1 Timothy 3: Take the Baton and Run!Heavy responsibility, heavenly backup.
Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES
Al Gleason Guest Teacher
Good morning!
Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact. My name is Al Gleason, and I will be teaching today. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had an amazing time eating and spending time with loved ones, or celebrating to the fullest the way you prefer to celebrate.
Thanks toPastor Rory Clark for sharing his pulpit, as it is always a privilege and an honorto do so. For those who are here, thanks for coming and to everyone else, thank you for listening to this Bible lesson!
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Take the Baton and Run!
LESSON INTRODUCTION
As many of you all know, I am a track guy. Part of my love for the sport is because you learn so many life lessonswhile competing. There is no other sport that challenges you physicallyand mentally the way the track does.
One of the most challenging races on the track is the 400 meter dash. It requires a unique combination of speed and endurance that few possess, and even fewer have the heart to do the work to be successful at it. As a result, it is an exciting race to watch. Get four of these athletes together, give them a baton and you have the 4 x 400 meter relay, one of the most exciting events to watch on the track.
Each runner has his own leg of the race to run, and the success of the team depends on everybody not only performing at their best but also completing the exchange – handing off the baton from one runner to the otherwhile getting around the track. The baton is small and lightweight in the hand, but it is heavy with responsibility and it’s an absolute requirement to win the race.
If the baton is dropped the race is compromised and you mightget disqualified. If you mishandle the baton you lose momentum and time, potentially costing you the race. When the baton is passed with precision and care the team keeps moving forward as fast as possible, advancing toward the ultimate goal of winning the race.
This is what we see Paul doing with Timothy.He's passing the baton, not in a race on the track, but in the race of sharing the truth of the gospel, the order of the church, and the character of its leaders. Paul expresses his plans to be with Timothy but says “just in case I can't make it, here's the baton.”
In today's lesson we will learn more about the baton Paul was passing and what means to be charged with“running the race that's set before us.”
OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION
Each one of us is in a race of purpose, faith, and endurance. The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy he’s been entrusted with the keys to the kingdom and the mystery of Godliness. That same charge has been passed to us.
This song, “There Is a Race,” captures that urgency. It reminds us that this life is not random. We are running toward something, and we’re called to run with our eyes fixed on Jesus, with both discipline and determination, no matter the cost. Let this song settle into your spirit as we prepare to dig into God’s Word and remember what it means to carry the baton with purpose. Let’s worship as we enjoy the song THERE IS A RACE by Jabu Hlongwane.
MUSIC OPENING SONG
THERE IS A RACE Jabu Hlongwane
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray…
Heavenly Father…we thank you for this moment to gather in Your presence. You are the Author and Finisher of our faith—the One who calls, equips, and sends us forward. Today, Lord, we ask that You prepare our hearts and minds to receive Your Word. Open our eyes to the race You’ve set before us. Help us to understand the weight of the truth You’ve entrusted us with, and how it is a calling that shapes how we live, lead, and love.
We pray for clarity as we study the Scriptures. Let every verse come alive and speak directly to the place we’re in, regardless of whether we’re tired, unsure, or ready to run. Stir up in us a holy commitment to pass on the truth with excellence, integrity, and grace. Just as Timothy received encouragement from Paul, may we leave here strengthened in our own race, holding the baton high and finishing well…
…we ask for these things through the power of God the Holy Spiritin Christ’s name… Amen.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Take the Baton and Run!
LESSON PART ONE
As a refresher, let’s do a quick review of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 before we get into the final few verses of this chapter. Verses 1-7 outline the qualifications for church leadership, focusing first on overseers (bishops and Pastors).
Paul opens by affirming the value of aspiring to leadership but immediately emphasizes the role requires high moral and spiritual standards. An overseer must be above reproach, faithful in marriage, self-controlled, hospitable, and able to teach. Leadership is not just about a public gift. It’s about private character. Paul highlights qualities like humility, sobriety, and integrity. Paul also stresses that a leader must manage hishousehold well, because how one leads at home reflects how they will lead in God’s house.
In verses 8 to 13, Paul turns to deacons, who support the work of overseers. Though their role may differ, their character qualifications are just as high. Deacons must be trustworthy, not greedy, and hold firmly to the truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
Paul includes women (likely deaconesses) and calls for them to be worthy of respect, not slanderers, but sober-minded and faithful in all things. The emphasis throughout is that leadership in the church is about servanthood, stewardship, and spiritual maturity. Those who serve well gain respect and deeper confidence in their faith, not just because of what they do, but because of how they live.
