BGEA

Friday, November 20, 2015

Matthew 10: The Twelve Apostles


SLIDE01Matthew 10: The Twelve Apostles
What is the difference between disciples and apostles? Disciple is derived from the Greek word which means learner or student. While Jesus was on earth, His followers were called disciples. The twelve disciples followed Jesus Christ, learned from Him, and were trained by Him which involved not just learning what He believed, but an acceptance of Jesus as LORD.
The Apostles began as disciples but not all disciples became apostles. Apostle is derived from the Greek word which means “delegate, messenger, or ambassador.One sent forth with orders” and that is exactly what Jesus commanded the apostles to do in Matthew 10. Will you choose to be an Ambassador for Jesus?
 "The apostolic number fitly represents the twelve tribes of Israel; and for practical purposes the twelve form a workable band of leaders, a sufficient jury, and a competent company of witnesses." (Spurgeon)
SLIDE 2 Ambassadors of the King
·        Instructions and Provisions for their Ministry
·        Warning of Persecution
·        Cost of Kingdom Ministry and Rewards
1And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. Then he names the 12.
*We were having a contest where the adults in our church challenged the youth in a game of Bible Trivia. “Name ten of the twelve disciples.” No one could do it! When I looked at the lists in the four gospels there were a couple of disciples listed by two different names.
SLIDE 3 Bartholomew is called Nathaniel in John’s gospel. When Philip brought him to the LORD, you may remember Nathaniel was the one who stated “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Also I learned that day there were two Simons, two James, two Judas’. (Thaddaeus is called “Judas, son of James” in Luke 6.)
2 The names of the twelve apostles are on the screen, Mark list is the same. Did you notice the pairing of the names? Mark’s gospel tells Jesus sent them out in pairs. It also gives a way to memorize their names.
·        Simon, called Peter and Andrew his brother
·        James and John the sons of Zebedee
·        Philip and Bartholomew (Nathaniel in the gospel of John 1:45)
·        Thomas as Didymus (John 20:24) and Matthew the tax collector
·        James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James, in Luke 6)
·        Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
I’m so glad Jesus chose twelve ordinary men. He called a diverse group with a variety of backgrounds none of privilege and status. Had he chosen intellectuals, educated men in Jewish law, highly placed officials in the temple, we could not relate. Throughout the Old Testament God chose men who had faults and issues with trust. This is a lesson to us ladies. We don’t have to be perfect, just a willing vessel.
SLIDE 4 Instructions and Provisions for their Ministry
5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way.
Famous author, John Piper tells us WHY Jews have priority over Gentiles.
SLIDE 5 © 2015 Desiring God Foundation.
1.     They are the historic chosen people of God.
2.     They are the guardians of God's special revelation, the Old Testament Scriptures.
3.     The Messiah and Savior, Jesus, comes to the world as a Jew to Jews.
4.     Salvation is from the Jews, since everyone who is saved is saved by being connected to the covenant with Abraham by faith.
5.     The Jews are to be evangelized first when the gospel penetrates a new region.
6.     The Jews will enter first into final judgment or into final blessing.
In Romans 2:9-10, Paul says, "There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evilof the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
SLIDE 6 Paul in Romans 1:16 says “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Jesus gave these twelve the authority and power that He displayed in chapter 8. He equipped them for the job he called them to do. It is still true today: whom God calls, God equips. The disciples brought the same message Jesus preached, but covering a much broader area than Jesus could do by Himself.
Will you choose to go where God calls?
SLIDE 77 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
·        8 Heal the sick,
·        raise the dead,
·        cleanse lepers,
·        cast out demons.
You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. Did you understand what Jesus commanded? No money, no bag, nor extra clothes.  Wouldn’t that take great faith to set out with nothing; to depend on the goodness of believers along the way to feed and lodge them? That is what I call packing light.
