Church Construction 2013

May 2013 - Planting the Garden

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 5, June 1, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 5     Central thought: Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.     Text: Matthew 6:19-34   We are continuing with our series on the teaching of our Lord Jesus on the mount.  In today’s study, we shall be considering His warnings against being world-minded, where to lay our treasures, dangers of serving two masters and worrying about the issues of life.  These are part of the code of ethics for disciples and standard of conduct for all Christians in all ages.  They contrast what should be the life style and valued of followers of Christ and the life style and values of non-believers in Christ.   1. Discuss the futility of worldly treasures.  Matthew 6:19, Luke 12:16-21, Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Treasures are those things that we value most, and in most cases we do not want to part with them.  It could be money, jewelry, educational certificates, houses, cars, clothes, power, position, etc.  In Matthew 6:19, the Lord Jesus submitted that these treasures are subject to moth and rust which corrupt, and thieves that can dispossess one of them.  With human beings, sickness and death can dispossess us of them without permission. There is also the danger of these treasures diverting, stealing and capturing our minds away from God.  This is because where your treasure is, there will your heart be.  What we treasure the most controls us. Speaking in the same vain, Apostle James proclaimed the worthlessness of riches in James 5:1-6.  The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:10.  Many in an attempt to acquire money indulge in unwholesome practices and compromise the biblical standards. Solomon pursued pleasures and concluded that all is vanity, and that trying to satisfy our life is like “chasing the wind”; we can feel the wind but we can never catch it for a keep, such are worldly treasures.   2. Where are we to lay up our treasures and why?  Matthew 6:20, Colossians 3:1-4 We are to lay up our treasures in heaven and not on earth.  The lord Jesus gave reasons why we should lay our treasures in heaven.  He said that in heaven, there is no moth, rust or thieves that could cart them away.  Men want to store their treasures where they are safe and secure.  Those who saved their money in banks that have gone under have bitter tales to tell. Laying our treasures in heaven will help us to be heavenly minded.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.  A man who has nothing kept in heaven will have no business aspiring to be there. Lot’s wife had to look back even when she was under God’s instruction not to do so.  She did otherwise probably because of her many treasures in Sodom, Genesis 19:26.  Our treasures must be laid up in heaven if we aspire to be there.   3. How would someone lay up treasures in heaven? The first step to laying up treasures in heaven is to give our lives to Christ.  It is only then our sacrifices will count before God. We must hand over our treasures to God and remove our confidence in them.  We lay up treasures in heaven...

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 5, 6/2 – 6/7, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 5 Memory verse Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”.     Daily Devotional Monday – Futility of worldly treasures.  Ecclesiastes 12:1-11; Luke 12:16-21 Tuesday – Uncertainty of riches.  Matthew 6:19; 1 Timothy 6:10; James 5:1-6 Wednesday – Where to lay up our treasures.  Matthew 6:20; Colossians 3:1-4 Thursday – Danger of serving two masters. Luke 18:18-23; Philippians 3:19; James 4:4 Friday – How to handle the challenges of life.  Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7 Saturday – Trust the Lord to meet all the needs – do not worry.  Matthew...

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 4, 5/26 – 5/31, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 4     Memory verse Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”.     Daily Devotional Monday – How a Christian should give alms. Matthew 6:2-3; Acts 10:1-4 Tuesday – The guiding principles of Prayer. Matthew 6:5-8 Wednesday – The Lord’s Prayer.  Matthew 6:9-13 Thursday – Hindrances to answers to prayers. Psalm 66:18; James 1:6-7; 1 Peter 3:7 Friday – The wrong and right type of fasting. Isaiah 58:1-9 Saturday – How a Christian should fast. Matthew 6:17-18...

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 4, May 25, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 4     Central thought: Almsgiving, prayers and fasting are key kingdom principles.     Text: Matthew 6:1-18   The demands of the Kingdom with regards to almsgiving, prayer and fasting were centrally focused in the sermon of Christ on the Mount.  This study seeks to look into the teaching of Christ on these three issues with a view of correcting the erroneous practices of the day.  God’s own earnest desire is that we should be doers of the word which we hear.    1. What is almsgiving? Almsgiving as used in Matthew 6:1, signify any righteous act which includes giving of money, clothes and food to poor people.  Acts 10:1-4 gives the account of Cornelius, who gave much alms to people always.  He gave so much that his alms and prayers went up as a memorial before God. When almsgiving is being carried out, it should not be with the motive of attracting attention and getting praise from men.  Such attitude is hypocritical and condemned by the Lord.   2. How should a Christian give alms?  Matthew 6:2-3 Therefore, “when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth”. In the above quoted verse Christ laid down the acceptable standard in giving of alms.  This includes: giving of alms in secret, not having to make a public show of what we are giving.  This is common, as many people, Christians inclusive want to be noticed when giving and hence they would prefer to spay money in parties rather than put it in envelopes and give to the persons celebrating privately.  When compelled not to spray they give little or nothing as what they are giving is hidden from men and would be denied the praises of men. Giving as demanded by God should be done with the mind that God sees in secret and would reward every act done in His name.  We should not seek out for the praises of men.  The secrecy in giving as advocated by Christ is to the extent that the ‘right hand must not know what the left is doing’. Christians must shun all acts of giving with the intention to be brought to the limelight.  Christians must avoid giving to be noticed.  At all times, Christians must know that all they have is given to them by god and that we are just custodians of all we are blessed with, for God’s use and glory.   3. Identify and explain the guiding principles on prayer in Matthew 6:5-8. The Pharisees in Christ’s day loved to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corner of the streets, to be seen by men.  The Lord condemned this practice and instructed that when we pray, we should enter into our closet, shut our door, and present the requests.  Prayers are not answered by the volume of words spoken but by the heart behind it.  Therefore we must not use vain repetitions. Believers must know God as a loving Father, who is willing to answer His children.  God is not wicked, for if wicked...

