What a friend we have in Jesus Part I, Bible Study 06/10/09

What a friend I have in Jesus Part I
Synopsis of Bible Study 06/10/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III

It is important not to become lukewarm in our relationship with Jesus Christ. There is a term called Christocentric which deals with having as the theological focal point the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ. In other words, it is saying that Christ is the center in all we do. The Church is an example of something that is christocentric. Which means the church should be focused on God. Because the world has shifted so much in what it allows, we have moved further and further away from God and as a result Christ is not the center focal point of the church anymore. We have moved away from the fire we had when we first met the Lord. The question is how do we get back to that place? There used to be a time that people would get excited just at the mention of his name (Jesus). Now you got to tell people what God is going to do for you, just to spark the same excitement. It is important to focus on the friend we have in Jesus. When you reconnect with God, you will understand what a friend you have in him
I. Life now
1. Paul shares with the church at Philippi how he was content whether he was on this side of glory or the other. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21 (KJV). Paul reminds them that if he lived he would be ok because God had his back. If he died, he would be ok because he would be in the presence of the Lord. Christ is the model after which Paul lived his life.
2. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on our faith. 10 As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, Phil 3:9b-10 (NLT) -Paul was in pursuit of knowing what it was like being in relationship with Christ. Now that Paul knows for himself how good God is, he says it doesn’t matter what problems he may encounter, because he has Christ in his life. There is no life greater than knowing Jesus got up on that Sunday morning. When we are in relationship with God, we realize that if Jesus can get out of tomb and defeat death, he can get us out of anything you and I could ever be in. Paul recognizes even if his life is taken, he gains something on the other side. For him, to die is gain.
3. Jesus came to give us life. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV) -On this side of life, we are supposed to have joy and peace in our relationship with him. Jesus came that we might have abundant life. On the other side, we are alright too, because on the other side, we gain eternal life.
4. The validation of your relationship with Christ is based on what you have put away. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:17 (KJV) -The validation of your relationship with Christ is based on what you have put away. There ought to be a big difference between what you are now and what you were, because of what you put away. Ex- Why don’t you curse anymore? Because I put those old things away. Why don’t you drink anymore? Because I put those old things away. When you put old things away, you have a new look, a new walk, and a new talk.
5. Jesus brought you back to life. 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Eph 2:1 (KJV) – When you accept that you were dead in your trespasses, you realize that Jesus brought you back from the dead. Life is the thing most of us take for granted. We think we are owed life, but we really don’t have the right expect it, nor do we deserve life (because of how we live). Instead of complaining about how hard life is we ought to pause and say wait, “At least we are alive to know that life is hard. We ought to rejoice in the fact that we are alive. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, you wouldn’t have what you have. There is somebody that would like to trade places with you right now, while you are complaining about your life. All you got to do is go to the nursing home or a homeless shelter to confirm this. There are some people that get up every morning and thank God that something ain’t hurting on them this morning on them this morning. For every person that does this, there is an older person that gets up every morning and thanks God that nothing new is hurting!
II. Pardon
1. A president has the right to pardon people that have been convicted at the end of their term. We have been pardoned by our relationship with Jesus. To accept a pardon, is to accept we have been convicted which means we were guilty of our sin. God pardoned us. No one gets a pardon that hasn’t been convicted.
2. We are all sinners. 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10 (KJV) -There are none of us who are righteous. We have all fallen short. 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 (KJV)-Because we have sinned, we have all fallen short. For sum of us, it was just a few days ago that we sinned. For others, it was just a few hours ago. For a lot more, it was just a few minutes ago.
