Teaching Notes

PERFECT PRAISE

Psalm 33:1-8 ~ Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

PERFECT PRAISE. This is the thought I had on my mind on yesterday when I went to church. What do I mean by perfect praise? Perfect praise means we give God the ideal praise, without any interruption from outside forces. This means we will not allow our concerns, our issues, our problems to stand between us and the praise that God is due. We will pay tribute to God uninterrupted. Sometimes we must first remind ourselves of why we praise. We praise him because he is as he said to Moses, "I AM, THAT I AM", he is Jehovah/Yaweh. He tells us he has always been and will always be. He is our deliver, our God, our way maker, our peace – Jehovah Salom, our provider, Jehovah-jireh, his is our covering, our Jehovah-nissi, He is our ever present God, Jehovah-shammah. He is our savior.

Once we remind ourselves of who we are worshipping, we can do as the psalmist and sing joyfully. The psalmist tells us to praise him with the instruments. If you play the piano, then play it. If you sing, then sing. Whatever gift you have, use it to praise God.

The psalmist says to sing a new song; one that is filled with the love and thankfulness to the Lord. We are also told to play skillfully. This means that whatever talents we have we should use them to honor God by practicing and giving our best. The psalmist gives a few of the reasons why God is worth praise when he writes that God made the heavens by his Word.

This is that portion as I stated before where you have to remind yourself about who God is. The psalmist was reminding himself of why God was worthy of ideal (perfect) praise. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God and he deserves our very best.

This praise I am talking about is not only what you do in church. Do you praise God in the quietness of your home? Do you raise holy hands, do you sing, do you give your talents with skill and purposefully? We need to be mindful that we can praise God at anytime. In our homes, in our churches and in our quiet time when we read his Word.

This perfect praise is not only for the mature, but even for the young. It is so important that young people learn that God wants to have a personal relationship with them. He wants you involved in a time of praise with him. He desires to meet you for a time together. Do you set aside a time for God? I know it gets busy and we sometimes forget, but it is really important for us to make that time with God, especially if we desire to grow.

I challenge us this month to begin to make more time with God for worship. Not just a time of asking him for something, but a time where he invites us into his presence and we spend it with him, honoring, loving and adoring him. That's perfect praise!

Prayer: Lord help us to set aside time to have perfect praise with you. It is perfect because we are not allowing anything to get in between us. Not our problems, our worries, nothing. Help us this month experience that perfect praise with you. Amen.

Teaching Notes

Be Strong and Go!



The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ~ Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (New International Version)


Moses is preparing the Israelites for leadership change. He has led the people and now he is 120 years old. He tells them that he will not be going with them, but for them to have courage and not be afraid because God was going to go with them.

Moses is giving the people the instructions to go forward and take the land that the Lord has for them. Now this land is not empty. There are other people living there, but God promises them that if they follow him, he will give it to them. If you read this entire chapter you will see that God also knows that the people will rebel and not do all that they are told to do. Yet, God still encourages Joshua to be strong and go.

What's the lesson for us today? God has some things that he has especially for you. He is encouraging you not to be afraid of what the road to the land looks like, but to go. God wants his children to go and conquer the places he has set aside for each one of us. We cannot look at what's standing in the way of us receiving our land (just like the Israelites could not look at the people already possessing the land and let that keep them from receiving what God had for them).

What is the land God has for you? The first land is one of safety. God desires that you know him and have an intimate relationship with him. You can only do that through the acceptance of salvation as offered by his Son. The next land he has for you is one of purpose. God desires you to seek him so that you can find what he has for your life that will glorify him before others.

Today, I want to encourage someone to be strong and go. Go and find what God has for your life. Do not be afraid of the battle. It seems hard, and it might even look like you might lose. However, God promises that he will accompany us on our journey and that he will help us in our times of need.

Prayer: Lord help us your children to hear your message of courage and of sending. You are sending your children into some places that you said are ours but fear, not knowing what we will face and lack of faith keeps us from receiving what you have. Help us today so that we do not miss your blessings for our lives. This we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Teaching Notes

Who Am I to you?

But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. " - Mark 8:29


Jesus asked his disciples a question.  He asked them, who do people say I am? They responded and said, some say you are John the Baptist and some say you are Elias and others one of the prophets from before. Jesus then asked them, who do you say I am?
 
Peter answered and said, you are the Christ. This was not a long interaction, but a vital one for you and I to understand. Jesus initial question of who do they say I am and the response from Peter are important for believers to understand if we are going to walk worthy of our calling as disciples of Christ.
 
