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Strength for the Spirit
Read Philemon 1:17-25
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen” (v. 25).
As a child, I was in awe at wax museums.
There, standing or sitting in lifelike poses and settings were real-looking replicas of famous people! They were perfectly fashioned according to their historical dimensions. Their glassy eyes gleamed and their coiffed hair was meticulously styled. Some of them even “talked” when you pushed a button.
I have to say; I still enjoy museums. And wax creations still intrigue me. It takes a lot of skill to create those plastic people. But there is one thing missing from these forms. They have no spirit. They are not living.
It is said that a servant named Onesimus penned the epistle of Philemon for Paul while he sat in prison. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the apostle ends his letter with a prayer for the grace of God to be with “your spirit.” Commentator Matthew Poole says this is the same thing as saying be “with you.” As living souls, humans are not like wax figures, but rather imbued with life because we have a God-given spirit.
Today, may the strength that comes from the grace of our Lord empower you to glorify Him in all you do and say. That was the prayer of Paul for Philemon and us! (Valorie A. Quesenberry)
You are alive in Him from the inside out!
Concluding Benedictions
Focus Text: Romans 11:33-36; Hebrews 13:20, 21; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Jude 1:24, 25
Central Truth: God provides grace for our every need.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several evidences of God’s blessing in their lives.
Lesson Outline:
I. A Benediction for Wisdom (Rom. 11:33-36)
II. A Benediction to Completion (Heb. 13:20, 21)
III. A Benediction to Diligence (2 Peter 3:14-18)
IV. A Benediction for Perseverance (Jude 1:24, 25)
A Prayer for God’s Blessing
Father, I come again in prayer to ask for your blessing upon my life and my volunteer ministry within our local church. There have been many misguided teachings over the past years concerning praying for your blessing. Some have basically taught that we can confidently pray for our every whim and desire. Others have suggested that your blessing is like a bubble gum machine: insert a prayer or a tithe, and out comes a blessing. I recognize that the purpose of prayer is about aligning my will with your will, not about merely presenting you a wish list.
Yet, Lord, I do feel a deep need for your blessing upon my life. I recognize that without your enabling power I cannot be victorious spiritually or successful in ministry for you. So I humbly ask for you to pour out blessings upon my life so that I can glorify your name and be a blessing to others.
Thank you in advance for the grace you are going to provide. Amen.
A Prayer for God's Blessing
Father, I come again in prayer to ask for your blessing upon my life and my volunteer ministry within our local church. There have been many misguided teachings over the past years concerning praying for your blessing. Some have basically taught that we can confidently pray for our every whim and desire. Others have suggested that your blessing is like a bubble gum machine: insert a prayer or a tithe, and out comes a blessing. I recognize that the purpose of prayer is about aligning my will with your will, not about merely presenting you a wish list.
Yet, Lord, I do feel a deep need for your blessing upon my life. I recognize that without your enabling power I cannot be victorious spiritually or successful in ministry for you. So I humbly ask for you to pour out blessings upon my life so that I can glorify your name and be a blessing to others.
Thank you in advance for the grace you are going to provide. Amen.
The Quality of Hope
Read Romans 15:1-4
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (v. 4).
Visiting a children’s program in Indonesia, Wess Stafford was asked to say a few words. Wanting to communicate their value to God, he told the children they were special. He then picked up a little girl on the front row named Jessica. Using her as an example, he spoke tenderly of her uniqueness and that Christ loved her. Noticing tears around the room, he found out that, weeks earlier, she had been brutally raped. If anyone needed to hear that message, it was Jessica. Her healing began that day.
Some aren’t as receptive, however. Danny Velazquez was one. To many, he seemed to be on top of the world. He went about his work day wearing cashmere and sipping martinis. Living in a loft apartment, he was highly regarded by his clients. One was a Christian who frequently told him, “The day you call on the name of the Lord, He will set you free.” He politely ignored her advice. But Danny’s relationship with alcohol and drugs spiraled out of control eventually leaving him homeless.
One day, hallucinating and hearing voices, he remembered those hope-filled words. At that moment Danny cried out to God. When he later awoke in a hospital, he was a changed man. God had set him free. (Cyretha C. Horton)
You too can find new life through the hope found in God and His Word.
A Prayer for Spiritual Growth
Focus Text: Colossians 1:3-17
Central Truth: Spiritual growth results from complete obedience to God’s Word.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list some evidences of spiritual growth in the life of a Christian.
Lesson Outline:
I. Testimony of Faith (Col. 1:3-8)
II. Prayer for Christian Growth (Col. 1:9-12)
III. God's Power to Deliver (Col. 1:13-17)