The Master‘s Class, LifeChange Church Wichita

CONVICTION AND REPENTANCE (Acts 2:37-47)

CONVICTION AND REPENTANCE (Acts 2:37-47)

Conviction is the Holy Spirit’s first work in a human heart. For the person who does not know Jesus as their Lord and Master, the Holy Spirit’s message is a single message, a very simple message, yet it is such a difficult message to accept.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of the judgment to come. Then, the Holy Spirit convicts of the nature of sin, of the need for righteousness, and of the nearness of judgment.  

Next, the Holy Spirit makes people see their personal accountability before God for what they have done, and in particular their rejection of Jesus Christ.  This is important to understand because it is not the amount, or kind, of sin in our life that condemns us; it is the fact of sin in our life that condemns us.  But even more importantly, we will not be judged and sent to an eternity in hell because of our sin.  We will be judged and sent to an eternity in hell because of our rejection of Jesus Christ and the light of salvation that He has provided to us through the Holy Spirit.  

Man does not work toward salvation.  Salvation is the work of God. The choice of God was our salvation.  When we are born, we are hopelessly lost.  It was the choice of God to provide His Son as our only hope for salvation.  Our only decision, our only action, is to accept Jesus and the salvation that He has provided for us.  When a sinner repents of his sins and believes in Christ, it is because God has brought him to do so through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  Men do not turn from sin to God of their own initiative.  God must move them if they are ever to do so.  This includes the work of all of the good “agencies”, the church, the Christian witness, evangelism, and the social environment God has chosen to put us in, like being born of a Christian family, and in a Christian nation, but most of all it includes the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit.  

It is the Holy Spirit that convicts the lost person of the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ.  It is not true that a sinner in and of himself repents and believes, and then God enters into the process in forgiveness.  God seeks the sinner.  God was in the process from the beginning, He established the plan of salvation, and then He works to bring about repentance and faith.  Our decision is to yield to a God who draws us to Himself, or reject Him.  We seek Him because He first sought us.

Click on the play button to hear a message on the work of the Holy Spirit of God in bringing salvation and eternal life to whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

FINDING FREEDOM IN FORGIVENESS (Ephesians 4:31-32)

FINDING FREEDOM IN FORGIVENESS (EPHESIANS 4:31-32)

The overall theme of Paul’s message to the believers at Ephesus is about the power that is found when the church is unified in purpose and love.  In the local church there is to be unity, but most of all in the body of Christ, the body of true believers, there is great power and comfort in unity.  Both for the overall body, and the individual believer.  

There are two problems that do great psychological, emotional, and spiritual damage to anyone, and perhaps to you.  One is guilt, and the other is bitterness. Guilt imprisons us; bitterness poisons us. Forgiveness is the answer both to bitterness and to guilt. Guilt is the result of something we have done wrong. Bitterness is our reaction to someone else’s wrong, or our perception that someone else has wronged us. They both have us in a prison, and it is forgiveness—hallelujah—that sets the prisoner free from guilt, or from bitterness. God’s forgiveness of us sets us free from the prison of guilt, and our forgiveness of others sets us free from the prison of bitterness. 

In the message today, Paul is telling us that when you forgive someone, truly forgive them from your heart, you set two people free.  One, the person that you have forgiven, and the other is yourself.  Now, “to forgive” actually means “to pay a debt.”  You see, there are no bargain pardons. That is the reason our Lord taught us to pray in the Model Prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) Sin is a debt that we owe. We have sinned against heaven, against the kingdom. We have been sued for damages, and it is a debt that we cannot pay. But God, in mercy and in love, has forgiven us and paid that debt. You see, there are no free pardons. When somebody is forgiven, somebody else has paid.

For example, if someone owes me a thousand dollars, and that person says, “Keith, I can’t pay,” and I say, “All right, I forgive you,” the moment I say that, it cost me what? A thousand dollars. You see, to forgive is to actually pay the debt. The word “forgive” comes from a root word that literally means “to bear the burden.”

