ENDURING SUFFERING FOR JESUS

  

Matthew 5:10-12; Mark 13:11-13.

     Jesus Christ suffered a lot for our sins so that we can be saved and delivered. He did not sin but died for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as many as believe and come to Jesus will have eternal life and not suffer in eternity.

     We have three points to consider:

1.  JESUS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE:  John 5:14-18; Philippians 2:5-8

     Jesus Christ our LORD left His glorious home in heaven and came to this sinful and corrupt world. He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). Yet, the Jews, Sadducees, and Pharisees persecuted Jesus and spoke lots of evil words and accused Him falsely. At the end of it all, they crucified Him. Jesus suffered and endured to the end not minding the shame and pain of all He went through (Hebrews 12:2). He obeyed the Father to the point of death by dying on the cross at Calvary to fulfill the purpose of His coming to the world. In any situation we find ourselves, we must be obedient to the commandment of God and willing to suffer anything to be a friend of Jesus. Jesus laid a good example for us to follow.

2.  ALL BELIEVERS SHOULD ENDURE SUFFERING TILL THE END:

     Mark 13:11-13; II Timothy 3:11-12.

     All true friends of Jesus should expect to suffer persecution. However, the word of God warns that; “let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (I Peter 4:15, 16). People may insult, abuse and call you bad names. Sinners also may hate you; they did it to Jesus as well so don’t be discouraged. When they accuse you falsely because you say the truth or because of your Christian life or faith, you should rejoice and not be discouraged or sad. We have many examples of people who suffered and endured to the end in the Bible. Some of them are Joseph, Moses, Stephen, Job, Paul the apostle, Peter and other disciples of Jesus Christ. They are all in heaven now. There are blessings for those who endure to the end.

3.  BLESSINGS FOR ENDURING SUFFERING FOR JESUS:

     Matthew 5:11,12; Revelation 2:26-27; 22:7.

     All the people we learnt about in the Bible that suffered for Christ received great blessings in this world and they are now enjoying in heaven. If you give your life to Jesus, repent of your sins, forsake them, and obey and follow Him to the end these blessings will be yours (a) God will answer your prayers. (b) You will have joy in your life. (c) God will be happy with you. (d) You will have the Peace of God and the Holy Spirit will continue to minister to you. (e) You will reign with Jesus in heaven and inherit all things. Therefore children, whatever persecutions you are passing through, you must not give up. Encourage yourself in the Lord and endure to the end. You will be wonderfully blessed in Jesus Name. Rise up and pray.

QUESTIONS:

1.   Who is our perfect example of suffering?

2.   What should Christians do in time of suffering for Christ?

3.   Mention two examples of people in the Bible who endured for Christ sake.

4.   What blessings will you receive when you endure suffering for Christ till the end?

MEMORY VERSE: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10).

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 99 - THERE IS VICTORY WITHIN MY SOUL

ACTIVITY: The teacher should lead the children to pray so that they will endure to the end.

SCRIPTURAL WATER BAPTISM

Matthew 3:17

     Our topic this evening is on “Scriptural Water Baptism” or water baptism as it is commanded and practiced in the Bible.

Water baptism takes place when a child who is born again is immersed in water in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

     Water baptism is one of the important teachings laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like any of His teachings, water baptism must be faithfully carried out by the church.

     A child becomes a friend of Jesus when he accepts and sees himself as a sinner, confesses his sins, repents of them, forsakes them and by faith accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

     Jesus Christ commanded His disciples that those who have been saved should be baptized in water. Even from our Bible passage, we saw how Jesus Christ Himself was baptized in water. So children, it is a command of our Lord Jesus Christ which all his friends must obey. It is only the children who have been saved through faith in the saving power in the blood of Jesus Christ, that are qualified for water baptism. Water baptism is not an assurance of salvation. There are many examples of those who were baptized after they were saved in the Bible. (i)Those who gladly received the word of God and surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41). (ii) Believers at Samaria (Acts 8:12) (iii) The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:38). (iv) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:18) were all baptized after conversion.

     Children, some people teach that we cannot be saved without water baptism. This is wrong. The thief on the cross was saved, but had no opportunity to be baptized in water. Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in paradise. However, it is important that once you become a friend of Jesus, you must surrender yourself for water baptism in the Bible way. Water baptism without salvation is not according to the word of God. Baptism of infants and babies is wrong. This is because a baby or an infant does not yet know the difference from his right hand and left and he cannot say sorry for his sins.

     The Bible pattern of water baptism is by immersion (dipping in water) once. It is done in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  There are some false teachers who dip in water three times and carry it out in the Name of the Son only. This is not according to the Bible. When a child is dipped in the water, he is identifying with Jesus’ burial and resurrection. Also, it is to show everybody that he now believes in Jesus.

QUESTIONS:

1.  What is water baptism?

2.  Mention some wrong methods of carrying out water baptism.

3. Water baptism is done in the Name of _________________,         _______________________, ______________________________.

4. What does it show when you do water baptism?

MEMORY VERSE: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19).

ACTIVITY: Saved children should be identified and prepared for water baptism.

THE TESTIMONY OF A CHILD OF GOD

John 1:29-51; 4:27-30

      A child of God is someone who has been saved from his bad and naughty ways. He is born again and is a friend of Jesus. He no longer steals, fights or tells lies. He has stopped living a bad life and now lives a new life pleasing God and Jesus. Testimony means telling others about the good things that God has done for you. As a child of God, you tell other children about how God forgave your sins when you said “sorry” and stopped doing them. That is the testimony of your salvation.

      In the stories from the Bible passages which we have read, there were people who gave testimonies of how they were saved and how they met Jesus.

      John the Baptist described Jesus as the Lamb of God, ‘the one who took away our sins’ to two of his followers (John 1:29, 35-37). Andrew was one of them. When they heard the testimony of John the Baptist, they left him and started following Jesus.

      Andrew having spent the night with Jesus went home to tell his brother- Peter, about Jesus. Peter also became a great follower of Jesus (John 1:40-42).

      Jesus found Philip in Galilee and said to him, “Follow Me” (John 1:43).

      Philip went to tell Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus. Nathaniel (Bartholomew) became a follower of Jesus.

      The Samaritan woman met with Jesus and her bad life was changed. She went and brought her sin partners and others to Jesus. Through her testimony, they believed and were saved (John 4:29-30).

      Sometime ago, there lived a girl called Gloria. She was a child of God. One day, she told her friend, Jessica about how she became born again. Jessica saw a great change in the life of Gloria. She too prayed to Jesus to forgive her and she was forgiven. Her life also became beautiful for Jesus.

      Friends of Jesus must not be ashamed of Jesus. You must share your testimony with others and also testify of the good things that God is doing in the lives of people so as to bring peace, joy and happiness to them. Do this in love, patiently and all the time. There are many children who want to love Jesus, but they do not know how. It is your duty to tell them. The Spirit of God will teach you how to do it. You need to be prayerful as well.

      A child who is not sure of his salvation and is doing bad things like being stubborn, disobedient, stealing must first turn away from them, ask for God’s forgiveness and ask Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour. It is only then that he has a testimony to share. As you obey the Lord, He will bless you in Jesus’ Name.

QUESTIONS:

1.   Who is a child of God?

2.   Explain the meaning of ‘testimony’?

3.   How did Andrew hear about Jesus?

4.   What happened to the Samaritan woman after her bad life was changed?

5.   How did Jessica become a child of God?

6.   How can you share your testimony?

MEMORY VERSE: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29).

ACTIVITY: A boy and a girl should share the testimony of how they became friends of Jesus.