John 14:15-27; 16:5-16 NIV The scriptures in John we look at in today’s lesson will be the last ones dealing with our first goal. As a reminder, our first goal in this study is, “through those promises we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Here are a few things Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in our first scripture: 1. The Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father and Jesus 2. The Holy Spirit is a counselor 3. The world cannot accept the Holy Spirit 4. The world cannot see him 5. The world does not know him 6. The Holy Spirit lives inside us 7. The Holy Spirit will teach us 8. The Holy Spirit will remind us what Jesus said Our second scripture tells us more about the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit: 1. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin 2. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to righteousness 3. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to judgment 4. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth 5. The Holy Spirit will speak only what he hears 6. The Holy Spirit will tell us what is yet to come 7. The Holy Spirit will bring Jesus glory by taking from him and making it known to us Jesus told his disciples a lot about the Holy Spirit. We need to read and learn about the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior. The Holy Spirit plays a very important part in the lives of followers of Jesus. We must take time to pray and read scripture and allow time for the Holy Spirit to counsel and teach us. So many challenges we face are harder because we attempt to face them without the help of the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit, and we should live in such a way that we do not hinder the work the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. Next week, Lord willing, we will start looking at scripture that will help us with the second goal. That second goal of this study is, “grow in these qualities and they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” How often do you allow the Holy Spirit to counsel you? How often do you spend time in prayer? What role does the Holy Spirit have in your life right now? Please read the following for next week: 1 John 5:1-12; James 2:14-19; Ephesians 3:14-21
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Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-26 NIV This week we are continuing our study on maturing/growing up. Last week we looked at a few things Jesus said in the book of John. For today’s lesson we will look at two scriptures, one in Matthew and the other in Luke. Lord willing, these scriptures will help us reach the first goal of this study, “through those promises we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” In Matthew chapter five, Jesus taught a crowd of people from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan. There are nine types of people that Jesus told them are blessed. 1. Poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven 2. Those who mourn; they will be comforted 3. The meek; they will inherit the earth 4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; they will be filled 5. The merciful; they will be shown mercy 6. The pure in heart; they will see God 7. The peacemakers; they will be called sons of God 8. Those persecuted for righteousness; theirs is the kingdom of heaven 9. Those persecuted, spoken evil of, and insulted because of Jesus; they have a great reward in heaven. In Luke chapter six, it covers some of what Matthew chapter five covered. However, in Luke, there are four types of people Jesus told the crowd are blessed and four types of people Jesus gave a warning to. 1. The poor; theirs is the kingdom of God 2. Those that are hungry now; they will be satisfied 3. Those that weep now; they will laugh 4. Those that are hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected as evil because of the Son of Man; great is their reward in heaven 1. Those that are rich; you already have your comfort 2. Those that are well fed now; they will go hungry 3. Those that laugh now; they will mourn and weep 4. Those that are well spoken of by all men; that is how false prophets were treated Jesus taught the crowd an important lesson that I hope we can meditate on and gain encouragement from today. This world does not have the same values as the kingdom of heaven. Things that are valued highly on this earth are not valued in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus declared people blessed that according to this world are at the bottom. Jesus declared warnings to people that according to this world are at the top. We need to use the standard that Jesus taught when we look at ourselves in the mirror and judge if we are successful or doing well in life. There are people that are anxious and depressed because they are trying to accomplish something that God never created them to accomplish. There are people that are anxious and depressed because they do not see that they are blessed according to Jesus even while they are at the bottom according to the world’s standard. I pray that each day we will look to Jesus and his standard of living. Whose standard of living do you base your life on? When you look at your life right now, how would Jesus say you are doing? Would Jesus say you are blessed today, or would he give you a warning? Please read the following for next week: John 14:15-27; 16:5-16 John 4:10,13-14; John 6:35-40; John 8:12; John 10:7-10,11,14; John 11:25-26; John 