With a New Year comes "New Years Resolutions".  

What is our "Resolutions" this year in regard to our service to God? 

Do we know who our "Great Physcian" is? 

Scripture tells us in Luke 5:31:

 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

This is likely not a new perspective but let us consider for this lesson that "sick" refers to a need in our lives...growth in an area, or the purging of ourselves in another.  The Great Physician is also our personal Creator...and He knows what we need.

Throughout our experience, God has been faithful to show us our need to be a partaker in the service; the need to, in certain situations and trials, to 'be blameless'; the need to hold onto a promise He had given us; the need to be faithful and obedient when He tells us take a stand that may go against our flesh; the need to be humble in our attitudes when dealing with a soul, and to let Him guide our conversation; the need to be a better servant. We are a needy people, and though we have been made whole, the BIble reminds us in Ephesians 4:12 " For the perfecting of the saints..."...we still have needs.

The great physician comes to us in service, BST (Bible Study Time), devotions and prayer life to help us.  let us not give ear to discouragement if we're not progressing as quickly as we'd like.  Our Bible Study Time teacher, Rick, has mentioned on more than one occasion, before submitting our lives to Christ, we were in sin and have had habits for many years.  

We can't let the enemy of our souls discourage us in our determination.  

The great physician has physically cleansed the lepers in Matthew.

" Mat 8:1  When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

Mat 8:2  And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mat 8:3  And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."

It was defilement, against regulation, that the leper would even come close enough to be touched by anyone. There were many, if not thousands of leper colonies where lepers were quarantined in order to prevent spreading the disease.  It was considered a curse.  Hoever, this leper came to Jesus, boldly, seeking rest and healing.   Leprosy affected eyes, limbs, skin, scalp, and respiratory functions. 

Just as this leper came into God's presence for his needs, we must approach the throne.

Just as the leper was healed for his physical ailments, we know leprosy and disease to be a type and shadow for sin. 

But He tells us in Mark 2:5-11:

  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

  

Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Mat 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mat 4:24  And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

  We serve a great physician, a God mighty and able to heal the innermost and outermost part of us.

Are you determined you will not be moved in your Christian faith?

As Christians it is important to be active in the work of God. We have to be determined in our soul that we are going to be anchored. This walk needs to be a love for God and must be a reflection of God in our lives.

The saints need to be like trees planted where the river flows cause if so then our roots will go down deep and our soil will be rich. 

 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

Can God count on you?

Are you there when He needs you?

 God wants someone who will not be moved.

Jesus says,  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelation 3:12 

Teacher speaking: "My mom and sisters were praying for me for many years. When I first came to church, after the message, I went down to the alter to pray to God but I didn't know how to sell out. I left, but when I knew I needed to sell out to God, I ended up coming back a period of time later and gave everything to God. Someone came up to me and said, 'Welcome back brother!' I told him, 'I am back for good.'"

That is how we need to be in this walk with God.

We need to be determined we will not be moved.

"A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved." Psalm 15:1-5

 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

What is your profession?

What duties does that entail?

Who am I? Who are you?

What are the duties of a Christian?

It's not just living a clean sin-free life, it's a life of service.

If being a Christian is most important to us, the duties of that profession will be our #1 priority.

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

Ambassador means messenger, servant; the highest ranking diplomatic representative appointed by one country or government to represent it in another.

Hebrews 11:13 tells us that we as Christians are ambassadors in a foreign land (strangers and pilgrims passing through).

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

We cannot be "casual" in our experience. We must be on guard always.

We are strangers and sojourners in this life.

"For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." 1Ch 29:15

Hebrews 11:15-16 talk about a "heavenly country" that God hath prepared for His people.

Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

We are sent to bring the gospel to the whole world.

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

How far are we willing to go for God?

Isa 20:1 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

Isa 20:2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Isa 20:3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

Isa 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Not everybody does the same thing when it comes to the work of the Lord, but we need to be asking God what He'd have us to do.

When Paul was confronted by Jesus he was willing to be used by God.

Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Moses and Gideon are examples in the bible of people that God used to fulfill His eternal purpose even though they doubted their capabilities.

Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Jdg 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

Jdg 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Jdg 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

Jdg 6:14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

The question isn't whether or not you've been asked to do something - the question is are you willing?

We are in times where people are more open to God - God may ask us to do something we're not comfortable with.Will we be willing and ready?

To be used of God, we must sacrifice our own way.

Examples - look at those who were used of God - they are blessings to us, but had hard lives.

Abraham - God called him away from his home to give him his inheritance - Israel, Canaan.

Joseph - sold into slavery; to be in a position to save not only his family, but millions.

Moses - chose to serve God over Pharaoh's palace, was used to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Jeremiah - the weeping prophet who was severely persecuted by the "people of God" for telling the truth.

Elijah - chased from home by King/Queen.

