Church Construction 2013

May 2013 - Planting the Garden

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THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS CAREER, January 10th, 2021

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THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS CAREER, January 10th, 2021

CENTRAL THOUGHTBelievers should glorify God in their professions. HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD TEXT: Gen. 4:1-7, Matt. 4:17-19, Acts 5:24-39 INTRODUCTIONLife is full of activities and these give a living human being opportunity to express his/her desires in life and make his/her contribution to promote peaceful co-existence between man and man.Whatever activity one engages one’s self depends absolutely on one’s choice. The impact of different activities on other human beings should be considered when choices are made. As Christians, we should understand that our activities do not impact on our fellow human beings only, but God shares the impact of our activities. “… For thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11).Psalm 149 verse 4 says, “For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people”. God is interested in what we do and how we conduct our lives. He has a destiny for each and every one of us and we must not play down on God’s desire concerning us as His children. This we should seek out in the pursuit of any career we may choose.This study is aimed at considering seriously, how our chosen career affects our relationship with God, and our fellow human being. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are:1.To give the definition of a career2.To know how to choose a career3.To identify the careers a Christian should pursue4.To know the dangers in choosing a wrong career.5.To understand the relationship between our career and our Christian witness. BIBLE TRUTHQ1 WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM CAREER? Eccl. 9:10, Rom. 12:11The English Oxford Dictionary defines career as a profession or occupation that one undertakes for a substantial period of one’s life. In addition, we can say that a career is an activity that one engages one’s self by choice for a greater period of one’s life; for example, Teaching, Medical and Legal Practice, Carpentry, Tailoring etc.A career is not a duty or profession forced on one by another. People who, as a result of pressure from other persons or circumstances of life, engage in a profession or occupation cannot be said to be pursuing a career. Activities engaged in to fill up some gaps is not a career. A life ambition can be realized through the pursuit of a career. A career, when fully realized produces pleasure, satisfaction and fulfillment in life.David one of the greatest Kings in Israel had a career in his early life i.e. keeping and tending sheep. He was so involved in this business that he almost missed the opportunity of becoming a King in Israel, but for God’s intervention.His experience as a shepherd influenced his lifestyle in his reign as a King when he, in Psalm 23 declared “The Lord is my shepherd…”. A career can affect one’s lifestyle positively or negatively, so it matters a lot the type of career a Christian should pursue. Q2. HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN CHOOSE A CARRER? 1 Kings 3:7-9, 1 Sam, 30:8, 2 Sam. 2:1In John 15:5, Jesus said “…without me ye can do nothing”. Before a Christian decides to choose a career, he/she should enquire from the Lord. In other words, the place of prayer should not be undermined in the choice of a career. King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7-9 acknowledged his inability to handle the affairs of the...

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A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE, Jan 3rd, 2021

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A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE, Jan 3rd, 2021

