Learning From Jesus

Opening Prayer:                                                                                                            Pg.1
Father God, We ask that you send your Holy Spirit  to inspire and teach us that which you would have us to learn from this study. We ask your blessings on each one here tonight with another year of good health and life. Inspire us to be your followers and to seek the good in all things. Be with those of our friends and fellow Christians that are sick or bereaved, or away for other reasons. We ask  that you share our blessing with them. Guide us tonight as we worship you in this, our bible study.
In The name of Jesus we pray, Amen
--------------------------------Scripture  reading-----------------------------------------
Mat 6:22  "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Mat 6:24  "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Mat 6:25  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Mat 6:26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Mat 6:27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Mat 6:28  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Mat 6:29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Mat 6:30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
Mat 6:31  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
Mat 6:32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Mat 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Mat 6:34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.










Scripture study                                                                                       Pg.2
Mat 6:22  "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Our eyes are the windows to the world. If one cannot see what is  there to behold  they would need a guide,  Consider a blind person having sight restored. And seeing for the first time.  If one has never seen a deer, a rose, an eagle, or a written word, what reference does one have for recognizing anything they may see. That person would need someone to help with learning to recognize what is seen, and to learn what ,if any, response is required.
Righteousness and Sin are like that as well, having never seen or experienced it, one might not recognize it unless there were someone to explain it. We have the word of God , and there is Jesus, that someone who helps us to recognize our world, and what righteousness looks like, and how to recognize sin before we involve ourselves with it. We are not always prepared to deal with it, but our Lord is, and can help us to deal with it. Just imagine what would have happened had Adam or Eve recognized the serpent as a sinful representation of the wrong that can enter a persons life through their eyes, and just as Jesus in the wilderness rebuked Satan with scripture when he was tempted. They would have  recognized the sin that the serpent was offering, and  with the light of truth, the word of God that they had been given, they would have avoided that sin, and the consequences of it. Read (Psalms. 119: v. 98 & 105),
 
It is what we see and choose to allow to come into our heart that makes the difference between a healthy, righteous life, and an unhealthy view of the world. Even more so should it befall one who knows the difference, and chooses the darkness. Read, Genesis 3:6&7

Q.1 How is the eye the lamp of the body?

Q.2 What does Jesus mean by healthy eyes?

Q.3 When did Adam and Eve realize that they had sinned?

Q.4 How would one describe unhealthy eyes?

Q.5 What does Jesus mean by saying, “how great is that darkness”?

Q.6 Can we identify some of the things that promote  darkness,(unrighteousness)?

Q.7 Can we identify some of the things that promote light, (righteousness)?






                                                                                                                                   Pg.3
Mat 6:24  "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
        There was the rich ruler who met with Jesus and told him that he followed all of the ten commandments but still asked what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Was told by Jesus to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor, then come and follow him. The man passed on that suggestion giving up his salvation for riches. Such an addiction is not uncommon in our world today.  We too are to be tested to that extent. If there is anything in this world to which we become so attached, or addicted  as to make us want to give up our salvation, then that is our master.
For this reason covetousness is called idolatry (read Colossians. 3:5), and the covetous person an idolater (read Ephesians. 5:5). Whatever a man sets his heart upon, making it his true happiness, that is his lord and god.. They neglect the service of God for the earning of money and take greater delight in earthly things than in heavenly graces: (read Genesis 37:20)  They derive more satisfaction from them than from Divine ordinances: Their loss of earthly goods produces greater vexation and sorrow than all the Divine promises produce comfort. We find our comfort in people places and things, and curse the loss of them. While we should actually find our comfort in the presence of God in our lives, and our willingness to serve his purposes wherever we are, and in the things of God that can give to us eternal delight by being forever in the presence of God and his Son. (read Joshua 24:15 )

Q.1 How do times we live now, influence our choice of master?

Q.2  Name the deciding factors in choosing God or mammon?

Q.3 What is there to help us choose the way of the world?

Q.4 Name some choices where we aren’t aware of right and wrong?

Q.5 In Joseph’s story, what choices  are considered by his brothers?

