God's Not Willing That Any Should Perish

God's Not Willing

Did you know that the devil wants to take as many people with him to hell, mostly just because he hates God?
But God does not want anyone to go to hell. Many of us have heard growing up that God's going to send you to hell. I'm going to show you from the Bible what God really wants for us.

God gives us teachers and preachers to teach us how to be saved. God teaches us in his Word that we can know 100% that if we died we would go to heaven. I've heard people say many times you can not know for sure. Some even say that it's prideful to say you know you're going to heaven. Some say they don't know if they lived good enough to make it into heaven. Let's take a look at 1 John 5:13.

1John5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Notice these words: that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
Everlasting Life and Eternal Life are the same. heaven

Memorize this verse if you have not learned it already:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loved us so much that he sent us Jesus who died for us so we could find salvation.

2Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The word perish here means to die without God and to go to hell for eternity. It says that God is longsuffering to us and that He's not willing that any should perish. He just doesn't want anyone to go to hell.

In the old testament, you read many stories where God brings judgment upon a nation. Through war or disaster. Here are some of the places I recently talked about, Niniveh, the reason God sent Jonah to Nineveh was that God wanted him to warn the people of Nineveh that if they did not repent God would destroy Ninivah. God gave them 40 days to repent. God gave them a chance to repent.

Niniveh listened to Jonah and Repented. God had mercy and forgiveness for them. They all turned to God.

Egypt was warned by God to let his people go or he would bring disaster upon them. Moses warned the Pharoah that God would bring Judgement for his rebellion. He refused each time to let God's people go. God brought judgment and plagues upon Egypt.
God would have spared, but God hates rebellion.

The children of Isreal were free from their bondage, the freeing of bondage is a picture of salvation. When God saves someone spiritually it is called salvation. When a person gets saved from the bondage of sin, it is called salvation.

How To Be Saved

God's Not Willing That Any Should Perish

Follow Here - To Find Guides 1, 2, 3

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A New Creature

For years Sunday Schools all over the United States and other countries also, have used the butterfly, which is designed and created by God, who is the originator, to explain to children about being born again. When you accept Christ as your Saviour you become a new creature in Christ.

My daughter and my grandchildren have been doing a science experiment by putting together a small habitat to watch the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly. My grandchildren just
we're so excited to witness the birth of eight butterflies and two more yet to spring out into a new life.

God is so good to give us the gift of this miraculous birth. My daughters allowed me to post pictures and video footage
of their homeschool experience. I'll post them tomorrow evening, Lord willing.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV

Follow Here: Homeschool Butterfly Habitat

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

We Shall See Jesus - Audio

 Philippians  4:21 

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

 

Reading Below

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Make Jesus Your Light

A Quote From Neil Armstrong:

"It's a great thing for a man to walk on the moon, 

But it is a greater thing for God to walk on the earth."

Neil Armstrong

Print Two Of This Puzzle

1. Cut the pieces out of one.

2. Put the pieces in a basket or a bag.

3. You can number matching the pieces on the board and also on the cutout pieces

to make it easier for younger children to put together.

4. Ask review questions.

5. Every right answer gets to select a random piece and to place it onto the

board where it goes.  

6. Continue to ask questions until the puzzle is completed.

correction

God made the moon to give us light at night.

God decorated the heavens with stars of delight.

The first man who walked on the moon believed.

But the last man on the moon is truly deceived. 

Follow This Link - About Hell 

Things That Go With This Poem/ Song

Coloring Page

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Fall Owl Coloring Page - In Hell He Lift Up His Eyes

Bible Reading Luke 16: 19 - 31

Read to class.  We are asking questions from this passage

and also the poem that I wrote called.  "Make Jesus Your Light".

Poem: Make Jesus Your Light

Luke 16:19 -31

 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Follow Here: Don't Get Gonged Bible Verse

Still Adding To This

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

2 Lessons - Jonah - Obedience - Complete

I'm teaching children 1-7 yrs at this time 

2 with disabilities  - but the lessons could be adapted for any age.

2 Lessons - Jonah - Obedience 

Part 1

I do not get paid - I do not have to do any of this.  I do this because I want to.

God Showing Himself Powerful Through His Wrath

God Showing Himself Powerful Through His Mercy

 God was angry with the city of Nineveh and wanted to destroy Nineveh for their sins, but God was willing to show mercy.  He talked to Jonah, who was a prophet (preacher) of God.  He told him to go to Nineveh and warn Nineveh of God’s judgment.  Jonah was not happy with what God wanted him to do. Jonah was angry with the city of Nineveh for how they treated the Jewish people.  He knew that if He went to Nineveh, if they repented God could be merciful to them, but He did not want God to be merciful to them.  He wanted the judgment of God to fall upon them for what they had done to the Jewish people.