CENTRAL THOUGHTAbiding in the Vine results in fruitfulness (John 15:5). HYMN: FADING AWAY LIKE THE SUN OF THE MORNING. INTRODUCTION: In our society, much emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual well-being is even more important. The society also places undue emphasis on material acquisitions, positions, titles, and appearance in assessing the individual.But the God we serve “…. Seeth not as man seeth…. But looketh on the heart” ( 1 Samuel 16:7). Therefore, those the world regard as VIP’s or “significant” may not necessarily be seen as such by our Righteous God.God has a plan and purpose for everyone’s life; which can only be actualized in Christ Jesus. God’s perfect will is that those “who believe and know the truth” should individually (and collectively) live a life of significance that will impact their day, the time and world. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are:1.To understand the phrase “a life of significance”.2.To appreciate God’s provision for our lives to be significant.3.To comprehend how we can make our lives significant. BIBLE TRUTHQ1. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE PHRASE “A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE?”The word significance means the importance of something, especially when it has an effect on what happens in the future; it is something that is large enough to have an effect or to be noticed i.e. notable and valuable. A life of significance will therefore mean a life that has been spent meaningfully to the extent/effect that other people are positively affected. It is a life that cannot be overlooked but must be noticed for its remarkable positive influence in any of these- family, neighborhood, church, workplace, society and his/her generation as a whole. It also includes a life that is carefully lived with eternity in view i.e. with the consciousness and caution in his/her daily dealings, because of the hope of heaven. Q2A. WHAT IS GOD’S PROVISION FOR OUR LIFE TO BE SIGNIFICANT? Gen. 1:26-30, 2:19-20, Ps. 8:3-8, John 1:10-12, 3:16, 2 Cor. 5:17From creation God’s purpose was for man to be significant (Ps. 139:1-16), man was made wonderfully complex, just a littlelower than the heavenly beings (Ps. 8:5). God made man in His ownimage like himself and endowed Him with wisdom and authority to dominate. Man was made with an unequalled intelligence to animals; man exercised/exacted this authority from his creation when he was made and commanded to dominate (Gen. 2:19-20; Ps. 8:3-8). God gave man authority to rule and be in charge of all creatures and by this same authority man was enabled to control every spirit being, including powers of the air, those on the land and those on the water. However, due to the fall of man, man lost this place of authority. God in restoring this authority and fellowship back to man, offered man His redemptive grace which is accessible only to those that come to Him and accept Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior; by accepting Christ they have put off the old man and are an entirely new man in Christ Jesus. As new man in Christ, God has empowered each and every child of His to live significant lives on earth and to affect and influence men positively for Him. Moreover, as a believer in Christ, Scripture has it that all things are possible with him,...

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BELIEVING IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST, December 27th, 2020

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BELIEVING IN THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST, December 27th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHTThe Christian who is looking forward to Christ’s return will live a consistent holy life. HYMN: THERE IS A LAND THAT IS FAIRER THAN DAY TEXT: 2 Timothy 3 and 4(Reading Text: 2 Timothy 3:1-9) INTRODUCTIONThe second coming or the Imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a subject not many are talking about today even within Christendom. The Church of today is so preoccupied with materialism, and worldliness has gradually crept into the church. The Church of God is no longer seeing itself as a pilgrim, who should dwell in tent and not permanent structure, whose mission is primarily to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. Many Christians are no longer conscious of the fact that they are stewards, told to occupy for an undefined period, whose Master could return at any time with His reward. Only in few churches do we have messages on the end time and the second coming of our Lord. Even in the Church many are not overly enthusiastic of Christ’s return. Yet the fact remains that this blessed hope of the church will take place. If we believe in our Lord’s soon return, we must determine to live a life pleasing to Him. LESSON OBJECTIVES1.) To let believers, know that this blessed hope of Christ return will take place.2.) To appreciate God’s willingness for all to be saved.3.) To challenge the believer to live a consistent holy like in anticipation of Christ’s return. BIBLE TRUTHQ1. IS IT TRUE THAT CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN?In spite of all doubts and unbelief of the mockers. In spite of all the “apparent delay”, the day of the Lord will come. The coming of the Lord is very fundamental and central to our belief. In the Nicene creed, which is part of our article of faith, we affirm that our Lord Jesus Christ will come again to judge both the living and the dead. Christ was very emphatic that He will come again and illustrated with many parables to buttress this Truth, (see Matt. 24 & 25). To emphasize the suddenness of the event, Peter, like Paul and the Lord said it would come like a thief (Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 16:15). All prophesies concerning Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection have been fulfilled, what is yet to be fulfilled is the prophesy on His return. If all other prophecies could not be stopped or hindered, then certainly nothing will hinder the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning His return. Q2. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE “APPARENT DELAY”?The mockers in Scripture, who denied that Jesus will come again, asked, “where is the promise of His coming”. (2 Peter 3:3, 4). They argued that “since the fathers fell asleep” was a long time and that all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation, and Jesus had not yet come, they then suppose He would never return. The problem with the mockers was that they were looking at time from the standpoint of their own short lives, not realizing the fact that with the LORD a day is as 1000years and 1000 years as a day. Hence some speculate that God is in an eternal “Now”. The implication of this is that God does not...

