Hope Sabbath School- Lesson 9 Paul's Pastoral Appeal (3rd Qtr 2017)

[Music] welcome to Hoch sabbath-school an in-depth interactive study of the Word of God we're in the middle of a series on the Gospel in Galatians today Paul's pastoral appeal not just the early Christians but to each one of us wanting us to have a living connection with Christ I'm glad you joined us it could be a life-changing study for you today maybe invite your friends to come over and join you because we've got a message that will bless your life so welcome to hope Sabbath school welcome to the team great series of studies I need this to be reminded not to go back to the elements of this world but to have faith in Jesus and trust him for that new life that he wants to give to each one of us and whenever we hear from you especially when you share with us what God is doing in your life through a study of his word it's such a blessing I've got a few emails here I'd like to share and we'd love to hear from you you can write to us at SS Hope at Hope TV org and we send it out to the entire team because it really brings encouragement doesn't it to hear those those messages so here's one I just want to thank first of all ideal thanks for writing from South Sudan and he writes and says I'm writing to you from yam bo South Sudan though my country is experiencing the ongoing conflict I still take courage to attend Hope Sabbath school on the internet and we if you ever needed the Lord before yes we sure do need him now don't we but actually we need him all over the planet and today's the day we want to connect with him he continues I feel blessed by hope Sabbath school I hope we meet together with your team in the new near future but if not here then in the kingdom of God and may he continue putting may you continue putting my country in your prayers so that the people of South Sudan can get access to listen to the Word of God these studies have been a blessing to my life may God bless your team as you continue to share the Word of God with us well ideal thanks for writing to us from South Sudan we many of us have not lived in the kind of hardship that your people are experiencing we want to be praying for when you god bless you as you not only participate in hope Sava school but share the Word of God with those around you bula where's that from bula Fiji I thought you didn't know lever lever rights from Fiji and I guess bulla is like hello there I thank God for hope Sabbath school because I'm certain I am blessed just by listening to you all I not only listen but I pray to God for strength to live what I learned is that awesome yeah that's the Spirit of God isn't it Spirit of God in us that says I want you my daughter my son to live what you learn your program gives me motivation to follow Jesus please remember my family in your prayers thank you and God bless you all well Leba I don't know where the lemma is a man's name or a lady's name and maybe I'll get some emails from Fiji saying you didn't know what we'd love to hear from you but we are praying for your whole family and thanks for being part of hope Sabbath school Maryann writes from Mississippi in the United States of America anybody from Mississippi here today know what she writes and says I listened to you every day of the week and I am learning so much so Marianne is watching our daily daily hope which way you can go every day studying in-depth study of the word of God she says I was brought up a Catholic but I did not learn the Bible but I'm learning now amen is that great his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Thanks for writing to us Jame de right from eat know an Ethiopian living in India he's going to graduate school in India and tomato writes and says I watch hope Sabbath school every Friday evening by downloading it from the internet I started watch watching hope Sava school one year ago and when I see you every Friday night my faith becomes bright and my hope starts the build is that awesome you know the boys tell a smile but because the love of God is flowing through us to bless people's lives that a bright face and a hope budding that's encouraging I am so blessed God is working his amazing work through you especially your participation in the study of the word of God amen and I'm praying today that God will impress some of you to share your testimony and by the way we would love to hear from our viewers who write you can share your testimony with us it won't come live unto the program that would be the next step of technology wouldn't it but you can write to us at SS hope at hope TV org share your testimony of how the study of God's Word today Paul's pastoral appeal impacts your life we would love to hear that but you'd be praying if God has a testimony for you today he can jimena concludes god bless you all and I just want to say God bless you to Tamara from Martinique one last note Lilian in Martinique a French Caribbean island I listen to hope Sava school it is for me a way to study the Bible and to learn English I've improved my listening and speaking by watching hope Sava school the first time I watched it was not evident but now it's the pleasure to take part with hope sabbath-school God blessed the whole team it's my favorite moment to concentrate on my English and listen to all of your accents well just take a moment now look at the team here today you know we represent every nation kindred tongue of people amen yeah because the gospel is going to go how far there's a whole world including to Martinique Lilian says he wants to be a follower of Jesus too and Martinique is a great place to learn about Jesus you share living on what you've learned with those around you right now we're going to sing a song it's been our theme song for this series it's a it's a message that I really love is straight from the Bible Galatians 2:20 and 21 if you've not learned it yet you can go to our website hope TV org slash hope SS you can download the sheet music download the mp3 file but I think many