 1:9 states that when you confess your sins, God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
In privacy, make a list of your mental attitude sins, verbal sins, and behavior sins. Ask the Lord to make you aware of the habits of your own life. Respond immediately to the Holy Spirit when He uses the Word to spotlight your sin. Name the sin to God. Make it a spiritual habit to confess sins whenever they show up in your life.
- The Filling of the Holy Spirit
o Love is free from bitterness.
o Joy pushes bitterness out.
o Bitterness can not coexist with peace in the soul of the believer filled with the Holy spirit.o Longsuffering gives the ability to deal with bitterness and other troubles.
o Gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are fruits of righteousness, which is divine good. Divine good takes the place of bitterness.
- Living in the Word:
- Orientation to Grace
- Occupation with Christ
The technique of Occupation with Christ helps to cure bitterness because it gets your eyes off your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your friends, and yourself. Instead, as you move through the day, you are thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ, His plan for your life, the Father's provision for each incident in your life, and His provision of wisdom for each decision you must make. Occupation with Christ is a by-product of the Faith-Rest Life. Bitterness is a by-product of occupation with self, with life, with problems.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Believer
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Christ is Victor
May-June 08
A magnifying glass does not actually increase the size of anything: it only seems to do this. Actually the object at which a man may be looking is exactly the same size, but the glass brings it into bold relief, and the watcher is able to see it more clearly. It is not possible to make Christ more wonderful, for “He is the Altogether Lovely One, and the chiefest among ten thousand.” Yet, if by God's grace we can become magnifying glasses - in perfect alignment with the Master and men - they will be able to see Him more clearly when they look at Him through us. All the details of His superb glory may be brought into delightful relief if we are what we ought to be.
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. When a man's end is near, he becomes more active than usual against the Kingdom of God . This is one of the signs that that man's end is near.
. Those who continue in the Word, will find their heart's deepest desires fulfilled. God is greater than our desires. In fulfilling our desires He will far exceed them. Peter had desired this death-daring faith.
. The prayer of the church will release those in prison. Many are bound by evil spirits and evil desires and vanity. The church has to pray for them.
. A man who is freed, puts on the sandals of the gospel of peace.
A magnifying glass does not actually increase the size of anything: it only seems to do this. Actually the object at which a man may be looking is exactly the same size, but the glass brings it into bold relief, and the watcher is able to see it more clearly. It is not possible to make Christ more wonderful, for “He is the Altogether Lovely One, and the chiefest among ten thousand.” Yet, if by God's grace we can become magnifying glasses - in perfect alignment with the Master and men - they will be able to see Him more clearly when they look at Him through us. All the details of His superb glory may be brought into delightful relief if we are what we ought to be.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
. When a man's end is near, he becomes more active than usual against the Kingdom of God . This is one of the signs that that man's end is near.
. Those who continue in the Word, will find their heart's deepest desires fulfilled. God is greater than our desires. In fulfilling our desires He will far exceed them. Peter had desired this death-daring faith.
. The prayer of the church will release those in prison. Many are bound by evil spirits and evil desires and vanity. The church has to pray for them.
. A man who is freed, puts on the sandals of the gospel of peace.
-Late Mr. N. Daniel
Spurgeon's
"Ye must be born again."-John 3:7
Regeneration it is a change which is known and felt: known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself: a new principle is infused, which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man.
If you have then, been "born again," your acknowledgment will be, "O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, Thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day 'dead in trespasses and sins.'
'My life is hid with Christ in God.' It is no longer I who live, but Christ who liveth in me."
Regeneration it is a change which is known and felt: known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself: a new principle is infused, which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man.
If you have then, been "born again," your acknowledgment will be, "O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, Thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day 'dead in trespasses and sins.'
'My life is hid with Christ in God.' It is no longer I who live, but Christ who liveth in me."
Kenneth Copeland
Keep Quiet
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
– Proverbs 29:11
When we get our backs up about something, we think we have to let everybody know about it. "I'm just going to give them a piece of my mind," we say.
Don't make that mistake. Nobody wants or needs a piece of your mind-- and if you give it to them, you'll only end up alienating people and bringing harm to yourself. Instead, learn to keep quiet.
Develop the quiet art of the wise man, and the devil will find it increasingly difficult to harm your prayer life and ministry to others.
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
– Proverbs 29:11
When we get our backs up about something, we think we have to let everybody know about it. "I'm just going to give them a piece of my mind," we say.
Don't make that mistake. Nobody wants or needs a piece of your mind-- and if you give it to them, you'll only end up alienating people and bringing harm to yourself. Instead, learn to keep quiet.
Develop the quiet art of the wise man, and the devil will find it increasingly difficult to harm your prayer life and ministry to others.
Free From Fear
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
– 2 Timothy 1:7
What would you think if I told you that you could live without fear? Would you believe me if I said that despite what you saw on the news tonight, you could be perfectly at peace? Impossible? Unrealistic? No!
You see, fear isn't just a reaction to external circumstances. It's a spiritual force. It begins inside a person. And it is totally destructive. In fact, fear is Satan's primary weapon. He moves in response to fear, the way God moves in response to faith. He challenges the promises of God with it.
An excellent example of this is found in Matthew 14 when Jesus invited Peter to come to Him on the water. "But when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me" (verse 30).
What enabled Peter to walk on the water? His faith in the Word of Jesus. What caused Peter to sink? He saw the wind boisterous and he was afraid. It wasn't the wind that defeated him, it was his fear of it! He looked at his circumstances, gave into the fear, and the result was defeat. If Peter had kept his focus on Jesus, his faith would never have wavered. All the blustering and blowing in the world couldn't have drawn him off course.
Faith is developed by meditating on God's Word. Fear is developed by meditating on Satan's lies. Such fearful meditation is called worrying. Don't do it!
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Use it to fight Satan every time he comes against you. Hold up your shield of faith and quench all of his fiery darts. Speak words of faith and fear will depart.
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