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IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS, December 20th, 2020

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IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THANKS, December 20th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHTThanksgiving is appreciating GOD for His blessings. HYMN: PRAISE MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN TEXT: Genesis 4:2-7; Psalm 92:1-3; Luke 17:12-19 INTRODUCTIONIt is good to give thanks unto the Lord. An act of thanksgiving from a recipient of a favor naturally gladdens the heart of the one who had demonstrated the act of kindness or favor. It is really good and pleasing to give thanks unto the Lord, but our insatiable and greedy nature hardly allows us see reasons to give thanks to God. Sometimes, we allow a seemingly unanswered prayer or unrealized ambition to becloud our brow. When we realize that we exist by the grace of God, we will then understand that giving thanks to God is a necessity. We do not favor to God when we give Him thanks. He does not need us to exist; but without Him, we cannot exist. It behooves us therefore, to give Him thanks always for our existence. Apart from this, there are innumerable reasons why we need to give God thanks; for example, the salvation of our soul, which also is a free gift from God. The Scripture clearly made us to understand that everything that pertains to life and godliness have been given to us by God, 2 Peter 1:3. That we are yet to access those things, should not be a reason why we should hesitate to give thanks to God for His goodness. To refuse to give thanks to God is not only a sign of ingratitude by an act of wickedness. In this study, we shall be discussing what thanksgiving is and its relevance in our Christian life. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are: To understand what thanksgiving is.To know why it is necessary to give thanks.To know the features that make thanksgiving acceptable.To know the way thanksgiving should be expressed. BIBLE TRUTHQ1. WHAT IS THANKSGIVING?Thanksgiving is an expression of a good feeling for help or favor received; a grateful thought expressed orally or by action in relation to an occurrence; showing gratitude for mercy or benefit enjoyed. It is also an expression of appreciation for an existing condition or privilege being enjoyed by someone. Thanksgiving acts as an intuition to make people repeat or extend the scope of acts of kindness they have done. It is a product of a merry heart. Absence of thanksgiving can dampen the enthusiasm to show or continue to show kindness. It testifies of the goodness of the person to whom it is directed. Thanksgiving acts as a lubricant to the wheel of good relationship with God. Q2. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO GIVE THANKS?Thanksgiving is necessary because it is God’s expectation from us, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. If we consider it necessary to show appreciation for a kind gesture, to give thanks becomes imperative. It is the will of God that we should give thanks always, and our obedience to the will of God increases our chances of obtaining His promises, Hebrews 10:36. Thanksgiving sometimes gives us opportunity to grow in understanding the role of our faith in receiving blessings from God, Luke 17:16. Q3. WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF AN ACCEPTABLE THANKSGIVING?For a thanksgiving to be acceptable to God, it must conform to the standard of the Scripture; it must come from a grateful and...

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MARY’S PLACE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, December 13th, 2020

