Introduction: Forgiveness is a choice! Do not wait for a feeling!! If you do, you probably will never fully forgive. But Praise the Lord for His forgiveness. In turn, He enables us to FORGIVE others. That is FREEDOM. Are you FREE? Follow these steps to FREEDOM:

1. First make it Right with the Lord! (Psa 139:23,24)

“23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.”

Truthfully, we need our Lord to do a thorough examination of our hearts to see if there is any hidden wrongs.
The Light reveals! (John 8:12; 1John 1:7)

“24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

God’s Amazing Grace empowers us!

2. Choose to Love & Forgive with the Love & Forgiveness of Jesus Christ! (Eph 4:32)

“32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Since we’ve been forgiven then we can forgive.

3. Then Go and get things Right with Others if possible! (Matt 5:23, 24)

“23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

First things first. Before leaving a gift at the altar, Jesus says we need to be reconciled to our brother. Have you done that?

Introduction: While salvation is free (Eph 2:8,9), discipleship is costly. According to Jesus, there is a cross involved. And it involves every follower of Him. By the way, a cross means DEATH – death to SELF!

1. Counting the Cost! An illustration of a King & a Builder (Luke 14:25-33)

“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hat not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

2. Rewards for following Jesus! (Mark 10:28-31)

“28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

3. The Choice is Ours! (John 6:66-69)

“66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Introduction: Whether you realize it or not you’ve developed a certain method of interpreting the Bible. Perhaps you have a study Bible with footnotes. Maybe you like certain teachers or preachers. Either way we all have adopted a way to unpack the Bible in a teachable and applicable way. It has been a great privilege to teach and preach the Word of God thousands and thousands of times throughout the last 40+ years. Yet, I’m still learning! Here are a few lessons that may help as you study and share God’s Truth to others.

1. When you read and teach on a passage of Scripture, there is an HISTORICAL meaning! (Ezra 7:10)

“Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

2. When you read and teach on a passage of Scripture, there is an GRAMMATICAL meaning! (2Tim 2:15)

“15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

3. When you read and teach on a passage of Scripture, there is a CONTEXTUAL meaning! (1Cor 10:1-6)

“1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”

6Now these things were our examples….”

4. When you read and teach on a passage of Scripture, there is a DOCTRINAL meaning! (1Tim 1:10;4:16;6:3

“For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

“3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.”

As you can see, Paul stressed the IMPORTANCE of “sound doctrine”….the RIGHT TEACHING.

5. When you read and teach on a passage of Scripture, there is a PRACTICAL meaning! (James 1:22)

“22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Comments:
1. Today most people go straight to the PRACTICAL meaning and skip over the rest. However, there is a DANGER in that. One can MISS the intended meaning of the text implied by the HOLY SPIRIT. Instead, the Bible for many has become a ME BOOK! What’s in it for ME! Instead, the Bible is a GOD BOOK!!

2. The Holy Spirit is the Key to INSPIRATION, and ILLUMINATION, and INTERPRETATION!
(1Cor 2:10; 2Tim 3:16,17)

“10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

“6All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Conclusion: Praise the Lord for your interest in studying and sharing the Word of God!

Lastly, Remember: As an old man fixing to depart, Peter writes,

“19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Introduction: What about the passage in Matthew 25? What is the correct interpretation? This is referred to as the “Judgment of the Nations.” Is this for us today? Did our Lord have Israel in mind? Can we draw application from the text? First, let’s discuss the identity of these individuals.

1. The Sheep on the right side!

“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt 25:33)

The sheep appear to be those Gentiles at the end of the tribulation that have treated the Jewish evangelists in a worthy manner. Consequently, Jesus commends them and invites them to join Him in the 1,000-year reign.

2. The Goats on the left side!

“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt 25:33)

The goats will be those Gentiles who have not treated the Lord Jesus’ “brethren” as they would Him. Consequently, they are sent to judgment.

3. The Jews in the middle!

“40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt 25:40)

These are servants (Jewish). It is life’s highest privilege to serve our Lord! Are you serving Him?

4. Jesus over all!

To the Sheep:

“34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt 25:34)

To the Goats:

“41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Only Jesus is the righteous judge. He knows what is best.

Introduction: Questions for CHRISTians: Please sit back and take this series of thought-provoking investigations. Answer these honestly. Then be sure to look up all the Scripture references.

1. Are you really saved?

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:9 -13)

Have you ever done this? When? Did you understand it? At 13 years of age I thought I understood it but really did not; consequently, I was not saved until the age of 21 years old where there was a real CHANGE!

2. Do you have assurance of your salvation?
(1John 5:11-13)

“11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Being saved is not based on our GOOD WORKS but rather on Jesus’s finished WORKS on the cross; furthermore, validating His sacrifice, He was raised from the dead. By God’s GRACE and FAITH we are forgiven of our sins.

3. Are you Serving the Lord with a Good Attitude?

“8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil 4:8)

In this cynical world, it is tempting to be cynical and negative.

