Bible Study
TOPIC: RESCUE FROM THE HARVEST OF EVIL SEEDS
TEXT: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,that shall he also reap.” GAL 6:7
Every act is a seed. Negative acts bring negative harvests, while positive acts generate positive harvests. What you sow is what you reap. “Even as I have seen ,they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same”. Job 4:8
“….neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”Gen 8:21-22. God was saying, I have dealt with everybody collectively, I destroyed all living, but no more from now on ,each one will get whatever he deserves. “Give them according to theirdeeds,and according to the wickedness of their endeavours:give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.” Ps 28:4.”But let everyman prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.” Gal 6:4-5. In other words every one will prove himself,every one will bear his own burden. Gal 6:8-10. What you sow is what you reap, so make good use of any opportunity, because that will determine what you will find tomorrow. The ways of every man is before the eyes of the Lord to reward every one according to the fruit of his doings. Jere 32:19.,Pro24:12. Ezk 14:14. Many are stagnated today and many destinies have been destroyed because of the evil seed they have sown in time past, either with their tongues or their actions.Eccl 10:8.
SCRIPTURAL REALITIES : PETER openly rebuked Jesus.Mark8:31-32. He must have done this in his ignorance, never the less ,in his own time too Paul rebuked Peter openly for his hypocritical attitude.Gal2:11-12. What you sow is what you reap. Every act is a seed that earns you a harvest of either blessing or curse.
DAVID sent Uriah to the war front to be killed, and took his wife Bathsheba . 2Sam 11:1-27. Quiet, often many are quick at condemning others, but you will discover that in condemning others you have been condemning yourself.2Sam12:1-8.There will always be a reward for what you do.2Sam12:10-14. What sword is in your house?, How often has your actions brought shame to the name of the Lord?. There is always a harvest time. Rape was found in the house of David.2Sam13:14.Murder was a constant threat in the house of David.2Sam13:26-30,2Sam18:14-15,1Kings2:23-25.His household rebelled against him 2Sam15:13-14.His wives were given to another in public view.2Sam16:20-23.Evil advisers helped to destroy his household.2Sam13:4-5,2Sam20-21.What you sow is what you reap.
SAUL(Paul the Apostle), before his conversion put many Christians through a lot of suffering. Acts 8:1&3,Acts 9:1-2,so after his conversion ,his first calling was to suffering. Acts 9:10-16.Every act is a seed.it was a harvest time for Paul.
JACOB supplanted Esau, his elder brother, tricking him out of his birth right.Gen27:5-10.Before,they were born God had already chosen Jacob as the family leader.Gen25:23,So Jacob didn’t need to cheat to see it come to pass. It was his mother that organized the cheating, and he accepted it.She resorted to doing something wrong to try to bring about what God had already said would happen. For Rebekah, the end justified the means. No matter how good we think our goals are ,we should not attempt to achieve them by doing what is wrong. Would God approve of the methods you are using to accomplish your goals? Although Jacob got the blessing he wanted.Gen 27:27-29 but deceiving his father cost him dearly. He never saw his mother again, his brother wanted to kill him.Gen27:41,his family became torn by strife, he was exiled from his family for years.Gen27:42-45.he in turn was supplanted for 14 years.Gen31:41 and for six years suffered in the hands of Laban who changed his wages ten times.Gen31:7. Harvest of evil. What you sow is what you reap. Many people are under self-imposed curses, things they have brought upon themselves. Jacob suffered so much, he had to run away from Laban’s house, that’s why when he met the angel he said, “I will not let thee go ,except thou bless me”.Gen31:26.Because he had been under a curse all these years. The angel changed his name from Jacob to Israel to deliver him from the curse.
No matter how miserable guilt makes you feel or how terribly you have sinned, you can pour out your heart to God and seek His forgiveness as David did.
A father’s mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children. In Absalom David saw a bitter replay and amplification of many of his own past sins. David’s sins took him away from God ,but repentance brought him back 2Sam12:13.During this incident David wrote Ps51 and to express the joy he felt after he was forgiven, he wrote Ps32. In contrast Absalom sinned and kept sinning. Absalom wasn’t able to say “I am wrong, I need forgiveness. “Can you identify with Absalom “Do you find your self on the fast track towards self-destruction?. What you do to your neighbor, what you do to your boss/leader, what you do to your subordinate, what you do to your spouse matters to God. There is a reward for everything you do Eccl 10:7-9.Rev22:12.
However the time of ignorance ,God has waved, but He commands every man everywhere to repent.Acts17:30.
Now go to God in prayer: “Lord every evil seed I have sowed into any man’s life at any time in the past, oh blood of Jesus rescue me from the bondage of that seed, rescue me from the harvest of evil, let no evil return upon me, for I did not know it was a seed, help me Lord in the name of Jesus.”