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MARY’S PLACE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, December 13th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHT Only the chosen of God can fulfil God’s purpose. HYMN: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER TEXT: Luke 1:26-56 INTRODUCTION Being chosen by God for special use is an honor. Mary certainly had a unique role in God’s plan. Though she may have known that the Savior would come, she did not know that she would be the vessel by God to fulfil that purpose. She was taught God’s commandment as all other Jews, she obeyed and sincerely followed the precepts of the Lord until this visitation. A poor understanding of God’s word and will for His people can weaken and shatter the hope of achieving God’s purpose on earth. Mary determined to please God with her life and like Esther, Deborah, and Ruth, was able to fit into God’s purpose and fulfilled it. LESSON OBJECTIVES To identify the lineage of Mary the mother of Jesus and Joseph her espoused husband.To understand why Mary was troubled at the greeting of Angel GabrielTo understand the difference between the question of Mary and that of Zacharias.To appreciate the value of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and the lesson to derive from it. BIBLE TRUTHQ1A. FROM WHAT LINEAGE DID BOTH JOSEPH AND MARY COME?Luke 1:26-27; 2:4Both Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of David the king of Israel, from the small city of Nazareth in Galilee. Q1B. WHAT WAS MARY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH JOSEPH AT THIS TIME?At the time Angel Gabriel visited Mary, she was espoused to Joseph. This means that Mary had given her consent for the proposal made by Joseph to marry her. They were not yet husband and wife; they were only preparing for marriage hence the response of Mary “…. how shall this be seeing I know not man”. Luke 1:34, Matt. 1:18-19 which says “… when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost…. And Joseph not willing to make her a public example was minded to put her away “privily”. Mary was a virgin and both of them were about to contract marriage when she became pregnant by the Holy Ghost. Q1C. COMMENT ON THE CHARACTER OF JOSEPH AND MARY AND THE LESSON DERIVABLE THEREON.Matt. 1:18-24, Luke 1:34, 38JOSEPH was described as a just man, who was not willing to make Mary a public example when he discovered that she was pregnant; this shows that he was a man that feared God, and had respect for human being, humble and disciplined. Obedience is seen in his character. He obeyed the Angel and still accepted Mary to be his wife.MARY was a holy woman who feared God and kept HIS word. Though she grew in a place where the youth were living any how; she determined not to corrupt herself. She was not promiscuous but maintained her virginity even when she was espoused to Joseph. She accepted the message of Angel Gabriel and submitted that the will of God be done in her life. The lesson we can learn from their characters is that we should have right standing with God all the time, be obedient to God and His word, and humble for we know not the time of God’s visitation. Q2A. WHY WAS MARY TROUBLED AT ANGEL GABRIEL’S GREETINGS? Luke 1:28-29Mary never...

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DWELLING IN GOD’S HOLINESS, December 6th, 2020

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DWELLING IN GOD’S HOLINESS, December 6th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHT“…. holiness without which no manshall see the LORD”. Heb 12:14 HYMN: NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE TEXT: 1 Peter 1:13-17 INTRODUCTIONHoliness is one of the major themes of the Bible. It is in fact the very nature of God. He is completely and totally holy. His presence carries with it HIS holiness. HIS presence therefore in any life brings HIS holiness into that life. Thus, dwelling in HIS presence means beholding and reflecting HIS holiness. The individual who so dwells in His presence is commanded in scripture to be holy even as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).It is our walk-in holiness that reveals the presence of God in our lives to the world. Holiness can only come from God. It is not a process of reformation that comes with an individual making up his mind at the end of the year to live by some moral resolutions in the ensuing new year. Holiness is God’s nature imparted to man through the LORD JESUS CHRIST bythe working of the HOLY SPIRIT.It is therefore of utmost importance and necessity that the believer in CHRIST must dwell in God’s holiness. LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are:1.) To make us understand what holiness is and what it means to dwell in God’s holiness.2.) To help us appreciate the fact that it is possible to live a holy life in today’s world.3.) To examine the characteristics of the person who dwells is God’s holiness.4.) To identify those factors that can help the believer live a holy life. BIBLE TRUTHQ1A. WHAT DOES HOLINESS MEAN?“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. In Psalm 51:5 we also read “Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. It follows therefore that man was born with a sinful nature, making it impossible for the natural man to manifest or exhibit holiness.When an individual genuinely repents of his sin (that is, turns away from his sin) and invites CHRIST into his life, he is given a new nature and declared righteous by God (that is, he is put in right standing with God). This new state of being in right standing with GOD is expressed in holy living, that is, doing things that are pleasing to God. As stated in Wycliff Bible dictionary, holiness is separation from sin (Isaiah 52:11; 2 Corin 6:17) and conformity to God’s standards (Lev. 20:7-8; Matt 5:48; 1 Peter 1 :15-16).In very simple terms, someone once said that “holiness is loving what GOD loves and hating what GOD hates”. Holiness therefore describes a life lived for God, expressed daily in the manifestation of the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT in a believer’s life (Gal. 5:22-23). Q1B. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DWELL IN GOD’S HOLINESS?It is written in scripture that our God “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” 2 Peter 1:3-4. From the above, dwelling in God’s holiness implies relying absolutely on...