3. Prophetic Messianic Influence-6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6 (KJV)-There are lots of Old Testament scriptures that have prophetic messianic influence. The province of the Old Testament using prophetic messianic influence implied that the Christ would come 1000 yrs before he actually came. “Him” highlighted in the Isaiah scripture is an example of prophetic messianic influence. “Him” used in the scripture implied that the messiah would come. It implied that when he would come, our inequities would be put on him (Jesus). Sheep referred to in the scripture are just rebellious (the sheep represents us). Without a shepherd, sheep could not make it. They have a tendency to stray away. To understand how good a friend you have in Jesus, it is important to put in perspective relationship of sheep and a shepherd. Ex-Remember the father that had two sons and one went away, rejoices over the son over the lost son when he comes home. Remember the good shepherd that left his 99 sheep in search of the one lost one. Just like this, Jesus cares for you so much that he will live others to come and find you when you are lost.
4. How does God get us back in line? 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 (KJV) – -the rod of the shepherd was striaght up and straight down. It was used for correction. Just like the rod of the shepherd’s staff, there is no swaying in the word. It is straight up and straight down and is used for correction. It whips you back in line.
5. God can pull you back in. The Shepherd’s staff had a curve at the top of it. The shepherd would use it to pull the sheep back in line with the herd. He put it around the sheep’s neck and pulled them back into the herd when they strayed away. If you think about it, Jesus works the same way. That is what you felt when you were dropping it like it was hot in the club and that small voice inside you told you that you know that you did not belong there. God used the curve in his staff (or the word of God inside you) to try and pull you back in. Jesus loves us so much; he will not just leave us out there so harm would come to us.
III. Sin must become real to us
1. How do we get out of our sin? 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:24 (KJV) –We messed up, how will we get out? The issue is we have to recognize, because of sin, we are in a mess. 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. 1 John 1:7 (KJV) -Just because we got saved and we have friend in Jesus, doesn’t exempt us from working out our salvation. We yet war with our inward man. We need to put in perspective how did we get reconciled back to God. Sin separates us from God. Sin always separates us from God. God sent one prophet after another, until he finally sent Jesus. If you walk in the light, you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. There can be no reconciliation with God, without the shedding of blood.
2. We have been redeemed. . 7 He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven. Eph 1:6-7 (NLT) we have been saved or rescued by the blood of Jesus. Soteriology [suh-teer-ee-ol-uh-jee] is the study of salvation. We could not save ourselves, so we looked to God to save us.
3. There can be no separation from faith and healing. They work simultaneously. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) What God did for Christ happened at the same time he was being crucified (the action that healed us). Healing is to prevent disease. When something is not at ease, healing is to say I can pin point what is not at ease and put it in its proper place.
4. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. Ex-When a sign says “don’t trespass”, we do it anyway. In other words we are out of position or where we are not supposed to be. Jesus was wounded because we were out of position.
5. He was bruised for our iniquities. What are iniquities? These are the things in us that we are prone to do and maybe haven’t done yet. It means we have a genetic tendency to do these things without developing them, for example generational curses.
6. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. The things that chastised our peace and kept us up all night, Jesus took upon himself.
7. By his strips we are healed. We have gotten so far away from by his stripes we are healed, it is scary. When the Passion (the movie) first came out, we got to a renewed compassion for what Jesus went through for us. We were not at ease and we realized that at Calvary, Jesus was healing us. There can be no atonement without the shed of blood. When you look at the bible and trauma Jesus suffered, you will realize that the beautiful paintings that we see of Jesus on the cross are not biblically accurate. The trauma and punishment that Jesus suffered would have caused his head to be swollen; his eyes would have been blood shot, and etc…The bible says he did not even look like a man. When they hit him, punched him, and kicked him, why would he allow this to happen? The Roman Empire was so traumatic; they tied Jesus to a stump and whipped him 39 times. You got to go back further than slavery to get the full understanding of this. They would lace the edge of the whip with hooks and blades. Every time they would pull the whip back, flesh would come off of Jesus’ body. They did this 39 times. Here is the son of the living God being whipped almost to death and by one word spoken by him, he could have killed his oppressor and been back at the right hand of his father instantly, but he didn’t for our sake.