Now, if that is true, and it is, then let me ask, when our Lord forgives us, does He pay a price? Paul says that the answer to that question is, yes, the Lord does pay a price when He forgives us.  Out of the riches of His grace, He paid the debt Himself and, therefore, cancelled that debt. That is the reason we call salvation “grace”—G-R-A-C-E: “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”

Click on the play button to hear a message on the freedom that we can find in forgiveness.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

TO BE FAITHFUL IN MINISTRY (Ephesians 4: 7 to 16)

TO BE FAITHFUL IN MINISTRY (EPHESIANS 4:7-16)

In today’s lesson we are going to talk about how you can be faithful in your work for God, in whatever ministry God has chosen for you to do.  God has a purpose for you in this world, and the Bible promises that God will give you the power, the spiritual gifts, that you need to accomplish that purpose.  

Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest, and most influential, Baptist preachers that has ever lived, told a story one time. He told of a woman who had been a member of his congregation.  This woman was very poor, and she lived in what they called “the poor house” in those days. And Spurgeon went to visit her to give her some comfort and some help. And when he was there in her room, he looked up on the wall, and there he saw framed a certificate, a piece of paper, and it was a legal document. And so, he went over and read it. And it was a document transferring great wealth to this woman. She didn’t know what it was. She had framed it and put it on her wall. What had happened is this: that she had served as a nurse and had taken care of an elderly man, and when he died, he left her his estate.  But, she couldn’t read so she didn’t know what it was. She was untaught, unlearned. When, finally, the bank learned about it, they said, “We wondered who the old gentlemen left his estate to.”

When the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He left you an incredible giftedness.  And it may be that you have not yet discovered what you have in the Lord Jesus.  So, I want to talk to you today about your spiritual gift. Could it be that you have it framed as a motto on the wall, rather than having carried it to the bank to cash it and use it? Or could it be that you have left your gift under the tree, wrapped and unopened and, therefore, unappreciated? When God saved you, God saved you by His grace, but God did not save you to sit, soak, and sour; God saved you to serve. And you are saved by grace, and you serve by grace.  You are a gifted child of God.

Click on the play button to hear a message on how you can learn what your spiritual gift is, and how you can develop and display your gift.  If you are a born-again believer, then you are a person who has been gifted by grace,

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

TO KNOW ABOUT GOD BY HIS NAME (Ephesians 4:6)

TO KNOW ABOUT GOD BY HIS NAME (EPHESIANS 4:6)

Today, I want to spend the entire message talking about God.  I just happen to believe that God is the biggest subject that we can talk about, at any time, as we study the Word of God.  And the amazing thing to consider is that there is so much in the Bible about God, that to talk about God for 45 minutes today would be like trying to bail out an ocean with a teacup.  We will only scratch the surface.  

But there are some things that we can know about God, and we can know God without knowing everything about God.  You also don’t have to know all that the Heavenly Father does when He administrates the universe in order to know God. And so, we can find out some things about God by objective observation, but we can really only know the heart of God, the goodness of God, by revelation. And how do we know the goodness of God? And what kind of a revelation has God given of Himself?

Certainly, the Bible is the most complete way that God has revealed Himself to us.  But, did you know that one of the greatest revelations that God has given of Himself are the names of God. The Bible says, in (Psalm 9:10) “And they that know thy name shall put their trust in thee …”  This tells us that to know the names of God is a great thing.  So, today, I’m going to give you the names of God. Now, not all of the names of God, but I have selected some of them.  

Click on the play button to hear a message on how God reveals Himself to us by His names. He is the God of strength, “Elohim.” He is the God of sovereignty, “Jehovah.” He is the God of superiority, “Adonai.” He is the God of sufficiency, “El Shaddai.” He is the God of supremacy, “El Elyon.” He is the God of stability, “El Olam.” He is the God of sympathy, “El Roi.” All of these names are wrapped up in one sweet name, Jesus.

There is one God and Father who is above all—that is the greatness of God. And through all—that is the goodness of God. And in us all—that is the grace of God. And it is all summed up in one person—and that’s Jesus. Now, you’ll never know the Father, until you receive the Son. 

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

GOD'S TRUTH REVEALED (Ephesians 3:1-12)

GOD’S TRUTH REVEALED (EPHESIANS 3:1-12)

In the book of Ephesians, Paul revealed a secret that God had kept to Himself. God had kept it hidden when He visited fallen man in Eden, when He talked with His friend Abraham, and when He gave the law to Moses. He told David, a man after His own heart, many things, but He did not tell him this secret. He spoke to Isaiah and Jeremiah, to Ezekiel and Daniel, but still He kept His secret. He did not tell the twelve minor prophets, and then He kept this burning secret for four more silent centuries.