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The Demands of the Kingdom Part 3, 5/19 – 5/24, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 3     Memory verse Matthew 5:43 – “Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”     Daily Devotional Monday – Identity and character of the New Testament believer. Matthew 5:13-14; Colossians 4:6 Tuesday – Christ’s teaching on murder and broken relationships.  Matthew 5:21-26 Wednesday – Christ’s teaching on adultery and divorce.  Matthew 5:27-32 Thursday – Christ’s teaching on swearing.  Matthew 5:33-37 Friday – Christ’s teaching on retaliation.  Matthew 5:38-42 Saturday – Christ’s teaching on relating to an enemy.  Matthew 5:43-48...

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 3, May 18, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 3     Central thought: The believer in Christ should go beyond fulfilling the law.     Text: Matthew 5:13-48   The series on the demands of the Kingdom are based on the Sermon on the Mount by the Lord Jesus Christ.  The first and second lessons dwelt on aspects of the beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-9, 10-12.  In them the Lord taught on the blessedness of the poor in spirit, of those that morn, the meek, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, those that are persecuted for righteousness sake and those that are revised and falsely accused for the Lord’s sake.  This lesson, the third in the series, deals on the identity of the New Testament believer, the demands of the Law of Moses as it contrasts with the demands of Christ on His disciples.  The Lord expects our righteousness to exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees and to be perfect as our heavenly Father.  This lesson also shows that much more is expected of the believers in Christ, who are described as the salt of the earth and light of the world.  While all these demands may seem unattainable by strength, we are more than able to meet them because of the power of the indwelling Christ.     1. What are the terms used by Christ to describe the New Testament believer? In a world characterized by decay and darkness, Christ unveils the identity and character of the New Testament believer.  The Lord describes them as the salt of the earth and light of the world, Matthew 5:13-14.  This description clearly shows that believers in Christ are not part of the world’s corrupted system but rather, God’s agents or change.  They are not part of the problem but solution givers to the fallen race of Adam’s descendants.  Salt and light are two unique elements that have the ability to effect profound changes wherever they are introduced.  Salt stems decay by weaving its preserving power into the fabrics of the material threatened by decomposition or those materials that have already succumbed to it.  Through the power and life of the indwelling Christ, the Christian believer is uniquely equipped to arrest and reverse the decay caused by sin in the world at large, but particularly in the life of individuals enslaved by it.  Salt as an agricultural additive (fertilizer) enriches the soil to restore its lost productive capacity.  The Christian is also God’s agent of restoration.  When we minister the gospel to people and their lives are transformed, their lost potential for creativity is restored and they become an enormous blessing to society.  Salt is known also as seasoning; so the believer should always have his speech seasoned with salt, Colossians 4:6.  Light, wherever it appears drives away darkness and removes the enabling environment that gives sin the room and power to thrive.  The Christian is God’s light in the world.  The light in us is demonstrated by a Christ-like life and good works men see in us.  This is what they see and glorify God for our lives, Matthew 5:6.  This is what they see and also desire to turn over their lives to God.  When this happens we expand the...

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The Demands of the Kingdom, 5/12 – 5/17, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom Memory verse Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”     Daily Devotional Monday – The heart of man.  Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 51:5 Tuesday – Characteristics of a life that is “pure in heart”. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:22-23: Ephesians 4:23-32 Wednesday – How to keep one’s heart pure. Psalm 119: 9-11; Philippians 4:8 Thursday – The peace mark, his message and reward. Romans 14:19; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 2:14-17; Philippians 4:7 Friday – Being persecuted for righteousness sake. Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:10-12 Saturday – Reward for suffering persecution for righteousness sake. 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 5:12; Revelation...

