Galatians 6: Whose Burden in the Church Needs the Most Bearing?

Class Outline:

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To ensure the harvest oxen need their feast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're in the resident congregation, turn off your electronic devices and put them away. Let this be a place where you aren't distracted by the world.

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact. My name is Pastor Rory Clark. Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!

 

Recently, I met a Boston police officer whose tee shirtread…

 

BOSTON POLICE OFFICE TEE-SHIRT

 

"God gave His angels weapons because even the Almighty knows you don't fight evil with tolerance and understanding."

 

Without arguing the theology of this, it was an interesting thought, and an interesting discussion ensued. He said police officers deal in facts. Well, Pastors deal in facts as well.

 

FACT:

At the beginning of every Barah Ministries bible lesson, you get to hear factsabout your God, facts about the Word of God, and facts about God's enemy. These facts are weapons for you in the spiritual warfare you face every day. The Lord warns His believers through the apostle Paul in Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 10 to 12…

 

EPHESIANS 6:10

…be strong in union with the Lord and in the strength of His might.

 

EPHESIANS 6:11

Pick up and put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

EPHESIANS 6:12

For our struggle (as believers in Christ) is not against flesh and blood (human

beings)…our struggle is against (supernatural enemies)…against the rulers…

against the powers…against the world forces of this dark world…our struggle is against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

FACT:

At Barah Ministries, we worship a Triune Godhead

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

 

We worship the One and Only God who expresses Himself to mankind as three separate, distinct, co-equal, co-infinite, co-eternal Persons…God the Father…God the Son… and God the Holy Spirit.

 

FACT:

GOD THE FATHER is the author of the Triune Godhead's plan for all creatures. Since He is a Father, believers in Christ are His children…John, Chapter 1, Verse 12 says…

 

JOHN 1:12

But as many as received the invitation from Jesus to be saved…to them Jesus gave the right to become children of God the Father…even to those who believe in Jesus' name…

 

Our loving Father is a comfort to His children. He offers us His Person…His Plan…His Provision…His Protection…His Pardon…His Presence…and His Promises Earthly fathers do the same. They aren't always appreciated by people in the world, but in God's eyes,they're invaluable.

 

FACT:

GOD THE SON, whom we call the Lord, volunteered to execute God the Father's plan for mankind. When we were spiritually dead from the moment of physical birth, we were separated from a relationship with God with no way to redeem ourselves. The Lord volunteered to fix our problem Colossians, Chapter 1, Verses 13 and 14…

 

 

COLOSSIANS 1:13

For God, the Father rescued us believers in Christ from the domain ofdarkness

(spiritual death)…and He transferred us to the kingdom of the Son whom God the Father loves (the LordJesus)…

 

COLOSSIANS 1:14

…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…in whom we have redemption…the forgiveness of sins.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us…purchasing us from slavery to sin by His sacrifice at the Cross…washing our sins away with His own blood…and restoring us to the possibility of a relationship with the entire Godhead. Jesus Christ is God, and at Barah Ministries, it is our pleasure to worship Him.

 

FACT:

GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, is our Mentor and Teacher, and He is the rudder of the Christian's life. In First Corinthians, Chapter 6, Verses 19 and 20…a reminder…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:19

Or do you believers in Christnot know that your body is a temple of God the Holy Spirit, who is indwelling you…whom you have (as a gift) from God the Father. You are not your own!

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:20

For you, believers in Christ have been bought with a price (Jesus Christ's blood). Therefore, glorify God in your body!

 

An omnipresent God, the Holy Spirit goes everywhere we go…indwelling us to direct us and to protect us.

 

FACT:

To learn about the God we worship, we study His Word. I was told this week by people who claim to be Christians that the bible is just a bunch of stories written by men, and the stories have changed throughout the years…so the bible is not to be taken literally. That's a lie.