Finally, God sent His Son, who was involved in the secret. Jesus dropped hints of it here and there, but He did not give it away. The day of Pentecost came, and the church was born. Peter preached, souls were saved, and the secret was out, but still men did not grasp it. So, God saved Saul, shared the secret with him, and said, “You tell the world.”

What was this secret?  God was going to create a church. He would baptize Jews and Gentiles into it, making no difference between them. That church would be the mystical body of Christ. He would raise it higher than angels. He would seat it with Himself in the heavenlies. It would share fully and forever all that Christ has. That church would be His crowning masterpiece. Creation itself, the showpiece of God’s eternal power and godhead, would pale before the everlasting splendors of the church.

Click on the play button to hear a message on the great truth of God, His Church, revealed.  

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

THE GREAT DISPENSATIONAL CHANGE (Ephesians 2:11-22)

THE GREAT DISPENSATIONAL CHANGE (EPHESIANS 2:11-22)

Now, that is a great big word, dispensational.  So, what does it mean?  For purposes of studying the Bible, a dispensation is a period of time, and it defines how God deals with man during this time period, and how man interacts with God.  It has nothing to do with salvation, for salvation, throughout the Bible, has always been by God’s grace alone.  

When you think about it, those of us who were born and grew up in this age of Grace, take for granted the direct relationship we have with God, and the blessings of the Holy Spirit empowered life that we lead.  In today’s lesson, Paul is going to take us back in history and describe the relationship the Gentiles had with God prior to this great dispensational change.  And then he will describe the changes brought about by Calvary and Pentecost. 

Click on the play button to hear a message on how the church is the body of Christ, and in this body, all believers are equal members. There are no divisions based on denominations, racial origins, religious backgrounds, class distinctions, national boundaries, or color prejudices in the true church. All believers are equal members of this marvelous, mystical body. A new bond has been established.

The gospel reduces all people to the same level. All people are brought into the great equation of salvation through the same common denominator: repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

HOW TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY (Ephesians 2:1-10)

HOW TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY (EPHESIANS 2:1-10)

Today’s message includes one of the most recited pair of verses in the Bible, for it is the foundation God’s promise of salvation by grace and not of works.  

Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
KJV

And when you add the rest of verses 1-10, it is also a guidebook for the believer “How to Share Your Testimony.”  We should never ever underestimate the power of a Christian testimony. We are called to be witnesses and not lawyers. A witness is somebody who tells what he’s seen and heard. A lawyer is somebody who argues a case. We are witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Without a doubt, a Christian with a glowing testimony is worth a library full of arguments.

Now, you don’t have to be a theologian to be able to give your testimony. Remember the man who was born blind, and Jesus healed him, and then the Pharisees jumped on his case? Oh, they were angry because this man had been healed, and they got him and backed him into a corner, and they started to ask him all kinds of theological questions. The man just said, “Well, I’m sorry. I can’t answer all of those questions, but, one thing I know: once I was blind and now I see” (John 9:25). There is nothing theological about that fact, yet it is a great testimony to the power of the Lord Jesus.  “Once I was blind and now I see.” And a Christian with a testimony is never at the mercy of an infidel with an argument. Remember that.

Now, it’s important that we learn to share our testimony. Our testimony is the convincing thing when we witness and share the Lord Jesus Christ.  And so today, I want to give you an outline for sharing your testimony; and you can fill in the personal part, but I’m just going to give you the outline.  And listen, if you are saved, right here is your spiritual biography and your future history.

Click on the play button to hear a message on our past guilt, our present grace, and our future glory.  I want you to learn some wonderful things about what has happened to you, what is happening to you, and what will happen to you. 

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR BELIEVERS (Ephesians 1:15 to 23)

A PRAYER FOR BELIEVERS (EPHESIANS 1:15-23)

In today’s lesson, we will be talking about Paul’s prayer for believers.  Paul rarely prayed for the things that make up most of our prayers.  Things like better health, more money, job conditions, family problems, and world crises.  I am not saying these are not important, but Paul prayed that people might know God better, that they might become better acquainted with Jesus.  It is when we are closer to Christ, and know Him more, that many of these problems we face on earth are less important.  For our trust is in Christ to deal with our needs, as He has promised to do.