of you have already learned it I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who lives but Christ lives in me it's a beautiful song let's sing it together I cry I have been I [Applause] [Music] I wish you have fun [Music] I for righteousness [Music] bang [Music] rush [Music] you know I'm so thankful for these scripture songs and you know my wife writes them so I can hide God's Word in my heart in fact she began to write them so our children would memorize Scripture and had no idea that it would change thousands of people tens of thousands of people hundreds of thousands of people because it is the Living Word of God it's a promise isn't it Christ living in me a new life a new creation what Paul calls today speaking as a pastor Paul makes an appeal and it's not just to those Christians who were in danger of forgetting the gospel that they've been taught it's an appeal to each one of us could we pray that God would bless each hopes have a school member around the world speak to each heart today let's pray father in heaven thank you so much that you have sent the prophets the Apostles you've sent messengers down through time to point us to the truth of Scripture and most clearly you sent your own son Jesus to save us to show us the way of righteousness the way back to you to tell us the good news for this life and for eternity I pray that as we listen to God's Word today as we listen to the gospel in Galatians that you would speak a life-changing message to each of our hearts each of us around the world and we will praise you forever in the name of Jesus amen we're in Galatians chapter 4 verse 12 we sense the urgency as Paul is speaking and I'm going to ask semi so if you would begin our study in Galatians chapter 4 and verse 12 just just as he's about to to introduce an important topic just hear his words as he speaks to us there are some four verse twelve I'm reading from the New King James Version says brethren our urge you to become like me for I became like you you have not injured me at all now that word urge that I don't know how strong that and feels to you does anyone have another translation does it just say urge in your Bible or listen to plead I plead that sounds a little stronger doesn't it in Luke 5 and we won't read it but it's where the leper comes to Jesus and he throws himself down at the feet of Jesus and it says he begged him lord if you are willing you can make me clean that's the same word that Paul is using here there's another time when Jesus has just set a man free from a legion of demons oh and and it says in Luke chapter 8 that that the man begged Jesus that he could stay with him well I would want to stay with him - but but but Jamie like you said in a previous study Jesus is always there with us isn't he in fact he says I will never leave you or forsake you and he told him remember to go back to his people but there's that same word and then in Luke 9 where where a man has a son under the influence of a demon and he came the disciples tried to cast the demon out you remember the story they couldn't and the father comes to to Jesus and it says he begged him is the same word so as you think about Galatians 4 where he says I urge you are plead with you or I beg you what do you what are you here there a sense of desperation desperation possibly because if they go back away from Christ they go into destruction right what else do you hear like we need a video don't we because we don't know the intonation but trishul a concern concern confidence yeah love now you say well you can't really hear the love it and that's true unless you read the rest of the book right where he's really he's calling them his brothers right there he's speaking his family to them but I think you're right if we had a video we'd see that we might even say see tears in his eyes I urge you I plead with you I beg you and then you you've answered the question partially why is he so passionate because it's a matter of life and death let me ask you before we go into the study have you ever had the privilege of leading a person to accept Jesus as as their Savior how do you feel about that person I mean you get some kind of connection with them Brittany I know that you've been involved you're in grad school now but I mean you've been involved in giving Bible studies and ha what kind of connection do you have with a person when you you help them to find a life-changing relationship with Jesus I think of many different people but I feel like I'm their parent trying to you know carry them and make sure that nothing happens to them and making sure they have mentors to keep growing and I often call them on the phone and pray for them you know frequently because I don't want anything to happen to them I just want them to continue staying with Christ can you resonate with that yeah we certainly would feel that way with a loved one a friend soomi so for me the the biggest thing is I feel like I'm inspired more to leave a life that's worthy of that call in because I hae them as looking at me as someone who led them to a certain pop am i leaving according to what I taught and that's an interesting insight because the Apostle Paul will I'm trying to remember study the whole book if he's going to do it I think he will do it even in our study today when he says follow my example yeah that's that's a solemn thought it might even seem a little bit proudly saying no you ought to expect that I will live what I'm telling you and that will keep me on my knees I think right yeah yeah so there's this this love this genuine concern and maybe a little desperation if if someone you love is going to go and take a road that leads to destruction let's continue as he's speaking to them verses 13 through 18 and specially if you could read that for us we're still in Galatians 4 13 to 18 let's we've got the his heart conviction by the word I beg you I plead with you let's hear what he says healthy reading from the New King James Version you know that because of physical infirmity