 

At Barah Ministries, we listen to God's viewpoint about the Word of God and how it helps us as Christians…Romans, Chapter 12, Verse 2…

 

ROMANS 12:2a

And do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought, and by the flesh resident in you)...instead, keep on being transformed by God the Holy Spirit through the renewing of your mind (by studying the Word of God)...

 

ROMANS 12:2b

...so that you may see clearly...through the testing of experience...what the will of

God is...and the will of God is that which is good for you…and that which is acceptable to Him…and that which is perfect in result.

 

The Bible doesn't need to be interpreted. We simply use the bible to learn God's perspective on every issue of life because the bible contains His exact thinking. As we keep on studying the bible, we develop a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the entire Godhead.

 

FACT:

Something easily forgotten by most Christians is that God has an enemy…Satan… whom God made 'the ruler of this world' for a finite period. As a Pastor, anyone who is out to hurt you is my enemy, too. The Lord describes Satan well in John, Chapter 10, Verse 10…

 

JOHN 10:10

The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy (the sheep)…I (the Lord Jesus Christ) came so that believers in Christ may have the resurrection life (eternal life)…and have it abundantly.

 

Sun Tzu said inThe Art of War, "If you know yourself and you know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." Do you know your spiritual enemy, Satan? Do you study his movements? Do you notice His attacks on your person, Or are you like most Christians who don't even acknowledge he exists?

 

At the beginning of every Barah Ministries lesson, I follow the apostle Peter's advice and stir you up by way of reminder about Your God, His Word, and Your enemy. Or as the apostle Paul said in Philippians, Chapter 3, Verse 1…

 

PHILIPPIANS 3:1

To write the same things again and again is no trouble to me…and it is a safeguard for you.

 

Don't ever become casual as you hear over and over again three very important

lessons about God, His Word, and your enemy. These facts are weapons in your fight against evil.

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Whose Burden in the Church Needs the Most Bearing?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

In a commentary on his military campaigns against the Gauls, Julius Caesar proclaimed,"Gallia estomnis divisa in partestres."  It's one of the first things I learned to translate in Latin class: "Gaul is a whole divided into three parts."

 

Little did I know in high school that one day I would be teaching a biblical letter directed to the Gaul-atians…a Celtic people from central Europe. Today, we continue our study of the final chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Chapter 6 is a whole divided into three parts, and today we'll study part two, which teaches us about a person in the Church whose burden needs the most bearing.

 

Then, as we do every month, we'll celebrate The Lord's Supper…a joyful and sorrowful celebration.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's hear some music. Sometimes, life gets heavy, especially during the holidays. This has been a heavy year for many in our small congregation. As a reminder, our Lord says in Matthew, Chapter 11, Verse 28…

 

MATTHEW 11:28

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

 

The Lord's yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Here's Gateway Worship to remind you where to CAST YOUR BURDEN. Cast it on the Lord.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let's Sing the Lord's Praises

 

CAST YOUR BURDEN

Gateway Worship

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We're grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, thank You for the things You allow in our lives that shape our character…they'renot always pleasant, but You make them profitable because we KNOW You always work all things together for our good…thank You for providing God the Holy Spirit as our Mentor and Teacher who leads us into all the truth, especially the truth of this lesson today…thank You for Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who went to the Cross to guarantee our "so great" salvation…thanks for reminding us of the significance of what He did for us through The Lord's Supper Celebration…

 

…help us apply what we learn to the circumstances You keep on bringing into our lives…open our spiritual eyes so we can see Your hand in everything going on in our lives…and help us feel the compassion You feel for the unbelievers in our periphery so we can bring the gospel message to them…the good news concerning what Your Son did to save them…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ's name...Amen.

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Whose Burden in the Church Needs the Most Bearing?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

As we learned in today's lesson introduction, Galatians Chapter 6 is a whole divided into three parts. In the first part of Galatians, Chapter 6, we learned that we are our brother's keeper. The Lord wants us to treat each other well. Let's remember the first passage, which extends from Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 26 to Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 5…

 

 

 

 

GALATIANS 5:26

Let us believers in Christ not become boastful…challenging one another…envying one another.

