Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Series: Staying Strong in the Midst of Your Storm

Reference Scripture:  I Samuel 30:1-19

Focus Verses: I Samuel 30:8  

Today’s Discussion:    “Authorized Warfare”

Who gives us permission to engage in warfare?  What individual/group/delegation has the authority to wage war on another individual/nation/faction? What is the criterion that supports any decision to execute an attack against a perceived enemy/adversary?

All of these questions require legitimate answers.  Some body has to take responsibility for initiating battles or waging wars which will end in human casualties.  Consequently, the same rules apply in spiritual warfare.  Warfare for the Children of Israel was more of a physical encounter. However, for the NT church the warfare is more spiritual.

(II Corinthians 10:4)

The lesson aim is to show how we should respond to a surprise attack.  More importantly, we must always come before the Almighty God to seek HIS will and to receive divine instructions.

It is no secret who we are in God.  Everybody knows that we belong to God.  Even those that have refused to live under the divine theocracy are keenly aware of the hedge of protection that covers us. (Joshua 2:9-11; 5:1)  David’s popularity and purpose was known throughout the region.  His claim to fame came following his single-handed victory of the Philistine champion, Goliath. Because of his confidence in God and his courage to contend with the giant God exalted him to become the military might for the children of Israel.  (I Samuel 18:5) From this day forward David learned how to deal with his enemies.  When God anoints us to represent HIM, we become a moving target internally and externally.    

Now, let’s fast forward to I Samuel 30.  David is leading a small regimen of soldiers under the banner of deception and conspiracy.  Thus, we can conclude that there are some battles we have forged that were not in the will of God.  Therefore, we suffer defeat even after God has promised to give us victory.   However, David’s actions in verses 7 and 8 are a great example of how we should respond unexpected storms in our lives.  David gives us the steps to victory.

1. prepare yourself
2. pray to God for instructions

What steps have you taken to win your next battle?

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Series: Staying Strong in the Midst of Your Storm

Reference Scripture:  Joshua 3:1-8

Focus Verses: Joshua 3:7-8    

Today’s Discussion:    “Following God’s Instructions”

What are the main struggles of the people of God?  There are two in particular that outweighs them all:

• Broken Relationship with God (John 14:21-23; Revelations 3:20)
• Lack of Knowledge (Hosea 4:1;6)

The lesson aim is to show the rewards of following God.  More importantly, we must also see the blessing behind following God’s appointed leader.  For those of us that profess to trust God, we must also be willing to follow God’s leader.  He or she is the one that has been anointed and appointed to execute God’s plan and implement God’s strategies against the enemy. 

God’s appointment of Joshua as the leader was strategic and proved to be successful.  We learn in chapter 1 that God commissions Joshua to move the people forward.  We also hear God make promises to Joshua that follows him throughout his entire tenure as God’s appointed.  However, we must clearly understand why and how Joshua was chosen. (Deut. 3:24-28; 31:7-8) 

Josh 3:7-8

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. KJV

Joshua’s success was contingent upon his willingness to obey God’s instructions. God’s word is HIS instruction manual to us for success in life. (Joshua 1:8)  If we hope to stay strong in the midst of our battles or storms, we must be willing to surrender to the will of God.     

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Series: Staying Strong in the Midst of Your Storm

Reference Scripture:  Isaiah 40:26-31

Focus Verses: Isaiah 40:29    

Today’s Discussion:    “God is the Source of Our Strength”

What makes a person strong?  As our physical strength diminishes we still have spiritual strength to keep us moving forward. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 – “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” KJV)

• Swift – [qal (kal)] light; (by implication) rapid (also adverbial):
• Strong – [gibbor (ghib-bore')]  powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:

The lesson aim is to confirm through scripture that God is the source of our strength.  More importantly, we must also note that the strength that God provides belongs to HIM.

The Prophet Isaiah provides the greatest opportunity for those that are weak and faint to be empowered to go forward.  Isaiah’s motivation comes from his knowledge of God’s character and HIS “amazing grace”.  Isaiah 40:29 serves as a reservoir of hope to anyone that is considering giving up in the battle against the enemy.

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

KJV

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. NLT

“He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. The Message

Isaiah points the people to God as the source of their strength.  He give them direction and instruction through inspiration. 