4. Are you being a PEACE-Maker or a TROUBLE Maker?

“9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt 5:9)

When you know about a conflict, do you gossip or put the FIRE out?

5. Do you have a BAD ATTITUDE? Are you RESENTFUL? BITTER? Do you Forgive others who hurt you or offend you?

“32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4:32)

Let it Go! Forgiveness is a Choice!! Either we choose to forgive or hold on.

6. Do you watch or harbor ungodly things/thoughts?

“3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2Cor 10:3-5)

Are you saying NO to the Flesh and yes to the Spirit?

7. Are you being honest on your answers? Are you going to ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any blind spots?

Introduction: Jesus Christ is our ROCK! He Stands!! I Love the Song…”The Solid Rock.”

The chorus goes like this:

“On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.”

Paul writes, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1Cor 10:4)

Our only HOPE is in JESUS!
America’s only Hope is in Jesus.
Through His redeeming blood our sins are forgiven and we have an inherited home in heaven.
Do you have that?

2. The second stanza goes like this:

“In every rough and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the vale.
When all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.”

When the storm rages, Jesus is a sure anchor for the soul. Paul writes, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb 6:18-20)
The anchor holds!

3. The third stanza goes like this:

“Not earth, nor hell, my soul can move;
I rest upon unchanging love.
I trust his righteous character,
his counsel, promise, and his power.”

Paul writes, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:5) While the world is changing all the time, Jesus remains the same. That is our security.

4. The fourth stanza goes like this:

“When he shall come with trumpet sound,
oh, may I then in Him be found,
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.”

“16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thess 4:16-17)

The next time Jesus comes will be in the clouds of heaven. Tired of the down look? Try Looking up!

Introduction: What would Jesus say to New Rocky Creek Baptist Church? Consider with me today what Jesus said to the seven Churches after His resurrection from the dead.

1. Go Back! (Rev 2:4-8)

“4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent……..To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Ephesus was busy but backslidden. She had left her first love. Where do we stand?

2. Be Faithful! (Rev 2:10)

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Persecution and suffering was the experience of the Church of Smyrna. Are we being persecuted?

3. Guard Sound Doctrine! (Rev 2:14,15)

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

Evidently, teaching the Bible the correct way is important to Jesus. Do you guard against false teaching? Do you excuse it? Compromise because of convenience sake?

4. Hold fast! (Rev 2:25,26)

“25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:”

The Kingdom will come. Jesus – the King will rule. We will have a part in that Kingdom period. Can’t wait!

5. Wake up! (Rev 3:1,2)

“These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

The devil is rocking Churches to sleep. Are you asleep? Do you need to be spiritually awakened?

6. Open Up! (Rev 3:8-11)

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Walking through open doors is God’s will. Philadelphia was the mission-minded Church. No wonder the Lord opened doors for them. Are you watching for open doors of ministry opportunities? Or are you barely surviving?

7. Hot – Cold – or Lukewarm! (Rev 3:15)

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

When we live as if we don’t need Jesus, it makes Him sick. Are you on fire? Ice cold? Or Lukewarm?

Introduction: Why are we here on earth? What are your goals in life as a CHRISTian? After praying over these questions, here are some worthy lifelong goals as a believer in Jesus Christ.

1. Love Jesus! (Matt 22:37)

“37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Jesus said to believers in Ephesus the following:

“4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Rev 2:4,5)

When Jesus said we are to LOVE God, He meant with our total being – mind, will, and emotions….body, soul and spirit. Do you love the Lord? Does it show? Do you need to return to Him?

2. Live a life Pleasing to our God! (2Cor 5:9)

“9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

Paul writes to believers that our lifelong motives in serving and knowing Jesus is to be pleasing unto Him. This is not legalism but instead liberty as led by the Spirit. Is your life pleasing unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Do you need to make some changes?

3. Learn the Bible better and develop a biblical world view! (2Tim 3:14,16,17)

“14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Developing a biblical world view requires one to both read and know his or her bible. This includes from Genesis to Revelation, which declares truth or doctrine. Do you read, study, and apply the Scriptures to your life? Do you need to start? Take time. It will be well worth your time. Step back and watch how our Lord will give you opportunities to share His Word with others.

4. Lead others to Jesus! (2Cor 5:20,21)

“20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Sharing Jesus with others is a great privilege and joy! Don’t you want others – especially your family- to experience His great LOVE & liberating Forgiveness? Are you making the most of your opportunities? Why not start today?

1. When we get to go to the House of the Lord, it should make us GLAD! (Psa 122:1-3)

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 2Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.”

2. When we go to the House of the Lord it should make us MAD! (Psa 122:4,5)

“4Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. 5For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.”

Antisemitism is blatant in America. Several outspoken Muslim ladies in congress are adamantly opposed to Israel. There seems to be a hatred for the Jewish people. Do you resent God’s people? The Lord reminded Israel through Ezekiel’s writings.

3. When we go to the House of the Lord, it should make us SAD! (Ezek 122:6-9)

“6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”