CONCLUSION: One by one we shall appear before the judgement seat of God.2Cor5:10,Rom14:10.Let us be careful therefore what we sow. either with our tongues or by our actions. Pro24:26-28. Always Remember the golden rule.Matt7:12.
Ask the Lord now: “Lord help me to sow good seeds all the days of my life in the name of Jesus”.
FIRE BIBLE STUDIES
LESSON 1
TOPIC: Why is the birth of Jesus Christ through a VIRGIN important to our Christian faith?
TEXT: Matt1:18-25
Jesus the son of God had to come as a human being. John1:14. Both fully human and fully divine.
As man He fully understands our experiences and struggles. Heb4:15-16, Heb2:18. We can tell Jesus all our thoughts, feelings, and needs because He has been where we are now as human and He has the ability to help.1Pe5:7.
As God, He has the power and Authority to deliver us from SIN. Col2:13-15. That is the reason Jesus had to come. Matt1:21, Luke1:31, Luke2:11&34. Those who believe will rise, those who do not believe will fall. John3:16-21.
So, Because He had to come as human, He had to be born of a woman and had to be free from the sinful nature passed onto all human beings by Adam,
Therefore, the woman had to a virgin. (A person who has never had sexual intercourse) who has never known any man. Luke1:34.
A virgin is considered spiritually pure, undefiled Rev14:4
So, Jesus, the son of God had to come through a clean, pure, and undefiled vessel to stand free of human sin before taking away the sin of the world. John1:29.
Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. He is the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. John1:29. He knew no sin 2Cor 5:21.
His birth through a virgin is important because it is a kingdom of purity.1Tim5:2,1Tim4:12 ,2Tim2:21.He was free of any human sin.
FOCUS: (1) Purity 2Tim2:21(2) Righteousness and Holiness 1Thess4:7,1Thess3:13, Eph4:24, Heb12:14.
CONCLUSION: We are called to be Holy in the way we live our lives and in all our conversations in life and to show ourselves Holy just as our God is Holy. 1Peter1:15-16. Always Remember that you are called to be Holy.1Tim4:7
Ask the Lord now: “Lord help me to live a Holy life in the name of Jesus”.
LESSON 2
TOPIC: HANDLING UNEXPECTED SITUATION.
TEXT: Matt1:18-25
VS18 before they came together, she was pregnant with the child of the Holy Ghost. How would you feel? VS19 Joseph was faced with a difficult choice after discovering that Mary was pregnant. To marry her could be humiliating to him. As a just man, he did not want to make the matter public, he wanted to deal with it privately.
Making it public will bring scandal and tradition into it. Deut24:1. He had the option of sending her away quietly or have her stoned according to tradition. He chose not to conform to tradition. Rom12:2.
Verse 20. He thought on these things. Pro21:5. He did not act hastily. He did not take the course which the law would have permitted him to do. Though it was lawful but he would not bring himself under the law. 1Cor6:12. Because it does not edify .1 Cor10:23. he was not hasty, violent, or unjust. Pro29:20. It was a matter deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and character of his chosen companion.
God will guide the thoughtful and the anxious. Pro3:5-6. when we have looked patiently at a perplexed subject or situation, and know not what to do, then God, as in the case of Joseph, will intervene to lead us, and direct our way, Ps 25:9.
God will direct the steps of the righteous. Ps37:23. God often shows us that there are more options available than we think. You may seem to be doing the right thing like Joseph who was doing the right thing by breaking the engagement, only God’s GUIDANCE helped him to make the best decision. Pro21:2, Pro16:2. God gave him a third option – MARRY HER VS20. When our decision affects the lives of others, we must always seek God’s guidance. Jeremiah acknowledged this important fact. Jere10:23.
QUALITIES in the life of Joseph. – (1) RighteousnessVS19, Pro14:34. (2) Discretion and sensitivity VS19.despite his knowledge of the issue, he did not make it public. Pro17:9.he bear each other’s burden, Gal 6:1-2, Rom15:1-3 (3). Responsiveness to God.VS24. He did as he was told. Gen22:1-3 (4) Self-discipline. VS25.He controlled and restrained himself. Temperance Gal 5:22. Gen39:9.
FOCUS: (1) Depend on God. Pro3:6. When you put your dependence upon Him and seek his direction, you shall not be left to perplexity or error. Pro 16:3; Ps 37:5; Jere 9:23-24.
(2) Let God decide everything. Eph3:20, Rom16:25, Jude1:24.
CONCLUSION: We are encouraged to hope for anything from God, for with God all things are possible. Mark9:23. Always Remember to bear one another’s burden and always allow God to guide you. Gal6:1-2, Ps25:9.
Ask the Lord now: “Lord guide and direct my ways and help me to bear the burdens of the weak around me in the name of Jesus”.