During those lessons, we studied scripture that confirmed that these requirements are the same for all Christians as well. We learned the importance of not only having a sincere heart but also finding the truth to ensure we are on the correct path. We encountered an illustration of why it is critically important to focus on our main responsibility and not let the blinking light distractions crash us like it did Eastern Air Lines Flight 401.
We now understand that spiritual leadership we are called to is like a weighted vest, requiring discipline, strength, and consistency, with the reward of getting stronger, being protected, and being prepared for the times we are called to fulfill our assignment. Lastly, we learned the importance of not letting cultural norms creep in because even when they seem like great ideas on the surface, their core mission is to oppose God’s plan for us and will lead to our destruction. Satan’s tactics have not changed.
Let’s hear the last verses in First Timothy, Chapter 3, then we will study them in detail when we return from the break. In conclusion, Paul writes this:
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long…
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:15 …but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth..
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:16 Beyond question, great is the mystery of godliness:He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory..
Paul expresses why he sent this letter to Timothy, and introduces the thought that this informationis important because it's foundational in support of the truth. Paul also introduces the concept of godliness being a mystery whose understanding has been entrustedto Paul and now Timothy. When we return from the break, we will study these verses and bring understanding to the mystery of which Paul is speaking.
Take a ten-minutebreak.
TEN-MINUTE BREAK
NOBODY Casting Crowns
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Take the Baton and Run!
OFFERING INTRODUCTION
Just as a runner trains hard and prepares intentionally to finish a race strong, giving is part of our spiritual discipline and endurance. Second Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verses 6 to 8 remind us that we reap in proportion to how we sow. A sprinter doesn’t win by half-effort, and neither do we run the race of faith by holding back generosity.
Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with another inspiring offering message.
THE OFFERING
Denny Goodall
OFFERING VERSE
FIRST CORINTHIANS 9:27 …but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
OFFERING SONG
YOU ARE GOOD Israel & New Breed
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON Take the Baton and Run!
LESSON PART TWO
Welcome back!
Now let’s studyFirst Timothy, Chapter3, Verses 14 to 16. As we study, let’s keep three things in mind like we did in the other lessons of First Timothy:
KEEP IN MIND THREE THINGS
1 What was happening in the church at Ephesus at the time
2 Why Paul wrote the letter the way he did
3 How the letter applies to us today
First Timothy,Chapter 3, Verse 14…
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long...
When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, his intention was to visit Timothy and to teach him the things that he wrote in this letter. Given the existing climate, Paul was concerned that he might be delayed and not able to visit Timothy as soon as he would like. Paul felt an urgency to get the information to Timothyso he wrote the letter and sent it ahead.
We know there was a serious spiritual battle taking place during this time. Paul had been put in jail and had to fight for his life on several occasions. He was keenly aware that he might not make it back to Timothy.
To ensure Timothy got the message, Paul sent it ahead. It reminds us that we should be aware of spiritual battles taking place even though we might not be able to see them. We have prayed and not received answers yet. In some cases, it could be because of spiritual warfare. Daniel had been fasting twenty-one days asking God for answers. Let’s hear Daniel, Chapter 10, Verse 12 and 13…
DANIEL 10:12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
DANIEL 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel did everything he knew to do, and the answer to his prayer was delayed. The forces of Satan tried the “kill, steal, and destroy” tactic he always uses. One of God’s warriors had to intervene to get the message through to Daniel.
Believers in Christ have His power on our side, but the battle is still the same. Don’t let the illusion of peace and the current cultural narratives deceive you. Let’s hear a familiar scripture for many of you…Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 12…
EPHESIANS 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
According to the Lord, the spiritual battle is real.
Let’s study the next verse in First Timothy, Chapter 3…Verse 15…
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:15 …but in case I (Paul) am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth..
Paul expresses the need for Timothy to understand what he has written is the truth and is critical for the church to function properly. The church is the household of God, and we need to know how the family is supposed to operate. Paul is reiterating that God’s church is a family and that it should be treated as such. Sinners (unbelievers) who accept Jesus as Lord are born again into the family of God.
Also, Paul expresses that the church of the living God is a pillar and support of the truth, meaning the people of the church…the saints…those who have received salvation, are the pillars of the truth. If you recall, the temple of Diana was known for all of the pillars it had supporting it. It is believed Paul used this analogy because he knew the people of Ephesus would understand and see a very clear picture in their minds.
The people of God, who form the household of God, support the truth. If the people don’t have God’s truth it will not be supported in that location. Paul is expressing the seriousness of making sure the truth is taught and that God’s house in Ephesus be put in order.