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CHRIST OUR ETERNAL REFUGE, November 29th, 2020

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CHRIST OUR ETERNAL REFUGE, November 29th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHTBelievers security in Christ Jesus is all-encompassing and endless. HYMN: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE TEXT: Num. 35:24-29,Josh. 20:1-6, Heb. 6:17-20 INTRODUCTIONRefuge is a place of shelter or a hiding place of safety in times of trouble or adversity. A place of safety from life storms (Isaiah 25:4). Before a city can be known as a “City of Refuge” it must be one that has security adequate enough to perform that function reasonably. It should be able to withstand to a very great extent, all weapons of attacks and logistics launched against it even without notice. As such, it should be forfeited enough to secure anyone who runs into it for safety at any time.From human point of view, a refuge could be likened to a tunnel, a cave or any hide out from danger of any sort. Thus, man has intervened numerous objects that tends to serve the above purpose. It should be pointed out at this juncture, that the more man tries to fortify himself, the less he achieves safety reasonably.Many types of equipment thus, serve as a refuge to man depending on the need or the purpose it is put into use.Thus, people build bunkers, safety tunnels, buy bulletproof vehicles, bullion vans and build even bomb proof houses etc. Man developed all these things to secure himself. Yet he is unable to secure himself adequately enough outside God.This lesson therefore, is meant among other issues to remind us of the foolishness in trusting in things other than Christ Jesus our only Savior and eternal refuge (Psalm 9:9). LESSON OBJECTIVESThe objectives of this study are: To examine the significance of places of refuge.To understand what qualifies someone to enjoy the Eternal Refuge in Christ.To appreciate the benefits in having Christ as our Refuge. BIBLE TRUTHQ1A. EXAMINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE “CITIES OF REFUGE” IN JOSH 20:1-6, NUM 35:24-29God gave serious concern to security that He instructed in Moses in Numbers 35:24-29 and repeated same instruction to Joshua in the book of Joshua chapter 20:1-6 about Cities of Refuge for the unsafe Israelite to get them succor.The “Cities of refuge” are meant to save the lives of persons who killed their fellow brothers in error or accidentally and fleeing from angry mobs retaliating actions and dangers. The place of refuge is meant to save such from instant justice or at times injustice as the mobs may not know the circumstances and painstakingly determine if the seeming offender deserves punishment and to what extent he should be punished.The refugee however, must be interviewed at the gate by the elders to establish that he did not kill intentionally in the first instance, before he is admitted into it and granted protection. The reason for this is because God does not want blood to flow unnecessarily among His children, thereby polluting the land (Numbers 35:31-34).As such a one confesses his sins before the elders, so are people today, expected to repent before God to start to enjoy the Refuge Christ provides. Q1B. REFLECTION ON PSALM 46:1-7, 62:8A good meditation on the above Psalm would enable us understand that God Himself is the believers hiding place (Refuge). No matter the situation that confronts one, He is well able to make out something very beautiful out of them for the believer’s...