8. Why would Jesus go through this? There could be no redemption without the shedding of blood. The more blood that came out of him, the more of us would be covered. What can wash away our sins, nothing but the blood Jesus? There is power in the blood so we have to get back to pleading God’s blood over our situations. Ex- Bishop explains that it is discouraging watching people that are too busy to come back to Church on Sunday afternoon for communion after Jesus did all he did for us. All he asked you to do is as often as we come (for communion) do this in remembrance of him, remembering the price that he paid. Nowhere in the scripture does he say remember me, except for when he was talking about the communion. Because we have turned communion into such a formality, we drink and eat without any thought of what we are doing or why we are doing it. Remember, there can be no redemption without the blood. This will not really hit home to you, until you have reconnected with him. Only when you contrast your messed up life, to what Jesus paid for your life, will you refuse to allow anything to keep you from remembering what Jesus did for you.
9. What did Jesus do?
a. He imputed righteousness on us. He made us right thru his blood. Ex-You tell a child to make up their room, it will be wrong though it is the best they can do, but you will go behind them and make it right. This is what Jesus did. The Devil tries to say we are trying, yet we are not quite righteous, but Jesus comes back behind us and makes us right.
b. You got to recognize the power with having peace with God. 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV) -we are acquitted from our sins by faith 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (KJV)- the is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ.
c. We have power. We have the power to overcome bad habits. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil 4:12-13 (KJV)
d. We have power to change. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Eph 4:17 (KJV) -Can you imagine what you were like before you came to Jesus? Do you remember how hard headed and stubborn you were? If you look just a few years back, you can’t believe you were like that. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 (KJV) -You have to understand power changes your mind. Ex-Explains this generation wants you to challenge their mind and heal their hearts. If you can get a person to change their mind, that is a powerful thing. When a person changes their mind, they have acknowledged that they were wrong.
e. We have the Power of provision. We have everything we need in our relationship in him. We have to quit allowing people to do for us, what he has already done for us. When you look at Psalms 23:1, a preacher can preach on this scripture every Sunday all year long and get a different revelation every time. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 (KJV) What they will do is preach the word and the spaces in between the words. For example: Psalms is written by David. Where is David? He is running for his life. Saul is trying to kill him. He is writing under pressure. “The Lord” written in the scripture is another sermon. David was living in polytheistic society which means they believed in serving more than one god. David says the Lord is over any hostile situation we can be in. The word “Is” is another sermon. The scripture says the Lord isn’t was, nor shall be, but is our shepherd. In other words, who will pay the bill? The Lord is. Who will fight our battle? The Lord is. “My” is another sermon. My problems are all God’s. The word “shepherd” is another sermon. Like the sheep, everything I need is in the Lord or our shepherd. “l shall not want”, is another sermon meaning completion. In this scripture are many sermons of encouragement.
10. Stop tripping over your life. 25 “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Matt 6:25 (NLT)
11. Look at the birds the next time you go outside. They don’t work, tithe or anything else, yet God takes care of them. 26 Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Matt 6:26 (NLT)
12. Who can look in the mirror and say they want to be 2 feet taller and it happens? Accept what you can’t change. 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. Matt 6:27 (NLT)
13. Lilies don’t toil or anything thing, yet God takes care of them.28 “And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Matt 6:28-29 (NLT). They know God has them.
14. We are God finest creation and we try to figure out how god will take care of us. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! Matt 6:30 (NLT)
15. We worry about things, but God already knows what we need before we ask. 31 “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32 Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, Matt 6:31-32 (NLT)
16. We have to seek Gods way of doing things first. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:32-33 (KJV) keep doing it God’s way and he will provide you with what you need. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19 (NLT)

Relationship Ready Part II, Bible Study 02/11/09

Relationship Ready Part II
“Intimacy” The man that meets the standard
Synopsis of Bible Study 02/11/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
THE MAN THAT MEETS THE STANDARD
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Gen 2:18 (KJV) God said it is not good for man to be alone. What kind of man was God talking about? It is the man that God has prepared. God prepared Adam before he presented Eve to him. God is saying for this kind of man, it not good for him to be alone. Men that have not be prepared by God or that are not walking with God are not the kind of men that God is saying shouldn’t be alone. God’s original intent was to have man at such a level that when he finds a woman, she worries that she is not at the level she should be in order to be with him.
