February 12, 2017

Sunday School
Romans 14 with a review  from chapter 12 - Renewing Your Mind!

What does it mean to Renew Your Mind??

• Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
• Discern means to detect with your eyes or other senses; to recognize or identify what's important.
• 1 Timothy 2:3-4 - This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• We need to understand that God reveals His will for mankind through His Word.
• Jesus and God's Word are one!!
• The bible is not just a story about God but it is Him speaking to us.
• God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thought. So renewing our minds in the Word brings us closer to the will of God.
• Living in God's Word is the key to our deliverance and success in our present lives.

Romans 14 - The Law of Liberty or The Danger of Criticism
Be accepting of other Christians.

• We as Christians are to accept anyone who is weak in faith and "do not" argue about doubtful issues.
• Who are we to criticize!!!
• Wherever one is in his/her faith, it is to the honor of God.
• If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord.
• We will all stand before the tribunal of God.
• Every knee will bow to Me and every tongue will give praises to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
• Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Sermon
Exodus 7:3-4 - But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.
Subject: "Why Would God Harden Pharaoh's Heart?"

• God knows what He's doing!
• Pharaoh was an oppressive dictator who enslaved and abused the Israelites.
• Pharaoh had already hardened his own heart.
• For the scripture said unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth. Romans 9:17-18
• The heart is the bug of humanity
•  Jesus said, "Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don't you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? Do you have eyes and not see and do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000 how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?"  Mark 9:17-19
• What hardens the heart? Sin and pride are just to way.
• The solution? Confession, recognizing the problem, repent of sins, change your life, study God's Word, obey God's Word.
• I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct and encourage with great patience and teaching.  2 Timothy 4:1-2
• Your presumptuous heart has deceived you, you who live in clefts of the rock in your home on the heights, who say to yourself, "Who can bring me down to the ground?" Obadiah 1:3