I AM WITH YOU ALWAY (MATTHEW 28:16-20)

   

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

I AM WITH YOU ALWAY

MATTHEW 28:16-20

Lesson Prepared by: krisha of Solomon Wisdom FB page

picture taken from Google

may 20, 2018

Scheduled Teacher: Bro. Moises Ramos

MEMORY VERSE

MATTHEW 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.

INTRODUCTION:

Let me ask you some questions: Have you found yourself having difficulty in sharing the Gospel? Have you lost the compassion for souls? Most of the times Christians face their days without sharing God’s word; days, weeks and months pass without doing their mission. This way, we become use to it. These are just some problems Christians experience in their spiritual lives.

Remember before Jesus was taken up and he was out of sight, he reminded the disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and in uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8-9). Jesus knows the persecutions they may face therefore He says in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”  Personalize the feeling of the disciples which they knew that Jesus will leave them (John 14:25) but Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Take note the words: teach you all things, bring all things to your remembrance. These verses are like saying this sentence, “When I’m gone I’m still here with you.” Therefore, if you are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise there’s nothing to have the feeling you’re abandoned. Our lesson for today is taken from Matthew 28:20 entitled, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAY.” Jesus promised his people then and us today that he would always be with them. And this morning, I would like to give you three reasons why we need this promise, why we need to know that Jesus will be always with us:

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.      WE NEED THIS PROMISE “I AM WITH YOU ALWAY” BECAUSE IT’S EASY FOR US TO HAVE DOUBTS AND FEARS (MATTHEW 28:17)

“When they saw Him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”

Some women had gone to the tomb in order to prepare His body for burial. There hadn’t been time after the crucifixion, and they hoped to be able to assuage (ease) their grief by fulfilling the funerary rites. When they arrived at the tomb, they didn’t find His body. Instead, an angel addressed them, commanding them to take a message to His disciples. They reported that the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you” [MATTHEW 28:5-7].

The strange events weren’t finished, however. The women reported that Jesus Himself met them and spoke to them. Then, He iterated the message that the angel had delivered to them, He said, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” [MATTHEW 28:10].

The guards had been bruiting about the city a wild story that His disciples came during the night and stole His body away while they slept. Never mind that guards who fell asleep while on post were guilty of a capital offence. If they were actually sleeping, they were to be executed; there could be no appeal. It was apparently worth the risk in their estimate if there was enough money involved.

There was nothing for the disciples to lose, so the eleven did as they were commanded; and they went to Galilee. At the least, it would get them out of the city where things could explode into a riot at any moment. The disciples followed the instructions precisely, arriving at the mountain to which He had previously directed them. There, they saw Jesus. It was actually the Lord who came to them. When they saw Him, all of them worshipped. However, even as they worshipped, some doubted. Think of that! Some doubted despite seeing the Risen Saviour!

In verse 17 says, “… some doubted;” maybe we say why some disciples doubted. Before you begin to think ill of the disciples, recall how Thomas had reacted when the others spoke of seeing the Lord. This is the account as John, Jesus’ cousin, recorded the incident. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’

“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, believing.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed’ [JOHN 20:19-29]. https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/but-some-doubted-michael-stark-sermon-on-faith-224650?page=2

None of us can live a Christian life with our own strength because it’s easy for us to have doubts and fears in fulfilling our mission that’s why if we feel this way, remember God said before He left on earth, “...and lo, I am with you alway.” The word “lo” is an interjection which shows great feelings which means “behold.” The word “always” means “throughout all time. “This give an emphasis that says like this, “Look, I am with always even unto the end of the world.” No reason to fear and have doubts.

2.     WE NEED THIS PROMISE “I AM WITH YOU ALWAY” BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US MISSION TO FULFILL (MATTHEW 28:19-20)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

A grocery store owner in England decided that he had to ban customers from coming into his store. He said that he was forced to take such drastic action because of people’s bad manners. First, he banned smoking, then crude language, baby strollers, pets, and finally, customers themselves. Shoppers must now look through the window, spot the items they want, and then ring a bell to be served through a small hatch in the door. The owner admitted, “I have lost business, but I cannot say how much. But I am a man of principles, and I stand by my decision!” (FlagLive [June 4-10, 1998.) That storekeeper had lost sight of his mission!