I preach the gospel to you at the first and my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject but you received me as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus what then was the blessing you enjoyed for I bear you witness that if possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth they zealously court you but for no good yes they want to exclude you that you may be zealous for them but it is good to be zealous and a good thing always and not only when I am present with you so how would you describe his relationship with them the first time you met them Oh Jason very strong it's almost like they be willing to give parts of their body for him that's how much they care about him which we'll come to with what kind of physical ailment he was dealing with some had thought maybe it was his eyesight like you two plucked out your eyes and given them to me if you could you know cornea transplant or whatever you know there was this tight bond he loved them they were his spiritual children you talked about that almost like a parent Brittany even though they may have been older than you right some of them some were younger but there's this family of God and they believed him and says they received him like an angel of God or even its Christ which means they believed what he was saying was and teaching was true so it's not this detached calm dumped the truth it's up to you whether you accept it or not but I care about you right it's genuine and what what did he want to see happen verse 19 Stephanie Romans 4 verse excuse me galatians 4 verse 19 and first rita and then what does that mean alright and from the King James Version my little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you anyone else have another translation my New King James is quite similar Christ formed in you Jamie what what version do you have the New Living Translation have fully developed in your lives Christ so so they can't be talking about like physically Christ right what does it mean Christ fully developed in your life Jamie I think it means I reflect the character and what well that is character vice formed in you how does that happen let's look at a few Bible verses it well let me preface with a question is it automatic just because you say I choose to become a follower of Jesus no no that his character will be perfectly reproduced yeah let's take a look at a few verses Jason could you look in first Corinthians 11 and verse 1 I'll be reading from the New King James Version 1st Corinthians chapter 11 verse 1 imitate me just as I also imitate Christ that comes back to some ISA what you were talking about the example right the the word there means to mimic again if he just said imitate me what what how might you react he's prideful yeah like who you think you are I have to like copy everything you do right but what was the important qualifier there and I am a crying so I'm following Christ and you have a right as someone that I've helped this year I wonder if that's too even for us on hope SATA school you know we're sharing the truth about Jesus with the world do they have a right to expect us to live a little unrealistic what do you think Marinella you know my church um well I go to Sabbath school and they have expected a little more of me so I teach I teach this out of school oh you do there and as they've seen you on hopes eyetality and and I am and I'm growing in Christ when I do it too so I I'm doing that it's also as an example because of God is is changing my life and I'm growing in Christ so an interesting thought that marinella brought up and that is I'm the call to be an example living in Christ for those that were sharing the gospel with is it just for them no it's for us right so early yet another verse in Philippians 3 and verse 17 Christ we're talking about how Christ is formed in us and and Paul said well one of the ways is I share Jesus with you you can look and say charity what does it look like to be a follower of Jesus and you could say well by the grace of God follow my example right how does it read in Philippians 3 and verse 17 I'll be reading from the New King James Version brethren join him following my example and know those who so walk as you have us for a pattern mmm there's a he doesn't say as I follow Christ there but what What did he say what did you hear anybody follow the pattern of my life yes but there was a little bit more he added the Oliver's together with me so both of them he's following Christ and he's inviting them to follow Christ along yeah I think there's a little more even than that - Nicole says God will make it clear to you what it is you should be doing yes Jason it says those who so walks on it other ah thank you thank you thank you sorry I was taking so long to get there but he's saying I'm not the only one right I'm not the only one who's an example that that could get pretty much like a like a kind of a cult following like a prima donna you know super hero everybody dressed like me and cut your hair like me you know that's not healthy is it but he's saying there are the people to look around and and what and note them right you notice and say you know that woman of God that young man they were there really allowing Christ to be formed in them that they become an example does that make sense yeah I know you think of my little baby little Abigail she's only seven months old right now and she's imitating everything that I'm teaching her like as she sees me drink from a cup no she takes a look up and she wants to do the same thing and I'm not the only one that she sees around that drinking from a cup so as he's saying like from birth and from and from as a child we're kind of learning and imitating from those around us that are our examples and maybe God given examples you know good witnesses so the lesson that's a great illustration isn't it a child growing and a young Christian growing the an important lesson for us would be then would be be careful we want to do okay thank you that's a