SLIDE 8 *Every two years when I travel to Colorado Springs. It is a small dilemma to pack for the region and the plane. One bag is not enough for all the layers of clothing, coats, gloves, scarves and boots. Each bag costs $50-60 and is limited by size and weight. Last January I struggled with a carryon bag that kept falling over, I dribbled my belonging throughout the three different airports. Maybe it is a good thing to be unencumbered with the trappings of too much stuff!
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
What does it mean to be worthy or unworthy? When we speak about worthiness, we are talking about an important aspect of NT teaching. The Greek word is the word axios. It occurs 41 times in the NT. That should give us already an idea of the importance of this word.
·        Cost of Kingdom Ministry and Rewards
12 As you enter the house, greet it.13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
SLIDE 9Sodom and Gommorrah is the standard for sin even today. Strange as it might seem there is evidence that scientists have found the geological evidence of these two cities. Excavation area at Numeira as it appeared following the 1977 season. Scientists say the sites look like burial houses that had a fire set on the rootop. Fire raining from heaven could explain how both cities were systematically set fire to and demolished. http://www.biblearchaeology.org At Bab edh-Dhra Jack Donahue of the University of Pittsburgh found that during the period of occupation there was sedimentation, or infilling, and a buildup of cultural debris (Donahue 1985: 135).
·        Warning of Persecution
SLIDE1016       "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
Are you willing to be an Ambassador for Jesus?
SLIDE 11Jesus  does not say if they hand you over.19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  
Guzik states “This isn't a justification of poor preparation in teaching and preaching God's Word, but it is a promise of strength and guidance for the persecuted that have an opportunity to testify of Jesus.”
SLIDE 1224"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.   "Thank God, they may call us what they like, but they cannot make us evil. . . . God was slandered in Paradise, and Christ on Calvary; how can we hope to escape?" (Spurgeon)
Remember the Beatitudes; Matthew 5:11-12"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Have No Fear
SLIDE 13 Matthew 10:26 Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
It is getting more dangerous for believers in today’s world. Still if we would be messengers of the gospels we must shout it from the rooftops.
SLIDE 14 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
God is the one to fear, not the men who persecute the followers of Jesus.  If men kill us, it will be temporary state, we will be resurrected when Christ returns. Only an omnipotent God can create life and only a Sovereign God can damn a soul to hell.
SLIDE 15 Romans 8:38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Are you willing to be an Ambassador for Jesus?
God is so concerned about our salvation that He warns us of the consequences of refusing that salvation. He is telling us that refusing His love is not simply a matter of taking it or leaving it. To leave it is to die. To turn away from God’s love is to perish.
SLIDE 1629 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
I love the fact that God knows us personally, the hairs of your head, the desires of your heart, your deepest fears.
SLIDE 17 32-33 When we stand up for Jesus Christ one day He will stand and introduce us to His Father. Woe to the one who denies Jesus before men,but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
34"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
A person’s family is the most precious relationship among human beings. However there is one relationship that should be above this relationship with your family: it is our relationship to Jesus Christ. We are to love Jesus supremely, counting Him more worthy than all, even more worthy than our own family. When we love Him in this way, Jesus will count us worthy of Him.
SLIDE 18 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.40"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
In verse 41 Jesus speaks of rewards for those who receives the Ambassadors of Christ.  Don’t you love that God think we are worthy of rewards. Truly being in the presents of Jesus will be enough. We will lay our crowns at His feet.
SLIDE 19.42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Jesus was referring to his disciples as these little ones. But children are at the forefront of my mind. Tomorrow morning there will be an adoption ceremony for 9 children. We  will get to participate in the celebration of forever families with these precious children who have come through our DHHS courtroom!
I think nothing done for a child is ever wasted.
SLIDE 20 Anyone can wear a cross. Are you willing to go when Jesus call?


