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Memory Verse:

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods that your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

 

Commitment

I-Haggai 1:3-11-The problem (p. 973)

 A-V4-Which is more important?

 b-v5

 C-V6-11-Symptoms

 D-V12-Appropriate response- ____________

 E-2:18-19-Result

II-Promises

 A-Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10 (p. 687)

 B-Matthew 6:24, 33-Way of God’s provision

 C-Psalm 37:1-5 Your heart’s _____________

 D-Joshua 24:15-Choose THIS day (p. 278)

III-II Timothy 1:12-Challenge (p. 1238)

 A-Have you been suffering yet?

 B-Some are ashamed

 C-Whom-Personal

 D-Want to keep what you work for?

 E-It takes a commitment.

 Conclusion:

What are you going to commit to the Lord?

ANSWER: _____________________________

 

Commitment

I-Haggai 1:-11-The problem

 A-V4-Which is more important?

 b-v5

  1-V5-Consider-Think about it (Decide)

  2-YOUR ways have caused these problems

 C-V6-11-Symptoms

 D-V12-Appropriate response-Obey

 E-2:18-19-Result-Blessing from this day

II-Promises

 A-Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10

  1-V5-6-Not by own understanding

  2-V9-Invest in the Lord

  3-V10-So-In this way-How to be blessed

 B-Matthew 6:24, 33-Way of God’s provision

  1-V24-You can’t serve (work for) both

  2-V33-Must seek Kingdom first

 C-Psalm 37:1-5

  1-V1-2-Don’t worry about ungodly

  2-V3-How to be provided for by God

  3-V4-Everything your heart desires

  4-V5-Trust Him-He’ll do it

 D-Joshua 24:15-Choose THIS day

  1-This day

  2-Serve-Work for

   a-gods of this world

   b-The Lord

III-II Timothy 1:12-Challenge

 A-Have you been suffering yet?

 B-Some are ashamed

  1-Of their financial condition

  2-Of Jesus

 C-Whom-Personal

 D-Want to keep what you work for?

 E-It takes a commitment.

Conclusion:

What are you going to commit to the Lord?

(What would happen if someone became committed to developing one of these ministries?)

1-VBS

2-Christmas parade

3-Children’s after school clubhouse

4-Christ program

5-Visitation

6-Drama (Skits)

7-Easter program

8-Object lessons

9-Puppets

10-Phone ministry

Choir, Live music, Specials, Fun Day, Mortgage payoff, Shed, Façade, Yard improvement, Fix the back of the building, Junior church, dinner on the grounds,

 

The Two Covenants

I-V1-5-Personal contrast

 A-Written letters-Can be forged

 B-In hearts-personal proof

II-V6-4:6-Contrast of two covenants

 A-V6

  1-Law brought death

  2-Grace brings life

 B-V7

  1-Law was written in stone

  2-Grace is written in our hearts

 C-V8-11

  1-Law had temporary glory

  2-Grace has eternal weight of glory cf. 4:17

 D-V12 cf. 11:3-Make it plain and clear

 E-V13-15

  1-Veil over their heart

  2-Done away in Christ

 F-V16-Those who turn to Christ cf. I Corinthians 2:14

 G-V17-Diety of the Spirit

 H-V18-Our glory increases

III-4:1-7-How are they blinded

 A-V1-We give up

 B-V2-Complicating the truth

 C-V3-6-It is satan who blinds their eyes.

V-V4-7-How do we remove blindness?

 A-Our life

 B-Clarity of the gospel

 

 

What Can We Give to the King?

Matthew 2:1-11

I-Points to ponder

 A-V2-cf. Numbers 24:17 Why the understood about the star

 B-V3-Herod

  1-Died BC 4

  2-V7, 16-Star appeared two years earlier

 C-V1-Wisemen or kings? Psalm 72:10-Kings?

  1-V15-The gifts

   a-Gold

   b-Frankincense-For anointing and incense cf. Revelation 8:4

   c-Myrrh-For anointing, cleansing and burial

  2-V17-Emphsis on His name

   a-Jehovah-He is God the Father

   b-Yasha-He is the Savior and Keeper

 II-Observation-The gift- II Corinthians 4:7

 A-They gave-

  1-Study

  2-Commitment

  3-Associations

  4-Reputation

  5-Time

  6-Resources,

 B -What can we give?

  1-I Corinthians 4:7-What is really ours?

   a-Time

   b-Talent

   c-Material goods

   d-Energy

   e-Opportunity

   f-Faith

  2-Faithfulness (Choice)

   a-I Corinthians 4:1-2-Faithfulness

    (1) V1-We are ministers/stewards

    (2) V2-We are required to be faithful

   b-Service

    (1) Ephesians 4:7-8-Given gifts to all

    (2) Romans 12:3-6-Office

     (a) V3-Faith is a gift

     (b) V4-Gifts are offices

    (3) I Corinthians 12:4-7-Positions

     (a) Gifts

     (b) V5-Gifts are administrations

     (c) V6-Gifts are operations

     (d) V7-Given to every man

Challenge:

Determine to use what He has given to you for Him.