God has revealed Himself in two ways, in the inspired Word and the incarnate Word. He has said what He is like in the one, and He has shown what He is like in the other. Our responsibility is to get to know Him by getting to know the Scriptures and the Savior. There is no greater, or more important, occupation that we can have here on earth.

Paul prayed that his fellow believers might have a spirit of wisdom and revelation and that they might be occupied in gaining knowledge of God. “Get to know Him” is Paul’s basic answer to all of life’s problems and questions. Knowing God would solve most of the present-day problems that cause people to run to the psychologist or the family counselor. Knowing God would affect how people cope with all areas of life, for the Almighty God of all Creation has an abundant supply of wisdom, power, and answers for all of our needs, trials, and tribulations.  Best of all, is that He wants to share them with us.

Click on the play button to hear a message where Paul describes what he most desires for the believer to know and understand about God.  

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

THE WORK OF REDEMPTION (Ephesians 1:7-14)

THE WORK OF REDEMPTION (EPHESIANS 1:7-14)

In today’s message, we will be talking about the work that God, in all three parts, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, did to obtain our salvation, to redeem us, completely forgiven for our sins.  It is a wonderful story of God’s love, and God’s grace, that He would sacrifice so much so that we might have redemption from the sins that stain our soul.  It is a story of the completed work of redemption, and eternal life, that is ours if we make Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

It was God’s eternal counsel that the Lord Jesus should first give His life for us at Calvary, and then give His life to us. 

Eph 1:7
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
KJV

God the Father, planned our salvation by grace and not works.  It was His idea that God the Son, Jesus Christ, would go to the cross to die and then be risen to walk in life and victory over death.  It is because Jesus came to this earth as a God incarnate in man that The Father now sees us in the Beloved. He looks at us and sees Christ. No angel among the heavenly hosts has more acceptance than we.

Paul states, “The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”  Notice that word “grace.”  Paul uses it again and again in his letters.  For, our redemption is by grace, God’s unlimited grace. Grace is unmerited favor. It is getting something we don’t deserve. Paul strikes this note over and over. Paul tells us that there is more of God’s grace to follow, an unending supply, when he talks of the “The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

We can thank God that He is rich in grace.  God has revealed Himself to be a God of infinite power, a God of infallible wisdom, a God of inflexible holiness, and a God of unlimited grace!  Amen, hallelujah, and praise the Lord.

Click on the play button to hear a message on the wonderful work of redemption, that God did to provide a completed salvation, if you will only accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

KINGDOM AUTHORITY (Ephesians 1:15-23)

KINGDOM AUTHORITY (EPHESIANS 1:15-23)

In our lesson today, we will be talking about a tremendous Biblical truth about a believer’s “Kingdom Authority.”  God wants you to discover Kingdom Authority, to enjoy Kingdom Authority, and to exercise Kingdom Authority. And my heart is so full, because I’m afraid that you’re going to miss the blessing, miss the truth, if you do not listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say to us today.  But my prayer is that God will impregnate your heart with this great, dynamic, life-changing, truth of Kingdom Authority.

Paul tells us in the first chapter of Ephesians about the Kingdom Authority that belongs to the children of God. And if you’re a child of God, meaning that you are a true, twice born, follower of Christ, then I want to tell you something, you have incredible authority and power. Whether you have discovered it or not, it’s there, inherently.  You already have it.

Have you ever seen a real live king? Well, would you like to see one?  Did you know the Bible says that God has made every believer a king and a priest? 

Rev 5:10
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
KJV

Look to the person to your right, the person to your left. There’s a king, and there’s a priest, if they’re saved. Go home, and look in the mirror, and, if you’re saved, if you’re a child of God, looking back at you will be a king and a priest. God has made us a kingdom of priests.  Now, that is absolutely wonderful!

However, you don’t have to be a preacher, teacher, or even a member of a church, to be a king and a priest, or a queen and a priestess.  Paul, says very plainly, you just have to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, because God has given to all His children Kingdom Authority. And that’s what we’re going to be looking at, and that’s what we’re going to be studying, today. 

Click on the play button to hear a message that describes what Kingdom Authority is, how God graciously gave Adam dominion over all the earth, how Adam legally lost that dominion to the devil, and how Jesus righteously regained that dominion when He came to this earth as a man.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.