Matthew 9 Lord of the Harvest Mary Alice

“All Power”
Aim:  “Choose to answer the call of the Lord of the harvest.”
 Introduction:  Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming. The food must be salted perfectly. Tree lights, candle lights will make your ordinary home beautiful and festive!
The world needs salt and light.  Will you labor alongside the Lord of the Harvest to bring his message of healing and forgiveness to the lost in the world?
1-A paralytic man was brought by his friends to Jesus. He healed the man-body and soul.
"Who will you bring to the Lord of the harvest?"
2- John's disciples were confused about the need for fasting. They brought their questions to Jesus. (John had said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”)
Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. (Cow illustration)
 Jesus explained with the illustrations of the
·        new /old cloth
·         new wine/old wine skins
"Is there so someone you need to love for the Lord of the Harvest?"

3-A ruler of the synagogue had a daughter who had died. Jesus went to lay hands on her and heal her.
On the way a woman with an issue of blood was healed by touching the hem of his (ordinary) garment. (He had let the Pharisees know that their broad hems were a sign of their pride.) This woman was unclean.
"Is there someone you need to “touch” for the Lord of the Harvest?”
4-Two persistent blind men followed Jesus, begging him for mercy. (They knew that He knew their needs.) He healed them.
Some believed; some doubted.
(Jeremiah 29:13 “And you shall seek me….)
He looked on the crowds and had compassion, for they were as sheep having no shepherd.  They were wandering not searching. In danger of falling, getting trapped, cast down, dying of hunger/thirst.
Who are the blind? Who need the salt and the light? Your compassion? Your prayers?
Dietrich Bonheoffer realized that Hitler was a real danger. He joined a group to set out to kill Hitler. Bonheoffer was caught, and died in a concentration camp.
Matthew 28:18 “All power!”
“Will you ask the Lord of the Harvest for that passion?”
Will you pray, “Lord here am I. Send me to be the salt and the light to a world in need”?


Mary Alice McDanal

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Matthew 8 Jesus Demonstrates Power and Authority



 SLIDE 1 Matthew 8-Jesus’ Power and Authority is the text of our lesson. Don’t forget to read your commentary. It will cover all verses. In chapter 4 of Matthew Jesus shows His authority over Satan even after 40 days and nights without food or water. In the last three verses of Chapter 4:23-25 Jesus proved his authority over disease by healing the “sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics.” This is an overview of His power.  But the miracles we will see in chapters 8 and 9 are singular events involving specific people we have heard about from our childhood. Please open your bibles to Matthew 8
SLIDE 2 Jesus has Power and Authority
·         Diseases (8:1-17)
·         Dangerous winds and seas(8:23-27)
·         Demons (8:28-34)
The last three chapters were Jesus teaching the Sermon on the Mount. Except for  verses 1-2 in Chapter 5 and the last two verses in Chapter 7 all of the text is RED meaning they are the words of  Jesus.
SLIDE 3  If you happen to have a red letter edition, it was striking to me that Jesus said one short sentence to the disciplines in the midst of the storm. To the demons he said one word.
In Genesis1: click God spoke the world into being. John’s Gospel begins with these words 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. Jesus has power and authority over disease, demons, and all creation
SLIDE 4 Matthew 8:1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.2And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."3And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying,
 
"I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Can you imagine the life of a leper? Leviticus 13:45-46 If found to be infected, “the leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.”
SLIDE 5 Jesus our LORD and Savior had such a great compassion on this despised and rejected man. Leprosy was considered so revolting that the leper wasn’t permitted to come within 150 feet of anyone when the wind was blowing. Yet Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.
4And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them." 
The priest was the only one who could declare a person “clean.” An offering was required for purification or reparation. Jesus followed the laws of Moses.
Leprosy is still around in 2015. India has the largest number of cases globally.
Do you know anyone who needs a loving touch? Jesus has authority over disease, demons, and nature.
SLIDE 6 5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6 "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." Some think this was polio.
7And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." Jesus knew He was the Messiah and pronounced He was the source of the healing. It was unprecedented that Jesus, a Jewish teacher, would go into the home of a Gentile which were considered unclean.
8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
 A centurion is a commander over a century or 100 men-the smallest unit in a Roman Legion. The centurion as a man of authority, believed that disease’s had to obey Christ’s bidding just as he had to obey his superior officer’s and those under his authority had to obey him. He recognized Jesus as possessing great spiritual authority and was convinced that he would be able to implement healing by merely speaking the word.
The centurion’s words made a great impression on Jesus.  This was a powerful military man, yet he shows compassion and merciful action toward a mere servant. The centurion showed respect for Jesus by calling him LORD and displayed sensitivity for the Jewish culture by not asking him to visit his home. Jesus would have broken tradition by entering the home of a Gentile.
SLIDE 7 10        When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.11              I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (pertains to the great feasts in God’s eternal home. Remember the wedding feast of the Lamb)12while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
 Isn’t strange that Jesus spoke more words of praise about this Gentile, a Roman soldier hated by the Jews, than about any other person in this chapter? The leper and the Roman both despised by the Jews were loved by Jesus. They both had tremendous faith:  Faith worth mentioning in God’s Word.
Do you have a faith that is noteworthy? Jesus has power and authority over disease, demons, and creation faraway or nearby.
Later Jesus will tell the scribe he has no place to lay his head. Jesus relied on the hospitality of believers to provide food and shelter for his disciples.
SLIDE 8 14And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.
Did you get that ladies this women had a very great fever, a fever that put her in the bed. In our day we may take a Tylenol for a fever, but it was a grave matter in Jesus’ day. Some historians suppose malaria. Yet when He healed her with a mere touch of His hand, she rose and began to serve him and all of his disciples.
This bible story was told at a mission meeting Monday night along with this verse.
SLIDE 9 Isaiah 60:
1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Every day ladies we are to arise and shine sharing the light of Christ blessing. I was reminded “We are not saved because we serve. We serve because we are saved.” Where are you serving the LORD and shining your light?