While that story is ridiculous, it’s easy as a church to lose sight of our mission. If they’re not careful, churches begin to accumulate various programs, many of which were legitimate when they started. But over time, those running the programs forget the church’s mission and drift off course. Pretty soon, the church becomes cluttered with cherished programs that keep everyone busy, but don’t help work toward to the church’s mission (see Simple Church[Broadman & Holman], by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.) We’re doing many good things, but we’ve forgotten the main thing. So it’s important to answer and then keep coming back to the question, “What is the church’s mission, our mission” It’s already mentioned in verse 28.  https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-3-mission-church-matthew-2819-20-2237-40

We’re thankful because CBT focus on evangelism; our programs’ aim focus on evangelism but personally most of times we forget our mission. Weekdays pass without thinking our mission especially in our jobs, right? We need this promise, “I am with you always because we have a mission to fulfill.” A reminder that God is always with us every time we open our mouths about the Gospel.

This mission is for all Christians, no exempted. Remember Jeremiah was called by God when he was young to be a “prophet to the nations”---but he was scared to death: Jeremiah 1:6-8

Then said I, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child”

What was God’s response?

“Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I have commanded thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee.”

As we share the good news and make followers of Jesus, our confidence is this: “I am with you always, even until the end of the world.”

3.     WE NEED THIS PROMISE “I AM WITH YOU ALWAY” BECAUSE IT WILL KEEP US GOING WHEN WE FEEL LIKE QUITTING (HAGGAI 2:4).

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel refused to be a light to the nations, and God judged them and made them live 500 miles away in Babylon for 70 years. But when God allowed them to return to Israel, they came back to a city and temple that was destroyed. They rebuilt their homes, but not God’s home. And God said to them:

But now the Lord says:

“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and WORK: FOR I AM WITH YOU, saith the Lord of hosts:

In the same way that God wanted his Old Testament saints to build for him, he wants us, his New Testament saints, to build for him. Mathew wrote his gospel about 15-30 years or so after Jesus’ death to remind God’s people of the commission Jesus had given a few decades earlier! Go…make disciples…baptize…teach… WHY? I am with you always, even until the end of the world.

CONCLUSION:

Even though we are prone to doubts and fears, even though sometimes we see our mission is difficult to fulfill and even though we get weary and feel like quitting remember our mighty fortress, the Lord Jesus Christ has promised us: “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world

I'M READY TO DIE (LUKE 2:25-35)

I'M READY TO DIE

Picture taken from Google

LUKE 2:25-35

Prepared by krisha of Solomon FB page

MEMORY VERSE:

LUKE 2:30

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation”

INTRODUCTION:

-         If we are asked, “Are you ready to die?” Christians would reply, “YES, AMEN!” Could you still answer “YES” if we talk about your ministry? Did you already your best for it? This question can only be answered by ourselves.

-         Death is a concern to us to some extent. We hear people say from time to time, “I am not afraid to die, but I am concerned about how I am going to die.” I think that statement is true for most of us here. We don’t want to spend some agonizing weeks or months actively dying. That is something to be concerned about. We also think our family; most Filipinos are very attached to our families and we don’t want to leave them. That’s why we are concern also in our health.  Are we ready to leave our families? Are our families ready for our death?

-         In our lesson for today from Luke, there was a man in Jerusalem who told the Lord that he was ready to die, and we’ll try to understand what he meant by this statement. This lesson is titled “I AM READY TO DIE.”

LESSON OUTLINE:

1)     I’M READY TO DIE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (LUKE 2:25-28)

-         Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was probably an old man, though we are not told this, and no indication is given of his position in life, nor as to whether he was rich or poor. However, there is one very important thing which we are told about him, and that is that day by day, as he lived and worked, he was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25); that is, he was waiting for and living in the expectation of the coming of the Messiah.