God gives us guidelines as it relates to our conduct. Men don’t give into commitment as quickly as women so. God had Adam working the garden before Eve come on the scene. This was part of Adams preparation process. The first words Eve heard was “you’re it! (Referring to Adam calling her woman).The first words Adam heard was “get to work”.
What does a man look like that meets God’s standard?
I. Role of husband
Nobody taught men how to be husbands. We kind of just get put in this position and are expected to be good at it. If you didn’t have a great role-model in your home, it kind of becomes on the job training.
What is the role of this type of husband?
1. He is to leave his father and mother. 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matt 19:5-6 (KJV) -He must leave that relationship of favor to go to another relationship (his relationship). He comes from under the influence of his parents to become head another relationship. He can’t be a dependant on his parents and be dependable in another family all at the same time. He must leave his parents and provide for his family. Men, every day you wake up in your momma’s house as a grown man, you shouldn’t feel right. You can’t be a momma’s boy. You have to cleave to your wife which means to join.
2. He is to cleave or be joined to his wife. He can’t make his wife compete with his mother. That’s why they have Mother’s day and Valentine’s Day. One is for the mother and one is for the wife. Cleave means to be cemented, glued, or adhered to. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Acts 11:23 (KJV)
3. When we are cemented to God, we have to let go of some stuff. The same thing must happen in your relationship. When you enter into a relationship, you are saying that you are prepared to let go of other relationships. A man of God sticks with his wife of in all things.
4. He is to be head of his wife. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Eph 5:23 (KJV). The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. According to the bible, there is no such thing as women’s lib. A man that is in proper relationship with God should be the head of the relationship. Some women are struggling with that issue right now even as they read this. Any man that is following Christ and whose life is in order should be submitted to by the woman. This is the order of God. This man should be able to love you into submission. In other words, his being into a proper relationship with God should make the wife want to be submissive to him.
5. The type of man considers his wife’s needs before his. He takes his headship with a dose of humility. He welcomes his wife’s opinion. In other words, they huddle up together when a problem is on the table. Even though the man is the quarterback, they realize that they are on the same team. The wife doesn’t bump heads with the man. There can’t be two heads. Remember anything with two heads is a monster, but understand you are nothing without your neck.
6. He is to honor his wife. 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) -there are many woman who are taken for granted. We have to stop taking women for granted. You have to literally honor your spouse. When you walk in, she ought to illuminate. Honor her not in just what you say, but in what you do. She is the weaker vessel. This means she should be honored as a piece of china instead of everyday stoneware. You got to know whether you have fine china or not. You should know the difference between fine china and Tupperware.
a. Remember that she is an heir to the grace of life. Whatever God is going to do through you will affect her too. She is an heir to your blessings. How can your wife not be included in your blessing, when you are supposed to be one flesh? God says if you don’t treat your wife right, he won’t listen to your prayers. Just think, of all the men your wife could have chosen and she chose to be with you.
7. He is to dwell with his wife with understanding. We should understand our woman, even though they don’t’ quite understand themselves sometimes. You will never totally understand a woman, but if you have comprehensive understanding of your relationship you can be understanding of your spouse. Ginosko is a Greek word that means to take knowledge of. We must understand that even if we disagree, we have an understanding of this thing.