The Gift

I-Luke 18:16-Suffer little children.. (How kids come)

 A-It wasnt:

  1-Their commitment

  2-Their deep understanding

  3-Their innocence (Born in sin)

  4-Their works

  5-Their faithfulness-Enduring

 B-It WAS their FAITH

II-Romans 6:23-The gift

 A-Eternal life forever in heaven

 B-A false gift

  1-Bought gift (Like in a cereal box-Pay for gift by buying the cereal)

  2-Exchanged gift (Pay for the gift by giving something-like giving your heart and life)

 C-The true gift (Simply receive it)

III-John 1:12-How we receive it

 A-John 1:12 cf. I John 5:12-Life is in Him

 B-V12-Get Him by receiving Him

 C-Receive Him by believing

 D-Believing His name requires:

  1-We believe that He is God

  2-We believe He saves and keeps

 E-How? Seven steps

  1-Romans 3:23-All have sinned

  2-Romans 6:23-The payment for sin is death

  3-Matthew 5:48-You must be perfect to get to heaven

  4-Ephesaisn 3:8-9-There is nothing you can do to get to heaven

  5-Romans 5:8-Jesus died to pay for all of our sin

  6-John 3:16-We must trust His payment for salvation

  7-I John 5:13-You can know you are going to heaven

Matthew 2:1-18

The Eternity of Jesus

I-Matter of prophecy cf. Isaiah 48:3-5

 A-Gave it before it happened

 B-Verification of Scripture

II-Micah 5:2-This prophecy

 A-Daniel 9:25-26

  1-Time of Messiahs coming

  2-Must before 70 AD

  3-Who do you know of that was born in Bethlehem before 70 AD?

 B-Micah 5:2-Explanation

  1-He would be born in Bethlehem

  2-He would be from everlasting cf. Isaiah 9:6 Everlasting Father

 C-Application: Because He is Everlasting

  1-He is Omniscient (All knowing)

  2-He has foreknowledge

  3-He can have a plan for us

  4-He can execute judgment

  5-He can deliver (save) us from judgment

  6-He can have a  plan to save us

   a-He knew we would sin

   b-Sin would cause death and depravity (We are hopelessly lost)

   c-He knew the remedy for sin (The payment for sin is death)

   d-He knew only He could do it (Because He is sinless)

   e-He knew He would do it

   f-He knew He would be rejected

   g-He knew He would be crucified

   h-He knew He would be raised

   i-He knew we could not live eternally in a sinful mortal body

   j-He knew He would give His life

   g-He would give us a glorified body

Conclusion:

Because Jesus is eternal, we know that God had the knowledge, plan, resources, and inclination to save us, and that He did everything it takes to save us.

II Corinthians 2:12-17

 I-V12-13-Hindrance to the gospel

 A-V12-Open door

  1-Rrevelation 3:7-8-God opens the door

  2-I Corinthians 16:9-There are many adversaries

  3-I Peter 5:8-satan is our adversary

   a-V5-How he attacks

   b-Hebrews 13:17-Must submit to authority

 B-V13- Hinder ministry - I Thessalonians 2:18

  1-Through sin

  2-Through lack of forgiveness

  3-Through lack of submission to authority

II-V14-16-Triumphal entry

 A-Historic significance

 B-Two types of people

  1-Two times

   a-By our life

   b-By our death

  2-Two types  

   a-Glorify Gods grace Romans 9:22-23

   b-Glorify Gods power-Proverbs 14:4

III-V17-Dont corrupt Gods Word- 11:3

 A-Many corrupt

 B-Many are not sincere

II Corinthians 2:1-11

 

I-V1-5-Conditional immutability-Why God repents

 A-Two reasons

  1-For their sakes

  2-For his own sake

 B-Example of God (Jonah and salvation-removes judgment)

  1-For our sakes

  2-For His own character

 C-When conditions change-plans must change

  1-Example: Judges 11:30-35

   a-It was wrong to kill his daughter

   b-It was wrong to make such a vow

   c-He should have confessed his sin, then done what was right (Two wrongs don't make it right)

  2-Appliction: Be careful what you vow (promise-To be obedient to God you may have to go back on your word. Keeping your word when it was wrong make such a promise to begin with is nothing but sinful pride.

   a-James 5:12

   b-Matthew 5:35-37

   c-Matthew 12:36

II-V6-10-Forgive cf. I Corinthians 5:1-5

 A-Forgiveness is required

 B-Trust is earned

  1-Hebrews 13:17

  2-Romans 13:1-5

III-V11-satan gets advantage

 A-By getting us to condone sin

 B-By getting us not to forgive the penitent