He absolutely refused to obey the Lord.  He got on a ship and paid them to take him as far away from Nineveh as possible.   He thought He had outsmarted the Lord God.  

It was all peaceful and happy, not a cloud in the sky.  They started on their way.  When they were way out at sea, something began to happen.  The sky started to gather dark clouds.  A raging storm with thunder and lightning began blowing across the sea.  The ship was whipped back a fourth by the forceful winds.  They began to fear for their lives.  They wondered if God was angry with someone. They were looking for Jonah, where could he be?  They found him sleeping.   "We are going to die! Wake up! How can you sleep?  God is angry with someone.  Get up and pray to your God lest we die.

 God’s wrath was kindled. The other men prayed to their false gods, but they did not hear.  They started throwing all the cargo overboard.   

Jonah admitted to them that he had been disobedient to God.  He told them about the one and only God. They trusted the Lord God Almighty.  They cried and prayed in fear to the living God Almighty.

Nothing worked the ship was going to go down if they didn’t do something.  They threw Jonah overboard.  Jonah was tangled in the waves of the sea. He nearly drowned to death and would have but  Jonah awoke in a dark dripping cave filled with smelly whale digestion.  He had air to breathe.  Fear filled his heart.

God had prepared the whale for Jonah.  He commanded the whale to swallow Jonah.  The female whale is the biggest fish in the sea.  So most likely it was a female whale that swallowed him.

Jonah prayed and cried to God for forgiveness.  He felt as though he had died and gone to hell.  He even called it hell.  He said he was in "the belly of  hell."

Talk about Jonah's Rebellion.

.Memory Verse

Jonah 1:1b  .......go to Nineveh

Below

This picture is just to show you

 that the whale swallowed Jonah.

It didn't happen exactly like this picture.

 He sank to the bottom 

of the sea and the whale 

scooped him up from sure death.

He was going to die but God used the whale to save his life.  

Talk about Jonah's prayers.

Let's name some things He

Could thank God For.

He could thank the Lord he was not dead.

He could thank the Lord he had breath to breathe.

He could thank the Lord that he had a chance to live.

He thanked the Lord that his prayers were heard.

He thanked the Lord that He saw the salvation of the Lord.

Jonah gave sacrifices of praise 

and thanksgiving to the Lord God.

Within the whale's belly.

He thought he would die.

but

Salvation Is of The Lord.

Where is Jonah in this picture?

Teachers Notes:

I lined my pictures up on the wall or board.

Just choose the pictures you want to use for the lesson.

I used all the above but one.

Refer to the pictures while you teach.

After teaching: or later in class.

Have the kids come up one by one.  Have them choose one of the pictures.

Have them say something about the picture in their own words. 

 Reward them with stickers for trying.

Game And Coloring Activity

Review Game Poster - Print One On Cardstock.

Print One For Each Child For Coloring Activity.

Just for the cardstock poster:

Put point values in different places of the picture.  For example, write 100pts inside the mouth.

10pts inside one of the bubbles.   25pts on one of his fins, 50 pts on top of his nose.

Then print off coloring sheets

Coloring Activity

Crayons

Stickers

Glue

Cut out Jonah - One per child, 

enough for your class.

and 

one for the review game. 

Store them in a sandwich bag.

For the review game:

Put tape on the back of Jonah. 

Ask review questions.  

Every time one child gets the right answer, 

blindfold him/her

and direct them as they place Jonah

onto the poster.  Highest points wins.

Review Questions: 

Review Again With The Next Lesson

1.  Why did Jonah disobey God?

2.  When the storm hit where was Jonah?

3.  Were the other men on the ship Christians?

4.  God prepared a great __________ to swallow Jonah.

5.  Why did God send a great storm at sea - in our story.

6.  How did Jonah get out of the whale?

7.  What did Jonah do when He was inside the whale?

8. Which fish is the biggest fish in the sea?

9.  What finally made the storm become calm?

10.  God told Jonah to what?  Clue - Our memory verse.

11. Does God want us to obey him?

Teachers Reading 

Please remember to read the scriptures at the bottom of this post.

Keep all the Jonah pictures up for the following week.

Next Weeks Lesson Below This Point

Part 2

Keep your games up from past lessons to review.

Go over last week's lesson in a review.

Then start off here.

God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent.  That meant many people would die in some disaster.   The sin of Nineveh was great and God became angry at their evil-doing (sin) and their violence. 

When Jonah was inside the whale he thought he was in hell.