8. He is to provide for her physical needs. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 1 Tim 5:7-8 (KJV)
9. A man is wired to take of his woman or his wife. God gave this to Adam in the garden. Afterwards he gave Adam a wife. We are naturally wired to provide. Even if you think they are not providing, because they owe you child support, they are providing. It might be their house and not yours, but they do provide. We are trained to survive. That is who we are as men. We are wired to take care of things. A godly man takes care of things in his household. Ex- Remember in college or school, it would always be some guy saying, “Can I buy you lunch or can I get that for you?”A godly man is thinking that one day you want have to work unless you just want to work. This is what a godly man desires.
10. Provides for her sexual needs- 1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 1 Cor 7:1-4 (KJV)-(NIW) We have to be willing to give our benevolence. Men, it is your duty to have to meet your wife’s sexual needs. You think that the simple act of intercourse is meeting her needs totally, but this is not. You have to meet her needs in the following other ways to:
a. Emotional needs-Men can be involved with a sexual act and cut off our emotions after the conclusions. We are not wired with emotions. To minster to your wife it is important to communicate with her too. Men just want to go straight to the Promised Land and not journey through the wilderness. You got to go through the wilderness. Women want to talk before sex. Men want to talk during the sex! This is how men are wired. For men it’s about ego (tell me I am the greatest). A Woman wants you to hold them after sex. Ex-If you get Tupperware you can get a napkin and a plastic fork and eat just about anywhere, but when you have fine china you got to set the table.
b. Intellectual needs. Men must meet the woman’s intellectual needs as well. We must be able to talk about the economy, or the stimulus package, etc… The biggest window of the enemy is the lack of intellectual conversation. In the garden, Adam wasn’t talking to Eve and as a result a snake came around and starting talking. Bad things can’t happen when the husband does not communicate with the wife.
c. Spiritual needs-we (the woman and the man) are joint heirs in the grace of life. The woman needs a man than can bring the family to church and lead the household in prayer. Men, you have got to be the pastor of your house. (i.e. Many men have problems because their wife is always coming home and saying, Bishop Walker said this or that… The truth is, Bishop Walker or any Pastor’s name should not be mentioned more in the household than the man of the house. If the man is the Pastor of the house, it won’t be).
11. He is to truly love his wife 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph 5:25-33 (KJV)
12. Must play the role of the father. Every man needs to know how to be a father. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 1 Tim 5:8-9 (KJV)-he has to provide, teach the kids, and etc…
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph 6:3-4 (KJV);
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 1 Tim 5:8-9 (KJV);
a. A father shouldn’t be shame of punishing the kids. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb 12:4-6 (KJV) God loves you so much he wipes your tears and chastens you. Therefore, a good man will chasten his children, because he loves them.24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov 13:24 (KJV); 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov 13:24 (KJV); 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. Prov 19:18 (KJV). There is something about a man’s voice in the house that will alter the way a child acts.
b. The man is supposed to be the spiritual leader in the home.
10 things that indicate a good man
1. Needs to know how to be friends. You can take a look a guy’s friends and find out about his character.
2. Must have faith. A good man is one that is full of the word.
3. Must be faithful. A man that is full of God will be faithful.
4. Must believe in fidelity. If a man has faith he will believe in fidelity. Most women think all men cheat and spend a majority of their time trying to keep their mate from cheating.
5. Must be focused. A good man is aimed at something. He has a job that has an address, he is going to school, is gainfully employed, and etc…
6. Must like to have fun. Even though a man is driven, he likes to have fun. This is important in a relationship. Can’t be serious all the time.
7. Must know how to handle his finances. A woman ought to observe how her man handles the money he makes. How can a woman feel secure, when she is worrying if the bills will be paid or not.
8. Must value fitness. A good man tries to eat right and he is assisted because his wife cooks and he doesn’t have to go out and eat. He tries to exercise or go to the gym.
9. He believes in family. He values being in a family. A woman ought to watch how her mate treats his mom. This will give a hint on how he might treat you.