Gen 37:23  So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe--the ornate robe he was wearing--24  and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 25  As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. 26  Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27  Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.

Q.6 When are we most vulnerable to such dire conditions?

Q.7  And in what ways do we choose to serve God?

Q.8 What is our driving force in serving God?

                                                                                                                                              Pg.4                                                                                                                            

Mat 6:25  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Mat 6:26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

All of life on earth is given by God,  and we human beings, created in his image are here to serve God.  Service to God should be our primary objective. God has concerns for mankind, first because we are his creation, and second because he has been betrayed by us through our sinful nature.  However God does not worry about his creation. God is concerned about us and His concerns were such that he provided the means of our reconciliation.
Jeremiah 29:11 &12  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Worry distracts us; Concern focuses us. Concern clarifies our purpose.  Concern pinpoints problems. Worry focuses on self; Concern cares for others.
Worry is a definable psychological  condition, a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Concern is a conscious understanding that a matter will occur, and how to prepare for it, or avoid it.  As we mature we learn that those things that worried us as a youth, now seem petty and far removed. As we grow older, the content and character of our worries change.  We need to be able to harness our worries and turn them into concerns.  We can then ask God through prayer to help us to see the world’s larger picture. I believe that even Jesus had concerns, but they were not worries.  Jesus was concerned about his disciples, but he did not worry about them, he prepared them. (read Mat_7:15  Mat_10:16)
I believe Jesus meant that we are not to let worry interfere with our relationship with God (read Rom. 8:32): (and 2Pet.1:3-4)

Q.1 How would one compare  the time of Jesus to our world today?

Q.2 When the declaration of independence was written what were our concerns then?

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,……………..
Q.3 What are our concerns as a nation today?

Q.4 What do you feel are the main concerns of our world today?

Q.5 How have our concerns about our relationship with God changed?

                                                                                                                                       Pg.5

Mat 6:27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith? 31  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

If we would be truly wise we must cease leaning unto our own understanding and be directed by the Word of God in all things, and in all things practice moderation. Read Philippians 4: 6-9.
In our world today, there is no end to the things that we can worry about. Many are legitimate concerns. But do they deserve us destroying our health by committing our very life to them? Jesus is telling us that our priorities are not right. We care too much for our material goods and our money, and what it can do for us. It is turning us away from God toward materialism.
Mankind was not created to be dependent only upon the providence of God for our sustenance, as with Adam and Eve, God intends for us to be responsible for our life and our life choices, and we are to do the work to which God has called. That is how God intended it to be. When we were created, God gave us his best, and we were to care for it, take dominion over it and grow it. But God did not intend for it to rule our lives. That is sin.
Worry is a means of missing the plan of salvation that God through Jesus has made for us.  That plan does not include a provision for worrying. Worry is sin in it’s most subtle disguise. God’s plan does have a provision for concern though. It is called prayer.

Q.1 Why is Jesus emphasizing clothes, what do clothes have to do with anything?

Q.2 What is there about life that causes us to want more and better?

Q.3 Should we not be all the more  concerned about our souls?

Q.4 Over what aspects of our lives are we in complete control?

Q.5 What meaning is Jesus trying to convey to us with these verses?

Closing Prayer………….. and prayer requests
Father God Be with us now as we leave this place, we ask that your eyes follow us and keep us safe as we go on our way. Guide us in our journey of life for this, yet another year. And give to us, day by day, continued fellowship with thy son Jesus. Make us responsive to your Holy Spirit so that we may become a faithful servant in doing thy will as we live each day. And now be merciful to us as we travel this night, and until we meet again. Through Jesus Your son we offer this prayer, Amen

                                                                                                                                                                                     
Bible Verses                                                                                                                     Pg.6
(Psalms. 119: v. 98 & 105), "Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies" "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"
Genesis 3: 6  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 37:20  "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." 26  Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27  Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. 28  So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
Joshua 24:15  But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Matthew 7:15  "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 10:16  "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things!"
2Peter.1:3-4 (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Philippians 4: 6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  7  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your  hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is  right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things God of peace will be with you.
Genesis 1:26  Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
Genesis 1:27  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:28  God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."