Wednesday Bible. January 20, 2016
Subject: How to identify the brothers in Christ? (1)
Main scripture for this study: Luke 8:20-21
Lk 8:20 Someone told him: Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.
Lk 8:21 He replied: My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.
A. Read this story and feel out how Jesus felt about these evil people in his generation!
Mt 12:22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
Mt 12:23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
Mt 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
Mt 12:25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Mt 12:26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
Mt 12:27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out?
So then, they will be your judges.
Mt 12:28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Mt 12:29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
Mt 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Mt 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mt 12:32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Mt 12:33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Mt 12:34-35 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
Mt 12:36-37 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you’ll be acquitted, and by your words you’ll be condemned.
B. Honesty test.
1. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one! Matt.5:37
2. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from
deceitful speech. 1 Peter 3:10
3. Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?
for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!
4. Mt 12:35 The good man out of his good treasure bring forth good things:
and the evil man out of his evil treasure bring forth evil things.
C. Character test, is he man of his word?
Eph 5:6-7 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Eph 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise,
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Eph 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
D. Jesus’ testing formula à out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!
Be filled with the Spirit what does it mean?
1. 1Jn 5:6 This is the one who came by water and blood-- Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only,
but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
2. Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.