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JEREMIAH’S COMPLAINT, NOVEMBER 22th, 2020

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JEREMIAH’S COMPLAINT, NOVEMBER 22th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHT Serving the Lord faithfully may not always be complementary; still persecutions are not uncommon. HYMN: STAND UP! STAND UP FOR JESUS! TEXT: Jeremiah 20:1-18 INTRODUCTION: In this fourth and final part of the lessons on the book of Jeremiah, we observe Jeremiah being persecuted by the priests and the people of the land of Judah. He was tortured not only physically but also psychologically and emotionally to the point that he had to complain to the one, the Lord, who sent him. Jeremiah was in a dilemma. Although he was being persecuted, he could not stop doing what was responsible for his persecution. His persecution continued and, in fact, increased as he continued to preach the truth of the word of God to the people of Judah. Indeed, Jeremiah was unrelenting in his service to the Lord. In serving the Lord, persecutions are bound to come our way. We may complain, like Jeremiah, but they will not let off. When the Lord takes us through persecutions, He provides enough grace to go through them. Instead of complaining, we should rest on His grace to come forth as overcomers. LESSON OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are: 1.           To examine the persecutions that Jeremiah faced. 2.           To know the complaints of Jeremiah for his persecutions. 3.           To appreciate that, despite the persecutions, Jeremiah continued preaching the word. 4.           To understand the grace of God to face every persecution. BIBLE TRUTH: Q1. WHAT WERE THE PERSECUTIONS THAT JEREMIAH FACED? During the ministry of Jeremiah to the nation of Judah, he faced many persecutions from the leaders (kings), religious leaders (priests) and the people. His message was not a comforting one for the ears. It spoke to their evil ways and the consequences thereof that will culminate in their exile to the foreign land of Babylon. The response was a string of persecutions. Plots to persecute and kill Jeremiah are found in Jer. 11:18-20,  18:18, 20:1-2,  26:7-9,  and 37:11-20. With specific reference to Jer. 20:1-2, the priest Pashur initiated the attack against Jeremiah. “He had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple” (Jer. 20:2). The priest Pashur could not stand the prophecies of Jeremiah any longer, particularly that they were made on his own turf-the court of the Lord’s temple (Jer. 19:14-15). Pashur’s ego got the better of him, and he felt the need to silence Jeremiah permanently. It is sad to note that the behavior of the priest Pashur is replicated by some of our Christian leaders. They think that the church is their turf and so lord themselves over everyone. They fail to recognize the lordship of Christ over their lives, and they become agents of the devil in persecuting other believers. There is every opportunity for such leaders to repent and humbly serve the people of God. Jeremiah’s persecutions were not only physical torture but also psychological and emotional abuses. “I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me…. So, the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long” (Jer. 20:7b, 8b). Sometimes the abuses that are directed at the soul are more painful than those that inflict the body. These persecutions raise questions in our minds about the authenticity...

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Jeremiah visits the Potter’s Workshop, November 15th, 2020

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Jeremiah visits the Potter’s Workshop, November 15th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHT Making ourselves amenable to the Great Potter brings forth character, faith, and a life that glorifies the risen Christ. HYMN: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE, THOU LAMB OF CALVARY TEXT: Jeremiah 18:1-23 INTRODUCTION: In this third part of the lessons on the book of Jeremiah, we draw valuable lessons from Jeremiah’s visit to the Potter’s workshop, as instructed by the Lord. By Jeremiah’s observations of what the Potter did, a divine message came forth. Sometimes, what is seen by the eyes makes a deep impression on our hearts. There are many testimonies of individuals who came into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through observing the lives of believers. What they saw was as good as a sermon. The humble workings of the Potter on the clay and his wheel reflect what the Lord does with anyone willing to submit to Him. The ultimate outcome of the finished product is not one conceived by the clay but the Potter. The clay is not expected to struggle with the Potter as it is being worked on the wheel, but only to be available to be worked upon. The clay is not expected to dictate to the Potter to be like another finished pottery. That is the plight of some Christians who want to be like “Brother great Evangelist”, or “Sister great Prophetess”. When we leave ourselves in God’s hands, He makes us into His very image to fulfil His purpose for our lives. LESSON OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are:1.To know what Jeremiah saw from his visit to the potter’s workshop.2.To learn from the obedience of Jeremiah to the Lord.3.To learn from what Jeremiah observed of the potter.4.To know the response of Judah to the allegory of the potter and the clay.5.To know the futility of attacking the messenger instead of responding to the message. BIBLE TRUTH Q1. WHY DID GOD SEND JEREMIAH TO THE POTTER’S HOUSE? Jeremiah 18:2 provides the answer to this question. God wanted to give Jeremiah a message. It was a message that Jeremiah could not have gotten otherwise. He needed to see the potter at work to receive the message that truly reflects the message that truly reflects the mind of God. There are many instances in our walk with the Lord when certain event or individual. From the scene, a message from the Lord arises. In these instances, the natural sense of sight triggers an awakening in our spirits which the Lord uses to bring forth a message. Such a message could be directed at our personal lives and those of others. One can only conjecture why the Lord chooses this way of revealing things to His children. It may be because of being too accustomed to our comfort zones that is becomes necessary to have a different scenery for us to clearly understand what the Lord is saying to us. Q2. WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF JEREMIAH? Jeremiah’s response was one of obedience. Obedience is the key to a glorious walk the Lord. It was a very simple, unassuming command from the Lord to Jeremiah: “Go down to the potters house, and there I will give you my message”. It could have received such responses from Jeremiah as- “why the potter’s house of all places? why not...