 

GALATIANS 6:1

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass…you who are spiritual…restore

such a one in a spirit of gentleness…each looking to himself…so that you too will not be tempted.

 

GALATIANS 6:2

Bear one another's burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

 

GALATIANS 6:3

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

GALATIANS 6:4

But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting regarding himself alone, and not in regard to another.

 

GALATIANS 6:5

For each one will bear his own load.

 

How do we handle Christians who are damaging themselves through some sin? We make room in our hearts to be other-centered. We do the opposite of what Cain did with his brother Abel Genesis, Chapter 4, Verse 9…

 

GENESIS 4:9

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

 

Cain had killed his brother. We have people we care about in our periphery…people who are caught in Satan's web of deception…people caught up in a host of sins…and they need people to help them gain perspective. They need to know they are supported, even when they are wrong, just as the Lord supports all of us.

 

Are you your brother's keeper? Are you there with a heart of compassion for people who need it? We need to look for ways to lessen the burdens of those around us, especially those burdened by the sins that so easily entangle all of usAs the kind of Christians God wants, we are our brother's keeper.

 

In part two of Galatians, Chapter 6, we learn of a specific person who needs us to lessen his burden. Before we learn about him, I'd like you to reflect on something. I'll show you a verse…Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 7…which you have seen and heard many times. As you listen to it, what comes to mind What is the message this verse is sending?

 

GALATIANS 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked…for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

If you'rein a position to do so, write your thoughts about what this verse brings to mind. Here's another verse to give some thought to…Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 8…

 

GALATIANS 6:8

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption…but the

one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

If you'rein a position to do so, write your thoughts about what this verse brings to mind. These two verses are favorites of legalistic Pastors who love taking the verses out of context to make us feel guilty. Today, you'll get to see these verses in context, and you'll learn the message they are really sending.

 

The passage…Galatians, Chapter 6, Verses 6 to 10…

 

GALATIANS 6:6

The one who is taught the word is to SHARE all good things with the one who teaches him.

 

GALATIANS 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked…for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

GALATIANS 6:8

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the

one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

 

GALATIANS 6:9

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time, we will reap if we do not grow

weary.

 

GALATIANS 6:10

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (Christians…the family of believers).

 

The theme of the first passage continues in the second passage by recommending that if we are going to bear the burdens of others, a good place to start is in the Church.The best place to start is with the Pastor…and then with others who serve the Church. Let's examine the second passage verse-by-verse…Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 6…

 

GALATIANS 6:6

The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

 

Martin Luther, the German reformer, hated teaching this passage. He said, "I don't find much pleasure in explaining this passage because it benefits the teacher. I don't like speaking for my own benefit." Well, the Lord wants teachers to speak for their own benefit.

 

Recently, I saw a message from a Pastor's son saying that Pastorsdon't need to be paid. He said they should work for their money like Paul did, making tents. This is absolutely NOT the Lord's viewpoint. First Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verses 12 and 13…

 

FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:12

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction…

 

FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:13

…and that you esteem them very highly in unconditional love because of their work.

 

First Timothy, Chapter 5, Verses 17 and 18…

 

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 5:17

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor…especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 5:18

For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing (treading out the grain)" and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

 

According to the Lord, those who preach the gospel should receive their living from preaching the gospel. "The workman is worthy of his hire" is a direct quote from Jesus in Luke, Chapter 10, Verse 7. Jesus thinks preaching the Word of God is a vocation…and since services are being rendered, they should be compensated.

 

Those who work deserve their pay, so adequate compensation for Pastors is fitting.

People don't expect something for nothing at Starbucks…but that same attitude doesn't apply to the Church and to a Pastor. There is an ethical and practical obligation to give when you are being taught the Word of God because you are giving to the work of the Lord. This thought is straight from the Lord.