14:6; John 15:1-2, 5 NIV Last week I said that the first goal of this study is, “through those promises we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” For today’s lesson we will look at several verses in the gospel of John. We are going to look at one statement Jesus said to the woman at the well and then seven statements he said about himself. I look at these statements as being promises from Jesus. Jesus cannot lie and when he made those statements, I believe we are supposed to expect something from him and expect something in our relationship with him. 1. John 4:10,13-14 – Jesus told the woman at the well that he could give her living water. We all need water to live. Humans cannot live without water. Jesus is the ultimate source of life, and he is because he is a gift from God. 2. John 6:35-40 – Jesus told the crowds in this scripture that he is the bread of life. He told them he was sent by God to give life. Everyone that looks to Jesus and believes in him will have eternal life. 3. John 8:12 – Jesus told the people and Pharisees that he is the light of the world. Whoever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness. 4. John 10:7-10 – Jesus told the people and Pharisees that he is the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through him will be saved. 5. John 10:11,14 – Jesus told the people and Pharisees that he is the good shepherd. He laid his life down for his sheep. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him. 6. John 11:25-26 – Jesus told Martha that he is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in him will live even though they die. 7. John 14:6 – Jesus told his disciples that he is the way and the truth and the life. No one can have a relationship with God except through him. 8. John 15:1-2,5 – Jesus told his disciples that he is the true vine. Without Jesus, a person cannot bear fruit. We all have needs. I believe that what Jesus said to the woman at the well and the seven statements he said about himself are promises we can rely on. I believe that we can turn to them as proof that Jesus knows what we need and can be the source of what we need. Jesus can provide for our physical needs, emotional needs, mental needs, and spiritual needs. If we believe in him, we have everything we need. In times when our resources are low, he will provide us water and bread. That can be physical things for us to drink and eat. That can also be intangible things that our minds need, or our souls need. Jesus can provide us light when all around us is darkness. Jesus can provide us a safe way out of situations. Jesus died so we could have our sins forgiven and have a relationship with God the Father. Jesus can provide hope for those whose loved ones followed him and died. Jesus is the resurrection and those that follow him will have eternal life with him. Jesus can provide direction, meaning, and life to those that are wandering and wondering and searching. Jesus can provide us with what we need to life a life pleasing to God. We all have needs. We need to take our needs to Jesus first and let him be who he says he is in our lives. How often do you take your needs to Jesus first? How often do you read what Jesus said about himself? How often do you read the words Jesus said to people? Please read the following for next week: Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-26 2 Peter 1:1-11 NIV There are two goals of this study that we are starting. The first goal is stated by Peter in verse four. He said that Jesus has given us, those that believe in him, great and precious promises through his own glory and goodness. Through those promises we may, “participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” That is the first goal. I pray that we will look to the promises that Jesus has given us and participate in the divine nature or spiritual nature and escape becoming corrupt from evil desires. The second goal is stated by Peter in verse eight. He said if we have the qualities he listed in verses five through seven and we grow in them, “they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the second goal. I pray that we will not be unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Too many people are lost or confused or hurt or on the path to the lake of fire because there are people that are unproductive in their knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not have time to live that way anymore. The kingdom of heaven is near. We need to spread the message of hope that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to repent of our desires that lead us to sin and tell others they must repent and follow Jesus if they want to live and not die in the lake of fire. We will look at scriptures in this study that will help us get on the path or stay on the path to reaching the first and second goals I mentioned earlier. We will start by looking at the promises of Jesus we need to be able to participate in the divine nature and avoid being corrupted by evil desires. Later we will look at the qualities Peter listed in verses five through seven and see how we can grow in them, so we are not ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. What promises from Jesus have you hidden in your heart? What qualities that Peter listed in verses five through seven do you need to grow in? Please read the following for next week: John 4:10,13-14; John 6:35-40; John 8:12; John 10:7-11,14; John 11:25-26; John 14:6; John 15:1-2, 5 |
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