He wasn't really in hell but there is a real hell for those who will not believe upon the Lord God.  

God promised destruction to Nineveh but he really wanted them to repent.  That is why God wanted Jonah to Go to Nineveh and to warn them.  God saw the sin rise up towards heaven.  God knows about any sin in our lives and He wants us to turn from it, just like Jonah going to Nineveh.  Jonah repented of his sin and confessed his sin to God.  He asked for God's salvation, He surely would have died in the hell he was in had he not agreed to go to Nineveh.  God calls us to obey him and love him too.  

Does God tell you to obey your parents?  Does he want you to be kind and forgiving? 

There are lots of things God tells us to do and also things he tells us not to do.

He knows everything about us and knows what we think and feel.

The most important thing Is.....

The Bible teaches us that we must believe upon the Lord 

Jesus Christ to be delivered from the real hell.

Jonah and the whale speak about hell.  

That's why God tells us to warn people about the wrath to come.

Not to just grown-ups but also to the young:

God calls preachers and teachers to tell of God's mercy and his grace.

All of Nineveh believed and saw the salvation of the Lord.

Even the King of Nineveh humbled himself fasted and believed in God.

God repented and showed mercy to all of Nineveh.

Boys and girls I'm the teacher that is telling you about these things today.

God wants us to warn both young and old.  Just as he wanted 

Jonah to warn the people of Niniveh.

In the story of Jonah, God mentions the children of Niniveh.

God thinks of children.  God cares for children.  He wanted Jonah to remember the children of Nineveh.

Why do we need to warn people today?  People need to know that hell is waiting for every soul that refuses Christ.  Those who refuse his love, and who refuse his Word.

God wants us to warn people just as Jonah was sent, we are sent.

We are sent to tell of God's mercy and forgiveness.  We are to warn people that there is hell to escape and the only way to escape is putting our trust in Christ for salvation.  God saved Jonah’s life through the whale.  God saves us through Jesus Christ his only begotten Son.

God gave Nineveh forty days.  Pray for our country that we do not turn our backs on God.   My fear is that God will see the sins of America rise up to the heavens, just like Nineveh.  Woe to the nation that forgets and rejects God.

Boys and girls, you can call to God in prayer today and ask forgiveness for your sins.  God's will is that you turn from bad behavior and bad attitudes.  Jesus came to die for our sins.  He took our sins upon himself and took our punishment.  Jesus died and was in hell three days and three nights (in the heart of the earth). just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. He took our punishment - He was literally in hell.  Why did He do that? Because he loves you and me.  He loves people.  God made a way through Jesus to be saved from our sins and the hell to come. Jesus took our place.  He arose from the dead and proved He is victorious over death and hell. 

God showed mercy to Nineveh because they believed and feared the Lord God.  God gave mercy because they repented of their wrong behavior and their violence. 

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (hell)

Father God, we pray for each child here, we pray if there is one here that does not know you as their Saviour, that you will speak to his or her heart today.  Help them to understand your Word.  Help them understand your will for their lives.  Help them understand that there is a heaven and that there is a hell.  Help them understand that this lesson about your mercy for all those who will believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Teach the class the word "repent"-

Teachers Notes:

When the bible says God repented it means that God gave

them mercy based upon their repentance.

 Our repentance is turning away from living wrongly in

 God's sight, to living a life pleasing to God.

It does not say Jonah told them about the whale

but I'm sure he did.  God does not do anything evil in the way that we think of it. 

God was going to bring judgment upon a nation that was rebellious to him.  God is all-powerful and hates sin.  He would bring about a disastrous happening- Evil means disastrous.

Have the kids guess what the picture under the sun is.

Then show them the same picture with the whale on it. 

Jonah told them about the whale

I'm sure he did.  His story was a testimony of God's wrath and mercy.

This could be the coloring sheet as well as a visual on the wall or board. 

Have them try to draw the whale.  

Jonah 4

The gourd could of been a pumpkin plant.  

Jonah cared more for his gourd than even the smallest child in Nineveh.  God wanted him to care more for people.  He didn't have forgiveness in his heart.  God used the gourd to show him he was selfish. He took no thought for the innocent in that city.  

 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Game And Coloring Activity

Review Game Poster - Print One On Cardstock.

Print One For Each Child For Coloring Activity.

Put points on the gourds.  100pts 200 pts ( Big Gourd, 200 pts, Big Flower 100 pts,  Small Gourd 50 pts, Leaf  Or Small Flower 25 pts. Back Flower 10pts  Then put tape on worms.

Ask the review questions. 

For the review game:

Put tape on the back of worms. Make 10 worms.

Put tape on each one.

Ask review questions.  

