Baptist Training Course Adult Quarterly Words of Encouragement Quarterly Aim: To show through these lessons that the Bible is filled with words of encouragement for the child of God and greater emphasis should be proclaimed of God s love, goodness and promises. Lesson 1, June 4, 2017 Encouraged by God s Promises... 3 Lesson 2, June 11, 2017 Encouraged by God s Omniscience... 8 Lesson 3, June 18, 2017 Encouraged by God s Word....13 Lesson 4, June 25, 2017 Encouraged by God s Answers.......................... 18 Lesson 5, July 2, 2017 Encouraged by God s Praise...23 Lesson 6, July 9, 2017 Encouraged by God s Power...28 Lesson 7, July 16, 2017 Encouraged by God s Purpose...33 Lesson 8, July 23, 2017 Encouraged by God s Security...37 Lesson 9, July 30, 2017 Encouraged by God s Salvation....42 Lesson 10, August 6, 2017 Encouraged by Godly Living...47 Lesson 11, August 13, 2017 Encouraged by God s Forgiveness...52 Lesson 12, August 20, 2017 Encouraged by God s Love............................. 56 Lesson 13, August 27, 2017 Encouraged by God s Future Home...61 Vol. 103, No. 3, Summer Quarter, 2017. Outlines by Don Price Editor in Chief: Kyle W. Elkins, kyle.elkins@bogardstore.org Business Manager: Wayne Sewell, wayne.sewell@bogardstore.org 2017, Bogard Press, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.bogardpress.org; 1-800-264-2482
About the Writer David O. Johnson was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1953, was saved at the age of seven and baptized by the Ethel MBC, Antlers, Oklahoma. Brother Johnson surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1976 and was ordained by the Trinity MBC, Camden, Arkansas. He received training from Louisiana Missionary Baptist Seminary (Minden, Louisiana), Missionary Baptist Seminary (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Baylor University (Waco, Texas). Brother Johnson has pastored churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. He presently serves as the pastor of Bethel MBC, Paris, Arkansas. He has served as moderator of local and state associations, a member of the Standing Missionary Committee of the ABA and the Baptist Sunday School Committee and Secretary-Treasurer of Missions for the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma. Brother Johnson has been writing BTC literature for Bogard Press since 1994. He is the author of one book, What We Believe and Why (published by Bogard Press). Brother Johnson is married to the former Dianne Bryant. He and Dianne have three children (Rebekah, Wendy and Timothy) and seven grandchildren (Blake, Bryant, Caedmon, Hannah, Brady, Jordan and Isaac). He may be contacted at daveoj53@gmail.com. 2
LESSON 1, June 4, 2017 Encouraged by God s Promises APPLICATION To show that God s promises encourage His servants to accom plish great things. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Genesis 12:1-5. Related Scripture: Genesis 26:1-5; Numbers 30:1, 2; 1 Kings 8:56; Psalms 89:3, 4; 105:42-45; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Romans 9:8; 2 Corinthians 6:15 7:1; Acts 5:25-32; 13:26-33; Hebrews 6:13-18. Devotional Reading: God s Promise to David, 2 Samuel 7:27-29. Introduction The theme of this series of lessons is encouragement. In Deuteronomy 3:28, God instructed Moses to charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him, because Joshua would be the next leader of God s people. He had helped Moses in the wilderness, but now he would take Moses place. Joshua needed strength and courage to lead the people into the Promised Land. The word encourage has the thought of being fastened on something for strength and courage. Joshua faced difficult days ahead and needed to be encouraged for the work God had assigned him. Life in the world today is not always easy. When the government refuses to stand on biblical morality, even when religions have abandoned their traditional belief system of right and wrong, godly people will face opposition when they stand for Christ. They need God s encouragement as they press on through life. Thankfully, God gives the encouragement people 3
need. These lessons have the goal of giving us understanding and assurance when facing the difficulties of life. This lesson focuses on the reliability and surety of God s promises. In the New Testament promise was used primarily to describe what God has said to His people about His help in their lives. The lesson text points to a marvelous promise God made to Abram. He had been born in Ur of the Chaldees. This was a prosperous city which was a center of religion and industry. Their gods were many. Abram s father had determined to leave that region and go to another land. They settled in Harran. At the death of his father, Abram became the patriarch of the family. It was then that God gave him the promise described in the lesson text. God s promises are helpful for people of all times. To know that God cares enough to consider the needs of people should be a blessing to their lives. Such wonderful promises will give encouragement for believers to live for Christ. 1. The Command (Genesis 12:1) Abram was a man who worshiped the true God. Though he had been raised in a pagan land, he remained faithful. Now the time came when God s purpose began to unfold through the descendants of Abram. God commanded him to depart from Haran and go to another country. Abram would not know where he was going until he arrived and God told him. Though a difficult choice confronted him, Abram had to step up and do what God said. It was a command to separate from the world and be committed to the demands of God. The Lord instructed Abram to depart from his country and kinsmen. When Joshua gave his charge to Israel in the Promised Land, he declared that Abram s family had been guilty of worshiping false gods while living in Haran (Joshua 24:2). For Abram to remain with his family while they followed other gods would have been a negative influence on his descendants. Even today the bad things which surround God s people tend to influence them toward wrong thoughts and actions. When evil behavior continually intrudes on a person s daily walk, those things lead in the wrong way. God s people are called to walk separate from the world so that it will not drag them into its wrong embrace. The warning is given: know ye 4