In Jesus' day they thought he was someone else. They thought he was John the Baptist that had been beheaded come back. Some thought he was one of the prophets. The problem was they were wrong and no one thought he was who he was, the Son of the Living God. They did not acknowledge that he was the promised Messiah that God had sent to earth to save his people.
 
This is true in our day. Some believe that Jesus was a good teacher, some believe he was a prophet that came to pave the way for another messiah. Whatever they believe about Jesus if it is not that he is the Son of the Living God, they are missing the mark. Many today still do not believe they must accept Jesus as Lord in order to be with God because they do not really know who he is.
 
Jesus' question turned from what the world thought about him to what his own disciples thought. It's true for us today. Jesus' turns to you and I and ask who do you say I am or more personally "Who Am I to you?"
 
As disciples of Christ we must believe Jesus is who he says he is. We cannot believe what the world tries to tell us he is, but in fact believe what his word reveals him to be. He tells us he is the Christ, the Son of God. He is the one that died for our sins and intercedes on our behalf.
 
We cannot believe the world's view that he is simply a good man, and that there are many paths and many ways to reach God. We cannot believe that any behavior or actions are suitable to present to Christ because, well he loves us and he'll take whatever we give him. He revealed himself as the Son of God and that His Father is a holy and righteous God that requires a Holy and righteous people.
 
When Christ comes to you and ask, "Who am I to you?" How will you answer? Will you answer and say to Him that he is your Lord and savior and that he is Christ in your life? Or will you answer like the world?
 
Prayer: Lord today help us so that we can answer this question with an affirmative answer that you are the Christ. Not simply because we said it from our mouths, but that our lives reveal that you are Christ dwelling in our hearts. Lord today help us release ourselves in your hand so that we can learn who you are, as you teach us what our identity is in you. Amen.

Teaching Notes

What's Your Reflection?

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." ~ John 3:20-21

We live in a time where people are saying one thing, but doing something else. In my time we called this being "two faced". Sometimes people are doing things that are not right but they try to hide it. They are not so quick to come around areas that would "shine the light" on what they are doing because they do not want to be exposed.

We hear it in our news, political people having to say they are sorry or resign positions because the evil they were doing has been exposed. Companies have gone bankrupt because of the deeds of CEO's being exposed.

God's word speaks to us today about these kinds of things. Those that do wrong hate the light. There are different applications here regarding light. Light first and foremost represents God and his truth. People that do wrong try to hide from God's light because it shows them for what they are. Another application for light is a place of transparency. In the dark it is hard to see things so a person can hide things, but when a spotlight has been placed on something you can see it clearer.

This is the requirement of God. He wants his children to put themselves in the light. First to be his child you must be a child of Light. And when you are a child of light, you must walk in the light so that others can see your actions plainly and know that God's Spirit dwells within your hearts.

The question is, what's your reflection? If you look at yourself in the light will you find somethings reflected there that need to be changed? Are you going to church on Sunday's and appearing to be one of the group, but during the week you are hanging out with friends drinking, smoking, having sex and things that God says to refrain from? We need to really take a true look at ourselves so that we will not be fooled about who we are.

Have you looked at yourself in the dark in the mirror and saw nothing wrong, but when you turned on the light you were able to see the blemishes or imperfections on your face? Well that is how it is if we try to do things in the dark. We begin to think we look alright because we are seeing our reflection in a darkened stated. But when light is reflected upon us we see all the blemishes and imperfections in our lives.

This month, that the time to truly reflect on your life. Is there anything (big or small) if exposes in your life would be displeasing to the Lord? Then get rid of it!

Praying this month for God to help our reflection to reflect more of his son so that when others see us, they will truly know that God is doing something in us.

Teaching Notes

A Pure Heart

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1

First, let us look at the first part of Paul's message. He states, "since we have these promises". What are the promises Paul is writing about? If we go back and read the chapters before Paul urges the fellow workers to receive God's grace and he reminds them that about salvation. The promise is that God will save us and give us the help we need to follow him.

So, the promise you and I have is that God will save us and strengthen us to do what is right. Because of these promises, Paul encourages the reader to purify themselves of anything that keeps the body and the spirit from being in harmony with God.

The first place thing that must be different before actions can change is the heart. We must do like David did and ask God to give us a pure heart and give us a right spirit. If we change our hearts, or what is important to us we can see change in our lives and the things we do.