-         When the child Jesus brought in the temple, Simeon took him up in his arms and blessed him. In this verse shows Simeon welcomed Jesus.

-         How about us? Spiritually speaking, when we found Jesus in our lives, we are ready to die; we are saved from the penalty of sin from hell and we can now go to heaven.

2)     I’M READY TO DIE BECAUSE THERE’S A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES (LUKE 2:32)

-         Simeon is serious and sincere; it is mentioned in verse 25 “just and devout,” waiting for the consolation of Israel.

-         The Spirit-controlled life is a life which is endued with the Spirit, taught of the Spirit and led by the Spirit. Simeon had an insight into dispensational truth, as verses 30-32 indicate. In verse 32 he stated that the Lord Jesus was to be, first, “a light to enlighten the Gentiles”; and second, “and the glory of thy people Israel”. He knew that although He had come to His own people they would reject Him, and the gospel would be preached to the Gentiles (John 1:11; Acts 28:28). Notice also that the Holy Spirit always leads to and glorifies the Lord Jesus –- compare verse 27 with John 16:13-14.

-         Simeon was ready to die because there’s a light to lighten the Gentiles. He had seen the glimpse of the future salvation of the Gentiles. Have you seen what this verse implies? Let’s personalize this verse; we can say we’re ready to die if our love ones, friends, relatives, neighbors, community or anyone who are under our responsibility have found the Lord in their lives or heard the free gift of salvation. Also we can see in these verses our real purpose here on earth, share the free gift of salvation.

-         One important thing we can see in Simeon’s life is ‘True achievement comes upon seeing the salvation of the Gentiles and Jews through Jesus Christ.’ Simeon’s reaction was he was fulfilled and satisfied for the salvation of people. What is the achievement we can say in our spiritual journey? Personally, we can notice in most of the people’s reaction when they hear announcement that there are people heard the Gospel or get saved, Christians have no reaction and they don’t shout Amen! Remember the verse in Luke 15: 7 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” Let’s show that we’re rejoicing for even one person who accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour.

3)     I’M READY TO DIE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE PEOPLE, ISRAE (LUKE 2:32)

-         And the glory … - The first offer of salvation was made to the Jews, John 4:22; Luke 24:47. Jesus was born among the Jews; to them had been given the prophecies respecting him, and his first ministry was among them. Hence, he was their glory, their honor, their light.  

Christ was the glory of Israel.

a)  Because He was a Jew by birth.

b)  Because His history has vindicated all that was peculiar in the Jewish polity.

c)  Because He confined His personal ministry to the Jews.

d)  Because He has stamped the impress of Jewish thought on the mind of man.

e) Because He has invested the condition and prospects of the Jews with universal interest. (G. Brooks.)

-         How about us? Who is our glory? When we say that Christ is our glory, we mean that WE GET ALL THE GLORY WE HAVE THROUGH HIM. Some men go to the schools for glory, others to the camps of war. In all kinds of places men have sought after honour, but the believer saith that Christ is the mine in which he digs for this gold, Christ is the sea in which he fishes for this pearl; he gives up all other searchings and looks for glory in Jesus, and nowhere else.

CONCLUSION:

Simeon says in verses 29 and 30 “Lord , now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Let’s paraphrase and personalize these verses, “Lord, I’m ready to die because I have seen your salvation.”  Can we say these words?

-          We are imperfect people and we possibly can’t say these words but we have a great work God has entrusted in us which mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”. WE SHOULD DO OUR PART! And for those Christians who are presently doing it “DON’T GIVE UP. KEEP ON SHARING!”