colloquial expression to go write American is bright indigo says be careful who you hang out with be careful who your circle of friends is now we ought to try to build relationships with people who don't know Jesus but be careful that you don't have so many of them that instead of you influencing them they're produce right so what do we learn so far for Paul's says one of the ways Christ is formed in you is you see that especially in someone who's helped you to find Christ and and now Paul says I'm not the only one look around a note people right who are living that kind of example what about second Thessalonians chapter three verses Nicole do you have verses seven through nine and second Thessalonians we're talking here about the process of Christ as Jamie said not Christ character right being reflected in us again not to earn his salvation but because we we've been redeemed we've been adopted into the family of God second Thessalonians chapter three verses 7 through 9 from the New International Version for you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example we are not idle when we were with you nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it on the contrary we worked night and day laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you I saw you saw Stephanie when when Nicole was reading that that sounds intensely practical it's talking about actually there were tent makers right it's not just talking about which day you should go to church what do you learn from that well he wasn't going to be a burden on someone he made sure that he a workman he did what he needed to do in order to support himself okay anybody else so the practicality of that Trisha Lee so it's I think there's a term called self-sustaining ministry now where it is in your lab which true it's like you are able to not just show up and then your funds run out and then you can't bless people but you have funds and means so that you can stay for a longer period of time and be among a society for longer if you need to really work with them and in the process you're not a burden to them where you become a charity case or it's like okay well who really needs help here is that you or is it us but I think in that way it's like it's practical and that you know you can be a minister to others but you can stay even longer if you're able to do that so how many of you here are paid to be on Hope Service cool raise your hand know your volunteers right so that practical aspect but I'm thinking even more than just self sustaining ministry and that is people are looking at everything you do yeah not just when you pray or if you go to church they're looking at everything is that is that a bit overwhelming what you can't be what do you think charity I mean they're looking at everything they're looking at they're looking at how you treat your husband yeah right they're looking at everything and it can be overwhelming sometimes but if you are in Christ Jesus then it's encouraging that my my life is a witness here's a way that I can be an example for him and it makes me conscious of how I speak to my husband how I care for others and the things my actions yeah I remember one time that I'll come to your point Herald someone came to me and said I believe what you tell me from the Bible about family because of the way that you treat you all that way a madman that's pretty practical that's is that theology or is that life or is it both whoa Harold I just wanted like to quote first John chapter 2 verse in verse 6 just quickly ok we'll give us a chance to find it first John chapter 2 and verse 6 first John to verse 6 Apostle John's writing and let's see what it says again on the theme of the example right yes and this is something I'll be reading from the New King James Version and it says he who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked and this ties perfectly with Galatians 2:20 our scripture song yes it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and that means if he lives in me throughout my entire day through my entire life it is crisis reflected in my job at the family so it does the question who lives in me throughout the day it's kind of exciting isn't it when we're not trying to earn our way to heaven and certainly not to earn God's love and that will take the over wellness away too because if you start thinking oh no everybody's looking at me and am I doing everything I'm supposed to do when Christ lives like he says in you and you're looking at Christ you're going to forget you know thinking you know you're not thinking about it constantly and it's not going to be overwhelming so I want to give you an opportunity to testify and this is not to to kind of bring undue praise to an individual but but to just recognize have you who have you known on your Christian journey who is really modeled for you Christ being formed in them or to use your description Jaime that you see the character of Jesus in and again we're not we're not trying to what flatter people certainly we don't want to flatter them or good glorify them but to honor what God has done in them someone come to your mind you say I I've seen that anybody let me give it a chance this year Brittany let's start with no big example for me with my grandmother she passed away but whenever I was staying at her house I'd come downstairs in the morning and didn't matter how early I woke up she was there reading her Bible and she was spending time in prayer and and looking at her Bible she's so many highlights and marks and and then not only that but she was also caring for my grandfather who was ill at the time and he had as he was ill he kind of had a negative attitude about it and so she was constantly caring for him but he wasn't always responding in love and just to see that what she read in the word was impacting how she treated some pretty practical doesn't it yeah just like we were reading with Paul Marinella yeah someone came kind of mine yes my father I as a young child I would also um it do