The end result recorded in verse 31 is the culmination of this motivation.  God wants to empower us for kingdom work.  God is “a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM”.  

A Moment in Time Bible Study Lesson

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Series: The Joy of the Lord

Background Scripture: I Peter 1:8

Focus Verse: Psalms 118:24 (KJV)   

Today’s Discussion:    “A Moment in Time”

Since the beginning of time, God has concealed all dates and times.  No one else, other than God, knows who, what, when, where and how for any event that will take place in this world whether catastrophic, historic, or just natural. (Deuteronomy 29:29; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Acts 1:6-7)

The lesson aim is to appreciate God for HIS grace and mercy.  More importantly, as disciples we must learn to give God thanks for everyday HE gives us.  We should use the “Lord’s Day” to reflect on God’s divine providence and provision afforded to us from minute to minute, day to day, month to month, and year to year.

David is compelled by the spirit to praise God for giving him another day.  He has toiled because of his enemies.  However, God had given him a day of reprieve.  David’s heart is overjoyed for the opportunity to spend the day giving God thanks without interruption or distraction. Now, David recognizes the rewards of having a day of worship.  From David’s example we must learn to see God in every experience.  We must learn to respond with thanksgiving and praise for all that God has done and is doing for us.  We should not make light of the daily blessings we receive from God.  Everyday is a day of thanksgiving.  Thus, David insists that we “rejoice and be glad”. 

Key terms in the text:

• Rejoice – [gheel] – to spin around
• glad – [saw-makh] – to brighten up

Final thought:  God wants to have constant habitation with us and not just unscheduled visitations.  

Church of the Living God Bible Study

Presenter: Evangelist Sheree Tait

Date:   Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Series: JOY

Scripture Reference in Context: Nehemiah 8:1-10   Focus Verse: Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)       

Today’s Discussion:    True Joy

There are many things in this life that we find to be joyous, things that we believe make us happy and bring joy to our lives. We’ll entitle them joy perpetrators. They might to our family (children, spouse or significant other) and friends, our homes, our possessions, financial success, pets, television shows, vacations, doing things we enjoy and the list goes on and on. All of these things can be here today and gone today. However, true joy comes only from the Lord. He is the only constant in our lives, today, tomorrow and forever more.

What is joy? The bible defines joy in Nehemiah 8:10 as gladness. Webster defines a glad person as someone with a cheerful or happy disposition by nature, experiencing pleasure, joy or delight, full of brightness and cheerfulness.  When you read these definitions and you look around the body of Christ today, you don’t see much joy. There is a great deal of sadness, depression, frustration and hopelessness, but not a whole lot of joy.

Why is this? Again, because true joy comes ONLY from the Lord. It is not contingent upon our circumstances, what our day looks like, how we feel, what happened yesterday or even ten years ago. It based on a peace that passes all understanding and a relationship with God that is so strong that even in your most difficult days, your greatest tragedies and your saddest moments, the strength that comes from the joy of the Lord permeates in every area of your life and the gladness shines through for others to see and glorify God.

The scripture gives us multiple examples of how we can have and maintain true joy. Read the following passages:

Psalms 16:11           We can experience true joy when we spend time in His presence

Psalms 5:11              We can experience true joy when we trust in Him and love His name (or be in love with Him)

Isaiah 35:10              When we experience true joy, sorrow and sighing shall flee away (God will take away every pain and sorrow we experience in life)

Nehemiah 8:3            We can experience true joy when we are attentive to His Word (spending time focused on reading the Word without distractions)

Nehemiah 8:6            We can experience true joy when we spend time praising and worshiping the Lord

Nehemiah 8:9            We can experience true joy when we have hearts of repentance (we are sorry for our sin and repent)

Nehemiah 8:10          We can experience true joy when we operate in God’s strength no matter what!

True joy is not something that is only available for a few. It’s not something that is out of reach or 
impossible. It is something that is available to every believer if you follow the road map.  God

is standing by, waiting for us to lean and depend on Him. He is ready to fill us with His joy. He is

waiting for us to stop depending on the joy perpetrators in our lives. Instead, He wants us to

spend time in His presence, trust Him, fall in love with Him, be attentive to His Word, to repent

from our sins and spend time praising and worshiping Him. When we do these things, we will

begin to experience the “true joy” that God has in store for you. True joy will remove our hurts,

pains and sorrows and give us strength to not only endure but also overcome every trial,

tribulation, difficult circumstance and frustration. Then, we will be able to say what Nehemiah

said the “joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Bible Study

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Series: Giving God What You Have

Focus Verse: II Kings 4:5 (KJV)       

Today’s Discussion:    “Is There Any Hope?”

