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THEME V
JESUS HEALS ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND
DISEASE
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling
down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion,
put forth his hand, and touched him,
and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mark 1:40-41
LESSONS 45 - 50
LESSON 45 JUNE 6, 2021
THE PERPETUAL HEALING PROMISES OF GOD
MOTTO TEXT: Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently
hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that
which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his
commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these
diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians:
for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
ENTIRE LESSON: James 5:9-16
9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be
condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the
name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and
of patience.
11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard
of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord;
that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by
heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but
let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into
condemnation.
13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let
him sing psalms.
14. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil
in the name of the Lord:
15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him.
16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
PURPOSE: To bring to light that we are living in the last days
when God is pouring out the former and latter rain in the same
season.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We can expect a healing
explosion today, as did the early church. God wants to work
miracles, signs and wonders in these last days as never before.
COMMENTARY
As we study the subject of this lesson, we discover the first
agreement as made in the Garden of Eden , when the Lord said,
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and
between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou
shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This promise includes
complete redemption and the removal of the curse of sin and
death.
In the Old Testament the agreement reads, “If ye will do I
will do.” In the New Testament the agree reads, “For I will be
merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
Let us study God’s ongoing healing program designed to
function throughout the Day of Grace:
Monday “I am the LORD that healeth thee” – Exodus 15:26
Tuesday “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee”
– Exodus 23:25
Wednesday “God sent His word and healed thee” – Psalm
107:20
Thursday “The LORD God is my strength, and He will make
my feet like hind’s feet” – Habakkuk 3:19
Friday “The LORD is my Shepherd” – Psalm 23:1
Saturday “The LORD God is a Sun and Shield” – Psalm
84:11
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 146:8 The LORD
openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are
bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous. _________________________________________________
LESSON 46 JUNE 13, 2021
THE YOKE OF SIN DESTROYED
BY THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST
MOTTO TEXT: Isaiah 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that
day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder,
and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed
because of the anointing.
ENTIRE LESSON: Isaiah 10:1-27
1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that
write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2. To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away
the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be
their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
3. And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the
desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee
for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
4. Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and
they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not
turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand
is mine indignation.
6. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against
the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the
spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the
mire of the streets.
7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so;
but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
8. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
9. Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not
Samaria as Damascus?
10. As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and
whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of
Samaria;
11. Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do
to Jerusalem and her idols?
12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath
performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on
Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the
king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
13. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and
by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the
bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I
have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
14. And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people:
and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all
the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or
opened the mouth, or peeped.
15. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth
therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that
shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that
lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were
no wood.
16. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his
fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a
burning like the burning of a fire.
17. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One
for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his
briers in one day;
18. And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful
field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a
standardbearer fainteth.
19. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a
child may write them.
20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of
Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall
no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay
upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto
the mighty God.
22. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a
remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall
overflow with righteousness.
23. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even
determined, in the midst of all the land.
24. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people
that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall
smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee,
after the manner of Egypt.
25. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease,
and mine anger in their destruction.
26. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him
according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb:
and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after
the manner of Egypt.
27. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall
be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off
thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the
anointing.
PURPOSE: To make known that without God the Holy Ghost,
no sinner can be saved, neither can His works be done by any
human effort.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: “Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke
10:19).
COMMENTARY
We are living in the age of the Spirit. The Old Testament
period may be called the Age of the Father. The period covered
by the gospel may be called the Age of the Son. We believe the
period from Pentecost until the Second Coming of Christ is
called the Age of the Spirit.
God the Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Godhead;
without Him no one can be saved. Before one sinner can be
delivered from the yoke of sin, God the Holy Ghost must come
and release His Spirit from trespass and sin, and produce in him
faith, repentance, humility, love and fear of God. These things,
without the working of the Holy Ghost, are quite impossible.
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
Unveiling the Holy Ghost’s Assignment:
Monday Empowers believers for the mighty works of God
– Micah 3:8; Acts 1:8
Tuesday Strives with sinners to be saved – Genesis 6:3
Wednesday Gives comfort – Acts 9:31
Thursday Helps our infirmities – Romans 8:26
Friday Renews the spirit – Isaiah 32:15
Saturday Regenerates believers – John 6:8-11; Titus 3:5
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 3:11 I indeed
baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after
me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. _________________________________________________
LESSON 47 JUNE 20, 2021
FATHER’S DAY
THE DANGER OF PLEASING PEOPLE
RATHER THAN PLEASING GOD
MOTTO TEXT: Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men,
or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I
should not be the servant of Christ.