matter what time it was but in the throughout the day I kind of opened the door of his bedroom and I could see him praying and his knees on his knees and through tough situations he always went to the Word of God and he said you know never even through persecutions or anything like that he always uplifted Christ he was a good example in the home so his life was just a reflection of the way he lived and that has helped me also focus on what Christ ones in my life but his connection with God was very real and I could see it in her in her home now some people may be watching and saying yes I didn't have that so what would you say to them from what we've read so far from the text we've read if they hit Derek I didn't have that what would you say to them look unto Christ yeah okay Christ look at why stand what what have we learned yes the window ah our actually say great because sometimes you look to people and then they stand boy okay oh I'm so disappointed so they have Christ as they go look to Christ I think we learn more than that though that's good Nicole um I was going to say that I you would look to those around you that you see reflecting Christ so God may provide a spiritual mother spiritual father for you who may be your same age right it doesn't necessarily have to be a person that's older but but but God could provide didn't Paul say look around and note those yes a community a mature age possible community in the church I hope we have time at the end of our study to come back but but if you find someone that is really an example for you have Christ formed in them say thank you to them while they're still breathing and and and at some point they may not be with us but say thank you and also say God could I be that kind of woman to you that kind of man for you that when people come we'll go back to our bedroom and maybe shed a tear and say thank you Jesus that someone said I see the character of Jesus in you amen because we know that's a miracle right back it is a miracle of God let's continue our study Paul not only says I want you to follow my example but he says I became like you let's look at that Kenneth Galatians 4 verse 12 we read what he says there and then let's try to figure out what he means by that I'll be reading from the New King James Version Galatians chapter 4 verse 12 brethren I urge you to become like me for I became like you you have not injured me at all what does that mean do you think I understand what it means become like me because he's saying follow my example as I follow the example of Christ and also don't just follow me but other people that are walking with Jesus what it was it mean I became like you Trisha Lee I think part of it was that Paul was and his confederates were the ones that went to the Gentiles to give them the gospel and so he has to leave his comfort zone and going to a new cultures and new people and to live among other people and I saw I think a part of that is him describing that I was willing to live with you and to share with you and to become as you were in your culture the gospel with you different food different different living conditions yeah and what's his motivation for that yeah he's lots of him Jamie I wasn't going to summarize that and say he met them where they are he didn't you know expect them to be where he was he came to them and you know he lived as they were like she so if you come to Tarsus and make an appointment mm-hmm I might talk to you yeah if you look like me no it's not that at all let's look at a verse that reinforces what you just said Jamie in first Corinthians nine verses 19 to 23 first Corinthians chapter 9 and Jamie would you read that verses 19 to 23 again it's very practical and is motivated by love the New Living Translation says even though I am a free man with no master I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ when I was with the Jews I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ when I was with those who follow the Jewish law I too lived under that law even though I am not subject to the law I did this so I could bring Christ those bring to Christ those who are under the law when I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ but I do not ignore the law of God I obey the law of Christ what oh sorry go ahead when I with those who are weak I share their weaknesses for I want to bring the weak to Christ yes I try to find common ground with everyone doing everything I can to save some I do everything to spread the good news and share in its blessings thank you so much so in order to let's be practical now in order to make that connection use the expression of meeting people where they are what what do I need to what's necessary in order for me to do that Jason you have to somewhat live where they are or go where they are interact with them in their location okay and and love them that love them enough to do that that's the motivation but then what what will that love motivate me to do I mean I don't know anything about that culture do I have to study yeah got to learn about the customs and the culture definitely I was just thinking it's going to take us out of our comfort zone mm-hmm to learn something different but that's that's how we grow has anybody served in another country other than Jason have you been somewhere I was I was in the country of Honduras and so being Honduras I sort of had to learn Spanish I had to learn the culture and customs I had to learn that people did things they're a little differently than I did with time and how people related to each other and so I had to learn how to Hondurans do things because they do things somewhat differently than how I'm used to in the United States and it was a good experience it was a challenge but it was a blessing and then I became more comfortable with the people there in Honduras how long were you there seven months so yeah so you really had to take some time Brittany you've also had an experience yes I was in the Philippines for nine months and up in a mountain