The main truth to which the church must bear witness is the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Without it, all of us are lost. Attempting to build on something other than this truth will not prove successful. Let’s hear a couple of scriptures that illustrate this.John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to the doubting apostle Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…and no one comes to God the Father in heaven except through believing in Me.
Paul expounds on this in First Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verse 9 to 15…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me (Paul), like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.
FIRST CORINTHAINS 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones or wood, hay, or straw,
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:13 …each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as if through fire.
There will be evidence of God’s truth based on the way we live our lives. If we build on the truth God has given us, people will see it. How we choose to spend our time, how we interact with others, and what we do when we face challenges are examples of our work that can be seen and that will be tested with fire by God. If we do quality work and if we use quality materials, we will be rewarded. If not, we will lose the opportunity to be rewarded and we will suffer loss. It’s important to note here that even though our work will be judged by God, it does not affect salvation. WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS! This passage indicates that we are saved TO work…we are not saved BY work.
A successful track team requires a coach, an overseer, to understand what it takes for the athletes and the team to be successful. Even though some believe they can do it on their own, that is far from the truth. Like Paul trained Timothy, a coach trains the athlete on the team. Success requires a structure on how things are done, a plan to be successful, certain standards that must be met, and a submission to authority to make sure things go as planned. Laying a foundation of training that can be built upon so the team can handle the challenges of performing at a high level at the championship time of the season is critical.
In the same way, believers in Christ must follow God’s lead and build on the foundation of truth that He has given us so wereceive the available reward!
At times we may feel like we know what we are doing because of our accumulated wisdom and knowledge. We might say to ourselves, “It doesn’t have to be done like that”or “I just want to do it my way.” God blesses you with free will, so you can feel that way and do things however you like. But if your way differs from God’s plan, Paul has a message for you…First Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verses 18 to 20…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:18 Take care that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written: “He is the one who catches the wise by their craftiness…”
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:20 …and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.”
Do you remember being a kid and trying to beat your mother or father at something, but you could never win? Or maybe you were fighting against your older brother or sister, and they got the best of you every time? Well, trying to outsmart God is that experience on steroids, infinity times infinity. There is no way we can outsmart, outmatch, or outwit our omniscient, omnipresent God no matter what we do or how hard we try. We are so ignorant that doing it His way seems foolish to us, but becoming a fool then is what is required to live the highest-level life.
Here are a couple examples. Our wisdom may tell us that if we want more, we need to hold on to more. The prevailing thought, especially if you don’t have much is, “Get all you can, and can all you get.” God's wisdom says if you want more, you must give away what you have (planting), so it can grow and produce more. We would never think giving away something would produce more of something. There are multiple examples in the Bible that illustrates this point of seed time and harvest time.
To further prove how ignorant we are to real wisdom, God shows that when following His wisdom, consumption will lead to more production. Some of you are thinking right now, this fool is crazy….what is he talking about?In what world does consumption lead to more? I'm talking about the wisdom of God!When you eat an apple, you eat the “meat” of the apple to fill your belly. When consuming it, you expose a prize God hid for you inside. Seeds. Cracker Jack did not come up with the idea to have a prize hidden inside. They stole it from God!
What is the part we don't eat? The seed, right? To expose the seed the apple must be consumed. On average, an apple has 5 seeds. You take those seeds and give it away, or plant it in the ground, and it will produce what? Yes it will produce more apples, but not just more apples. It will produce apple trees that will produce more apples. Consuming one apple will produce multiple trees that produce only God knows how many apples. Robert Schuller was an evangelist that has a quote, “Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed.” How can we possibly know how many apples will be produced from one seed? This cycle of consumption leading to production continues to produce more than anyone could ever imagine.
Man’s wisdom is limited. We see that there are only so many apples, so we make a pie then fight with each other to get our piece! Since God has this type of wisdom to ensure we can eat, how deep do His plans go related to all of the other aspects of our life? It is beyond our ability to comprehend. This is why God says our wisdom is useless.
The truth of God and the wisdom of God is equivalent to the Word of God. If we live our lives by the Word of God, we will operate in the wisdom of God. There is no way to separate the truth from God's wisdom. Luke, Chaptear 11, Verse 49…
LUKE 11:49 For this reason also, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill, and some they will persecute,
Jesus is referring to scripture as He is rebuking lawyers that consider themselves to have it together. Let’s read John Chapter 1, Verse 1…
JOHN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
God and His Word are all one.There is no separation. Build your life on the word of God and you will build your life on the wisdom of God.
