Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Series: Spiritual Reformation

Reference Scripture:  Acts 1:1-5

Today’s Discussion:    “Spending Time with Jesus”

The key to a healthy relationship is intimacy.   As believers we are expected to develop and maintain a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Our relationship with Jesus will be the basis and foundation in our quest to take back what the devil has stolen from us. As we mature in our relationship there should be visible evidence that we belong to Christ.  (Read: Acts 4:13)

·         Boldness – [par-rhay-see-ah] – all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance:

The lesson aim is to reinforce the need for a personal relationship with Jesus. More importantly, all who walk, talk, and live for Jesus must know HIM.  Our primary objective is to preach, teach and testify of HIM. (Reference: John 5:39; 15:26; I Corinthians 1:21-23)

Dr. Luke writes a personal letter to Theophilus regarding his experience with Jesus through the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul.  His opening statement in this particular letter sets the tone for remainder of the letter.  Dr. Luke directs his readers to imagine what it was like for the apostles in the days and weeks following the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Let’s dig for treasure?  Acts 1:1-5

“the former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Each believer will have an encounter with Jesus.  How you spend that time will impact your life forever.

What does one do while in the presence of Jesus?

Listen – (Read: Luke 10:38-39, 42)

What does Jesus do for those what choose to spend time with HIM?

Teach – (Read: Matthew 7:28-29)

The most valuable tool we have for kingdom building is teaching.  Teaching is essential for TRANSFORMATION. In addition teaching opens our understanding of scripture. (Reference: Luke 24:27, 32, 45)

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Series: Spiritual Warfare

Reference Scripture:  Romans 5:1-5

Today’s Discussion:    “Power Up!”

If things don’t workout the way we envision, we tend to give up on whatever it is we’re trying to accomplish.  So many believers have started on this journey to spiritual maturity.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the “will” to finish their course.   The difficulty of the journey can either discourage or inspire the believer. (Read: Galatians 6:9)

·         Weary – [ek-kak-eh-o] – to be (bad or) weak; to fail (in heart)

·         Reap – [ther-id-zo] – to harvest (in the sense of the crop) – theros/thero – to heat, i.e. summer

·         Faint – [ek-loo-o] – to relax

The lesson aim is to encourage believers to walk, live and flow in the transforming power of Jesus Christ. More importantly, we must be willing to embrace, confront and overcome the challenges associated with God’s army of believers. We have been chosen by God to build HIS kingdom. (Read: II Timothy 2:3-4)

Paul says Jesus was “raised again for our justification”.  Justification - [dik-ah'-yo-sis]

is defined as “the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law”.  Paul uses this passage of scripture to open the way for the “believer’s walk of faith”. In addition Paul provides the believer with an outline for a life of joy.  There are several spiritual blessings in the text that Paul uses to empower each believer to stay on course:

·         Peace with God – we are declared righteous by God, thereby cancelling out condemnation (Reference: John 3:16-18)

·         Access to God – we must breakdown the spiritual barriers that prohibit believers from having a healthy relationship with God (Reference: Ephesians 2:4-8)

·         Glorious Hope – Because of Christ we have the opportunity to live a life of joy (Reference: Romans 8:24-28)

·         Christian Character – the experiences we will have and the challenges we will face are designed to make us stronger. (Reference: John 16:33)

·         God’s Love – provides strength, comfort, power and direction (Reference: I Corinthians 13:4-8a)

James presents his revelatory exposition of the believer’s journey to a life of joy in James 1:2-4 – “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (KJV)

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Series: Spiritual Warfare

Reference Scripture:  Mark 9:23-24

Today’s Discussion:    “If You Believe, Great Things Will Happen”

Do we really know how to walk in victory?  Not if we don’t believe. Can we be victorious while we are engaged in spiritual warfare? (Read: II Chronicles 20:20)

·         Believe – [aw-man] – to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; to be true or certain

·         Prophets – [naw-bee] – inspired man

·         Prosper – [tsaw-lakh] – to push forward

The lesson aim is to encourage believers to reconnect to Christ through faith. More importantly, we have been commissioned by the LORD to remind the believers that “power comes from Faith”.  How do we obtain faith in God? (Read: Romans 10:17)

The text sheds light on the spoken words of the Lord Jesus regarding the believer’s struggle to increase their faith.  Most believers are engaged in some level of spiritual warfare.  If we hope to be victorious, we must increase our faith in God’s ability to solve our problems and calm the storms in our lives.  The lack of FAITH has become the main source of discouragement, disappointment, discourse in the church, and desperation of believers.  The church seems to be powerless against temptation.  To validate our premise we refer to Jesus’ indictment of the church to expose the source of their problems.

(Read: Matthew 6:30-34; Matthew 14:28-31; Mark 4:37-40)

Verses 19 and 20 reveal the truth of why the disciples were powerless against “this kind” of demonic spirit. Jesus responds, “because of your unbelief”.  Commentaries conclude that the disciples’ faith (power) may have been impacted due the absence of Christ or because of a lack of discipline to pray and fast to maintain their faith (power).

In verses 23-24 Christ pulls a reverse on this hurting father.  Rather than react to the father’s disbelief, Jesus challenges the father to activate the healing power of God through renewed faith.  Jesus unveils the solution to our problems.  Jesus crystallizes the promise of victory over the enemy.  The power to overcome lives in us and works through us and for us. 

What are the key factors in Jesus’ response?

Paul consummates his revelation of Abraham’s success in Rom 4:20 – “Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” (NLT) Faith is our access point to God’s awesome power.