 

Through Satanic inspiration, there is always an attack on the financial aspect of a ministry. Meeting in a building…having a budget…paying the Pastor and church staff…doing marketing…are realities in a ministry. They take money. Of course, some televangelistsabuse church finances, making it tough for everyone.

 

Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 7 now IN CONTEXT…

 

GALATIANS 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked…for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

When we give to a ministry and to a Pastor, we are sowing and reaping. When you sow finances…when you sow love…when you sow the gospel message…when you sow the Word of God into someone's heart…what is reaped? When do you see it?

 

Sowing is supporting the work of the Lord. Most of us want to sow and reap in the same day, but that's not what really happens. When it is time to reap the harvest from our sowing, we don't often connect the blessings of the harvest to our sowing because reaping may happen a year or two after the sowing.

 

Christians support the work of the Lord by sowing financial support, which helps the Pastor stay focused on his primary job…studying, teaching, and praying. God is not mocked. When you don't give, He notices. That's not a reason for guilt or a feeling of condemnation…it calls for you to adjust your thinking. Those who sow to help the Pastor financially are building their houses on the rock.

 

When you sow sparingly, you reap sparingly. When you sow abundantly, you reap abundantly. So in giving, think abundance, not scarcity Luke, Chapter 6, Verse 38…

 

LUKE 6:38

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return."

 

Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 8 now IN CONTEXT…

 

GALATIANS 6:8

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the

one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

In other words, Hosea, Chapter 8, Verse 7…

 

HOSEA 8:7

When you sow to the wind, you reap the tornado.

 

Investing only in yourself doesn't really fulfill the law of Christ. Take-take-take

doesn't really fulfill the law of Christ. Those who sow to selfishnessreap selfishness. Not sharing…not serving…is not productive.

 

The Lord wants us to deny self as He did…to pick up our crosses and follow Him.

When we sow to the Spirit, we reap the resurrection life Matthew, Chapter 16, Verse 25…

 

MATTHEW 16:25

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it…but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

 

Sowing to the Spirit is hard work…picking up your cross is hard work. It means overlooking offenses, forgiving, offering mercy, and tolerating things you don't want to tolerate…without fainting in the soul.

 

The hindrance to sowing to the Spirit is giving up Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 9…

 

GALATIANS 6:9

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time, we will reap if we do not grow

weary.

 

Giving without getting is hard. Yet we are to keep on being a blessing as God gives us opportunity Galatians, Chapter 6, Verse 10…

 

GALATIANS 6:10

So then, while we have the opportunity, let us believers in Christ do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (the family of believers).

 

So, in context, the first ten verses of Galatians Chapter 6 paint a picture of a spiritually mature Christian. The mature help carry the burdens of others…to all who are of the household of faith, but especially to Pastors so they can do the work God has called them to do without having to worry about every nuance of a ministry.

 

When we return from the break,we'll take the offering, and then we'll celebrate The Lord's Supper.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Whose Burden in the Church Needs the Most Bearing?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

A friend spends 0 a month at Starbucks. That's 00 a year. I'm not sure what Starbucks does with 00 a year, but ministries can provide the world with a lot of resources that invite people to salvation for a contribution like that.

 

As you evaluate your own approach to giving, it would be interesting to compare your investment in the world with your investment in the furtherance of God's work. However, evaluate without guiltbecause the Lord loves cheerful givers who give without coercion. Just consider your intention in the matter of giving to a ministry.

 

As the tax year ends, it's a great time to consider a tax-deductible contribution to Barah Ministries as we prepare to disseminate the gospel message in the face of the challenges of the coming year. Help us out!

 

Let's welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with one of his always inspiring offering messages.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:4

…do not merely look out for your own personal interests…but also LOOK OUT for the interests of others.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

THE LORD'S SUPPER CELEBRATION

Celebrating the Lord's Supper Brings Joy and Sorrow

 

Welcome to the Lord's Supper Celebration, Our God commands in Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 19…

 

LUKE 22:19c

"…keep on doing this Lord's Supper Celebrationin remembrance of Me."