Daniel - was thrown into the lions den, prophet while in captivity in Babylon.

These had hard lives, but God was able to use them mightily.

What is the essence of your life?

When Christ saves us He gives us a mind to be "spiritually minded". Colossians 3:2 says that must "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

 When God changed us He changed our thinking.

Verse 3 says, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Question: What does the scripture mean when it says "ye are dead"?

Let's continue in verses 4-5 to answer this question.

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"

Therefore we find we are dead to sin and our "old life" and "self".

Read Romans 6:1-4.

Romans 6:5-6 says, "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

To these things we die.

Galations 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

What a challenge it is for us to exemplify Christ in our lives.

The best way to do it is live it.

The world will see Christ in us if we live it.

Are you dead to the world and its pleasures or are you dead to Christ?

Colossians 3:1-2 says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth".

These two scriptures tell us that we need to "seek those things (things of God)" and to "set our affection" on the things of God.

Even though we are dead and our life is hid and our life is hid in Christ we need to still seek the things of God and set our affections above.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain".

If we're not seeking those things above obstacles that come will take us off track from our responsibility to the things of God.

1 Corinthians 12:31 says, "But covet earnestly the best gifts..."

We have taken on the "best gifts", the "better way".

The "best gift" we have is first and foremost salvation, and some others include obediance, humility, a heart God can mold.

We need to be willing to let God mold us no matter how hard it may be for us.

Going back to verse 2 in Colossians chapter 3 we see that in order to "set our affections on things above" we must be spiritually minded. When we get saved God gives us a spiritual mind.

Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace".

How is your thinking?

How is your meditation?

We need to pray for one another.

Let us take hold of the "best gift" and set our affections on things above in order for us to be successful in our walk as Christians today! Amen.

We have a responsibility to keep ourselves from sin.

We need to be careful NOT to take too much of this world's "wisdom".

We need to seek God's wisdom.

Wisdom = God

Lusting for things we should not have can defile the temple.

Pride will defile the temple, as well as, self-deception.

Galations 6:3 says, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself".

James 1:22 says, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves".

Be both a hearer and a doer!

The remedy for self-deception is self-examination.

1 Corinthians 11:28 says, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup".

Question: Are you worthy to eat and drink of Christ?

11 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Examine yourselves, weather ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

We don't want to be self-deceived into thinking we're ok if we're not.

Discontmentment can defile the temple. Be happy!

Are you happy with what God has done for you?

The devil can make you forget what it was like before you were saved. He can make the grass seem greener on the other side.

Be careful with the complaining!

The devil wants you to be a walking question box, "Why, Why, Why?"

Philipians 4:11 says, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content".

We need to take a real interest in the services. They are there for our benefit.

God's people are going to prosper spiritually. He said so! Amen.

Question: What is the primary use of light?

Webster: Something that makes vision possible.

Question: What are different sources of light?

• Candle
• Fire
• Moon
• Flashlight

These are all different ways that light can make your vision possible.

Have you ever stopped to consider what light does for us? What do you think about when you realize some of the beauties light can shed? Sometimes light can magnify an item or object in a positive or negative way. That is, make something appear beautiful or it may shine forth the "true colors" which reveals a not so attractive feature.

These are some examples what light can do:

1. Light can guide your path
2. Light can show you the clear and narrow way
3. Light makes things grow

Without light in the world we would be as Jesus said in Matthew 15:14, "blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch."

Source of Light

In order to understand how to be a light in the world we need to know where the source comes from.

The bible teaches that Jesus is the source of light and he's even the light of all men.

We are representatives of Jesus, the true source of light

Question: Since Jesus is the way, the truth and life - what should we as christians do?

We are to live as Christ and represent and present the way, the truth and the life to people seeking to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Question: Why did Christ say that true believers are the light of the world?

They have the Spirit of God within them.

We represent the light today. When Jesus gave instruction to the apostles and Paul and Timothy, they were to go into the world and preach and teach the light of the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, 2 Corinthians 4:4).

If we represent the light of the world then we have a great task.

Once we bring Jesus into our hearts we have a great responsibility.

Those who follow Jesus and have him in their hearts will have the light.

Question: What responsibilty did Jesus leave for us to do?

• Provide spiritual light in the darkness of sin by teaching it to people and being an example in our work place or wherever we are.
• Another is to carry and spread the light all over the world so that people would turn from sin and have the light of divine grace.

Instead of hiding our light or not shining as bright as we can, we should be shining examples of holiness so the world can see a difference and the same light that we have to shine.

So then we ask ourselves: Do we represent light or darkness?

It is very important to be a light in the world.

What would we do if there is no light?

What would we do if there was no Jesus?

How would this world have any hope?

The world represents darkness without any light. How is this world to be a better place, and souls saved if they don't receive the light of the world?