not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4). Another Scripture says, the carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). These verses teach the dangers of holding on to the world. It will drag people away from proper living and will influence them toward wrong behavior. God did not want Abram to suffer from such a strong attraction toward wrong. God wanted him to separate himself from the bad influence of his family and land. It was a command which demanded faith to obey. God s command would be a difficult choice to make. For about fifteen years Abram and the family had been living in Haran. Their lives were established and they knew the surroundings. Now God told him to go to a distant land he did not know. In fact, he did not even know which land it would be. He must let God lead until he got to the proper place. Then God would tell him to settle down. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Hebrews 11:8). Faith is often demanding, but faith that is not willing to follow God wherever He might lead is not faith at all. God s people must sometimes simply do what God requires even though they cannot see the end results. God always knows best and people should follow His leadership. Abram was now seventy-five years of age. He knew what life was all about and understood God s demand on his life. He had to make a choice as to whether to follow God or not. People should remember that God cares about His children and only wants what is best for their lives. 2. The Promise (Genesis 12:2, 3) When the Lord issued His command to Abram, He also gave him marvelous promises. These statements are often called, the Abrahamic Covenant. This is the promise still held by Israeli people today. They look back to what God said and take Him at His Word. A key part of God s covenant with Abram comes in the word, blessing. In these two verses, this word is mentioned five times. The blessing of God hovers over His chosen nation, Israel. This blessing includes many things. 5
God promised to bless Israel as a people. Early in their history, this was quite evident. The Lord established them in peace within the borders of the Promised Land. As long as they were obedient to Him, He blessed them with continued peace. The troubles they faced came because they turned away from God by worshiping false gods. When they repented and returned to Him, the Lord blessed them again. Israel has never ceased being His chosen nation. Even today they exist as a result of the blessing of God. No human power could have preserved Israel as a people when so much of the world has tried to destroy it. God has always kept His promise. God also promised to bless the nations which bless Israel and to curse the nations which curse Israel. This has proven true throughout history. Nations which endeavor to help the nation of Israel have been blessed by God. One of the first nations to recognize Israel as a nation was the United States. God blessed this nation because of this stand. Danger comes when a nation turns from its support of God s nation. Then they face God s disapproval. God assured the people of Israel that I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee (Genesis 12:3). The definition of assurance is the state of being sure or certain about something. The citizens of Israel could rest assured that God was going to care for them and bless the nations that were kind to them and show wrath on the nations that despised and rejected them as they would despise and reject Jesus as the Messiah. The most important part of God s promise to Abram comes in the final statement: in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (verse 3). This statement speaks of the Messiah. Through Abram s seed the Savior of the world would be born. This promise gives the provision of salvation. God s promise to Abram was a promise for all people. God promised a blessing upon Abram. The Lord always encourages His people to do the right thing. He will be with them as they walk according to His plan. 3. The Obedience (Genesis 12:4, 5) Abram had received the commandment and the promises. Now he had a choice to make. He could continue his familiar life in his familiar land among his familiar friends or he could 6
obey what God said. A difficult choice was before him. So Abram departed (verse 4). His faith helped him uproot his family and begin the journey. When Abram began his journey of obedience, he was not a young man. Having reached the age of seventy-five, he was settled and content. Yet he was not afraid to do what God said. A great lesson is taught by the faithfulness of this man of God. It did not matter what phase of life he was in, he stepped out for God. People today go through life accustomed to a certain schedule and place. We are comfortable and content. To shake up life at any point is unpleasant. The work of God is worth all the effort which might be put into it. Whether young, middleaged or older, people must be open to the leadership of God. He might have a special work which can only be accomplished by you. Therefore, you must be open to Him. Abram made a choice for his family. Joshua made a similar choice as he neared the end of his life. Looking over the nation of Israel as they were in the Promised Land, he offered them a challenge. Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). The people had a choice to make. They could serve God which was the proper course of action; or they could serve false gods. Joshua made the choice for his own family. They would serve God. This is where families need to stand today. They must follow and serve the Lord. Conclusion Abram was given a command which was difficult to obey. He was to separate from his land and friends and travel to a distant unknown land. As the Lord issued the command, He also gave promises to encourage this man of God. The promises gave Abram the courage to step up and obey the command of God. Believers today have many promises which the Lord has given them. Because of His love and compassion for His people, He wants them involved in His work. The promises give us the courage to step up and do what He commands. Let us be courageous in the work of our Savior and do what is necessary to accomplish the task assigned to us. 7