LESSON 3
TOPIC: THE WORD OF GOD IS SURE
TEXT: MATT 2:1-23
The birth of Jesus Christ and the place of His birth was foretold by the prophets. Micah5:2, Isaiah9:6-7. The word that was spoken and written eventually came to pass. Matt2:1-6, John7:42. The word of God can not lie. This shows that the coming of Christ and all his ways were appointed by God from all eternity. The word of God is faithful, true, and tested without mixture of false hood. Ps12:6, Pro30:5
When God speaks, His word must surely come to pass, but the enemy will also try to attack it. Matt2:7-8. Herod did not want to worship Christ, he was lying and deceiving them to believe him. Rom16:17-18, Eph4:14, Gen3:1-4.it was a trick to reveal the whereabout of the new born King. We must not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. 2Cor2:11. His plan was to kill Jesus whom he perceived to be a future threat to his position. Matt2:13. He was furious when he discovered that the wise men did not report back to him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under. Matt2:16. The enemy will do anything to destroy the plan of God for your life. John10:10. But God will not let him. Isaiah14:24.
When God speaks, He watches over His word to fulfil it. Isaiah55:11, Isaiah34:16, Matt5:18. HOW?
- By divine direction. He gives you direction on how to escape the trap of the enemy. After finding Jesus and worshipping Him, the wise men were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod. Matt2:12. Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction. Are you willing to be led a different way? They met Christ and changed their way. 1Cor5:17.2Cor6:14.
Joseph was also told in a dream to take the child and the mother and escape to Egypt.Matt2:13. Taking Jesus to Egypt was a way of protecting and keeping Him safe. Ps41:2. Egypt was a hiding place. Ps 27:5. It was also to fulfil the word of God by the Prophets.Hos11: 1, Matt2:15. God will always protect and keep you safe till the fulfilment of His word in your life, if we obey Him and follow His directions.
After the death of Herod, Joseph was again told in a dream to return to Israel with the child and the mother for those who are after the child’s life are dead. Matt2:20. He returned to the land of Israel and followed the leading of God to the city of Nazareth in fulfillment of the word of God.Matt2:21-23. Divine guidance comes only to prepared hearts and Joseph remained receptive to God’s guidance.
FOCUS: (1) No one can prevent God’s plan from being carried out. Isaiah14:24&27, Ps33:9-11. Herod tried it and paid with his life. Matt2:19, Ps63:9, Luke19:27.
(2) Responsiveness and obedience to God’s word. Ability to adjust to God’s demand. Matt2:13-14, Luke5:27-28. Are you willing to respond to the urgent call and instructions of the Lord?
CONCLUSION: Do not be afraid to give Christ the throne of your life. Do not be like Herod who was afraid that Jesus will take his Throne. Jesus wanted to give Herod eternal life We must understand the reason for Christ coming. Some are afraid that Christ wants to take things away from them, may be their time or money? No, He wants to give you real freedom, peace, and joy. John14:27. Always remember that obedience to divine direction is key to the fulfilment of God’s word. Isaiah 1:19, Isaiah48:17-18.The word of God is sure.2Peter1:19
Ask the Lord now: “Lord help me to be responsive to God’s leading as I continually yield my life to Christ and obey His directions in the name of Jesus”.
LESSON 4
TOPIC: REPENTANCE
TEXT: MATT 3:1-10
Repentance is an absolute necessity for salvation. Salvation depends on repentance. Matt3:2.
In other words, turn from your sins and turn to God, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The theme of John’s message was ‘Turn from your sins.’ A relationship with God begins with repentance. Preparing the way for Jesus in your life. This is the central message of John. There is no forgiveness of sin without repentance. Matt3:6. Repentance is more than just a change of mind but a change of behaviour with a deep remorse for doing wrong. Luke3:3,10-14. Luke15:18&21. Turning from sin toward God and turning from sin requires change of behavior.
We need to repent, make a turn from the kind of self-centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, taking revenge, abusing, and indulging in sexual immorality. A person who turns from sin, would stop rebelling, and begins following GOD’S way of living as prescribed in His word. 2Cor5:17. Turn to God, live in His ways and turn off the old ways by putting on the new man. Eph4:24-32.
John the Baptist preached repentance. Matt3:2. He also warned about hell fire for refusing to repent. Matt3:7-10. Jesus at the start of His Ministry preached repentance. Matt4:17. He warned people that unless they repented, they would perish. Luke13:3&5. The disciples preached that men should repent. Mark 6:12. After His resurrection, Jesus told the twelve disciples to take the message of repentance to the whole world because it is the key that opens the door to forgiveness. Luke24:46-47. Repentance and Remission – repentance for forgiveness. The Apostles in the early Church preached repentance. Acts2:38, Acts3: 19, They also preached the need to do things appropriate to repentance. Acts26:19-20.