ENTIRE LESSON: I Samuel 15:1-25
1. Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint
thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore
hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which
Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way,
when he came up from Egypt.
3. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they
have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman,
infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4. And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them
in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand
men of Judah.
5. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the
valley.
6. And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down
from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them:
for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when
they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from
among the Amalekites.
7. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou
comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
8. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and
utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the
sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs,
and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them:
but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed
utterly.
10. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11. It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is
turned back from following me, and hath not performed my
commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto
the LORD all night.
12. And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it
was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold,
he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and
gone down to Gilgal.
13. And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him,
Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the
commandment of the LORD.
14. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the
sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I
hear?
15. And Saul said, They have brought them from the
Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and
of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the
rest we have utterly destroyed.
16. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what
the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him,
Say on.
17. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own
sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel,
and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18. And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and
utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against
them until they be consumed.
19. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD,
but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the
LORD?
20. And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of
the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent
me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have
utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief
of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to
sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the
LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams.
23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is
as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word
of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have
transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy
words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again
with me, that I may worship the LORD.
PURPOSE: To be mindful that if we are going to please God
alone, then our love for Him will cause us to walk in obedience
to Him.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: “Saul said unto Samuel, I
have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the
LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed
their voice” (verse 24).
COMMENTARY
When we refuse to tell someone the truth, it’s not simply
because we want to please them by not hurting their feelings—
it’s because we dread the thought of being uncomfortable or
inconvenienced. And when we obsess about what others think of
us, it’s not because we want them to feel good. No, we want to
appear good enough to be admired. While it may appear that we
are seeking to please others, we are actually seeking to please
ourselves. This is both the irony and danger of people-pleasing.
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
It is written:
Monday “When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh
even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov.
16:7).
Tuesday “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of
my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my
strength, and my redeemer” (Psa. 19:14).
Wednesday “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and
said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts
5:29).
Thursday “Servants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as
menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing
God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:22-23).
Friday “We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the
Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye
ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more” (I Thess. 4:1).
Saturday “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he
will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psa.
149:4).
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 146:1-3 Praise ye the
LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise
the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any
being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in
whom there is no help. _________________________________________________
LESSON 48 JUNE 27, 2021
THE CLEANSING POWER FOR SIN:
NOT IN THE WATER, BUT IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS
CHRIST
MOTTO TEXT: I John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he
is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
ENTIRE LESSON: Romans 8:1-28
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of sin and death.
3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth
in you.
12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live
after the flesh.
13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through
the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God.
15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father.
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are
the children of God:
17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together.
18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us.
19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.
20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly,
but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now.
23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption
of our body.
24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience
wait for it.
26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind
of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
28. And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose.
PURPOSE: To stress that the cleansing power of sin is not in
the water, but it is in the blood of Jesus Christ.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: “I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh”
(Ezek. 36:26).
COMMENTARY
A new heart requires a new blood transfusion, “for the life
of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). Since the life of
the flesh is in the blood, there must be a donor with incorruptible
blood that is compatible with every type. The Lord God, through
His Son Jesus Christ, hath made available this rare type of blood
that is blends with all other types and is made available to all
without cost.
The cleansing power of sin is not in the water but is in the
blood of Jesus Christ. The blood in His veins is described by
John as, “A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb”
(Revelation 22:1). Ezekiel the prophet, foreseeing God’s plan of
salvation said, “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that
liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall
live “(Ezek. 47:9).
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and
drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
Monday “The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).
Tuesday “Examine yourselves [not others], 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?” (II Cor. 13:5).
Wednesday “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but
the LORD pondereth the hearts” (Prov. 21:2).
Thursday “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be
revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known”
(Luke 12:2).
Friday “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify
yourselves before men; but God knoweth your
hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among
men is abomination in the sight of God” (Luke
16:15).
Saturday “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the
LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths. _________________________________________________
LESSON 49 JULY 4, 2021
JESUS CHRIST: OUR HEALING PHYSICIAN
MOTTO TEXT: Exodus 15:26 If thou wilt diligently hearken
to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right
in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all
his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I
have brought upon the Egyptians.
