October 27, 2019

Sunday School
The Will of God

v Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

v 1 Timothy 2:3-4 – This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

v 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – gives thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

v 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

v Hebrews 13:20-21 – Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

v Luke 9:23 – Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.

v Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

v James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

v Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will direct your paths.

v 1 Peter 2:15 – For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

v Matthew 6:10 – your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

v Ephesians 5:15-20 – Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

v 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

v 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

v 1 Timothy 2:4 – who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

v Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And wat does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

v Proverbs 16:4 – The Lord works out everything to its proper end-even the wicked for a day of disaster.

v Hebrews 10:36 – You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Sermon
John 3:1-21 - Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him."  Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time, can he?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must all be born from above.'  The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do no know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."  Nicodemus replied, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don't understand these things? I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you people about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven - the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world: He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn that world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather that the light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.  But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.
Subject: There is Still Hope!

• Jesus came to enlighten Nicodemus to what he was supposed to be teaching.
• Except a man be born again.....
• Three things Nicodemus needed to understand and remember: (1) God's love is unconditional, unlimited, unreserved and is universal. His love extends from heaven down to earth and is available to anyone who would receive it.
• Psalm 86:15 - But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.
• Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
• Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• (2) God's gift is his Son. We should understand that there is someone greater than ourselves. 
• Psalm 8:1-9 - O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is your name in all the earth......
• God gave His best so that we would have the right to eternal life.
• God's grace is whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
• Think on this my Christian brothers and sisters. We are renamed "Whosoever!"