Saturday, January 16, 2010

Can The Gospel Of Jesus Change My Life?

Are you tired of being tired? Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? Do you think that there’s nothing to live for?

In this bible study we will look at the real purpose for our life, and how the gospel of Christ can change the most hardened man or woman into a loving, disciplined, courageous, and Spirit-filled person who can be used by God to change the eternal destiny of many souls.

Matthew 4:18-22

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Question: How long did it take for Peter, Andrew, James and John to make the decision to follow Jesus?

Thought: We can understand from these scriptures that the first disciples Jesus called were ordinary working men, not wise scholars or rulers, but simple fishermen who left all they knew to follow Jesus. Sometimes we must make hard choices for God even when we don’t see the outcome of the choice, this is called faith. Abraham made a very hard choice too when he left his country and his family to go where God told him to go.

Mark 8:34-38

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Question: What does God ask us to leave behind to follow His Son?

Thought: Jesus asks us to let go of our lives in this world, all the fleshly desires and worldly lifestyles. When we deny ourselves we don’t lose our lives, we gain true life in Christ. We can be like Bill Gates and have all the riches of this world and lose our soul, but if we take up our cross and follow Jesus we are promised eternal life with Him in heaven.

Mark 10:23-30

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Question: Why is it hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God?

Are you willing to leave your old life behind for a new life with Jesus?

What does He promise to those who leave everything for Him and the gospel?

Thought: Many people live their whole lives in search of fame, fortune, and happiness, and when they find these things in this life, they end up losing their soul. But those who choose to accept the gospel message of Christ and the kingdom of God now; receive much more than worldly riches. They receive rest for their souls, the salvation of God, peace in their minds, purification in their hearts, and the promised Holy Spirit to empower them so they can live the true life on earth and in the age to come eternal life.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Question: Are you willing to come to Jesus and learn from Him? Are you ready to receive the true rest for your soul?

God Bless You,
Tyrone D Palmer, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ

No comments:

Post a Comment