CENTRAL THOUGHTEvery believer has an anointing from the Lord. TEXT: MARK 6:12-14; 1 JOHN 2:20-27; JAMES 5:12-16 INTRODUCTION:It is commonplace for television announcements to invite people to “anointing services”. It does not seem to matter if it was a “mainline” denominational church or one of those that had broken off of the “mainline” and called themselves “non-denominational” or “inter-denominational”. This practice with the oil bottle seemed to be there. Sometimes we hear it being referred to as an “insurance for the month”, “insurance against the devil”, etc. Some teachers have even gone so far as to regard anointing oil as the Holy Spirit “in the bottle”!The Scriptures inform us that God’s people could perish for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). Besides, the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, (Pro. 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.It is the responsibility of the individual who has come to the Lord to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. From Scriptural examples, it is obvious that believers will gain entry into heaven on an individual basis, never as groups or as denominations. “Remember Lot’s wife”, the Lord Jesus reminded us. The two thieves on the cross could...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTBe self-controlled and alert. TEXT: 1 PETER 5:6-9; 2 PETER 1:5-11; REV. 22:12- 15 INTRODUCTION:We continue in our study of lack of self-control today by following on its manifestations in the church, itsconsequences, and the rewards of self-control. LESSON OBJECTIVES To identify the manifestations of lack of self-control in the churchtoday To identify the consequences of lack of self-control To understand the rewards of self-control To know how to grow in self-control BIBLE TRUTH:QUESTION 1) HOW DOES LACK OF SELFCONTROL MANIFEST IN THE CHURCH TODAY?A. LAWLESSNESS IN LEADERSHIP:Some Christian leaders are accountable to no one for their actions including the use of church resources. Some feel at liberty to dip their hands into the church account without respect for laid down procedures and thereby bring curse upon themselves like Eli’s sons. Every leader is a servant accountable first to God and then the people he/she leads.Lawlessness among leaders also extends to their relationship with the opposite sex. Some ministers areinvolved in various immoral acts with staff and members of their congregation without any sense of remorse or guilt.This type of behavior destroys the integrity of the minister and, in some instances, has ruined some congregations.Leaders must also avoid having a “know-it-all” attitude in order to see the other...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTWe must each grow in the fruit of self-control (self-restraint, continence) daily. TEXT: GAL. 5:22; 2 PETER 1:5-6; 1 TIM. 4:1-5; 2 TIM. 3:1-5 INTRODUCTION:God made man a rational being with free will, unlike theanimals that are controlled by their instincts and bodilydesires. God built into man a capacity to make choices andthus regulate his thoughts, words, and actions. It was lackof self-control that led to the fall of man. The devil, byarousing lust of the eyes and the pride of life, made man eatthe forbidden fruit and brought death upon man.An ever-worsening lack of self-control is one of the signsof the end times (2 Tim. 3:1-3). It reflects how distant theworld has moved from obeying God. We do not need tolook far to see its manifestations: fornication, adultery,corruption in and out of government, hypocrisy in thechurch, and so on. The purpose of this study is to highlightthis malady and help us escape its ominous consequences. LESSON OBJECTIVES To understand what lack of self-control means To understand the cause of lack of self-control To understand why lack of self-control is prevalent today BIBLE TRUTH:QUESTION 1) WHAT IS LACK OF SELF-CONTROL?The oxford dictionary defines self-control as control overoneself, temper, emotions, and desires; self restraint, selfcommand. For us Christians, self-control...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTHe that begets a wise child shall have joy from him TEXT: EXO. 2:1-10; PS. 144:11-12; EPH. 6:4 INTRODUCTION:The child Moses was born in what could be described as “perilous times”. An order had gone out from Pharaoh, that all male children born to the Hebrew women were to be killed. Moses’ mother looked at her child and loved him. She saw, by faith, the potential in him for greatness and decided to take a stand (Heb. 11:23). Contrary to the king’s command that every child should be thrown into the river, she devised a rescue plan for her child. She laid him in a protective ark (or boat) and put it in the river, trusting that God would somehow deliver him. God heard her prayers, honored her faith, and did above all that she could ask or think (Eph. 3:20). Her baby was lifted from being the condemned child of a Hebrew slave to become a son of the palace. These days in which we live can equally be described as “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1-5). All the criteria listed by Paul in the above passages are very much with us today. There is much physical and spiritual danger in today’s world, and those who are young...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHT The Christian must be a true reflection of Christ. TEXT: TITUS 2:1-10 INTRODUCTION: As soon as a person acknowledges his sinful condition, repents, and forsakes his sins and turns to Christ by receiving Him as Lord and personal Savior, from that moment be becomes born again. He has been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God. Such a person is a new creature in Christ. Therefore, he is expected to manifest the nature and attributes of Christ in all areas of life and in his daily living. All these qualities make him stand out distinctly wherever he finds himself. In this study, we shall be looking at some of the godly qualities that God expects from His children. LESSON OBJECTIVES To explain what “A New Creature” means; Highlight and discuss what makes a Christian man worthy of respect; Identify the qualities expected of a Christian woman; Identify and explain the qualities the older women should teach the younger women and how this should be done; Discuss how youth should behave and; Comment on the qualities of a Christian servant from the Scripture BIBLE TRUTH: QUESTION 1A) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “A NEW CREATURE”?When the unregenerate man repents from his...
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