So, the first step to turning to God is to admit your sin. Luke15:18&21 -22, Acts2:37- 38. In other words, sins will not be wiped away without repentance. Acts3:19. God is now declaring that all men everywhere should repent and those who have not repented will be unprepared for the appointed day of judgment. Acts17:30-31.
FOCUS: (1) Acknowledge the need for repentance. There must be a conviction of the heart with a feeling of remorse for doing wrong. Acts2:37. Luke15:17-19. Acknowledge and confess your wrong. Ps32:5, Ps51:3-7, Jere14:20.
(2) Understand Repentance opens the door to forgiveness. The Key that opens the door to forgiveness is repentance. Luke24:46-47,1john1: 9,2Chro7:14. Do not cover your wrong. Pro28:13. If any say, I have sinned; repent and forsake his sins his life shall see the light. Job33:27-28.
(3) Show the Fruits of repentance. Matt3:8. What fruits have you in the life of sin but death? Rom6:21-23. Repentance requires Change of behaviour. Acts26:19-20, Luke3:10-14,1Kings21:27-29.
CONCLUSION: Turning from sin require change of behaviour. Have you turned from sin in your life? Can others see the difference it makes in you? A changed life with new and different behaviour makes your repentance real and visible.2Cor5:17, Eph4:24. Always remember that God’s grace offers you temporary opportunity to repent, not an opportunity to continue sinning. Rom6:1-2. it is damnation to believe that one can be saved without repentance.
Ask the Lord now: “Lord help me to acknowledge my wrong and to turn from it, so that I can live the new life in Christ Jesus in the name of Jesus”.
LESSON 5
TOPIC: WATER BAPTISM
TEXT: Matt3:11-17
To be baptized with water unto repentance, presupposes that you have repented and turned to God and you have decided to live according to His ways. Water Baptism is an out-word sign of commitment to Christ and accompanied by an inward change of attitude leading to a changed life, which is the work of the Holy Spirit. Matt3:11. Mark1: 8. Everyone will one day be baptized, either now by the Holy Spirit or later by the fire of God’s judgement. Unrepentant people will be judged by fire and those who repent and believe will be saved and used by God. Matt3:11-12.
John was preaching that the baptism of Jesus would be much greater than his, but was surprised when Jesus came forward to be baptised by him. Jesus told him, we must do everything right in fulfilment of the word of God.Matt3:13-15. We all have a role to play towards the fulfilment of God’s word. Are you willing to play your roll? It was a test of John’s integrity, but he passed the test by publicly baptizing Jesus and even declared that Jesus must become greater and greater and he will become less and less. John3:30. Can we like John put our ego and profitable work aside in order to point others to Jesus? Are we willing to lose some of our status so that everyone will benefit? How are you playing your role? At the water baptism of Jesus, the trinity were present and active. Prayer at baptism opens the heaven. God the son was baptized, God the Holy Spirit descends, God the father speaks. Luke3:21-22, Matt3:16-17, This is the mystery of God.Matt28:19,1John5:7, Acts8:16.
THREE TYPES OF BAPTISM Mark16:15-16
- Baptism into the body of Christ. When a person is born again, he is automatically baptized into the body of Christ. He becomes a member of Christ’s body, the church.1Cor12:13, Rom6:3, Eph1:22-23, Col1:18&24.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is an experience after salvation, and this baptism can and should be received by every believer. Acts2:1-4, Acts8:14 -17.
- Baptism in water. It is a baptism of repentance. Acts19:4-5.A sign of identifying with Christ in death, burial and resurrection.Rom6:3-4. Every believer should be baptized in water as soon as possible after he repents and believes in the Lord Jesus. it should be the first act of obedience of the new believer. Acts2:37-41, Acts8:12-13&36-39, Acts9:17-18.
He who receives not this baptism has neither right nor title to the kingdom of God; nor can he with any propriety be termed a Christian, because that which essentially distinguished the Christian is that you must be born again and be born of water and of the Spirit. John3:3&5.
FOCUS: Understand the underlying meaning of water baptism.
- Represents that our sins are washed away. So, we stand clean before Acts22:16. Therefore, we must have our life conformed to the precepts of God.
- Identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Once we have been born again and placed into the body of Christ, God considers us to be in Christ from that point on. Because Jesus was our substitute. God attributes all that Jesus did to our accounts. So, In Christ we have died, buried, and have been raised from the dead to live as new persons. Rom 6:3-5, Col2:12.
CONCLUSION: Every new believer should be baptized in water as soon as possible after he believes. Acts10:44-48, Acts16:31-33, Acts18:8, Acts19:1-5. Always remember, Water Baptism is an out-word sign of commitment to Christ with an inward change of attitude leading to a changed life for the kingdom.
Ask the Lord now: “Lord, help me to maintain my commitment to Christ, walking in the newness of life in the name of Jesus”