village so I lived in a grass bamboo hut and which was not where you were born right oh not at all so you know learning to relate to the people and use the food that they eat and just live how they live I got life just like them you know everything in Carnation ulm industry but I learned so much from it and really got to see how Christ can teach you their life and their culture so that you can bring Christ into the way they can understand you know that people some people go oh you know but it has to be the love of Christ in us doesn't it that would motivate us Harold and the beauty about this is that this is a true reflection of Christ because God did the same thing he is our first month to our location came to our location yeah he recognized we were wrong but yet he like took this body of sin for our sakes which is amazing so you actually met our needs as Jamie Poston came to our zip code right that's really not translated many languages he came to the place where we live ELISA and then I think I'm always amazed in you don't even have to leave your own hometown to do but I am amazed by the people who do like the children's ministries are the youth ministries because they have to take the gospel as they understand it and understand how a child's mind works and make it understandable for them and that's a gift of the Holy Spirit as much as anything so you see a very well-educated person sitting on the floor yeah telling a story yeah not because that's the most comfortable place right right charity I was the chart was a child of missionary parents so we have the opportunity to live in many different countries and we would always learn about those countries before we move there and wonder in a very intentional way yes an intentional way and when you greet someone in their language or even learn about their foods and sit down to eat with them that sometimes the best witness before you even open your mouth about who Christ is they're willing to know because you took time to learn about who they were before you even uttered his name so suppose overwhelming passion is not just to be culturally sensitive it's to communicate the gospel of a new life in Christ but how is he going to do that it's going to become like them right he's going to it is that not also like you mentioned Harold an incarnation or ministry it's following the example of Jesus Sam isa yeah I like the way the scripture said that he did not change in terms of the word he obeyed God but he say there were some laws and traditions so sometimes we elevate laws and traditions which impact with outreach and many times when you put that barrier down and say hey we have this bias or this prejudice based on tradition but if we put that down to reach out for the gospel so I have I have another question for you and I think it's an important question I want to intentionally learn about the cultures I'm going to eat their food I'm going to live in their bamboo huts or wherever they live right it may be an inner city in Manila where I'm living in a environment where I have to be careful walking at night what ever wherever it is right how do I safeguard against that culture pulling me away from God and the convictions it was I want to be close to people Stephanie right but you know I remember a person said one time it was a young man said I want to go and minister to streetwalkers you know prostitutes on the street and I thought maybe it would be better if a sister in Israel that's an expression for Abbot or Christian woman would do that ministry because that could be problematic a young man right yeah how do i safeguard I want to be close to people so that I can understand them you helped us with that 70 so I think of Christ's example he met with how many people did he mingle with and they were not clean and he spent that time with God in the morning and he made that connection throughout the day and I think that's what we need to do is ask the Lord throughout the day how can I interact in such a way that I'm influencing and not the one being influenced so one important principle I'm going to come to your point Kenneth and charity to one important principle because I think there's a second principle because I'm not Jesus but one important principle is I need to be spending time and communion we got yeah right because if I'm going to go out there I'm going to be going into messy situations but I'm going motivated by love to share Christ with them so I need that what what else would be helpful Kenneth yeah because it's God's mission if you seeking an direction-- the Holy Spirit is going to direct you as to how to go about it powerful powerful so not only am I saying I want to spend time with you God but I want to listen to specific guidelines that will make my ministry to this community or person effective okay good charity also based on the witness you don't have to do it alone oh they were disciples there were others I was hoping you you mentioned the disciples how did Jesus send them out she by 2 or more but as at least a couplet and then a group so that they could minister and be effective what's the benefit of having someone with you nickel is that you are actually an example of not just one but you're showing as a group who you are okay I have encouragement support because there are times where you'll stumble and you'll need that hand to say listen let's get up together and look to Christ and be a unit with Christ okay so there's this to witnesses to the person you share with plus you've got support Jim and you know that person can be there to help you make the right decision the godly decision if or when you think about doing something dumb yeah they can have your back okay they could say I don't think that's a good right so there were reasons why Jesus sent them out two by two but I love the idea that Kenneth pointed out that we're asking God because he says I will teach you and instruct you the way you should go right amen so we want to get close to people so we can share Jesus with them