If someone is going to stay pure sexually, it has to be a matter of the heart. Your parents can tell you why not to be sexually active for all the right reasons, but if you have not decided within your heart that you desire to be obedient to God, you will not flee from sexual sin.

If someone is going to live a holy life in actions and deeds, if the heart has no desire for godly things, then no amount of coaxing a person to do right will make it happen. If you are going to live a life pleasing to God, the love for God and the love of God must be firmly planted in your heart.

This month of July, take a close look at your actions. Do the things that are important to you reflect God? If they do not, then how can you expect to live a life that reverences God without his help?  I pray for us this month that we would begin to do as David did and ask God to change our hearts.

We need God to give us a pure heart so that we can desire pure things. We need a pure heart so that what we do will not be sinful in the eyesight of God.

Let's pray: Lord, help me to receive and live in your promise of salvation and freedom from the sins that so easily captures mind, spirit and body.. Help me Lord to live a life that is pure. Help me so that my heart will be turned to you and your will. I desire Lord to live a life pleasing to you, but I also acknowledge that I am not able to do that by myself. I need your love dwelling in me. Help me is my prayer. Amen.

Teaching Notes

Is God Calling You?

1 Samuel 3:1-10

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Image if you would this young boy that is being called by God yet he doesn't understand who is calling him because he had never heard from the Lord before. So when he heard God calling he ran to Eli and asked him what he wanted. He was wrong it wasn't Eli calling him but God. He did this three times before he was directed to listen for God.

How many times have we misunderstood God speaking to us for our own voices or the voices of other people? How many times has God spoken to you but because you did not recognize his voice you thought you were having a good idea? So like Samuel we go running in the wrong direction, when what we need to do is stand still and respond to God's calling.

What should you do when you think you are having a "good thought"? Maybe it is God calling you. Just as Eli told Samuel to go back and if God called again, to say, here I am. This is what you should do. Go back or stop moving in the wrong directions and be still. Stop trying to figure things out or trying to work things out for yourself. Instead, ask God to speak to you and then listen to hear what he has to say.

As soon as he does, then it is your responsibility to take that lesson and move forward. Another question may be, how do I know God is speaking to me? That is a good question and it has more than one answers. In this scripture God spoke out loud to Samuel. Maybe God isn't calling you in this way, but he can be calling you through the Bible, through the messages preached Sunday after Sunday. He can reach you through your time of prayer or through others that encourage you, teach you or direct you through the word of God. None of these methods will be contrary to the word of God. Anything you hear should line up with God's word.

Is God calling you? I would have to say the answer to that is yes! God is calling all to first come to him and be saved and secondly to be used by him for his purpose.
 
Prayer: Lord help me to hear you voice among the many sounds in my world. Help me to hear and understand that I am hearing from you. Lord help me to not only hear you but to move as you direct. Allow me to follow your Spirit so that I can walk in the way you have called me. Help me to hear you in the midst all the areas of my life. Amen!

Teaching Notes

Friend of God

Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'- Exodus 33:10-12

Moses was called by God to lead the people out of Egypt to a land that God had promises their forefathers. In this scripture God has told Moses that he would no go with the people because they were complainers and stiff-necked. Moses goes into the tent that he put outside of the camp so that the people could go seek the Lord.

Moses went into the tent to speak to God about the people. When he entered, the presence of God met him there. The Lord spoke to Moses as a friend. It was because of this relationship, that God told Moses he would go with the people because he knew Moses and Moses knew his name.

This is so important for us to understand this relationship and the benefits. God calls Moses his friend. That means God share important things with Moses. God took time to listen and speak to Moses. And Moses knew God by name. When someone is your friend, you know their name. You know some of the details about that friend.

We know that God already knows all about us because he created us, but how wonderful to say that we know someting about God. We know God in several ways. We know him through his word and through his spirit. His Holy Spirit helps us to understand God's word. We cannot really understand it without the help of the Lord. God's Spirit also helps us to under God's direction and his will.

As we allow ourselves to seek the presence of God as Moses did, we can find ourselves being blessed with a close relationship with God and benefit from a friendship. Don't you want to be able to talk to God and know that he wants to stand with you, help you and direct you? Don't you want God to think of you as his friend?

Prayer: Lord today we seek to have a face-to-face relationship with you. We want to know you more intimately as you know a true friend. We want to be able to tell you our secrets, those things that are special to us. We want to hear those hidden things about you that are only revealed to those that are your friend, those that walk with you, talk with you and grow to know you more intimately. Help us Lord, we pray. Amen.