ENTIRE LESSON: John 5:1-9
1. After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
2. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which
is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five
porches.
3. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt,
withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and
troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of
the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease
he had.
5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty
and eight years.
6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a
long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made
whole?
7. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when
the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am
coming, another steppeth down before me.
8. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his
bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
PURPOSE: To emphasize that divine healing is for God’s
children today, for Jesus is our Great Physician.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: It is written: “Bless the
LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Psa.
103:2-3).
COMMENTARY
Man, created in God’s image and likeness, was made
partaker of the divine nature of God (Gen. 1:26-28). When man
fell, he lost God’s image and inherited a giant void from God
within himself. God’s Spirit within is indispensable, for without
this man has nothing upon which to draw in times of mental,
emotional or physical distress.
Today, medical science indicates that at least eighty-five
percent of all physical ailments of mankind are produced by
emotional disturbance, such as: ulcers, heart trouble,
hypertension, asthma, chronic cough, etc. it is further believed
that there are at least fifty-one emotionally induced diseases that
can cause sickness, as man indulges in depression.
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
Monday I Will Put None of These Disease upon Thee –
Exodus 15:26a
Tuesday I Am the Lord that Healeth Thee – Exodus 15:26b
Wednesday Christ Took our Infirmities – Isaiah 53; Matthew
8:17; I Peter 2:24
Thursday God Sent His Word and Healed Them – Psalm
107:20
Friday God’s Word Shall Not Return To Him Void –
Isaiah 55:8-11
Saturday We Are Healed by Faith, Prayer and Fasting –
Matthew 17:20-21
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: Numbers 23:19 God is not a
man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should
repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken,
and shall he not make it good? _________________________________________________
LESSON 50 JULY 11, 2021
TRUE BELIEVERS:
REJOICING DURING TIMES OF SUFFERING
MOTTO TEXT: Psalm 64:7-8 But God shall shoot at
them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they
shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see
them shall flee away.
ENTIRE LESSON: Romans 5:1-21
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience;
4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us.
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet
peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement.
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned:
13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not
imputed when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over
them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through
the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of
God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus
Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the
judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is
of many offences unto justification.
17. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of
one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of
life.
19. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.
PURPOSE: To reveal that we must not run from our suffering
but rejoice that God will never leave nor forsake His people.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: If we cannot bear our cross,
we cannot wear a crown. It is written: “Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev.
3:11).
COMMENTARY
We all suffer at some point in our lives. Maybe you, or
someone you love, are suffering right now. Maybe you are
dealing with a scary diagnosis, a child who is making poor
decisions, financial struggles, etc. Even if things are going well
for you right now, life has a tendency to go up and down.
Suffering knocks on each of our doors eventually. How can we
engage our suffering in a positive way? Does Paul have anything
to teach us about how to accept suffering well?
When we suffer, we build endurance. Our capability for
holding difficulty and struggle increases. It’s similar to building
our muscles in the gym. In order to get stronger, we have to put
our muscles under strain. In a similar way, when we suffer, our
endurance for dealing with difficult things increases.
Endurance produces character. As our endurance increases,
our character develops. Our character involves our tendencies to
engage in actions and behaviors in a consistent manner. For
example, if a person has a character of courage, they tend to
respond with courage in the face of danger. As you endure over
time, your character begins to be shaped..
Character produces hope. Paul writes that character
produces hope. When we develop our character, we experience
hope for the future. Hope involves believing that we can move
forward toward our dreams and goals. This doesn’t necessarily
mean that all our problems will go away. But, we experience
hope that we can move forward toward what God wants us to do
and who He wants us to become.
BLACKBOARD EMPHASIS AND DAILY HOME STUDY
Monday When we suffer we follow Jesus’ example – I Peter
2:21
Tuesday Suffering is an acceptable offering to God – I Peter
2:20
Wednesday Suffering is a special calling – I Peter 4:19
Thursday We are blessed when we suffer – I Peter 3:14
Friday There is an anointing that comes upon us when we
suffer – I Peter 4:14
Saturday Suffering produces stability – I Peter 5:10
SUNDAY/MEMORY VERSE: I Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. _________________________________________________
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