WOUNDS THAT LEAD YOU BACK (ISAIAH 53:5)

CHRISTIAN BAPTIST TABERNACLE

WOUNDS THAT LEAD YOU BACK

Zechariah 13:6; Isaiah 53:5

APRIL 01, 2018

INTRODUCTION:

-          THE BRIDGE - THE STORY OF SACRIFICE

There once was a bridge operator who had a young son whom he dearly loved. They were inseparable. The young boy often asked to go with his father to watch him work - to watch him raise and lower the draw bridge, allowing the boats to pass under or the passenger trains to cross over. One day the father relented and allowed his son to come with him.

"Stay here at a safe distance," the father warned the boy, "while I go and raise the bridge for the coming boat." The boy stayed where his father had left him and watched the bridge as it slowly lifted up in the sky. Suddenly, the boy heard the faint cry of an approaching passenger train - coming quite a bit sooner than had been expected. The father, up in the control room, could hear neither the whistle of the train nor the warning cry of his son.

The boy saw the train racing closer and closer, and he started to run along the platform to reach his father. Knowing there was a lever he could pull near the operating gears of the bridge, the boy ran to the door in the platform and tried to lower himself down to reach the lever. Losing his balance, he fell in to where the gears came together and was caught.

At the same time the father saw his son fall down into the hole in the platform, he saw the fast approaching train. In horror, he realized that if he didn't start lowering the bridge immediately, it would not be down in time for the train to pass safely. The train would crash into the river below killing hundreds of innocent people.

The man was faced with an unimaginable dilemma - race to save his son at the cost of hundreds of lives, or sacrifice his son to save the passengers on the train.

He made the only choice he could and pulled the lever to lower the bridge. In spite of the noise of the descending bridge and the oncoming train, he still heard the anguished screams of his beloved son being crushed to death between the gears of the bridge.

The father ran to the platform as the train was passing by. Most people on the train simply ignored the man crying on the platform. Others looked out of the window and stared, totally oblivious of the unspeakable sacrifice that had just been made on their behalf. They gave no other thought or concern to this man who had just given up what was most precious to him so that they could live.

Do you see the parallel? Can you understand the picture this story paints?

The sacrifice of One offers life to all. God did not take pleasure in watching His Son die. It had to have been agonizing for God to stand by as Jesus died covered in the intense darkness of all of our sins. There was no choice...it had to happen. The sacrifice had to be made in order for us to be able to live.

And like those people on the train, we have the choice regarding what we will do with that sacrifice. We can choose to ignore it - to ignore God - not even bothering consider what God did on our behalf. We can choose to look at God briefly - to glance in passing - and then continue on with our own priorities and plans. Or we can acknowledge what it was that God sacrificed to give us life. We can embrace it and accept it on our behalf, and choose to live our lives for God. http://louiethebunny.blogspot.com/2010/08/bridge-story-of-sacrifice.html

-          Remember the time you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and upon remembering you’ll be reminded also the sacrifice Christ did for us. Let’s ask ourselves, “How long have you been a Christian?” Can we name some sacrifices we have done? Or in contrary, can we recall many the times we have disobeyed God instead? Sometimes the years we have been a Christian leads to become complacent in the ministry which make us feel “nothing” or it’s like we don’t feel the presence of God. If we don’t be aware and watchful, we will depart from God’s presence.  People around you may not notice that you’re starting to go astray but you see and feel it by yourself.  For now you are a silent but don’t wait for the time that your lukewarm situation is so evident.

Do you have ideas what happen to Christians who draw away from God’s presence?

2 Peter 2:22  (KJV)

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Your life is worse compare to the time you were not Christian.  Imagine the kind of life, “eating your vomit,” describes in this verse.

Don’t wait for situations in your life become complicated. If this happens, it’s very hard for you to go back.  You already knew God sacrifices on the cross but in our lesson for today, I pray this would help you consider not just His sacrifices but also HIS WOUNDS!  

LESSON OUTLINE:

      1)   THE CONTUSED WOUND ( MICAH 5:1; MATT. 27:29-30; JOHN 18:22)

-          Jesus Christ had this wound when they smote (paghampas in tagalog) Him. This is a wound produced by a blunt object (pasa in tagalog). Such a wound should result from being struck with a rod, as foretold in Micah 5:1. The event is recorded in Matthew 27:29- 30 and a similar type of injury in John 18:22.