10. He has a future. He has things lined up. You can look at his life and tell he has a future.

Bible Study 06/01/05 Life After Death Part I

Life after Death Part I
Bible Study 06/01/05

In this series, we want to aim our focus around one specific question. What happens when people cross over (or pass away)?
Our goal is simply to answer questions for some and aide in the grieving process for others. Knowing more about this subject is considered therapeutic.

1. God knows how long we are going to be here on this earth from the time of birth. Job 14:1 – “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. This scripture points to us being of a few days of trouble, not only because we are born into sin, but also to make us aware that no matter what, you can’t go past those few days ( our designated time here on earth ).
2. Because of the tree, in the Garden of Eden, sin came into this world. With this entrance, sin entered the body as well. Death was all that awaited us, until Christ came and died for our sins. Remember the wages of sin is death. You cannot escape your deadline (your set time here).
3. Where do we go when we die? During funerals we try to preach or sing a person into heaven. The simple fact of the matter is, no matter what song is sung or what sermon is preached, it will not have any bearing on where you go. Some try to make things seem better by having the funeral at the church, as opposed to the funeral home, but this is a pointless effort. If the deceased did not go to church while they were alive, it is pointless to think this will add to where this person will spend eternity.
4. If there is no life after death, Christianity would have no purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. This scripture simply implies that those who are dead in Christ get to share the presence of Christ. If Christ died and was raised, then we to must be raised at death. We must be alive in him. Else our faith would be pointless.
5. It is painful when people die. If to die is to gain, why shouldn’t we want to die now?
a. There is a proper way. A life time. Psalms 90:10 – The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. A score is 20yrs. So a lifetime, according to the scripture would be 20*3+10=70. Even by reason of strength, it could only be 80yrs (fourscore). Now this is only an average span, not guaranteed. After our lifetime, the scripture says we fly away.
b. We serve our purpose.
6. What happens to a believer when they die? First of all we need to know what a believer is. A Believer is a person who is saved. This has nothing to do with a churchman or a churchgoer. There is a difference. Saved folk are sealed for the Day of Redemption. The death of a believer or saved folk is often referred to in the Bible as sleep. 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. This scripture tells of Stephen, a saved proclaimer of the word, being stoned for spreading the word. The question from this scripture then becomes, how do we prove that Stephen was saved? For one, the scripture refers to his death as “he fell asleep”. Secondly, Stephen asked the Lord not to hold the stoning of him, against them. This is the heart of a saved person. Stephen did just as Jesus did on the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. John 11:11-1511 Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, “Our friend Laz’arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Laz’arus is dead; 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” When a believer passes, they are sleep (dead), as we said before. Jesus specifically told the disciples that Laz’ a rus was sleep, but because they didn’t understand, he had to say he was dead.
7. Some have comp up with the doctrine of “Soul Sleep “. This simply means that that when people die, saved or not, they are not aware that they are dead, until the great trumpet sounds. There are Immediate Consequences at the death of a believer.
a. In the death of a believer, they wake up somewhere, knowing where they are. Jesus told a dying, repenting thief, that today he would be in paradise with him. Luke 23:43 – And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This scripture demonstrates that after the thief’s life expired, he would wake up in the same place as Jesus would be, Paradise. He would wake up knowing where he was.
8. If when a believer dies, he is in immediate company of Christ, why do we call it sleep? The sleep is what our bodies are doing, while waiting for the resurrection. The body is waiting on the trumpet or the return of the Lord. Our spirit goes immediately up to be with Christ. Remember the scripture that says, Acts 1:10 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama’ria and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” When Jesus left this earth for the last time, after appearing to the disciples for forty days, he was taken up into the heavens. This is what our spirit does when we die.