 

The Lord's Supper gives us time to focus on our relationship with the Lord.

 

As we remember the Lord, let's relax… let's notice His very present influence in our lives…and let's reflect on the things He has done for us, especially His work on the Cross on our behalf.

 

Thinking about the Cross brings both joy and sorrow. We are joyful because of the benefit we have received from His sacrifice at the Cross. We are sorrowful that He had to experience the most humiliating death in human history to accomplish our "so great" salvation.

 

Writer and poet Kahlil Gibran…best known as the author of The Prophet…had this to say about joy and sorrow…

 

JOY AND SORROW

By Kahlil Gibran

 

Then, a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow." And he answered…

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked, And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be?"

 

JOY AND SORROW

By Kahlil Gibran

 

"The deeper sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven, And is not the lute that soothes your spirit wood that was hollowed with knives?"

 

JOY AND SORROW

By Kahlil Gibran

 

"When you are joyous, look deep into your heart, and you'll find that which has given you sorrow is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you'll see that you are weeping for that which has been your delight."

 

JOY AND SORROW

By Kahlil Gibran

 

"Some of you say, 'Joy is greater than sorrow,' and others say, 'Nay, sorrow is the greater.' But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together, they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. You are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy."

 

The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the most painful, most sinful, most

sorrowful act in the history of the world. Yet in Hebrews, Chapter 12, Verse 2, the

Lord encourages us to keep on…

 

HEBREWS 12:2

…fixing our eyes on Jesus…the pioneer and perfecter of faith…who for the JOY set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God the Father.

 

The Cross was sorrowful for Jesusbecause He was concerned for those who were crucifying Him…Luke, Chapter 23, Verse 34…

 

LUKE 23:34

(As He hung from the Cross)…Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them…for they do not know what they are doing."

 

As Christians, we are joyful because we have eternal life and a guarantee of future glory from Christ's work on the Cross. Yet we are sorrowful because there are many whom we love who are unbelievers. They have chosen the broad road that leads to destruction…eternity in the Lake of Fire…instead of the narrow way that leads to the resurrection life.

 

As we remember the Lord during the Lord's Supper Celebration, let's remember that we experience both sides of a coin…on the one side, joy…on the otherside, sorrow. Romans, Chapter 15, Verse 13…

 

ROMANS 15:13

Now may the God and Father of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of God the Holy Spirit.

 

When we are sorrowful, the Lord reminds us in Psalm 34, Verse 18…

 

PSALM 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

When we are sorrowful, perhaps because we are being persecuted, the Lord's half-brother encourages us in James, Chapter 1, Verses 2 and 3…

 

JAMES 1:2

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…

 

JAMES 1:3

…knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

 

We are grateful for the Lord's work on the Cross. It's our pleasure to take time to remember Him….and as we experience the joys and the sorrows of life, we are most joyful because of the Lord'spromise in Psalm 46, Verse 1…

 

PSALM 46:1

God is our refuge and strength…a very present help in times of trouble.

 

Let's remember so we don't forget.

 

THE LORD'S SUPPER CELEBRATION

Enjoying the Elements

 

Bread and wine.

 

The Lord gave us these things to remember Him. We will enjoy the elements together in a few moments as we listen to The Lord's Supper Song.

 

Matthew, Chapter 26, Verses 26 to 28, tells us the reason the Lord wants us to celebrate this meal together…

 

MATTHEW 26:26

While the apostles were eating, Jesus took some bread…and after a blessing, He

broke the bread, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take…eat…this is My body which is being broken for you."

 

MATTHEW 26:27

And when Jesus had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it…all of you…"

 

MATTHEW 26:28

“…for this is My blood…the blood of a new covenant…My blood…poured out for whosoever…for the forgiveness of sins.”

 

Jesus Christ died as our sin substitute…Jesus Christ is risen from the dead to prove His Deity…Jesus Christ will come again to gather His believers unto Himself.

