May Teaching Series

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE COMPLICATED PAST
Rev. Joey Crisostomo
Director for Central Operations
May 4, 2008

 Key Scripture   John 4:1-24
“ Come, see a Man who told me all things than I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

A Brief Introduction:

 THE WONDERFUL SAVIOR
1. He Is Seen Walking
2. He Is Seen As Willing
3. He Is Seen Waiting

THE WONDERFUL SAVIOR
1. He Is Seen Walking
 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. (A Divine Compulsion)
2. He Is Seen As Willing
…Jesus was willing to go out of His way to reach this poor lost woman.
(A Divine Willingness)
3. He Is Seen Waiting
6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well (Divine  Appointment)

THE WAYWARD WOMAN
6c It was about the sixth hour …”for you have five husbands, and the one whom you have now is not your husband”(v.18)
“A woman who is sinful and is in need of salvation.”
 1.She  had broken the laws of God
 2. In particular the 7th Commandment
 3. She sold her life to sin
 4.  She was harlot… living in sin

THE CONVERSATION

1.They Talked Of Wells

… represents Riches …Pleasure …
All this world could offer…
But they fail to give her satisfaction

2.They Talked Of Water … living water… always moving and flowing

- It is God
- The gift of God
- Is given by asking
- He and He alone is its source

3. They Talked Of Wickedness

...to reveal to her, her sinful condition
...to cleanse her from her impurity
…to break the sin of her life

THE CONVERSION
28The woman  then left her water pot…went her way into the city… said to the men… 29Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.
1. It Was Immediate
2. It Was Incredible
3. It Was Impelling

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE COMPLICATED PAST

- Remember He knows your complicated past.
- Remember He knows how hurt we are.
- He gently leads us to the truth about ourselves.
- He meets Your Deepest Needs.
- He releases you to help others.

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SHIELDING YOUR FUTURE
Rev. Joey Crisostomo
Director for Central Operations
May 11, 2008

Key Scripture: Genesis 25: 27-34 Heb. 12:14-17
“ See that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (V.16)

ESAU’S PROFILE

ESAU’S POSSESSION (V.31)
“Sell me your birthright as of this day”
1. The physical advantages of the birthright
 a. Contained a double portion of the father’s inheritance – (Deut. 21:17)
 b. Offered rule and authority over other members of the family - cf. Gen 27:29
 c. Object of Special love ( Jer. 31:9,20)

2. The spiritual advantages of this particular birthright
 a. Patriarch and priest of the house on the death of his father
 b. Chief of the chosen family, and heir of the promised blessing
 c. Able to invoke Abraham’s blessing, regarding the promise - cf. Gen 28:4; 12:1-3

ESAU’S EXCHANGE (V. 34)
“ And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils …Esau despise his birth right”
1.  Esau chose the sensual over the spiritual
 a. He gave into the cravings of his hunger - Gen 25:29-34
 b. He valued the red pottage more highly than his birthright
 c. For this reason he was called “a profane person” - He 12:16

2.  Esau chose the present over the future
  a. He tossed away future rewards for present gratification
  b. The pottage may have assuaged his hunger for the day, but what of the morrow?
  c. This too made him a “profane” person

3. Esau regretted his choice.
a. Esau lost all because he was impatience and careless.
 b. He was sorry but it was too late.

APPLICATION QUESTION: 
In what ways we give up our future?
 1.   When we are blind to the values of life
 2.  When we’re ruled by our appetites rather than the Spirit of God
3.  When we expect immediate gratification
4.  When our focus is on the temporary things of this world instead of our eternity
5.  When we forget to consider the future effects our choices and actions can have

LESSON FOR US TODAY

SHORTCUTTING THE WILL OF GOD
Rev. Joey Crisostomo
Director for Central Operations
May 27, 2008

Key Scripture: Genesis 16:1-6
“ So Sarai  said to Abram, “ See now, The LORD has restrained me from bearing children,  Please, go to my maid ; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.” (Genesis 16:2)

The Impatient Couple (v.12)
The Period of Waiting (Gen. 15:4-6)
-As Sarai waited for something to happen, she became impatient

What persuades us to shortcut the will of God?

 The Scheming

The Trouble (v.4-5)

The Reactions

 LESSONS FOR US TODAY
1. It is dangerous to depend on our own wisdom.
2. When we walk by sight and not by faith, we get impatient and we end up miserably.
3. Let God accomplish His will in His way and in time.
4. Christians who wait for God’s leading and wait on God’s working will not be ashamed and disappointed.
5. Surrendering control to Him can be difficult, but it is the best.
6. The greatest promises of God will require the most faith and patience on our part.
7. His greatest miracles are only seen when His people have come to the end of their own abilities.

Key Scriptures      
Job 1:8-22
“So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (v.9)

A Brief Introduction
 1. The Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible.
 2. The Book of Job is no mere Parable. Job was a real man, in fact, one of the greatest men of all time. God compared him with Noah and Daniel for Integrity. (Eze. 14:14-20)
 3. In the New Testament Job was cited for his example of patience while suffering affliction. (James 5:10-11)

Greatness of Job’s Character
 “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one fears God and shuns evils?”(v.8)

Greatness of Job’s Test
(Job 1:13-19, Job 2:1-6)

Greatness of Job’s Response
Common Responses:

Greatness of Job’s Response

LESSONS FOR US TODAY
1. It’s difficult to make wise choices when you’re hurting, angry, confused, unforgiving, and bitter. But you can, by the grace of God.
2. Trust can be difficult, especially when things don’t make sense. But they make sense to God.
3. If we serve and obey God because He blesses us, the shallowness of our faith will show up in the testing time.
4. Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.
5. The more important battle takes place inside of us; will we trust God?
6. Never allow tragedy to cause you to doubt God’s love and care.

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