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 2, May 11, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom       Central thought: A believer in Christ should maintain purity of heart, live in peace with others and be ready to suffer for the Lord.     Text: Matthew 5:1-12   We are concluding the lesson on “the Beatitudes”.  In the first part we examined the meaning and the blessedness of being “poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting after righteousness and of being merciful”. In this concluding part, the meaning of being pure in heart, being peacemakers and the willingness to suffer for the Lord will be examined. “The Beatitudes may be described as a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all believers in Christ.  They describe what we should be like as Christ’s followers.”  May we therefore resolve in our hearts to be “more and more like Jesus” in this present world.  Amen    1. Who are the pure in heart and what characterizes their lifestyle? Being pure in heart implies having a “clean” heart; a heart devoid of evil thoughts, imaginations and filled with the Holy Spirit, pondering always on the goodness, mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus. The heart of the natural man is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?”, Jeremiah 17:9.  It is not in any way inclined towards God.  Since man was conceived in sin and born with the sinful nature received from Adam, Psalm 51:5, the possession of a pure heart can only come through the transformation of an individual’s life. The transformation takes place at the new birth.  That is when an individual realizes that he or she is a sinner, acknowledges their sin and gives their life to Christ receiving Him as personal Lord and Savior.  He or she is then given a new heart; a heart that is inclined towards God and His ways, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The life of one that is pure in heart is characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  That life manifests in humility, good deeds, free of anger, clamor, bitterness, lying, and deceit, etc.  Read Galatians 5:22-23 and Ephesians 4:23-32.   2. How can someone keep his heart pure and what reward will the pure in heart receive? A believer who wants to keep his heart pure must constantly meditate on God’s word.  In Psalm 119:9-11 we read, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You: Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Also the counsel in Philippians 4:8 must be diligently applied by the believer in daily living.  “Finally, brethren, 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.” It is also necessary for the believer not to be conformed to this world but live with a renewed mind; a mind that has been transformed in line with the word of God. Those who are pure in heart will have the blessedness, reward of seeing God and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  They will...

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 1, 5/5 – 5/10, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 1     Memory verse Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.”     Daily  Devotional Monday – Being poor in spirit. Luke 18:9-14 Tuesday – Morning for sin.  Matthew 26:69-75; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 Wednesday – Meekness: Peter accepts Paul’s rebuke and acknowledges God’s revelation through him. Galatians 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:15-16 Thursday – Showing hunger for God’s word. Luke 19:1-10 Friday – Showing mercy. Matthew 25:34-40 Saturday – The Lord is our perfect example.  John 13:1-17; Isaiah 53:7; Philippians...

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 1, May 4, 2014

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The Demands of the Kingdom, Part 1       Central thought: Believers in Christ are to live by the kingdom principles and not by the dictates of the world’s system.     Text: Matthew 5:1-12   The Bible declares “for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost”, Romans 14:17.  It is said often that “the Kingdom is a prepared place for a prepared people”.  The implication of this is that the kingdom lifestyle actually begins on earth.  Preparation as understood in scripture is in terms of holy living and conduct, that is, manifestation of a lifestyle different from that encouraged by the world and its system.  The emphasis therefore, ought to be on a life of holy conduct, indicative of a people who have separated themselves from the demands of the flesh, the kingdom of the world; it should not be on the popular and much trumped up prosperity messages that seem to be motivated by greed and covetousness. Believers are therefore expected to prepare and keep preparing for the kingdom of God.  There are some attitudes that the Lord expects of those who belong to His kingdom.  Some of these attitudes commonly referred to as “The Beatitudes”, are written in the gospels.  In this study we will examine some of them with a sincere desire to have them manifested in our lives.     1. Who are the “poor in spirit” and what blessing awaits them? Matthew 5:3, 18:1-5: Luke 18:9-14: Isaiah 57:15: Psalm 51:17, 66:2 Poverty of spirit has to do with submission of the inner person or being, to the Holy Spirit.  The “poor in spirit” in the context of scripture is one that is broken, contrite, and humble and is willing to yield to the demand and direction of the Holy Spirit.  David demonstrated this when he repented and turned to God for mercy and forgiveness when he erred from God’s way, 2 Samuel 12:1-13; Psalm 51. The blessing that awaits the believer who is “poor in spirit” is that he or she will possess the kingdom of heaven.  The amplified translation puts it this way, “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous with life, joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.  There is no blessing on earth that can be compared to being partaker in the kingdom of heaven.  Indeed it profits nothing to gain the whole world and lose the soul, Mark 8:36.   2. Who are “they that morn” and how will they be comforted? Matthew 5:4, 26:69-75, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Psalm 32:5; James 4:8-9; Isaiah 61:2 Those who morn in this context refers to the penitent. These are the people who genuinely acknowledge their sin and sincerely repent of them.  Peter demonstrated this when he wept bitterly on realizing that he had denied his Master tree time, Matthew 26:69-75.  “They that morn” also include those believers who are concerned about the evils, sins prevailing in today’s world.  They are bothered about the great departure of church and society from the standards of God.  They morn and their souls are vexed daily by what...

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