9. When a loved one passes, they go originally where they came from. Philippians 3:20-21 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Conversation means citizenship. Our citizenship is in heaven. Verse 21 says your body will be transformed (fashioned like unto his glorious body). Now to sum it up, your spirit is with Jesus and your body is asleep. Whatever killed you is not in your spirit. We have seed in previous lessons, that you are not your body, but you are your spirit. What has killed you is not in your spirit, so you are separated from what has killed you. Jesus said on the cross, “into thy hands, I commend or commit my spirit”. Jesus left that abused body behind and went to join his father. Like him, we will leave this body behind, asleep, and enjoy the company of Jesus.
10. Theologians call this state of our spirit being out of the body, the “Intermediate State “. We call it “Heaven”.
11. What is the place God set up for us in the beginning? It was paradise. The Garden of Eden. We lost it to sin. Jesus died and found paradise again. It was reestablished in heaven. Paul says in the next scripture, he didn’t know if the man was in the body or in an out of body experience, but God allowed him to see heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:1-7 1 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows– 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. First let’s explain what 3rd heaven is. 1st heaven is where the birds fly, 2nd heaven is where the stars are, 3rd heaven is where we assume God dwells. The man discussed in the text saw the 3rd heaven and in it was Paradise. It was so beautiful; he said it was unlawful for him to explain it. He didn’t want anyone to think more of him that he sees or hears from him.
12. Paul says he was caught up in the heaven. Why would God give Paul such a revelation? We don’t know, but we know he got a thorn in his flesh right after, to keep him grounded.
13. When God comes back, he will bring those who sleep, with him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. The dead will have the encounter before us. The spirit of those, whose bodies are sleep, will come back with Jesus and their spirits will reunite with their bodies. When our spirits reunite with our bodies, we actually will have new ones. We will be spirit and body again, but without limitations.
14. What will our new bodies look like? We don’t know, but we do know it will look like God. In the garden, we were created in God’s own image. When sin entered and our eyes were open and we hide, because we were naked. We therefore, forgot what we were supposed to look like originally. We will get to see in the end, what we really were supposed to look like. We will bare the image of God. 1 Corinthians 15:49 – Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. Jesus was in a new body, when he came back, after his resurrection, he was in a new body. The disciples were scared, because they did not recognize Jesus in his new body. He had to show them his crucifixion wounds, before they would believe him. Luke 24:36-39 36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Like Jesus, we will have new bodies after death. They will look like him and have no limitations as we do know.
15. There will come a day, when we will become uncomfortable in our new bodies. Then our bodies will fall asleep. 2 Corinthians 5:4 – For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Resurrection- Jesus went to the father, went to hell to give the folks in hell a chance to be saved, he took the keys of hell from Satan, then he went to the apostles, and then ascended back into heaven. This is a perfect example of the non limitations that our new bodies will have.

Bible Study 06/08/05 Life After Death Part II

Life after Death Part II
Bible Study 06/08/05

1. To recap when a believer passes away, there is a separation from Spirit and Body at resurrection, then at the time of rapture, there is a rejoining of the body and spirit only it will be a new body without limitations.

I. What Happens when non believers die?
1. There is an intermediate place of death: In the Old Testament, it was called Sheal. In the New Testament, we call it Hades.
2. Hades is not Hell. Hell is really called Gehenna-place where condemned souls abide.
3. New Testament says Hades is paradise, but for the non believer somewhere quite the opposite. Hebrews 9:27 – And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment -you have a choice if you die once or die twice. You can be born once die in the earth realm and then die again or you can be born once and die once in the earth realm, to live again in Christ.
II. What happens to the non believer?
1. A nonbeliever is person that we call, “The lost”. Luke 16:19 – 19 Now there was a rich man and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, making good cheer in splendour every day. 20 And [there was] a poor man, by name Lazarus, [who] was laid at his gateway full of sores, 21 and desiring to be filled with the crumbs which fell from the table of the rich man; but the dogs also coming licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into the bosom of Abraham. And the rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in hades lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he crying out said, Father Abraham, have compassion on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Child, recollect that *thou* hast fully received thy good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted here, and *thou* art in suffering. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those who desire to pass hence to you cannot, nor do they who [desire to cross] from there pass over unto us. 27 And he said, I beseech thee then, father, that thou wouldest send him to the house of my father, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may earnestly testify to them, that they also may not come to this place of torment. 29 But Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets: let them hear them. 30 But he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one from the dead should go to them, they will repent. 31 And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, not even if one rise from among [the] dead will they be persuaded. – The moment a person dies they close their eyes here and open their eyes in Hades. Remember Hades holds soles of the condemned. Abraham tells the rich man that if the lost soles won’t listen toe the prophets, they certainly won’t listen to the dead.
