CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF PENNSYLVANIA (Mount of Redemption) 5200 PASCHALL AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA, TEL/FAX

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1 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF PENNSYLVANIA (Mount of Redemption) 5200 PASCHALL AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA, TEL/FAX BIBLE STUDY MONTHLY PRAYER FORUM NOVEMBER 25 TH 2009 TEXT--- GENESIS CHAPTER 21 VERSES 1-6 THEME: I SHALL LAUGH LAST 1. And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said. 2. And the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken. The book says -- God is neither a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent. If He says something it will surely come to pass. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. Who could believe Abraham would have a son at 100 years of age, and live to raise him to adulthood? But doing the impossible is everyday business for God. Our big problems may not seem so impossible if we let God handle them. Gen 18: Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. This question reveals much about God. We must ask ourselves when occasion arises---- In this situation I am in, is this too hard for the Lord? If the answer is No, then we are on the way to a glorious end. Romans 4: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Abraham never doubted God would fulfill his promise. His life was marked by mistakes, sins and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness. Rather he consistently trusted God. His faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced. His life is an example of faith in action. If he had only looked at his own capabilities, he would have given up in despair. But he looked to God, obeyed him and waited for God to fulfill his word to him.

2 LAUGH --- TO SHOW JOY, TO FIND AMUSEMENT OR PLEASURE IN SOMETHING There is no way we can laugh last without faith. Faith brings joy. Romans 5:1-5 Faith Triumphs in Trouble 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. As Christians, we have two sides -- we feel the presence of Christ everyday as well as the pressure of sin. Even though we enjoy the peace that comes from being made right with God we still face daily problems that help us to grow. We are not to be discouraged when face with trials and temptations. To overcome and laugh in the end, we must learn to depend on the power available to us from Christ who resides in us by the Holy Spirit. Peace with God means we have been reconciled with God (not calmness) this peace with God is made possible because of Christ s death on the cross. We experience difficulties that help us grow. Glory in tribulations means rejoicing in suffering. We are able to rejoice in suffering not because we like the pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know that God is using life s difficulties and Satan s attacks to build our character problems we run into will develop our patience--- which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God and give us greater confidence about the future. This will ultimately lead us to a favorable and desired end like Sarah. Hebrew 11:11 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED LET US LOOK AT TWO EXAMPLES FROM THE BIBLE JESUS---In His death, we have redemption. Satan thought he had us, but guess what we are laughing at him now, because we know Him that we believe in. 1 Corinthians 2:7&8 says 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

3 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ----hidden wisdom of God was his offer of salvation to all people, this was made clear when Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection proved that He had power over sin and death and he had bestowed upon us the same. Hence we shall laugh last. What men or Satan did to hurt, God turned to good. JOSEPH was sure of himself and had confidence in God. He knew God s plan for his life. This was unbearable to his older brothers. They conspired against him and finally sold him into slavery. But because of his relationship with God, he survived what would have killed many. He prospered even in odd places. With the wisdom of God, he found favor of both God and men. He demonstrated a positive attitude when going through life s obstacles. What was foretold eventually came to pass. All the promises revealed in his dreams came to pass. He went from prison to the palace. The so called brothers; what they were afraid of eventually came to be, Joseph ruled over them. I pray God Almighty that where our enemies say we will not reach, our heavenly Father will catapult us pass in Jesus mighty name. Amen CONDITIONS TO LAUGH LAST We must have a Joseph like attitude. Never ask why but always What shall I do now? We are not to do things that displease God. (Joseph/Potiphar s wife situation) Genesis 39:9.. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? We must always be in one accord with God. Realize that God is with us in that situation because there is nothing like the presence of God to shed new light on any dark situation. When we can see Him, he can take us to the expected end which is always glorious. JOY brings us laughter and the Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10--- the joy of the Lord is our strength. How to experience that joy becomes a mystery. It seems like only a verbal expression than reality. Water cannot rise above its own level, in order words we either have joy or we don t --- nothing can change the inward attitude of the heart. We need to put into practice all that we learn. The only way to do this is by doing. Faith is active never passive. Experience is knowledge that sticks in our mind. God wants us to transform our suffering into real spiritual blessings. We can only do this through the acceptance of faith. As Joseph did even though it seemed all wrong and still be able to see God in that situation. ACCEPTANCE OF FAITH IS OUR FIRST PROOF OF FAITH. PROOFS OF FAITH COME FROM LIVING THE LIFE OF FAITH. God may never change a situation until we accept some certain things; we cannot have a rebellious attitude against the will of GOD and expect to laugh. God will give us an attitude of obedience to laugh last in Jesus name.

4 To laugh last, we must desperately want to learn to accept all from Him. Singleness of purpose must possess us. Proverbs 4:25-27 says 25 keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. 26 Be careful what you do, and always do what is right.. 27 Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths. Jesus was focused, Joseph knew where he was going, and Abraham believed God in spite of his condition. Abraham and Sarah endured to the end. Only God knew the extent of Sarah s agony because she was childless. The abuse and the name calling. They continued under hardship without being overcome. This is an endurance of faith--- enduring trials without complaining, calmness without being discontent; able to bear strain or stress. Thank God for the Bible says the trying of our faith will produce patience but endurance is a matter of the will. The inner attitude or reaction toward outward circumstances is the thing that matters most to God. Our inner reaction determines the outward action. James 5: Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Endurance can be called a waiting faith. A waiting faith is one that can suffer a hardship, yet never give up, remaining patient and ultimately glorifying God through it. Waiting faith is of great value to God. Abraham demonstrated a waiting faith on God for Sarah to laugh last. True faith can wait and endure, can go through any hardship, any situation and still believe God, still trust in Him and His faithfulness. True faith keeps on glorifying God and will definitely laugh last no matter how bad the situation looks. We only need to look at the life of Job; in the end God bountifully restored him after his trials. God marvelously poured out His blessings on Him. God will beautify our lives in Jesus name. Amen. Obedience and endurance guarantees us to laugh last. These are our main expressions of faith. Abraham was a man of faith, so also was Sarah, They obeyed God and endured to the end. Obedience to the WORD OF GOD helps us to endure and glorify God through hardship. In the Bible, Obedience is equated with love whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:5 If we are in HIM we shall surely laugh last. This will guarantee our lasting happiness. Praise the Lord.

5 NB Bible Study is on Wednesday s from 7pm to 9pm. Remain blessed as you come in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.