when Paul got close to the Galatians he was facing some challenge and I want to conclude our study by talking about that because the amazing thing about God is that he can work good even in the midst of bad situations yeah but we could look in a human perspective and say that this isn't going to work what was the challenge that he faced Galatians 4 verse 13 Jason I'll be reading from the New King James Version Galatians chapter 4 verse 13 you know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first do we have any idea could this be related to the thorn in the flesh remember he said I had a thorn in the flesh that's obviously not talking about a piece of wood stuck in his skin right three times he pray God please take this away and what was the message given to him do you remember Brittany my grace is sufficient for you my power is made perfect in your weakness all right and then Paul said well then all even rejoice in my infirmity that the power of Christ may rest on me because when I'm weak I'm strong if I'm trusting in Jesus right so what woody what was this physical infirmity do we know not for sure any Jason there any clues in the New Testament as to what it might have been well there's at different points a few verses later he talks about plucking out the eye and there's hints about that he may have suffered from some problematic eyesight may not been able to see it clearly physically so we know there might be an eyesight problem oh and by the way if that's it because you did mention in verse 15 of the same chapter you would have plucked out your eyes and isn't there one one of his letters where he says notice how big my handwriting is I I write this with my own hand does that cadet take Paul back to another time in his life tribulation what yes what what time might that remind him of before where he was known as Paul he was known as Saul he was persecuting the Christians and believers of the way they called it and he had a moment of blindness after encountering Christ along the way but in that moment of blindness he was dependent on Christ instructions to him to go here and to go there and things would happen and he would come to know him so it could just be also that God was ministering to Paul to continue trusting and being dependent in him as he continued to bless others is that is that a profound thought yes we don't know for sure we'll ask him when we get there but but Jacob then called Israel walk with the limp for the rest of his life reminding him that God had not abandoned him right it could be that while the scales fell from his eyes when Ananias prayed for the now called the Apostle Paul that there was still some reminder of that brilliant encounter with the risen Christ but the key lesson whether it's eyesight or you say well Derek I don't have that good health you want me to go live in a bamboo hut I guess we have to find out what's practical for us but let's look at some promises that remind us that God can work even when were weak right romans 8 verse 28 is a verse some of you may know well but someone joining us for hope service school has never heard it so I'm going to ask charity if you could read it for us and pray the Holy Spirit will touch someone's heart I'll be reading from the New King James Version and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose what doesn't this text say everything all things work together for all things are good okay thank you Stephanie they say the one but it doesn't tell us that when we're walking with Jesus that all things are all things are good if someone a witness out there right so have a witness but not all things are good right right yeah you're gonna face challenges Paul woods name shipwrecks run in fact when I read some of it the things that happened to him but what we can claim is all things work on the other side that God is going to work good a lot of out of them out of all things according to his purpose according to his purpose let's look in 2nd Corinthians 4 verses 7 through 12 so meesa would you read that for second corinthians 4 verses 7 to 12 reading from the year king james version verse 7 but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us we are hot pressed on every side yet we are not crushed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken struck down but not destroyed always caring about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body for we live for we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh so then death is working in us but life in you be suffering for the cause of Christ what were some things that happened to him anybody he was shipwrecked get in last night in prison bit by a Viper almost also got stoned this is beaten he went through a lot I mean you read the book of Acts which tells the story of some of the things that you went through right he suffered extensively and yet he's saying even in that God worked hurting for good so I want to give you a chance to testify because this is real life it's possible that the million-plus people watching this program are going I just wish my life was perfectly smooth and and trouble-free like you hope Sabbath schools hey Wow right now I want to give you an opportunity to testify a trial that you went through where God demonstrated to you that he could work good even in a difficult situation mm-hmm not asking everybody but the spirit will impress someone a trial that you went through where God demonstrated to you just like he did to poll that he could work good even in a difficult situation I'm looking to see if someone will wave at me and and be willing to share yes Nicole well um I grew up in a Christian home and as many people do I drifted away when I went to college and when I was in medical school my mom passed away and at the time I wasn't really in a place where I really needed to be but at the funeral I think I've shared this before actually at the funeral when I sat and listened to a pastor who it actually baptized me I when I was a child I realized at that