2. What some characteristics of Hades?
i. Is a conscious place
ii. A place of recollection-you remember
iii. A place of torment.
iv. A place of immediate access-you close your eyes and when you open them and you are there.
III. What is does Hades look like?
1. It has 2sides- Abraham’s bosom (side 1) and torment (side 2). There is a Gulf separating the two.
2. The only person talking is the one in hell (or torment). The rich guy, in torment, is not doing the talking in the in the begging of the scripture. This does not mean you can’t be rich and make into heaven. However, Jesus does talk about it being hard for a rich person to make it in. Mark 10:25 – 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.”
IV. What happened to soul’s before Jesus came?
1. Those believers went to Hades also.
2. The bosom of Abraham represents Paradise.
3. In the beginning, Jesus hadn’t come. So the righteous folk went to Abraham’s bosom. The lost went to torment. Both are Hades. One simply is a desired state (paradise) and the other is not (torment).

V. Why did Satan try to kill Jesus at birth?
1. Satan knew Jesus came to take control of Hades. 1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; Hades ( Prison )-again Hades is simply a holding place ( good or bad ).
2. In the rapture, those that passed on and those who die in him will come back with him. Those that passed on are those that were righteous, who died before Christ came. Those who died in Christ are those who died righteous, after Christ came.
3. Being saved, we have been sealed and written in the Lambs book of life. Resurrection doesn’t faze us. The fact that we didn’t wake up in torment, let’s us know we made it.
4. The Devil tried to kill Jesus, because he knew what he was going to be. His dying gave us more to look forward to in eternity. Instead of dying and going to the Bosom of Abraham, we live in the company of Christ.
5. I have to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 3:18 – He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
6. When I am saved, I have to know that my sins are forgiven. Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Psalms 103:11-12-For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
7. Non believers go to torment, but believers go to Paradise. Both are considered Hades.
8. When Jesus saw the place where they prosecuted the criminals, Jesus said “This place looks like what Hell looks like”. This is where Hell gets its name.
9. Judgment, fire, and prison are all types of Hell. Hell is simply the separation of us from God.
10. When the son of man returns, he will reward us for some of our works. Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Romans 2:6- Something will be given in rapture that has to do with our deeds. Romans 2:5-9 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will render to every man according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.
11. Notice, in the previous scripture, the rich man that was in torment saw Lazarus (Paradise or the bosom of Abraham), but the scripture doesn’t make mention that Lazarus saw the rich man. This leads us to the final point.
VI. Are there days you wonder if your deceased loved ones are missing you the way you are missing them?
1. When you die, if you are in paradise, you must put on immortality, and then shall the past be gone. In death, Jesus’ goes to Paradise (the bosom of Abraham) and says come go with me. When you put on corruption, you won’t age, have pain, or any worries1 1 Corinthians 15:53 – For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” In Luke 16, the beggar never said anything; he had no awareness of hell or earth. If you died and had consciousness of what you left or what caused you to leave, it would worry you half to death. What kind of paradise would that be? Ex. Mother dies and leaves her children behind. How could she enjoy paradise, if she is worried about her children she left behind?
2. The issue is not them (the deceased) letting us go, but us letting them go. Job 14-says let it go. We try to bring heaven into the earth realm or carnality, but heaven is too big for that. 18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place; 19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passes; thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not. 22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.”