 

Jesus forgives us once and for all time through His work on the Cross. We celebrate, and we are grateful. Enjoy the elements as we listen to June Murphy remind us to COUNT IT ALL JOY.

 

THE LORD'S SUPPER SONG

 

COUNT IT ALL JOY

June Murphy

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ's Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The closing moments of our lesson today could be the ten most important minutes of your life.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

Everyone listening to this message should know that the Lord Jesus Christ is Your Creator…John, Chapter 1, Verse 3…

 

JOHN 1:3

All things came into being through the Lord (God the Son)…and apart fromHim,

nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ loves you UNconditionally… First John, Chapter 4, Verse 8…

 

FIRST JOHN 4:8

The one who does not love unconditionally does not know the Lord, for the LordISunconditional love (in His very Being).

 

If you think those things are true, you have to conclude there is no reason for you to end up in the Lake of Fire, commonly referred to as hell, when you close your eyes in this life.

 

To go to heaven, you have to choose a relationship with Christ. God considers you to be a sinner from the moment of physical birth. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 1 says that from the moment of your physical birth…

 

EPHESIANS 2:1

…you were spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins…

 

Spiritually dead sinners need a Savior. The Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Lord sent this message to you…the gospel message…good news about His salvation offer…because He wants a relationship with you…First Timothy, Chapter 2, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:3

This is what'sgood and acceptable in the sight of the God who is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 2:4

…who desires all men to be saved and who desiresfor all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

There is something the Lord doesn't want for you…the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't want you to go to the Lake of Fire…Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9…

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of…instead, He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any of you to perish (in the Lake of Fire)…but for all of you to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

You will go to the Lake of Fire at physical death if you choose not to believe in Jesus Christ. To make a place for you in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ forgives all of your sins…Isaiah, Chapter 43, Verse 25…

 

ISAIAH 43:25

"I, even I (the Lord), am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake…and I will not remember your sins."

 

The apostle Paul describes the God who saves you…the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (the apostle Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the

gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

You don't have to work to be saved…in fact, you can't work to be saved… Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says…

 

ROMANS 11:6

But if salvation is by grace, and of course it is, it is no longer based on your works…otherwise grace is no longer grace.

 

This loving, forgiving, patient God offers you the chance to be saved as a free gift, and He wants to save you right this minute RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT, RIGHT NOW, you can tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the moment of eternal life for youActs, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

 

ACTS 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes."

 

So heed the warning and accept the invitation of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36

"He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him."

 

The Lord warns those who reject His salvation offer in Matthew, Chapter 25, Verse 41…

 

MATTHEW 25:41

"Then the Lord Jesus Christ will say to those on His left (unbelievers)… 'Depart from Me… accursed ones…into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…'"

 

Believe me…you never want to hear those words.

 

When you get to know Jesus Christ, you'll have no problem investing your faith in Him, both for your salvation and for everything else. Why? Because you'll know that the Sovereign God of the Universe wants a relationship with you, He loves you, and He died for you. Take advantage of His grace and choose to be saved RIGHT NOW!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's close with music. When we bear each other's burdens with gentleness, we demonstrate the unconditional love of our Lord. We take pleasure in knowing that the Lord loves us like He wants us to love…Unconditionally. Here's June Murphy to song one of the best songs ever written…sing from God's perspective…WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let's Sing the Lord's Praises

 

WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for enlightening us about Your viewpoint concerning how we ought to support Pastors financially…use this message to change the hearts of those who sow sparingly…open their spiritual eyes so they can see what you do with financial blessings, both for the giver and the receiver…

 

…teach us to be generous…help us to give and not to count the cost…help us to recognize through faith in Your promises that we always receive more than we give because that is just the way You work…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ's name...Amen.

 

DISCUSSING THE LESSON AND PRAYER CIRCLE

 

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Immediately Following this Lesson

 

GOT BIBLICAL QUESTIONS?

 

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pastor@barahministries.com

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD!

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

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