In First Timothy, Chapter 3, Verse 16, Paul proclaims without question, godliness is a great mystery. Let’s read the verse.
FIRST TIMOTHY 3:16 Beyond question, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
With what we do understand it is still challenging to comprehend or understand whyGod took on human form and walked among men. John, Chapter 1, Verse 14…
JOHN 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And why did He come down? Let’s hear John, Chapter 3, Verse 16.
JOHN 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
God sent His son Jesus to die for the world, to redeem us and to give us the opportunity for eternal life. This mystery was revealed to us by God, not something that man discovered. In his letter to the Romans, Chapter 16, Verses 25 and 26, Paul said it like this:
ROMANS 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…
ROMANS 16:26 …but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
God is able to establish you through the revelation of Jesus Christ dying for your sins and giving you the opportunity to receive salvation. In times past it was a secret, but now that God has deemed it the proper time, it has been revealed. Throughout history, the people of God were looking to the day when God would establish his kingdom. They thought it would be like other earthly kingdoms, but it was completely different. His kingdom is based on His grace and eternal life. It’s another example of how God’s wisdom is higher than ours.
Jesus was vindicated in the spirit. This happened in two major ways. Jesus performed miracles on a regular basis. He demonstrated compassion for us in every area of life. Let's examine a few examples. John, Chapter 2, Verses 3 to 7…
JOHN 2:3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”
JOHN 2:4 And Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.”
JOHN 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”
JOHN 2:7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.
Later Jesus told them to draw some out and take it to the head waiter. We he tasted the water, it had turned to the best wine. This miracle is significant because it showed Jesus’s love for His Mom, and His willingness to submit to her even though He was God in the flesh. It also demonstrates that Jesus is concerned with events pertaining to our daily life. This wasn't a situation where someone’s life was at stake, or their health was at risk. Jesus performed a miracle to make sure they could celebrate to the fullest. Let’s look at a miracle Jesus performed in Matthew Chapter 8, Verses 23 and 24...
MATTHEW 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
MATTHEW 8:24 And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
The scripture says that it was a violent storm on the sea. The boat was being covered by the waves, but Jesus has so much peace that the circumstances He was in did not affect what He was trying to do, which was sleep.Jesus had so much confidence that God had Him, that He was protected, that the storm didn’t bother Him at all. I have been on a big cruise ship when a violent storm (hurricane) was over 100 miles away. It made that boat rock so much that dishes were falling off the shelf and water was running out of the pools. The water was not covered in waves, but it was definitely not the ideal sleeping conditions. Jessus’ peace in that moment was absolutely next level.Matthew, Chapter 8, Verse 25…
MATTHEW 8:25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”
In that moment, they didn’t realize who they were on the boat with or they forgot. Apparently, they should not have been afraid because they were with Jesus. I believe He was frustrated that they woke him up and His response was a rebuke.Matthew, Chapter 8, Verse 26…
MATTHEW 8:26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and they became perfectly calm.
This miracle demonstrated that even nature was subject to the authority of Jesus. There is never any reason to be afraid if you are with Him.
There's the next miracle was when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Despite what it looked like to people, He wanted to demonstrate that He was with God and that He had power even over death. Let’s hear John, Chapter 11, Verses 40 to 43...
JOHN 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
JOHN 11:41 So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me”
JOHN 11:42 “But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
JOHN 11:43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Lazarus came out of the tomb still bound with hand and foot wrappings and his face covered as well. In this passage Jesus demonstrated that He was with God, that God heard and responded to His prayers, and that He had authority over death.
This continued with His own resurrection that was proclaimed by the angels. Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 4 to 6…
LUKE 24:4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing;
LUKE 24:5 …and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead?
LUKE 24:6a He is not here, but He has risen.
The wisdom of God orchestrated all these events to bring us to the place we are in today. It happened while He walked the planet and it continues today. Jesus is proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and is He is glorious. Now we can proudly and boldly say according to Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10…
ROMANS 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…
ROMANS 10:10 …for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
God’s plan to redeem man took time, and it was a process. We could not see, or understand what the ultimate plan was, but God always knew. Following God’s plan, we are running a race with rewards attached. Here are my favorites that keep me encouraged…Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verse 31…
ISAIAH 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
Second Timothy, Chapter 4, Verse 7…
SECOND TIMOTHY 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…
Hebrews, Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2…
HEBREW 12:1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,
HEBREWS 12:2 …looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the 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 key to successfully running our race is focusing on our purpose. Remember that we're not just running aimlessly, but we're in a race that's been marked out by God Himself. We are encouraged to get rid of any distractions and to persevere in our race. The main key is that we can do it by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who not only designed the race, but we'll make sure we finish it. He demonstrated how to run a race with perfection and finish it. When you get weary or discouraged, remember the joy that is on the side. He carried the weight so that it would be possible for us finish strong.