Since you’ve been on your Christian journey, have you ever experienced hopelessness or a lack of confidence in God’s ability to deliver on HIS promise?  During a time of oppression and extreme cruelty for African Americans, Professor James Weldon Johnson in his soul stirring composition entitled “Lift Every Voice and Sing” writes of a determination, perseverance and HOPE cradled in the hearts of black people that charted a path to freedom: “stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died; yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, come to a place for which our fathers died”.  What a powerful testimony and accomplishment. Each stanza builds a crescendo of gratitude to God for HIS divine provision.

The lesson aim is to evaluate, assess, and measure our faith in God as “Jehovah Jireh”.  More importantly, as disciples we must be willing to admit that our confidence in God can be and has been impacted by our loss of HOPE in the expected outcomes.

As I stated before “our faith [pis-tis] in God and the power [ex-oo-see-ah] we’ve been given as HIS disciples have become faint or are of no avail. (Matthew 13:57-58; Mark 9:23-23)  As we continue this journey our primary goal is to review our how we respond in times of despair. We also must ask ourselves theses questions, do we think in the spirit (Philippians 2:5) and believe on HIM as the provider of “all our need”. (Philippians 4:19)

What would move this unnamed woman to put the fate and future of her sons in the hands of the Prophet Elisha?  HOPE in God (Romans 8:24-25) She chooses of her own will and accord to obey the instructions given to her by the prophet.  However, HOPE drives her actions to fill each of the empty vessel with “the oil” that has now been placed in the hands of God. (Verses 5-6)  The outcome of her efforts prompts her to return to the man of God for further instructions. (Verse 7)  The reconfirms that we are not subject to our situation, confined to our circumstance or paralyzed by our problems. 

Key terms in the text:

• Hope – [el-pece] – expectation; confidence 
• Vessel – [kel-ee] – something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

Final thought:  God wants to have constant habitation with us and not just unscheduled visitations.  

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

Date:   Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Series: Giving God What You Have

Focus Verse: Philippians 2:5 (KJV)   

Today’s Discussion:    “Does the Lord have access to your mind?”

How many of you would consider yourself a follower of Christ?  

The lesson aim is to evaluate and assess the mindset of the church (ekklesia).  More importantly, as disciples we must be willing to admit that our conversation and lifestyle may not reflect a growing personal relationship with Christ. Consequently, our faith in God and the power (authority) we’ve been given as HIS disciples have become faint or are of no avail. (Matthew 10:1; Matthew 17:19-21)

We started this new journey last week with an introductory lesson entitled “are you a close-minded disciple”.  We discovered a flaw in the disciple’s thinking, namely Philip, as Jesus challenged them to think in the spirit and believe on HIM.  The premise for Jesus’ approach in John 6:6 challenges each disciple to think like Jesus if we hope to fulfill our god-given purpose.  But, the dilemma we face as disciples is not knowing the mind of Christ. [QUESTION: Can I be a disciple and not fully believe in the Lord Jesus?]  The enemy works to keep our focus off God and HIS will for our lives. Thus, we begin to focus too much on our circumstances, problems and issues. (Isaiah 26:3)  The enemy’s ultimate goal is to control our thoughts and use us as pawns to lure others away from God. 

The Apostle Paul commands the church at Philippi to change the way they think.  Paul offers the church a solution on how to change the outcomes in their lives.  Some believe “outlook determines outcomes”.  (James 4:1-10) To have the mind of Christ means to exhibit the attitude of Christ.  (References: I Peter 2:19-25; I Peter 4:1-2; I John 2:6)  As disciples of Jesus Christ we work to change the way we see things and people.  Our struggle has more to do with how we live, learn and respond to people, situations and storms (circumstances). 

Key terms in the text:

•  Disciple – [math-ay-tes] – a learner; pupil

• Mind – [fron-eh-o] – to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion (frane – the feelings or sensitive nature; the mind or cognitive faculties)

Final thought:  God wants to have constant habitation with us and not just unscheduled visitations.