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

-          After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.  https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Blindfolded

-          Everyone experience contusion and we know personally what the feeling of having one contusion. When it is touched it is so painful and imagine our Lord Jesus Christ experienced many contusions on his body.

        2)   THE LACERATED WOUND (ISAIAH 50:6, MATT.27:26, JOHN 19:1)

-          A wound produced by a tearing instrument. Lacerations in Jesus suffering were produced by scourging or whipping (pagbubogbog in tagalog). The scourge was made of thongs each tipped with bone or metal. Christ would have received such a wound (paglaslas in tagalog) from the scourging. Prophesied in Isaiah 50:6 and fulfilled in Matthew 27:26 and John 19:1. Eusebius describes not specifically Christ’s scourging, but rather the typical pre-crucifixion scourging by the Romans and note the following: many bled to death before being crucified, in many cases not only was the back of the person scourged cut open in all directions, but the eyes were torn out, the face and breast were torn open and often teeth knocked out.

-          A Roman implement for severe bodily punishment. Horace calls it horribile flagellum. It consisted of a handle, to which several cords or leather thongs were affixed, which were weighted with jagged pieces of bone or metal, to make the blow more painful and effective. It is comparable, in its horrid effects, only with the Russian knout. The victim was tied to a post (Acts 22:25) and the blows were applied to the back and loins, sometimes even, in the wanton cruelty of the executioner, to the face and the bowels. In the tense position of the body, the effect can easily be imagined. So hideous was the punishment that the victim usually fainted and not rarely died under it. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/scourge-scourging/

-          Have you imagined the kind of scourging Romans did to Jesus?

    3)   THE ABRASED WOUND (JOHN 19:16-17, MATT.27:32, MARK 15:20-21; LUKE 23:26)

-          It is caused by some object rubbing or scraping against the skin (sobrang paggasgas ng balat). Christ would have suffered this type of wound when He was forced to carry the wooden cross upon His back.  We must realize that this was His back that was already torn upon by scourging. John 19: 16-17, Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:20-21 and Luke 23:26. His physical condition was so poor that He could not continue to carry the cross and Simon was compelled to carry the remainder.

     4)   THE PENETRATING WOUND (MATT,27:29; JOHN 19:2) (bumaon na sugat)

-          It is a deep wound caused by a sharp-pointed instrument. This happened to Jesus when they placed upon His head a “crown of thorns,” Matthew 27:29 and John 19:2. These wounds were undoubtedly deepened when they smote Him on the head with the reed, Matthew 27:20.

     5)   THE PERFORATING WOUNDS  (JOHN 20: 24-29)

-          The perforating wound (butas-butas) is one that pierces through the body at some point. When Christ was crucified, they drove metal spikes through Him. The evidence of this wound when doubting Thomas mentioned it in John 20:25.

      6)   THE INCISED WOUND (JOHN 19:34)

-          The incised wound (paghiwa) is a cut produced by a sharp edged instrument. Jesus Christ received this type of wound when the Roman soldier thrust his spear into Christ’s side to ensure that He was dead.

CONCLUSION:

We know the great sacrifice Christ did in order for us to redeem from the penalty of sin but the details of his sacrifices are sometimes ignored by some. Honestly, from 1991-2004, I knew not the details of Christ crucifixion; I just heard some from preaching and sermon but to personally and intentionally read it, no! That’s why when I watched the movie, I can’t control my emotions. When the movie was out, there were some against and said, “This movie was so cruel and it’s not true” but Bible says in Isaiah 53:2, “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him,” this verse shows what sufferings he experienced (no beauty in him).

What wounds do we have at this moment? (elaborate) Were these wounds of Jesus enough to lead us back to God?

WALK NO MORE (JOHN 6: 53 - 71)

WALK NO MORE

JOHN 6: 53 - 71

Lesson Prepared by: krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

DATE: APRIL 22, 2018

MEMORY VERSE:

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways and fear him.