point that God had me he really did i sat in the church I looked around and the people that were there had been there all my life and I realized that I had failed them because they had put so much into me to make me who they thought I should be and I had to realize at that point that God had had me and I had to struggle through to get back to my religion him and it took a lot but I have to say that people really kind of gathered around me and helped me to see that God has me he's got me and I made my way back thanks and you know I just if you heard the chronology there does Nicole's mother know about that life-changing day no she's sleeping until the resurrection right will she how will she be reacting when Jesus comes roughly to go to use my favorite Hebrew words maybe maybe she had another word I don't know glory to God or whatever right that god of what happened certainly was not good it was a tragedy mom died but God says I'm gonna work good here I'm gonna work good yes maranatha I'm remembering Jacinto he was a Bible worker I came to help my father one of the churches in Mississippi and he was young I think around 30 and on his way to church he was preparing the sermon they were involved in an accident and he was completely decapitated and I think though always prayed for his family that they would come to know Christ because he was the only one that had accepted Christ and was working very diligently to serve others he had so many Bible study contacts and people he was studying the Bible with and at his funeral service in in in Mississippi this the whole church was packed and I remember my my father was the pastor and he made an appeal at the end for people to accept Christ 35 people Kings except kind men amen that day and his family also accepted Krusty all of his family accepted Christ and I'm looking forward to that day where I think Oh see how God answered his prayer even through tragedy yeah Wow amen amen yeah just just like Nicole's mom he didn't get to see the answer to that prayer but did God worked good through a typical situation yes I want to close in Galatians 4:16 really ties in with with people Nicole who were willing to speak truth into your life even at your mom's funeral the pastor would baptize you or or this Bible worker jacinto who was willing to speak truth even to family when they weren't initially receptive let's read verse 16 Stephanie if you read Galatians 4:16 we're talking about speaking the truth because we love people right amen and this is in the King James Version am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth so do you ever feel like we're drawing from telling the truth because you're not sure how people will react sure how do I get past that hurdle prayer what do I always need to remember Ephesians 4:15 maybe someone could read that we're talking about speaking the truth to people Ephesians 4:15 Brittany you have that Voris what does that tell us I'll be reading from the New King James Version Ephesians 4:15 but speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ so let's go back and is it jacinto jacinto if he just had a reputation of being a mean judgmental critical / ten how many people would have showed up at his funeral Oh some who felt they had to maybe but because he was speaking the truth in love what did that do for his hearers even though he may not have seen the result what did what does it do Stephanie we ought to speak the truth we need to make sure you're speaking in love what does it do it would make me feel like that person is sincere they really want the best for me and they're going out on the edge to actually even at the expense of possibly me not liking them but they're willing to do that because they love me okay anybody else the risk of speaking the truth in love charity in this story it moved them to make the decision to accept Christ so we have the expression I know this is not Anatomy but softening of the heart it's like even when they haven't yet made a decision for truth the love is there they knew that for example in this situation listen to love them and he cared for them yeah and that love is powerful real is and you know I learned a lesson with someone in my own family who is not walking with Jesus and I realized if that person chooses my brother if that person chooses not to believe in Jesus not to accept God's grace God still wants me to love him as much as I can water here right why because this is all that there is if you don't have Jesus and eternal life could we be the most loving people on earth even to speak the truth in love we've been so blessed today I pray you've been blessed as you've listened the pastoral appeal he's pleading with us he's begging us to let Christ be formed in us to let the character of Christ be reproduced in as it starts by knowing about Jesus and accepting who he is for you Savior Lord high priest soon coming King and saying Christ live in me let my old life dilate let your life be reflected in me and when that happens as we heard in these powerful testimonies other lives will be blessed forever yeah let's pray father in heaven thank you for speaking a word to us today it is our prayer that we would accept all that you have done and longed to do for us and in US and through us and yes that through us blessings could come to others Lord we trust you with our whole lives today and thank you for your unfailing love in the name of Jesus amen well thanks for joining us for Hope Sabbath school what an amazing study worth continuing the gospel in Galatians God loves you with an everlasting love accept his love let his love flow through you to bless the lives of those around him [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

Views: 15,885

Rating: 4.7046981 out of 5

Keywords: Derek Morris, Seventh-Day Adventist, hope Sabbath school, HopeSabbathSchool, bible study, religion, Paul, Pastoral appeal, Pauls Pastoral appeal

Id: 7Co_MiZ_jkg

Length: 58min 29sec (3509 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 20 2017