Every time one child gets the right answer, 

blindfold him/her

and direct them as they place a worm

onto the poster.  Highest points win.

Cut Out 10 Worms

Game Board

The gourds would not have been on the vine.

This picture could explain what a gourd vine

grows and looks like, if it would have grown.

The gourd vine died and made Jonah very sad.

Review Questions:

1.How many days did God give Nineveh to repent?

2.What does repent mean if it is God, repenting?

3.What does it mean if we repent?

4.Does God want us to repent of wrongdoing?

5. What did Nineveh do when Jonah preached?

(They believed God.) 

6. Did Jonah want God to show mercy to Nineveh?

7. What did Jonah find that made Him so happy?

8. Why did Jonah not care for Niniveh? They were mean to Jonah's people the Hebrews.

9.  Who believed and fasted when Jonah preached?

10. What is fasting?

11. The king took off his robe and took off his what?

12. When Jesus died he was In the heart of the earth for how long?

 

Play the same games you played last time

Play the same games you played last time. But use 

This is to help you prepare.

Teachers Study And Reading 

Please remember to read the scriptures at the bottom of this post.

Teachers Reading - Vital

Jonah 1:1-17 and Jonah 2:1- 4:11

 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 

 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD and went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.  Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.  

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.  And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.  Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 

Jonah 2:1-10

 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.  For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.  Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.  When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Jonah 3:1 

And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water: 

 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 4:1-11 

Jon 4:1 ¶ But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?  So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.

 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.  But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.  Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You. 

The Power Of Love - Lesson 1

Read This As A reading

Good morning young people, 

Today is Valentine's Day and we are definitely going to keep it centered around the Great Love Of God. Let us begin our lesson today with a prayer of love to our heavenly Father.  On the first page of your folder, I have a prayer that we are going to pray together.  This prayer is to teach you how to pray and learn about the importance of unity.  These are both characteristics of love.  Please let us pray in agreement.

Father God,

We come into your presence with thankfulness for your love to us.  None of us deserve your love, none of us are good enough.  You are the one who loved us enough to come looking for us.  You were the one who loved us enough to die for our sins, You are the one who saves undeserving people and makes them good enough.   Father help us to love you with our whole heart, with our whole mind, with our whole soul.  Help us to be loving, forgiving people like you are.  Help us not to look back, to move forward into a renewed joy in your presence and in the power of your love.   Help us love others as you have loved us.   May you be honored and glorified as you speak to our hearts today.  We pray that if anyone here wants to be saved, we pray they will understand today,  just how much you love them.

In Christ Name, We pray this, Amen.

    Before we go forward into teaching this lesson I have a couple of announcements to make.  Be sure to pay attention and take notes so that you will be prepared to answer some questions at the end of this lesson.  Be sure to keep all your notes from week to week until the conclusion of this series.  You will use those notes to prepare for our "BIG DAY BIBLE BEE".    There will be prizes though I have not made up my mind yet what the prizes will be.  Please do not interrupt with any questions until we are open for discussion.  Thank-you.

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     A few weeks ago I received a text from a friend, asking for prayer for a family that lost their 12-year-old daughter.  She died suddenly in the middle of the night with some kind of seizure.  A seizure is excessive and abnormal electrical disturbances in the brains activity.   I'm not sure when her parents found her dead.  How devastating to wake up in the morning, to find a son or daughter dead.  The girl's name was Natasha, I also have a daughter named Natasha.  The good thing about it though, they do not have to worry about where their child is now because she found salvation through Christ days prior to her death.  She was attending the "Good News Club".  She was lead to the Lord by a young lady there.  The parents will see their daughter again one day because she was gloriously saved before she died.  There was another salvation at Natasha's funeral.   Her twin sister was lead to the Lord by the Pastor's daughter, Sarah. Praise the Lord!

  If you were standing up in the window of a burning building, as smoke fumes were filling your lungs and had no rescuer, you would most likely burn to death.  However, the greatest tragedy would be to die in your sins because then burning is forever.  When someone gives you the "Good News" of Christ, they are showing you the love of Christ.   Jesus is the rescuer asking you to jump into His arms of salvation to save you from the hell to come. This is an example I'm speaking of, that exemplifies Christ and salvation.