In Luke’s gospel 4:39   Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever,
16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
Jesus has power and authority over disease, demons, and creation.
17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."
Isaiah 53:3-4 Speaks of the Messiah being a suffering servant. “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;”…
SLIDE 10  After a night of healing Jesus needed to get alone to rest so he got into the boat with his disciples 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.25And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing."26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"
Ladies do you need calm in the storms of your life.
SLIDE 11 Who but Jesus could sleep in the middle of a storm? He had no fear for His safety. The disciples had seen Jesus heal the leper and scores of others. Was anything too hard for Him? Why were the disciples fearful in the storm? There were at least four seasoned fishermen in the boat. O ye of little faith. Not the faith shown by the  centurion.
Jesus is Creator, LORD of All. But we have to put our Faith in Him knowing He loves us and cares for our safety.
Jesus has authority over disease, demons, and destructive natural forces.
Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews without firing a shot. Instead, Black Bart used fear to paralyze his victims. His sinister presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard.
Today in the Word, August 8, 1992.
Ladies if you are paralyzed tonight by fear, don’t leave tonight until someone prays for you.
 SLIDE 12 As Jesus and his disciples crossed the sea of Galilee to the other side, to the CLICK country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
Three Gospels have different names that speak of same location all equally hard to pronounce. Click The little known village of Geresa in the country of Gadarenes which was named after the click largest city Gadara. Luke and Mark elaborate on the conditions of one man.
SLIDE 13 Mark 5:3-5 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
 Can you imagine the torment that would cause you to cut yourself and cry out day and night?
29(The demons cried out) "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Demons are very cowardly, always anxious about the fire that has been prepared for them.
31And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs."32And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.

SLIDE 14  Why was these men waiting on the shore for Jesus? Had the demons anticipated his coming? Warren Wiersbe says the storm could have been an attempt by the kingdom of darkness to discourage Jesus’ arrival. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waters as if they were disobedient. God, the creator, has control over all of His creations.
Demons originally were angels, created by God.  From the time that Jesus stepped his foot on the country of Gadarenes, the demons knew Jesus had sovereign authority over them. In verse 29 the demons were acknowledging that Christ was the Son of the most high God.
The demons recognized His power.
v. 29 The demons cried out His name
v. 31 They begged to go into pigs
v. 32 He gave them permission.
 The demonic powers were strong, but Jesus has dominion over the demons!
Luke 8:38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,39"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. This is the first missionary.
Ladies are you willing to spread light to those around you by declaring what the LORD has done for you?
Jesus has authority over disease, demons, and nature. He is LORD of All.  
SLIDE 15  1 John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, has authority in every situation and a conqueror over every enemy. He can bring calm to the storms in your life.
Charles Allen, tells us 5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?"
Victory in the Valleys.
SLIDE 15 Will you choose to recognize the power and authority of Jesus Christ?