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Jeremiah Rebukes Judah’s Unfaithfulness, November 8th, 2020

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Jeremiah Rebukes Judah’s Unfaithfulness, November 8th, 2020

CENTRAL THOUGHT There is no amount of religious camouflage that can make up for sin and unfaithfulness to the Lord. HYMN: WHEN ALL THY MERCIES, O MY GOD TEXT: Jeremiah 2:4-13, 7:1-15 INTRODUCTION In this second part of the lessons on the book of Jeremiah, we observe the unfolding of the ministry of Jeremiah to the nation of Judah. For about 40 years, Jeremiah served as God’s spokesperson to the kings and people of Judah (Southern Kingdom) during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. As alluded in the first lesson the task was not a mean one, but was characterized by opposition and fierce resistance from the people and kings who had sold their hearts to foreign gods, abomination, wicked and oppressive ways. It was a case of if “the people-would-heed-the-word-of-the- Lord”, then hope and restoration will be theirs from the Lord. It will avert the imminent judgement of God from the Babylonian empire. The response of Judah in the days of Jeremiah to the word of the Lord is very similar to what we observe today. Instead of repentance, there was an increase in sophisticated religious practices; instead of a return to righteous ways, people chose to trust in emblems of religion-the magnificent temple built by king Solomon. Today, we pride ourselves in our “mega churches” of thousands of members and the accompanying huge offerings. These religious camouflages cannot serve as substitute for holiness. LESSON OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are:1.To know the sins of Judah in Jeremiah’s time2.To draw parallels of Judah’s sins and those of our times3.To identify the consequences of Judah’s sins4.To know the only remedy for sin5.To be like Jeremiah, the voice of hope for a dying world. BIBLE TRUTH Q1. WHAT WERE THE SINS OF JUDAH? Through Jeremiah the Lord asked rhetorically the nation of Judah, “what fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me?”. He went further and stated, “they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves” (Jer. 2:5). One of the sins of Judah was that they left following after the God who saved them from Egypt and took them miraculously through the desert into the Promise land, and began to worship the gods of the surrounding nations. Because the gods were worthless idols, they also became worthless. Jeremiah further elaborates by stating the two sins of Judah of forsaking the “fountain of living water,” and taking on “broken cisterns that cannot hold water”. (Jer. 2:13). That is very typical of the baits the devil offers till this day. Sadly, many clamors for these baits only to find utter emptiness and disillusionment. Paul made a similar point about the state of those who fail to retain the knowledge of God in their hearts in Romans 1:28. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”. Israel had experienced the glory and power of God in the 10 plagues in Egypt, culminating in the death of the first born of every Egyptian (Ex. 12:29-30), the provisions in the desert so that their sandals did not wear off (Deut. 29:5), the Red sea parted so they could cross on dry land (Ex. 14:21-22),...

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