John 3:16 is the perfect verse as to why Christ came to earth in human form.  God didn't want anyone to die or (perish) in their sins.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When we receive the gift of eternal life, we are accepting God's love for us and agreeing with Him that we are sinners in need of His cleansing power and His forgiveness. He paid for our sins on the cross.  He shed his blood for our sins, but it only applies when we believe unto righteousness.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

  Once we have become born again (saved).  Christ lives within us and we should resist sin and submit to the teachings of Christ.  This is called being a follower of Christ.  It doesn't mean that we will live perfectly, because we are like a child growing stronger as time goes by.  I'm still growing in the Lord, and when you spend time in the Bible there's always something surprising even after reading something many times.  God seems to help you understand more as you spend time with Him.  I warn that you should never get to the place that you feel you are better than any other person, take heed lest ye fall.  When we are walking in the Lord we are to walk in the Spirit of love.  The Bible tells us that God is love.  So anything that does not exemplify God, is not love.

  There are many attributes that we should be seeing in the life of a Christian if they are walking in the Spirit.  The Bible teaches us these traits. The Bible calls them the fruit of the Spirit.  If you are showing traits contrary to these, the Bible says you're walking in the flesh.

  When we were at the first church, God put us in.  I tithed 10 % of whatever I made, I gave to missions.  The majority of the money I made went back into the church. We do the same now in our new church.   I kept very little for myself.  I gave much more than just my regular tithe and offerings. When we left from pastoring the church.  The church was debt free and had money in the bank.  They supported 22 missionaries.  It was our first church.  My husband did the same, we gave and we gave and we gave.  More than what was required.  Love gives and gives and gives some more. No one could ever say we did not love that little church.

  This is the way God is to those that love Him.  He gives to us in so many ways. It might not be money He gives, it may be joy. It may not be friends, but it could be understanding. Sometimes He gives us something worth much more than anything this world has to offer.  One thing I can think of that I'm so thankful for is "When God forgives us, He treats us just as if we never sinned." God's love covers a multitude of sins.  I've always tried to show patience to people who are struggling. There are times that I have been deeply hurt by something and I didn't react as kindly as I normally do. I have felt very sorry for those times and it has caused me to be more patient and understanding to other people who are hurt.    We can overlook some things because we know God is still working on them as well.  We too should be careful not to repeat a matter and learn to overlook some things, for loves sake.  Pray for them instead of talking about them or criticizing them.  God is patient and longsuffering. 

God has given us many examples of love in the parables, the "Good Samaritan" is among the greatest of them. (Starting In Luke 10:33)   In the story of the good Samaritan, we see people passing by to the other side of the road, ignoring the one who desperately needs help.  Maybe they didn't want to be bothered, or maybe they didn't like him because He was different.  It could have been they didn't want to get their hands dirty.  Maybe he had a different color skin.  Whatever it was if they could have helped they should have.  If it was a woman and a child that had no money, they most likely could not help.  Some people just cannot help.  However, the Bible speaks of people who past by that could have helped but didn't.  They knew he was hurt and they ignored him. 
This reminds me of another passage of scripture found in Matthew, it is also a parable of the Lord.

Matthew  25:35 -46
- For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink.  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee.
in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Now back to the good Samaritan. We see a man doctoring a stranger and going the extra mile. He traveled far to get him to a hospital and paid the price for his care and then went back to check on him.  This man traveled with a horse or camel for days.  It wasn't like today.  This man showed a stranger the love of God.

When people see the love of Christ in us, they most likely will listen to the gospel message.  If you are a child of God, through Christ, your life will shine forth the love of Christ.  God has given us an example of good works that will shine forth because of Christ in us. 

I have to warn however there are many that do wonderful works in the name of the Lord, who have not the spirit of Christ.  They are very good people, but God looks at the heart. We cannot trust anything else other than Christ for salvation or we are not saved. 
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There is power in the love of Christ, for many have trusted Christ because of the love they see through a true Christian.  I pray that we will shine forth good works that others will trust Christ.  God tells us without love we are just making a bunch of noise....

1Corithians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

God tells us to let our light shine, it is the light of His love and the light His truth. 

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

When we love God we will give to Him faithfully and happily.  We will serve Him and others with the good works of faith in the power of Christ and his love.

The greatest love of all is eternal love and eternal life, that is found in Christ alone. 

This love is what brought Christ to us.  What made Him, come looking for us?

He didn't want us to die in our sins.  He came to save us from the Hell to come. Hell is waiting for all those that do not put their trust in Him, but the love of God says,

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 1John 3:16

 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

The Power Of Love

Susan Nikitenko

Roman 10:9

Father God, I pray you will bless this lesson in the hearts of those listening. I pray you will be honored and glorified.  I pray you will open peoples eyes to your truth and your pure love. I pray they will trust you and understand that they need you. I pray that they will humble themselves and cry out to you today. I pray that we will understand the power of love through Christ.  Help us to be what we need to be, to please you with our lives.  

In The Name of Christ Jesus, I pray this, Amen.

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