Run your race, finish strong, receive your rewards!
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
The closing moments of this lesson could be the ten most important minutes of your life. You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life. We want you to know that…
GOD WANTS YOU! He Wants You to Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life
…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.
God wants a RELATIONSHIP with you! The Lord’s half-brother says in James, Chapter 4, Verse 8…
JAMES 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
The enemy of God, Satan wants you to be part of a RELIGION. Religion is Satan’s strategy against the human race and it is designed to make you indifferent or antagonistic to God. It works! The Bible describes religion in Second Timothy, Chapter 3, Verse 5 as…
SECOND TIMOTHY 3:5 …a superficial form of godliness (a counterfeit to Christianity)… that denies godliness’ divine power…
You have a choice…relationship or religion…what’s your choice?
Religion can’t get you to heaven! Religions propose that if you don’t do everything their “god” expects, the god will be disappointed. Regardless of your best efforts to follow religious rituals, the religion does not GUARANTEE you will get to heaven.
In Matthew, Chapter 23, Verses 27 and 28, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself expresses his disdain for religion…
MATTHEW 23:27 “Woe to you (religious) scribes and Pharisees…you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs…which on the outside appear beautiful…but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
MATTHEW 23:28 “Outwardly youappear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (you are unrighteous unbelievers).”
The Bible is a gift from God that introduces you to the possibility of a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 12 describes the power of Scripture…
HEBREWS 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…and it’s piercing…even as far as the division of soul and spirit…of both joints and marrow…and it is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God’s plan is to teach you the truth about how to have a relationship with Him through the Bible. Satan’s plan is to teach you lies that obscure the truth of the Bible.
What happens when you close your eyes in this life? If you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, counting on Him to save you, good things happen. If are counting on religion to save you, bad things happen.
The Bible makes it clear that salvation is a gift that we receive through faith. Let read a few scriptures that illustrate this…Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…
EPHESIANS 2:9 …not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 5…
TITUS 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Romans, Chapter 3, Verses 23 and 24…
ROMANS 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
ROMANS 3:24 …being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…
No matter how much work you do, you can’t work your way into heaven and be able to brag.
The requirement to get saved is simple. Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…
ACTS 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes."
Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10…
ROMANS 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…
ROMANS 10:10 …for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
It is as simple as making a decision and having faith that God will do the rest. We cannot do it on our own.
When you die it is heaven or the Lake of Fire for all eternity? You get to make the choice where you spend eternity. Relationship or religion? What’s your choice?
God wants a relationship with you because He doesn’t want ANYONE to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…
SECOND PETER 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvationas 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).
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION
As we close today, I want to remind you of something simple but powerful: God doesn’t change. The same God who gave Timothy courage, who helped Paul endure prison, who raised up leaders in Ephesus, and who saw the early church through chaos and persecution, that’s the same God walking with you today. Whatever pressure you’re under… whatever weight you’re carrying… whatever race you’re running…if He did it before, He can do it again. So don’t lose heart. Don’t give up. Don’t let fear or fatigue make you forget who’s in your corner. Because He’s the same God yesterday, today, and forever—and He’s not done writing your story.
Let’s declare it together: “Same God!”
MUSIC CLOSING SONG
IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD Tye Tribbett
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
Heavenly Father… …thank you for the word You’ve given us today. Thank you for the reminder that we are in a race that’s not for popularity, not for power, but for purpose. Lord, help us strip off the distractions, the sins, and the weights that slow us down. Teach us to run with endurance, to walk in integrity, and to carry the hidden weight of responsibility, the vest, with humility and strength.
Thank you for Jesus for being our example, our strength, and our reward. When we feel weary, remind us of the joy that lies ahead. When the weight feels too heavy, remind us that You carried the Cross for us and You’re still carrying us now. Let our eyes stay fixed on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
As we leave this place, don’t let this Word leave our hearts. Let it transform how we live, how we lead, and how we love. Make us ready, Lord. Not just to start the race, but to finish it well.
…we ask these things through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please make it a habit to listen to the announcements. They are posted separately. Keep current on the things going on and coming up in Barah Ministries.
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KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!
Thanks for coming! Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!
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