-      Deuteronomy 8:6 -

 

INTRODUCTION:

-      Do you have some friends, relatives or love ones who have been there in the church for some time but eventually walked away from the church? They walked away after they experienced the blessings, good fellowship, good friendship, and the goodness of the Lord. It gives disappointment to those Christians who gave their time encouraging them but still they walked away. Another situation, have you heard someone got offended by the preaching of the preachers or sermon of the pastor? For you, you think it’s not a big deal but they took it seriously. These are some situations we experience in the church and sometime we ask why; only God and those persons who walk away could answer but we could get possible answers from the Bible. This kind of situation is our lesson for today which is titled, “WALK NO MORE.”

LESSON OUTINE:

       1)  WALKED NO MORE FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITH JESUS

-       The setting of our text this morning goes back to Jesus feeding the multitude of more than five thousand the previous day. Jesus and His disciples had left Capernaum to get away from the crowds there and had crossed the Sea of Galilee to a lonely place on the northeast shore near Bethsaida. However, the crowds followed them there. Jesus had compassion upon them and both healed the sick and taught them of God. That evening Jesus performed the additional miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish into enough food to feed the five thousand men present plus any women and children that accompanied them and still have twelve baskets of food left over.  http://gracebibleny.org/responding-to-difficult-doctrine-john-641-71

-      After the miracle and their stomachs were filled, they recognized that Jesus would be the prophet that should come to the world.  The people forced to take Jesus to be the King but Jesus departed and went to a mountain alone (verses 14-15).

-      We have seen in the verses that the people here were eager and motivated after they experienced miracles but these same people were also the people who mentioned in verse 66 “they walked no more with him.”

       2)  WALKED NO MORE WITH JESUS’ MINISTRY

-       In verses 24-25, they sought Jesus. It’s pleasant to read the verse that they sought Jesus but in verse 26 Jesus saw their motives. They seek Him not because they saw the miracles but because their stomach was filled with loaves. Is this sounded familiar? It’s true that some people stay and do the ministry for food. It is sad that many of these same people later get sidetracked from the importance of Jesus' true mission and the true significance of the miracle He had done. The significance was that Jesus had “the words of life” and they needed to find redemption from sins. They were more focused on the food. 

-       What have you seen in these verses? Let’s accept it, not all people who seek God have good motives.

     3)  WALKED NO MORE IN THE FELLOWSHIP AND INTIMACY WITH JESUS

-       In verses 27 – 58, Jesus began sharing salvation and that He is the bread from heaven, He is the Savior of mankind but they didn’t accept his teachings. Most people are like this, they just accept things that are pleasant to them; they don’t like the hard teachings from the Bible. After they hear the doctrine that Jesus is the Savior, in verse 66 says, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

-       People still have the same reaction to Jesus Christ. They claim to be followers for a while, but the more they understand of whom He is and what He desires, the more uncomfortable they become. They want to escape hell, but they do not want to repent from their sins.

-       These are professing Christians but not possessing Christians (1 John 2:19).

-       What this lesson imply to our monthly theme, revival? One of the possible reasons why others don’t walk no more with the Lord is they need salvation; no revival will happen because revival is for Christians.

CONCLUSION:

-       If ever we have friends, relatives, love ones who walked away from the Lord, let’s continue to pray for them that they will be enlighten and find the true salvation.

-       How about us, Christians?  Remember what Jesus asked to Peter. When others walked no more with God, he asked the 12 disciples, “Will ye also go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom, shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This is a good answer from Simon Peter; take note of the word “SURE.” He is sure that Christ is God. As Christians we know that our journey in life has rough roads but with this, sometimes these rough roads give us reasons to walk away from the Lord but remember we are Christians; isn’t Christ enough to stay in His will, He has the words of eternal and that’s sure.

-       Our memory verse for today reminds us to walk in God’s ways.

“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways and fear him.

Deuteronomy 8:6