You either represent Satan, a false source of light, or Jesus, the true source of light.

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

If we represent the light of the world, then it will be known.

It is so important that we be a good example to people and to the church. People are watching us.

How do we handle things under pressure?

God has grace for all of it.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

We cannot defile the temple with things God isn't pleased with. 

 Are you able to feed on the "strong meat" that Paul mentions here to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 3:2 says "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."

While the "milk" represents the elementary doctrines of Christ, "strong meat" represents deeper spiritual truths that may be harder for us to chew on. Things to chew on that may work against the flesh but must be digested in order to grow in our walk with God is an example of strong meat.

We cannot survive in our walk with God on "milk" alone.

As we learn and grow and become stronger in the Lord God requires more of us. We must grow in our walk with God.

One way we can defile the temple is if we let pride get in the way.

1 Corinthians 3:18, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise."

We need to always keep in mind that wisdom is from God and not of ourselves.

James chapter 3 teaches us that we need to be careful not to lust. Lust begins as a temptation and if we begin to let it grow it becomes sin.

 We need to be careful with putting ourselves in position to be tempted.

The more we are tempted the more apt we are to possibly give in and sin.

James 1:14 says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."

The devil wants nothing more than for us to be drawn away.

In verse 16 James says "do not err". Be careful.

The world is very lustful. Remember our vows to God; resist the devil and he will flee.

Isaiah 26:9 says, "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

That is a good desire. When the enemy comes at us when we seek God he has no choice but to flee.

Pride will defile the temple.

 Read Proverbs 6

What is a good solution for pride? Humility

Isaiah 57:15 says, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

Stay humble and God will revive you. You are only who you are because of Almighty God. Be honest enough to ask God if there is anything in you that is not like Him. Do we pray this way? Do we really want God to show where we should be? It is difficult because it takes us away from our comfort zone but it is important in our walk with God in order to measure to where we need to be.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (rejected due to a sinful way of living)".

Question to consider: Is your temple in honor to God?

God only dwells in a clean and holy temple.

We want Him to stay there and be honored with His presence.

In order to do that we need to allow Him to rule in our hearts.

Can you name different examples of people in the bible who were tempted?

Examples:

• Job (Job's wife told him to curse God)
• Lot (Sodom and Gommorah)
• Jesus (World Power/Riches)

What are we tempted by?

1 Corinthians 10:13 says "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it".

We won't be tempted by anything that God won't allow.

Question: Who knows us best?

As well as we know ourselves, God knows us better.

Problem: The Devil knows us just as well.

We need to know ourselves just as well.

We will be tempted toward our weaknesses.

It is important that we know what our weaknesses are.

2 Corinthians 12:10 says "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, than am I strong".

If we know our weaknesses, then we know what we can avoid.

If we don't know the weaknesses that could lead us to fall, then we need to figure them out.

Many people have left God and His church after succombing to something that they were weak at. Wheather they knew they were weak in that area of not is the question.

We can't get condemned if get tempted. Saints get tempted. This is not a sin. There are many scriptures in the bible that prove this.

Acts 20:19, 2 Peter 2:9, Galations 4:14, James 1:2

Just because we get things thrown at us by the devil, that doesn't make you a sinner.

There are people out there that will tell you temptation is a sin but what we do when we are tempted is what will decide if we sin or not.

We have to "enter" into temptation to bring sin upon us.

Mark 14:38, Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4

Jesus constantly warned against entering into temptation.

How do we resist falling into the temptation that is presented to us?

We know it will be hard to resist sometimes because the devil will attack your weakness.

There are 4 ways we can use in this example to resist temptation.

1. Watch and pray

Mark 14:38 says "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truely is ready, but the flesh is weak.

We need to stay "prayed-up". When we get spiritually weak, then we will obviously be more succeptable to temptations.

2. We need to keep our hearts tender to what God has to say to us.

Psalm 95:8, Hebrews 3:8

If we harden our hearts to what comes across the pulpit, or what God shows us in the bible, or anything spiritually, we can be very succeptable to falling into temptation.

Harden your heart means that what you hear doesn't apply to you, or that God's way is no longer best.

3. We need to cast down temptations/avoid putting yourself in situations where you know you are weak.

Genesis 39:4-12

Those verses tell us that Joseph didn't remain in the room with the woman. He avoided contact with her and ran away.

We should try to stay away from the things that would make us tempted to give into.

Bad examples of falling into temptation and giving in to temptation are David (Bethsheba), Samson (Delilah).

4. We can use the scriptures to cast down temptation from the devil.

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus used one of the only things that will make the devil go away, God's Word.

We need to know what the Word says so that we can use it to combat the devil and his temptaions.

What happened after Jesus resisted the temptations? Blessing. The angels came to minister to him.

We get a big blessing when we successfully resist temptation.